The effects of heat distress environment, vitamin, and trace mineral supplementation on performance, blood constituents, and tissue mineral concentrations in broiler chickens

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to determine the effects of heat distress environment and dietary vitamin and/or trace mineral supplementation on broilers from 28 to 49 days of age. Variables monitored included production criteria, serum metabolites, and gastrocnemius muscle and spleen Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn concentrations. Heat distress reduced (P<.05) weight gain, feed efficiency, serum total protein, albumin, triglyceride, uric acid, and it did not (P>.1) affect muscle and spleen trace mineral concentrations, but it increased (P<.05) serum glucose concentration. Broiler weight gain and feed efficiency decreased (P<.05) with trace mineral supplementation only. While, weight gain and feed efficiency numerically increased (P≥.1) with vitamin supplementation only, and significantly increased (P<.05) with vitamin plus trace mineral supplementation. Serum total protein and albumin decreased (P<.05) with trace mineral and/or vitamin supplementation. Other variables were not affected (P>.1) with the dietary treatments. In conclusion, optimal broiler growth rate and feed efficiency depends on certain trace mineral by vitamin interactions.