• The study evaluated the efficiency of microencapsulated DL-Met in broilers. • 90-100% DL-Met replacement increased n-3 fatty acids in thigh meat. • Microencapsulated DL-Met enhanced oxidative stability in tissues. • Meat quality remained stable, except for increased redness. • GHR and IGF1 expression were upregulated with higher DL-Met levels. Microencapsulation of DL-methionine (DL-Met) may enhance delivery and efficacy in broilers. A completely randomized, dose–response trial assigned 1,260 one-day-old Arian chicks to six diets for 35 d (seven replicates per treatment and 30 birds per replicate): a control corn–soybean diet meeting the breeder-recommended digestible Met (dMet) requirement with crystalline DL-Met, and five diets supplying 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of that requirement from microencapsulated DL-Met (CM60–CM100; dosed on 72% active content). Results showed that body-weight gain and feed efficiency (gain: feed) were greater in CM80–CM100 than CM60–CM70, with CM90 exceeding the control (P 0.05). In conclusion, formulating 90% of the dMet requirement from a 72%-active microencapsulated DL-Met can be adopted to improve growth efficiency, enrich n-3 fatty acids, and strengthen oxidative stability without compromising intake or meat quality.
Ghasemi et al. (Sun,) studied this question.