Nutritional evaluation of chia (Salvia hispanica) seeds and oil in broiler diets

- Two experiments were carried with broilers from 29 to 42 days of age for the nutritional evaluation of dietary chia. Thus, the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) and the apparent metabolizability coefficients of gross energy and ether extract of chia seeds and oil, toasted soybean grain (TSG), and soybean oil were determined in the experiment I, by total excreta collection method, using 120 broilers. Each experimental diet (reference diet [RD] and four diets with the tested feedstuffs) was evaluated in eight replicates of three broilers. The TSG and chia seeds replaced the RD in 250 g/kg, whereas soybean and chia oils replaced the RD in 100 g/kg. Simultaneously, a second experiment was carried subdivided into two trials. In the performance trial, we evaluated the dietary feedstuffs effects on performance, carcass and cut yields, blood parameters, and activity of lipogenic enzymes. The nutrient metabolizability coefficients and AMEn were evaluated in the metabolism trial. The AMEn values of 37.49, 37.35, 15.85, and 8.43 MJ/kg of dry matter were determined for chia oil, soybean oil, TSG, and chia seeds, respectively (experiment I). In the second experiment, the best feed conversion was observed in broilers fed diets containing chia oil and TSG. However, the diet formulated with chia seeds worsened broiler feed conversion, exhibited the smaller energy value and apparent metabolizability coefficient of the ether extract, and increased the activity of the malic enzyme and serum total cholesterol level. There was no difference for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. In general, chia oil showed to be efficient in replacing soybean oil in broiler diets.