Effect of supplementation with organic and inorganic minerals on the performance, egg and sperm quality and, hatching characteristics of laying breeder hens.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with organic micro-minerals on egg production, egg quality, sperm quality and hatching of eggs of laying breeder hens. A total of 144 White Plymouth Rock hens and 36 Red Rhode Island roosters were used. For each treatment, birds were assigned to eight replicates with six hens and 12 replicates with one rooster. Birds were fed a basal diet (BD) containing only inorganic micro-minerals (10 mg Cu, 60 mg Fe, 70 mg Mn, 75 mg Zn and 0.3 mg Se per kg of diet) or a BD +500 g/ton of organic micro-mineral (OMM) product (2.5 mg Cu, 17.5 mg Fe, 20 mg Mn, 27.5 mg Zn and 0.080 mg Se per kg of diet) and BD +800 g/ton of OMM (4 mg Cu, 28 mg Fe, 32 mg Mn, 44 mg Zn and 0.128 mg Se per kg of ration). At 43, 44, 45 and 49 wks, egg production was greater with the BD +800 g OMM treatment than with the BD. Egg quality was not affected as a result of diet. Sperm viability was greater in roosters fed BD +800 g of OMM than those fed the BD. Fertility was greater for eggs from hens fed the BD +500 g OMM compared with BD. In conclusion, addition of organic minerals to the diet resulted in l an increased egg production and viability of rooster spermatozoa and egg fertility were greater with feeding of OMM.