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SOLITARY AND COMBINED EFFECT OF TWO LEVELS OF DIETARY ZINC-METHIONINE AND PREBIOTICS SUPPLEMENTATION ON BROILER GROWTH PERFORMANCE, INTESTINAL MORPHOLOGY, CARCASS TRAITS, AND IMMUNE RESPONSE

. Tanveer Ahmed, Ehsaan Ullah Khan, Junaid Naseer, Saima, Sohail Ahmed, Muhammad Shabir Shaheen & Muhammad Atif Latif


Abstract

Dietary zinc-methionine, when combined with prebiotics, may enhance its bioavailability in organs, thereby improving overall performance, immunity, gut development, and carcass traits in broilers. With this objective in mind, the study was conducted to assess the effects of solitary and combined supplementation of prebiotics at two distinct levels of zinc-methionine. Two hundred and forty-day-old chicks (Ross-308) were obtained from a local hatchery and randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a 2x2 factorial arrangement, with four replicates of 15 birds each. The dietary treatments included: Zn40, containing supplemental zinc-methionine at 40 mg/kg; ZnP40, a combination of supplemental zinc-methionine at 40 mg/kg and MOS at 1 g/kg; Zn80, comprising supplemental zinc-methionine at 80 mg/kg; and ZnP80P, supplemental zinc-methionine at 80 mg/kg in combination with MOS at 1 g/kg. The chicks were reared in two distinct phases: starter (0 to 21 days) and grower (21 to 35 days). Ad-libitum feed and water were provided throughout the experimental period. Parameters such as feed intake and weight gain were recorded daily, while FCR was calculated weekly. Gut morphology, immune status, and carcass characteristics were assessed at day 35. The ZnP40 treatment significantly affected (P < 0.05) FCR, feed intake, carcass weight, and breast weight yield. Villus height and VH:CD ratio were also significantly influenced (P < 0.05) by the ZnP40 treatment. Additionally, the antibody titer against NDV at days 21 and 35 was significantly affected by the ZnP80 treatment. The findings suggest that supplemental zinc-methionine at a level of 40 mg/kg of diet, along with the prebiotic combination (ZnP40), had a significant positive impact not only on broiler performance but also on carcass traits and immune status. Therefore, the use of zinc-methionine at 40 mg/kg in combination with MOS at 1 g/kg is recommended based on the conclusions drawn from the study.

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