Effects of increased content of organic selenium in feed on the selenium content and fatty acid profile in broiler breast muscle

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of organic selenium supplemented to broiler feed on the selenium content and fatty acid profile in broiler breast muscle tissue. The study was carried out on 60 male Ross 308 broilers that were slaughtered at the age of 42 days. After day 21, the broilers were divided into three experimental groups (P1, P2, P3), and each group was given separately prepared finisher diets that contained 18% of crude protein and 14.67 MJ/kg ME (finisher diet contained 6% of oil, of which 3% was sunflower oil, and 3% was linseed oil added for the purpose to increase portion of α-linolenic fatty acid. The content of organic selenium (Sel-Plex®) supplemented in the finisher diet was as follows: no selenium, 0.3 mg Se/kg of feed and 0.5mg Se/kg of feed for P1, P2 and P3 group, respectively. It was determined that the group P3 had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) content of selenium in breast muscle (0.256 mg Se/kg of tissue) than group P2 (0.183 mg Se/kg of tissue) and P1 (0.087 mg Se/kg of tissue). Supplementation of selenium to feed at the amount of 0.3 mg/kg affected the fatty acid profile in breast muscle tissue by increasing portions of α-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids and total n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and by lowering portion of total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.