Effects of feeding expeller-extruded high oleic soybeans in broiler diets on growth performance, blood profile, and meat quality

This study evaluated the effects of expeller-extruded high oleic soybeans (TruSoya) on growth performance, blood immune and antioxidant status, and meat quality of broilers compared with conventional soybean meal (SBM) and expeller-extruded conventional soybeans. A total of 288 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb500; initial BW: 37.2 g) were allotted to one of 3 dietary treatments: 1) a corn basal diet with conventional SBM (CSBM); 2) a corn basal diet with expeller-extruded conventional soybeans (EECS); 3) a corn basal diet with expeller-extruded high oleic soybeans (EEHS) in a randomized complete block design. Diets were fed over 3 phases (starter phase 1: 0-1 weeks, grower phase 2: 1-3 weeks, and finisher phase 3: 3-6 weeks). At the end of each feeding phase, BW and feed consumption were measured to calculate average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). At the end of the feeding trial (d 42), one bird per pen was bled for blood profile analysis, and two birds per pen were euthanized for breast and thigh collection. Data were subjected to analysis of variance testing the main effect of diet with pen as the experimental unit. Broilers fed the CSBM diet had greater (P < 0.05) BW at the end of each phase and overall ADG than those fed EECS and EEHS. Broilers fed EEHS showed greater (P < 0.05) final BW and overall ADG than EECS by 10.6 % and 10.7 %, respectively. The EEHS significantly increased (P < 0.05) blood basophil proportion compared with CSBM (15.7 % vs. 7.6 %). However, dietary treatment did not affect other blood cell count parameters and blood antioxidant status. Oleic acid contents for breast and thigh meats from broilers fed EEHS were higher (P < 0.05) than those of broilers fed CSBM and EECS by 63 % and 53 %, respectively. In conclusion, EEHS improved meat fatty acid composition with higher oleic acid contents and improved growth performance compared with EECS, suggesting its potential as a protein source for high quality broiler meat production.