Organic Glycinate Trace Minerals Improve Hatchability, Bone and Eggshell Breaking Strength, and Mineral Uptake During Late Laying Cycle in Layer Breeders

This study evaluated the effects of replacing inorganic trace minerals with organic glycinate forms at two inclusion levels in layer breeders during the late laying cycle over 6 weeks (66 to 72 weeks of age). For this, a total of 180 layer breeders (162 hens and 18 males; Lohmann LSL Ultralite) were randomly divided into three treatment groups having six replicates of nine hens each and one male for each replicate following a completely randomized design (CRD). The dietary treatments included: (1) Basal diet + inorganic trace minerals at breed recommended levels (ITM100), (2) Basal diet + organic trace minerals at recommended levels (OTM100), (3) Basal diet + organic trace minerals at half dose of recommended levels (OTM50). The trace mineral contents in the samples (feed, bone, and excreta) were determined through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The results indicated that glycinate minerals supplementation at half dose enhanced (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) tibial breaking strength compared to the inorganic minerals (38.97 vs. 29.55 MPa). Similarly, egg quality (egg geometry, yolk index, eggshell properties), and hatching traits (hatchability and fertility) were enhanced (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) following the use of glycinate organic minerals as compared to inorganic minerals. Copper deposition was higher (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) in the OTM100 as compared to other groups. Excreta levels of zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) were higher (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) in the ITM100 group compared to OTM100 and OTM50. In conclusion, supplementation of glycinate trace organic minerals to layer breeder hens during the late laying cycle had enhanced the bone and eggshell breaking strength, hatching traits, and absorption of certain trace minerals.