Performance and Meat Quality of Broilers as Influenced by Dietary Vitamin E and Selenium During Different Phases of Life

The effects of supplemental vitamin E and selenium fed through diet during various age periods on the growth performance and meat stability of broiler chicken were studied. Two separate basal diets for starting (0–3 wks) and finishing (4–7 wks) phases were formulated. To these basal diets, vitamin E (as a-tocopherol acetate) and inorganic selenium (as sodium selenite) were added @ 225 IU and 0.5 mg per kg of diet, respectively during various age periods. Four dietary schedules (treatments) were adopted as per the following feeding regimen: (Dl)-basal diet without supplemental vitamin E and selenium fed during 0–7 weeks of age (control), (D2)-basal diet supplemented with 225 IU vitamin E and 0.5 mg Se per kg of diet fed continuously during 0–7 weeks of age, (D3)-basal diet supplemented with 225 IU vitamin E and 0.5 mg Se per kg of diet fed during 0–3 weeks of age and unsupplemented basal diet fed during 4–7 weeks of age, and (D4)-unsupplemented basal diet fed during 0–3 weeks of age and basal diet supplemented with 225 IU vitamin E and 0.5 mg Se per kg diet fed during 4–7 weeks of age. Each of the four dietary regimens were offered ad libitum to four replicated groups of 10 chick. The growth performance of broilers during starting (0–3 wks), finishing (4–7 wks) and overall (0–7 wks) phases of growth did not differ significantly (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Significantly (P<0.01) higher TBA values were observed in the stored meat samples on the unsupplemented (control) group in comparison to the three treatment groups. Upon 2 and 3 months storage, the stability of meat samples also deteriorated (P<0.01) in diet 3 wherein vitamin E/Se was added in diet during starting phase (0–3 wks of age) only. Similarly, drip loss was also significantly (P<0.01) higher in control diet than other diets. Sensory attributes done up to 2 months storage also showed deterioration in quality of meat of control diet than the other diets. It is concluded that supplementation of 225 IU vitamin E and 0.5 mg inorganic selenium per kg in diet of broiler chicken fed during 4–7 weeks of age before slaughter is sufficient for optimum meat stability.