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Effects of Zinc Glycine Chelate on Growth, Hematological, and Immunological Characteristics in Broilers

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Abstract

Three hundred sixty healthy Ross×Ross 1-day-old broilers were used to study the effects of zinc glycine chelate (Zn-Gly) on growth performance, hematological, and immunological characteristics. All broilers were randomly assigned into six treatments. Diets were as follows: (1) control (containing 29.3 mg Zn kg−1 basic diet [0–3 weeks] and 27.8 mg Zn kg−1 [4–6 weeks]); (2) basic diet plus 30 mg Zn kg−1 from Zn-Gly; (3) basic diet plus 60 mg Zn kg−1 from Zn-Gly; (4) basic diet plus 90 mg Zn kg−1 from Zn-Gly; (5) basic diet plus 120 mg Zn kg−1 from Zn-Gly; (6) positive control, basic diet plus 120 mg Zn kg−1 from zinc sulfate (ZnSO4). After the 21- and 42-day feeding trials, the results showed that both of Zn-Gly and ZnSO4 could improve the growth performance of broilers, with the greatest average daily feed intake observed in the broilers fed 90 mg Zn kg−1 from Zn-Gly, but the greatest average daily gain observed with 120 mg Zn kg−1 from Zn-Gly (0–3 weeks) and 90 mg Zn kg−1 from Zn-Gly (4–6 weeks). Adding additional Zn-Gly improved the levels of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG) and the contents of total protein and Ca in serum and increased the immune organs index especially with 90 mg Zn kg−1 as Zn-Gly. However, there were no significant differences in responses to complements (C3 and C4) and albumin in serum among the treatments.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grant Agreement 2004CB117506, a Key Science Project “973” Award from the National Science and Technology Committee and also supported by Grant Agreement 2005C12010, a Key Science Project Award from the Zhejiang Province Science and Technology Committee, People's Republic of China. The authors would like to thank the Weifeng Bio. Corporation, China for providing the food-grade zinc glycine chelate for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Ministry of Education, Hua Jia Chi Campus, 164 Qiu Tao North Road, 310029, Hangzhou, China

    J. Feng, W. Q. Ma, H. H. Niu, Y. Wang & J. Feng

  2. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China

    X. M. Wu

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  1. J. Feng
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  2. W. Q. Ma
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  3. H. H. Niu
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  6. J. Feng
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Correspondence to J. Feng.

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Feng, J., Ma, W.Q., Niu, H.H. et al. Effects of Zinc Glycine Chelate on Growth, Hematological, and Immunological Characteristics in Broilers. Biol Trace Elem Res 133, 203–211 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8431-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8431-9

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