Effect of feeding different sources and concentrations of zinc and copper on bone morphometry and mineralization of tibia bone in broiler chickens

Iqbal, Shariq, Deo, Chandra and Sharma, Divya 2020. Effect of feeding different sources and concentrations of zinc and copper on bone morphometry and mineralization of tibia bone in broiler chickens. Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 55(3): 211-215.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementary sources and concentrations of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) on morphometry and mineralization of tibia bone in broiler chickens. A total of 64 tibia bone (8 per treatment) collected at the end of 42- d feeding trial involving two levels of Zn (40 and 80 mg/kg) each with two levels of Cu (8 and 16 mg/kg) and again each with two mineral sources through a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment for the measurement of morphometry and mineralization traits of tibia bone in broiler chickens. Results indicated that significantly (p<0.01) higher tibia bone length was observed at 80 mg Zn/kg diet than 40mg Zn /kg diet. T ibia bone weight, ash % and bone Calcium content were differed significantly (p<0.01) due to interaction among Zn, Cu and mineral sources. The bone ash and Cu content were significantly (p<0.01) higher at 40mg Zn /kg diet than that recorded at 80 mgZn /kg diet. However, bone Zn content was significantly (p<0.01) higher at 80 mg Zn /kg diet than 40mg Zn /kg diet. Significantly (p<0.01) higher bone weight, moisture, Ca, Cu and Zn were observed at 16mg Cu/kg diet than 8mg Cu/kg diet. However, bone ash content was significantly higher at 8mg Cu/kg diet than 16mg Cu/kg diet. The bone P and Cu content were significantly (p<0.05) higher in organic source than in inorganic source of mineral. Results concluded that a dietary combination of 40mg Zn/kg and 16mg Cu/kg diet using organic source of mineral were found sufficient to obtain optimum bone morphometry and mineralization traits in broiler chickens.