Supplementation of minerals and vitamins in broiler diets: effect on performance and bone quality

Differences in growth rate and carcass composition of broilers may require higher levels of vitamins and minerals with higher bioavailability. The aim of this trial was to supplement commercial diets for broilers with optimized levels of vitamins and with different mineral sources to assess the effect on performance, carcass yield and bone quality. A total of 1,800 Cobb Slow male broiler chicks were distributed into a 2 x 2 factorial completely randomized design (vitamin programs - optimized and commercial versus mineral sources - inorganic [sulfates] and carbo-amino-phospho-chelate, CAPC). The vitamin D3 metabolite, 25 (OH) D3, was included in the optimized vitamin premix. Birds and feed leftovers were weekly weighed. Data was subjected to statistical analysis using the GLM procedure of SAS software. Supplementing diets with a combination of optimized vitamin programs and CAPC as mineral source resulted in better feed conversion at 42 days of age (P<0.05). Supplementation with CAPC minerals resulted in a lower red index (*a) (P<0.05) in the adjacent thigh muscles and drumstick bones of broilers when thawed and roasted, indicating less bone porosity. The inclusion rates of mineral sources with higher bioavailability can be reduced, decreasing the negative impact of mineral excretion and the polluting effect on the environment.

Comparative Study of Urinary Minerals and Their Effect on Stone Formation in Two Groups of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Healthy Children

Background: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a systemic autosomal disorder and the most important chronic lung disease in children. Oxalate is the end product of vitamin C metabolism, which increases the risk of kidney stones, urinary bladder stones, and calcium deposits in CF patients. Objectives: Considering the increased mineral excretion and the rate of stone formation in the urinary tract, examining the excretion of minerals will greatly help resolve clinical problems. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on CF and healthy children in Gorgan in 2018 - 19. In this study, 40 CF children and 40 healthy children were randomly selected. After obtaining informed consent from the parents of the children, a random urine sample was collected to evaluate urine minerals. Children with abnormal urinary mineral excretion underwent ultrasonography. The data were analyzed by SPSS 18 using descriptive indices (mean ± SD, frequency, and percentage) and statistical tests (independent t-test, chi-square test, and nonparametric tests). Results: Out of 80 CF and healthy children, 34 were girls, and the rest was boys. The mean age of the patients was 4.34 ± 3.38. The age difference was not significant between the groups (P > 0.05). The mean urinary levels of phosphorus, uric acid, magnesium, and citrate were 0.87 ± 1.01, 1.16 ± 0.68, 0.23 ± 0.18, 2.37 ± 3.13 mg/mg of creatinine. In the pediatric patient group, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean urinary calcium level in CF patients was 0.28 ± 0.39, which was lower than that in the healthy group. The mean urinary oxalate level was 0.13 ± 0.20 in CF patients, which was higher than that in the healthy group (P > 0.05). Hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, hypomagnesiuria, and hypocitraturia occurred in 35, 30, 62, and 7.5% of the CF patients, respectively. Among the urinary minerals studied, hyperoxaluria was found to be a major determinant of stone formation risk in CF. No correlation was observed between the formation of stones and the rate of excretion of minerals (P > 0.05). Conclusions: In summary, CF patients are at an increased risk of developing citrate and calcium stones compared to the healthy group, which is associated with hyperuricosuria, hypocitraturia, and hyperoxaluria.

Effects of inorganic minerals replaced by complexed glycinates on growth, blood profiles, immune responses, intestinal morphology, and mineral excretion in piglets

BACKGROUND: The effects of inorganic trace minerals (ITM) replaced by low-dose glycine-complexed trace minerals (GCM) on growth, serum parameters, immunity, intestinal morphology, and mineral excretion in piglets were investigated. One hundred and twenty-eight weaned piglets (14.18 ± 0.33kg body weight (BW)) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 4 replicates, 8 piglets per replicate. Treatments consist of: (T1) basal diet + 100% inorganic trace mineral (ITM) as the control group (20 ppm Cu, 150 ppm Fe, 150 ppm Zn, and 30 ppm Mn from sulfates); (T2) basal diet + 50% ITM (Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn from sulfates, 50% of control) + 50% organic trace minerals (OTM, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn from glycine complexed trace minerals (GCM), 50% of control); (T3) basis diet + 50% OTM from GCM; (T4) basal diet + 70% OTM from GCM. The feeding period lasted 28 d and was divided into 2 stages (0 to 14 d and 15 to 28 d). After feeding trial , 6 pigs per treatment were randomly selected to slaughter for sampling. RESULTS: Average daily gain, feed intake, and G:F were not affected by dietary treatments during the overall period. During the second, and the overall feeding phases, the digestibility of Zn and Fe in T3 and T4 was higher than that of T1 ( P < 0.05). The concentration of serum ferritin in T2 was significantly higher than T3 and T4. Serum immunoglobulin A concentration in the ileal mucosa of T2 was higher than that of T1 ( P < 0.05), and the higher duodenum villus height was observed in T4 compared with the rest treatments ( P < 0.05). The lowest trace mineral excretion was overserved in T3 ( P < 0.01); in addition, the urinary concentrations of Zn and Fe in T2 were lower than that in T1 ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that GCM have higher bioavailability than ITM, and that supplementation of low-dose GCM to replace full dose ITM could reduce mineral excretion without affecting performance, blood profiles, immune responses, and intestinal morphology in piglets.

Low-dose of organic trace minerals reduced fecal mineral excretion without compromising performance of laying hens

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of low doses of organic trace minerals (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) on productive performance, egg quality, yolk and tissue mineral retention, and fecal mineral excretion of laying hens during the late laying period.Methods: A total of 405 healthy hens (HY-Line White, 50-week-old) were randomly divided into 3 treatments, with 9 replicates per treatment and 15 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments included feeding a basal diet + inorganic trace minerals at commercial levels (CON), a basal diet + inorganic trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (ITM), and a basal diet + proteinated trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (TRT). The trial lasted for 56 days.Results: Compared to CON, ITM decreased (p<0.05) egg production, daily egg mass, albumen height, eggshell strength, yolk Fe concentration, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and total protein, and increased (p<0.05) egg loss and feed to egg ratio. Whereas with productive performance, egg quality, yolk mineral retention, and serum indices there were no differences (p>0.05) between CON and TRT. The concentrations of Fe and Mn in the tissue and tibia were changed notably in ITM relative to CON and TRT. Both ITM and TRT reduced (p<0.05) fecal mineral excretion compared to CON.Conclusion: These results indicate that dietary supplementation of low-dose organic trace minerals reduced fecal mineral excretion without negatively impacting hen performance and egg quality.