Relative biological availability of manganese from manganese proteinate, manganese sulfate, and manganese monoxide in broilers reared at elevated temperatures.

The relative biological availabilities of Mn from Mn proteinate, MnSO4, and MnO were compared under two different environmental conditions. Commercial broilers were reared in brooder batteries between Days 1 and 21 and fed diets containing 0, 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 mg supplemental Mn/kg diet. On Day 22, birds were transferred to individual cages in two environmental chambers maintaining the same dietary Mn sources and supplemental levels. The temperature in one chamber cycled between 18 and 23.9 C (thermoneutral, TN), and in the other chamber cycled between 23.9 and 35 C (heat distress, HD). Birds in the HD environment were exposed to 8 h of 23.9 C, 4 h of 23.9 to 35 C, 4 h of 35 C, and 8 h of 35 to 23.9 C. Tibia Mn increased linearly (P < .05) with level of supplementation when measured on Days 22 and 47. Based on ratios of slopes from multiple linear regression analysis of bone Mn on Mn intake from various sources, the biological availabilities of Mn proteinate and MnO relative to MnSO4 (100%) were 120 and 91%, respectively, in 21-d-old chicks. In 49-d-old birds, corresponding relative biological availabilities of Mn from proteinate and oxide were 125 and 83%, respectively, in birds reared under TN, and 145 and 82%, respectively, for HD birds.