Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine Additives on Growth,Immunity and Antioxidation of Chickens

Chinese herbal medicine additives can not only directly improve the growth performance of chickens,but also indirectly affect the growth of chickens by enhancing the antioxidant capacity,immunity and disease resistance of the body,and eliminating diseases and adverse factors,thereby improving the growth performance of chickens.In the context of the current national prohibition of adding antibiotics to feed,the research and application of Chinese herbal medicine additives are of practical significance to eliminate the long-term use of antibiotics as chicken feed additives and reduce the threat to the environment and human health.For this reason,the research related to the substitution of Chinese herbal medicine for antibiotics is made a brief introduction to provide a reference in research and production practice.

A Review of Chinese Herb Medicine Additives on Chicken Growth Performance

Researches showed that many Chinese herb medicines can improve chicken growth performance not only by their pharmacological function, but also by the improvement of antioxidant function, immunity and disease resistance of chicken. The menace to human health and environment has occurred since too much antibiotics have been used as growth-promoting additives in long term in chicken industry. Therefore, research on replacement of antibiotics by Chinese herb medicines as additives for chicken growth is underway. This paper summarized some research results in the topic briefly to provide information for researchers and readers.

Research Progress of Chinese Herbal Medicine Additives in Layer Breeding

Chinese herbal medicine have dual effects of medicinal value and nutrition regulation. In recent years, antibiotics have been widely forbidden in live- stock production, which are inevitably replaced by natural Chinese herbal medicine in livestock breeding. A brief summary of current research progress of Chinese herbal medicine in layer breeding is given in the paper.

Effects of Additives of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Blood Biochemical Indices of Wenchang Chickens in Hainan

[Objective]The aim was to study on effects of additives of traditional Chinese medicines on biochemical indices of blood of Wenchang chickens in Hainan. [Method]About 180 female Wenchang chickens were divided into five groups at random with three repetitions for every group and twelve chickens for a repetition. Group 1 was control group and the chickens were fed with basic forages; the 2nd group was control group of antibiotics and the chickens were fed with basic forages and 600 mg /kg of aureomycin; group 3,4 and 5 contained 0. 1%,0. 2% and 0. 3% of the additives respectively,besides basic forages. Chickens at average weight were chosen six from every group on 35th and 56th days,respectively, to prepare serums for biochemical indices of bloods and analyze effects of additives on the indices. [Result]Serum cholinesterase activity and albu- min content were both improved by 0. 1%,0. 2% and 0. 3% of the additives （ P 〈0. 05） ; activity of alkaline phosphatase was enhanced,and serum cholesterol was lowered both by 0. 2% and 0. 3% of the additives （ P 〈0. 05） . [Conclusion]Additives of traditional Chinese medicines have an ac- tive effect on blood biochemical indices of Wenchang chickens.

Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine Feed Additives on Growth Performance and Dietary Nutrient Metabolism of Black-bone Chickens

[Objectives]To study the effects of Chinese herbal medicine feed additives on the growth performance and dietary nutrient metabolic rate of black-one chickens.[Methods]480 pieces of 1-day-old Donglan Black-bone Chickens were selected and divided into 4 groups,with 6 replicates in each group,with 20 pieces in each replicate.Among them,group A was the control group and was fed the basal diet;the groups B,C,and D were the experimental groups,which were separately supplemented with 0.25%,0.50%and 1.00%of Chinese herbal medicine additives in the basal diet,and the experimental period was 70 d.At the end of the feeding experiment,24 experimental chickens with similar body weight were selected from each group,and the same design of the feeding experiment was used to continue to feed the original diet for the metabolic experiment to determine the nutrient metabolic rate.[Results]Except the 50-70 d stage,the average daily gain(ADG)of group B in other stages was increased by 5.00%-9.15%(P<0.05),and the average body weight of group B at 70 d was also increased by 4.86%(P<0.05);the ADG of group C at 36-49,1-49 and 1-70 d and the average individual weight at 70 d were also higher than that of group A by 5.90%,2.66%,2.68%and 2.57%,respectively(P>0.05);at 36-49 d,the average daily feed intake(ADFI)of group A was higher than that of group B by 6.04%(P<0.01),and was also higher than that of groups C and D by 5.12%and 4.13%(P<0.05),respectively;at 1-49 d,the ADFI of group A was higher than that of group C by 2.86%(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference between the four groups of experimental chickens at each stage(P>0.05);at 22-35 and 1-70 d,the feed to gain ratio(F/G)of group B was 6.32%and 3.41%lower than that of group A(P<0.05),and at 36-49 and 1-49 d,the F/G of group B was even lower;at 36-49 d,the F/G of group C was 10.15%lower than that of group A(P<0.05),and at 1-49 d,it was also lower than that of group A by 5.29%(P<0.01);there was no significant difference between the two groups at other stages.In terms of nutrient metabolism:the three different amounts of this additive have increased the metabolic rate of DM,CP,CF,NFE,CA,Ca,P,TE and other nutrients in the diet to varying degrees,especially the addition of 0.25%and 0.50%had the significant increase.[Conclusions]The addition of 0.25%Chinese herbal medicine additives in the diet can significantly improve the growth performance and main nutrient metabolic rate of Donglan Black-bone Chickens.

