Comparative effects of inorganic and three forms of organic trace minerals on growth performance, carcass traits, immunity, and profitability of broilers

Objective: The experiment was conducted to investigate the comparative effects of inorganic trace minerals (ITM) and three forms of organic trace minerals (OTM) (propionate, metho-chelated, and proteinate) on growth performance, edible meat yield, immunity, and profitability of commercial broilers. Materials and methods: A corn-soya based mash diet comprising four treatments each of 10 replicates were fed to 720 day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks for 35 days (starter diet 0–21 days and grower diet 22–35 days). The diets for comparison were as follows: diet 1: control diet with ITM premix at 1 kg/ton of feed (T1); diet 2: control diet supplemented with propionate trace minerals at 600 gm/ton (T2); diet 3: control diet supplemented with metho-chelated trace minerals at 500 gm/ton by reducing 225 gm methionine/ton of feed (T3); and diet 4: control diet supplemented with proteinate trace minerals at 500 gm/ton of feed (T4). Growth performance, carcass yield, and antibody titer (AT) data were recorded. Data were analyzed and interpreted using SAS Computer Package Program version 9.1. Results: Feeding propionate and proteinate OTM showed similar performance. Birds fed these two types (propionate and proteinate) or OTM had better performance in comparison with those receiving ITM and metho-chelated one. Proteinate group produced more wing meat and propio­nate group showed higher breast and drumstick meat yield as compared with those received the metho-chelated trace mineral and ITM. The birds belonging to OTM groups showed significantly higher AT level against infectious bursal disease. Proteinate minerals groups showed higher prof­itability followed by propionate fed broilers. Conclusion: Two forms of OTM, propionate and proteinate improved performance of commercial broilers over those of ITM and metho-chelated one. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 6(1): 66-73, March 2019