The growth performance and some carcass, gastrointestinal tract, meat quality, and blood biochemical properties of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented or not with tropical açaí (Euterpe oleracea) fruit extract

This study investigated the effects of lyophilised ethanolic açaí (Euterpe oleracea) fruit extract (AFE) as a growth promoter on the carcass, gastrointestinal tract, meat quality, and blood biochemical properties in broilers. In total, 576 mixed-sex Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to four treatments, with six replications of 24 birds (12 females and 12 males) each. Control chickens were fed with an additive-free basic diet (AFE0). In contrast, test birds were fed one of the basic diets supplemented with 2.5 g (AFE2.5), 5 g (AFE5), and 10 g (AFE10) AFE/kg. Up to 42 days of age, the AFE2.5 and AFE5 diets increased body weight gain, while the AFE5 diet improved the feed conversion ratio, European broiler index, and carcass weight compared to the AFE0 diet. Dietary AFE did not affect dry matter, protein, and fat contents of breast and thigh meats but decreased their ash content. The AFE5 diet increased the thigh meat's pH and a* values, while the AFE10 diet decreased its L* value. While all AFE-supplemented diets decreased the serum aspartate aminotransferase level and the relative weight of the small intestine, the AFE5 and AFE10 diets decreased the serum glucose concentrations compared to the AFE0 diet. The AFE5 diet reduced the concentration of low-density lipoprotein and the relative length of the entire gastrointestinal tract and the small intestine. The dietary AFE at a 5 g/kg diet positively affected the growth performance of broiler chickens by modulating small intestine development and blood biochemicals.