Growth Performance and Tibia Mineralization of Broiler Chickens Supplemented with a Liquid Extract of Humic Substances

The objective of the study was to evaluate the productive, carcass, and tibia mineralization responses in broiler chickens supplemented with a liquid extract of humic substances (HS) in the drinking water. Chicks were housed in holding cages from 8-42 days of age and were randomly assigned to one of five increasing HS levels in the drinking water (0, 161, 322, 483, and 644 µg/L). At 21 and 42 days, to obtain carcass and tibia measurements half of the broilers were slaughtered. ANOVA and linear regression were used to analyze the data. The HS chemical composition and flat structures were estimated. At 21 days, increasing levels of HS in the drinking water resulted in a cubic response on breast weight (p<0.05), tibia ashes percentage (p<0.05) and tibia Ca percentage, as well as a linear increasing response (p<0.05) on P percentage. HS elicited a quadratic response on the tibia DM percentage (p<0.05), Ca content (p<0.01), and P content (p<0.05) at 42 days. The optimal HS supplementation level to achieve the highest tibia DM percentage, Ca and P content were 345.00, 322.46, and 347.75 µg/L, respectively. Increasing HS levels also resulted in a cubic response in tibia Ca (p<0.05) and P percentage (p<0.01). In conclusions, HS supplementation in drinking water improved bone mineralization in broiler chickens at 21 and 42 days of age.(AU)

Comparative Effect of Zinc Concentration and Sources on Growth Performance, Accumulation in Tissues, Tibia Status, Mineral Excretion and Immunity of Broiler Chickens

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding different concentrations and sources of zinc (Zn) on the growth performance, tissue mineral status, bone morphology and immunity responses in 0-4-week broiler chickens. Four hundred and forty 1-d-old broiler chickens were assigned randomly to 11 dietary treatments with 4 cages per treatment and 10 broiler chickens per cage in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were: corn-soybean meal basal diet (negative control), basal diet supplemented with 5 g yeast/kg (yeast), and basal diet supplemented with 20, 50, or 80 mg of added Zn/kg as ZnSO4, Zn-Met, or Zn-yeast in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. The results showed that broilers fed Zn supplemented diets had greater average weight gain and average feed intake than chickens fed the negative control diet (p 0.05). The Zn deposition in tibia, meat (thigh and breast) and excreta increased (p 0.01), regardless of source, in response to increasing dietary Zn concentrations. Zinc level increased dry weight of tibia bone and its large diameter. The strength of tibia bone as judged by Seedor index and breaking strength was improved (p 0.01) with Zn concentration in increased diets. Furthermore, supplemental Zn up to 50 mg/kg improved immunity responses of broiler chickens (p 0.01). It is concluded that supplementation with 50 mg Zn may be sufficient for normal broiler growth up to 28 d of age and the dietary inclusion of organic Zn could be utilized more effectively when compared to inorganic sources.(AU)

Comparative Effect of Zinc Concentration and Sources on Growth Performance, Accumulation in Tissues, Tibia Status, Mineral Excretion and Immunity of Broiler Chickens

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding different concentrations and sources of zinc (Zn) on the growth performance, tissue mineral status, bone morphology and immunity responses in 0-4-week broiler chickens. Four hundred and forty 1-d-old broiler chickens were assigned randomly to 11 dietary treatments with 4 cages per treatment and 10 broiler chickens per cage in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were: corn-soybean meal basal diet (negative control), basal diet supplemented with 5 g yeast/kg (yeast), and basal diet supplemented with 20, 50, or 80 mg of added Zn/kg as ZnSO4, Zn-Met, or Zn-yeast in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. The results showed that broilers fed Zn supplemented diets had greater average weight gain and average feed intake than chickens fed the negative control diet (p 0.05). The Zn deposition in tibia, meat (thigh and breast) and excreta increased (p 0.01), regardless of source, in response to increasing dietary Zn concentrations. Zinc level increased dry weight of tibia bone and its large diameter. The strength of tibia bone as judged by Seedor index and breaking strength was improved (p 0.01) with Zn concentration in increased diets. Furthermore, supplemental Zn up to 50 mg/kg improved immunity responses of broiler chickens (p 0.01). It is concluded that supplementation with 50 mg Zn may be sufficient for normal broiler growth up to 28 d of age and the dietary inclusion of organic Zn could be utilized more effectively when compared to inorganic sources.

Levels and sources of vitamin D on performance and bone development of strains in broilers / Níveis de vitamina D sobre o desempenho e desenvolvimento ósseo de linhagens de frangos de corte

The availability and appropriate level of vitamin D to promote physiological demand, bone formation and reduce the occurrence of locomotors problems in broilers. The aim of this study was to evaluate three levels of vitamin D on performance breaking strength and mineral content of tibia of three strains of broilers, it was used 1,440 chicken of one day of age. The complete random design used was in factorial 3X3, with three strains (Ross 308, Cobb 500 and Hybro) and three inclusion levels of vitamin D3 (1250 IU vitamin D3; 3000 IU vitamin D3 and 2760 UI of 25- hydroxycholecalciferol (OH) D3), provided in the diet until 21 day of life, with eight replicates of 30 birds per group, a total of 160 birds per treatment. There was no difference (P> 0.05) between the levels of vitamin D, in the strains for the perfomance and breaking strength, except for feed intake for the strain factor (P> 0.05), with higher feed intake of Cobb, probably due to its higher growth potential. The levels of vitamin D had no influence significant (P>0.05) the quantities of calcium and phosphorus in the tibia bones. However, for strains was significant difference (P 0.05) at 14 days of age, with higher amounts of calcium to Ross 308 and higher amount of phosphorus to Hybro. This can be explained because of the genetic variation in metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in broilers. In conclusion the addition of 1250 IU vitamin D/kg of feed is sufficient to ensure performance and bone development of broilers independent of the strain to be used by proper adjustment of the levels of Ca and P

