Methionine (Met) is the first limiting amino acid in meat-type broiler chicken diets and serves as
a lipotropic agent with antioxidant properties. The objectives of the current study is based on the
hypothesis that Met supplementation will enhance n-3 fatty acid (FA) status, antioxidant content,
lipid stability, and production indices in broilers fed flax. The effect of Met supplementation (50
and 100% above Cobb 500 requirement level) on tissue FA composition, tocopherol (Toc)
content, lipid oxidation products, and growth performance of broilers fed flax is investigated.
One hundred and twenty (n =120) day-old Cobb chicks were fed corn-soybean meal-based diet
containing 0% flax, (Control), 15% flax (Diet 1), Diet 1 +50% more Met (Diet 2), and Diet
1+ 100% more Met (Diet 3) for 42 days. Total lipids in liver and adipose tissue was lowest in
Diet 3 (P < 0.05). Feeding flax led to a reduction total lipids in breast muscle (P < 0.05) and
was not affected by Met level (P > 0.05). α-Linolenic acid (18:3n-3) was highest in thigh muscle
and liver of Diet 3 and adipose tissue of chickens fed Diet 2 and Diet 3 (P < 0.05). Total long
chain (> 20 C) n-3 FA was highest in the breast muscle of chickens fed Diet 2 and Diet 3
(P < 0.05). Total saturated FA were lowest in the breast and thigh muscle of Diet 3 fed birds
(P < 0.05). Addition of Met led to an increase in α-Toc in breast muscle in birds fed Diet 2 and
Diet 3 (P < 0.05). Lipid oxidation products were lower in the thigh muscle and adipose tissue of
birds fed Diet 2 and Diet 3 than Diet 1 and Control (P < 0.05). Body weight gain was lowest in
birds fed flax (P < 0.05). Met supplementation had no effect on weight gain or feed conversion
Overall, results from the current study demonstrate that Met supplementation is a novel way to
enrich tissues with n-3 FA and Toc in chickens fed flax.
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