Flavonoids and mannanoligosaccharides in broiler diets

Abstract

This experiment was carried out at the at the poultry sector of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science - UNESP, Botucatu campus, and aimed at evaluating the effect of the inclusion of flavonoids along with mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) as compared to other additives on the performance, carcass and parts yields, and meat quality of broilers reared from 1 to 42 days of age. A total number of 1500 Cobb broilers were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design into five treatments, with six replicates of 50 birds each. Treatments consisted of a control group, probiotic 1, probiotic 2, antibiotic, and flavonoids+MOS. For the period of 1 to 42 days of age, there were no differences among treatments as to daily weight gain, feed intake, mortality, and final body weight, but a significant difference was found for feed conversion ratio for the flavonoids+MOS treatment. Carcass and parts yields were not significantly influenced by the treatments. Tbars number, which indicates meat fat oxidation index, was significantly different in both refrigerated and frozen meat. The lowest oxidation index was obtained with the flavonoids+MOS treatments. Under the conditions of the present study, the supplementation of broiler diets with flavonoids+MOS was effective.