Effects Of Different Forms Of Zinc On The Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Broiler Chicks

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary organic and inorganic zinc on performance and carcass characteristics of ROSS 308 broiler chicks. A total of 420 one-day old broilers were randomly allotted to 2 groups with 6-replicates of 35-chicks each. First group fed standard corn-soybean diet supplemented with organic Zn (Vevomin Zn 13 % DSM - at 50% of the broiler strain recommendations) and second group inorganic Zinc sulphate (at 100% of the broiler strain recommendations). Body weight, feed conversion and carcass traits were evaluated. At the end of the experiment, 48 birds (6 males and 6 females from each group) were slaughtered for determination of carcass traits. Body weight at 42 days, dressed broiler carcasses and individual meat cuts were not significantly (P<0.05) influenced by feeding different forms of zinc in the diet. Chicks fed standard corn-soybean diet supplemented with organic Zn had higher body weights. Significant difference was found only at 35 days of age. Supplementation with organic Zn reduced the feed conversion ratio significantly (P