Chitosan and its oligosaccharide derivatives (chito‐oligosaccharides) as feed supplements in poultry and swine nutrition

Chitosan is a non‐toxic polyglucosamine, widespread in nature, which is deacetylated to varying degrees form of chitin, a component of exoskeleton of shrimps, crabs and insects. Because chitosan contains reactive functional groups, that is, amino acids and hydroxyl groups, it is characterised by antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐oxidative, antitumor, immunostimulatory and hypocholesterolemic properties when fed as dietary additive for farm animals. This article reviews and discusses the results of studies on the effects of dietary chitosan and its oligosaccharide derivatives on performance and metabolic response in poultry and pigs, that is, haematological, biochemical and immunological blood characteristics, microbiological profile of intestines, intestinal morphology and digestibility of nutrients, as well as on the quality of meat and eggs. The results of most of the experiments presented in this review indicate that chitosan used as a feed additive for poultry and pigs has some beneficial, biological effects, including immunomodulatory, anti‐oxidative, antimicrobial and hypocholesterolemic properties. These properties of chitosan, unlike many other kinds of feed additives, were often reflected in improved growth performance (body weight gain and/or feed conversion ratio) of young animals, that is, broiler chickens and weaned pigs.     

饲喂不同油脂对黄羽肉鸡肌肉组织中脂肪酸组成的影响

选用 8 3日龄的雌性广西黄羽肉鸡 90只 ,随机分成 5组 (每组设 2个重复 ,每个重复 9只 ,共 18只 ) ,研究饲粮中不同油脂对肉鸡肌肉组织脂肪酸组成的影响。 5组饲粮分别含 3%的富含饱和脂肪酸的棕榈油 (PO3组 ,对照组 )、 3% (LO3组 )和 5%的富含α 亚麻酸 (C18:3n 3,ALA)的亚麻油 (LO5组 )、 5%的富含长链n 3脂肪酸 (如C2 0 :5n 3,EPA ;C2 2 :6n 3,DHA)的鱼油 (FO5组 )、 5%的富含亚油酸(C18:2n 6 ,LA)和ALA的火麻仁油 (HO5组 )。饲喂 2 8d,取样测定胸肌和腿肌中的脂肪酸组成。结果表明 :PO3(对照组 )肌肉中的n 6 /n 3脂肪酸比值比例高于其他组 (P <0 0 5) ;与对照组相比 ,LO3组和LO5组以ALA和LA为主的多不饱和脂肪酸 (PUFA)增加 (P <0 0 5) ,ALA和LA在体内可转化为相应的长链脂肪酸 ;FO5组以长链n 3PUFA ,(如EPA、DPA、DHA)为主的PUFA含量增加 (P <0 0 5) ;HO5组以LA为主的n 6脂肪酸高于其他组 (P <0 0 5) ;长链PUFA (如DHA)易沉积于胸肌中 ,而LA ,ALA易沉积于腿肌中。由此可见 ,肉鸡肌肉组织脂肪酸的组成充分反映了饲粮油脂的脂肪酸组成 ,通过饲粮中添加不同脂肪酸组成的油脂可生产富含特定PUFA的鸡肉     

Antioxidation status and histidine dipeptides content in broiler blood and muscles depending on protein sources in feed

One‐day‐old chickens were fed mixtures containing different raw materials (fish by‐products meal, porcine blood cells meal, blood meal, wheat gluten, fodder yeast), as a source of histidine and β‐alanine – components of carnosine. Control birds were administered a feed mixture, in which soy bean meal was the main protein source. The bodyweight, feed consumption and conversion, antioxidant characteristics and histidine dipeptides content in blood and muscles, and also amino acid composition of chicken meat on day 34 post‐hatch were recorded. The best (p < 0.05) performance and feed conversion were observed in chickens fed mixture containing porcine blood cells meal. In blood plasma of control chickens, a significantly (p < 0.01) higher ability to scavenge DPPH radicals was found. However, the highest catalase activity in erythrocytes was determined in chickens fed mixtures with blood by‐products. Insignificant differences in both carnosine and anserine levels in plasma between treatments were noted. Breast muscles from control birds were characterized by lower activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) (p < 0.05; p < 0.01), than those from chickens fed blood by‐products. Improved ability to reduce ferric ions (FRAP) (p < 0.01) and carnosine content in meat from chickens fed blood cell meal were recorded. No direct relations between amino acids content in feed mixtures and in meat were observed.     

