No abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the mineral and lipid profiles in ostrich, turkey and broiler chicken livers. The highest concentrations of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium were found in turkey livers, at 3751.50, 2153.05 and 363.98 mg/kg fresh weight (FW), respectively, whereas ostrich livers were the richest in calcium (82.77 mg/kg FW). Ostrich liver was the richest source of iron, calcium, zinc and silicon, at 947.8, 82.77, 47.50, 36.69 mg/kg FW, respectively. Ostrich livers proved to be the richest source of long-chain fatty acids (5.18% C20:4n+6, 0.48% EPA and 1.08% DHA).

Experimental material consisted of one-day Pharaoh quail chicks, which were separated into three experimental groups. The birds of group I received a fodder, the nutritive value of which was consistent with recommended feeding standards for growing quails, whereas for those of group II and III the protein level was lowered in all feed mixes appropriated for the whole rearing period. During the experiment, individual body weight, feed consumption, and bird deaths and their health culling were controlled. At the age of 42 days, 11 males of each group, with a body weight similar to the group mean, were slaughtered. In blood samples collected, the level of amylase was assayed, as well as quail slaughter value was calculated and depot fat and extramuscular fat contents were determined. Meat chemical determinations were made (dry matter, protein and fat contents), as well as physicochemical (pH, colour, water binding capacity) and sensory ones (cooked meat and bouillon). Basing on the performed examination, it was found that a lowered level of protein in fodder did not affect quail body weight, slaughter yield, or breast part and leg participation in body weight. Carcass fatness decreased and meat water binding capacity improved. The values of majority of other examined meat qualitative traits were similar to those obtained in control group.

Broiler chickens reared from 3 to 8 weeks of age were fed per os on extract or, differing in chemical composition fractions of the extract (A 0 -A 6 ) from bitter lupin (L. angustifolius var. Mirela) seeds (Experiment 1), the extract and its selected fractions (A,, A 3 , A 5 ) from the seeds of Mirela as well as extract from sweet lupin var. Emir (Experiment 2). The extracts from bitter lupin harvested in two consecutive years, used in the experiments, differed in alkaloid content. The extracts and fractions did not negatively affect growth, feed intake or health of the chickens. Only fraction A 5 (alkaloid hydrochlorides) used in Experiment 2, which was from extract with higher alkaloid content, reduced (P<0.01 ) body weight gain of the chickens.The T 3 level in the peripheral blood serum was the lowest in the birds receiving fractions containing sugars (A 3 ) and the highest in the group receiving alkaloid hydrochlorides (A 5 ). The T 4 level was the highest in the chickens receiving extract from sweet lupin. The extracts and fractions had no effect on the red blood cell count while leukograms showed only undirected variation, except for basophil and eosinophil in blood of which level was higher in experimental than control birds.

No abstract