Effects of dietary methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, excreta microbiota, excreta gas emission, and blood profiles in broilers

A 29-d trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) supplementation on growth performance, meat quality, nutrient digestibility, excreta microbiota, excreta gas emission, and blood profiles in broilers. A total of 816 1-day-old male Ross 308 broilers (44 ± 0.44 g) were assigned to 4 dietary treatments, composed of 12 replicates with 17 birds per replicate. The 4 treatments were: 1) CON, basal diet; 2) S1, CON + 0.05% MSM; 3) S2, CON + 0.10% MSM; 4) S3, CON + 0.20% MSM. In the current study, body weight (BW) on d 14 and 29 showed significant improvement as dietary MSM increased from 0.05% to 0.20% (P < 0.05). During d 1 to 14 and overall, higher (P < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in broilers fed MSM diets. Between d 15 and 29, higher (P < 0.05) BWG was observed in broilers fed MSM diets. Redness (a*) was increased linearly (P < 0.05) in broilers fed MSM diets. On d 3, 5, and 7, drip loss was decreased linearly (P < 0.05) in broilers fed MSM diets. Lactobacillus and E. coli were effected linearly (P < 0.05) in broilers fed MSM diets. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), white blood cells (WBC) and lymphocytes were improved linearly (P < 0.05) in broilers fed MSM diets. In conclusion, dietary supplementation MSM has positive effects on growth performance, meat quality, excreta microbiota, and blood profiles in broilers.