The influences of organic minerals on performance, health, and meat quality of broilers

A series of studies was conducted to evaluate the effects of various supplemental organic minerals on performance, cellulitis incidence, and meat quality of broiler chickens.; The supplementation of broiler diets with a zinc-amino acid complex (Zn-AA) (with or without added vitamin E) reduced experimentally induced avian cellulitis levels. In two studies conducted using similar dietary treatments (control, vitamin E, Zn-AA, and vitamin E + Zn-AA), supplementation with vitamin E + Zn-AA resulted in 15 and 7% reductions in overall cellulitis level compared with the control group. Newcastle disease antibody titer levels were greatest in birds receiving the supplemental vitamin E and Zn-AA combination. Live performance was not appreciably affected by dietary treatment.; In two additional studies, broilers diets were supplemented with selenium (Se) as either sodium selenite (inorganic) or Se-yeast (organic) to determine the effects on broiler meat quality. A control diet with no added Se was also used in these studies. Live performance was not substantially affected by Se treatment. Whole carcass drip loss was not influenced by diet; however, breast fillet drip loss was increased, compared with the control, when birds were fed sodium selenite. Fillet drip loss in broilers supplemented with Se-yeast was similar to control birds. Sodium selenite supplementation apparently increases breast muscle drip loss. Water holding capacity and cooking loss of muscle tissue was not influenced by Se source.; The results of this research reveal important opportunities for affecting bird health and meat product quality through nutritional manipulations. The impact of mineral source on physiological conditions and biochemical processes (cellulitis and drip loss) with significant economic implications for broiler producers was highlighted. As one management tool, dietary adjustments (including a more available mineral source and accounting for possible interactions between nutrients) can benefit agricultural animal production.