Influence of organic and inorganic iron on laying hens productivity and bloods morphological composition and parameters in blood

In the past, poultry nutritionists were interested in establishing nutrient requirements of poultry to support maximum performance of laying hens. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diets supplemented with organic and inorganic iron in different amounts on the productivity and blood parameters of laying hens at 28-36 weeks of age. A total of 36 Lohmann Brown laying hens at 28 weeks of age were assigned to three treatment groups (12 hens per each treatment group) and fed experimental diets for 8 weeks. The diets comprised 70 mg FeSO4 (Control group I), 150 mg iron sulphate (Group II), 70 mg FeSO4+72 mg of iron glycinate (Group III) and birds were keeping in the same conditions. Organic and inorganic iron in different amounts did not have statistically significant effect on the productivity of the laying hens. When analyzed the data on laying hens’ blood parameters, the results were statistically significant when it comes to the concentration of iron (in Group II it increased 29%, P<0.05) and concentration of ALAT (in Group III –it increased 36% P<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase, however, had a tendency to decrease in all experimental groups, from 1.45 to 6.71 times (P