Evaluation of Olive Pomace in the Production of Novel Broilers With Enhanced In Vitro Antithrombotic Properties

Several attempts have been made not only to improve nutritional value of broilersbut also to attenuate dependence on raw materials such as corn in compounded broilersfeed. Therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of diets enriched with olive pomace(OP) on Ross 308 broilersgrowth performance, sensory characteristics, and nutritional value in terms of cardioprotection. Broilersare fed four experimental diets containing 0% OP (control group), 2.5% OP (group A), 5.0% OP (group B), and 7.5% OP (group C). The obtained broilermeat samples are evaluated for their lipid and phenol content and their in vitro antithromboticproperties according to biological assay in human platelets. Groups B and C exhibited significantly increased (P < 0.05) growth rate compared to the ones of control group. Additionally group B exhibited significantly more potent (P < 0.05) in vitro antithromboticproperties ( EC50 = 10.5 ± 0.92) compared to the ones of control group ( EC50 = 420 ± 21.3). Grilled broilermeat of group B is found to have acceptable sensory properties. The overall conclusion of this paper is the potential use of OP in compounded broilersfeed in the production of functional broilersmeat. Practical applications: The objective of this research is to assess the use of olive industry by-products as functional feed ingredients. For this purpose, broilerswere fed experimental diets containing olive pomace(OP). Our results suggest that OP can be used in broilerfeed to produce functional broilersmeat with increased in vitro antithromboticproperties. These scientific data could have considerable practical value toward the valorization of OP and increasing the sustainable productionof functional broilermeat and therefore the overall food security. Valorization of olive industry by-products (A) in the farming of Ross 308 broilers(B) and the cardioprotectiveproperties of the functional broilersas means of reduced platelet aggregation in humans (C).