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Different responses of Ross 308 and 708 broiler strains in growth performance and related properties to diet treatment with or without tributyrate glycerides
Within genetically similar broiler strains, there can be significant performance differences, making strain selection an important decision for producers to meet their requirements. This study has investigated the differences in growth performance, including body composition, between Ross 308 and Ross 708 birds, and compared how each strain responds to the supplementation of tributyrin. Tributyrin is a butyric acid glyceride that has been shown to have multiple positive effects on broiler performance and be a potential alternative to in-feed antibiotics. Two hundred and forty day-old Ross 308 and 240 day-old Ross 708 birds were divided into treatment groups and fed a basal diet, or diets supplemented with low or high levels of tributyrin for 35 days. Neither strain nor tributyrin supplementation had an effect on overall average daily gain or feed:gain ratios (P > 0.05). Ross 708 control birds had significantly decreased relative abdominal fat weight at 5 weeks of age compared to Ross 308 control birds (P < 0.05), and tributyrin supplementation further decreased relative abdominal fat weight in Ross 708 birds (P < 0.05). Ross 708 control birds had significantly higher fat deposition in the breast muscle compared to Ross 308 controls (P < 0.05), and the addition of tributyrin lowered this deposition in both strains (P < 0.05). Breast muscle lipid profiles were significantly different between strains, with Ross 308 control birds having decreased saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, and increased polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to Ross 708 control birds (P < 0.05). Significant differences in the hepatic expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism (SREBP-1 and ATPCL) were observed both between strains, and with tributyrin supplementation (P < 0.05). These results support the modulation of lipid metabolism by tributyrin, and show that even genetically similar strains can perform significantly differently at the metabolic level and respond differently to dietary supplementation of tributyrin.
Keywords: Broiler; Tributyrin; Growth performance