Effects of Scopoletin Supplementation and Stocking Density on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Activity, and Meat Quality of Korean Native Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Stocking density stress is one of the most common management stressors in the poultry industry. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary Sophora koreensis (SK; 0 and 20 mg/kg diet) and stocking density (SD; 14 and 16 chickens/m2) on the antioxidant status, meat quality, and growth performance of native Korean chickens. There was a lower concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and a higher concentration of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity in the serum and leg muscle with the supplementation of SK. The concentration of MDA was increased and concentrations of SOD were decreased in the leg muscle of chickens in low SD treatments. The SK-supplemented treatments showed an increased 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate-reducing activity of leg muscles. The higher water holding capacity of breast muscle and a lower cooking loss and pH were shown in the SK-supplemented treatments. The addition of dietary SK resulted in a greater body weight gain and greater spleen and bursa Fabricius weight, as well as lower feed intake and abdominal fat. The low SD and supplementation of SK increased the concentrations of cholesterol. The concentration of glucose was increased in the low SD treatment. Corticosterone level was decreased in the SK-supplemented and low SD treatments. In conclusion, SK supplementation reduced the oxidative stress and increased meat quality and antioxidant status of chickens apart from the SD stress.

The effects of mulberry (Morus alba Linn.) leaf supplementation on growth performance, blood parameter, and antioxidant status of broiler chickens under high stocking density

“…These findings support previous research that found a higher proportion of comfort behaviors in the free-range system and low stocking densities (10−14 birds/m 2 ) [18,19], while in the HD class (18 birds/m 2 ) had a low feed intake, BW gain, ADG, and FCR, and these growth performance metrics were lower than those of the other classes (semi and LD). Several investigations indicated a decrease in feed intake due to overcrowding, thereby corroborating these findings [14,15].…”

“…This result showed the reduction of lymphocytes while the number of heterophils was increased. The high H/L ratio and high corticosterone levels imply stress [15,26]. These findings are supported by the results of Nasr et al [24], who found that factors such as glucocorticoid release cause lymphocytes in lymphoid tissues to deteriorate and promote the bone marrow to synthesize heterophils [27].…”

“…There were a total of 276 birds assigned to three classes (semi-intensive, low, and high). They received a standard diet (STD), a 10% mulberry leaf extract mix diet, or vitamin C supplementation [14][15][16], that is, a total of nine experimental treatments consisting of four replicates as follows (Figure - Growth performance parameters, including food intake (FI), BW, average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR), were monitored on a daily and cumulative total basis for 4 weeks. Blood samples from all the birds were drawn from a wing vein and then transferred to chilled tubes containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as an anticoagulant.…”

Correlation between the Concentration of Secondary Metabolites and Soil Microorganisms in Sophora Koreensis Nakai from Different Habitat

“…These studies mainly focused on the types of extracted compounds and extraction methods. Except for the alcohololysis reaction of four extracted flavonoids [14] and their usefulness as livestock feed [15], few studies has examined the functional activity of S. koreensis compounds.…”

Meat Products: From Animal (Farm) to Meal (Fork)

“…Different aroma compounds were identified in the roasted cuts of pre- and post-rigor mutton to understand the preference of some consumers for sheep meat, sold immediately, without chilled storage [ 4 ]. The effect of scopoletin supplementation on the quality and antioxidant status of meat from broilers, when held under stocking density stress, was investigated [ 5 ]. Breed, gender, season, and geographic region were explored as factors influencing the carcass weight and animal age at slaughter for Greek cattle [ 6 ].…”