The object of this study was to evaluate the safety and meat quality criteria in broilers
following intramuscular injection of boldenone. Twenty-four broiler chicks, divided into two
groups, were used in the present study. Boldenone was injected intramuscularly at a singledose
level of 5 mg/kg body weight into 12 broiler chicks at 2 weeks old; the other 12 chicks
were injected with sesame oil and kept as controls. Blood samples were collected from the
wing and metatarsal veins after 1, 2, and 3 weeks through the experimental course for
hematological and clinic-chemical safety parameters. On the last day, chicks were humanely
sacrificed and livers and kidneys were removed for histopathological examination.
Breast muscles were also removed to assess meat-quality parameters. Boldenone significantly
(p < 0.05) increased total erythrocytic count and hemoglobin and hematocrit values,
while mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
indices decreased. Leukogram showed leukopenia, lymphopenia, and granulocytosis (p <
0.05) as compared to control. Hepatorenal biomarkers, including alkaline phosphatase,
aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine were significantly
(p < 0.05) higher than the corresponding control values. Additionally, boldenone
significantly (p < 0.05) increased metabolic markers, including total protein, globulins,
cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and glucose, with parallel decreases in albumin and albumin/
globulin ratio. Degenerative changes were recorded in liver and kidney tissues from chicks
treated with boldenone. Muscle samples exhibited raised pH values and higher microbial
counts as compared to the corresponding control. These data may discourage the use of
boldenone as a growth promoter in broilers due to safety and meat quality reasons. |
