The aim of this experiment was to investigate whether a low-dietary application (15 mg/kg) of an alkaloid preparation containing quaternary benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids and obtained from Macleaya cordata (Sangrovit) influenced caecal metabolism, growth performance and long-chain fatty acid composition of breast meat. One-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were fed a diet without supplement or with a 15 mg/kg dose of Sangrovit (C and A groups respectively) for 5 weeks. Although the A treatment was not accompanied by an enhanced final body weight of broilers, the intake of a diet with Sangrovit influenced the caecal microflora activity. The addition of Sangrovit to a diet decreased potentially harmful β-glucuronidase and β-glucosidase activities (p<0.05 and p=0.075 respectively), and at the same time led to a significant increase in activities of bacterial glycolytic enzymes α-glucosidase, α-galactosidase, β-galactosidase in comparison to the control group. The concentration of total short-chain fatty acids in the caecal digesta was increased in the A treatment contributing to the tendency towards lower caecal pH (p=0.078). The analysis of breast meat fatty acids showed that the dietary application of Sangrovit evoked some changes in contents of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) contents. The applied dosage of Sangrovit caused an increase in the sum of MUFA and the tendency towards lower PUFA sum (p<0.05 and p=0.062 respectively) as in relation with the C group. Although the nutritionally relevant n-6/n-3 PUFA and the (PUFA+MUFA)/saturated fatty acids ratios remained similar in both groups, further research is postulated to establish the effect of this preparation on meat quality. To sum up, despite of a lack of the improvement in final body weight, a low dose of dietary Sangrovit was found to exert positive effects on the caecal metabolism of the broilers.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition of grain of 20 winter wheat, rye and triticale varieties grown in Lithuania. The grain of the tested varieties was analysed for crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, crude fibre, and amino acids. The Pearson's correlation coefficient between the components of grain chemical composition (except amino acids) was calculated. The highest concentration of crude protein was determined for the variety 'SW Talentro' (triticale) and the lowest for the rye variety 'Palazzo' (P < 0.05). Among the wheat varieties tested, the 'Mariboss' contained the highest concentration of crude fat (1.56% dry matter) and crude fibre (2.19% dry matter) (P < 0.05). Among the rye varieties tested, the highest and dominant mean content of neutral detergent fibre was determined for the variety 'Matador' (20.59% dry matter) (P < 0.05). The grain of wheat varieties had a high content of acid detergent fibre ('Rigi') and acid detergent lignin ('Mariboss') (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a very strong correlation was determined between individual fibre fractions of grain, that is between hemicellulose and neutral detergent fibre content (r = 0.99) and between acid detergent fibre and cellulose (r = 0.93). A negative correlation was determined between the crude protein and nitrogen-free extract (r = −0.83). The study revealed that the wheat variety 'Zentos', the rye variety 'Dankowskie Amber' and the tirticale variety 'SW Talentro' accumulated a higher amount of amino acids in comparison with the other cereal varieties tested. The results of the study showed that the chemical composition (crude protein, essential amino acids, nitrogenfree extract, neutral detergent fibre) of grain of the triticale varieties was more similar to that of wheat varieties compared with rye varieties.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of feed supplemented with betaine on broiler chickens' growth and slaughter performance, breast muscle histomorphometric and physicochemical properties, oxidative status and amino acid content. A total of 1000 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were divided into four treatments. Control group chickens were fed with standard compound diet (SCD), the chickens from experimental groups B1, B2 and B3 receiving SCD supplemented with 1 g/kg (B1), 2 g/kg (B2) and 3 g/kg (B3) betaine anhydrous, respectively. Each treatment had five replicate pens. Feeding test results showed that betaine reduced broilers' mortality but increased feed conversion ratio (p < .05). Forty broiler chickens (5 weeks old) were slaughtered and slaughter performance showed that 2 g/kg betaine inclusion improved breast muscle percentage and yield (p < .05). Betaine dosage of 1 g/kg into feed increased breast muscle fibre areas (p < .05). Betaine affected some physicochemical properties: higher a à and the highest drip loss in B2; the highest cooking losses in B1, B2; the highest shear force and fat content in SCD; the highest amounts of ashes in B1, B2 (p < .05). Lower malondialdehyde levels were observed in all betaine-treated groups (p < .05), except B1 fresh meat samples. The highest total amino acid content and a greater amount of essential amino acids were obtained in SCD breast muscles (p < .05), except equally highest amounts of methionine were found in both SCD and B3 samples (p < .05). However, according to our study results, betaine, as a methyl group donor, in broiler chicken diets cannot replace methionine as an essential amino acid. HIGHLIGHTS Betaine is known as functional nutrient in poultry nutrition, which can fulfil the function of a methyl donor. Betaine in animal feed is saving feed costs by replacing choline chloride and methionine.

No abstract

No abstract