The effect of replacing inorganic trace minerals with Bioplex® and Sel-Plex® on performance and carcass quality of broilers

Organic forms of micro elements (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Se) have higher availability than their inorganic forms and consequently it is expected that lower levels of incorporation in feed allows the maintenance of performance and poultry carcass quality. Besides, the organic form of selenium replacing the inorganic has a positive antioxidant effect which benefits carcass quality. In this trial, productive performance and carcass quality were compared among broilers receiving a commercial inorganic premix containing the trace mineral Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Se (ITM) or a premix with the organic source of the same minerals (OTM). The mineral premix was added to a corn/soybean based feed. The inorganic treatment provided Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Se at levels of 8, 40, 50, 60 and 0.2 ppm, respectively. The organic treatment contained 5, 20, 5, 20, in form of Bioplex® copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe), respectively, and 0.3 ppm of selenium in the form of Sel-Plex® (Alltech Inc.) At one day of age 119.500 sex mixed broiler chickens were housed in four identical poultry houses. Each treatment was administered to two poultry houses. Growth performances, feathering and mortality were controlled between 1 and 31 days of age, and when the birds were slaughtered, carcass yield and carcass lesions (skin tearing and breast blisters) were determined, and the causes of carcass rejection were analyzed. Meat quality was also compared, with the determination of meat pH, drip loss and colour. Growth performances at 31 days of age revealed no significant differences between the two treatments. Feathering at 21 days of age (n=400) was better (P <0.05) in the OTM birds. Carcass evaluation at the slaughterhouse showed a significant decreasing (P <0.05) for skin tearing (n=2400) on birds fed organic trace minerals. There were no significant differences among treatments for carcass yield or downgrades. The evaluation of pH (n=80) and drip loss (n=80) of the pectoral muscles? (pectoralis major) neither revealed significant differences among treatments. However, OTM broilers? meat was significantly redder (P <0.05, a* on D3 & D5) than ITM, indicating improved antioxidant status, thus higher resistance to discoloration. As a generic conclusion for this trial, it can stated that Bioplex® and Sel-Plex® can be used to reduce the mineral specification in broiler diets, whilst still maintaining performance and improving some carcass and meat quality characteristics.