Optimal Level of Supplemental Manganese for Yellow-Feathered Broilers during the Growth Phase

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Manganese is an indispensable trace element, necessary for the normal development and activity of tissues such as bones. The low Mn content in corn–soybean meal diets used in production and the inefficient intestinal absorption of Mn in broilers calls for the need for optimizing the supplemental provision of Mn to broilers. The current study examined the effect of an optimized dietary supplemental Mn for growth performance, tibial characteristics, immune function and meat quality of yellow-feathered broilers and recommended that optimal supplementation with Mn in diets for birds to achieve the best performance was 52 (d 1 to d 21), 60 (d 22 to d 42), and 68 mg/kg (d 43 to d 63). This study provides a rational recommendation for the appropriate dietary nutrient levels and provides a scientific basis for establishing nutritional standards of yellow-feathered broilers. ABSTRACT: This experiment investigated the effect of an optimized supplemental dietary manganese (Mn) on growth performance, tibial characteristics, immune function and meat quality, of yellow-feathered broilers. In three rearing periods, birds were fed for 21-d periods, from d 1 (starter), d 22 (grower) and d 43 (finisher), respectively, with basal diets (containing 16, 17, and 14 mg/kg analyzed Mn, respectively) supplemented with 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 and 140 mg/kg Mn. For starter phase broilers, supplemental manganese affected feed to gain ratio (F/G), and the minimum value was observed with 120 mg/kg manganese. During the grower phase, ADG increased quadratically (p < 0.05) with supplemental Mn and was maximal with 54 mg/kg additional manganese estimated using the regression equation. There was no influence of supplemental manganese on growth performance of broilers during the finisher phase (p > 0.05). The thymic relative weight of broilers were linearly (p < 0.05) and quadratically (p < 0.05) increased with supplemental Mn and maxima were obtained with 95 and 110 mg/kg additional Mn at 42 d and 63 d. The bone density of the tibia in broilers at d 21, 42 and 63 were increased quadratically (p < 0.05) by supplemental Mn, and optimal supplementation for the three phases was 52, 60 and 68 mg/kg, respectively. The weight, diameter, breaking strength and bone density of the tibia of 63-d broilers were influenced (p < 0.05) by supplemental manganese. The lightness (L*) value (linear, p < 0.05) and yellowness (b*) value (p < 0.05) of the breast muscle were decreased by dietary manganese supplementation, and the optimal supplementation, based on L*, was 86 mg/kg. In conclusion, supplemental Mn affected the growth performance, thymic relative weight, tibial characteristics, and the meat color of yellow-feathered broilers. From the quadratic regressions, the optimal supplementation of yellow-feathered broilers at the starter, grower and finisher phases to achieve the best performance was 52, 60, and 68 mg/kg, respectively.