Effects of dietary supplementation with fermented Chenopodium album L. on growth, nutrient digestibility, immunity, carcase characteristics and meat quality of broilers

Abstract

Here, we investigated the effects of fermented Chenopodium album L. (FCAL) on growth performance, apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, serum immunity, carcase characteristics and meat quality of broilers. Arbour Acres broilers (160, 1-d-old) were randomly allocated into four treatment groups with five replicates of eight birds each. The birds were fed a corn–soybean meal basal diet supplemented with 0 (control [CON]), 2, 4 and 8 g/kg FCAL. During the starter period (days 1–21), 4 and 8 g/kg FCAL significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG), apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE), moreover; 8 g/kg FCAL significantly decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR). During the finisher period (days 22–42), 2 g/kg FCAL significantly increased ADG and apparent digestibility of DM, CP and EE but significantly decreased FCR. During the whole period (days 1–42), dietary supplementation of 4 and 8 g/kg FCAL significantly increased ADG. Compared with the CON group, in the FCAL groups, the serum interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-8 levels were lower, while insulin-like growth factor-1, immunoglobulin (Ig) A (IgA) and IgM levels were higher. The serum IL-10 content was lower in the 2 and 4 g/kg FCAL groups. The breast muscle percentage significantly increased with 8 g/kg FCAL. FCAL significantly decreased muscle drip loss (breast), shear force (breast), water loss rate and lightness (leg). FCAL had positive effects on growth, nutrient digestibility, immunity, carcase characteristics and meat quality of broilers, thus it could be a reliable and phytogenic feed additive for promoting growth and maintaining health of broilers.