Effects of Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Broiler Performance and Carcass Characteristics

The effects of three levels of conjugated linoleic acid dietary inclusion on the carcass characteristics and performance of broilers were evaluated. A total of 405 chickens were raised from 1 until 42 days of age, housed in a room with water and food ad libitum. The experimental design was completely randomized, with three treatments (0.0, 0.5 and 1% CLA) and nine replications (pen) to performance analysis, 18 replications (two birds per pen) to carcass composition, and five replications (left legs) to lipid profile. Performance was determined weekly and after 42 days, 18 birds per treatment were slaughtered to quantify breast and leg yield. Protein and fat was quantified in the leg and breast, as well as the detailed lipid profile of the leg. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and means compared by LS means. From 1 to 21 days chickens with 0% supplementation of CLA performed better compared to those receiving 0.5 and 1% CLA (P < 0.05), however, these differences were no longer significant from 21 to 42 days or for the overall study period (P > 0.05). Conjugated linoleic acid inclusion did not influence leg, breast and carcass yield, and leg and breast content of protein and fat. Both levels of CLA changed the leg lipid profile- there was an increased accumulation of CLA in meat, increased levels of saturated fatty acids and reduction of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation increased n-6-n-3 ratio. CLA supplementation in broiler feed is effective to produce meat enriched with its isomers and change lipid profile.