Influence of Dietary Supplementation with Complexed Zinc on Meat Quality and Shelf Life of Broilers

Influence of complexed zinc supplementation on growth performance and meat quality of broiler chickens were assessed at 49 d of age. A total of 960 male broilers were assigned to four dietary treatments: negative control (C), positive control (C + IZn; 40 ppm ZnSO4), C + 40 ppm complexed Zn (C + OZn) and C + IZn + 40 ppm complexed Zn added to the positive control (C + IZn + OZn). Each treatment feed was provided in a three-stage feeding program. No differences (p>0.05) were observed in the body weight, feed conversion, carcass and component yields due to any of the dietary treatments. However, drip loss was significantly (p<0.05) increased in fillets from birds fed organic trace minerals when measured at 24 h post deboning. Overall, fillet color (L*, a* and b* measurements) did not differ significantly (p>0.05) but after 28 d of storage, fillets from birds with high levels of zinc showed increased (p<0.05) redness (a* value). Breast fillet quality and microbial profile over a 28 d storage period under refrigeration (4oC) were not different (p>0.05) due to any of the dietary treatments.