EFFECT OF SELENIUM AND ZINC IN POULTRY AND THEIR ROLE ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND MEAT QUALITY

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of different dietary sources (organic or inorganic) and levels of selenium (Se: 0.2 ppm or 0.4 ppm) and zinc (Zn: 100 ppm or 200 ppm) on Silver Montazah male chicks recommendations for these essential micronutrients on growth performance, carcass characteristics, some blood constituents, immune response and residues of the metals in poultry meat. A total of 675 one-day-old Silver Montazah male chicks were randomly allotted to 9 groups with 3 replicates of 25 chicks each replicate. A corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with 0.2 or 0.4 ppm Se and 100 or 200 ppm Zn as organic and inorganic salts (Control) and other 8 combinations were added to form 9 dietary treatments. Results showed that birds fed diet supplemented with 0.4 ppm Se or 200 ppm Zn added as organic minerals, improved growth performance, carcass traits, improved activity liver enzymes AST and ALT with increasing level mineral and the highest improved activity GPX and SOD, antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus , Avian Influenza and highest meat Se or Zn residues. The result indicated that 0.2, 0.4 Se and 100, 200 Zn as organic source the best improvement of growth performance and the highest antioxidant capacity and highest meat Se or Zn residues. Key words: broiler chickens, growth performance, carcass traits, immune response.