Change in minerals bioavailability in chronic arsenic toxicity with or without methionine and betaine supplementation in layer chicken

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to find out effect of chronic toxicity of sodium arsenite with or without extrasupplementation of methionine and methionine-betaine combination on bioavailability of minerals in Rhode Island Red (RIR) layer chicken. RIR 16-week-old pullets (120) were randomly distributed in 4 experimental groups, each having 3 replicates with 10 birds (9 hens, 1 cock). The experimental groups were control (C)-provided basal diet to meet all the nutrients requirement as per BIS, treatment 1 (TI)-birds were offered 5.5 ppm arsenic (As) through water; treatment 2 (T2)-birds were offered 5.5 ppm As through water with 50g methionine through feed; and treatment 3 (T3)-offered 5.5 ppm As through water and 25 g methionine + 25 g betaine through feed. The birds were maintained replicate wise in deep litter system of housing with a common system of management. Bioavailability of different minerals were significantly reduced in arsenJc treated group (T1) where no extra methionine or methionine + betaine combination were supplemented from external source. But in most cases bioavailability of minerals was enhanced in T2 and T3 groups in which methionine and methionine- betaine combination were supplemented respectively in their feed.