Improved offspring performance of broiler breeder hens fed amino acid complexed trace minerals

Abstract

SUMMARY: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of partial substitution of inorganic trace minerals (ITM) by amino acid complexed minerals (AACM) on broiler breeder hens’ performance and offspring. A total of 640 Cobb 500 broiler breeder hens, 22 wk of age, were allocated to 4 dietary treatments: T1- (Control) contained ITM forms of Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe and Se at 100, 100, 10, 50, and 0.30 ppm, respectively; T2- (Partial replacement) of Control by AACM Zn, Mn, Cu, and Se at 60, 60, 3, and 0.15 ppm of ITM, and 40, 40, 7, and 0.15 ppm of AACM, respectively.; T3- (Partial replacement) of Control, same as T2 but with Fe at 10 and 40 ppm of ITM and AACM, respectively; T4- (On Top) supplementation of Zn, Mn, Cu, Se and Fe (T1+T3). Laying production was evaluated from 26 to 66 wk, whereas egg quality was evaluated at 35, 45, 55, and 65 wk of age. At each period, eggs were incubated and evaluated for hatchability parameters and chick quality. At 66 wk of age, eggs were incubated to obtain 800-day-old male chicks for the progeny performance trial. Total and settable egg production and incubation parameters were not affected by supplementation treatments (P > 0.05). Eggshell breaking strength significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the On Top supplementation group compared to the Control. The offspring from hens fed partially Zn, Mn, Cu, Se and Fe AACM had higher body weight gain (BWG) in the first week (P < 0.05) and maintained a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 1 to 35 d compared to the offspring of Control ITM group (P < 0.05). Maternal AACM supplementation improved offspring BWG and FCR from 1 to 7 d and 1 to 35 d, respectively.

Keywords

• broiler breeders
• trace minerals
• offspring
• performance