Performance, meat quality and fatty acid profile of broiler chickens fed mixed semi-purified glycerin

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of mixed (animal and vegetable sources) semi-purified glycerin (MSPG) in broiler diets on performance, litter moisture, serum glycerol concentration, carcass and parts yields, meat quality, and the fatty acid profile. In total, 576 1-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were distributed in a completely randomised design into four treatments (0%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% dietary inclusion levels of MSPG, as-fed basis), with six replicate pens of 24 birds each. The apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen balance and energy metabolisability coefficient values of the MSPG were 12.33 MJ/kg DM and 81.61% respectively. There was no significant (P > 0.05) effect of the MSPG concentration on the performance, and carcass and parts yields or broiler meat-quality variables, except for thigh meat colour, in which the yellowness value (b*) decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with an increasing inclusion level of MSPG. Litter moisture and serum glycerol increased linearly (P < 0.05) and the lipid profile of the thigh and drumstick meat of broilers at 42 days of age was slightly altered (P < 0.05) with an increasing MSPG. Mixed semi-purified glycerin can be used at up to 7.5% in broiler diets without impairing performance, meat quality, carcass and parts yields from 1 to 42 days of age. However, special attention should be paid to litter moisture.