The influence of organic and inorganic Fe supplementation on productivity of broilers

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of organic and inorganic Fe supplementation on productivity of broiler chickens. The trial was conducted on 200 Arbor Acres chickens divided into four equal groups. Birds from all groups were fed standard broiler feed, supplemented with 40 mg/kg of Fe originating from different sources: Group 1 (FeSO4), Group 2 (Fe bound to yeast), Group 3 (ferrous ascorbate), and Group 4 (iron chelate). From each group, 10 birds were sacrificed on the 21st, 35th, and 42nd day and the following parameters were measured: body mass, daily body mass gain, food consumption, and conversion rate. At the end of the trial, the highest average body mass was measured in the group supplemented with ferrous ascorbate (15.51% higher when compared with the group supplemented with FeSO4). The conversion rate was lower in birds supplemented with organic iron forms and had the lowest value in the group supplemented with ferrous ascorbate.