Effect of Storage Time of Dietary Rice Bran on Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Broiler Chicken

This study evaluated the impact of rice bran storage duration on broiler chicken growth performance and meat quality. Ninety-six male Cobb 500 chicks were randomly assigned to four groups, each receiving one of four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets: a control corn-soy diet or diets containing rice bran stored for less than 24 hours, 1 week, or 30 days. Growth performance was monitored, and after 30 days, carcass traits, digestive organ measurements, and meat quality parameters were assessed. Diets containing rice bran stored for 1 week and 30 days exhibited elevated Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values, indicating increased lipid oxidation. Notably, broilers fed rice bran stored for 30 days showed reduced (P<0.05) final body weight, weight gain, and feed intake, along with a higher feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. This diet also led to increased relative weights and lengths of digestive tract organs and higher meat TBARS values. However, other meat quality characteristics, including cooking loss, drip loss, water holding capacity, pH, and color, remained unaffected by the dietary treatments. In conclusion, incorporating rice bran stored for 30 days into broiler diets can negatively influence growth performance and meat TBARS values.