Omega-۳ Enrichment of Broiler Meat by Using Two Oil Seeds

A ۴۲-d study was conducted to evaluate the influence of full-fat flaxseed (FS) and canola seed (CS) on broiler performance, fatty acid (FA) profile of meat, and the oxidative stability of meat during frozen storage. A total of ۳۲۴ one-day old broiler chicks were randomly attributed to ۶ experimental groups and fed iso-energetic and isonitrogenous diets as follows, C: control (soybean-corn); CS۱: ۷.۵% CS; CS۲: ۱۵% CS; CS-FS: ۱۰% FS+۱۰% CS; FS۱: ۷.۵% FS; FS۲: ۱۵% FS. Negative effect on performance parameters were found by diets containing FS and CS i.e. feeding oil seeds resulted in significantly (P< ۰.۰۱) lower body weight gain and higher feed conversion ratio, compared to the control. However, no significant differences of feed consumption were shown (P> ۰.۰۵) among treatments. Inclusion of FS and CS significantly increased (P< ۰.۰۱) the concentration of omega-۳ fatty acid (α-Linolenic acid= ALA) and decreased the content of the arachidonic acid (AA). Total omega-۶ to omega-۳ polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio was significantly lower for all FS and CS fed groups compared with the control (P< ۰.۰۱). Inclusion of FS and CS decreased the oxidative stability of raw meat (breast and thigh) during frozen storage period based on thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values (P< ۰.۰۱). In conclusion, by adding vegetable sources of omega-۳ to the broiler chicken diets, the omega-۳ fatty acid content of broiler meat can be increased, which may have beneficial effects on human health.