Pomegranate (Punica granatumL.) peel powder meal supplementation in broilers: effect on growth performance, digestibility, carcase and organ weights, serum and some meat antioxidant enzyme biomarkers

This study determined the dietary effects of pomegranate peel powder meal (PPPM) supplementation on growth performance, digestibility, carcase and organ weights, serum, and some meat antioxidant enzyme indices of Cobb 500 birds. Birds (n = 432) were randomly assigned to six experimental groups of four replicates each and were fed either diets supplemented with 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg of PPPM (PPPM2, PPPM4, PPPM6 and PPPM8), 0% additives (Negative control; NEGCON), or with α-Tocopherol acetate at 200 g/tonne (Positive control; POSCON). The diet × week interaction effect on feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed that the POSCON diet promoted a better FI and FCR at week 3. However, the FCR of the POSCON birds was comparable to that of the NEGCON, PPPM₄ and PPPM6 birds. The average final body weight and average daily weight gain was highest in the PPPM₂ and PPPM₄ birds, whereas, PPPM₂ birds had improved FCR and protein efficiency ratio compared with the POSCON birds. Thigh weight was highest in the PPPM₄ group, whereas PPPM₈ birds had the highest breast weight compared with the POSCON. Birds fed the PPPM₄ diet also had improved nutrient digestibility compared with the POSCON birds. Spleen and gizzard weights were highest in PPPM₄ birds compared with the NEGCON group. The concentration of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was decreased in PPPM₄ birds, whereas meat from PPPM₈ group had the highest catalase enzyme activity. It can be concluded that birds fed 4 g/kg PPPM outperformed the birds that were fed α-tocopherol supplemented (POSCON) diets in terms of performance, digestibility, carcase and organ indices. The effect of pomegranate peel powder meal supplementation was also pronounced in decreasing the concentration of AST at 4 g/kg and increasing the activity of catalase enzyme at 8 g/kg compared with the POSCON and NEGCON diets.HighlightsDietary pomegranate peel powder can improve performance in broilers. Dietary pomegranate peel powder can enhance the enzyme activity of broiler meat.