Effects of adding graded levels of Achyranthes japonica root extract to low crude protein diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, and meat quality parameters in broilers

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Achyranthes japonica root extract (AJE) added to a low-protein diet on broiler growth performance, nutrient utilization, cecal microbiota, and meat quality parameters. A total of 450 Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments. The dietary treatments were standard crude protein (SCP) diet, low crude protein (LCP) diet, and LCP diet supplemented with 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06% AJE. Here, the SCP and LCP diets were 21.50% and 21.07% CP during days 8–21 and 20.00% and 19.40% CP during days 22–35, respectively. The LCP diet tended to decrease total body weight gain (TBWG) compared with the SCP diet. Increasing levels of AJE inclusion linearly increased ( P < 0.05) TBWG and the LCP diet supplemented with AJE also increased ( P < 0.05) TBWG compared with the LCP diet, whereas feed intake and feed conversion ratio were unaffected. AJE supplementation to the LCP diet tended to increase energy digestibility compared with the LCP diet. Breast muscle weight tended to increase by a graded level of AJE supplementation. In conclusion, AJE supplementation represented a potential ability to maintain a similar growth performance when added to a low-protein diet by enhancing nitrogen digestibility and meat quality in broilers.