Effect of dietary high-oleic acid sunflower seed, palm oil and vitamin E supplementation on broiler performance, fatty acid composition and oxidation susceptibility of meat

1. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion of two fat sources: high-oleic acid sunflower seed (HOASS; 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg diet) and palm oil (PO), and dietary supplementation of vitamin E (alpha-tocopheryl acetate, 200 mg/kg diet) on performance, fatty acid composition and susceptibility to oxidation of white and dark chicken meat during refrigerated storage. Female chicks (3 to 6 weeks) were given one of 5 diets containing 90 g/kg of added fat with increasing monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content, adjusted by progressively replacing PO by HOASS. 2. Body weight gain and gain:food ratio of birds were depressed in diets containing the highest proportions of HOASS (150 and 200 g/kg). Relative abdominal fat was reduced in birds fed diets including HOASS, except in the diet containing 100 g HOASS/kg. The inclusion of alpha-tocopheryl acetate improved body weight gain and gain:food ratio. 3. According to the fatty acid profile of the diets, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid (SFA and PUFA, respectively) contents were significantly reduced and MUFA content was significantly increased in white and dark chicken meats when the saturated oil, PO, was replaced progressively by HOASS in the diet. The inclusion of alpha-tocopheryl acetate increased PUFA content in both meats. 4. After 4 and 7 d of refrigerated storage, white and dark meat samples obtained from birds fed on diets containing HOASS had significantly lower thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS) values than those derived from the PO diet. The addition of alpha-tocopheryl acetate significantly reduced the lipid oxidation in white and dark meat. 5. Overall, the results showed that increasing MUFA content of chicken meat by replacing dietary PO with HOASS (up to 100 g/kg) did not adversely affect broiler performance and reduced the susceptibility of meat to oxidation during refrigerated storage. Dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation improved chicken performance and was effective in protecting lipid meat from oxidation.     

Effects of dietary oleuropein supplementation on growth performance,serum lipid concentrations and lipid oxidation of Japanese quails

An in vivo experiment was conducted to compare the effects of dietary supplementation with oleuropein and/or α‐tocopheryl acetate on growth performance, serum lipid concentrations and lipid oxidation of Japanese quail meat during refrigerated storage. Performance and slaughtering parameters were not affected by dietary treatments. The diets supplemented with oleuropein at the levels of 150 or 200 mg/kg were more effective in delaying lipid oxidation in breast and thigh meats compared with the control diet. The dietary inclusion of neither vitamin E nor oleuropein at different levels did not significantly affect the fatty acid compositions of the breast meat compared with the control diet. The diets supplemented with oleuropein at the levels of 150 or 200 mg/kg had significantly the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid and omega‐3 fatty acid contents in thigh meat compared with the vitamin E diet. The ratio of omega‐6 fatty acids to omega‐3 FAs in thigh meat of quails fed diet supplemented with vitamin E at the level of 200 mg/kg was equivalent to those of quails fed the diets supplemented with oleuropein at the levels of 100 and 150 mg/kg . The results showed that the dietary oleuropein supplementation at 150 mg/kg level may be used in quail diets enriched with the polyunsaturated fatty acids of vitamin E as a natural antioxidant.     

Performance and meat quality of broiler chickens that are fed diets supplemented with Agaricus brasiliensis mushrooms

This trial was performed to study the use of the mushroom Agaricus brasiliensis as an alternative additive to antimicrobial growth promoters in broiler chicken diets and to assess the quality of the broiler chicken breast meat of birds that are fed diets containing this fungus. Thus, 595 1-day-old chicks were reared in reused poultry litter without anticoccidial and antimicrobial additives. The results showed that a concentration of 1.6 g mushrooms/kg diet was ideal for these birds because it provided better bird performance. When the birds’ immune system organs were analyzed, it was found that the addition of both mushrooms influenced the immune system organs of these broiler chickens. Adding A. brasiliensis to broiler chicken diets did not compromise breast meat quality.     

