Effect of organic zinc and manganese on performance, hepatic tissue and tibia proximate compositions in finisher broiler chickens

Abstract

Effect of varying levels of organic zinc and manganese on performance, hepatic tissue and tibia proximate compositions of finisher broiler chickens were evaluated. A total of 360 heads of mix sexed of day-old chicks of broiler chickens in which at 4 weeks of age were allotted to 9 dietary treatments in a 3×3 factorial experimental design arrangement involving three zinc levels (0mg, 20mg and 30mg/kg diet) and three levels of  manganese (0mg, 20mg and 30mg/kg diet. Each treatment was replicated 5 times with 8 birds per replicate.  Results indicated that dietary levels of zinc and manganese had no significant (p>0.05) effect on initial body weight, average daily feed intake, while weight gai, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significant (p<0.05). while, there were significant (p<0.05).  Chemical analysis of the liver tissue showed that among all the parameters determined such as protein, zinc, manganese, moisture, ether extract ash and nitrogen free extract, only the moisture content and zinc values were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by dietary treatments. Results of the proximate analysis of the right and left tibia showed only significant effect in the zinc content values among the treatments. In conclusion, the results of this present study suggest that the combination of organic zinc and manganese in the diet of broiler chickens up to 30g/kg for improved growth performance