Effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on performance, meat quality and some blood parameters in broiler chickens reared under different stocking densities

This study was aimed to investigate the impact of dietary vitamin E supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, some blood parameters and meat quality in broilers reared under high stocking density. The trial was designed in 2x2 factorial arrangement with two levels of stocking density (10-20 birds/m2) and E vitamini (α-tocopherol; 0 and 200 mg/kg) in 4 treatments. Each treatment was consisted of 240 birds at 4 replications. Corn and soybean meal based diets were given ad libitum in starter (3033 kcal/kg and 23% CP; 0 to 10 days), grower (3151 kcal/kg ve 22% ham protein; 11 to 24 days) ve finisher (3191 kcal/kg and 21% ham protein; 25-42 days) periods. Rearing broiler chickens under high stocking density depressed growth performance, some carcass (carcass weight, part yields) and meat quality (meat pH, brightness, cooking loss and water absorbtion capacity) parameters but did not affect other parameters as antioxidant status of meat and blood vairables. Altough, dietary supplementation of vitamin E improved body weight and body weight gain, did not impact other parameters investigated in the study. In conclusion, overstocking (20 birds/m2) birds in unit area had negative effects on growth performance, some carcass and meat quality parameters. On the other hand, dietary supplementation of vitamin E had alleviating effect on performance nor meat quality and antioxidant status of birds.