Effect of qihuan herbal extraction on growth,meat yield and biochemical indices of Yong-an chicken

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Qihuan herbal extraction(QHE) on the growth,meat yield and biochemical indices in Yongan chicken.For the study,40-day-old Yongan chickens were randomly divided into 3 groups.The chickens were fed with(a) a basic diet as control,(b) the basic diet+1000 mgkg-1 QHE or(c) the basic diet+2000 mgkg-1 QHE.After 35 days,the chickens were slaughtered and data collected for analysis.The results indicated that the QHE produced no significant difference on average daily gain (ADG),average daily feed index(ADFI) and feed/weight gain(F/G) on the chickens.On the other hand,the QHE additions increased ADG and ADFI,but lowered F/G,particularly when 2000 mgkg-1 QHE were incorporated in the feed.Comparing to the control group,the chickens fed with 1000 mgkg-1 QHE had significantly reduced percentage of abdominal fat(P0.05).There was no significant difference among three groups on meat yield or percentages of semi-eviscerated and eviscerated weight.The activities of serum glutamic propylic transaminase, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were increased by the additions of QHE.The plant extract improved total protein,decreased urea nitrogen,and significantly increased albumin content.It is,thus,concluded that QHE might have a potential as a feed additive for the poultry industry.