Effect of a phytogenic additive on blood serum indicator levels and fatty acids profile in fattening turkeys meat

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a phytogenic additive on blood serum indicator levels and fatty acids profile of breast, leg muscles and liver in fattening turkeys. The experiment was realized in private turkey farm and in the Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. A total of 300 clinically healthy female turkeys (broad-breasted white turkey, hybrid XL) were used in the experiment. Female turkeys were randomly divided into two groups (150 pcs per each). In the control group, turkey were fed with standard complete feed mixtures for fattening, in the experimental group, standard diets from the beginning to 12th week were supplemented with the a blend of essential oils from origanum, anise and citrus fruits as well as a prebiotic rich fructooligosaccharides in dosage 1kg per 1000 kg of feed mixture. Fattening lasted 18 weeks. Blood serum was collected at the end of the experiment, during the slaughter of birds. Samples of breast and leg muscles, and liver for fatty acids composition evaluation were collected during birds dissection (10 samples per each group). After the 12 weeks of phytoadditive supplementation, a tendency of lower activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (53.963 vs. 3.499 U/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (6.238 vs. 1.012 U/L) in experimental group of turkeys was found (P<0.01). The same tendency was analyzed in content of phosphorus (P<0.05). Compare to the control group, in the experimental group have been detected significantly (P<0.01) lower concentration of capric acid in leg muscle, lauric and myristic acid in both evaluated muscles, palmitoleic acid and stearic acid in the liver. Additionally, the phytoadditive supplementation markedly (P<0.01) increased content of following SFA: lauric, myristic and palmitic acids in the liver, pentadecanoic, heptadecanoic and stearic in both evaluated muscles. In the case of unsaturated fatty acids have been detected that the phytogenic feed additive in breast and leg muscles of birds markedly increase the content of cis-11,14-eicosadienoic acid (0.209 vs 0.276 and 0.242 vs 0.298% of crude fat, respectively); compare to control group, leg muscle of individuals from experimental group have higher (P>0.01) content of cis-8,11,14-eicosadienoic and arachidonic acids. The phytoadditive supplementation significantly (P<0.01) decreased content of some unsaturated fatty acids in turkeys tissues, as well. In experimental group of turkey have been recorded lower level of elaidic and oleic acids in the breast muscle and cis-11,14-eicosadienoic and arachidonic acids in the liver, compare to birds from control group.