Mineral supplementation: effects on bone integrity and intestinal morphometry of broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria sp

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of organic minerals on the productive performance and bone quality of broilers from 1 to 21 days of age and the intestinal health in situations of enteric challenge from 21 to 28 days of age. In a completely randomized design, with two treatments composed for minerals as sulfate and Carbo-Amino-Phospho-Chelate (CAPC), a total of 900 male broiler chicks were allocated to nine replicates and 18 experimental units with 50 birds each. 640 birds at 21 days of age were transferred to experimental cages and distributed in a completely randomized design, in factorial 2 × 2 (minerals as sulfate and CAPC × with and without enteric challenge), obtaining 4 treatments with 16 replicates and 10 birds each. In the same day of change, the group of challenged broilers received a commercial vaccine for coccidiosis that covers the Eimeria sp. At 7 days, the supplementation with CAPC minerals resulted in higher (p<0.05) weight gain and better feed conversion in relation to the inorganic source. The deposition of minerals evaluated in the tibia of broilers was not influenced (p>0.05) by the source of minerals, with the exception of Cu and Mn, whose deposition was greater (p<0.05) in the bones of poultries supplemented with inorganic source of minerals. There was higher (p<0.05) length and width of the villi and increase in the ratio villus: crypt in response to the intestinal spoliation with CAPC supplementation when compared to the inorganic source.

Identifying Dietary Timing of Organic Trace Minerals to Reduce the Incidence of Osteomyelitis Lameness in Broiler Chickens Using the Aerosol Transmission Model

“…The results implied that broilers subjected to Availa ® ZMC treatment experienced protection from lameness disease until they reached 42 d old (Table 2). These data, consistent with prior studies, indicate that adequate absorption and deposition of minerals, particularly calcium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, and vitamin D3, play a crucial role in forming the bone matrix during the early life of broilers, significantly affecting bone and intestinal health [45,[49][50][51]. Therefore, our results support the hypothesis that incorporating 0.15% Availa ® ZMC effectively reduces the occurrence of lameness in chickens up to 42 days old, yet further research is required to clarify this finding.…”

“…This finding aligns with prior investigations suggesting that BCO lameness is attributable to the infection by a diverse group of opportunistic organisms, with Staphylococcus spp. as one of the most frequently encountered species in broilers with lameness at our primary research facilities [ 12 , 45 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. Consequently, this result indicates that BCO disease has progressively manifested in seemingly healthy broilers by day 56, which supports the practical advice to avoid extending the production cycle of broilers beyond 56 days.…”