J. Appl. Poult. Res.
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J APPL POULT RES 2008. 17:109-115. doi:10.3382/japr.2007-00049
© 2008 Poultry Science Association
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Research Reports

Effect of Different Levels of Dietary Organic (Bioplex) Trace Minerals on Live Performance of Broiler Chickens by Growth Phases1

L. Nollet*,2, G. Huyghebaert{dagger} and P. Spring{ddagger}

* Alltech Netherlands, 2982 Ridderkerk, the Netherlands; {dagger} Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Animals Science Unit, Scheldeweg 68, 9090 Melle, Belgium; and {ddagger} Swiss College of Agriculture, Laengasse 85, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland

2 Corresponding author: Lnollet{at}alltech.com


   SUMMARY
TOP
 SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
 REFERENCES AND NOTES
 
Trace mineral proteinates (peptides) for rapid absorption and assimilation can replace inorganic supplements in broiler diets, possibly lowering inclusion rates and mineral excretions. Bioplex (BP) minerals, with di- and tripeptides, were compared at 5 levels to no trace minerals (NEGCON) or inorganic minerals (INORG100%). The INORG100% treatment had 15 ppm Cu (sulfate), 45 ppm Fe (sulfate), 45 ppm Mn (oxide), and 45 ppm Zn (oxide) added, and Bioplex minerals were added at the same mineral concentrations (BP100%) or at lower proportions (BP17%, BP33%, BP50%, and BP67%) to wheat-corn-soy-based diets. Ross 308 broiler chicks (1,764 total) were used in the litter pen trial to 42 d of age. Compared with INORG100%, BP67% improved gain from 1 to 10 d and BP100% treatment improved gain from 11 to 21 d. The INORG100% and BP100% increased 42-d BW compared with NEGCON. From 1 to 21 d, the BP100% improved FCR compared with NEGCON and INORG100%. Feed intake was higher for INORG100%, BP50%, BP67%, and BP100% compared with NEGCON from 11 to 42 d. No significant differences were found among Bioplex treatments. Mortality percentage and European broiler index did not differ significantly among any of the treatments.

Key Words: Bioplex • broiler chicken • inorganic mineral • mineral excretion • organic mineral


   DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
TOP
 SUMMARY
 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
 REFERENCES AND NOTES
 
Supplementary inorganic trace minerals have traditionally provided poultry diets with sufficient amounts of each mineral to support normal growth, health, and reproduction. However, genetic advancements continually change the commercial broiler strains, and nutritionists start to question if currently used trace mineral levels and sources will be suitable in the future when feeding these faster-growing and highly productive birds for meat and eggs. Essential trace minerals typically supplemented to broiler feeds include Cu, I, Fe, Mn, Se, and Zn, with Co provided as an integral component of vitamin B12, separately, or both. The levels of inclusion of trace minerals in the feed are based mostly on NRC recommendations. Much of the information, even in recent NRC documents, is actually based on research from the 1960s and 1970s during which the birds and their management were substantially different. Because of that, the NRC recommendations may not represent the needs of modern strains of commercial poultry, and commercial trace mineral inclusion levels often exceed NRC recommendations [1].

It has been recognized that body retention of Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu in broiler chickens is low with 6, 10, 0.2, and 6%, respectively [2]. These values are in agreement with calculations done earlier by Van der Klis [3], who concluded that 22% Zn, 15% Fe, 0.6% Mn, and 5% Cu, respectively, were retained by broiler chickens during a 6-wk growth period. This low body retention coupled with high supplementation levels results in excess of trace minerals in poultry manure, causing accumulation in the soil. The most reasonable solution to reduce the excretion of trace minerals is to make them more available so that lower doses can be applied in the feed. This can be done by providing minerals in chelated form to the animals [1, 4–6].

