Ethical approval All protocols and ethical use of experimental animals were approved by the Animal Welfare and Ethical Committee, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202 (No. 09/AWEC/BAU/2018). Experimental birds, diets, and management The experiment was conducted in an open-sided house at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Poultry Farm, Mymensingh. The period of the experiment was October 25 to November 30, 2014 (35 days). Seven hundred and twenty day-old chicks (DOCs) were considered for the research to determine the productivity, carcass traits, AT level against IBD, and profitability of commercial broilers. The broiler chicks were divided into four dietary groups. Each group was then replicated to 10 sub-groups each of having 18 chicks. A corn-soybean meal-based diet was formulated by including ITM to meet the nutrient requirements of Cobb 500 commercial broiler. Here, ITM group was considered as control group. First group of chicks was maintained on diet 1: control diet with ITM premix at 1 kg/ ton of feed (T1 ). The second group of chicks was fed diet 2 containing the control diet supplemented with propionate minerals at 600 gm/ton (T2 ). The third group (diet 3) was maintained containing control diet supplemented with metho-chelated trace minerals at 500 gm/ton by reducing 225 gm methionine/ton (T3 ). The fourth group of chicks was fed diet 4 containing control diet supplemented with proteinate trace minerals at 500 gm/ton of feed (T4). Metho-chelated trace mineral itself contained methionine, whereas other OTM did not contain methionine. This was the reason why 225 gm methionine/ton of feed had been reduced in the metho-chelated group to minimize cost. The ingredient and nutrient composition of the control diet are shown. Data collection and record-keeping Body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and survivability were measured at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days of age, respectively. Temperature and relative humidity (RH) both at chick level were recorded four times (6.00 AM, 12.00 PM, 4.00 PM, and 10.00 PM) daily. Temperature and RH were recorded by using an automatic thermo-hygrometer. During extreme conditions, especially at the late afternoon and evening, temperature and RH were recorded more frequently. Maximum temperature (35.5°C) was recorded at first week of November when birds’ sufferings were more due to heat stress. Processing of broilers: At the end of the experiment (35 days), 10 birds from each of four treatments comprising five replications each (one male and one female from each replication), close to average weight of each replication, were selected for the determination of carcass characteristics. The birds were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and allowed to bleed for 2 min and immersed in hot water (51°C–55°C) for 120 sec in order to lose the feathers. The official guidelines were followed to ensure animal welfare. Feathers were removed by hand pinning. Dressed broilers were cut into different major parts such as breast, thigh, drumstick, and wing. Finally, each cutup parts were weighed and recorded. Carcass yield was calculated by combining male and female data. Collection of blood sample: Blood samples were collected on days 6, 10, 17, and 35. Falcon tubes were used to collect the blood during slaughtering. The first time collection was done from all dietary groups at sixth day of age by sacrificing and the remaining collections at different ages were performed from jugular vein. Total number of collected samples was 8, 20, 40, and 40 on days 6, 10, 17, and 35, respectively. Blood samples were preserved in a refrigerator (+4°C) for 3 days. After 3 days, separated serum was poured into the Eppendorf tube from the collected blood. Economic analysis: Cost of production was calculated based on some specific items such as chicks, feed, vaccine, test ingredients, and casual labor. Some of these cost heads were widely varied due to fluctuating market price. However, the total production cost per bird and per kg broiler was calculated. The additional costs incurred for test ingredients were also considered in performing a cost-benefit analysis. Statistical analysis: Data of body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, FCR, survivability, and edible meat characteristics of broilers were recorded. The data were subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design by using a statistical software computer program. Duncan’s Multiple Range Test was used to compare the differences in mean values.