Effect of Organic Selenium Supplementation on Performance, Blood Metabolites and Meat Quality of Broilers at Different Stocking Density

Stocking density is one of the most important problems in the poultry industry, which impair their production and welfare.

This experiment was done to evaluate the effect of organic selenium supplementation on the growth performance, blood metabolites, and the meat quality of broiler chickens in different stocking densities.

216 one-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were used in 2×2 factorial arrangements by 2 stocking densities (7 and 15 birds/m2) and 2 levels of selenomethionine (0 and 0.4 mg/kg) in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 4 replicates.

The feed intake (FI), and body weight gain (BWG) were significantly affected by the stocking density and selenomethionine (SE-MET) supplementation in the overall experiment (P<0.05). FI and BWG decreased and feed conversion ratio decreased in 15 bird’s density, while SE-MET inclusion improved these traits (P<0.05). Increasing stocking density increased the plasma glucose (P<0.05). Blood glutathione peroxidase and lymphocyte levels reduced at 15 bird’s density, while increased by 0.4 mg SE-MET supplementation (P<0.05). Increasing stocking density increased blood heterophil, while SE-MET inclusion decreased it (P<0.05). Meat pH and cooking loss were not affected by stocking density. Dripping loss (DL) increased, and water holding capacity (WHC) decreased at 15 bird’s density, but 0.4 mg SE-MET decreased DL and significantly increased WHC (P<0.05).

It was concluded that increasing stocking density had the negative effects on the growth performance and meat quality of broiler chickens; however, the supplementation of 0.4 mg of SE-MET to diet can improve the growth performance, blood metabolites and meat quality of broiler chickens.