Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-r6qrq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T15:54:22.531Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rare earths as a feed additive for poultry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

Shang Lei  and
Lui Xueying
Shang Lei
Affiliation:
Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi Taigu, 030801, P.R.China
Lui Xueying
Affiliation:
Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi Taigu, 030801, P.R.China
Get access

Abstract

Rare earths (RE) is the common name for the metallic elements of the lanthanide series, together with yttrium and scandium, which make up 0.016% of the earth's crust. This review summarizes the results of experiments conducted in China in which RE were added to poultry diets. Additions of 30–1000mg/kg RE to layer diets resulted in increases in egg production of 3–15% and improved feed conversion efficiency of 2–22%. The hatchability of eggs increased by 5–15%. Improvements of 4–14% in body weight gain were observed in broilers fed 20–400 mg/kg, together with 3–6% better feed conversion efficiency and increases of 3–5% in eviscerated yield. Similar benefits have also been reported when feeding RE to ducks, although not statistically validated, and to meat-type pigeons. No adverse effects of feeding RE have been reported. It is concluded that rare earths have a role as feed additives in the poultry industry, particularly in conditions where the genetic potential for production traits is not achieved. Key information from some of the papers cited in the paper is summarized in an appendix.

Keywords

AdditiveChinaegg productionfeedmeatpoultryrare earthstrace elements
Type
Research Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 53 , Issue 4 , December 1997 , pp. 369 - 379
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chen, Y.T. (1991) Effect of feeding rare earths on the performance of market pigeons. Poultry Husbandry and Disease Control 5: 8–9, 40Google Scholar
Dou, D.C. (1992) Ducks gain more body weight through the intake of rare earths. Nei Monggol Animal Husbandry 2: 31Google Scholar
EDPST (1987) Editorial Department of Poultry Science and Technology, Yangzhou, ChinaGoogle Scholar
EDPST (1993) Editorial Department of Poultry Science and Technology, Yangzhou, ChinaGoogle Scholar
Gschneidner, K.A. (1979) Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths 4: 535Google Scholar
Guo, Y.M., Yang, N., Xu, J., Sun, Y. and Wu, G.L. (1993) Effect of feeding rare earths organic concentrate to layers. China Feed 4: 27–28Google Scholar
Guo, W.H., Zhou, J.H., Yang, C.L. and Zhou, L. (1991) Effect of feeding rare earths on the body weight gain of broilers. Nei Monggol Animal Husbandry Science 2: 9–11Google Scholar
Haley, T.J. (1965) Journal of Pharmaceutical Science 54: 663Google Scholar
Liu, S.Q. (1993) Effect of feeding rare earths on the performance of layers. Chinese Poultry 3: 20Google Scholar
Nie, Y.X. (1994) Studies on the biological effects of rare earths elements and compounds. National Rare Earths Symposium PapersBeijing, ChinaGoogle Scholar
Shang, L. and Liu, X.Y. (1991) A new kind of feed additive – rare earths. Feedstuffs and Animal Husbandry 3: 28–29Google Scholar
Shen, Q.Y., Zhang, J.W. and Wang, C.Q. (1991) Effects of rare earths additives in diets of domestic animals including poultry. Feed Industry 12: 20–22Google Scholar
Tang, R.H. (1985) Biological Trace Element Research 7: 95CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, D.Q. and Li, M.D. (1993) Effects of using rare earths in the production of meat type ducks. Modern Domestic Animal and Poultry Raising 9: 16Google Scholar
Wang, Q.Y. (1989) Effects of adding rare earths to broiler diets. Henan Agricultural Science 1: 28Google Scholar
Wang, Q.Y. and Niu, S.Y. (1990) Report of adding rare earths to broiler diets. Feed Industry 11: 9–10Google Scholar
Wang, Q.Y., Chen, W.J., Niu, S.Y., Zhao, Y.Z. and Zhang, J.L. (1991) Effects of adding rare earths to layer diets. Feed Industry 12: 26–27Google Scholar
Xie, H.G., Zhang, G.E. and Zheng, T.J. (1991) A study of the effects of adding rare earths compounds to layer diets. Feed Industry 12: 23–25Google Scholar
Yang, Z.Q. and Dong, M.X. (1991) Using rare earths in medicine and animal husbandry. Journal of Chinese Veterinary Medicine 2: 44–46Google Scholar
Yang, Z.Q., Zhang, K.R., Zhang, P.C., Mao, S.Y. and Sun, W.H. (1990) Effects of feeding rare earths mixtures on the performance of broilers. Feed Industry 11: 7–8Google Scholar
Yang, Z.Q., Dong, M.X., Mao, S.Y., Znang, K.R. and Zhang, P.C. (1992) A study of the effects of rare earths on the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in broilers. Gansu Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine 5: 8–9Google Scholar
Yu, D.J. (1992) Applied studies on the feeding of rare earths to layers. National Rare Earths Symposium PapersBeijing, ChinaGoogle Scholar
Yuan, Q.L. and Li, J.X. (1993) Effects of rare earths on sensory quality of broilers. Theses Collection for the 6th China Poultry SymposiumBeihai, Guangxi, China, pp. 295–299Google Scholar
Zhang, F.S., Chen, D.H. and Liu, Z.J. (1993) Preliminary experiment report on feeding rare earths to layers. Hei Longjang Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine 1: 11–12Google Scholar
Zhang, G.L., Tang, Y.Q., Liu, S.A., Xie, H.G. and Zhen, T.J. (1989) Effects of feeding rare earths additives on the performance of layers. Theses Collection for the 4th China Poultry SymposiumJinan, Shandong, China, pp. 59–61Google Scholar
Zhang, J.W., Shen, Q.Y. and Wang, C.Q. (1992) Effects of adding rare earths to layer diets. Gansu Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine 1: 6–8Google Scholar
Zhang, Y.H. (1988) Recent advances in studies of rare earths and titanium (Ti) as feed additives. Feed Research 6: 29–31Google Scholar
Zheng, Y.G., Se, M.D. and Yuan, Q.L. (1990) Effects of rare earths elements on the main nutrient components and residual radioactivity of broiler meat. Journal of Nei Monggol Agricultural and Animal Husbandry College 11: 142–145Google Scholar