Organic Trace Minerals for Broilers and Breeders

J.B. Hess, K.M. Downs, K.S. Macklin, R.A. Norton and S.F. Bilgili
Poultry Science Department, Auburn University, AL, School of Agribusiness and Agrisciences,
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN

Organic Trace Minerals

The term “organic mineral” refers to a variety of compounds including metal-amino acid

complexes, metal amino chelates, metal proteinates, metal-polysaccharide complexes, metal-

yeast complexes, and metal-organic acid complexes. (Patton, 1990)

An organic mineral is simply a combination of a metal ion with an organic ligand such as

amino acids, proteins, polysaccharides, yeast, or organic acids. Specifically, the metal ion is

bound to the organic ligand through multiple attachments (either ionic or covalent) with the

metal ion occupying a central position in the structure (Kincaid, 1989, Nelson, 1988). During

organic mineral formation, the metal ion and organic ligand act as mutual electron donors

(ligand) and electron acceptors (metal cations) forming a heterocyclic ring structure (Nelson,

1988). Generally, the metal ion is attached to electronegative areas (two or more) on a ligand.

Organic minerals can be classified into two categories: natural and synthetic. Natural

mineral complexes are formed during normal digestion, absorption, and metabolism in a living

system. Synthetic mineral complexes (usually by dietary supplementation) conversely, are used

to enhance mineral utilization efficiency. During digestion, a variety of natural mineral

complexes are formed which either enhance or diminish the usefulness of the ingested minerals.

Herrick (1993) categorized natural organic minerals into three types based on their function in

biological systems. These include complexes which: (1) transport and store metal ions, (2) are

essential to physiological activity, and (3) interfere with metal ion utilization. Amino acids,

EDTA, and other synthetic ligands are important as metal binding and transporting agents in the
gastrointestinal tract, which enhance uptake of metal ions from the intestinal lumen into the

mucosal cells. For instance, transferrin is essential for gut absorption, transport, and storage of

iron. Additionally, metal complexes may form in biological systems to allow physiological

activity of certain compounds. Hemoglobin contains iron and vitamin B12 contains a central

cobalt atom.

Synthetic organic minerals are produced in an attempt to increase the utilization of

dietary minerals. By complexing metal ions with a variety of organic ligands, an effort is made

to enhance mineral absorption across the intestinal mucosa. When thinking of the effectiveness

of synthetic mineral complexes for increasing mineral availability, the concepts of stability

constant and ligand molecular weight must be considered. The stability constant is a measure of

the affinity between a metal ion and a ligand (Nelson, 1988). Herrick (1993) underscored the

importance of stability constant and ligand molecular weight when evaluating a synthetic metal

complex. The stability constant must be high enough to allow intact absorption of the metal-

ligand complex and low enough to allow metal ion removal at the metabolic point of use. In

addition, the ligand molecular weight must be low enough to permit intact absorption of the

metal complex.

Bioavailability of Organic Minerals

Reports of organic mineral bioavailability in livestock and poultry are inconsistent.

Mahan and Parrett (1996) reported retention of Se was increased when a Se-yeast complex was

fed to grower-finisher pigs. Likewise, Rojas et al. (1995) showed increased bioavailability of

Zn-lysine and Zn-methionine, over inorganic Zn sources, when supplemented to sheep. A Mn-
methionine complex, when fed to chicks, was 74.4% more available than an inorganic source

(MnO) (Fly, et al., 1989).

Conversely, some reports have shown no influences of complexing with an organic

ligand (protein, methionine, or lysine) on mineral (Zn and Mn) bioavailability (Aoyagi, et al.,

1993; Pimental, et. al., 1991b; Baker and Halpin, 1987). A review on comparative intestinal

absorption of metal-amino acid complexes, however, shows improved jejunal uptake of copper,

magnesium, iron, and Zn-amino acid complexes versus inorganic forms (SO4, O2, CO3,) of the

same metal ions (Ashmead, 1993). Moreover, 65Zn studies showed increased (78%) transfer of

Zn from the mucosa to the serosa with a Zn amino acid complex compared with ZnCI2

(Ashmead, 1993).

