LAUSR

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the effects of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) supplementation from different sources on performance, slaughter characteristics and mineral excretion of broilers. Metal chelates of glycine, hydrate (GC) were compared to inorganic sources (sulfates and oxides, SO) and metal chelates of amino acids, hydrate (AC). 4800 one day-old broilers (Ross PM3) were randomly assigned to 6 treatments, each consisting of 8 pens (1:1 sex ratio). A diet without trace mineral supplementation served as negative control (NC). The positive control (PC) was NC with a full dose of trace minerals (FD) as SO: Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn at 10, 30, 80 and 100 ppm respectively. GC½ = NC + ½FD as GC, GCFD = NC + FD as GC, AC½ = NC + ½FD as AC, ACFD = NC + FD as AC. Feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined per pen. At day 31, excreta samples were collected in 3 pens per treatment. At day 35, 50 birds were slaughtered and yields were recorded. Differences were tested by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test (P