Effects of protected complex of biofactors and antioxidants on growth performance, serum biochemistry, meat quality, and intestinal antioxidant and immunomodulatory-related gene expressions of broiler chickens

• Published in: Poultry science 2023-06, Vol.102 (6), p.102666-102666, Article 102666
• Main Authors: Azzam, Mahmoud Mostafa, Al-Abdullatif, Abdulaziz, Akasha, Musab, Alhotan, Rashed, Suliman, Gamaleldin, Lahaye, Ludovic, Santin, Elizabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Antioxidants - metabolism; broiler chicken; Chickens; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Supplements - analysis; Gene Expression; IMMUNOLOGY, HEALTH AND DISEASE; intestinal immunity; Male; Meat - analysis; microencapsulated vitamin and fermentation extract; Uric Acid
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102666

One-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were assigned to 3 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with 8 replicates per treatment, and 4 birds per replicate. The control group was fed a basal control diet, and the 2 test groups were fed the basal control diet supplemented with 150 and 300 mg/kg of protected complex of biofactors and antioxidants [P(BF+AOX)], respectively. The P(BF+AOx) is a combination of vitamins, L-tryptophan and biofactors such as fermentation extracts (Jefo Nutrition Inc., Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada). Dietary P(BF+AOX) did not affect growth performance and breast meat quality (water holding capacity, cooking loss, shear force, and texture profile analysis), but the addition of 150 mg/kg of P(BF+AOX) decreased the relative weight of liver, heart, and spleen (P < 0.05). The addition of 150 mg/kg of P(BF+AOX) tended to increase (P = 0.051) the cold carcass yield. The addition of 150 and 300 mg/kg of P(BF+AOX) decreased (P = 0.002) the cooler carcass shrink, but the relative weight of fat pad increased (P = 0.032) in chickens fed 300 mg/kg P(BF+AOx) than in those of birds fed the control diet. On the other hand, the addition of 300 mg/kg of P(BF+AOX) decreased (P = 0.041) the serum level of uric acid compared with those of birds fed the basal diet. Broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with 150 mg/kg of diet had higher (P < 0.05) mRNA expressions of jejunal SOD1 and interleukins 6 and 10 (IL-6, IL-10). The findings suggest that P(BF+AOX) could be considered as a functional nutrient in broiler diets up to a concentration of 150 mg/kg because of its favorable effects on maintaining intestinal barrier function as well as carcass traits, while excess levels (300 mg/kg) had exhibited superior effect on the serum level of uric acid compared with those of birds fed the control diet.