EFFECT OF DIETARY ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES, CARCASS TRAITS AND BLOOD PROFILE OF BROILER

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of zinc on the productive performances, carcass yield and blood profiles of broilers. Experiment was done for a period of 35 days with a number of 60 day old broiler chicks. Birds were divided into four dietary treatment groups with 3 replications each having 5 birds per replication. The dietary treatment groups were; T0 (basal diet; no zinc), T1 (basal diet + 50 mg zinc/kg feed), T2 (basal diet + 100 mg zinc/kg feed), T3 (basal diet + 150 mg zinc/kg feed). Results indicated that body weight and body weight gain were increased significantly (P<0.05) in the zinc supplemented group compared to the control group. Higher (P<0.05) feed intake and better (P<0.05) FE were also observed in the zinc supplemented group than control group and best performance was observed in the group fed 150mg zinc/kg feed (T3). Carcass yield was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the groups fed dietary zinc. Net profit was slightly higher in the T3 group but not significantly (P.0.05) differed with the control group. However, T1 and T2 showed less profit even than the control group. Blood profile of the experimental birds including Hb, PCV and ESR did not significantly differed (P>0.05) among the groups. The results indicate that addition of zinc in the broiler diet improves productive performances, carcass yield and increases net profit without affecting health status of broiler. So, zinc can be used as an effective and useful micronutrient to improve the performances of broiler.