Use of organometallic chelates in chicken diet: effect on the performance and bone structure

Trace minerals are essential in chicken diet as they participate in biochemical processes required for normal growth and development. Organic sources or metal chelates are being used with the aim of enhancing bioavailability, thus improving performance, decreasing mortality and stress, and reducing the excretion of potentially contaminant minerals in environment since they are absorbed and retained in the poultry body. Our studies clearly show that chelated trace minerals significantly increase broilers weight before slaughter as well as promote major improvement in bone formation. Società San Marco produce chelates of MHA and glycine, blends of chelates (Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe) and some unique specialty products including synergistic poultry feed additives for the best poultry performance.

A bi-or polydentate ligand becomes chelating (chela =pincer) if the arrangement of donor atoms around metal cation forms a chelation ring. The most stable rings are those with five atoms. Amino acids and hydroxy acids are able to chelate one metal to form a chelation ring with 5 atoms, and this is exactly the result of Società San Marco manufacturing process.

Our ‘Real Chelates’ set new standards in the field of organically bound trace minerals, since they are the result of cutting edge technology developed in cooperation with the University of Parma, Italy.