Effect Of Sulfuric Acid Extract Of Gelsmium On Growth Promotion,slaughter Performance,Meat Quality And Intestinal Morphology In Sanhuang Chickens

Gelsmium is a genus of Loganiaceae.It can improve the growth performance of swine and sheep according to the records of Shennong's Herbal Classic,Compendium Of Materia Medica and Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine.Modern studies also show that the growth performance of livestock and poultry will be improved when Gelsmium powder is added to fodder.However,the large usage amount and poor palatability for animals are its shortcomings.Thus,it is necessary to apply active ingredients extracted to feed.In order to evaluate the effects of sulfuric acid extract of Gelsmium,Sanhuang chickens which became full-grown after 56 days old were chose as the trial animal and divided into four groups,which were the control group,low-dose group,medium-dose group and high-dose group.Chickens of different dose groups were given sulfuric acid extract of Gelsmium by separately by adding it into feed from 15 to 49 days.Feed conversion ratio(FCR)was calculated by recording daily feed intake and daily gain.At the 49 days old and 56 days old(one week after drug withdrawal),blood was taken to measure biochemical indicators,and slaughter samples were taken to determine the carcass and muscle quality,antioxidant indexes of muscle and liver.The intestinal villus status was observed by intestinal biopsy.E.coli and lactobacillus in caecum were counted by flat colony counting method.ND antibody titer of chickens was determined after immunization.1.Growth performance: Feed conversion ratio(FCR)of sulfuric acid extract of Gelsmium dose groups decreased while daily body weight was no significant difference compared with the control group;2.Carcass quality: The slaughter weight,the whole clean chamber weight,left breast muscle and left leg muscle weight of chickens at the 49 days old show no difference among groups.The liver index of Sanhuang chickens increased significantly in dose groups,and other indexes were not different compared with the control group.One week after drug withdrawal,the organ indexes show no difference among groups.3.Muscle quality: When 49 days old chickens in dose groups were slaughtered,the pH value of muscles(pectoral and leg muscle)at 45 minutes,the water loss rate,the cooking loss of leg muscle decreased,and the tenderness of pectoral muscle increased,compared with the control chickens.But the pH values of muscle at 12 h and 24 h,the water loss rate of pectoral muscle,the drip loss of muscle,the cooking loss of pectoral muscle and the tenderness of leg muscle show no difference among groups.When 56 days old chickens(one week after drug withdrawal)in dose groups were slaughtered,the water loss rate and tenderness of pectoral muscle increased,but the water loss rate and the tenderness of leg muscle,the drip loss of muscle,and the cooking loss of pectoral muscle show no difference.4.Blood biochemical indicators: The ALT concentration of 49 days old chickens in dose groups decreased and other indicators were not different compared with the control chickens.The Urea and TC concentration of 56 days old chickens in dose groups increased and other indicators were not different compared with the control chickens.5.Antibody titer of ND: 28 days after immunization,the ND antibody titer of chickens in dose groups decreased compared with the control chickens.6.MDA concentration of muscle and liver: The MDA concentration of liver of 49 days old chickens in dose groups decreased but the pectoral muscle was no significant difference compared with the control chickens.The MDA concentration of liver of 56 days chickens in dose groups still decreased in comparison with the control.7.Intestinal morphology: The chicken villus height and crypt depth of the ileum and duodenum in dose groups compared with the control chickens.8.Intestinal flora: The number of E.coli in cecum of medium-dose group and high-dose group chickens significantly reduced.On the contrary,the Lactobacillus in cecum of low-dose group chickens increased compared with the control chickens.The purpose of this experiment was to explore the effects of sulfuric acid extract of Gelsmium on growth performance,carcass,muscle quality,blood biochemical indicators,ND antibody titer,intestinal morphology and intestinal flora of Sanhuang chickens.The systematic evaluation of the growth-promoting effect of Sanhuang chickens and its related effects will provide experimental basis for the development of new veterinary drugs from the sulfuric acid extract of Gelsmium and the substitution of Chinese herbal medicine for growth-promoting antibiotics.