Effect of humic substances on the mineral composition of chicken meat

The study was conducted to determine the concentrations of mineral substances calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in the thigh and breast muscle of broiler chicks after application of humic substances. Eighty-one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into 4 groups of 20 animals. Group 1 (G1) was supplemented with 0.7% Humac Natur (HN), G2 with 0.7% Humac Natur Monogastric (HNM) and G3 with 0.5% HNM and control group (CG) received basal diet without any supplements. The samples of muscles were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry method (AAS). The statistically significantly higher levels of Ca and Zn (p<0.01) were found in breast and thigh muscles in G1 in comparison to the CG. An addition of the 0.7% HNM in G2 caused the significantly higher levels of the Ca (p<0.05) and Zn (p<0.01) in both types of muscles in comparison to the CG. The addition of 0.7% HNM (p<0.05) and 0.5% HNM (p<0.01) in feed significantly reduced the amount of the Cu in the breast muscle versus the addition of 0.7% HN. Significantly lower Zn contents (p<0.01) were found in the breast and thigh muscle of broilers of CG in comparison to the G1 with addition of 0.7% HN. In the group G1 was achieved a strong positive correlation in the thigh muscle between the Mg and the Zn (r=0.9660) after application of 0.7% HN. According to the results, significant positive correlation between the Zn and the Mg (r=0.8187) in the breast muscle was observed in the group G2. In conclusion, HN and HMN can be considered a good additive with a positive impact on the nutrition value of poultry meat.