Effects of organic macro and trace minerals in fast and slower growing broiler breeders' diet on offspring growth performance and tibia characteristics

This study was designed to evaluate effects of source of macro and trace minerals (inorganic vs. organic) in fast and slower growing broiler breeders' diets on egg and hatchling mineral content and on offspring tibia morphological, biophysical, and mechanical characteristics. After 10 wk feeding the breeders (at 30 wk of age), eggs were collected and incubated. Eggs and hatchlings were analysed on mineral content. Male chickens were assigned to 32 pens with 12 chickens per pen. At approximately 1,700 and 2,600 gram BW, three chickens per pen were slaughtered. Tibia characteristics were determined. Organic minerals in the broiler breeder diet resulted in higher Fe and Se concentration in the egg and in higher Se concentration in the hatchling. Despite effects of mineral source on mineral concentration in the eggs and hatchlings were limited, organic minerals in the slower-growing broiler breeder diet resulted in higher offspring BW (d 42, Δ = 115 g; P = 0.03) and advanced tibia development (higher thickness (∆ = 0.38 cm; P < 0.001), osseous volume (∆ = 5.1 cm³; P = 0.01), and mineral density (Δ = 0.13 g/cm³; P = 0.03) at 2,600 g BW), but this was not observed in fast-growing chickens. This suggests that 1) the difference in feed intake of the breeders between strains might affect offspring performance, which might indicate that current slower-growing breeder diets might be suboptimal in minerals or that transgenerational mineral availability in slower growing chickens appears to be more effective on bone development, which might be related to time available for bone development. 2) transgenerational mineral availability in offspring appears to play a role via other mechanisms than via absolute mineral concentrations.

Impact of Dietary Organic Mineral Supplementation on Reproductive Performance, Egg Quality Characteristics, Lipid Oxidation, Ovarian Follicular Development, and Immune Response in Laying Hens Under High Ambient Temperature

The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of dietary organic mineral mixture (manganese, zinc, and copper) supplementation on reproductive performance, egg quality characteristics, and immune response in laying hens under high ambient temperature. Hens were randomly divided into three treatments: (1) control (basal diet without organic mineral mixture (Mn, Zn, and Cu) supplementation); (2) basal diet + 0.5 g/kg of organic mineral mixture; and (3) basal diet + 1 g/kg of organic mineral mixture from 30 to 38 weeks of age. Hen-day egg production and egg mass were significantly increased by dietary supplementation of 1 g/kg of organic mineral mixture, while feed intake was not affected; therefore, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly improved (P < 0.01). Egg weight, albumen width, shell weight, and shell thickness were significantly increased by the dietary treatments. Serum total cholesterol and glucose were significantly decreased by organic mineral mixture supplementation. Interestingly, yolk contents of total cholesterol and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly decreased. Yolk contents of Zn and Cu were significantly increased, while Mn was numerically increased (P > 0.05). Dietary organic mineral mixture supplementation improved the antibody titers against avian influenza H9N1 significantly (P < 0.05) and Newcastle disease virus numerically (P > 0.05) in comparison with the control diet. It might be concluded that the inclusion of organic mineral mixture (Mn, Zn, and Cu) enhanced reproductive performance, shell quality characteristics, plasma profile, yolk mineral concentration, yolk lipid oxidation, and immune response in laying hens under high ambient temperature.

Different dietary trace mineral sources for broiler breeders and their progenies

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different trace mineral supplementation sources in the diet of broiler breeders on their performance and on their progenies. In total, 128 Cobb 500 broiler breeders were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design in 2 experimental treatments. The control group was fed a diet supplemented with inorganic trace minerals (ITM), while the other group was fed a diet supplemented with reduced levels of trace minerals in the organic form. Eggs were collected when breeders were 35, 47, and 53 wk old. Their progeny (450 hatchlings) were divided according to trace mineral supplementation source from the maternal diet, creating 2 treatments with 16 replicates of 15 birds each. Organic trace mineral (OTM) supplementation improved broiler breeder performance, as shown by higher egg production and better eggshell quality of OTM-fed hens compared with those fed ITM. Egg fertility and hatchability were not influenced by the treatments. As to progeny performance, higher weight gain, and consequently, better feed conversion ratio, were obtained in the 41-day-old progenies of OTM-fed breeders, independently of hen age. Maternal diet trace mineral source did not affect broiler carcass, breast meat, or leg yields. The results of the present study show that supplementing broiler breeder diets with organic trace mineral sources enhances the performance of breeders and their progenies.

