Broiler trial: Cabanin® CSD as an antioxidant replacement for vitamin E

Trial name: Effect of a polyphenol feed supplement used as antioxidant replacement of vitamin E in broiler diets 

Year: 2018  

Country / partners: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin (Germany) in collaboration with R2 Agro A/S (Denmark) 

 
Vitamin E is a key antioxidant in broiler diets—but it’s also a cost driver. This controlled university trial tested whether a polyphenol supplement (Cabanin® CSD) could replace vitamin E as an antioxidant while maintaining (or improving) performance and oxidative stability. 

The trial measured body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and antioxidant status in blood and refrigerated breast meat (TBARS), under mild heat stress—a practical scenario for many production systems. 

Trial set-up

• Animals: 525 male broilers (Cobb 500) 
• Duration: 35 days (Starter d1–14, Grower d14–35)
• Replicates: 7 replicates × 15 birds/pen
• Challenge model: room temperature kept at 28°C from day 21–35 (mild heat stress) 

Results

• Feed efficiency: The study reports treatment differences in overall FCR, with statistical differences indicated by superscripts (P ≤ 0.05).
• Meat oxidative stability: TBARS results in refrigerated breast meat (day 7) indicate differences between treatments, supporting an antioxidant effect.

Conclusion

The authors conclude that Cabanin® CSD can replace vitamin E as an antioxidant, improving broiler FCR and demonstrating functionality based on TBARS measurements in refrigerated meat (and antioxidant presence in blood plasma).