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Influence of Graded Levels of Organic Zinc on Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Broilers

Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 96010-900, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Correspondence: ¹ Corresponding author: rossi_patricia{at}yahoo.com.br

This study investigated the effect of graded levels of organic Zn (Bioplex Zn) on growth performance and carcass traits of broilers fed diets containing organic Se (Sel-Plex). Dietary treatments consisted of adding 0, 15, 30, 45, or 60 ppm organic Zn to a basal diet containing 60 ppm Zn from an inorganic source. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Body weight, feed intake, feed conversion, and carcass traits were evaluated. Carcass evaluation was also performed on the last day of the experimental period. Body weight, feed intake, feed conversion, and weights of individual meat cuts were not statistically influenced by increasing organic Zn levels in the diet. However, a significant increase in skin tearing strength was observed in response to increasing levels of dietary organic Zn. Zinc plays a role in epithelial cell layers and collagen synthesis, thus affecting susceptibility of skin to tearing. These data indicated that organic Zn does not affect growth performance of broilers but increases resistance of skin to tearing, therefore improving carcass quality.

Key Words: broilers • skin quality • zinc • selenium