Supplemental effects of amino acid-complexed trace minerals on broiler breeder hen performance

Impact of trace mineral supplementation and translucency score on eggshell quality, hatchability, fertility, and chick quality

The broiler breeder industry is facing a problem with fertility, hatchability, and the number of broiler breeder eggs produced per hen. The supplementation of trace minerals such as zinc, manganese, and copper in broiler breeder diets has been previously linked to an increase in eggshell quality, which may lead to increased fertility, hatchability, and chick quality. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of amino-acid complexed mineral supplementation on eggshell quality, fertility, hatchability, chick quality, and shell translucency. Translucency score was tested to determine if it would impact other eggshell quality parameters. To evaluate this, zinc, manganese, and copper were added into the water of commercial broiler breeder houses at the levels of 40, 40, and 7 ppm, respectively, for 10 wk. This was conducted on 4 farms with one house receiving mineral supplementation (T) and another house on the same farm receiving no supplementation (C). A total of 5,120 eggs were collected after 10 wk and analyzed for translucency score (TS1-3; low-high), eggshell lightness (L* score), thickness, and breaking strength. Up to 60 infertile eggs per farm underwent microbial analysis to determine bacteria and E. coli prevalence on d 18 of incubation. All data was analyzed using PROC-GLM or chi-square with P ≤ 0.05; means were separated by Tukey's when appropriate. The results showed that mineral supplementation increased the L* score from 74.9 (C) to 75.1 (T) (P = 0.0245), shell thickness from 0.451 mm to 0.455 mm (P = 0.0402), TS1 eggs by 1.05%, TS2 eggs by 5.86%, and decreased TS3 eggs by 6.91% (P < 0.0001). Shell thickness differed (P < 0.0001) between all levels of translucency. Significance was also found for L* score (P < 0.0001) between TS3 eggs (74.2) when compared to TS1 (74.8) and TS2 (75.2) eggs. Improvements in fertility (83.0% C vs. 86.1% T) and hatchability (74.3% C vs. 76.8% T) were not statistically significant. It can be concluded that amino-acid complexed mineral supplementation improves eggshell quality, particularly shell translucency score, leading to potential improvements in commercial breeder operations.

Complexed amino acid minerals vs. bis-glycinate chelated minerals: Impact on the performance of old laying hens

The present study was to evaluate the effect of trace minerals (Zn, Mn, and Cu) from complexed amino acid minerals (ZMCAA) and bis-glycinate chelated minerals (ZMCGly) in laying hen diets on performance, internal and external egg quality, yolk mineral deposition, intestinal morphometry, and bone characteristics. From 78 to 98 weeks of age, 400 White LSL-Lite strain laying hens were distributed in a randomized design with 4 treatments with 10 replicates per treatment. Treatments were distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement using either Zn, Mn, and Cu of ZMCAA or ZMCGly source at 2 levels: low (20, 20, and 3.5 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, and Cu, respectively) or high (40, 40, and 7 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, and Cu, respectively). The analysis of variance was performed, and in cases where differences were observed, the means were compared using Tukey's test (P < 0.05). The source and level of trace mineral supplementation had a significant impact on the performance of laying hens. Hens fed ZMCAA had higher egg production (P = 0.01), egg weight (P = 0.02), egg mass (P = 0.01), and lower feed conversion ratio (P = 0.05) compared to those fed ZMCGly. The ZMCAA supplementation showed higher albumen height (P = 0.01), albumen weight (P = 0.01), and eggshell thickness (P < 0.01). The deposition of Zn (P < 0.01), Mn (P < 0.01), and Cu (P < 0.01) in the egg yolk was greater for hens received ZMCAA. Tibia weight (P = 0.04) and bone densitometry (P < 0.01) in the tibia were higher with ZMCAA supplementation. In the small intestine, ZMCAA resulted in longer villi (P = 0.02) and shorter crypt depth (P = 0.01) in the duodenum. Jejunum and ileum measurements were influenced by the level and source of trace minerals (P < 0.05). Laying hens fed ZMCAA exhibited superior performance, egg quality, deposition of trace minerals in the egg yolk, and bone density compared to hens fed ZMCGly. In this study, older laying hens supplemented with ZMCAA at lower levels demonstrated adequate levels of supplementation.

Effect of feed trace elements on eggs of five strains of laying hens and their health risk assessment

BACKGROUND

Trace elements are essential for human nutrition, and their deficiencies or excesses are strongly associated with several diseases, such as cardiovascular ones.

OBJECTIVES

The current cross-sectional study investigated the concentration of essential trace elements (copper, non-metal selenium, iron, zinc, cobalt and manganese) in eggs and diets of five strains of laying hens.

METHODS

The yolk and albumen were analysed separately, and wet preparation was carried out following inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry detection. The target hazard quotients (THQs) for the non-carcinogenic disease were calculated by the United States environmental protection agency (USEPA) method.

RESULTS

The highest concentrations of selenium, zinc and manganese were found in egg yolks of native hens (0.76, 44.22 and 6.52 mg/kg, respectively). The highest amounts of copper and cobalt were recorded in the egg yolk of Lohman (2.07 and 0.023 mg/kg, respectively). On the other hand, the egg yolk of Bovans contained the highest amount of iron (57.46 mg/kg).

CONCLUSION

Overall, the potential health risks were minimal, and the consumption of eggs was generally safe.