Leeson [1] stated that birds fed just 20% of the inorganic levels as Bioplex trace minerals performed well in cages in comparison to the inorganic groups. Several researchers have shown better bioavailability of minerals provided in organic form in comparison to inorganic trace minerals, but not all organic mineral sources seem to give this effect. Smith et al. [7] fed supplemental Mn levels of 0, 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 ppm from Mn sulfate, oxide, or proteinate to broiler chicks from 0 to 21 d of age in battery brooders and from 22 to 47 d in individual cages under thermoneutral or heat stress conditions in environmental chambers. Based on slope ratios from multiple linear regression analysis of bone Mn on Mn intake from various sources, the relative bioavailabilities with Mn sulfate set at 100% in each case were 1) at 21 d, manganous oxide, 91%, and Mn proteinate, 120%; 2) at 47 d, thermoneutral, manganous oxide, 83%, and Mn proteinate, 125%; and 3) at 47 d, heat stress, manganous oxide, 82%, and Mn proteinate, 145%. There may be some extra benefit of Mn proteinate compared with Mn sulfate or oxide during heat stress.

Cao et al. [8] evaluated 8 commercially available organic Zn products and reagent grade Zn sulfate heptahydrate by chick bioassays. When Zn sulfate was assigned a value of 100% as standard, multiple linear regression slope ratios of bone Zn from chicks fed for 3 wk regressed on dietary Zn intake gave estimated relative bioavailability values of 83% for a Zn amino acid product and 139% for Zn proteinate A in 1 experiment and 94% for Zn polysaccharide complex, 99% for Zn proteinate B, and 108% for Zn proteinate C in a second experiment [9]. The Zn proteinate A, with the highest Zn bioavailability, had the lowest solubility in either pH 2 or 5 buffer. Makarsi and Polonis [10] supplemented the drinking water of BUT Big 6 turkeys with Bioplex Cu at a rate of 0.5 g/L and evaluated hematological and biochemical factors at 8 wk of age. The Bioplex Cu treated turkeys had significantly higher plasma Cu, hematocrit, and blood glucose levels than unsupplemented birds. The Bioplex Cu treatment did not affect Ca, Fe, or Zn status.

Cao et al. [11] used male broiler chicks to evaluate Zn bioavailabilities in Zn methionine and Zn proteinate compared with Zn acetate at 0, 30, 60, or 90 ppm added Zn levels (basal corn-soy diet had 24 ppm Zn). Bone Zn, hepatic metallothionein, and mucosal metallothionein increased with dietary Zn level and age of birds (3, 6, and 9 d of age). Using bone Zn concentrations and Zn acetate as standard (100%), multiple linear regressions gave relative bioavailabilities for Zn at 3, 6, and 9 d as follows: Zn-methionine 88, 91, and 78%; and Zn-proteinate 110, 124, and 116%, respectively. Similar estimates were calculated using mucosal metallothionein.

Sprague-Dawley rats were used in 2 feeding experiments by Du et al. [12] to evaluate Cu utilization from Cu proteinate, lysine, and sulfate (5 or 15 ppm Cu) using a purified diet (0.8 ppm Cu) containing 20 or 1,020 ppm Zn in 1 trial and 60 or 1,060 ppm Fe in the second trial. The purpose of the high Zn or Fe levels was for interference with Cu absorption. The rats fed Cu proteinate or Cu lysine had significantly higher liver Zn or Fe content in the respective trials than the rats fed Cu sulfate, suggesting that Cu proteinate and Cu lysine were absorbed via another mechanism that differs from that of inorganic Cu and is not interfered with by high Zn or Fe levels.

The objective of the present trail is to compare the effect of a standard inclusion level of inorganic trace minerals to organic Bioplex trace minerals at different inclusion levels on broiler performance and mineral excretion.


   MATERIALS AND METHODS
TOP
 SUMMARY
 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
 REFERENCES AND NOTES
 
One-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks [13] were used in this trial. The animals were housed in the poultry experimental facility of Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Animal Science Unit providing 49 pens, each having an available floor space of 2.1 m2 (September to October 2005).

