Effects of Manganese Hydroxychloride on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Tibia Parameters and Manganese Deposition of Broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with manganese hydroxychloride (MHC) on production performance, antioxidant capacity, tibial quality, and manganese (Mn) deposition of broilers. A total of 756 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allotted to 7 treatments of 6 replicates with 18 broilers per replicate. Broilers were fed corn-soybean meal basal diets supplemented of 100 mg/kg Mn as Mn sulfate (MnSO₄), or 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 mg/kg Mn as MHC for 42 days. The growth performance of broilers was not affected by dietary MnSO₄ or MHC (<i>p</i> > 0.05), whereas the dressing percentage increased linearly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with increasing of dietary MHC addition level. The activities of catalase (CAT) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and total antioxidant capability (T-AOC) in serum and liver on day 42 increased linearly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with increasing of dietary MHC level, while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration reduced linearly (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The length, strength, and density index of tibia increased linearly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) on day 21 as MHC supplementation level increased; there were no differences between MnSO₄ group and 40–100 mg/kg Mn as MHC groups in tibial parameters of broilers (<i>p</i> > 0.05). As supplemental MHC levels increased, the Mn contents in heart, liver, kidney, and tibia increased linearly on day 42 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In summary, dietary supplementation with MHC improved antioxidant capacity, bone quality, and Mn contents in broilers, but no effects on growth performance were detected. Based on the results of this study, dietary inclusion of 50–90 mg/kg Mn in the form of MHC to broilers is recommended.