title: Effects of supplemental boron on growth performance and meat quality in African ostrich chicks.
abstract: To investigate the effects of boron on growth performance and meat quality, 10-day-old Africa ostrich chicks were randomly divided into 6 groups with 6 replicates in each group. For 80 days, birds in the treatments were fed the same basal diet but given different concentrations of boron-supplemented water. The highest final BW (33.4 ± 0.30 kg), ADFI (376 ± 1.83 g), and ADG (224 ± 1.01 g) appeared in the group receiving 160 mg/L boron (group 4). 160 mg/L boron also decreased drip loss (2.20 ± 0.59), cooking loss (35.3 ± 1.14), and elevated pH value (6.13 ± 0.28) of meat (P < 0.05). Ostrich chicks in the 640 mg/L treatment group (group 6) had the lowest final BW (30.8 ± 1.05 kg) and ADG (208 ± 0.74 g) (P < 0.05). The highest ash (1.35 ± 0.01%) and pH (6.18 ± 0.03) and the lowest protein (20.4 ± 1.74%), drip loss (2.10 ± 0.76%), cooking loss (35.0 ± 0.41%), C18:1 (28.2 ± 0.65%), and C18:3ω3 (2.60 ± 0.51%) appeared in group 6 (P < 0.05) as well. Overall, the optimum concentration of 160 mg/L supplemental boron improved ostrich growth performance and meat quality; however, high concentrations of boron decreased both performance and meat quality.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University , Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xinting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Daiyun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Pengpeng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kemei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001895:Boron / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D011200:Poultry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D020310:Struthioniformes / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001895:Boron
keywords: African ostrich chicks; boron; growth performance; meat quality