EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF COPPER AND ZINC ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF COMMERCIAL BROILER

Abstract

The effects of feeding copper sulfate pentahydrate, zinc sulfate and their combination were investigated in commercial broilers. Total 80 Cobb-500 of 07 days old chicks were randomly divided into 04 dietary groups having 04 replications in each groups. Four diets were considered: control (T0), copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O) @ 150 mg/kg of commercial diet (T1); zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) @100 mg/kg on diet (T2); and combination of CuSO4.5H2O + ZnSO4 @ 150 mg/kg + 100 mg/kg of diet (T3), respectively. Initial live weight, live weight gain and feed intake were recorded. Two birds from each replication were randomly selected and sacrificed at 35 days of ages and the carcass characteristics, blood parameters such as total erythrocytes count (TEC), total leucocytes count (TLC), hemoglobin content (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and cost effectiveness of different treatment used, finally the recorded data were analyzed by using SPSS software at 5% level of probability. The results showed that total feed intake were non-significant (P>0.05) among the experimental broiler groups. The final live weight was significantly (P<0.05) differed among the experimental groups and highest live weight was recorded in T2-2440 g/bird compared to other three experimental groups. Broilers in T2 group (1.67) shows the highest feed efficiency and significantly (P<0.05) differ compared with rest of the groups. Daily live weight gain was differed significantly (P<0.05) among the experimental groups where highest value at 3rd and 4th weeks of experiment was found in birds of T2. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences observed among the dietary treatment groups in terms of de-feathering percentages, liver, heart and abdominal fat weight. On the other hand, significant (P<0.05) difference were observed in carcass weight, where highest value was recorded in T3 compared to T0. Thigh and breast weight was also differed significantly (P<0.05) in T3 group compared to control and other group. Among the hematological parameters, TEC and TLC were found non-significant (P>0.05) compared to control. Birds in T1 group shows the highest value of Hb content and PCV (8.07 g/dl; 29.50 %), respectively. During the comparison of cost effective ratio among the experimental groups, satisfactory result was revealed in T1. Benefit over control group was also highest in this group (44.84 Tk.), this was due to lowest cost and availability of CuSO4.5H2O compared to ZnSO4. Although the total live weight gain was higher in ZnSO4 supplied group. As comparing the price of both compounds, it might be profitable to provide CuSO4.5H2O in commercial broiler diet.