Features of the influence of oat extract on the antioxidant activity of goose liver

The use of antioxidants in poultry feeding helps to relieve stress of various etiologies. Natural antioxidants have a number of advantages over synthetic ones. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of Avena sativa oat extract on the peculiarities of the functioning of the antioxidant system of goose liver during the physiological stress of contour and juvenile feather formation (from the 14th to the 56th day). The state of the antioxidant system in liver tissues was determined by the coefficient of antioxidant activity, the content of the final products of lipoperoxidation, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of fat-soluble vitamins. The results of the experiment showed that the goslings of the control group during the formation of contour feathers have a decrease in antioxidant activity of the liver by 2.36 times, and juvenile — 1.90 times compared to the initial value of this indicator. Adding oat extract to the diet of geese during feather formation increases the antioxidant activity of their liver. Under the influence of the extract, the physiological stress associated with the formation of contour feathers (28 days) is significantly reduced by reducing the content of the main substrate of lipoperoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, despite the decrease in the activity of all antioxidant enzymes. Increasing antioxidant activity in the liver during the formation of juvenile feathers is due to the inclusion of alternative mechanisms of antioxidant protection, implemented by increasing the activity of endogenous antioxidants: superoxide dismutase by 29.6 (P≤0.05), catalase by 34.6% (P≤0.05), glutathioperoxidase by 41.2% (P≤0.01), and the content of vitamin E by 32.7% (P≤0.05) and β-carotene by 30.9% (P≤0,05). Under the influence of the extract there is not only a significant increase in the weight of geese at the end of the experiment, but also an improvement in their pterylographic performance. Therefore, in the future, it would be advisable to conduct similar studies on wild bird species in kennels, as the process of feather formation is of fundamental importance for these birds.