Effects of fermented Chinese herbal medicine on growth performance,slaughter performance,meat quality,and immune function of Huainan Yellow broilers

ZHOU Yinghua; GAO Shufeng; WANG Shengping; GONG Ping; SHU Yan; ZENG Fajiao; ZHOU Xiaoling

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.02.012

Abstract：This study aimed to investigate the effects of fermented Chinese herbal medicine on the growth performance,slaughter performance,meat quality,and immune function of Huainan Yellow broilers.A total of 180 Huainan Yellow broilers at 22 days of age were randomly divided into six groups,with three replicates per group and 10 broilers per replicate.The control group was fed a basal diet,while groups A,B,C,D,and E were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.05%,0.10%,0.20%,0.40%of fermented Chinese herbal medicine,and 0.20%of non-fermented Chinese herbal medicine,respectively.The experimental period lasted for 42 days.The results showed that the final weight and weight gain of groups B to D were significantly higher than those of the control group(P＜0.05),and the average daily weight gain was significantly higher than that of the control group,group A,and group E(P＜0.05).The feed-to-weight ratio of group D was significantly lower than that of the control group(P＜0.05).The slaughter rate of group C was significantly higher than that of the control group,group A,and group E(P＜0.05),and the leg muscle rate of group D was significantly higher than that of the control group(P＜0.05).The luminance(L*)values of the breast muscle in groups A to D was significantly lower than those of the control group(P＜0.05),and the yellow(b*)values was significantly lower than those of the control group and group E(P＜0.05).The L* values of the leg muscle in groups A to C was significantly lower than those of the control group,group D,and group E(P＜0.05),while the red(a*)values in groups A to E of the leg muscle was significantly higher than that in control group(P＜0.05).The pH values of the breast muscle in groups B and C was significantly higher than those of the control group and group A(P＜0.05),and the pH values of the leg muscle was significantly higher than those of the control group(P＜0.05).The drip loss of the breast muscle in groups B to D was significantly lower than that of the control group(P＜0.05),and the drip loss of the leg muscle in group D was significantly lower than that of the control group,groups A,B,and E(P＜0.05).The thymus index of group D was significantly higher than that of the other groups(P＜0.05).The study indicates that fermented Chinese herbal medicine can improve the growth performance,slaughter performance,meat quality,and immune function of Huainan Yellow broilers,the addition of 0.40%fermented Chinese herbal medicine achieved the best results.