Effects of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products on biochemical and performance parameters in broiler chicken diets

Glucosinolates are important bioactive molecules and widely found in Brassicaceae species (cress, brussels sprouts, mustard, broccoli, kale etc.). Depending on the amount of these vegetables consumed, both positive and negative metabolic effects from glucosinolate metabolites may occur. The aim of this study was to investigate inexpensive animal food sources that both increase weight gain and provide enhanced performance parameters without adversely affecting the animal's health and metabolism; to evaluate dose adjustment of food containing glucosinolates in animals; and to evaluate changes in the biochemical and performance status of chickens on the glucosinolate containing diets. Day-old Ross 308 broiler line chicks (624) were divided into 1 control and 3 treatment groups. Cress seed (Lepidium sativum) was added 0.05% for the first treatment group (group 1, 10g/kg), 0.10% for the second treatment group (group 2, 20g/kg) and 0.15% for the last treatment groups (group 3, 30 g/kg) to the diet. Serum samples were evaluated for serum glucose, adiponectin, leptin, growth hormone, estradiol and cortisol levels. Feed intake, live body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were investigated for performance parameters. The results showed that dietary cress seed supplementation as feed additive (10, 20 and 30 g/kg) did not significantly improve the dietary performance, or carcass parameters of broiler chickens. Feed intake was the highest in group 2 (20g/kg), female live weight was the highest in group 2 (20 g/kg) and 3 (30 g/kg).