Effect Of Compound Radix Astragali On Growth Performance,Immune Function Of Quail

This paper studied the effects of Astragalus compound on growth performance and immune function of quails with the addition of Astragalus, Liquorice, Atractylodes and Ginger in basic diets, which will provide a theoretical basis for herbal feed additives.In this study, 250 one-week-old healthy meat-type quails(half male and female) were randomly divided into 5 groups. Each group had 5 repeat with 10 meat-type quails each. GroupⅠwas the control group fed basac diet. GroupⅡappended antibiotics(norfloxacin), and GroupⅢ ~ Ⅴ were treated with 0.5%, 1%, and 2% Astragalus compound, respectively. The environmental conditions were controlled with ambient temperature, relative humidity, and drinking water. The experiment period was total 50 days, including 5-d preliminary feeding period and 45-day, and they were recorded in pre and post-trial, respectively. Their daily feed intake, average weight per week and death rate were measured each day. In addition, five meat-type quails were randomly selected to get blood, and organs, for evaluating growth performance, and immune function. The results are as follows:(1)The average daily gain and daily feed intake of meat-type quails in all experiments were increased compared with GroupⅠ. The average daily gain of GroupⅤwas significantly different from that of GroupⅠ(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in daily feed between test groups and GroupⅠ,Ⅱ(P>0.05). Moreover, the feed to gain ratio in GroupⅤwas significantly lower than that in other groups(P<0.05). The results show that 2% Astragalus compound plays a significant role in promoting the growth of meat-type quails.(2)Growth Hormone(GH) of meat-type quails treated with Astragalus compound were not significantly different compared with GroupⅡand GroupⅢ.(3)At the early stage(1-20 days) compared with GroupⅠ, the levels of T3 in GroupⅤand T4 in test groups were increased significantly(P < 0.05). Moreover, the levels of T3 in GroupⅢandⅣwere significantly lower than that of GroupⅡ(P < 0.05), which the levels of T4 had no significant difference among test groups. At later breeding(21- 50 days), the levels of T3 in GroupⅢand levels of T4 in GroupⅤhad significant difference compared with GroupⅠ(P < 0.05), but did not compared with GroupⅡ. The results show that Astragalus compound can stimulate T3 and T4 in the serum of quail.(4)The levels of IgG in GroupⅢandⅣhad no significant difference compared with GroupⅠ, whereas that in GroupⅤwere increased significantly(P < 0.05). At the early stage(1-20 days), the levels of IgA in test groups were increased significantly compared with GroupⅠand GroupⅡ(P < 0.05). At later breeding(21- 50 days), no significant was found difference in the levels of IgA of all the groups. In addition, the levels of IgM had no significant difference during this experiment. The results show that Astragalus compound can stimulate immunoglobulin(IgG, IgA, IgM) in the serum of quail.(5)At the early stage(1-20 days), the levels of C3 and C4 in test groups were not significantly different compared to GroupⅠand GroupⅡ. At later breeding(21-50 days), C3 and C4 in test groups were increased significantly compared to GroupⅠ(P < 0.05), and no significant difference was found between the test groups and GroupⅡ.(6)At the early stage(1-20 days), the liver, kidney, hepatopancreas, heart, and spleen of quail treated with Astragalus compound had no significant difference compared to GroupⅠ. The liver, kidney, hepatopancreas, and spleen of quail treated with Astragalus compound had no significant difference compared with GroupⅡ, except that heart was reduced significantly(P < 0.05). At later breeding(21- 50 days), the liver, kidney, hepatopancreas, heart, and spleen of quail treated with Astragalus compound were no significantly different compared with GroupⅠand GroupⅡ. The results showed that Astragalus compound had no adverse effects on the organ development of quail and can be developed with safety as feed additives.These results indicated: Astragalus compound feed additive can significantly improve growth performance and immune function with no adverse effects in quail. Hence, Astragalus compound can be further developed and utilized as feed additive.