Meat fatty acids profile including metabolic, qualitative, nutritional indices, and organoleptic evaluation as affected by Rumex nervosus leaves meal fortified broiler diets

Abstract

The effects of dietary supplementation with Rumex nervosus leaves (RNL) on fatty acid (FAs) indices, organoleptic evaluation, performance index, and feed efficiency were investigated. This study consists of five treatments. Broilers in treatments 1–4 received basal feed plus RNL at doses of 0, 1, 3, and 5 g/kg, while broilers in treatment 5 received basal feed plus the antibiotic Colimex. On day 34, FAs profile and organoleptic assessment were evaluated, and performance index and feed efficiency were determined for the entire experimental period. Results showed that FAs profile of the breast meat was affected by treatments with varying degrees (p˂0.05). The 1 g RNL resulted in the highest eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid, which resulted in the highest meat lipid quality, the highest elongation index, improved organoleptic characteristics, and tended to improve performance index, feed efficiency, and nutritional index. The 5 g RNL treatment reduced total saturated fatty acids (ƩSFAs), omega-6/omega-3 ratio, especially linoleic acid/α-linolenic acid ratio, alanine aminotransferase, and increased total omega-3 fatty acids, unsaturation index, and Δ9-desaturase. In conclusion, RNL can be introduced to broiler diets, especially at an incorporation rate of 1 g, and it promotes broiler health and performance because it contains phytoconstituents that can alter the content and indices of FAs meat and improve storability and sensory quality.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Oxidative chemicals increase lipid peroxidation and decrease sensory quality of broiler meat.

• As antioxidants, natural RNL inhibit oxidative degradation and prevent lipid peroxidation.

• RNL contains phytoconstituents that increase the fatty acid content and oxidative stability of meat.

• Fat deposition and associated markers in breast meat differed between low and high RNL levels.

• RNL improved nutritional index, sensory quality, performance index, and feed efficiency.

Keywords:

• Breast meat
• metabolic-qualitative-nutritional fatty acids indices
• Rumex nervosus leaves
• organoleptic evaluation
• performance index

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research and Innovation, ‘Ministry of Education’ in Saudi Arabia for funding this research (IFKSUOR3-449-1).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Deputyship for Research and Innovation, ‘Ministry of Education’ in Saudi Arabia for funding this research [IFKSUOR3-449-1].