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Effects of Paullinia cupana peel meal on the growth performance, meat quality, and hematological and serum biochemical parameters of slow-growing broilers

Adriene Núzia de Almeida Santos, Alisson Lima Viana, Cristiane Guimarães, Maria Fernanda da Silva Gomes, Alexandre Augusto Barai, Tiago Cabral Nóbrega, Maiko Willas Soares Ribeiro, Antônio José Inhamuns da Silva, Francisco Alberto de Lima Chaves, Marco Antonio de Freitas Mendonça, Joel Lima da Silva Junior, Pedro de Queiroz Costa Neto, João Paulo Rufino , Adriano Teixeira de Oliveira

Abstract

Context: Animal feed production systems have been suffering from a shortage of feedstuffs due to competition for these resources with human food consumption. The use of by-products can increase efficiency and circularity in production chains, reducing this competition. Aims: This study investigated the impacts of Paullinia cupana peel meal (PCPM) on the growth performance, meat quality, and hematological and serum biochemical parameters of slow-growing broilers. Methods: Two hundred and forty slow-growing male Label Rouge broilers were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design. The treatments consisted of inclusion levels of PCPM (0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10%) in the diets, with four replicates of 12 birds each. Growth performance data, and hematological and serum biochemical parameters were monitored. Twelve broilers per treatment were slaughtered to meat quality analysis. Key results: In the starter stage, there was a significant increase (p<0.05) in feed intake and weight gain with increasing PCPM levels in the diets. However, this effect diminished in the final stage. Even with a reduction (p<0.05) in feed intake during the final stage, the broilers showed an increase (p<0.05) in weight gain and improvement (p<0.05) in feed efficiency in the cumulative performance. Broilers fed higher PCPM levels in the diets had lower (p<0.05) concentrations of erythrocytes and blood triglycerides, as well as a decreased hematocrit percentage. However, these broilers exhibited higher (p<0.05) results for MCH and MCHC. Broilers fed higher PCPM levels in the diets were heavier (p<0.05) at slaughter, with higher (p<0.05) carcass yield, greater (p<0.05) liver, gizzard, and heart weight, increased breast, drumstick, and thigh yields, and higher moisture and lipid contents in the breast. Conclusions: The high inclusion levels of PCPM in diets for slow-growing broilers positively impacts growth performance, meat quality, and yields of valuable cuts, though it increases moisture and decreases protein in breast meat, affecting some blood parameters. Implications: This study emphasizes the potential advantages of using PCPM as an alternative food in diets for slow-growing broilers to improve the productivity and health of a sustainable livestock.

AN24137  Accepted 02 August 2024

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