title: Growth performance, carcass composition, and pigmentation of broilers fed supplemental nickel.
abstract: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate effects of supplemental Ni on growth performance, carcass composition, and pigmentation of broilers. In Experiment 1, female broilers (n = 120) were housed in individual cages from 21 to 49 d of age and fed a commercial finisher diet that contained 2.4 +/- .1 ppm Ni. Supplementation of this diet with 6 or 12 ppm NiCl2 did not affect growth performance or carcass composition. In Experiment 2, female broilers (n = 60) housed in individual cages were fed finisher diets with 44 or 77 ppm xanthophyll and 0 or 12 ppm supplemental NiCl2. Growth performance from 21 to 49 d of age was not altered by diet. At 49 d of age, serum xanthophyll concentration as well as amount of lutein and total xanthophylls in skin were higher (P < or = .01) in broilers fed 77 ppm xanthophyll. Supplemental NiCl2 decreased (P < or = .1) yellow color of carcasses from broilers fed 44 ppm xanthophyll and increased yellow color of carcasses from broilers fed 77 ppm xanthophyll. Abdominal fat yields and concentration of total xanthophylls in skin followed a similar pattern, suggesting that supplemental NiCl2 may have indirectly influenced pigmentation by altering fat deposition. These data indicated that an adequate level of Ni was present in the basal diet to promote optimal growth performance and carcass quality.
authors.affiliation: USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Georgetown, Delaware 19947, USA.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Oscar
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Engster
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D009532:Nickel; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009532:Nickel