Calcium and boron alone or in combination influence performances and mineral metabolism in broilers

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary boron supplementation on performance and mineral metabolism in broilers fed a diet with optimal or sub-optimal levels of calcium. A total of 216 one-day old broiler chicks (Vencob) of mixed sex (mean BW 43.79±0.83 g) were distributed in completely randomized design into six treatments each with three replicates of 12 birds (6 of each sex). The six dietary treatment groups comprised of B0C0 (basal diet with normal calcium (10 g Ca/kg)), B0C1 (Basal diet of 20% calcium deficiency (8 g Ca/kg)), B0C2 (Basal diet of 40% calcium deficiency (6 g Ca/kg)), B1C0 (Basal diet with normal calcium + 25 mg/kg boron), B1C1 (Basal diet of 20% calcium deficiency + 25 mg/kg boron) and B1C2 (Basal diet of 40% calcium deficiency + 25 mg/kg boron). The performance indices like body weight (BW), weekly body weight gain, feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded till 42 d of age. A metabolism trial was conducted at the end to determine the balance of minerals. Lower than the recommended level of calcium alone or with supplemental boron significantly increased the BW, feed intake, and FCR in commercial broilers at six weeks of age. Low dietary calcium significantly increased the retention of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron and manganese. Dietary boron supplementation significantly increased the excreta concentration of iron and manganese. However, the absolute and relative retention of manganese and iron were unaffected when boron was supplemented into a low calcium diet; indicating the negative effect of boron on manganese, and iron metabolism can be compensated by low dietary Ca concentration.