Influence of supplemental manganese and zinc on live performance and carcass quality of diverse broiler strains

Male broilers of two strains were fed varying levels of supplemental mangan ese (Mn) and zinc (Zn). Supplementation rates (0:0, 0:150, 180:0, or 180:15 0 ppm Mn:Zn) were designed to provided extremes in corn-soybean meal diets satisfying all other nutrient requirements. Birds were reared in floor pens throughout 49 days of production, then processed on automated equipment an d manually deboned on stationary cones. Femurs and tibiae were assessed for integrity. Response to supplemental Mn and/or Zn reflected limited benefit to all measures of performance and carcass quality, irrespective of broile r strain.