The Impact of Herbal Additives for Poultry Feed on the Fatty Acid Profile of Meat

Fatty Acid Profile and Dietary Value of Thigh Meat of Broiler Chickens Receiving Mineral or Organic Forms of Zn

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of mineral (sulphate) or organic (glycine chelate) forms of Zn used in quantities covering 100% or 50% of the Zn requirement on the fatty acid profile of the thigh muscles of Ross 308 broiler chickens. We also analysed the dietary value of this meat based on its fatty acid profile. The experimental factors did not influence the content of basic chemical components and the meat's pH. Although, in terms of statistics, the presented study supports the statement that the form (sulphate vs. glycine chelate) and/or amount of Zn used (100% or 50% of the requirement) affects the fatty acid profile and dietary value of thigh meat, the results imply that the requirement of Ross 308 broiler chickens for Zn was also covered in full when in it was used in amounts covering 50% of the requirement, irrespective of the form in which Zn was used. However, it cannot be explicitly confirmed that the form of Zn affects the analysed parameters of thigh meat.

Effects of main active components of rosemary on growth performance, meat quality and lipid metabolism in finishing pigs

Rosemary extracts have been widely used as feed additives in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) and ursolic acid (UA), the main active components of rosemary, on growth performance, meat quality and lipid metabolism in finishing pigs. A total of 72 finishing pigs (Landrace; initial age of 150 d) were randomly divided into 3 treatments with 8 replicates of 3 pigs each, and fed a basal diet or diet containing 500 mg/kg of RA or UA. The results showed that dietary supplementation of RA or UA had no significant effect on the growth performance and carcass traits of finishing pigs (P > 0.05). However, both RA and UA significantly increased the triglyceride (TG) level in soleus muscle (P < 0.001). Supplementation of RA increased the expression of genes related to lipogenesis and transport including fatty acid synthase (FAS) (P < 0.001), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP1c) (P < 0.001) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) (P < 0.05), while UA increased the expression of fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1), a gene related to lipid uptake (P < 0.05). However, RA reduced the expression of adipogenesis-related gene acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase α (ACCα) (P < 0.01). Characterization of cecal microbiota indicated that RA increased the microbial richness (chao 1, P < 0.001) and diversity (observed species, P < 0.01). Further analysis of the genera revealed that RA increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides and g-UCG-005 (P < 0.05), and UA enriched Prevotella (P < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed that g-UCG-005 was positively correlated with the expression of FAS, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1B (CPT1B), SREBP1c and PPARγ (P < 0.01). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of RA or UA may increase fat deposition in muscle of finishing pigs by regulating lipid metabolism and gut microbiota.

Improving Shelf Life and Content of Unsaturated Fatty Acids in Meat of Lambs Fed a Diet Supplemented with Grape Dregs

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential effects of dietary grape residue levels on the slaughter indicators, meat quality, meat shelf-life, unsaturated fatty acid content, and expression of fatty acid deposition genes in the muscle of lambs. Sixty 30-month-old male Dorper and Small-Tailed Han F1 hybrid lambs were assigned to a single factor complete randomized trial design and fed with four different diets including 0%, 8%, 16%, and 24% grape dregs, respectively. The findings regarding meat production efficacy in the lambs revealed substantial differences. The control group showed notably lower dressing percentage, carcass weight, net meat weight, meat percentage concerning carcass, meat-to-bone ratio, relative visceral and kidney fat mass, and rib eye area compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, the meat shearing force of lambs fed a diet with 16% grape pomace (GP) was significantly higher than that of the 24% GP group (p < 0.05), while the 24 h meat color parameter a* value of the control group was notably higher than that of the 8% GP group (p < 0.05). In addition, compared to the control group, lambs fed with a diet containing 16% GP had higher levels of oleic acid (C18:1n-9c), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6c), behenic acid (C22:0), tricosanoic acid (C23:0), lignoceric acid (C24:0), and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), at a ratio of ∑CLA/TFA, ∑n-6, ∑MUFA, and ∑PUFA in the longissimus dorsi muscle (p < 0.05), but the reverse case was applicable for Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVB-N) content (p < 0.05). GP supplementation did not substantially affect the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) genes (p > 0.05). The findings indicated that incorporating grape dregs in the diets of fattening lambs leads to notable enhancements in meat production and the antioxidant capacity of lamb meat, and effectively extends the shelf life of the meat.