Effects of Chinese Medicine Additive on Promoting Production of Meat Hybrid Chicken and Its Action Mechanism

[ Objective] The aim was to study the effects of Chinese medicine additive HMS on promoting the production of meat hybrid chicken and its action mechanism, so as to provide a scientific basis for the promotion effects of Chinese medicine additive on production. [ Method] Meat hybrid chickens, 7 day-old with similar weight, were randomly divided into four groups. And Chinese medicine feed additive HMS was added to the diet of each group at different proportions. All the chickens were weighed before the test as well as at the end of the 2nd, 3rd, 4^th and 5^th week. The feed consumption was also recorded during the test. Before slaughter, serum samples were collected from the randomly selected chickens for the deter- mination of serum biochemical indexes. Their bursae of Fabdcius and spleens were collected and weighed in order to determine the indexes, of im- mune organs. [ Result] HMS significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio （ P 〈 0.05 ）, very significantly reduced the feed consumptioh （ P 〈 0.01 ）, very significantly improve the content of serum high-density lipoprotein （ P 〈 0.01 ）, significantly increased the activity of serum alkaline phos- phatase （ P 〈 0.05）, very significantly reduced the content of serum urea nitrogen and uric acid （ P 〈 0.01 ）, and significantly reduced the level of serum cholesterol （ P 〈0.05）. There were no significant difference between the test groups and the control group （ P 〉 0.05） in the increase of im- mune organ indexes, but the index of immune organs has increasing trend. [ Conclusion] HMS reduces feed consumption and feed conversion rati- o, improves the feed utilization, and has a role in promoting production. The possible mechanism may be HMS improving the activity of serum alka- line phosphatase and the level of serum high-density lipoprotein, as well as reducing the content of serum cholesterol, urea nitrogen and uric acid in meat hybrid chickens.

Effects of Nano Chinese Herbal Medicine Feed Additive on Growth Performance,Meat Quality and Disease Resistance of Chickens

[Objectives]To explore the effects of nano compound Chinese herbal medicine feed additive on growth performance,meat quality and disease resistance of chickens.[Methods]Chickens were fed with nano compound Chinese herbal medicine feed additive developed by Hunan Polytechnic of Environment and Biology,including 120 chickens in the treatment group and 120 chickens in the control group(CK).The growth performance indices(body weight gain,feed to gain ratio and slaughter index),meat quality indices(pH value,color,drip loss,shear force)and disease resistance indices(morbidity and mortality)of the chickens in the treatment and CK groups were recorded and determined,respectively.[Results]The inclusion of 2%nano compound Chinese herbal medicine feed additive in the diet significantly increased the growth rate,reduced the feed-to-gain ratio and improved the meat quality of the chickens.Supplementing Chinese herbal medicine could increase the pH value and reduce the drip loss and shear force of chicken meat.At the same time,the body's immune function,antioxidant level and resistance against diseases of the chickens fed with nano compound Chinese herbal medicine feed additive were improved.[Conclusions]The inclusion of nano compound Chinese herbal medicine feed additive in the diet can improve the growth performance,meat quality and disease resistance of chickens.

