Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) oil inclusion in slow-growing broiler diets: impacts on performance, serum biochemistry, carcass, meat quality and fatty acid profile.

peer reviewed ; 1. The objective of this trial was to examine the effect of Sacha inchi oil (SIO), extracted from local nut sources common to the Amazon region, in broiler diets. The oil was substituted for soybean oil (SBO) within diets of slow-growing broilers and the effects on growth performance, carcass traits, serum biochemistry, objective meat quality and meat fatty acid profile were assessed.2. A total of 400, mixed sex, 56 d old, crossbred Ho × Luong Phuong broilers were randomly allocated to one of four experimental diets: a control diet (CON) containing 4.5% SBO and three experimental diets with SIO at substitution levels of 33.3% (SI1), 66.7% (SI2) and 100% (SI3) instead of SBO for a feeding period of 56 days. Each diet was replicated in four replicated pens of 25 birds, comprising two pens of males and two pens of females.3. Growth variables were recorded every two weeks. Blood samples were collected via puncture of the brachial vein one day prior to the completion of the experiment to determine serum biochemical indices. At the end of the study, four birds per pen were humanely slaughtered to evaluate carcass traits and breast samples were collected for assessments of meat technological quality and fatty acid profile.4. The inclusion of SIO increased the proportion of n-3 PUFA, lowered the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio and cholesterol content in breast muscle and reduced serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein levels, without detrimental effects on growth, carcass traits or meat quality variables.5. The results demonstrated that SIO is a promising alternative lipid source for improving the nutritional value of poultry meat without adversely affecting productive performance or carcass characteristics. ; 2. Zero hunger