Abstract
Summary A total of 320 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were used to study the effects of dietary supplementation of 0, 200, 400 and 600Â mg/kg SkEO or 200Â mg/kg α-tocopherol on productive performance, organ weights, blood antioxidant stability and lipid constituents in birds raised in thermo-neutral or cyclic heat stress conditions in a 42-d experiment. Heat stress significantly suppressed FCR (PÂ <Â 0.001) and performance efficiency index (PÂ <Â 0.05) through day 42 of age. Dietary administration of 400Â mg/kg SkEO promoted DWG (PÂ <Â 0.05), FCR (PÂ <Â 0.05) and EPEF (PÂ <Â 0.05) through day 42 of age with no change in FI and mortality compared to the birds receiving α-tocopherol and control diets. Serum CHOL and LDL concentrations were decreased significantly in birds fed on a diet containing 400Â mg/kg SkEO compared to control birds (PÂ <Â 0.001). Lipid stability and antioxidant power of the blood were improved by inclusion of 200 and 400Â mg/kg SkEO and 200Â mg/kg α-tocopherol as shown by lowered serum MDA concentration and elevated GPx activity. Abdominal fat percentage tended to be decreased (PÂ =Â 0.06) in heat stressed birds compared to those raised in normal thermal conditions at day 42 of age. Inclusion of 400 and 600Â mg/kg SkEO and 200Â mg/kg α-tocopherol in broiler diets significantly decreased abdominal fat in both heat stressed and non-stressed birds at day 42 of age. It was concluded that supplementation of SkEO in broiler diets at 400Â mg/kg may result in economic benefits in broiler flocks through improved FCR and economic efficiency factor. The same dietary dose may cause decreased carcass fat and improved antioxidant capacity of the blood. The results did not demonstrate any clear advantage for dietary SkEO in heat stressed birds compared to those kept in normal temperature conditions.
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