Abstract: In order to investigate the effect of organic chelating manganese level on nutrient matter digestibility and nitrogen metabolism in female minks during the gestation period, one hundred and fifty healthy female minks were selected and assigned into five groups by randomized blocks, there were thirty replicates in each group and one mink per replicate. Supplemental levels of manganese were 0 (group Ⅰ), 15 (group Ⅱ), 50 (group Ⅲ), 100 (group Ⅳ) and 500 mg/kg (group Ⅴ), respectively. Manganese was added as organic chelating form. The results showed that dry matter digestibility and protein digestibility were the highest when the level of added manganese was 50 mg/kg in basal diet, fat digestibility was the highest when the level of added manganese was 100 mg/kg in basal diet. Nitrogen retention, net protein utilization, biological value of protein were highest when the level of added manganese was 100 mg/kg in basal diet and significantly different with 0 (group Ⅰ) and 500 mg/kg (group Ⅴ)(P＜0.05). In conclusion, the optimal supplemental level of manganese range for female mink during the gestation period was 50 to 100 mg/kg.

Key words: mink; organic chelating manganese; gestation period; digestibility; nitrogen metabolism