Effects of dietary alfalfa flavonoids extraction on growth performance, organ development and blood biochemical indexes of Yangzhou geese aged from 28 to 70 days

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary alfalfa flavonoids extraction supplemental level on growth performance, organ development and blood biochemical indexes of Yangzhou geese at the age of 28 to 70 days. Two hundred and forty 21-day-old healthy male geese with similar body weight were randomly distributed into 4 groups with 6 replicates per group and 10 geese per replicate. Geese in the control group were fed a basal diet and the others in the experimental groups (groups 1, 2, and 3) were fed experimental diets supplemented with 150, 300 and 450 mg/kg alfalfa flavonoids extraction (the concentration of it was 81%), respectively. The experiment had 7 days for pre-test and 42 days for formal test. The results showed that the final body weight and average daily intake of group 2 were significantly higher than those of other groups (P < 0.05). The average daily gain of group 2 was significantly higher than that in the control group and group 1 (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in feed-to-gain ratio between each group (P > 0.05). Pre-slaughter live weight, carcass weight, slaughter rate, semi-eviscerated weight, semi-eviscerated rate, eviscerated weight, eviscerated rate, leg muscle weight and leg muscle rate had no significant difference between each group (P > 0.05). The breast muscle weight and ratio of each test group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05) and the group 2 was the best. The abdominal fat weight and ratio in the group 1 were significantly higher than those in the control group and group 3 (P < 0.05) and the tibia weight in the group 2 was significantly higher than that in the control group and group 1 (P < 0.05); There were no significant differences in heart weight, liver weight and the gland stomach weight among all groups (P > 0.05). Spleen weight in test groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The bursa weight and muscular stomach weight in the group 2 were significantly higher than those in the control group and group 1 (P < 0.05). In serum, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein and urea nitrogen in the group 2 were significantly lower comparing with those in the control group (P < 0.05). High-density lipoprotein in the group 2 was significantly higher than that in other groups (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in total serum protein, albumin, globulin and albumin/globulin among all groups (P > 0.05). Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase (AST) in groups 2 and 3 were higher than those in the group 1 and control group but not obvious (P > 0.05) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in groups 1 and 2 was higher than that in the control group and group 3 (P > 0.05). It is concluded that alfalfa flavonoids extraction added in dietary feed improve the growth performance, organ development and blood biochemical indexes of Yangzhou geese. It is concluded that 300 mg/kg supplemental level of the dietary alfalfa flavonoids extraction is optimal in this experi...

Effects of dietary alfalfa flavonoids on the performance, meat quality and lipid oxidation of growing rabbits

“…These results are in agreement with those reported for Yang zhou geese by Chen et al [ 15 ] who did not find any significant difference for slaughter performance except for the breast muscle weight and ratio which were significantly higher than those in the control group.…”

“…Ouyang et al [ 29 ] reported that inclusion of AAF in broiler chickens could improve the growth performance when compared with the control group, especially when the inclusion level was 15 mg/kg diet. In the same context, Chen et al [ 15 ] showed that AAF adding in thediet with 300 mg/kg significantly increased feed intake, average daily gain and final weight of Yangzhou geese aged from 28 to 70 days.…”

“…AAF with estrogenic effect, was shown to significantly promote growth performance, improve carcass quality, remove free radicals and increase body’s antioxidant and enhance immunity in a certain range of additive on livestock [ 13 , 14 ]. Chen et al [ 15 ] reported that AAF extraction adding in the diet of Yang Zhou geese aged from 28 to 70 days can improve dietary intake, but shows no adverse effects on slaughter performance, organs and blood biochemical indexes. Lipid oxidation is the main problem in rabbit meat.…”

Investigation of Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and the Effects of Alfalfa Flavonoids on Growth Performance

“…Notably, the total flavonoids, consisted of flavone, flavone Cglycoside, and flavonol, present powerful antioxidant activities. Recent papers have reported that flavonoids isolated from alfalfa could improve DPPH free-radical-scavenging activity, antioxidant activity, and growth performance [21,36]. Antioxidants are a group of providing electrons or unpaired electrons.…”

“…In addition, the average daily gain and body weight of the broilers fed with flavonoids were higher than those of broilers fed with basal diet. Chen et al [21] reported that the average daily gain of Yangzhou geese fed with alfalfa flavonoids was significantly higher than that of the control group fed with basal diet and the blood biochemical indices could be increased. However, there have been currently few studies about the identification of alfalfa flavonoids and analysis of dominant in vitro antioxidant by DPPH ⋅ -UHPLC.…”