Carcass traits in broilers fed diets containing L-glutamine and organic zinc

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of L-glutamine and organic zinc in diets for broilers on the parameters of carcass and meat yields, chemical composition and nutrient deposition in poultry carcasses at 21 days of age. Ross chicks (n=630) were distributed in a 2 x 3 + 1 completely randomized design, using levels of 1 and 2% L-glutamine with 0, 90 and 120 mg organic zinc/kg feed and a control diet, totaling seven treatments and five repetitions, with 18 birds each. The combination of L-glutamine and organic zinc did not influence the parameters evaluated. However, zinc supplementation alone interfered in a linearly increasing way with breast yield, in a linearly decreasing way with abdominal fat, and protein content in the carcass. Still, independently, regarding the chemical composition of poultry carcass, the level of 2% L-glutamine provided a higher concentration of dry matter and ash. Likewise, it showed the highest ash deposition. Supplementation of 2% L-glutamine in broiler diets improves the dry matter and the ash content in poultry carcasses and the inclusion of organic zinc positively interferes with the yield of breast, abdominal fat and crude protein

Keywords

• amino acid, bird, mineral, yield.