Performance, broiler carcass and meat quality characteristics, supplemented with organic selenium

Abstract

This research was aimed at assessing parameters such like productive and meat quality characteristics of broilers fed on diets with different levels of organic selenium (0; 0,2; 0,4 e 0;6 mg Se/kg of feed). Three hundred male one-day old chickens have been submitted to a completely randomized design, with five repetitions of 15 birds per experimental parcel. Characteristics such like performance, yield grade, cuts, and meat quality have been assessed. The results revealed that the supplementation with selenium did not affect productive characteristics of the broilers. However, it produced a linear reduction on the abdominal fat of the carcasses assessed. Regarding meat quality, the supplementation with organic selenium linearly increased the pH levels at the breast. Besides, it linearly reduced the loss of water by pressure and the shear force, which in turn improved the final quality of the meat.