Redressing the balance: including DHA-rich Aurantiochytrium limacinum in broiler diets increases tissue omega-3 fatty acid content and lowers the n-6:n-3 ratio

ABSTRACT

1. The consumption of sufficient quantities of long chain omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) from meat and other animal products can lead to a variety of health benefits in humans. The fatty acid content of poultry meat can be increased by feeding birds ingredients that are rich in n-3 LCFUFA

2. The effect of feeding a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) rich Aurantiochytrium limacinum biomass (AURA) on the fatty acid content of breast and thigh tissues was investigated in a feeding trial with 2880 male Ross 308 broilers. The broiler diets were supplemented with either 0, 0.25, 0.5 or 1% AURA from day 21 to 42 of age.

3. Supplementation significantly increased the DHA content of both breast and thigh meat at an inclusion rate of 1% in the diet, leading to a total of 42 and 46 mg DHA/100 g of fresh breast or thigh tissue respectively. Significant increases in the tissue eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) concentration were seen alongside a reduced omega-6/omega-3 ratio, improving the nutritional value of the meat for consumers and identifying supplementation of broiler diets with A. limacinum as an effective and sustainable method to increase n-3 LCPUFA consumption in the human population.

KEYWORDS:

• Algae
• broilers
• docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
• fatty acids
• omega-3

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the following: Ms. Rebecca Timmons (Alltech Inc., USA) for her technical input on A. limacinum; Dr. Tuoying Ao (Alltech Inc., USA) for his knowledge of the application of microalgae in broiler nutrition; and Ms. Claire Traynor at the Mylnefield Institute (James Hutton Ltd., Dundee, Scotland) for her expertise in fatty acid analysis of meat tissue.

Disclosure statement

The authors C. A. Moran and J. D. Keegan are employees of Alltech which produces and markets ALL-G-RICH®, the commercial product used in this study.