Effect of dietary supplementation with medium chain fatty acids on growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, lipid profile and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) diet supplementation on growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, serum biochemistry and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens. The study was performed on 180 one-day-old broilers of the same origin (Cobb 500 hybrid), over a 42-day period. They were fed diets supplemented with three treatments: control group (basal diet without supplementation); group with MCFA supplementation; and group with MCFA and coccidiostat supplementation. Broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with MCFAs had a significantly greater final bodyweight. The weights of carcass cuts (breast, drumsticks with thighs and wings) were greater in broilers receiving MCFAs than in control broilers. The addition of MCFAs to broiler diet significantly increased villus length and crypt depth in the duodenum and caecum, and significantly decreased villus width in the duodenum and ileum. Additionally, serum HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were increased significantly in broilers with MCFA dietary supplementation. The results indicated that the MCFA diet supplementation had a beneficial effect on the performance of broiler chickens, their intestinal histomorphology and microflora.Keywords: Carcass characteristics, coccidiostat supplementation, nutrition, poultry, serum biochemistr

Investigation of the efficacy of immunocastration aimed at the prevention of sex odour in boar meat

Disadvantage of meat known as boar taint is caused by steroids, androstenone being of particular importance, as well as indole and its derivatives, among which the best known is skatole. The common practice in Europe, in order to control these changes in meat, is castration without anesthesia. This intervention causes pain and stress to animals, thus undermining animal welfare. Many countries considering animal welfare try to find the alternative solutions in order to avoid castration. The alternative to surgical castration and possible solution to the problem of sex odour in the meat, as well as androstenone and skatole contents decrease in the boar's fat is immunological castration of boars (immunocastration). Average skatole content in fat tissue of boars was significantly higher (0.21±0.03 μg/g) compared to skatole content in fat tissue of the castrates, or immunocastrates (0.12±0.02 μg/g). In adipose tissue of the castrates and immunocastrates there was no significant difference in the average content of skatole. The content of androstenone in the adipose tissue of immunocastrates was below detection limits, and the average androstenone level in adipose tissue of boars was 0.66±0.13 μg/g. The obtained results show that immunocastration is justified in consideration of the meat quality and can completely replace castration in male animals, which is in compliance with the preservation of animal welfare in rearing fattening young boars