Effects of Supplementing Drinking Water with Mixed Herb Extract or Outdoor Access on Meat Quality Characteristics in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of supplementing drinking water with an extract of mixed herbs or housing with outdoor access on carcass traits, levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and selected quality parameters of meat from broiler chickens. One-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were allocated to three groups: group I (control), in which birds were kept in compartments on litter and had no outdoor access; group II, in which birds were kept in compartments on litter without outdoor access and were supplemented with an extract of mixed herbs (50% Melissa officinalis L. and 50% Urtica dioica L.) at 2 ml/l of drinking water; and group III, in which birds were raised in compartments on litter and had outdoor access from day 1 of rearing. Throughout the rearing period, the broilers had free access to feed and water. On day 42, 20 birds were selected from each group, slaughtered and subjected to simplified slaughter analysis. Their breast and leg muscles were measured for pH, colour, water holding capacity (WHC) and drip loss, and analysed for the content of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and fatty acids. The outdoor access reduced dressing percentage, both with (P≤0.01) and without giblets (P≤0.05). The supplementation of drinking water with the mixed herb extract (2 ml/l) improved the muscle antioxidant status (higher SOD, CAT and GSH content) and reduced lipid peroxidation in the leg muscles of the broilers (lower MDA level). In general, the supplementation of the diet with the mixture of herbs in the applied form and concentration, as well as the outdoor access had no effect on the other examined quality parameters of broiler meat.

Egg‐laying capacity of parent flock geese at different stocking densities

“…Poultry is kept at different stocking densities depending on local regulations, the production system, and a given live weight to minimize fixed costs and maximize profitability (Ermakov et al, 2021; Muniz et al, 2006; Puron et al, 1995; Safonov, 2022; Skomorucha et al, 2009; Ventsova & Safonov, 2021). However, it has been documented that high stocking density negatively affects the productivity, health, survivability, and immunity of broilers (Estevez, 2007; Pandurang et al, 2011; Pettit‐Riley & Estevez, 2001; Thaxton et al, 2006).…”

Effect of herbal extract mixture on growth performance and antioxidant parameters in broilers

“…On the other hand, it was reported that the supplementation of sanguinarine in laying hens lowers serum MDA level (Bavarsadi et al, 2017;Liu et al, 2020) and increases the antioxidant activity of the honokiol-magnolol compound in mice (Pang et al, 2013). Likewise, it has been determined that phytogenic additives increase antioxidant activity in many studies (Barbarestani et al, 2020;Skomorucha et al, 2020).…”

Effect of water supplemented with a herbal based product on the internal organs of broiler chickens

“…This is due to the fact that some plants and their extracts contain volatile oils that can alleviate coccidiosis and reduce its severity (5). There are also reports showing that plant and herbal supplementation of water given to poultry prevents natural infections by viral diseases (29) and may result in enhanced productivity, growth performance, welfare, feed efficiency, and, ultimately, poultry meat quality (1,20,27,28). Plant and herbal treatment of poultry can also contribute to decreased ammonia production (14).…”