Growth performance and carcass, gastrointestinal tract, meat quality, and serological properties of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with tropical Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) fruit extract.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of lyophilized ethanolic açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) fruit extract (AFE) as a growth promoter on growth performance and the carcass, gastrointestinal tract, meat quality, and serological properties of broiler chickens. In total, 576 mixed-sex Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to four treatments with six replications of 24 birds. A control group received an additive-free diet (AFE0), while test groups received basal diets supplemented with 2.5 g (AFE2.5), 5 g (AFE5), or 10 g (AFE10) of AFE per kg. Up to 42 days of age, the AFE2.5 and AFE5 diets increased body weight gain, while the AFE5 diet improved the feed conversion ratio, European Production Efficiency Factor, and carcass weight compared to the AFE0 diet (p < 0.05). Dry matter, protein, and fat contents in breast and thigh meats were not affected by dietary AFE (p > 0.05), but their ash content increased (p < 0.05). The AFE5 diet increased the thigh meat's pH and redness (a*), while the AFE10 diet decreased its lightness (L*) (p < 0.05). While dietary AFE reduced serum aspartate aminotransferase levels and the small intestines' relative weight, the AFE5 and AFE10 diets also decreased serum glucose concentrations compared to the AFE0 diet (p < 0.05). The AFE5 diet decreased the low-density lipoprotein concentration and the relative lengths of the entire gastrointestinal tract and small intestine (p < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementing broiler diets with 5 g/kg of AFE positively influenced growth performance by improving small intestine development and serological properties.