TISSUE CONTENT OF ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL AND OXIDATIVE STABILITY OF BROILERS RECEIVING DIETARY ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE SUPPLEMENT FOR VARIOUS PERIODS PRE-SLAUGHTER
Pa. Morrissey et al., TISSUE CONTENT OF ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL AND OXIDATIVE STABILITY OF BROILERS RECEIVING DIETARY ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE SUPPLEMENT FOR VARIOUS PERIODS PRE-SLAUGHTER, British Poultry Science, 38(1), 1997, pp. 84-88
1. The effects of dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate on the alpha-tocoph
erol status of chicken plasma and tissues were investigated. The rate
of iron-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation was also studied. 2. One
hundred and forty four chicks were divided into 6 groups: one control
group was fed a basal diet of 30 mg alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg food f
or the duration of the trial. A supplemental diet of 200 mg alpha-toco
pheryl acetate was fed to each of the other 5 groups for 1,2,3,4 or 5
weeks prior to slaughter.3. Supplementation resulted in an increase in
alpha-tocopherol in plasma and all tissues examined. Saturation level
s of alpha-tocopherol were observed in plasma after 1 week of feeding
and in tissues within 3 to 4 weeks of feeding. 4. Supplementation with
alpha-tocopheryl acetate for up to 4 weeks pre-slaughter resulted in
significant reductions in susceptibility to induced lipid peroxidation
. 5. Overall, the results show that feeding 200 mg alpha-tocopherol ac
etate/kg food to chicks for at least 4 weeks prior to slaughter is nec
essary to optimise muscle content and stability against lipid peroxida
tion.