Zinc is an essential trace element for all animals, including broilers. In case of deficiency, alteration of growth performance and distortion of leg bones can be observed.Supplementing broiler feeds with zinc is necessary in order to fulfil the requirements of the animal. Some zinc sources can be used, but they are not all equal. Physical and chemical properties, including zinc concentration, vary from one source to another. The effect of zinc supplementation on animal performance has been studied these last decades but the methodology to assess the bioavailability of Zn sources has made much progress these last years. As there is a need to reduce the safety margin for mineral supplementation, a fine tuned definition of the performance of each zinc source is required.
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