Effect Of Selenium Content In Chicken Diets On The Yield And Quality Of Thigh Muscular Tissue

The research aimed to determine effect of selenium contained in chicken diets on the yield and quality of thigh muscle tissue. The research was carried out on 38 chickens of hybrid Ross 308 provenience. The chickens were being fattened for 42 days. During the first three weeks of fattening all chickens were fed starter diet. During the last three weeks of fattening the chickens were divided into two groups, each being fed especially prepared finisher diet. Finisher diet contained 3% of sunflower oil and 3% of linseed oil, with the difference in the content of selenium (K=no supplemented Se, P=supplemented 0.3 mg Se/kg of diet). The chickens of the K group had significantly higher portion of back and lower portion of breasts in the carcass in comparison with chickens of the P group (P <0.05). It was determined that the P treatment significantly affected increase of muscle tissue portion and decrease of drumstick with thigh skin in the carcass (P <0.05). Supplementation of selenium in chicken diet affected the increase of muscle tissue portion and decrease of skin portion in drumsticks with thighs (P<0.05). Supplementation of selenium in chicken diet significantly increased portion of protein, and reduced portion of fat in thigh muscle tissue (P <0.05). Group P exhibited significantly higher content of selenium than the group K (0.238 and 0.126 mg Se/kg of muscle tissue, respectively; P<0.05). Supplementation of selenium in chicken diets lowered Sigma SFA, Sigma MUFA, Sigma SFA/Sigma MUFA and Sigma n-6 PUFA/PUFA, and increased Sigma n-6 PUFA, Sigma n-3 PUFA, Sigma PUFA and Sigma SFA/Sigma MUFA.