Effects of traditional chinese herb additive on the immune function of Hainan Wenchang chicken

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1005-8567.2012.02.006

Abstract：180 female Wenchang chickens were randomly assigned to 5 groups with 3 replications in each group and 12 chickens in each replication. Diets containing 0, 600mg aureomycin, 0.1% TCMA, 0.2% TCMA or 0.3% TCMA kg-1 were fed to group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4 or group 5 respectively. The test lasted for 6 weeks. The body weight and feed intake of chicken were.measured per 7 days. All the chickens were inoculated Avian Influenza vaccine twice at the age of 28 days and 35 days respectively. When they were 49 or 56 days old, 8 chickens from each group were randomly selected to collect blood samples respectively. Seruna was separated and assessed for HI antibody titers to Avian Influenza virus. At the age of 56 days, 8 chickens from each group which were collected blood samples were slaughtered to get thymus gland and bursa of fabricius. Then the organ weight was got to calculate index of the immune organ. The results showed that the daily weight gain was improved significantly in the group containing 0.2% TCMA （P~0.05）, feed conversion ratio of 0.2% TCMA group was decreased （P〉0.05） and index of bursa of fabricius in the group of 0.2% TCMA was increased significantly （P〈0.05）. Avian Influenza antibody titers was increased significantly in both 0.2% and 0.3% TCMA group （P〈 0.05）. These results indicated that the immune ftmction and the production performance of Hainan Wenchang chicken was increased.