EFFECT OF DIETARY FLAXSEED ON BROILER GROWTH, ERYTHROCYTE DEFORMABILITY, AND FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANES

The effectiveness of flaxseed as a source of flax oil in broiler diets was determined in two separate experiments. Broiler growth, fatty aci d composition of erythrocyte membranes and hematological variables wer e measured. We first examined the effect of 10, 20 or 30% flaxseed on growth in broilers and fatty acid composition of erythrocytes. The sec ond experiment utilized hypobaric chambers to study the effect of a di et containing 20% flaxseed on growth, fatty acid composition of erythr ocyte membranes, and hematological variables. In exp. 1, growth of the birds was reduced with increased inclusion of flaxseed. There was a r eduction in the percentage of total saturated fatty acids in the eryth rocyte membranes which was maximized with 20% flaxseed in the diet. In exp. 2, the growth of the birds was reduced with the inclusion of fla xseed in the diet. The deformability of the erythrocytes was not alter ed with the inclusion of flaxseed in the diet. There was a significant increase in the percentage of total saturated fatty acids in the eryt hrocyte membranes at ambient atmospheric pressure but not under hypoba ric conditions with the inclusion of flaxseed in the diet. We conclude that the incorporation of flaxseed into broiler diets is not a practi cal source of flax oil for poultry due to decreased growth, possibly d ue to the presence of antinutritional factors. The effect of flaxseed on the fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte membranes may be depe ndent on the fat content of the diet.