Relative Biological Availability of Manganese from Some Inorganic Sources for Chicks

An experiment was conducted to estimate the relative biological availability of manganese (Mn) from some inorganic sources compared with that from reagent grade Mn sulfate. Three hundred developed local strain "Golden Montazah" male chicks 4 weeks old were used. They were randomly distributed into 10 groups (3 replicates / group) (10 male chicks / replicate) according to the average replicate body weight. Chicks were fed 10 experimental diets: the basal diet (without supplemental Mn) and 9 dietary treatments consisted of 3 supplemental Mn levels (100, 200 or 300 mg Mn/Kg basal diet) provided from each of three Mn sources: Mn sulfate, Mn oxide or Mn chloride. The experiment extended 12 weeks in 3 intervals of 4 weeks each. At the end of each 4 weeks interval, parameters of growth performance were calculated. At the end of the experiment, manganese concentration in tibia bones and livers were determined. Main results obtained can be summarized as follow: Analysis of Mn in tissues revealed a linear relationship between bone or liver Mn concentration and dietary Mn for all three Mn sources. Also, Regression analysis indicated a linear Mn uptake of bone and liver as dietary Mn increased among all sources. An average values of relative biological availability were 86.58 and 75.17% for Mn oxide and Mn chloride, respectively, when Mn sulfate was set as 100%, biological availability. Manganese sulfate was the most available followed by Mn oxide and Mn chloride.