Effect Of Radix Hedysari Extract On Performance, Antioxidation And Immune Function Of Broilers

A total of 360 Arbor Acre broilers were used to investigate the effect of Radix Hedysari extract on growth performance, metabolism, carcass traits, antioxidation and immune function of broilers. A completely randomized design was used. The six treatments were basal diet and basal diet with addition of 5mg/kg flavomycin, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8% Radix Hedysari extract respectively. The experiment lasted 42d. The results showed as follows:(1) Adding 0.1% Radix Hedysari extract decreased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of broilers during week 4-6 (P<0.001) and 0-6(P=0.002). Flavomycin addition increased the average daily gain (ADG) and ADFI during week 4-6, and ADG of broilers during week 0-6 (P<0.05). It is higher that in 0.2% and 0.4% group. The ADG during week 0-6 in flavomycin group is significantly higher than that in 0.4% adding Radix Hedysari extract group.(2) Addition of Radix Hedysari extract improved the apparent retention of dry matter, crude protein (CP), energy, Ca and P during two stages (P<0.05). The retention of dry matter during 0-21d (P=0.002), CP during 22-42d (P<0.001) and P during two stage(sP_前<0.001;P_后<0.001) in the four Radix Hedysari extract addition groups were significantly higher than that in the control group. Other parameters began to increase significantly from 0.2% and 0.4% Radix Hedysari extract addition group. All parameters in 0.8% Radix Hedysari extract addition group were significantly higher than that in the antibiotic group. 0.8% is the best level of Radix Hedysari extract for most parameters. In addition to the apparent retention of CP during 0-21d and Ca during 0-21d and 22-42d, other parameters in flayomycin group were significantly higher than control group (P <0.05).(3) 0.8% Radix Hedysari extract addition increased kidney total surperoxide dismutase (TSOD) activity at 21d (P=0.015) and serum TSOD at 42d (P<0.001). 0.2% and 0.4% Radix Hedysari extract also increased significantly serum SOD activity at 42d. Among four Radix Hedysari extract group, kidney TSOD in 0.8% group was significantly higher than that in 0.1% group at 21d, serum TSOD in 0.8% group was significantly higher than that in 0.1% and 0.4% group at 42d. Flayomycin significantly increased kidney TSOD at 21d and serum TSOD at 42d (P<0.05). Kidney TSOD in flayomycin group at 21d was significantly higher than that in 0.1% Radix Hedysari extract groups and the serum TSOD at 42d for flayonmycin group was lower than that in 0.8% Radix Hedysari extract group.Compare with the control group, five treatments significantly increased serum glutathione peroxidase acticity (GSH-Px) activity at 21d (P=0.002). Addition of 0.8% Radix Hedysari extract and 5mg/kg flayomycin significantly increased serum GSH-Px activity at 42d (P=0.002), and they were higher than that in other three groups.Addition of Radix Hedysari extract significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum, kidneys at 21d, and that in serum, kidney, liver and heart at 42d (P<0.05). Among them, serum MDA decreased significantly from 0.1% group at 21d and that at 42d decreased from 0.4% group. Kidney MDA at 21d (P=0.001) and liver MDA at 42d (P = 0.032) were changed in 0.8% and 0.4% group. Kidney MDA (P<0.001) and heart MDA (P<0.001) at 42d were changed from 0.1% and 0.2% group. 5mg/kg flayomycin significantly decreased serum, kidney, liver and heart MDA at 42d (P<0.05). MDA content of serum at 21d in 5mg/kg flayomycin group was significantly higher than that of the 0.8% Radix Hedysari extract group. Liver and heart MDA content at 42 d in 5mg/kg flayomycin group was significantly lower than that in 0.1% Radix Hedysari extract group.(4) 0.4% and 0.8% Radix Hedysari extract increased significantly spleen index (P=0.006) of broilera at 42d. It was higher in 0.4% Radix Hedysari extract group than that in 0.2% group and 5mg/kg flayomycin group. The thymus index of broilers at 42d (P=0.011) was increased by adding 0.2%, 0.4% Radix Hedysari extract and 5mg/kg flayomycin.Adding 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8% Radix Hedysari extract increased ANAE~+ at 21d (P=0.019) and 42d (P<0.001). It was higher in 0.8% Radix Hedysari extract group than that in other three Radix Hedysari extract groups and flavomycin group at 42d. Adding flavomycin also increased ANAE~+ at 42 d compared with the control group.These results suggested that addition of Radix Hedysari extract into dietary can significantly increase the nutrient retention, oxidation resistance and immune function of broilers. And the best adding level for most parameters was 0.8%.