Central water heating and infrared bulbs (1 per pen) provided optimal house temperature. The lighting program was 23L:1D during the entire trial. There was dynamic ventilation with an air entrance centrally at the top of the building and air extraction at both sides. The broilers were vaccinated at 1 d old against Newcastle disease (NDW, spray) and bronchitis (Poulvac IB Primer, spray, Intervet NV, Mechelen, Belgium). At 16 d of age the vaccination against Newcastle disease was repeated with La Sota (Clone 30, drinking water, Intervet NV).

The experiment consisted of 7 treatments (Table 1Go). There were 7 replicates per treatment (7 treatments x7 replicates each =49 pens). The total number of birds housed was 1,764 (18 male and 18 female chicks/pen). The experimental diets (Table 2Go) were wheat, corn (only starter), soybean meal, and full-fat soy based. Bioplex [14] was compared at 5 levels to no trace minerals (NEGCON) or inorganic minerals (INORG100%). The INORG100% treatment had 15 ppm Cu (sulfate), 45 ppm Fe (sulfate), 45 ppm Mn (oxide), and 45 ppm Zn (oxide) added, and Bioplex minerals were added at the same mineral concentrations (BP100%) or at lower proportions (BP17%, BP33%, BP50%, and BP67%). Diets were supplemented with appropriate xylanase and with phytase. The composition of starter (1 to 10 d), grower (11 to 21 d), finisher (22 to 35 d), and withdrawal (36 to 42 d) diets is given in Table 1Go. All birds received feed (mash form) and water (1 hanging drinker per pen) ad libitum.


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  		Table 1. Dietary levels of added trace minerals from organic or inorganic sources
 

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  		Table 2. Composition of the respective experimental diets for broilers
 
Average pen weight was recorded at 1, 10, 21, and 42 d of age. Feed intake was recorded for 1 to 10, 11 to 21, and 22 to 42 d periods. Feed conversion, daily growth rate, bird-day, and daily feed intake per bird were calculated for 1 to 10, 11 to 21, 1 to 21, 22 to 42, 11 to 42, and 1 to 42 d periods. Twice daily, animals and housing facilities were inspected for the general health status and constant feed and water supply as well as temperature and ventilation, dead birds, and unexpected events. Daily mortality and culling were recorded for each pen.

On d 37, excreta samples were collected overnight by using collecting trays. After removal of the nonfecal material, moisture content of the excreta was determined by drying during 48 h at 60°C in a ventilated drying oven. Dried excreta samples were analyzed for Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn using induced coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry preceded with acid destruction to determine levels of excretion as adopted from [15]. All parameters were subjected to ANOVA and LSD-multiple range test. For the entire period, the effect of diet on the mortality and European production index was analyzed by ANOVA and LSD-multiple range test as well (Statistica [16]; Snedecor and Cochran [17]).


   RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
TOP
 SUMMARY
 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
 REFERENCES AND NOTES
 
The 1-d-old chicks placed in this trial were of good quality and evenly distributed over the different treatments (P =0.844 for mean body weights at d 0). The results of the starter period (1 to 10 d of age) are summarized in Table 3Go. In this period, treatments had a significant effect on the live performance of the birds. Treatments BP50% and BP67% had growth rates significantly better than the NEGCON (+15.5 and +19.3%, respectively). Similar results were found for daily feed intake (+8.2 and +9.7% for treatments BP50% and BP67% vs. the NEG-CON, respectively) and FCR (–6.6 and –8.4%, respectively). The BP100% has the same gain, intake, and FCR as NEGCON. The performance response was highest for BP50% and BP67% and was lower at lower or higher levels of Bioplex.


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  		Table 3. The live performances and corresponding statistical analyses for period 1 to 10 d, 11 to 21 d, 22 to 42 d, and 1 to 42 d
 
In the subsequent period (11 to 21 d of age; Table 3Go), all supplemented treatments showed better BW gain than the NEGCON. The highest growth rate was found for treatment BP100%, which was significantly higher compared with the NEGCON (+18.4%), INORG (+6.4%), and lower doses of the Bioplex minerals (~7%). Feed conversion ratio of treatment BP100% was significantly better than that of the NEGCON treatment (–12.9%), the INORG treatment (–6.4%), and the other doses of Bioplex minerals, except treatment BP33%.

