Evaluation of the growth performance, meat quality, and gut microbiota of broilers fed diets containing walnut green husk extract.

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of walnut green husk extract (WGHe) on the growth performance, meat quality, antioxidative status, gut morphology, and microbiota diversity of broilers. A total of 216 one-day-old broilers were divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 9 replicates (6 birds per replicate) as follows: 1) control group, basal diet; 2) antibiotic group, basal diet supplemented with enduracidin and colistin sulfate; 3) low-dose group, basal diet supplemented with 5.0 g/kg WGHe; and 4) high-dose group, basal diet supplemented with 10.0 g/kg WGHe. The results revealed that the percentage of abdominal fat decreased, and the ratio of the duodenal villus length to crypt depth (V/C), as well as the α-diversity of the ileal microbiota, increased with 10.0 g/kg WGHe supplementation (P < 0.05). The shear force of the breast muscle and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration decreased, whereas the plasma peroxidase (POD) activity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and jejunal villus length increased in response to WGHe supplementation (P < 0.05). Compared with the antibiotic diet, the addition of 5.0 g/kg WGHe resulted in a significant increase in the relative abundances of Candidatus Arthromitus, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the addition of 10.0 g/kg WGHe increased the relative abundances of Candidatus Arthromitus and Lachnoclostridium, whereas the relative abundance of unidentified Chloroplast decreased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 10.0 g/kg WGHe is advantageous for intestinal health, meat quality, and antioxidant status in broilers, suggesting its potential as a functional additive in poultry production.