The effects of carotenoids addition to broiler mixed feed on performance, some blood parameters and meat quality

In this thesis, the effects of carotenoids added to broiler mixed feeds, on performance, on some blood parameters and guality of meat were investigated. To this end, 840 pieces of Ross 308 one day old male broiler chicks at daily age are randomly divided into seven groups. The first group; control group was fed without any pigment additives which was fed with standard feed, the second group; 80 ppm lycopene addition to standard feed, the third group; 80 ppm lutein addition to standard feed, the fourth group; 80 ppm zeaxanthin addition to standard feed, the fifth group; 40 ppm lycopene and 40 ppm lutein addition to standard feed, the sixth group; 40 ppm lycopene and 40 ppm zeaxanthin addition to standard feed and the seventh group; 40 ppm zeaxanthin and 40 ppm lutein addition, were designed. Feed and water were provided as ad-libitum. Body weights, body weight gains, feed intake and feed conversion ratio, carcass and carcass part weights (g) and proportional values (%), eatable internal organs (g) and other organs with proportional values (%), digestive organs weights and proportional values of digestive system, malondialdehyde MDA and carbonyl values of breast meat, pH values and nutrient contents of breast and thigh meat, sensory analysis, some values of meat (breast meat), blood analysis, blood cells were determined. In this study, live weights, live weight increases, feed consumption and feed conversion rates, carcass and carcass parts' weights (g) and their proportional values (%), edible and other internal organ weights (g) and their proportional values (%), digestion system weight (g) with proportional values (%), breast meat's malondialdehyde values (MDA) and carbonyl values, breast's and leg's nutrient content and pH values, breast meat's color values, sensory properties (odor, softness, taste, physical characteristics (dissolution cooking losses, water holding capacity, texture), some blood parameters (triglycerides, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) superoxidedismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) ), blood cell values (heterophile, lymphocyte, monocyte, basophil, eosinophil) were determined. When the results obtained from the study were examined, body weight, breast meat MDA values, color of the breast meat's "b" color value and sensory analyzes, color and water content were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). Besides, the addition of mixed substances of color substances; feed consumption and feed consumption, carcass and carcass parts' weights (g) and their proportional values (%), edible internal organs (g) ,and others with proportional values (%), organ weights of the digestive system, proportional values, breast meat's carbonyl values, breast meat's nutrient content and pH values, leg meat's nutrient content and pH values , breast meat's color values "L and" a ", sensory analyses "softness" , "smell", "taste" and "general liking",breast meat's physical properties, blood values and effects on blood cells, were not significant (P˃0.05). The addition of lutein, lycopene and zeaxanthin to poultry feeds has positive effects on meat color and MDA. Because of these effects, lutein, lycopene and zeaxanthin were found to be good feed additives.