Impact of feeding lower levels of chelated trace minerals versus industry levels of inorganic trace minerals on broiler performance, yield, footpad health, and litter mineral concentration

SUMMARY Two 54-d grow-out trials were conducted in a commercial broiler facility to determine the effect on performance, carcass yield, footpad lesions, and litter trace mineral concentrations when feeding broiler chicks diets containing reduced levels of chelated Zn-(HMTBA)2 [where HMTBA is 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid; trials 1 and 2], Cu-(HMTBA)2 (trial 2), and Mn-(HMTBA)2 (trial 2) in comparison with industry levels of the respective inorganic trace minerals (ITM). A total of 122,400 Ross 708 straight-run chicks were distributed into 8 houses with approximately 15,300 chicks per house for trials 1 and 2, with 4 replicate houses per treatment. Treatments in trial 1 consisted of 30 ppm of Zn as chelated Zn-(HMTBA)2 and 100 ppm of Zn as ZnSO4 (ITM). In trial 2, treatments consisted of 32, 8, and 32 ppm from Zn-, Cu-, and Mn-(HMTBA)2, respectively, and 100, 125, and 90 ppm of Zn, Cu, and Mn, respectively, as sulfates (ITM). Trial 1 was carried out on built-up litter, and trial 2 was on fresh litter. In trials 1 and 2, no differences (P > 0.05) were observed in performance, carcass yield, or tibia Zn over the 54-d period between treatments. On d 54 (trial 1), chicks fed diets supplemented with Zn-(HMTBA)2 had 27.3% more grade 1 and 2 paws than those fed ITM (P < 0.01). On d 54 (trial 2), the chicks fed Zn-, Cu-, and Mn-(HMTBA)2 had 23.3% more grade 1 and 2 paws than those fed ITM (P = 0.07). For trial 2, litter Zn, Cu, and Mn from birds fed Zn-, Cu-, and Mn-(HMTBA)2 were reduced by 40, 74, and 35%, respectively, compared with birds fed the respective ITM. In summary, based on the present data, commercial levels of ITM can effectively be replaced with reduced levels of Zn-, Cu-, and Mn-(HMTBA)2 without compromising bird performance while achieving a significant improvement in footpad health and a reduction in trace mineral concentrations in the litter.