Use of organometallic chelates in broiler diet: effect on the performance and bone structure. Preliminary results

Abstract

On 26,000 Ross 508 broiler chickens (two groups of 13,000 per pen) the effect of dietary substitution with in organic trace minerals or organometallic chelates on performances and bones tructure c trace minerals or organometallic chelates on performances and bone structure was studied. Treatments consisted of a commercial diet integrated with 0.5% of a vitamin-mineral premix containing inorganic trace minerals (CTR) or organometallic chelates (MHA) using Methionine Hydroxy Analog. Production performance was measured during the 52 d trial period and bone structure was evalu- ated at the slaughter (52 d). Significant (P=0.038) higher values were observed in the finishing period (41 to 52 d) for the body weight of the treated group (3560 g vs. 3358 g). The same trend was observed for the ADG (MHA 87.6 g/d vs. CTR 71 g/d; P<0.05). Concerning ash percentage significant higher values were observed in the CTR group for femur (49.01% vs. 51.45%; P<0.01) and tibia (53.87% vs. 49.79%; P<0.001); femur showed also higher values for bone radiopacity (MHA 0.21 px vs. CTR 0.26 px; P=0.035). MHA group showed significant higher value for morphometric measures of the femur and tibia. Results suggest that organometallic chelates can be included in the diet without compromising broiler performance.