Effect of dietary oregano essential oil on performance of chickens and on iron-induced lipid oxidation of breast,thigh and abdominal fat tissues

1. We studied the effect of dietary oregano essential oil (50 and 100 mg/kg of feed) on the performance of broilers, and determined the susceptibility of the resulting broiler meat to iron-induced lipid oxidation. 2. Performance of the birds was unaffected by the experimental diets. Therefore, dietary oregano oil exerted no growth-promoting effect on broilers. 3. Iron-induced lipid oxidation showed that as oregano oil increased in the diet, malondialdehyde values decreased in tissue samples, suggesting that the oil, particularly at 100 mg/kg of feed, exerted an antioxidant effect on chicken tissues. 4. Dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation at 200 mg/kg of feed displayed greater antioxidant activity than oregano oil at either supplementation rate. 5. Thigh muscle was more susceptible to oxidation than breast muscle, although the former contained alpha-tocopherol at higher concentration. Muscle alpha-tocopherol is an important factor influencing lipid oxidation, but the influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids and content of pro-oxidants must be taken into consideration too.     

The influence of dietary chestnut and quebracho tannins mix on rabbit meat quality

Tannins were recently evaluated as feed additives in order to increase antioxidant compounds in animal diet, mainly to enhance resistance to lipid oxidation in meat. Rabbit meat is one of the most susceptible animal products, thus the main aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of tannins to elongate shelf life of rabbit meat. Ninety hybrid rabbits were fed with three different diets: basal diet (control, C) and basal diet supplemented with 0.3% or 0.6% of tannins mix. Meat samples were refrigerated as raw at 4°C up to 11 days and analysed both as raw and cooked for physical‐chemical characteristics, fatty acids profile, lipid oxidation and antioxidant capacity. Results showed that dietary tannins affected meat colour of raw samples (mostly yellowness). Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) of raw samples was lower in tannins group than C group; a further inhibition of peroxidation was showed also in cooked samples only by the highest dose of tannins mix. Moreover, antioxidant capacity (ABTS) of raw samples increased with the percentage of tannins. In conclusion, supplementation with 0.6% of tannins mix seems to positively affect the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity of meat without modifying the intrinsic characteristics of rabbit meat.     

Effects of dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid on fatty acid composition and lipid oxidation in chicken breast meat

We investigated the effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on fatty acid composition and lipid oxidation in breast meat of broiler chickens. Broiler chickens (28-day-old females) were fed diets containing experimental oils at 20 g/kg diet for 28 days. The experimental oils consisted of either a 2:0, 1:1, or a 0:2 (wt : wt) ratio of safflower oil (high linoleic acid content) to a commercial CLA mixture. In this study, dietary CLA supplementation significantly increased the composition and content of CLA in chicken meat. The predominant CLA in meat from birds with supplemented diets was the cis -9, trans -11 isomer. The proportion of saturated fatty acid in meat significantly increased with increasing CLA supplementation, with a corresponding decrease in monounsaturated fatty acid. Dietary CLA also reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values in raw meat during storage at 4°C for 5 days. These results provide evidence that CLA feeding is a practical strategy not only for adding nutritional benefits to chicken meat but also for improving meat quality including oxidative stability.     

香格里拉地区尼西鸡养殖现状及发展对策

尼西鸡是云南特有的家禽品种,因产于香格里拉市尼西乡而得名,当地藏语叫"龙巴下",是云南20个地方家禽品种中典型的肉蛋兼用型品种,也是我国《国家级畜禽资源保护品种名录》中典型的地方家禽品种,是当地藏族经长期驯化饲养、选育而形成的优良品种,具有体型较小、产蛋高、肉质好、耐粗饲、灵活善飞等特点,在高海拔和气候寒冷的自然环境下...     

Reconsidering betaine as a natural anti-heat stress agent in poultry industry: a review

Betaine is found ubiquitously in plants, animals, microorganisms, and rich dietary sources including seafood, spinach, and wheat bran. The chief physiological role of betaine is to function as a methyl donor and an osmolyte. Betaine also acts as an osmolyte, to maintain the avian’s cellular water and ion balance to improve the avian’s capacity against heat stress via preventing dehydration and osmotic inactivation. It helps in maintaining the protective osmolytic activity, especially in heat-stressed birds. Betaine may promote various intestinal microbes against osmotic variations and thus improve microbial fermentation activity. Previous studies showed that dietary supplementation of betaine in poultry diets could positively affect nutrients’ digestibility, reduce abdominal fat weight, and increase breast meat yield. In addition, betaine has been reported to protect internal organs and boost their performance. Its inclusion in poultry diet is sparing essential amino acids like choline and methionine. In addition, it may play an important role in lean meat production by positively affecting the lipid metabolism with increased fatty acids catabolism and thus reducing carcass fat deposition. The aim of this review article was to broaden the knowledge regarding betaine and its importance in the poultry industry to cope with the heat stress problem. Moreover, it should be added to the diet as a natural anti-stressor through different routes (water/feed) to overcome the heat stress problem. However, further studies need to be conducted at the genetic and molecular basis to elucidate the mechanism behind the betaine as a natural anti-heat agent to decrease the heat stress problem in the poultry industry.     

