The effect of replacing inorganic with organic trace minerals in broiler diets on growth performance, carcass traits, immunity, tissue mineral content, and mineral excretion

This study evaluated the effect of Him Chelate-P on growth performance, biochemistry, immunity parameters, carcass traits, tissue mineral content, and mineral excretion in broiler chickens. A total of 240 day-old Cobb 400 Y broiler chicks were randomly assigned to three groups with eight replicates of 10 birds that were raised on standard commercial feed and concurrently supplemented with inorganic trace minerals (ITMs) at 1000 g/ton of feed (T₁), Him Chelate-P at 500 g/ton of feed (T₂), and comp-organic trace minerals (COTM) at 500 g/ton of feed (T₃). On day 35, body weight was 2.28% and 3.51% higher in groups T₂ and T₃, respectively, than in T₁. Food conversion ratio values revealed that birds supplemented with Him Chelate-P and COTM consumed 15 g less feed and 47 g more feed per unit body weight gain than the ITM-supplemented group. Furthermore, the European production efficiency factor was 5.98% and 2.13% higher in groups T₂ and T₃, respectively, than in T₁. Cumulative mortality was 50% and 25% less in groups T₂ and T₃, respectively, than in T₁. Carcass traits, including live weight, carcass weight, and liver weight, were 3.52%, 5.09%, and 7.17% higher, respectively, in groups T₂ than T₁. The supplementation of Him Chelate-P at 500 g/ton of feed was more effective at improving biochemical parameters than the supplementation of ITM and COTM. Serum Newcastle disease and infectious bursal disease antibody titers indicated that the immune-modulation of Him Chelate-P was better than that of ITM and COTM. Trace mineral content analysis in the serum, liver, tibia, and feces revealed that the trace minerals supplemented through Him Chelate-P and COTM were less excreted than those from inorganic sources. Therefore, OTMs are more utilized by the organs of broiler birds. Him Chelate-P at 500 g/ton of feed could be recommended to enhance growth performance, the overall health status, carcass traits, and immunity parameters in broiler chickens.