Effect of Dietary Incorporation of Omega-3 PUFA Rich Oil Sources on Performance, Carcass Traits, Serum Biochemical Parameters and Immune Response in Krishibro Broilers

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary incorporation of n-3 PUFA rich vegetable (soybean oil; SO, mustard oil; MO linseed oil; LO and fish oil; FO) oil sources on performance, carcass traits, serum biochemical parameters and immune response in broiler chickens. A total of 300, day old broiler (Krishibro) chicks were randomly distributed to 5 dietary treatments with 10 replicates of 6 chicks each and reared in uniform managemental conditions. The basal starter (0–3 wk) and finisher (4–6 wk) diets (control) were prepared using sunflower oil (SFO) to meet the nutritional requirements of birds. Subsequently, 4 experimental diets were prepared by replacing the SFO with SO, MO, LO and FO on w/w basis. The body weight gain, feed intake, FCR and relative carcass parameters (dressing yield, breast yield, liver, heart and gizzard) were not influenced by dietary incorporation of n-3 PUFA rich oil sources. However, abdominal fat deposition was significantly (P<0.01) lowered in birds fed n-3 PUFA rich oil sources in the order of LO=FO<MO<SO=SFO. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin and triglyceride concentrations were comparable among the birds fed different oil sources. However, significantly (P<0.01) lower total cholesterol and higher (P<0.01) HDL-cholesterol concentrations were noticed in FO or LO supplemented groups compared to other groups. Cell mediated immune response as measured by inoculation with PHA-P was higher (P<0.01) with LO or FO supplementation as compared to other oil supplementation. However, no influence of oil source was found on humoral immune response (titres against ND vaccine). FO supplementation significantly (P<0.01) improved the relative bursa weight (primary lymphoid organ) compared to other dietary treatments. However, dietary incorporation of n-3 PUFA rich other oil sources (SO, MO, LO or FO) had no influence on the performance of broilers, however, dietary incorporation of fish oil or linseed oil lowered the abdominal fat deposition, serum total cholesterol concentration and stimulated the immune response.