Effect of dietary flaxseed on broiler growth, erythrocyte deformability, and fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes

The effectiveness of flaxseed as a source of flax oil in broiler diets was determined in two separate experiments. Broiler growth, fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes and hematological variables were measured. We first examined the effect of 10, 20 or 30% flaxseed on growth in broilers and fatty acid composition of erythrocytes. The second experiment utilized hypobaric chambers to study the effect of a diet containing 20% flaxseed on growth, fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes, and hematological variables. In exp. 1, growth of the birds was reduced with increased inclusion of flaxseed. There was a reduction in the percentage of total saturated fatty acids in the erythrocyte membranes which was maximized with 20% flaxseed in the diet. In exp. 2, the growth of the birds was reduced with the inclusion of flaxseed in the diet. The deformability of the erythrocytes was not altered with the inclusion of flaxseed in the diet. There was a significant increase in the percentage of total saturated fatty acids in the erythrocyte membranes at ambient atmospheric pressure but not under hypobaric conditions with the inclusion of flaxseed in the diet. We conclude that the incorporation of flaxseed into broiler diets is not a practical source of flax oil for poultry due to decreased growth, possibly due to the presence of antinutritional factors. The effect of flaxseed on the fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte membranes may be dependent on the fat content of the diet.