Avaliação nutricional da chia (Salvia hispanica) para frangos de corte: desempenho, qualidade da carne, metabolizabilidade de nutrientes e valor energético

Abstract

We conducted two experiments with the objective of evaluating the use of chia (Salvia hispanica) in substitution to soybean in the feed for broiler chicken. With experiment I, we aimed at determining the energy values of the soybean and chia oils and grains/seeds through a metabolism essay using 120 chickens, from 29 to 42 days of age, which were distributed into receiving five experimental diets, one used as a reference,and another four as test feeds. The feeds were provided in eight replicates of three chickens each. We used a completely randomized design, with the treatments consisting of feeds containing soybean or chia in two forms of supplementation, grain/seed and oil, in substitution to the reference feed, formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of the birds, in 10% and 25%, respectively. In experiment II, we evaluated the effect of the inclusion of chia in substitution to soybean (oils and grains/seeds) on performance, carcass characteristics, blood parameters, meat quality, and the activity of the enzymes involved in the lipid metabolic pathways in broiler chicken. We also evaluated the metabolizability and energy use of the experimental feeds. To do this, experiment II was subdivided into two essays, one of performance and another of metabolism. In the performance essay, we used 120 chickens, with 29 to 42 days of age, distributed into four treatments with five replicates each and six birds per replicate. In the metabolism essay, we used 72 birds, distributed into four treatments with six replicates and three birds per replicate. We used a completely randomized design for both essays. The treatments consisted of feeds containing soybean and chia two forms of supplementation (grain/seed and oil). In experiment I, we determined the apparent metabolizable energy, corrected to the nitrogen balance (AMEn) and the coefficients of apparent metabolizability (CAM) of gross energy (CAMGE) and ethereal extract (CAMEE). In the performance essay of experiment II, we evaluated feed consumption (FC), weight gain (WG), and food conversion (FC) of the birds and, at the end of the essay, three birds were slaughtered per replicate to evaluate carcass characteristics, blood parameters, meat quality, and the activity of enzymes malic and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. In the metabolism essay, we determined the AMEn and the CAM of dry material (CAMDM), crude protein (CAMCP), CAMGE and CAMEE. In experiment I, we obtained higher values of CAMCE and CAMEE when using soybean and chia oil, while lower values were found when using chia seeds. In experiment II, lower values of CAMEE, CAMGE, and AMEn when using chia seeds. The energy values (AMEn) determined for chia and soybean oils and whole toasted soybean and chia seeds were of 8955, 8920, 3786, and 2013 kcal/kg of dry matter, respectively. The birds fed with whole toasted soybean and chia oil presented better FC, while those supplemented with chia seeds presented low FC. Regarding the blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and meat quality, the chia oil was better or equally efficient when substituting soybean (grain/oil). The use of chia, oil or seed, provided the enrichment o the chicken meat with omega-3 fatty acids, in addition to reducing the ω-6:ω-3 relation. When compared to soybean (oil or grain), the use of chia oil results in a similar performance.