Enhanced humoral immunity in progeny chicks from hens fed practical diets supplemented with zinc
1989
Stahl, J.L. | Cook, M.E. | Sunde, M.L. | Gregor, J.L.
The antibody response of 3-week-old chicks from Single Comb White Leghorn breeding hens fed graded levels of dietary zinc (28, 38, 48, 68, or 178 micrograms/g) was evaluated in six 3-week trials. The body weight and incidence of zinc-related feather fraying in the progeny were also measured. Although progeny growth was not affected by maternal dietary zinc levels, 38 microgram/g total zinc (i.e., 28 microgram/g zinc from unsupplemented diet plus 10 microgram/g supplemental zinc; 38 ppm) in a practical corn-soy breeder diet appeared necessary for minimal feather fraying and maximal immune response in the progeny as measured by an antibody response to sheep red blood cells. However, supplementation of the maternal diet with 150 microgram/g zinc may be excessive and cause marginal immunosuppression of young progeny without affecting their growth.
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