B-Traxim 2C Zn: Unlocking broiler growth through superior bioavailability
Trace minerals, particularly zinc, play essential roles in broiler physiology including growth, immunity, bone development and carcass quality. However, bioavailability—the proportion absorbed and utilized—varies significantly by chemical form.
Organic sources like ADM’s B-Traxim 2C Zn offer superior uptake compared to inorganic alternatives, improving performance while reducing mineral waste.
B-Traxim 2C, classified in Europe as a zinc chelate of glycine hydrate, demonstrates enhanced relative bioavailability and improved performance compared to other sources in broiler production, according to recent research done at the ADM Montgomery City R&D Center. It has a fully defined chemical structure and consistent composition that ensures product uniformity and stability.
Bioavailability study
The first study evaluated relative bioavailability (RBV) using a depletion-repletion model comparing B-Traxim 2C Zn and zinc amino acid hydrate (Zn-AAH) against zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄).
Thirteen semi-purified diets with varying zinc levels (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 ppm) assessed growth performance and bone zinc deposition. Birds receiving organic zinc accumulated more tibia zinc than those fed zinc sulfate.
B-Traxim 2C demonstrated 15-45% higher bioavailability than ZnSO₄ depending on the measurement used, with body weight gain plateauing at 12 ppm across all sources.
Performance study
The second trial compared B-Traxim 2C Zn with Zn-AAH, zinc methionine hydroxy analog (Zn-MHA), and ZnSO₄ at 10 and 60 ppm supplementation levels using commercial diets with phytase under standard floor-pen conditions.
B-Traxim 2C consistently outperformed other sources:
- ✅ Body weight gain improved 2.6% over Zn-MHA and 1.6% over Zn-AAH (P<0.05).
- ✅ Feed efficiency showed a 5.4-point improvement in adjusted FCR versus Zn-AAH (P<0.02) and 3.4 points versus Zn-MHA (P=0.14).
- ✅ Hot carcass yield increased 0.59% compared to Zn-AAH (P=0.02).
These findings demonstrate that highly bioavailable zinc sources directly translate into superior flock performance.
Importantly, producers can reduce zinc supplementation levels when switching to more bioavailable sources without compromising results, addressing both performance and sustainability objectives.
Environmental considerations increasingly influence poultry production decisions. Efficient mineral utilization minimizes waste and environmental impact.
By improving absorption and utilization, bioavailable sources like B-Traxim 2C Zn enable optimized supplementation rates while maintaining or improving performance, supporting both economic and sustainability goals.
Selecting a zinc source with proven bioavailability helps producers unlock broilers’ full genetic potential. With demonstrated benefits in growth, feed efficiency and carcass yield, B-Traxim 2C Zn provides a reliable solution for achieving high performance while meeting modern sustainability standards.
References
De Marco, M., et al. 2017. Dietary administration of glycine complexed trace minerals can improve performance and slaughter yield in broilers and reduces mineral excretion. Animal Feed Science and Technology 232: 182-189.
Ionescu, C., et al. 2011. Feeding organic trace minerals source instead of inorganic sources at high trace mineral doses improves broiler carcass quality. Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting.
Oguey, S., et al. 2008; Stoeckli-Evans, H., et al. 2014; Vacchina, V., et al. 2010, 2013. Chemical characterization and determination of metal glycinate complexes in feed samples.
Mortada, M., et al. 2025. Evaluating the bioavailability of zinc glycinate and zinc amino acid hydrate organic trace minerals relative to zinc sulfate in broilers; Effect of organic trace minerals vs. zinc sulfate on performance, carcass yield, and tibia zinc content of broilers.
Minerals vs. zinc sulfate on performance, carcass yield, and tibia zinc content of broilers.