Effect of feeding different dietary levels of zinc and iron on growth performance immune response and hematological parameters of growing Turkey poults

Present study was undertaken to examine the effect of variable dietary levels of zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) (lower level < NRC recommendation < higher level) on growth performance, immune response and hematological parameters of growing turkey poults. Three Zn levels (50/45, 70/65 and 90/ 85mg/kg), each at three different levels of Fe (73/67, 80/67 and 100/80 mg/kg) were used during 0-4/ 5-8 weeks of age. A total of 288 (9×4×8) day old turkey chicks of uniform body weight were randomly distributed into 9 treatments. Results indicated significantly (P<0.01) higher body weight gain and better feed conversion efficiency at 70/65 and 90/85 mg Zn/kg diet during 5-8 and 0-8 weeks of age. Significantly (P<0.01) higher humoral immune response was recorded in dietary combination of 90/85 mg Zn with 100/ 80mg Fe/kg diet followed by 70/65 mg Zn with 100/80 mg Fe/kg diet, 90/85 mg Zn with 73/67 mg Fe/ kg diet and 50/45 mg Zn/kg diet 80/67 mg Fe/kg diet than those recorded in dietary combinations. Significantly (P<0.01) higher humoral immune response was recorded at 100/80mg Fe/kg diet than those recorded in other levels of Fe. Significantly lower H:L ratio was observed in a dietary combination of 90/85 mg Zn/kg diet with 80/67 mg Fe/kg diet. Based on the results, it may be concluded that a dietary combination of 90/85 mg Zn with 100/80 mg Fe/kg diet was found adequate for optimum growth performance, immune response and hematological parameters of growing turkey poults during 0-4/5-8 weeks of age.