Effect of Zinc Amino Acid Complexes on Growth Performance, Tissue Zinc Concentration, and Muscle Development of Broilers

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of zinc amino acid complexes on growth performance, tissue zinc concentration, and muscle development in broilers. A total of 504 day-old male arbor acres broilers were randomly divided into seven treatments (fed with a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 120 mg kg −1 Zn as ZnSO 4 , 30, 60, 90 or 120 mg kg −1 Zn as ZnN, or 30 mg kg −1 Zn as ZnA separately). Each group had six replicates, with 12 birds per replicate. The results showed that the addition of 60 mg kg −1 ZnN significantly increased ( P < 0.05) the average daily gain (ADG) and breast muscle percentage of broilers. Zinc concentration of ZnN and ZnA added groups were higher than ( P < 0.05) that in the Zn sulfate group under the same addition dose. Except for the 30 mg kg −1 ZnN group, the muscle fiber diameter and cross-sectional area (CSA) were significantly increased ( P < 0.05) in the ZnN addition groups. Compared with the basal diet group, adding ZnN significantly increased ( P < 0.05) the expression of MTOR, MYOD, and MYOG at day 21 and decreased ( P < 0.05) the expression of Atrogin-1. The expression levels of AKT, MTOR, P70S6K, and MYOD were increased at day 42, while the expression levels of MuRF1 and Atrogin-1 were decreased. Adhesion, backbone regulation of actin, MAPK, mTOR, and AMPK were significantly enriched as indicated by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. In conclusion, zinc amino acid complexes could improve growth performance, tissue zinc concentration, and regulate breast muscle development.