The effect of Zincotin (XVET Germany) on broiler breeder performances

The experiment was done at a broiler breeder farm in the North of Iran. 30.278 birds (Arbor Acres Plus) were evaluated in 8 houses of this farm from week 40 to 67 of the production period. The experimental farm consists of 3 houses as treatment group (Zincotin) and 5 houses as control. All houses had similar conditions and with a density (Birds in every square meter) of 6.04.

The number of hens in the treatment and control group was 10.932 and 17.368 respectively. These groups had 765 and 1213 roosters in treatment and control groups as well. Even though the sex ratio at week 26 (Before starting the experiment) was 8.2% the experiment started with the Female to male ratio (⚤) of 6% for both treatment and control group. Environmental situation, diseases, spiking, and available healthy roosters in the farm were affecting the designed Female to male ratio (⚤).

Zincotin administration started at week 44 in this experiment. Zincotin was administered in weeks 44, 49, 53, 59, and 63 of production and for 5 consecutive days. The first three days of each week’s application dosage was 1 liter to 1000 Liters and continued to 0.5 liters to 1000 Liters of drinking water for the next two days in each application time (Weeks).
All hens in this experiment were fed by organic Zinc (200 gr per ton) before starting the Zincotin administration. After Zincotin administration, all hens in the control group were receiving organic zinc with the dosage of 400 gr per ton of feed even though hens in the treatment group (Zincotin) were not receiving organic zinc in the feed.

Roosters in all groups (Control and treatment) were receiving organic Zinc with a dosage of 200 gr per ton of feed. Roosters in the treatment group were receiving Zinc in drinking water as well by Zincotin administration.

Evaluated factors in this study are mentioned as below:

• Egg production (%)
• Hatchability (%)
• Hen feed consumption (gr)
• Egg weight (gr)
• Bodyweight (gr)
• Suitable eggs for hatchery (%)

Except for bodyweight, all other factors were evaluated for 4 weeks before starting the Zincotin administration (Table 1). Bodyweight was evaluated 2 weeks before Zincotin administration which was due to the farm weighting schedule. There is no data collected for a suitable egg for hatchery before Zincotin administration.

Hatchability:
From week 51 to 64 (14 weeks) all collected suitable eggs for hatchery were delivered to three different hatcheries. It is worth to mention that all effective factors on egg quality such as sorting condition and number of floor eggs were the same in this experiment. The hatchability was increased to 1.39% from 75.72% in the control group to 77.11% in the treatment (Zincotin) group which is showing the positive effect of Zincotin administration in broiler breeder farm (Figure 1).

Other performances:
Egg production increased by up to 1.06% in the treatment (Zincotin) group. This increase in the treatment group was recorded as 0.29 % for suitable eggs for the hatchery. Egg weight in the treatment group was 0.36 gr higher in comparison with the control group. The average feed consumption during 24 weeks in the treatment group was 159.1 grams and in the control group was 159.06 gr. This means the average of feed consumption in the treatment group was 0.04 gr more per week which is equal to 0.96 gr more feed consumption per hen for 24 weeks of treatment. Bodyweight increased 19.6 gr every week in the control group even though the weekly increase of body weight in the treatment group was 20 gr (Figure 1).

One of the most important beneficial factors in every breeder farm is the hatchability which is directly related to the fertile eggs. Many studies are showing the positive effect of healthy roosters in breeder farms for having fertile eggs. It is studied that Zinc deficiency may result in lowered testosterone levels and lower sperm quality and in general it would decrease breeder performance. In this study, the fertility rate is not investigated but as the hatchability rate was higher in the treatment (Zincotin) group we could conclude that the rate of fertile eggs was also higher in the treatment group. Because roosters in this study received Zinc in both feed (Organic Zinc) and drinking water (Zincotin) and also hatchability in the treatment group was much higher than control group we could conclude that Zinc availability for birds in breeder farm (Hens and roosters) is vital in the breeder farms for achieving the higher hatchability under appropriate condition.

It is determined that Zincotin (XVET Germany) application will improve the breeding performances in broiler breeder farms.