Effects of Diet with "Lianteng" Additive of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Blood Biochemical Indexes,Immune and Antioxidant Function of Guangxi Sanhuang Chickens

[Objectives]This trial was conducted to investigate the effects of diet with"Lianteng"additive of Chinese herbal medicine on blood biochemical indexes,immune and antioxidant function of Guangxi Sanhuang chickens.[Methods]480 Guangxi Sanhuang chickens at the age of 1 d were divided into 4 groups randomly and each group was assigned to 6 replicates with 20 chicks in each replicate;groups A,B and C were treatment groups and fed basal diets with 0.1%,0.2%and 0.4%of"Lianteng"additive of Chinese herbal medicine respectively during a trial of 70 d.Group D was control group and fed only basal diet.The serum samples were taken from 6 chicks in each group at the age of 21,35 and 49 d respectively and analyzed for biochemical,immune and antioxidant parameters in serum.[Results]Results from the trial showed that no difference was found in serum content of GLU,TG,TP,TC,and UN in the measurement at the age of 21,35 and 49 d(P>0.05);however,the content of ALB from groups A and B at 35 d was significantly higher than that from group D(P<0.01),and the ALB content from group B at 49 d was also higher than that from group D(P<0.05);the IgM content at 49 d from group A was lower than that from group D(P<0.05),in addition to this,there was no differences found in the contents of IgG,IgM and IFN-y among groups A,B,C and D during the trial(P>0.05);but the content of IL-2 from groups A and B at 49 d was significantly greater than that from group D(P<0.05);T-AOC from groups A,B and C at 49 d was very significantly higher than that from group D(P<0.01),and the one of group B at 35 d was still obviously higher than that of group D(P<0.05);also at 49 d,the GSH content in groups A and B was much greater than that in group D(P<0.01);T-SOD activity of group B and C at 35 d was distinctly greater than that of group D(P<0.05).[Conclusions]It can be concluded that the addition of 0.2%of"Lianteng"additive of Chinese herbal medicine in diet can increase immune function in a certain extent and promote the antioxidant ability observably for Guangxi Sanhuang chickens.

Effects of Diet with"Lianhuang"Additive of Chinese Herb Medicine on Growth Performance and Metabolic Rates of Dietary Nutrients in Donglan Black Chicken

[Objectives]The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of diet with"Lianhuang"additive of Chinese herbal medicine(LACHM)on growth performance and metabolic rates of dietary nutrients in Donglan black chickens(DBCs).[Methods]80 DBCs aged 1 d were blocked into 4 groups randomly and assigned to 6 replicates in each group with 20 chicks in each replicate.Group A as control group fed basal diet.Groups B,C and D as treatment groups consumed the basal diet added with 0.25%,0.50%and 1.00%of LACHM,respectively during the test period of 70 d.In the end of feeding test,24 DBCs with similar body weight from each group were chosen out and used for a metabolism test to determine the metabolic rates of dietary nutrients from each treatment.The metabolism test was conducted as the same design as the feeding test and the DBCs from each group were fed the same diet as previous test.[Results]The ADG of chickens in the test increased by 5.00%-9.15%(P<0.05)except the stage of 50-70 d,and the individual average body weight(IABW)at 70 d in group B also increased by 4.86%(P<0.05).Compared with group A,the ADG of group C in the stages of 36-49,1-49 and 1-70 d and the IABW in the end of 70 d increased by 5.90%,2.66%,2.68%and 2.57%(P>0.05),respectively.The ADFI in the stage of 36-49 d from group A was 6.04%more than that from group B(P<0.01),and 5.12%and 4.13%more than those from groups C and D(P<0.05),respectively,and the ADFI of group A in the stage of 1-49 d was still 2.86%more than that from group C(P<0.05).However,no differences in ADFI were found in other stages in the test among the 4 groups(P>0.05).The F/G in the stages of 22-35 and 1-70 d from group B was 6.32%and 3.41%lower than those from group A(P<0.05),respectively,and even 11.43%and 7.31%lower in the stages of 36-49 and 1-49 d from group B than those from group A(P<0.01),respectively.The F/G of group C in the stage of 36-49 d was also 10.15%lower than that of group A(P<0.05),and still 5.29%lower than that from group A in 1-49 d(P<0.01),but no differences were found in other stages between the two groups(P>0.05).The metabolic rates of MD,CP,CF,NFE,CA,TE,Ca and P in the 3 treatment diets for group B,C and D all increased to some extent.Among them,the increasing extents of diets with 0.25%and 0.50%of LACHM for groups B and C were much greater.Therefore,the diet with 0.25%of LACHM could improve the growth performance and metabolic rates of dietary nutrients in DBCs significantly.[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical reference for the effects of traditional Chinese medicine additives on the growth and metabolic rates of DBCs.