Effects Of Artemisia Ordosica Polysaccharide On Growth Performance,Intestinal Index And Meat Quality Of Broilers

The present experiments were conducted to study the effects of different levels of Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide in diets on growth performance,intestinal index and meat quality of broilers,and to provide theoretical basis for the scientific application of Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide as a green and non-toxic plant-derived feed additive in broilers’ diets.A total of 288 one-day-old Arbor Acre(AA)broilers were selected and randomly divided into 6 treatments with 6 replications per treatment and 8 broilers per replication.The broilers of the control group were fed the basal diet,and those of the other groups were fed basal diet supplemented with,respectively,250,500,750,1000 mg/kg Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide,and 50 mg/kg aureomycin.The experimental period was 42 days,which was divided into the early stage(d 1-21)and the late stage(d 22-42).The results are shown as follows:1.The addition of Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide to the diet had an effect on the growth performance of broilers,and 750 mg/kg Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide could significantly improve the average daily weight gain of broilers and reduce the ratio of feed to gain(P<0.05).Dietary Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide at an appropriate dose significantly increased the apparent metabolic rate of dry matter(P<0.05),but had no significant effect on the apparent metabolic rate of the other nutrients in broilers at the early stage of the experiment(P>0.05).At the late stage of the experiment,Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide at an appropriate dose could significantly improve the apparent metabolic rate of dry matter,crude protein,crude fat and calcium(P<0.05),with the best effect of 750 mg/kg.2.Dietary Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide had no significant effect on chymotrypsin and trypsin activity in different intestinal segments of broilers(P>0.05).Compared with the control group,the addition of 750 mg/kg Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide significantly increased the activity of lipase in duodenum(late stage)and ileum(early stage)(P<0.05),at the same time,the activity of amylase in each intestinal segment was significantly increased(P<0.05)or very significantly(P<0.01).3.Dietary Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide had no significant effect on duodenal villus height,crypt depth and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in broilers(P>0.05).Compared with the control group,the addition amount of Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide significantly increased the villi height and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth,and decreased the crypt depth in jejunum and ileum(P<0.05).4.Dietary Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide had no significant effect on total aerobic bacteria,total anaerobic bacteria,lactic acid bacteria and E.coli in the caecum of broilers(P>0.05).Compared with the control group,the addition of 750 mg/kg Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide significantly increased the number of bifidobacterium and decreased the number of E.coli at the early stage of the experiment(P<0.05).5.The addition of Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide to the diet had a significant effect on the 24-h drip loss rate of the chest muscle and leg muscle of broilers(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,750 and 1000 mg/kg Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide supplementation groups and aureomycin group significantly reduced the 24-h drip loss rate of chest muscle and leg muscle(P<0.05).In addition,750 mg/kg Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide significantly increased the activity of T-SOD,CAT and GSH-Px in chest muscle and leg muscle(P<0.05).But Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide had no significant effect on T-AOC level and MDA content in the muscle of broilers(P>0.05).Based on the above results,it could be concluded that,by regulating the microecological balance of intestinal flora,750 mg/kg of Artemisia ordosica polysaccharide improved intestinal digestive enzyme activity and intestinal mucosal morphology,enhanced intestinal nutrient absorption capacity and the utilization rate of nutrients,and then promoted the growth of broilers,meanwhile effectively improved meat quality.