Agroindustrial residues for the raising of broilers

Abstract

Brazil is the biggest world's poultry meat producer and the world's largest poultry meat exporter. In order to keep this ranking, it needs to obey the rules imposed by the importers, like the ban of antibiotics used as growth promoters. Broilers meat provides all the nutrients required by humans and its lipids have poly-unsaturated fatty acids, which are highly susceptible to the lipid oxidation. To prevent this reaction of deterioration, it is usual to use synthetic antioxidants in the animal's diet. Brazil is also featured on the fruits' production that, when processed for the production of juice and others beverages, generates pollutant residues that cause environmental problems if they are discarded in unappropriated places. Besides, these residues contain bioactive compounds, like phenolic compounds and carotenoids, with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, making interesting the utilization of these residues for the animal feeding. In the present work, residues from the processing of acerola will be added to broilers feed. The experimental diets will be supplied for 42 days, and then the broilers will be slaughtered for the meat separation. The effects of the experimental diets will be evaluated on growth performance, oxidative stress, biochemical parameters and composition of the intestinal microflora of the animals and on the color and the stability to the oxidative rancidity of the meat.