Research Article

Accumulation of metals in selected tissues and organs of laying hens in various ages

Renata Muchacka, Ewa Sosnówka-Czajka, Iwona Skomorucha, Agnieszka Greń, Edyta Kapusta, Magdalena Semla, Martyna Błaszczyk

¹Department of Animal Physiology and Toxicology, Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Kraków, Podbrzezie 3, 31-054 Kraków, Poland

²Department of Technology, Ecology and Economics of Animal Production, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083 Balice n. Kraków, Poland

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 15(2), 2016, 47‒58
2. DOI: 10.21005/asp.2016.15.2.05

Abstract. The aim of this study was to determine the changes of content of Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni and Fe in tissues and organs of chicks, pullets and adult laying hens. The birds were reared from the first day after hatching in the litter system and had no outdoor access. They were fed ad libitum standard diets based on concentrates for chicks, pullets and laying hens and had free access to water throughout the experiment. On day 4, in weeks: 7 and 52 of the experiment, organs and tissues (liver, stomach, breast muscle, and leg muscle) were collected to determine the level of selected metals. In addition, feed samples corresponding to the age group were tested. The contents of elements were determined using AAS. Based on the obtained results it was found that the level of each metal is different depending on the age of the birds and on the tested organ or tissue. Higher levels of Cd and certain trace elements in chicks’ tissues can be explained by the rapid growth and development, and rapid biochemical changes that occur in the body and/or contamination of hatching eggs. In addition, the chicks have not yet developed system of detoxification. Moreover, the developing tissues and organs increase their volume which results in their lower elements concentrations in older birds. Our studies confirm very slight exposure of birds in this type of farming to excess elements.

Keywords: chicks, hens, accumulation of metals, liver, stomach, muscle