Omega-3 as a Stress Solution: Study Finds New Way to Improve Welfare in High-Density Broiler Farming

According to a report from the University of Tehran's public relations office, a new study conducted by faculty members of the Abureyhan Faculty, Dr. Seyed Davood Sharifi and Dr. Abdoalreza Salehi, demonstrates that supplementing feed with 0.5% omega-3 fatty acids can effectively counteract the adverse impacts of high-density stress in broiler chickens, significantly improving growth performance, gut health, and meat quality.

The aim of this research was to investigate whether a nutritional strategy could manage the unfavorable consequences of high-density farming, a common practice in the poultry industry. For this purpose, the effects of omega-3 supplementation were evaluated on 420 broiler chickens reared under two stocking densities: low density (9 birds per square meter) and high density (17 birds per square meter), over a 40-day period.

Although high-density conditions led to increased daily feed consumption and weight gain overall, during the final growth phase (days 25 to 40), these conditions, without omega-3 supplementation, resulted in reduced feed intake. In contrast, chickens raised under the same high-density conditions but fed a diet containing 0.5% omega-3 exhibited significantly higher daily weight gains.

The study revealed that high-density rearing causes intestinal tissue damage, including reduced absorptive villi height and increased crypt depth, changes indicative of impaired nutrient absorption efficiency. Notably, adding omega-3 to the diet significantly repaired these histological damages and preserved intestinal health.

The researchers noted that analysis of breast muscle tissue showed increased muscle fiber diameter in the omega-3 supplemented group. While high-density conditions reduced muscle cell count, omega-3 supplementation effectively offset this decline. These changes may lead to improved carcass yield and meat texture quality.

Regarding nutritional value, levels of beneficial long-chain fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the breast meat of high-density chickens fed omega-3 increased significantly. This demonstrates the effective transfer of these fatty acids from feed to meat tissue.

The findings clearly indicate that although high-density rearing is a significant stressor negatively affecting various physiological aspects and performance of broiler chickens, this challenge can be effectively managed using a simple and practical approach such as dietary supplementation with 0.5% omega-3 fatty acids. This supplement not only neutralizes the harmful effects of stress but also provides considerable economic and health benefits for producers and consumers alike by enhancing gut health, improving growth efficiency, and upgrading both meat quality and nutritional value.

This research represents an important step toward sustainable and ethical practices in the broiler chicken industry through the application of intelligent nutritional strategies.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056617125001114