Effects of Supplementation with Thinned Tankan (Citrus tankan Hayata) on the Lipid Peroxidation, Drip-loss, and Color of the Pectoralis Major Muscle of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with dried thinned Tankan (Citrus tankan Hayata) powder on the lipid peroxidation, drip-loss, and color of the pectoralis major muscle of broiler chickens. Thirty male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were allocated to three groups at 14 days of age. The control group was fed a standard diet and the remaining two groups were fed the standard diet supplemented with thinned Tankan at concentrations of 2.0% or 4.0% until 28 days of age. The body mass, body mass gain, feed intake, and the tissue masses of the broilers did not differ among the groups, but the 4.0% thinned Tankan-supplemented diet was associated with a higher feed conversion ratio than the control group. Feeding either the 2.0% or 4.0% thinned Tankan-supplemented diet was associated with redder pectoralis major muscle and a higher muscle α-tocopherol concentration than the control chickens. Furthermore, feeding the 4.0% thinned Tankan-supplemented diet was associated with lower muscle malondialdehyde content and lower drip-loss than the control chickens. Thus, thinned Tankan supplementation changes the color, increases the α-tocopherol concentration, and reduces the lipid peroxidation and drip-loss of the meat of broiler chickens.