No significant effects on growth rate were found in the finisher period (22 to 42 d of age; Table 3Go). Feed conversion ratio for this period was the best for the NEGCON treatment, which was probably associated with the lower BW of these birds. Poorest FCR was obtained in the BP67 and BP100 treatments.

Considering the overall period (1 to 42 d of age, Table 3Go), growth rate of the NEGCON broiler chickens was lower compared with birds fed the supplemented diets, with significant differences achieved for treatments INORG and BP100% (+3.6 and +2.9%). The best FCR were found for the INORG treatment and the BP17% and BP33% treatments, but there were no significant differences among the treatments.

The mean mortality plus culls in the current trial was 2.9%, which is very low (Table 4Go). No indication of any infection or other problem was noted during the course of the trial. There was no significant effect of treatments on mortality plus culls. The European production index was increased, indicating improved performance, by supplementing minerals to the NEGCON diet. However, this improvement was never significant.


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  		Table 4. Statistical analysis of the mortality and production index (0 to 42 d)
 
The excreta dry matter trace mineral contents are presented in Table 5Go. Reductions in mineral excretion with the organic (Bioplex) trace minerals BP17%, BP33%, BP50%, BP67%, and BP100% treatments, respectively, compared with INORG100% positive control were as follows: 1) Cu: –59.2, –68.7, –38.8, –23.8, and – 2.5%; 2) Fe: –20.8, –34.9, –21.5, –10.8, and – 0.1%; 3) Mn: –43.9, –61.5, –32.0, –20.2, and –8.5%; and 4) Zn: –53.4, –54.2, –30.6, –14.4, and –0.2%. The minerals excretion of BP100% and BP67% was not significantly different from INORG100% nourishing the idea that providing higher levels of mineral chelates does not lead to higher mineral retention. This could be due to the fact that when providing high levels of minerals of a form in which they are suggested to be more available, the limiting factor is no longer their availability but the speed at which they are absorbed by the gut.


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  		Table 5. Mineral excretion levels at d 37 (mg/kg of dry fecal material)
 
The broiler performance improvements observed with the highest Bioplex level (BP100%), compared with equal trace mineral levels from INORG100%, in feed conversion ratio from 1 to 21 d and 11 to 21 d and average daily gain from 11 to 21 d seems to corroborate the findings of improved trace mineral bioavailability from mineral proteinates [8, 18–21]. Bioplex Cu supplemented to drinking water of turkeys increased blood Cu, hematocrit, and blood glucose levels compared with unsupplemented birds [12]. The Bioplex trace minerals were most beneficial during the first half of the 42-d growout (but not at a BP100% level) possibly coinciding with early skeletal development, rapid growth, and high metabolic rate.


   CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
TOP
 SUMMARY
 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
REFERENCES AND NOTES
 

  1. The use of Bioplex mineral chelates at moderate higher levels (50%, 67%) during the first 3 wk of broiler production led to better performance during this period.
  2. Supplementation of broiler diets with Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn had no significant effect on performance during the entire trial.
  3. No significant differences were found among the different doses of the Bioplex minerals (BP17% to BP100%). Final BW were higher with INORG100% and BP100% treatments than with NEGCON treatment.
  4. Results did not differ significantly by treatment in mortality and European production index.
  5. Future research using inorganic and organic trace minerals side-by-side in dose-response trials would be helpful. Also, the use of a step-down program (higher levels in starter diets going down to lower levels at the end of the production) on performance would also be an interesting item to investigate.


