Immunological Responses of Broiler Chicks can be Modulated by Dietary Supplementation of Zinc-Methionine in Place of Inorganic Zinc Sources (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Poultry possess limited natural resistance against many infectious diseases; hence, the poultry industry relies on the application of antibiotics or related medications to increase disease resistance within poultry flocks. However, this practice has accompanied the prevalence and establishment of antibiotic-resistant species within the human populations (Ratcliff, 2000; Phillips et al., 2004). Consequently, the use of antibiotics in livestock production is being faced with extensive limitations, and the poultry industry is compelled to find appropriate alternatives for antibiotics to increase disease resistance in poultry flocks as well as to maintain accessible markets for poultry products (Abdukalykova and Ruiz-Feria, 2006).