Effect of Organic and Nano Trace Minerals at Reduced Dietary Levels on Productive Performance and Mineral Balance in Laying Hens

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of organic and nano trace minerals at reduced dietary levels on egg production performance, nutrient metabolizability and trace minerals balance in laying hens. A total of 240 commercial laying hens were randomly assigned to twenty replicates having twelve hens each. Control diet was prepared by supplementing basal diet with inorganic trace minerals (Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe) at 100 % of requirement. Four test diets were prepared by incorporating either organic trace minerals at 75 and 50 % of requirement or with nano trace minerals at 50 and 25 % of requirement to the basal diet. Each diet was offered to four replicate groups for 84 days consisting of three phases of 28 days each. Body weight and body weight changes, feed intake, total number of eggs, hen day egg production, feed conversion ratio and survivability of birds were not affected (P>0.05) by different dietary treatments during all the phases and cumulatively. The metabolizability of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract and crude fiber were similar among different diets while nitrogen free extract metabolizability was higher (P<0.05) in 50 % organic trace minerals supplemented diet. The retention of minerals (Cu, Zn and Mn, except Fe) was higher (P<0.05) in 50 % organic or 25 % nano trace minerals groups. The serum Ca and P levels and liver Cu, Mn and Zn were comparable among all the treatments. However, serum Cu was higher in nano groups while serum Zn and Mn were higher in both organic and nano groups compared to control. It was concluded that inorganic trace minerals in laying hen diets can be replaced with organic or nano trace minerals at 50 or 25 % inclusion level, respectively without affecting egg production and nutrient metabolizability with better mineral retention.