Glycosaminoglycans and vitamin C affect broiler bone parameters

The purpose of this study was to determine if in ovo feeding and rearing with glycosaminoglycans and vitamin C could influence bone and cartilage macroscopy, mineral composition, mineral density and surface area, bone breaking strength, and bone histology in broilers. Fertile eggs from breeders (Cobb) were either uninjected or injected with 4 μg of additive/100 μL water on day 4 of incubation. Every 100 g of in ovo additive contained 30 g of chondroitin sulfate, 30 g of glucosamine, and 5 g of vitamin C. After hatching, the chicks from both incubation treatments were submitted to additional treatments during the growth phase from 1 to 42 D of age (diet without and with 0.74 g of additive/kg of feed). Every 100 kg of feed contained 30 g of glucosamine sulfate, 24 g of chondroitin sulfate, and 20 g of vitamin C. A completely randomized factorial design (2 × 2) was applied. The data were submitted to variance analysis using the general linear model procedure of SAS (SAS Institute). In ovo feeding with 4 μg of additive plus dietary supplementation with 0.74 g of additive/kg of feed resulted in the highest cartilage weight of the femur proximal epiphysis in birds (P = 0.0098). The highest ash, phosphorus and calcium percentage, mineral density and mineral composition were identified for femur and tibia in the following treatments: in ovo feeding plus diet without additive during rearing, or uninjected eggs plus dietary supplementation during rearing. In ovo feeding with 4 μg of the additive reduced (P = 0.0008) the number of chondrocytes in the proximal epiphysis of the tibia cartilage and increased (P < 0.0001) the number of osteocytes in the tibia diaphysis of broilers. We conclude that in ovo feeding or dietary supplementation during broiler rearing with glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate) and vitamin C benefits the development of bird bones and cartilage, and may represent a solution to bone problems in broilers.

Effects of Maternal Zinc Glycine on Mortality, Zinc Concentration, and Antioxidant Status in a Developing Embryo and 1-Day-Old Chick

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of maternal zinc glycine (Zn-Gly) supplementation as an alternative for zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) on mortality, zinc (Zn) concentration, and antioxidant status in a developing embryo and 1-day-old chick. Six hundred 39-week-old broiler breeders were randomly assigned to 6 treatments, each treatment including 5 replicates with 20 birds each. Six treatments received a basal diet (control, 24 mg Zn/kg diet) or a basal diet supplemented with ZnSO₄ (80 mg Zn/kg) or Zn-Gly (20, 40, 60, or 80 mg Zn/kg), respectively. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks after a 4-week pre-experiment with a basal diet. At the last week, 100 eggs per replicate were randomly collected for incubation. Compared with the control treatment, Zn supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) embryo mortalities of the late stage and the whole period, increased (P < 0.05) liver Zn concentration in the embryo of d9, d19, and 1-day-old chick, and improved (P < 0.05) antioxidant status in the embryo of d19 and 1-day-old chick. Compared with the ZnSO₄ treatment, 80 mg Zn/kg Zn-Gly treatment significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the late stage embryo mortality and increased (P < 0.05) liver Zn concentration in the embryo of d9, d19, and 1-day-old chick. The 80 mg Zn/kg Zn-Gly treatment significantly increased (P < 0.05) copper-zinc superoxide dismutase activity in d19 embryo and 1-day-old chick, total superoxide dismutase activity in 1-day-old chick, and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance of d9 embryo and 1-day-old chick than that in ZnSO₄ treatment. The liver metallothionein concentration of the developing embryo and 1-day-old chick and its mRNA abundance of d19 embryo were also significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the 80 mg Zn/kg Zn-Gly treatment in comparison with ZnSO₄ treatment. In conclusion, maternal Zn supplementation decreased embryo mortalities of the late stage and the whole period by increasing liver Zn concentration and antioxidant status in d19 embryo and 1-day-old chick, and 80 mg Zn/kg from Zn-Gly treatment was the optimum choice.

