Effects of dietary ω-3 fatty acid-enriched microalgae supplementation on growth performance, blood profiles, meat quality, and fatty acid composition of meat in broilers

Abstract

A total of 300 2-d-old ROSS 308 (BW of 42.6±0.1 g) broiler chicks were randomly allotted to one of the three dietary treatments as follows: (1) CON (basal diet), (2) MA0.1 [basal diet +0.1% microalgae (Schizochytrium JB5) powder], and (3) MA0.2 [basal diet+0.2% microalgae (Schizochytrium JB5) powder]. There were five replicate pens per treatment with 20 birds per pen. Dietary microalgae did not affect the growth performance, red blood cells, white blood cells, and relative organ weight of liver, spleen, gizzard, abdominal fat, bursa of Fabricius, and breast meat (P>0.05). However, the inclusion of microalgae increased lymphocyte concentration compared to those that were fed a basal diet (P<0.05). The stearic acid composition of breast muscle was lower in MA0.1 treatment than CON treatment (P<0.05). Dietary microalgae powder increased the oleic acid, DHA, ω-3 fatty acid, and USFA compositions compared to the CON group (P<0.05). Microalgae supplementation reduced ω-6/ω-3 fatty acid ratio, saturated fatty acid contents and SFA/USFA ratio than those fed a basal diet (P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary ω-3-fatty-acid-enriched microalgae supplementation can improve the fatty acid composition of breast meat without affecting the growth performance in broilers.