Production and health responses of laying hens and growing broilers to dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation
type: CreativeWork
description: Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are known for possessing anti-inflammatory and bone modulating properties in murine and in vitro models. Health conscious consumers have created market demand for value-added omega-3 fatty acid enriched food, as demonstrated by the fact that specialty eggs make up 26.4% of the shell egg market. This has led producers to supplement poultry diets to create enriched eggs and meats and satisfy consumer demand. Thus far, omega-3 fatty acid research has primarily focused on creating value-added foods for the consumer with little attention paid to the effects of supplementation on the animals. The overarching goal of this dissertation research was to investigate the potential positive effects related to poultry health of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation as a secondary benefit for producers. Two models were used to pursue the overarching goal: aged hens with mature immune systems at risk of osteoporosis and growing broilers with naïve immune systems prone to leg bone pathology. The experimental objectives of this dissertation were as follows: 1) Evaluate how dietary ALA sources affect the fatty acid transfer rate from laying hen diet to the egg yolk; 2) Determine if dietary supplementation of ALA or the combination of EPA and DHA improves performance and bone health of aged laying hens and whether protective anti-inflammatory effects would be exerted during acute inflammation; 3) Investigate if dietary supplementation of ALA or EPA and DHA impact bone health and performance in growing broilers, and 4) Examine the protective anti-inflammatory and bone modulating effects of ALA or EPA and DHA on broiler performance and health during a period of repeated inflammation. To evaluate dietary ALA sources and their fatty acid transfer rate to egg yolk (Objective 1, Experiment 1), diets supplemented with flaxseed oil or ground flaxseed were fed to Hy-Lin…
abstract: Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are known for possessing anti-inflammatory and bone modulating properties in murine and in vitro models. Health conscious consumers have created market demand for value-added omega-3 fatty acid enriched food, as demonstrated by the fact that specialty eggs make up 26.4% of the shell egg market. This has led producers to supplement poultry diets to create enriched eggs and meats and satisfy consumer demand. Thus far, omega-3 fatty acid research has primarily focused on creating value-added foods for the consumer with little attention paid to the effects of supplementation on the animals. The overarching goal of this dissertation research was to investigate the potential positive effects related to poultry health of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation as a secondary benefit for producers. Two models were used to pursue the overarching goal: aged hens with mature immune systems at risk of osteoporosis and growing broilers with naïve immune systems prone to leg bone pathology. The experimental objectives of this dissertation were as follows: 1) Evaluate how dietary ALA sources affect the fatty acid transfer rate from laying hen diet to the egg yolk; 2) Determine if dietary supplementation of ALA or the combination of EPA and DHA improves performance and bone health of aged laying hens and whether protective anti-inflammatory effects would be exerted during acute inflammation; 3) Investigate if dietary supplementation of ALA or EPA and DHA impact bone health and performance in growing broilers, and 4) Examine the protective anti-inflammatory and bone modulating effects of ALA or EPA and DHA on broiler performance and health during a period of repeated inflammation. To evaluate dietary ALA sources and their fatty acid transfer rate to egg yolk (Objective 1, Experiment 1), diets supplemented with flaxseed oil or ground flaxseed were fed to Hy-Lin…
author: Ehr, Isa
language: en
date published: 2017-01-01
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:39:30Z
provider: Iowa State University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Iowa State University