Effects of Four Plant Extracts on Growth Performance of Broilers and Biochemical Indicators of Intestinal Contents and Excreta

The study was conducted to compare the effects of extracts from cinnamon(CFPE),yucca(YE),red sage(SS) and Osmanthus fragrans(OFL) on growth performance of broiler chicks and the biochemical indicators of intestinal contents and excreta.A total of 300 zero-day-old AA broiler chicks were randomly divided into five groups with three replicates.The experimental groups were provided the diet with the addition of 200 mg/kg plant extracts respectively,while the control group was provided basal diet.The results showed that compared with the control,adding plant extracts could significantly improve the average daily mass gain,reduce the average feed-weight ratio(P0.05),and improve the biochemical indicators of intestinal contents and excreta.The concentration of ammonia nitrogen,urea nitrogen and uric acid and the activity of urease in intestinal contents and excreta showed decreasing trends;at the same time,the growth of the microbes generating urease and uricase in intestinal tract and the activity of uricase in excreta were inhibited,so the ammonia discharge and its effect on broiler chicks were decreased,and then the growth performance was improved.