Growth performance,blood parameters,carcass characteristics and meat quality traits in Potchefstroom Koekoek chickens fed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lippia javanica</Emphasis> leaf meal

Lippia javanica leaves may have nutraceutical bioactivity and thus could be a viable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry diets. To test this hypothesis, a feeding trial was carried out to determine the effects of dietary inclusion of Lippia javanica leaf meal (LJ) on growth performance, blood parameters, carcass characteristics and meat quality of indigenous Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) chickens. The leaf meal was used to dilute a commercial chicken grower diet at a rate of 25 or 50 g/kg diet. Two additional experimental diets, a positive control (commercial chicken grower diet with antibiotics, CON+) and a negative control (commercial chicken grower diet without antibiotics, CON–), were also formulated. Feed intake and growth performance were measured over a period of 13 weeks before slaughtering for carcass and meat quality measurements. Blood was collected in week 11 to determine haematological and serum biochemical parameters. Diet had no effect on overall FCE but significantly (P?<?0.05) affected bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), sodium, potassium, cholesterol and magnesium levels in blood. When included at 50 g/kg, LJ increased carcass weight (P?<?0.05). Meat from CON– (6.07) and LJ50 (6.08) chickens had a higher pH than from CON+ (5.9) and LJ25 (5.8) chickens. Breast muscle in CON– chickens had higher (P?<?0.05) lightness (L*) value (53.2) compared to chickens fed on other diets. It was observed that meat from LJ25 chickens had the highest for redness value (2.3). It was concluded that L. javanica leaf meal can be included up to 50 g/kg in Potchefstroom koekoek chicken diets without causing negative effects on the birds’ feed intake, utilisation and weight gain. Diet-induced changes observed in blood parameters and meat quality fell within the expected normal ranges for indigenous chickens.     

Increased collagen III in culled chicken meat after feeding dietary wood charcoal and vinegar contributes to palatability and tenderness

We comprehensively evaluated meat quality in chickens fed a diet consisting of wood charcoal and vinegar (WCV) using food scientific and histological approaches. In culled hens, lipid and fatty acid in Musculus semimembranosus, cooking loss and sensory tests of whole thigh meat, and meat texture of breast meat were observed. In male broilers, cross section of M. semimembranosus was used for observations on muscle area, perimysium, non‐collagen total protein and total collagen content, and anti‐collagen I and III reactions. In frozen male broilers, conventional morphology of M. semimembranosus as well as chicken anti‐collagen III reaction to selected muscles of thigh meat and breast meat were compared between the control and WCV‐fed birds. Increased lipid and fatty acids, decreased cooking loss, high score in total evaluation for sensory test of thigh meat, and decreased meat texture values were observed for culled hens fed WCV. The higher values of muscle area, total collagen and collagen III were observed for broilers fed WCV. No perimysium collapse for M. semitendinosus or increased collagen III reactions of M. tensor fasciae latae, the flexor muscle group and M. pectoralis superficialis were observed for frozen muscles in the WCV group. These total results suggest that WCV produces palatable and tender meat by increasing collagen III.     

