Effects of free and dipeptide forms of methionine supplementation on oxidative metabolism of broilers under high temperature

• Published in: Animal (Cambridge, England) England), 2021-03, Vol.15 (3), p.100173-100173, Article 100173
• Main Authors: Santana, T.P., Gasparino, E., de Sousa, F.C.B., Khatlab, A.S., Zancanela, V., Brito, C.O., Barbosa, L.T., Fernandes, R.P.M., Del Vesco, A.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animals; Chickens - metabolism; Chronic heat stress; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Supplements - analysis; Dipeptides; DNA methylation; Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio; Hot Temperature; Methionine - metabolism; Methionine dipeptide; Oxidative Stress; Temperature
• ISSN: 1751-7311; 1751-732X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100173

Our previous studies have shown that methionine supplementation could help to attenuate the effects of heat stress on the metabolism of broiler chickens. Here we investigated for the first time the effects of methionine supplementation in the form of DL-methionyl-DL-methionine on broilers subjected to heat stress during the growth phase. Broilers were divided into two groups; one group was reared under thermoneutral conditions and the other under continuous heat stress (30 ± 1 °C, 60% relative humidity). Both groups were subdivided into three dietary treatments: a methionine-deficient (MD) diet, a diet supplemented with free methionine (DL-M), and a diet supplemented with methionine dipeptide (DL-MM). Broilers raised under chronic heat stress had lower feed intake and weight gain than broilers raised under thermoneutral conditions (P