Effects of adding different levels of fermented shrimp shell powder to the diet on growth performance,immune function,antioxidant capacity,and intestinal health of Sanhuang chickens

ZHANG Jinqiu; YUAN Xi; CAO Yuhan; HE Yue; PENG Xin; YANG Ye

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.23.010

Abstract：This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of adding different levels of fermented shrimp shell powder to the diet on the growth performance,immune function,antioxidant capacity,and intestinal health of Sanhuang chickens.Healthy one-day-old Sanhuang chickens were raised until 14 days of age.A total of 250 healthy Sanhuang chickens with similar body weights were selected and randomly divided into five groups with five replicates per group and 10 chickens per replicate.The control group(group CON)was fed a basal diet,while the experimental groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 2%unfermented shrimp shell powder(group 2%UFSP),4%unfermented shrimp shell powder(group 4%UFSP),2%fermented shrimp shell powder(group 2%FSP),and 4%fermented shrimp shell powder(group 4%FSP),respectively.The pre-trial period was seven days,and the formal test period was 21 days.The results showed that the final body weight(FBW),average daily gain(ADG),and average daily feed intake(ADFI)in groups 2%FSP and 4%FSP were significantly higher than those in the other groups(P<0.05).The feed-to-gain ratio(F/G)in groups 2%UFSP and 4%UFSP was significantly higher than that in the other groups(P<0.05).The thymus index in group 4%FSP was significantly higher than that in the other groups(P<0.05).Serum catalase(CAT)activity in group 2%FSP was significantly higher than that in groups CON,2%UFSP,and 4%UFSP(P<0.05).Serum total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC)and CAT activity in group 4%FSP were significantly higher than those in the other groups(P<0.05).Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity in group 4%UFSP was significantly lower than that in groups CON,2%FSP,and 4%FSP(P<0.05).Serum malondialdehyde(MDA)content in groups 2%UFSP and 4%UFSP was significantly higher than that in the other groups(P<0.05).Villus height(VH)and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio(V/C)in the groups 2%UFSP and 4%UFSP were significantly lower than those in the groups 2%FSP and 4%FSP(P<0.05).At the phylum level,the relative abundances of Bacteroidota and Bacillota in groups 2%FSP and 4%FSP were significantly higher than those in group CON(P<0.05).At the genus level,the relative abundances of Bacteroides and Clostridium were significantly increased in groups 2%FSP and 4%FSP(P<0.05).The study shows that dietary supplementation with 4%fermented shrimp shell powder can improve the growth performance,antioxidant function,immune function,and intestinal morphology of Sanhuang chickens.