Effects of high zinc diets using zinc propionate on molt induction, organs, and postmolt egg production and quality in laying hens

This study was conducted to determine the ability of an alternative salt form of 1% Zn, Zn propionate, to induce molt in 66-wk-old hens. The hens were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups of 27 or 28 birds each: a) molted conventionally by feed withdrawal, b) 1% Zn as Zn acetate, c) 1% Zn as Zn p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Poultry science 2004-01, Vol.83 (1), p.24-33
Main Authors: Park, S Y, Birkhold, S G, Kubena, L F, Nisbet, D J, Ricke, S C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Feed
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animals
Body Weight
Bone Density
Chickens - metabolism
Chickens - physiology
Crop, Avian - chemistry
Eggs - standards
Female
Food Deprivation - physiology
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Kidney - metabolism
Liver - metabolism
Molting - drug effects
Organ Size - drug effects
Ovary - metabolism
Ovary - physiology
Oviposition - drug effects
Oviposition - physiology
Propionates - administration & dosage
Propionates - pharmacokinetics
Random Allocation
Tissue Distribution
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study was conducted to determine the ability of an alternative salt form of 1% Zn, Zn propionate, to induce molt in 66-wk-old hens. The hens were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups of 27 or 28 birds each: a) molted conventionally by feed withdrawal, b) 1% Zn as Zn acetate, c) 1% Zn as Zn propionate, or d) nonmolted control for 9 d. Feed intake was (P < 0.05) depressed in Zn acetate and Zn propionate hens when compared with nonmolted control hens during the 9 d. Ovary weights of hens undergoing feed withdrawal, Zn acetate, or Zn propionate were not (P > 0.05) different from each other, but all were (P < 0.05) lighter than the ovary weights of nonmolted control hens. Zinc concentrations in the kidney and liver were (P < 0.05) increased in Zn acetate and Zn propionate molted hens when compared with nonmolted hens on the control diet or hens molted by feed withdrawal. Bone ash values were (P < 0.05) increased for Zn acetate and Zn propionate molted hens or nonmolted control hens as compared with molted hens on feed withdrawal. Over the entire 3-mo postmolt period, there were no significant differences in interior egg qualities, but egg weights from hens fed Zn propionate were (P < 0.05) heavier than those from hens on feed withdrawal. The data of the current study demonstrated that feeding a Zn propionate (1% zinc)-supplemented diet can induce molt.
ISSN:0032-5791
1525-3171
DOI:10.1093/ps/83.1.24