Impact of Administering Polyphenol-Rich Sugarcane Extract through Drinking Water on the Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens

There is a growing interest in the broiler industry to explore innovative approaches that enhance productivity while maintaining optimum animal health and welfare. The current study focused on evaluating the effect of a polyphenol-rich sugarcane extract (PRSE) administered via drinking water on growth performance and meat quality of broiler chickens. Four experimental groups of Cobb 500 broilers (496) were housed in litter floor pens, viz., no PRSE (Control), 0.05% PRSE (Treatment-1), 0.25% PRSE (Treatment-2) from Day 0 to 35, and a transition dose of 0.25% (Day 0 to 17) reduced to 0.05% PRSE (Day 18 to 35) (Treatment-3). Treatments were prepared by adding the respective levels of PRSE to drinking water and supplying it for the specified periods. Each treatment was randomly assigned to two pens in each room. Each of the two rooms (blocks) was portioned into eight pens (31 birds/pen). Birds were fed commercial starter (Day 0 to 17) and finisher (Day 18 to 37) diets according to Cobb 500 broiler performance objectives, and water was given ad libitum. Feed intake, water intake, and mortality were recorded daily. Body weight gain and feed-to-gain ratio were evaluated on Days 11, 22, and 35 on a pen basis, and the birds selected for meat quality were euthanised on Day 38. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA for a randomised complete block design. The supplementation of PRSE via drinking water did not affect broiler performance. Both 0.05 and 0.25% PRSE were found to reduce levels of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) in meat on Day 1 post-processing compared to the control by 99.8% and 96.0%, respectively. These concentrations increased the water holding capacity of meat on Day 7 when compared with the other groups. Birds receiving 0.25% and the transition dose of PRSE reduced meat colour luminosity on Day 7 as compared with other treatments. The consistent provision of 0.05 and 0.25% PRSE treatments resulted in enhanced broiler meat quality, although it did not impact broiler performance.