The effects of red grape pomace inclusion in grower diet on amino acid digestibility, intestinal microflora, and sera and liver antioxidant activity in broilers

Authors: MARTINA LICHOVNIKOVA, LIBOR KALHOTKA, VOJTECH ADAM, BORIVOJ KLEJDUS, VOJTECH ANDERLE

Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary red grape pomace (RGP) on amino acid digestibility (AIAAD), intestinal microflora, and antioxidant activity in the sera and liver. Sixty-six broilers were housed in battery cages. They were allocated to six cages corresponding to two dietary treatments with three replicates of each treatment. The treatments were administered from 10 to 36 days and included a control diet and a diet containing 1.5% RGP dry powder with the other components remaining unchanged, compared to the control. The RGP had a significant (P < 0.05) positive effect on the apparent metabolizable energy. The majority of coefficients of AIAAD were higher in the RGP. The ileal digestibility of threonine, serine, proline, and glycine was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in RGP. RGP had a positive effect (P < 0.05) on the content of Lactobacillus in the lower part of the ileum. The blood sera of broilers fed RGP had significantly (P < 0.05) lower 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and uric acid content. The RGP at a concentration of 15 g/kg in the grower diet did not affect the growth of broilers, and RGP is suitable for broiler diets to improve gastrointestinal tract functionality.

Keywords: Red grape pomace, digestibility, threonine, Lactobacillus

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