植物多酚的抗氧化机理及其在动物生产中的应用

肉及肉制品在加工及贮藏过程中易发生氧化而导致品质下降，在动物日粮中添加植物多酚可抑制脂肪及蛋白质氧化，进而提高肉及肉制品在加工及贮藏过程中的氧化稳定性。植物多酚因具有酚羟基结构而具有清除自由基的抗氧化作用，可提高动物机体及肉制品中抗氧化酶的活性，还可激活Nrf2/ARE信号通路从而提高肉制品在加工及贮藏过程中的抗氧化能力。将植物多酚添加到畜禽日粮中，可促进动物对饲料中营养物质的消化吸收，提高其生产性能，且可提高动物机体的抗氧化酶活性及总抗氧化能力，降低畜禽产品中丙二醛的含量，提高产品的质量，延长产品的货架期。文章介绍了植物多酚，包括黄酮类、酚酸类、非黄酮类化合物及其代表性化合物的结构，并阐述了其抗氧化性机理及其在动物生产中的应用，旨为研究利用植物多酚提高肉制品的氧化稳定性、安全性提供理论参考。     

Effects of different sources and levels of dietary chromium supplementation on performance of broiler chicks

The current experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different dietary chromium supplementation sources, chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃), chromium methionine (Cr‐Met), or chromium yeast (Cr‐yeast), at different levels each (500 or 1,000 ppb) on growth performance, physiological traits, and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks. A total of 490 seven‐day‐old Arbor Acres chicks were randomly distributed into 7 experimental groups each in 10 replicates of 7 birds each. The groups were control, 500 ppb Cr₂O₃, 1,000 ppb Cr₂O₃, 500 ppb Cr‐Met, 1,000 ppb Cr‐Met, 500 ppb Cr‐yeast, and 1,000 ppb Cr‐yeast. The results showed significant superiority of the organic chromium sources (Cr‐Met or Cr‐yeast) concerning body weight and weight gain, the group supplemented with 1,000 ppb Cr‐yeast consumed the lowest feed (3,185 g) and had the best feed conversion ratio (1.60) compared to the control (1.73). The chromium treatments recorded significantly better protein and lipid profile, antioxidant status, and immunological parameters than the control group. Similarly, dietary chromium supplementation increased carcass yield and decreased intestinal pathogenic bacteria. In conclusion, supplementing broiler diets with organic chromium sources at 1,000 ppb promotes growth performance, physiological traits, and carcass characteristics; such chromium treatments enhanced the antioxidant status and immunity levels of broilers.     

Organic poultry production in the United States: Broilers

Since the USDA implemented the National Organic Program, the growth of the organic food market has continued to increase, with organic poultry as leading products. Organic livestock husbandry practices focus on living conditions that permit natural behaviors and provide outdoor access, preventive health management with a prohibition of antibiotics or other drugs (although vaccines can be used), and organic feed. Organic feed is raised without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides; pastures to which birds have access must also be organic. Hatcheries are currently not required to be organic, and conventional chicks may be used if they are under organic management by the second day after hatching. Although alternative, slow-growing genotypes are used in organic production in the European Union, conventional genetics are used in the United States. Poultry products, including meat and eggs, must be handled organically. Most synthetic materials are not permitted in organic food production, whereas most natural materials are; however, the National Organic Program National List specifies which materials are allowed. Of particular interest is an impending ban on the use of synthetic methionine in organic poultry diets. Research in the United States has examined alternative strategies, including the use of slow-growing broilers that are less heavily muscled than conventional fast-growing meat birds, but has not shown these birds to have lower methionine requirements. Research has also examined sensory differences between specialty and conventional meat chickens in the United States. Consumer panelists indicated no preference between these products, although trained panelists found some differences in the flavor of thigh meat. More meat quality differences were due to genotype than to outdoor access. Breast meat from slow-growing birds was more tender than that from fast-growing birds. Outdoor access resulted in leaner meat, but only in the case of slow-growing birds. As interest grows in specialty and organic poultry meat products, additional research is needed.     

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate supplementation can improve antioxidant status in stressed quail

1. Heat stress causes oxidative stress, which decreases plasma antioxidants in poultry. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol in green tea, is a powerful antioxidant against lipid peroxidation. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary EGCG supplementation on performance, carcase characteristics, concentrations of malondialdehyde, lipid peroxidation indicator, vitamins C, E, A, cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) exposed to a high ambient temperature of 34 degrees C. 2. One hundred and eighty Japanese quails (10 d old) were assigned at random to 6 treatment groups consisting of 10 replicates of three birds. Birds were kept in cages in a temperature-controlled room at either 22 degrees C (thermo-neutral) or 34 degrees C (heat stress) for 8 h/d. Birds were fed either a basal diet or the diet supplemented with 200 or 400 mg of EGCG/kg of diet. 3. EGCG supplementation linearly increased feed intake, live weight gain, feed efficiency, cold carcase weight and yield under heat stress conditions but did not show the same effect at thermoneutral conditions. Serum vitamin C, E, and A concentrations increased in birds reared at high temperature while non-significant changes occurred in thermo-neutral groups. Malondialdehyde concentrations in serum and liver decreased in all birds of both thermo-neutral and heat stressed groups as dietary EGCG supplementation increased. Heat stress-induced increase in serum cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose concentrations were linearly reversed by EGCG supplementation. 4. The results indicate that EGCG supplementation improved the live performance and antioxidant status of heat-stressed Japanese quail.     