In ovo feeding with minerals and vitamin D3 improves bone properties in hatchlings and mature broilers

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of in ovo feeding (IOF) with inorganic minerals or organic minerals and vitamin D3 on bone properties and mineral consumption. Eggs were incubated and divided into 4 groups: IOF with organic minerals, phosphate, and vitamin D3 (IOF-OMD); IOF with inorganic minerals and phosphate (IOF-IM); sham; and non-treated controls (NTC). IOF was performed on embryonic day (E) 17; tibiae and yolk samples were taken on E19 and E21. Post-hatch, only chicks from the IOF-OMD, sham, and NTC were raised, and tibiae were taken on d 10 and 38. Yolk mineral content was examined by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Tibiae were tested for their whole-bone mechanical properties, and mid-diaphysis bone sections were indented in a micro-indenter to determine bone material stiffness (Young's modulus). Micro-computed tomography (μCT) was used to examine cortical and trabecular bone structure. Ash content analysis was used to examine bone mineralization. A latency-to-lie (LTL) test was used to measure standing ability of the d 38 broilers. The results showed that embryos from both IOF-OMD and IOF-IM treatments had elevated Cu, Mn, and Zn amounts in the yolk on E19 and E21 and consumed more of these minerals (between E19 and E21) in comparison to the sham and NTC. On E21, these hatchlings had higher whole-bone stiffness in comparison to the NTC. On d 38, the IOF-OMD had higher ash content, elevated whole-bone stiffness, and elevated Young's modulus (in males) in comparison to the sham and NTC; however, no differences in standing ability were found. Very few structural differences were seen during the whole experiment. This study demonstrates that mineral supplementation by in ovo feeding is sufficient to induce higher mineral consumption from the yolk, regardless of its chemical form or the presence of vitamin D3. Additionally, IOF with organic minerals and vitamin D3 can increase bone ash content, as well as stiffness of the whole bone and bone material in the mature broiler, but does not lead to longer LTL.

Organic trace mineral supplementation enhances local and systemic innate immune responses and modulates oxidative stress in broiler chickens

The effect of organic trace mineral supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology, immune organ weights (bursa of Fabricius and spleen), expression of innate immune response related genes, blood heterophils/lymphocytes ratio, chemical metabolic panel, natural antibodies (IgG), and oxidative stress of broiler chickens was studied. A total of 1,080 day-old male broilers were assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments, which included basal diet with Monensin (control), control diet supplemented with bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD), and BMD diet supplemented with organic trace minerals (OTM). No difference in feed conversion ratio was observed among treatments; ileum histomorphological analysis showed a lower crypt depth, higher villi height/crypt depth ratio, and lower villi width in the OTM treatment compared to control. Furthermore, OTM treatment resulted in higher uric acid and lower plasma malondehaldehyde (MDA), indicating lower oxidative stress. Gene expression analysis showed that OTM treatment resulted in up-regulations of TLR2 bin the ileum, and TLR2b, TLR4, and IL-12p35 in the bursa of Fabricius, and down-regulation of TLR2b and TLR4 in the cecal tonsils. In the spleen, OTM treatment resulted in up-regulation of IL-10. In conclusion, OTM supplementation to broiler diets may have beneficial effects on intestinal development, immune system status, and survival by improving ileum histomorphological parameters, modulation of Toll-like receptors and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and decreasing level of MDA, which in conjunction could enhance health status.