Influence of graded levels of organic zinc on live performance, skin and carcass characteristics in broilers

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study investigated the effect of graded levels of organic zinc (OZ) on live performance, skin and carcass characteristics in broilers. A total of 3,200 1-d-old female broiler chicks were assigned according to mean body weight to 4 dietary treatments with 4 replicates (200 birds per replicate pen) for 35 days. Dietary treatments consisted of 0 (control), 20, 40 and 80 ppm OZ in addition to the basal diet. At the end of the feeding trial, two birds from each pen were selected according to average body weight, slaughtered, defeathered and carcass evaluation was performed. Results showed no significant difference among the treatments in live performance of broilers. A significant increases (P<0.05) of thigh skin epidermis and dermis thickness were shown in the OZ supplementation groups; however, no effect of the OZ on the thickness of back skin epidermis and dermis was found. Collagen content in breast and thigh muscles was not influenced by OZ supplementation but a significant increase of collagen content was found in the back and thigh skin (P<0.05). This increase of collagen content was significantly higher in the back and thigh skin of OZ 80 compared with OZ 20. Shear force of back skin and muscles was not significantly influenced by the graded levels of OZ supplementation. It is concluded that dietary OZ does not affect live performance of broilers but increases the thickness of epidermis and dermis due to increased collagen content in the skin, which would improve the carcass quality of broilers.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• INTRODUCTION
• MATERIALS AND METHODS
• RSULTS AND DISCUSSION
• REFERENCES