The effect of Amaranthus caudatus supplementation to diets containing linseed oil on oxidative status, blood serum metabolites, growth performance and meat quality characteristics in broilers

The study evaluated the effect of amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) grain (AMG) supplementation to diets containing linseed oil on the oxidative status, blood serum metabolites, growth performance and meat quality. A total of 132 90-d-old female Big Ray broilers were randomly divided into 3 groups of 44 broilers each (11 broilers per cage, 4 cages per treatment) and fed on a diet containing 50 g/kg linseed oil supplemented with 0, 50 or 100 g/kg AMG, respectively, for 32 d. At the end of the experiment 30 broilers (10 per treatment) were sacrificed and breast muscle samples were prepared for analysis. Growth performance was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the broilers fed on the diets supplemented with AMG. Serum antioxidant power was significantly higher (250 and 219 vs 177 mu Eq/l; P<0.05) and serum lipid peroxidation levels were lower (262 and 419 vs 700 mu moles/l) in the broilers fed on a diet containing 100 or 50 g/kg AMG, respectively, as compared with the broilers given a diet without AMG supplementation. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the broilers fed on AMG diets than in those given a diet without supplementation. No differences in alanine aminotransferase or albumin levels were found. Broilers fed on diets rich in linseed oil, which contains a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and either supplemented or not with AMG, showed a good meat fatty acid profile. No differences in other meat quality characteristics were found between broilers fed on a diet containing AMG and those not administered this supplementation.