Effect of dietary supplementation of organic selenium and vitamin E on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of broiler chickens

Abstract

Present study was conducted in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of 3 levels of organic selenium (0, 0.1, and 0.2 ppm) and 2 levels of vitamin E (0 and 300 mg/kg) to determine the effect of organic selenium and vitamin E on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality in broiler chickens. Day-old Vencobb broiler chicks (180) were randomly divided into 6 treatments (3 replicates of 10 birds/treatment). The diets were formulated according to BIS (1992). The diet was based on corn soybean meal. Study revealed significant interaction in between organic selenium and vitamin E for feed intake, body weight, FCR, dressing percentage and protein and lipid content of muscle. The broilers receiving 0.1 ppm organic selenium with 300 mg/kg vitamin E (T4) displayed heavier final weight and improved FCR. The highest dressing percentage was determined in the similar group (T4). As the level of vitamin E increased in the broilers diet, protein percentage of breast and thigh muscle significantly increased whereas, lipid percentage significantly decreased. Lowest muscle lipid and highest protein percentage obtained in broilers receiving 0.1 ppm organic selenium with 300 mg/kg vitamin E (T4). It can be concluded that dietary organic selenium with vitamin E in broiler feed improved the growth performance and gave the possibility for achievement of better quality meat and higher meat yield.