Developing Trace Mineral Status

Developing and maintaining trace mineral status in broiler breeders is a difficult task. Typical diets contain antagonists that tie up essential trace minerals and make them unavailable for absorption. Feeding complexed trace minerals is a way to assure adequate mineral status and top performance from your flock.

Feeding recommendations for Availa^®ZMC complexed zinc, manganese and copper are explained below. It is important to note that the effects of feeding complexed trace minerals are a factor of both feeding level and time. Several of the research trials cited in this paper fed complexed trace minerals for only a few months in the middle of the production cycle and found variable results. Other trials used lower than recommended feeding rates and also received variable results. Trials where complexed trace minerals were fed from day-old chick to the end of the production cycle at recommended levels have generated consistent performance responses and economic returns. It is important to feed Availa-ZMC starting with day-old chicks and continuously through the production cycle to achieve the results stated in this paper. Feeding for shorter periods of time will not be as effective.