Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae-Fermented Infertile Egg Flour on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Status and Carcass of Broilers Raised in High Density Pens

Objective of the current study was to explore the impact of S. cerevisiae-fermented infertile egg flour on the growth performance, blood profile, antioxidant status, and carcass traits of broilers raised in high-density pens. At days 26-42, 290 chicks were divided into 4 groups, including CONT (chickens raised at normal density [10 birds/m(2)] and fed basal diet), HSD (chickens raised at high density [16 birds/m(2)] and fed basal diet), HSD+EFS (chickens raised at high density and given basal diet with 0.7% S. cerevisiae-fermented infertile egg flour) and HSD+ESFS (chickens raised at high density and given basal diet with 0.7% S. cerevisiae-fermented infertile egg flour plus 0.001% selenite fermented by S. cerevisiae). The final body weight at day 42 and weight gain from 26 to 42 days in the HSD and HSD + ESFS treatments were less (p < 0.05) than in the CONT; however, there was no difference between the CONT and HSD + EFS treatments. Although the feed conversion ratio (FCR) did not vary between HSD and HSD+EFS, FCR was lower (p < 0.05) in CONT compared to HSD + EFS. In comparison to HSD+ESFS, CONT had a greater (p < 0.05) feed intake, but neither HSD nor HSD+EFS were affected (p > 0.05). Compared to CONT, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were similar in the HSD, HSD+EFS, and HSD+ESFS treatments. In contrast to the HSD treatment, SOD levels were lower (p < 0.05) in the HSD+EFS and HSD+ESFS treatments. Compared to CONT, HSD had a reduced (p < 0.05) percentage of breast meat, but it did not vary (p > 0.05) from HSD + EFS or HSD + ESF. Overall, in high-density conditions, broilers could maintain growth when fed S. cerevisiae-fermented infertile egg flour. The S. cerevisiae-fermented infertile egg flour was effective in protecting broilers from high-density-induced stress.