Chicken Liver from Broilers Fed Wheat Germ Expeller: A Source of Minerals and Energy in the Human Diet

In recent years, edible by-products (including the liver) have gained growing popularity among consumers. That is why the study aimed to assess the energy value, chemical composition, and mineral content of broiler chicken livers after including wheat germ expeller (WGE) in the feed of the broilers. Liver samples were obtained from 32 Ross-308 chickens (8 individuals per treatment). The control group received a basal diet, whereas the remaining treatments (EX5, EX10, and EX15) were characterized by a partial substitution of ground wheat with 5%, 10%, and 15% WGE. The WGE inclusion did not influence liver weight or chemical composition. However, livers from the CT group showed a higher energy value (p ≤ 0.05) than the EX15 group. Sodium and calcium contents were higher in CT and EX5 livers than in EX10 and EX15. No differences were observed in micronutrient levels between groups. A 100 g portion of EX15 livers provided the highest NRV coverage for phosphorus, iron, zinc, and copper, while EX5 livers were richest in calcium and magnesium, and CT livers in manganese. Total Hazard Quotients for Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn in chicken livers were below 1, suggesting no potential health risk to consumers. These findings indicate that livers, also from WGE-fed broilers, may serve as a valuable dietary source of minerals for people.