Achyranthes Japonica Nakai root extract supplementation improves apparent nutrient digestibility, caecum microbiota, and excreta gas emission in broiler chicks

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of supplementing Achyranthes Japonica Nakai (AJN) root extract to the diet of broiler chicks on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, caecum microbiota, excreta gas emission, and relative weight of organs. A total of 270 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (42.11 ± 0.18 g) were randomly allotted into three dietary treatments according to the initial body weight. Each treatment had five replicate cages with 18 birds per cage. The experimental period was 35 d (starter, days 1–7; grower, days 8–21; finisher, days 22–35). Dietary treatments were a corn–soybean meal-based basal diet supplemented with 0.000%, 0.015%, or 0.030% AJN root extract. The apparent total tract digestibility of nitrogen (P = 0.025) increased linearly with the increase of the dosage of AJN root extract, while the counts of Escherichia coli in the caecum (P = 0.038) and excreta ammonia emission (P = 0.003) decreased linearly. However, the growth performance (P > 0.05) and the relative weight of organs (P > 0.05) did not differ among the dietary groups. In conclusion, AJN root extract could increase the nutrient digestibility and reduce the noxious gas emission by reducing the caecum harmful microbiota in a dose-dependent manner.