Antioxidant capacity; Fenugreek leaf powder; Growth performance; Gut microbiota; Yellow-feathered broiler; Animal Science and Zoology
Abstract :
[en] The study investigates the potential of fenugreek leaf powder (FLP) as a natural feed additive to improve growth performance and intestinal health in yellow-feathered broilers, with a focus on immune function, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota regulation. A total of 240, 21-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to four groups, each with six replications and 10 chickens per replication: a control group receiving a basal diet and three groups supplemented with 0.5 %, 1 %, or 2 % FLP for 42 days. Results showed that dietary supplementation with 0.5 % and 1 % FLP significantly improved average daily gain and feed intake (P < 0.05). FLP supplementation enhanced immune function, as reflected by increased serum immunoglobulin levels and immune organ indices (P < 0.05), and improved antioxidant capacity, evidenced by increased antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05). Intestinal morphology was improved, shown by increased duodenal villus height (VH) and better villus height-to-crypt depth (VH/CD) ratios (P < 0.05). FLP also modulated the expression of genes associated with nutrient transport, barrier function, antioxidant defense, and inflammation (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that FLP supplementation altered cecal microbial composition. In conclusion, dietary FLP supplementation improves growth performance and intestinal health in broilers, supporting its potential as a natural and cost-effective alternative to antibiotic feed additives in poultry production.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Cao, Hao; Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou, China, Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of P.R. Lanzhou, Lanzhou, China, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000 China
Qiu, Zhengying; Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou, China, Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of P.R. Lanzhou, Lanzhou, China
He, Xin; College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000 China
Bai, Qiyu; Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou, China, Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of P.R. Lanzhou, Lanzhou, China
Ge, Shaoguang; Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou, China, Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of P.R. Lanzhou, Lanzhou, China
Shi, Xiongwei; Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou, China, Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of P.R. Lanzhou, Lanzhou, China
Liu, Yujia; Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou, China, Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of P.R. Lanzhou, Lanzhou, China
Xin, Ruihua ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre ; Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou, China, Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of P.R. Lanzhou, Lanzhou, China. Electronic address: xinruihua@caas.cn
Language :
English
Title :
Dietary fenugreek leaf powder improves growth performance, immune function, antioxidant status, and intestinal health in yellow-feathered broilers.
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China ( 2022YFD1801103 ), the Agricultural Science and Technology Support Project of Gansu Province ( KJZC-2024-32 ), Key Research and Development fund of Gansu Province ( 23YFNA0010 ; 23YFNA0014 ), Lanzhou Science and technology project ( 2025-2-21 ).
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