Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Animal Science, QaS.C., Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran.
Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of organic and inorganic forms of copper, zinc, and manganese on broiler breeder hens' production and reproductive performance of Ross 308 broiler breeders at 33 and 36 weeks.
Method: In this study, 240 hens and 30 roosters of Ross 308 strain were used in 30 experimental pens. This research was carried out as a factorial experiment (2×3) with three types of minerals (copper, zinc, and manganese) and two forms (organic and inorganic) in a completely randomized design with six treatments, five replications, and 8 hens and one rooster in each replication. Weeks 29 to 32 were considered as the adaptation period. The experimental treatments were as follows: 1) ration containing inorganic zinc, 2) ration containing organic zinc, 3) ration containing inorganic copper, 4) ration containing organic copper, 5) ration containing inorganic manganese, and 6) ration containing organic manganese. The required amount of elements in inorganic form was 16 mg/kg for copper (copper sulfate), 90 mg/kg for zinc (zinc sulfate) and 130 mg/kg for manganese (manganese sulfate) and the recommended amount of elements in organic form in the present study was 13.33 mg/kg for copper (copper-methionine), 48.65 mg/kg for zinc (zinc-methionine) and 73.86 mg/kg for manganese (manganese-methionine). The data obtained by LSmeans method were analyzed by SAS statistical software.
Results: The results of the study indicated that diets containing organic forms of elements significantly influenced various egg production traits, including egg production rate, egg mass, egg weight, hatchable eggs, fertility rate, hatchability, and the weight of hatched chicks (p< 0.05). Specifically, organic zinc enhanced the percentage of egg production, egg weight, and egg mass during weeks 33 and 36 of the study. Conversely, inorganic zinc demonstrated a better effect on egg mass compared to inorganic manganese (p< 0.05). Furthermore, the impact of organic and inorganic copper, as well as inorganic zinc, on the percentage of egg production in these weeks was significantly greater than that of inorganic manganese. Similarly, regarding egg weight, a notable positive effect was observed from the combination of organic copper and inorganic zinc, which outperformed inorganic copper and both organic and inorganic manganese (p< 0.05). The results also revealed that the effect of organic zinc on the percentage of hatchable eggs was significantly greater than that of other organic and inorganic elements among the treatments studied during the specified weeks (p< 0.05). Additionally, the findings regarding hatchability indicated that the effects of both organic and inorganic zinc surpassed those of other elements (p< 0.05). The influence of these elements on the fertility rate was also significant, with organic and inorganic zinc exhibiting a higher effect than other organic and inorganic elements (p< 0.05). Lastly, the impact of the studied elements on the weight of freshly hatched chicks demonstrated the superiority of organic zinc compared to other organic and inorganic elements (p< 0.05).
Conclusions: In general, the effect of the organic form of elements on the studied traits was greater than the inorganic form of the studied elements, and the highest and lowest impact of the treatments on the studied traits were related to organic zinc and inorganic manganese, respectively. Based on the present results, the use of organic forms of inorganic elements (especially organic zinc) is recommended to improve the production and reproductive traits of broiler breeders.
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