Intrinsic, extrinsic, and luminal factors can affect mineral bioavailability (Nelson, 1988;

Ashmead, 1993). The variable reports of organic mineral bioavailability in animal systems are

likely due to interactions among these factors. Although reports of organic mineral availability

have varied across research trials, an effective increase in mineral absorption and tissue retention

is weighted toward organic mineral complexes for poultry.

Organic Trace Minerals in Broiler Production

Organic trace minerals have been used in broiler feeds for some time, showing promise in

improving live performance, bird health, processing yield and meat quality characteristics. The

most commonly used organically-complexed minerals include zinc, manganese, selenium,

copper and iron. Zinc sources have been the most studied of these compounds and a number of

researchers have reported improvements in broiler growth rate and/or feed conversion with

organic zinc sources (Sanford and Kawchumnong, 1972; Sandford, 1976; Hess et al., 2001). In
addition to improvements in body weight and feed conversion, foot pad quality has been

enhanced with organic zinc (Hess et al., 2001). This use of organic zinc has gained increased

importance as measurement of foot pad lesion incidence has become a common tool to assess

broiler welfare.

Interest is also building in using organic trace minerals in place of a portion of the feed

inorganic mineral supplement in order to get maximum growth and health with lower levels of

mineral intake, thus lowering the amount of minerals excreted from the birds (Bao et al., 2006).

Reducing mineral levels in litter placed on the land is an issue in many areas of the U.S. and

lower levels of complexed trace minerals may aid in reducing litter mineral excess.

Bird Health

A number of minerals have been shown to play crucial roles in broiler health and organic

trace minerals have been shown to have a role in boosting cellular and humoral immunity in

broilers. Organic zinc compounds have shown benefits in improving immunity in birds

(Pimental et al., 1991a; Kidd et al., 1994). In addition, chicks hatched from breeder hens fed

organic trace minerals have shown improved cellular and humoral immunity as well (Kidd et al.,

1992; Kidd et al., 1993). Research at Auburn has shown improvements in the amount of

cellulitis (IP) associated with the feeding of organic zinc products (Downs et al., 2000; Downs et

al., 2003). These reductions may come from an improvement in skin quality and healing often

seen with organic zinc sources, or may be due to improvements in immune function.

Processing Performance
 Meat yield and product quality have become driving forces in broiler production and

nutritional products that improve processing yield have become important tools for broiler

companies interested in increasing broiler product output. Organic trace minerals, in this case a

combination of complexed zinc and manganese, have been shown to affect meat quality through

reduced cooking loss (Saenmahayak et al., 2007). In addition, fillet color measurements

indicated that broilers fed organic trace minerals showed darker fillets, which may be correlated

with a lower incidence of pale, soft and exudative meat. Recent research from our lab recorded

improvements in fillet yield and fillet darkness in 6 lb birds fed complexed zinc and/or

manganese. Organic selenium products may also affect product quality through improvements

in tissue integrity (Downs et al., 2000).

Broiler Breeders

Although organic trace minerals have been shown through field trials to improve breeder

performance directly, a good deal of research work has also been completed on the influence of

these products on the health and growth response of breeder progeny (Kidd et al., 1992; Kidd et

al., 1993). Although final body weight, FCR and carcass characteristics of broilers from breeder

hens fed organic trace minerals showed no changes, immunity and livability have shown

responses to these added minerals. Research trials with broilers hatched from eggs laid by

breeders fed zinc methionine showed improvements in cellular (Kidd et al., 1992; Kidd et al.,

1993) and humoral immunity (Kidd et al., 1992). Work by Virden et al. (2003) reported

improved livability (1.5 to 2%) in chicks from hens fed both organic zinc and manganese. In

breeder males, there is some limited information that feeding complexed zinc during the pullet

phase may lead to increased gonadal maturation at placement (Suchy et al., 1998).
Conclusion

Organic trace minerals, particularly zinc, manganese and selenium, show improved

bioavailability over inorganic sources for commercial poultry and are being used to improve

health and processing performance in broilers and breeders.

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