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This paper was presented at the 23rd World Poultry Congress, Brisbane, Australia in July 2008
Introduction
The mineral nutrition of poultry has been traditionally based on the use of inorganic ores, and many currently published requirements are from research conducted more than 40 years ago (Leeson, 2005). Although research for broilers is well represented in the literature, 'minor' avian species, including layers, breeders, turkeys and ducks, often rely on extrapolation from broiler data to ascertain their mineral needs, as specific data does not exist. Regarding the age of the data available, it has been proposed that such research may not be relevant to modern breeds and ration formulations.
The availability of minerals that are in a chemically organic form (achieved by chelation with small peptides) has resulted in an increase in research to compare their bioavailability and efficacy in vivo against traditional sulphates and oxides. It has already been established by other researchers that chelated minerals are more readily absorbed and stored within body tissues (Du et al., 1996), due to their being bound to small peptides (Webb, 1986; 1990). The goal of this extensive research project, which is being conducted on a global basis and aims to encompass all main commercial species, is to produce new requirements based on organic minerals. Such recommendations are expected to have a major impact on pollution from intensive poultry farms, whilst maintaining (or increasing) poultry performance, and improving physiological oxidation status. The purpose of the following paper is to review the current findings, including previously unpublished trials, relating to mineral supplementation in poultry and to compare inorganic and organic sources in terms of performance, retention and excretion.
Research with organic minerals for poultry
Seven trials have been conducted to date with single organic (Bioplex®, Alltech Inc, USA) minerals (including Cu, Mn and Zn) have been carried out in various sites in the USA, Russia and Australia since 2003. These replicated trials have used either caged and penned broilers fed different levels of inorganic versus organic forms of single minerals. Trials have used either 1-21 day or 1-35 day broiler chickens. Eight trials, run at sites across Europe, compared the benefits of combinations of inorganic versus organic minerals. These trials have been...