Effects of compound Chinese herbal additives on growth performance,slaughter performance and immune function of White feather broiler chicks
The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of various Chinese herbal additives(Taraxaci herba,Astragalus,Crataegi fructus,Magnoliae officmalis Cortex,Radix Rhizoma glycyrrhizae and Radix Angelicae sinensis)on growth performance,slaughter performance and immune function of White feather broiler chicks.A total of 120 healthy White feather broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups with three replicates per group and 10 broiler chicks per replicate.The broiler chicks in the control group were fed a basal diet,and the broilers in the experimental groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were fed 0.5%,1.0%,and 1.5%compound Chinese herbal additives,respectively.The pre-feeding period for 7 days,and the formal experiment period for 35 days.The results showed as follows:Compared with the control group,the final weight of broiler chicks in the experimental groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ was increased by 4.72%and 6.48%(P<0.05),and the average daily gain and average daily feed intake of broiler chicks in the experimental groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were increased by 4.81%,2.11%and 5.49%,2.56%(P<0.05),respectively.The feed to gain ratio of the experimental group Ⅲ was decreased by 2.29%compared with the control group(P<0.05).The slaughtering rate and semi-evisceration rate of the experimental groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were significantly higher than those of control group and the experimental group Ⅰ(P<0.05),and the semi-evisceration rate of the experimental group Ⅲ was increased by 1.12%compared with that of the experimental group Ⅱ(P<0.05).The immune organ index(spleen,thymus,bursa of Fabricius)in the experimental groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were increased by 15.00%,8.28%,10.27%,and 22.00%,10.65%,12.43%compared with the control group,respectively(P<0.05).The results showed that Chinese herbal additives composed of Taraxaci herba,Astragalus,Crataegi fructus,Magnoliae officmalis Cortex,Radix Rhizoma glycyrrhizae and Radix Angelicae sinensis can effectively improve the growth performance,slaughter performance and immune function of broiler chicks,and the appropriate supplemental amount is 1.5%.
Compound Chinese herbal additivesBroiler chickenGrowth performanceSlaughter performanceImmune function