Effects of feeding phytobiotics on growth performance, breast meat quality, blood biochemical indices, and liver enzymes of broiler chickens

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of feeding different doses of phytobiotics on growth performance, breast meat quality, blood biochemical profiles, and liver enzymes of broiler chickens. A total of 480 one-day-old Cobb 500 chicks were randomly assigned to four feeding treatments with six replicates. Phytobiotics (natural extracts of Macleaya cordata plant) were administered at the following doses: no phytobiotics (control); phytobiotics at the rate of 0.15 g/kg; phytobiotics at the rate of 0.20 g/kg; and phytobiotics at the rate of 0.25 g/kg feed. A similar managemental practise was followed and corn-soya based mash diet was fed in two phases: starter (0 -14 days) and grower (15-28 days). Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and polynomial analysis was used to determine the linear and quadric effects. No significant difference in growth data was observed with the addition of phytobiotics. However, breast meat yield was significantly (P = 0.02) improved by the inclusion of phytobiotics at 0.20 g/kg feed. Lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) of breast meat were significantly (P = 0.01) enhanced with increasing doses of phytobiotics at 0.25 g/kg of feed. The pH of breast meat was unchanged after 0 hours, but after 24 hours, the addition of phytobiotics had significantly decreased the pH (P = 0.03). High -density lipoprotein (HDL) (P = 0.02) and total protein (TP) (P = 0.01) levels were maximum at 0.25 g phytobiotics/kg feed. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = 0.01) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were decreased with increasing doses of phytobiotics. All statistically significant parameters were characterized by both linear and quadratic contrasts.Overall, the data showed that breast meat yield was improved by the addition of phytobiotics at 0.20 g/kg diet, while growth performance, breast meat quality, blood biochemical profiles, and liver functions were well maintained by the addition of phytobiotics at 0.25 g/kg diet in commercial broiler chickens.