Dietary Effects of Carotenoid-Biofortified Wheat on Feed Conversion and Tissue Antioxidant Concentrations in Broiler Chickens

This study aimed to investigate the effects of carotenoid-biofortified Pexeso wheat compared with those of common Tercie wheat on performance characteristics, nutrient retention, and tissue antioxidant concentrations in broiler chickens. A total of 180 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 2 dietary treatments (i.e., Tercie vs. Pexeso), with 6 replicate pens and 15 chicks per pen. Pexeso wheat, characterized by increased lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations, in combination with rapeseed oil as the primary dietary fat source, significantly improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR; <i>p</i> < 0.001), despite not affecting the body weight of the chickens at 35 days of age or feed intake. This improved efficiency was consistent with the significantly increased retention of crude protein (<i>p</i> = 0.004). Specifically, the concentrations of γ-tocopherol (<i>p</i> = 0.006) and lutein (<i>p</i> = 0.004) in the breast meat and γ-tocopherol (<i>p</i> = 0.047), lutein (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and zeaxanthin (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in the liver significantly increased in the Pexeso group. This accumulation was supported by the significantly greater retention of these antioxidants (<i>p</i> = 0.008, <i>p</i> < 0.001, and <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, the inclusion of carotenoid-biofortified Pexeso wheat effectively improved the FCR and enhanced the antioxidant profile of chicken tissues. These findings suggest that Pexeso wheat represents a viable strategy for improving nutrient utilization and the nutritional quality of poultry meat.