Effects of dietary supplementation with Astragalus-Codonopsis-Magnolia crude extract on growth performance,meat quality,antioxidant indices,and intestinal morphology of Lingshan native chickens

WANG Zhihan; LING Chentao; LIN Yuxing; LIANG Yumiao; CHEN Fang; LIANG Wenjing; YUAN Tianmei; SHEN Shuibao

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.09.006

Abstract：This study aimed to investigate the effects of Astragalus-Codonopsis-Magnolia crude extract on the growth performance,meat quality,antioxidant indices,and intestinal morphology in Lingshan native chickens.A total of 540 healthy 78-day-old Lingshan native chickens with similar body weights were randomly divided into three groups,each containing six replicates in each group and 30 chickens in each replicate.The control group(CON group)was fed a basal diet,the Astragalus-Codonopsis-Magnolia crude extract group(PCE group)received the basal diet supplemented with 5 g/kg of Astragalus-Codonopsis-Magnolia crude extract,and the antibiotic group(ANT group)was fed the basal diet along with Xinshukang(sulfachloropyrazine sodium),Ganshenkang,and enrofloxacin+Keliyou during the trial.The pre-test period was four days and the formal test period was 38 days.Results showed that the final body weight of the PCE group was significantly higher than that of the CON group(P＜0.05),and the average daily feed intake of the PCE group was significantly higher than that of the ANT group(P＜0.05).Compared with the CON group,the yellowness of the breast muscles in the PCE group was extremely decreased(P＜0.01),the hydrology of the leg muscle system in the PCE group and the ANT group was extremely increased(P＜0.01),and the redness of the leg muscles in the PCE group was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Serum glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity and total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC)were significantly higher in the PCE and ANT groups compared to the CON group(P＜0.05),and serum malondialdehyde(MDA)content was significantly reduced in the PCE group(P＜0.05).Compared to the CON group,the PCE group showed significant increases in duodenal villus height and crypt depth,as well as jejunal villus height and crypt depth(P＜0.05).The jejunal villus-to-crypt ratio demonstrated a highly significant increase compared to both the CON and ANT groups(P＜0.01).The ileal villus height was significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the ileal villus-to-crypt ratio showed a significant decrease(P＜0.05).The study indicates that dietary supplementation with 5 g/kg Astragalus-Codonopsis-Magnolia crude extract improves growth performance,meat quality,antioxidant capacity,and intestinal morphology in Lingshan native chickens,with effects comparable to antibiotic treatment.