Author : Kusol Comprau

Summary : Forty (40) birds were randomly distributed to five dietary treatments containing varying zinc levels (0, 20, 40, 80) and a control diet (natural diet). The differences in body weights among dietary treatments were not significant, however birds fed on diets with added zinc had higher body weight gain than birds fed the basal and natural rations. Birds fed with basal diet - 80 ppm zinc had the highest feed conversion efficiency (F/G). Hematocrit value (pvc) and the in vitro uptake of 65 Zn by red blood cells were not affected by varying zinc levels in the diet. Increasing the incubation time increased the in vitro uptake of 65 Zn by red blood cells. There was a significant difference in the zinc content of the liver, muscle breast and feather of birds fed different zinc levels. Zinc contents of bone and blood were not affected by dietary zinc levels.