Ethanolic extract of mango seed in broiler feed: Effect on productive performance, segments of the digestive tract and blood parameters

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of different levels of ethanolic extract of mango seed (EEMS) on performance, carcass characteristics, relative weight of the digestive tract segments and blood parameters of broiler chickens. For this purpose, 756 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with seven treatments and six replicates of 18 birds. The treatments consisted of: diet without addition of antioxidant (control); with addition of 200 mg/kg of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT); and diets with 200, 400, 600, 800 or 1000 mg/kg of EEMS. There were no significant differences between the treatments for the performance variables, carcass characteristics, or the relative weight of the segments of the digestive tract. Regarding the serum lipid profile, it was observed that the broilers fed the control diet had significantly higher total cholesterol levels than the animals that received diets containing EEMS. However, there was no significant difference between the use of synthetic antioxidant BHT and the addition of EEMS at different levels. Ethanolic extract of mango seed in broiler chickens’ feeding from 1 to 42 days of age has no adverse effects on performance, carcass characteristics or relative weight of the segments of the digestive tract. However, it influences their lipid metabolism, reducing total plasma cholesterol from inclusion level 200 mg/kg.