Skeletal status (Bone morphometry and mineralization) of CARI Devendra dual purpose chicks was studied in a total of 40 left tibia bone (8 per treatment) collected at the end of 63 days feeding trial comprising five levels of zinc (Zn) at 30,40,50,60 and 70 mg/kg. Significantly higher (P<0.05) bone length and width at long axis were observed in groups fed diet containing 30 mg Zn/kg then 60 mg/kg diet. Bone width at short axis did not differ significantly due to different dietary Zn levels. The bone mineralization traits, like fresh and dried bone weight, bone ash and bone calcium did not differ significantly due to different dietary treatments, significantly (P<0.05) higher bone phosphorus was observed at 40 mg Zn/kg than 60 mg Zn/kg diet, but diet fed 30,50,60 and 70 mg Zn/kg diet did not differ significantly among each other. Manganese, Zn and copper contents of bone was significantly (P<0.05) lower at 30 mg Zn/kg diet than other dietary treatments. Bone iron content was significantly (P<0.05) higher at 30 mg Zn/kg diet than other dietary treatments. Based on the results it was concluded that a dietary level of 40 mg Zn/kg diet was found optimum for skeletal status of CARI Devendra dual purpose chicks.
Dual-purpose chick, tibia bone, morphometry, mineralization, zinc
