In broilers, leg problems can lead to reduced health and animal welfare, but also to higher mortality and lower processing yields. Preventing leg problems is therefore of great importance for both the bird and the broiler farmer.
One factor that plays a major role in the development of the leg bones, and thus the outlook for the prevention of leg problems in later life, is nutrition. Minerals, in particular, play an important role in the formation of bones.
Because broilers have a rapid growth rate and are slaughtered at a relatively young age, it is important that the tibia bone develops quickly. Therefore, the availability of minerals from the diet also needs to be high. Mineral sources can be divided into macro minerals (calcium and phosphorus) and trace elements (e.g., iron, copper, zinc, manganese and selenium). All these minerals come from natural sources, usually in the form of salts. These are called inorganic minerals and are included in most broiler diets.
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Organic minerals
However, minerals can also be attached to a protein or amino acid and are then called organic minerals. Organic minerals are absorbed faster and better in the broiler gut than inorganic minerals. This ensures greater mineral availability and could potentially lead to better bone development and fewer leg...
Read Full Story: https://www.poultryworld.net/Health/Articles/2021/11/Organic-minerals-promote-broiler-leg-quality-817173E/
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