Manganese Retention and Performance of Broiler Chicks Fed on Manganese Supplemented Diet

One hundred and ninety two, day old Hubbard broiler chicks were equally divided into 4 groups viz T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ of 48 chicks each having two replicates in each group. The basal diets were supplemented with manganese to make the concentration 30,60,90 and 120 ppm in T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ respectively. The body weight gain at 6 weeks of age were 1.49, 1.52, 1.54 and 1.55 kg for groups T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ respectively, the differences were eon significant. The feee intake, feed conversion ratio and DM metabolisability were also not influenced by Mn supplementation to the basal diet. The balance trial showed positive retention of N, Ca, and P with no significant effect of Mn supplementation. However the percent retention of Mn decreased as the supplementation of Mn level increased. The carcass traits like dressed weightt giblet weight, tibial length and breadth were not influenced by higher supplementation of Mn. The ash, Ca and P concentration of tibia were almost same but the Mn concentration of tibia increased significantly as the supplementation level increased. It can be concluded that Mn concentration in the basal diet above 60 ppm did not increase its retention in the broiler chicks.