Carotenoid x breeders – a partnership that has worked

Currently, several carotenoid-based products have been used in animal nutrition. The continuous search for improvement in poultry feeding....

Currently, several carotenoid-based products have been used in animal nutrition. The continuous search for improvement in poultry feeding has led to the inclusion of herbs and spices in the diet to replace feed additives, reduce antimicrobials, or even use alternative feeds where their components do not have pigments in the composition.

Examples are plant extracts, essential oils, and phytogenic additives. These products have biologically active compounds such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and vitamins, which can act as antioxidants, pigments, or immunomodulators, presenting these effects in feed, birds, eggs, or even progeny.

Lipid peroxidation in birds is mainly influenced by the quality of the raw material, the high presence of unsaturated fatty acids in the tissues, and the inadequate intake of nutrients involved in the antioxidant defense system. Therefore, the inclusion of antioxidants in birds' diets aims to preserve the quality and nutritional levels of the feed and, consequently, protect the tissues of the live bird and the final product of the breeders, which are fertile eggs and chicks.

Antioxidants help to prevent oxidative stress by removing free radical intermediates and are an effective agent against various diseases. In animal nutrition, antioxidant properties are appreciated for acting primarily as health promoters (Faehnrich et al., 2016).