The Effect of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and Blackcurrant Extracts (Ribes nigrum) Supplementation on Performance Indices and Oxidative Stability of Chicken Broiler Meat

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The common practice of supplementing broiler feeds with oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids to improve the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in chicken muscles results in a reduced oxidative stability of the meat and accelerated intensity of lipid peroxidation during storage. This study evaluated the effects of commercial rosemary (RO) and blackcurrant (BC) extracts rich in polyphenolic antioxidants added to broiler diets on the oxidative stability of meat and chicken production parameters. In this study, 120 one-day-old male Hubbard Flex broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 5 experimental groups, and for 35 days, were fed control starter and grower diets or the same basal diets containing two concentrations (2.5 and 5 g/kg) of the RO or BC extracts. The inclusion of RO and BC in the birds’ diet had no significant effect on broiler weight gain, feed conversion ratio, or carcass characteristics. The enrichment of chicken diet with RO and BC did not affect the oxidative stability of chicken breast muscles, but reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in frozen thigh muscles. ABSTRACT: The effects of dietary supplementation with extracts of rosemary (RO) and blackcurrant (BC) on the performance indices and the oxidative stability of broiler meat were investigated during a 35-d experiment. For the experiment, 120 one-day-old male Hubbard Flex broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 5 experimental groups (control group and 4 treatments, each in 6 replications, 24 birds per group, 4 birds per replicate) and fed control starter and grower diets or basal diets containing two concentrations (2.5 and 5 g/kg) of the RO and BC extracts. Basic performance traits (body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion) were recorded during the trial. At the end of the experiment, pectoral and thigh muscles were collected. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assays using the muscles samples were performed after 1 and 5 d of chilling (4 °C) and after 90 d of frozen storage (−18 °C). The inclusion of RO and BC in the birds’ diet had no significant effects on weight gain and feed conversion ratio of chickens, or on carcass characteristics, compared with control group. Enrichment of chicken diet with RO and BC did not affect the oxidative stability of chicken breast muscles, but the tested extracts significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in frozen thigh muscles.