Effects of alfalfa meal on carcase quality and fat metabolism of Muscovy ducks

1. The effects of alfalfa meal on carcase quality and fat metabolism of Muscovy duck were evaluated. The objective of this research was to establish whether alfalfa meal can reduce fat content and improve carcase quality of Muscovy duck. Animal products with a high fat content present a risk factor for many diseases. Reducing fat content in poultry products is an important goal for the poultry industry.

2. A total of 240 14-d-old white Muscovy ducks were selected and randomly allocated to 1 of 4 dietary treatments containing 0, 3, 6, and 9% of alfalfa meal for 5 weeks. Growth performances were recorded and carcase characteristics and lipid parameters were analysed.

3. Results showed that 3, 6, and 9% alfalfa meal in diet had no significant effects on growth performance of Muscovy ducks from 14 to 49?d of age. Ducks given 3, 6, and 9% alfalfa meal had significantly higher dressing percentage and lower abdominal fat percentage compared with those given no alfalfa meal. Ducks given 9% alfalfa meal had higher breast meat percentage compared with those given no alfalfa meal. The concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and free fatty acid in serum of ducks fed on alfalfa meal decreased. Alfalfa meal in the diet decreased abdominal fat percentage and improved carcase traits of Muscovy duck.

4. The study showed that dietary alfalfa meal decreased abdominal fat percentage and improved carcase traits, without an adverse effect on performance.     

Dietary synbiotic supplementation improves the growth performance,body antioxidant pool,serum biochemistry,meat quality,and lipid oxidative stability in broiler chickens

The present study investigated the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LBA) and mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) supplementation on the production performance, serum biochemistry, antioxidant profile, health indices, meat quality, and lipid oxidative stability of broiler chicken. A total of 252 commercial broiler chickens at 1 d old of uniform body weight were randomly allocated to 6 maize-soybean-based dietary treatments: T₁ (control diet), T₂ ( antibiotic bacitracin methylene di-salicylate [BMD] at 20 mg/kg diet), T₃ (MOS at 0.1% + LBA at 10⁶ CFU/g feed), T₄ (MOS at 0.1% + LBA at 10⁷ CFU/g feed), T₅ (MOS at 0.2% + LBA at 10⁶ CFU/g feed), and T₆ (MOS at 0.2% + LBA at 10⁷ CFU/g feed). Each treatment was assigned to 6 replicates of 7 birds. The samples for meat quality and serum biochemistry analysis were taken from 12 birds per treatment (2 birds/replicate). The results revealed better (P < 0.01) growth performance and production efficiency of birds fed either T₅ or T₆ diet compared to control or BMD supplemented diet and BMD-supplemented birds superseded the control birds. Higher (P < 0.01) serum and liver antioxidant enzyme activities, meat antioxidant capacity (2, 2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid [ABTS] and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] assays], serum total protein, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol (P < 0.05), and globulin levels (P < 0.01) were observed in birds fed either T₅ or T₆ diet compared to control or BMD supplemented birds, whereas, lower lipid oxidation (P < 0.01), cardiac risk ratio, atherogenic coefficient, atherogenic index of plasma, serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol levels (P < 0.01), and serum albumin-to-globulin ratio (P < 0.05) were observed in the chickens. The pH of meat from birds fed T₄, T₅ or T₆ diet was lower (P < 0.01) compared to control and other treatments. The extract release volume (ERV), water holding capacity (WHC), and protein content of meat were higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed either T₅ or T₆ diet compared to control or BMD supplemented birds. Thus, it was concluded that the supplementation of 0.2% MOS along with LBA at 10⁶ CFU/g is optimum for better growth performance, serum biochemistry, antioxidant profile, health indices, meat quality, and lipid oxidative stability of broiler chickens.