Inorganic and proteinated trace minerals in broiler and layer diets

Results of Experiment 1 showed no significant effect of proteinated trace mineral supplementation on feed consumption, mortality and dressing percentage of broilers. However, marked improvements on body weight gain and feed efficiency were consistently demonstrated in proteinated supplemented birds given as complete or partial replacement of inorganic trace minerals. Depression in body weight gain and decreased in feed efficiency was observed in birds supplemented with proteinated trace minerals as add-on to inorganic gtrace mineral requirements of broilers. Moreover, biochemical analysis of serum, tibia bone, liver and fecal samples also show significantly higher levels of liver copper and tibia bone iron and significantly lower fecal concentration of copper, iron, manganese and zinc in broilers given proteinated trace minerals as complete or partial replacement of inorganic trace minerals relative to those given completely inorganic trace minerals. However, all other trace minerals considered in serum, tibia bone, liver and fecal samples did not demonstrate consistent trends to established possible treatment effects. Consistent improvements in body weight gain and feed efficiency of broilers fed with proteinated trace minerals as partial and complete replacement of inorganic trace minerals, resulted to a slightly higher IOFCC [income over feed and chick cost] than those supplemented with the control. The results of experiment 2 showed no significant effects of proteinated trace mineral supplementation on feed consumption, feed efficiency and yolk color score of layers compared to those fed control diet. Addition of proteinated trace minerals also showed poorer egg production rates (hen-day basis) compared to those fed completely inorganic trace minerals. However, supplementation of proteinated trace minerals as complete or partial replacement or as add-on to inorganic trace minerals had resulted to improvement in egg weights and egg shell thickness of layers. Moreover, complete or partial replacement of inorganic trace minerals with proteinated trace minerals form consistently increased the level of copper, iron, manganese and zinc absorption in serum and liver tissues. These correspondingly resulted to decreased in level of copper, iron manganese and zinc absorption in serum and liver tissues. These correspondingly resulted to a decrease in level of copper, iron, manganese and zinc excreted in the feces of layers given these diets. The significantly bigger sizes of eggs in birds fed proteinated trace minerals as complete or partial replacement of the inorganic form compensated for their much lower egg production rates and resulted to a slightly higher IOFC [income over feed cost] of birds given these diets relative to birds given purely inorganic trace minerals.