The aim of this work was to study the effect of the addition of prefermented cereal-based bioproduct (5%; BP) enriched with c-linolenic acid to the commercial feed for broiler chickens on the production indicators, chemical composition, fatty acid profile and lipid oxidation of the meat. BP was prepared by solid-state fermentation using fungal strain Cunninghamella elegans CCF 2591. Spelt bran was used as a substrate. A total of 80 broiler chickens (COBB 500) were used in this experiment. Half of them (experimental group) was fed with experimental feed and second half (control group) was fed only with commercial compound feed. Administration of BP to the broilers positively influenced production indicators. Broilers of the experimental group reached higher final weight, and showed lower average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and feed intake compared to the control group. Meat of the experimental group consisted of the lower amount of total protein and fat. BP influenced fatty acid profile as well. Meat of the experimental group, in comparison to control, contained higher amount of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and lower amount of saturated fatty acids. Mainly the amount of a-linolenic acid and c-linolenic acid was higher. Significantly higher concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed in muscles of experimental group during 7-day storage in refrigerator. Based on the results obtained we can conclude that replacing 5% of the commercial feed by BP could not only improve performance parameters of chickens, but also affect chemical composition and fatty acid content of meat. ARTICLE HISTORY

The aim of our study was to determine the effects of supplementation of agrimony extract (Agrimonia eupatoria L.) and a combination of agrimony with sage extract (Salvia officinalis L.) to water during the fattening period of broiler chickens on selected biochemical and antioxidant indicators in blood, and on the nutritional composition and oxidative stability of meat. A total of 117 Cobb 500 chicks were randomly divided on the day of hatching into three groups (n = 39 in each) and fattened for 42 days. All groups were fed the same diets. In experimental group A water was supplemented with agrimony extract (0.2%). In experimental group AS water was supplemented with a combination of agrimony (0.1%) and sage (0.1%) extracts. Group C was control without supplementation. The total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins and malondialdehyde in serum were decreased (P < 0.05), dry matter and fat content in meat were increased (P < 0.05) in group A. The activity of superoxide dismutase in blood and the amount of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in thigh meat on days 1 and 8 of storage under chilling conditions were lower (P < 0.05) in both experimental groups compared to control. Our results indicate that supplementation of agrimony and sage extract to water can beneficially influence the antioxidant status as well as oxidative stability of thigh meat and thus improve meat quality. This is a first similar study comparing addition of plant extracts to water in broiler nutrition.