Impact of Dietary Humic Substances Supplementation on Selected Minerals in Muscles of Broiler Chickens

In this study, we assessed the effect of humic substances on the changes of some mineral (Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn) content in the thigh and breast muscle of broilers. Group 1 (G1) was supplemented with 0.7 % Humac Natur Mycosorb (HNMy), and G2 with 0.3 % HNMy. The control group (GC) received a basal diet without any supplements. In the breast muscle of broilers from the group G1 we found a statistically significantly higher (P < 0.05) Ca content and significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the thigh muscle Ca content from the group G2 compared to the control group (GC). A statistically significant increase in Mg content (P < 0.05) was analyzed in breast muscles in the group G1 and also significant reduction (P ≤ 0.01) in Cu in the breast and thigh muscles was found in the group G1 and in the breast muscle from the group G2 compared to the GC. Significantly lower content of Zn (P ≤ 0.05) was found in the breast and thigh muscles of broilers in the group G2 and strong positive correlation (r = 0.9093) were observed between Ca in breast muscle from the group G2 and Ca in thigh muscle from the control group. A negative correlation (r = –0.7656) was shown for Mg between thigh muscle from the group G2 and Ca in thigh muscle from the GC. A strong negative correlation was confirmed (r = –0.9221) for Zn content in breast muscles between groups G2 and G1. The high positive correlation for Zn was occurred between breast muscle from the control group and thigh muscle from the group G1 (r = 0.9786).