Mineral supplementation: effects on bone integrity and intestinal morphometry of broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria sp

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of organic minerals on the productive performance and bone quality of broilers from 1 to 21 days of age and the intestinal health in situations of enteric challenge from 21 to 28 days of age. In a completely randomized design, with two treatments composed for minerals as sulfate and Carbo-Amino-Phospho-Chelate (CAPC), a total of 900 male broiler chicks were allocated to nine replicates and 18 experimental units with 50 birds each. 640 birds at 21 days of age were transferred to experimental cages and distributed in a completely randomized design, in factorial 2 × 2 (minerals as sulfate and CAPC × with and without enteric challenge), obtaining 4 treatments with 16 replicates and 10 birds each. In the same day of change, the group of challenged broilers received a commercial vaccine for coccidiosis that covers the Eimeria sp. At 7 days, the supplementation with CAPC minerals resulted in higher (p<0.05) weight gain and better feed conversion in relation to the inorganic source. The deposition of minerals evaluated in the tibia of broilers was not influenced (p>0.05) by the source of minerals, with the exception of Cu and Mn, whose deposition was greater (p<0.05) in the bones of poultries supplemented with inorganic source of minerals. There was higher (p<0.05) length and width of the villi and increase in the ratio villus: crypt in response to the intestinal spoliation with CAPC supplementation when compared to the inorganic source.