Zinc in broiler feeding and nutrition

Zinc is an essential trace mineral for birds, functioning elaborately in enzyme systems and being involved in protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and many other biochemical reactions. Zinc is required for normal growth, reproduction, and glandular development of birds. A severe zinc deficiency causes numerous physical and pathological changes including skin lesions, decreased growth, general disability of bones and joints, very poor feathering, reproductive failure, and reduced immunity to infection of several diseases. In skin, it is five to six times more concentrated in the epidermis than the dermis. In addition, zinc is associated with wound healing because of its role in collagen and keratin syntheses. All proliferating cells, including inflammatory cells, epithelial cells, and fibroblast, require zinc. Furthermore, zinc is an essential element of more than 200 metalloenzymes and affects their conformity, stability, and activity. The superoxide dismutase, one of the zinc-containing antioxidant enzyme, has a critical role in keeping broiler skin healthy and increasing the shelf-life of broiler meat. However, a clear appreciation of the role of this element in broiler production is still limited. This article provides an overview on the role of zinc in broiler feeding and nutrition, immunity, reproduction, and meat quality in particular.