Supplementation of Flaxseed Increases Omega-3 Fatty Acids Accumulation in the Meat of Beijing-You Chickens

This study investigated the effects of different dietary flaxseed inclusion levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%) on the fatty acid composition, plasma biochemical parameters, and meat quality of Beijing-you chickens. A total of 960 6-week-old birds were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments in a completely randomized design, with eight replicates per treatment. Dietary flaxseed supplementation significantly decreased plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations (p < 0.05), while significantly increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (p < 0.05). Meat quality was also improved, as evidenced by reduced drip loss (p < 0.05). Moreover, gas chromatography analysis revealed that increasing dietary flaxseed levels markedly elevated the concentrations of total ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) in both breast and leg muscles (p < 0.05), accompanied by a significant reduction in the ω-6/ω-3 ratio (p < 0.05). Dietary flaxseed supplementation did not significantly affect the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content in pectoral muscle (p > 0.05), with the highest value observed at the 6% inclusion level. In conclusion, dietary flaxseed supplementation effectively enriches ω-3 PUFAs in chicken meat while simultaneously enhancing metabolic health indicators and improving meat quality traits.