Dynamic changes in the water distribution and key aroma compounds of roasted chicken during roasting

The effects of roasting times (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 min) on the dynamic changes of the water distribution and key aroma compounds in roasted chicken during the electric roasting process were studied. In total, 36 volatile compounds were further determined by GC-MS and 11 compounds, including 1-octen-3-ol, 1-heptanol, hexanal, decanal, (E)-2-octenal, acetic acid hexyl ester, nonanal, 2-pentylfuran, heptanal, (E, E)-2,4-decadienal and octanal, were confirmed as key aroma compounds. The relaxation time of T22 and T23 was increased first and then decreased, while the M22 and M23 in roasted chicken were decreased and increased with increasing roasting time, respectively. The fluidity of the water in the chicken during the roasting process was decreased, and the water with a high degree of freedom migrated to the water with a low degree of freedom. In addition, the L*, a*, b*, M23 and all amino acids were positively correlated with all the key aroma compounds, while T22, M22 and moisture content were negatively correlated with all the key aroma compounds.

Emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum)-based intervention in Japanese quail's diet and its impact on performance, carcass yield, meat fatty acids, and fecal volatile fatty acids

The high nutritional and nutraceutical qualities of emmer wheat make it a valuable cereal grain. The present study was designed to quantify the contribution of emmer wheat inclusion into Japanese quail's rations in terms of their productive responses, alterations in the fatty acid profile of their meat, and changes in the composition of volatile fatty acids in their feces. For this purpose, a total of 160, 1-day-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments (4 replicates and 10 quails/replicate) with different levels of emmer wheat including 0% (control), 5% (T5), 10% (T10), and 15% (T15). These dietary treatments were administered for a period of 35 days. The results obtained from the study showed that dietary changes led by incorporation of increasing levels of emmer wheat into quail rations had no negative impact on quail's health and production. Moreover, supplemental emmer could promote better feed conversion ratio and higher carcass yield, while it did not affect the relative weights of internal organs including liver, gizzard, and heart. In addition, the incorporation of increasing levels of emmer wheat into quail rations was characterized by a reduction in total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, whereas an increase was observed in the levels of total unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast meat. Emmer wheat inclusion also increased the levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in breast meat. Regarding volatile fatty acid profile, a lower percentage of propionic acid while a higher percentage of acetic acid were recorded in feces of quails fed emmer wheat-based diets when compared to those fed control diets. Overall, as confirmed by the present findings, the incorporation of emmer wheat into quail diets could be proposed as a valuable strategy for the promotion of animal health and performance. More research is needed to further investigate the promising roles of using emmer wheat in poultry nutrition.

Effect of dietary inclusion of atorvastatin, garlic, and dill on growth performance, antioxidant defense, gut, and cardio-pulmonary function, and lipogenesis in broiler chickens

In the present study, we evaluated the antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant effects of garlic and dill in comparison with atorvastatin to combat lipogenesis in broiler chickens. A total of 400 1-day-old chicks (Ross 308 strain) were randomly distributed into four experimental diets. Dietary treatments included a control diet, the control diet plus atorvastatin at 20 mg/kg, the control diet plus garlic dry powder (GDP) at 7.5 g/kg, and the control diet plus dill dry powder (DDP) at 7.5 g/kg. Chicks were maintained on experimental diets for 42 days under the recommended environmental conditions set out by the strain management manual. The results showed that weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and duodenal, jejunal, and ileal dimensions of villi (height, width, and the surface absorptive area) were improved by in-feed atorvastatin, GDP, or DDP when compared to the control (P < 0.05). The inclusion of atorvastatin or phytobiotic products increased circulatory levels of nitric oxide (NO) but decreased circulatory levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), triacylglycerol (TAG), and low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL), with concomitant reductions in the T, R, and S waves amplitudes in the Lead 2 electrocardiogram (ECG) (P < 0.05). Dietary supplements caused an up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) but reduced the expression of key hepatic lipogenic enzymes (fatty acid synthase (FAS) and hydroxy-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, feed supplementation with atorvastatin, GDP, or DDP suppressed lipogenesis, enhanced antioxidant response, and improved gut and cardio-pulmonary function in broiler chicks subjected to hypobaric hypoxia.