   FOOTNOTES
 
1 Mention of products does not imply approval of these over similar products. Back


   REFERENCES AND NOTES
TOP
 SUMMARY
 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS
 REFERENCES AND NOTES
 

  1. Leeson, S. 2005. Trace mineral requirements of poultry—Validity of the NRC recommendations. In Re-defining Mineral Nutrition. J. A. Taylor-Pickard and L. A. Tucker, ed. Nottingham Univ. Press, Nottingham, UK.
  2. Mohanna, C., and Y. Nys. 1998. Influence of age, sex and cross on body concentrations of trace elements (zinc, iron, copper and manganese) in chickens. Br. Poult. Sci. 39:536–543.[CrossRef][Medline]
  3. Van der Klis, J. D. 1999. Factors affecting the absorption of minerals from the gastro-intestinal tract of broilers. In Proc. 8th Eur. Symp. Poult. Nutr. WPSA, Bologna, Italy.
  4. Leeson, S. 2003. A new look at trace mineral nutrition of poultry: Can we reduce environmental burden of poultry manure? In Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries. T. P. Lyons and K. A. Jacques, ed. Nottingham Univ. Press, Nottingham, UK.
  5. Van der Klis, J. D., and A. D. Kemme. 2002. An appraisal of trace elements: Inorganic and organic. In Poultry Feedstuffs: Supply, Composition and Nutritive Value. J. M. McNab and K. N. Boorman, ed. CAB Int., Wallingford, UK.
  6. Nollet, L., W. Wakeman, and C. Belyavin. 2005 Replacement of inorganic Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn with Bioplex on growth performance and faecal mineral excretion in broilers. Pages 173–175 in Proc. 15th Eur. Symp. Poult. Nutr., Balatonfüred, Hungary.
  7. Smith, M. O., I. L. Sherman, L. C. Miller, and K. R. Robbins. 1994. Bioavailability of manganese from different sources in heat distressed broilers. Poult. Sci. 73(Suppl. 1):163. (Abstr.)
  8. Cao, J., P. R. Henry, S. R. Davis, R. J. Cousins, R. D. Miles, R. C. Littell, and C. B. Ammerman. 2003. Relative bioavailability of organic zinc sources based on tissue zinc and metallothionein in chicks fed conventional dietary zinc concentrations. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 101:161–170.
  9. Ciara, F. 2000. Chelated Mineral Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT. Personal communication.
  10. Makarski, B., and A. Polonis. 2001. Effect of bioplex-Cu on the level of biochemical indices of turkey blood. Polish J. Food Nutr. Sci. 10:49–51.
  11. Cao, J., P. R. Henry, H. Guo, R. A. Holwerda, J. P. Toth, R. C. Littell, R. D. Miles, and C. B. Ammerman. 2000. Chemical characteristics and relative bioavailability of supplemental organic zinc sources for poultry and ruminants. J. Anim. Sci. 78:2039–2054.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  12. Du, Z., R. W. Hemken, J. A. Jackson, and D. S. Trammell. 1996. Utilization of copper in copper proteinate, copper lysine, and cupric sulfate using the rat as an experimental model. J. Anim. Sci. 74:1657–1663.[Abstract]
  13. Ross 308, Belgabroed, Merksplas, Belgium.
  14. Bioplex, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY.
  15. Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International (OMA), 18th edition, method 968.08. AOAC Int., Gaithersburg, MD.
  16. Statistica. 1995. Version 5.0. Statsoft Inc., Tulsa, OK.
  17. Snedecor, G. W., and W. G. Cochran. 1989. Statistical Methods. 8th ed. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA.
  18. Baker, D. H., and K. M. Halpin. 1987. Efficacy of manganese-protein chelate compared with that of manganese sulfate for chicks. Poult. Sci. 66:1561–1563.[Web of Science][Medline]
  19. Fly, A. D., O. A. Izquierdo, K. R. Lowry, and D. H. Baker. 1989. Manganese bioavailability in a Mn-methionine chelate. Nutr. Res. 9:901–910.[CrossRef]
  20. Wedekind, K. J., and D. H. Baker. 1990. Zinc bioavailability in feed grade sources of zinc. J. Anim. Sci. 68:684–689.[Abstract]
  21. Smith, M. O., I. L. Sherman, L. C. Miller, K. R. Robbins, and J. T. Halley. 1995. Relative bioavailability of manganese from manganese proteinate, manganese sulfate, and manganese monoxide in broilers reared at elevated temperatures. Poult. Sci. 74:702–707.[Medline]



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