• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1541-1548
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• 2011

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the addition of different levels of CFP (Cordyceps with fly pupa) on growth performance in broiler chickens. 400 broiler chicks (Ross 308, 1 day old) were sorted randomly into 4 treatment groups and fed experimental diets for 35 days. The treatment groups were divided into a control group not fed with CFP (T1), and treatment groups fed with CFP 2.0% (T2), CFP 3.5% (T3), and CFP 5.0% (T4). Although the broilers' weight gain and feed efficiency were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the T3 group throughout the entirety of the test period, no statistically significant differences were noted among the T1 and T2, T4 groups. Triglyceride in the blood, total cholesterol, and LDL-C were significantly lower in the CFP treatment groups than in the control group (p<0.05). The blood lipid reduction rate ranged from 5.32 to 10.63% for triglycerides, from 9.23 to 12.62% for total cholesterol, and from 44.67 to 53.81% for LDL-C in the CFP treatment groups relative to the control group. The abdominal fat weight ratio was reduced significantly in the CFP treatment groups (p<0.05) compared with the control group, with a reduction rate range of 17.67-21.68%. Broiler carcass weight, carcass rate, and ratios of breast muscle, skin and thigh muscle weights to carcass weight were significantly higher in the T3 group, and statistically significant differences were noted among the T1 and T2, T4 groups (p<0.05). Enteropathogenic E.coli and Salmonella were lower in the CFP treatment groups than in the control group, whereas the beneficial bacteria Bifidobacteria were significantly higher in the CFP treatment groups than in the control group (p<0.05). These findings suggest that the Cordyceps with fly pupa can improve the carcass characteristics and body weight gain in broiler chickens.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.975-988
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• 2010

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether water extracts from Artemisia capillaries (A. capillaries) and Camellia sinensis (C. sinensis) could be used as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler feed. The experiment 1 was verified their chemical composition, extracts yields, total phenolic compounds concentration, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, and chicken splenocytes proliferation through in vitro test. The extract yields of A. capillaries and C. sinensis were 26.5 and 16.8%, respectively. Total phenolic compounds concentrations of them expressed as gallic acid equivalent were 15.28 and 26.74 mg/mL, respectively. Electron donating abilities of them expressed as $SC_{50}$ showing 50% DPPH radical scavenging were 0.30 and 0.06 mg, respectively. Bacterial inhibitory rates of them against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Typhimurium were ranged from 42.1 to 52.3% and from 21.6 to 33.7%, respectively. And, these extracts increased proliferation of chicken splenocytes. Especially, A. capillaris was more excellent than Echinacea and Concanavalin A known as T-cell stimulator. The experiment 2 was investigated their effects on growth performance, relative organ weight, cecal microflora, blood biochemical parameters, and splenic cytokines mRNA expression in broiler chicks. Four hundred eighty 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were divided in to 4 treatment groups with 4 replicates of 30 birds in each group: NC (control, no antibiotics), PC (avilamycin, 10 ppm; salinomycin, 60 ppm), AC (A. capillaries, 100 ppm), and CS (C. sinensis, 100 ppm); treatments were administered through water supplementation. Final body weight was significantly higher in all treated groups than in NC (p<0.05). Cecal Salmonella numbers were significantly or somewhat decreased in all treated groups than in NC (p<0.05). The relative weights and lengths of the small intestine were more significantly decreased in the PC and AC groups than in the other groups. Cecal Salmonella numbers were significantly or somewhat decreased in all treated groups than in the NC group (p<0.05). The contents of total cholesterol, aspatate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase in blood serum were more significantly decreased in all treated groups than in NC (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggested the possibility that these extracts could serve as alternatives for antibiotic growth promoters.