Effects of adding different sources of oil powder to the diet on the quality and cecal gut microbesof white feather broilers

Abstract

Oils are important high-density energy sources for increasing the amount of metabolizable energy in poultry diets, and reducing the intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and increasing the intake of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) in feed are highly important for reducing muscle cholesterol accumulation and improving meat quality and fat composition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of walnut oil powder (MC) and hydrogenated palm oil powder (PC) diets on growth performance, meat quality and cecal gut microbes in broiler chickens. Both the MC and PC treatments significantly affected the pH, drip loss rate and cooking loss rate (P < 0.01). Low-dose MC and low-dose PC significantly increased the chicken fresh flavor amino acid content (P < 0.001), while the human essential amino acid content increased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Increased unsaturated fatty acids, total monounsaturated fatty acids (ΣMUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) and n-3 ratios were detected in the breast muscle of broiler chicks fed MC, with better results at lower doses. MC increases the relative abundance and short-chain fatty acid content of Faecalibacterium, Phascolarctobacterium, Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae to modulate the metabolism of flavor compounds in chickens. In summary, the addition of 3 % walnut oil powder to the diet significantly increases the amount of essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids in broilers and can participate in the synthesis and conversion of amino acids and fatty acids regulated by beneficial bacteria.

Keywords

• Oil powder
• White feather broiler
• Meat quality
• Cecal gut microbes
• Short-chain fatty acid