Dietary Supplementation with Pomegranate and Onion Aqueous and Cyclodextrin Encapsulated Extracts Affects Broiler Performance Parameters, Welfare and Meat Characteristics

Abstract

The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effects of Punica granatum L. and Allium cepa L. peels aqueous and cyclodextrin extracts on broiler chicks’ performance and welfare status, as well as on the meat chemical composition and oxidative stability. A total of 120 one-day-old male Ross-308 chicks were randomly allocated to three treatments with four replicate pens (10 chicks per pen). Broiler chicks in the control group were fed typical commercial rations in mash form, based on maize and soybean meal. The rations of the other two treatments were further supplemented with the mixture of Punica granatum and Allium cepa aqueous and cyclodextrin extracts at the level of 0.1% of the feed, respectively. At the end of the trial (day 35), tissue samples were collected for analysis. Body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), average daily gain (ADG) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the period of 1–10 days, 11–24 days, 25–35 days and 1–35 days were evaluated. Litter score, dry matter in litter, pododermatitis and feather score were also assessed at the end of the trial. Data were analyzed with ANOVA using SPSS v25 software. The results showed that BW, FI and FCR values did not differ among the groups. Scoring of pododermatitis, diarrhea, feather, fecal moisture, wooden breast and white stripping did not differ (p ≥ 0.05) among the groups. Punica granatum and Allium cepa aqueous and cyclodextrin extracts favorably affected (p < 0.05) meat composition, color parameters, TBARS and protein carbonyls. Diet supplementation also increased (p < 0.05) ∑n-3 fatty acids as well as ∑n-6 fatty acids in the thigh meat. The cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-Docosahexaenoic acid fatty acids in the breast meat of broilers fed with diets supplemented with the aqueous pomegranate and onion peel extracts were found to be higher (p < 0.05), while these fatty acids in the thigh meat were found increased (p < 0.05) in the cyclodextrin group. Aqueous and cyclodextrin pomegranate and onion peel extracts may provide a promising additive to the broilers diet with functional properties, in the absence of stressful conditions.

Evaluation of Non-Fermented and Fermented Chinese Chive Juice as an Alternative to Antibiotic Growth Promoters of Broilers

“…The addition of 2% garlic powder for 42 days resulted in a higher final body weight than the control (control: 1949.5 g; 2% garlic powder: 2019.0 g) [ 55 ]. However, some studies have shown comparable broiler productivity despite the addition of various types (e.g., garlic powder, garlic extract, chive extract, and onion peel aqueous extract) of plants of the genus Allium [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ]. In the results of this study, when the CC additive was mixed with feed, it showed no significant difference in productivity with enramycin, a poultry growth promoting antibiotic.…”

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Phytobiotic Encapsulated Plant Extracts on Broilers’ Performance Parameters, Welfare Traits and Meat Characteristics

“…The results were expressed as mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g plant material. A method described by Vasilopoulos et al, (2022), was applied to determine antiradical activity. Trolox TM was used to create a standard curve, and the results were presented as μmol Trolox equivalents (TRE)/ g plant material (mM TRE).…”

“…Diarrhea scores were evaluated on day 10, on 2 birds per pen, using categories from 1 to 3 (where 1 indicates absence of diarrhea and 3 severe diarrhea). On days 10, 24 and 35, fecal scores were evaluated on surface per pen, using categories from 1 to 4 (where 1 represents firm and well-formed feces and 4 represents watery liquid feces) (Vasilopoulos et al, 2022). On days 10, 24 and 35, litter scores were evaluated on 2 samples, coming from pooled samples of 3 locations per pen, using categories from 1 to 5 (where 1 illustrates dry and crumbly litter and 5 illustrates capping or completely wet litter).…”

“…For litter and fecal sampling, at least 5 subsamples for litter and at least 3 subsamples for feces were collected to reach a final sample of litter or feces, respectively. For litter pH analysis: 10 g of each sample were placed in a beaker and then 100 ml of distilled water was added; after mixing the samples with a glass rod and allowing them to stand for 30 min, the pH value was determined using a pHmeter (Vasilopoulos et al, 2022). Kjeldahl nitrogen (%) was determined by the Micro -Kjeldahl method (Guebel et al, 1991).…”

“…Two birds per replicate were used for the analysis of the meat chemical composition, which were individually marked (leg bands) and then transported and processed in a commercial slaughterhouse, according to local practices. Carcasses were handled similarly to Vasilopoulos et al, (2022). Wooden breast & white striping scores were evaluated on the same birds, using categories from 0 to 2 (for wooden breast: 0 represents good and 2 severe; and for white striping: 0 represents normal without any distinctive white lines and 2 represents severe presence of white lines in parallel to muscle fibers that were > 1 mm thick).…”