A disponibilidade e o nível adequado de vitamina D deve atender à demanda fisiológica para formação óssea, e reduzem a ocorrência de problemas locomotores em frangos de corte. Com o objetivo de avaliar três níveis de vitamina D sobre o desempenho, força de ruptura e conteúdo mineral das tíbias de três linhagens de frangos de corte, foram utilizado 1.440 pintos de um dia, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3x3, com três linhagens (Ross 308, Cobb 500 e Hybro) e três níveis de inclusão de vitamina D3 (1250 UI vitamina D3; 3000 UI vitamina D3 e 2760 UI de hidroxicolecalciferol 25(OH) D3, fornecidos na ração até o 21º dia de vida, com oito repetições de 30 aves por parcela, totalizando 160 aves por tratamento. Não houve diferenças (P>0,05) entre os níveis de vitamina D, e as linhagens para o desempenho e força de ruptura, exceto para o consumo de ração para o fator linhagem (P 0,05), devido ao seu potencial de crescimento. Os níveis de vitamina D não influenciaram (P> 0,05) as quantidades de cálcio e fósforo nas tíbias. No entanto, para as linhagens houve diferença significativa (P 0,05) aos 14 dias de idade, com maior quantidade de cálcio para o Ross 308 e maior quantidade de fósforo para o Hybro, evidenciando diferenças no metabolismo do cálcio e do fósforo em frangos de corte. Em conclusão a adição de 1250 UI de vitamina D/kg de ração é suficiente para garantir o desempenho e o desenvolvimento ósseo de frangos de corte, independente da linhagem a ser utilizada, mediante ao ajuste correto dos níveis de Ca e P

Levels and sources of vitamin D on performance and bone development of strains in broilers / Níveis de vitamina D sobre o desempenho e desenvolvimento ósseo de linhagens de frangos de corte

The availability and appropriate level of vitamin D to promote physiological demand, bone formation and reduce the occurrence of locomotors problems in broilers. The aim of this study was to evaluate three levels of vitamin D on performance breaking strength and mineral content of tibia of three strains of broilers, it was used 1,440 chicken of one day of age. The complete random design used was in factorial 3X3, with three strains (Ross 308, Cobb 500 and Hybro) and three inclusion levels of vitamin D3 (1250 IU vitamin D3; 3000 IU vitamin D3 and 2760 UI of 25- hydroxycholecalciferol (OH) D3), provided in the diet until 21 day of life, with eight replicates of 30 birds per group, a total of 160 birds per treatment. There was no difference (P> 0.05) between the levels of vitamin D, in the strains for the perfomance and breaking strength, except for feed intake for the strain factor (P> 0.05), with higher feed intake of Cobb, probably due to its higher growth potential. The levels of vitamin D had no influence significant (P>0.05) the quantities of calcium and phosphorus in the tibia bones. However, for strains was significant difference (P 0.05) at 14 days of age, with higher amounts of calcium to Ross 308 and higher amount of phosphorus to Hybro. This can be explained because of the genetic variation in metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in broilers. In conclusion the addition of 1250 IU vitamin D/kg of feed is sufficient to ensure performance and bone development of broilers independent of the strain to be used by proper adjustment of the levels of Ca and P(AU)

A disponibilidade e o nível adequado de vitamina D deve atender à demanda fisiológica para formação óssea, e reduzem a ocorrência de problemas locomotores em frangos de corte. Com o objetivo de avaliar três níveis de vitamina D sobre o desempenho, força de ruptura e conteúdo mineral das tíbias de três linhagens de frangos de corte, foram utilizado 1.440 pintos de um dia, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3x3, com três linhagens (Ross 308, Cobb 500 e Hybro) e três níveis de inclusão de vitamina D3 (1250 UI vitamina D3; 3000 UI vitamina D3 e 2760 UI de hidroxicolecalciferol 25(OH) D3, fornecidos na ração até o 21º dia de vida, com oito repetições de 30 aves por parcela, totalizando 160 aves por tratamento. Não houve diferenças (P>0,05) entre os níveis de vitamina D, e as linhagens para o desempenho e força de ruptura, exceto para o consumo de ração para o fator linhagem (P 0,05), devido ao seu potencial de crescimento. Os níveis de vitamina D não influenciaram (P> 0,05) as quantidades de cálcio e fósforo nas tíbias. No entanto, para as linhagens houve diferença significativa (P 0,05) aos 14 dias de idade, com maior quantidade de cálcio para o Ross 308 e maior quantidade de fósforo para o Hybro, evidenciando diferenças no metabolismo do cálcio e do fósforo em frangos de corte. Em conclusão a adição de 1250 UI de vitamina D/kg de ração é suficiente para garantir o desempenho e o desenvolvimento ósseo de frangos de corte, independente da linhagem a ser utilizada, mediante ao ajuste correto dos níveis de Ca e P(AU)