Bian Yue, Sun Yi, Li Chaoxia, Zhu Kai, Sun Guangchao, Yang Zaibin

Shandong Agricultural University

SD BIOTECH GROUP

Abstract: In order to investigate the effect of Boluohui extract on the slaughter performance of broiler chickens. 720 1-day-old AA broiler chickens were selected for the experiment and randomly divided into 8 treatments, with 6 replicates per treatment and 15 chickens per replicate. Adopting a 2 × 4 factorial design, i.e. Clostridium difficile (attack vs. no attack); On the basis of attacking and not attacking, four treatments were set up respectively, adding Boluohui extract at 0 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg. The chicken cage samples were tested, and the composition and nutritional level of the diet were consistent among the treatments. Experiment 21 and 42 days, randomly select one animal from each treatment for slaughter, measure meat production performance, immune organ index, digestive tract development, and perform digestive tract scoring. The results indicate that:

The results of meat production performance showed that the challenge of Clostridium difficile had little effect on the meat production performance after 21 days (p>0.05), but the total clearance rate and abdominal fat rate of the challenge group at 42 days were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.05), and the slaughter performance of the control group was 100%, while the slaughter performance of the challenge group was lower. Compared with the group without adding Boluohui extract, the three groups with 200mg, 400mg, and 800mg added showed improved meat production performance at 21 and 42 days. There is a linear relationship (p<0.05) between the addition of Boluohui extract and the improvement of semi clean chamber rate. The increase in chest muscle rate also showed a linear trend (0.05<p<0.1). From the perspective of the entire feeding cycle, the invasion of Clostridium difficile reduces meat production performance, while the addition of Boluohui extract can improve meat production performance.

Immune organ index: The addition of Clostridium difficile challenge and Boluohui extract had no significant effect on the 21 day immune organ index. The organ index of the treatment group without adding Boluohui extract was 100% after 42 days, and the immune organ index of the three groups with added Boluohui extract 200mg, 400mg, and 800mg increased. From the perspective of the entire feeding cycle, adding Bozhu extract can promote the development of immune organs.

Intestinal development: The presence or absence of Clostridium difficile infection had little effect on intestinal development at 21 and 42 days (p>0.05). However, compared with not adding Boluohui extract, adding Boluohui extract at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg for 21 and 42 days all showed promotion of gastrointestinal development. The increase in Boluohui extract dosage at 42 days was linearly related to the increase in total gastrointestinal weight (p<0.05).

Intestinal score: According to the statistical analysis of the 21 day intestinal score, the invasion of Clostridium difficile can significantly improve the duodenal score (p<0.05). Moreover, at 42 days, the challenge of Clostridium difficile can significantly improve the scores of duodenum and jejunum (p<0.05). The establishment of a necrotic enteritis model by attacking with Clostridium difficile was basically successful. Compared with not adding Boluohui extract, adding Boluohui extract at doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg at 21 and 42 days can reduce intestinal scores. Boluohui extract can have therapeutic effects on necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium difficile.

This indicates that attacking with Clostridium difficile can cause a decline in digestive tract development, which is more pronounced at 42 days compared to 21 days; Boluohui extract has a therapeutic effect on necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium difficile; Boluohui extract can promote the growth of broiler chickens and increase economic benefits.

Keywords: Boluohui extract; Broiler chicken; Meat production performance; Digestive tract development; Intestinal score

1 Materials and Methods

1.1 Test Materials

Boluohui extract: The active ingredients are Bai Qu Cai Hong alkaloid (≥ 900 mg/kg) and Xue Gen alkaloid (≥ 1500 mg/kg). Provided by SD BIOTECH GROUP.

Clostridium perfringens, purchased from BNCC, number 185933. After activation, the bacteria were cultured for three times (all in the technical center of Mount Taishan Shengliyuan Group Co., Ltd.), and the culture was stopped and counted after 12 hours. The bacterial concentration was about 3 × 108 CFU/mL, and the technology was stable.

1.2 Experimental animals and design

720 healthy 1-day-old AA broiler chickens were selected and randomly divided into 8 treatments, with 6 replicates per treatment and 15 chickens per replicate. Adopting a 2 × 4 factorial experimental design, namely, the presence or absence of Clostridium difficile infection, four treatments were set up on the basis of infection and non infection, respectively, with the addition of Boluohui extract at 0 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg. The detailed design is shown in Table 1.

1.3 Measurement indicators

Slaughter performance: Experiments were conducted for 21 and 42 days, with 6 individuals randomly selected from each treatment (1 from each replicate) for slaughter. Half clean bore rate, full clean bore rate, chest muscle rate, leg muscle rate, and abdominal fat rate were measured (only 42 days).

Immune indicators: Determine thymus, spleen, and bursa index using the test chickens with slaughter performance as described above.

Intestinal development: The length and weight of the small and large intestines were measured using the slaughter performance test chickens mentioned above.

Intestinal injury score: Using the test chickens with slaughter performance determined above, observe intestinal lesions and score (photograph). Specific scoring criteria: 0, no visible damage to the naked eye; 1. Thin or fragile walls; 2. Local necrosis or ulceration; 3. Extensive necrosis.

1.4 Data statistics and analysis

The experimental data was analyzed using the GLM process of SAS 9.2 software, and multiple comparisons were conducted using Duncan's method with P<0 05 serves as the criterion for determining the significance of differences.

2 Results and Analysis

2.1 Comparative analysis of meat production performance

The effects of Boluohui extract on the meat production performance of commercial broiler chickens are shown in Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5. According to Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5, it can be seen that the addition of Clostridium difficile had no significant effect on meat production performance (p>0.05) after 21 days, and the addition of Clostridium difficile extract had no significant effect on meat production performance (p>0.05). The interaction effect between Clostridium difficile and Clostridium difficile extract had no significant effect on meat production performance (p>0.05). At 42 days, the addition of Clostridium difficile significantly reduced the semi clearance rate and abdominal fat percentage (p<0.01), but="" had="" no="" significant="" effect="" on="" other="" meat="" production="" performance="" indicators="" p="">0.05). The addition of Boluohui extract did not significantly affect meat production performance (p>0.05), and the interaction effect between Clostridium difficile and Boluohui extract had no significant effect on various meat production performance indicators (p>0.05).

Compared to not using Clostridium difficile for the attack, using Clostridium difficile for the attack. The slaughter rate, full bore rate, and leg muscle rate increased by 1.1%, 0.2%, and 0.5%, respectively, while the chest muscle rate decreased by 0.3%, and the half bore rate remained unchanged. The meat production performance of the three groups with the addition of Boluohui extract at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg was improved, with 100% improvement in all indicators without the addition of Boluohui extract. This indicates that the addition of Boluohui extract can improve the meat production performance after 21 days.

42d: The slaughter performance of the control group was 100%, while the slaughter performance of the attack group was lower. The slaughter performance of the treatment group without adding Boluohui extract was 100%. Adding Boluohui extract at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg all improved slaughter performance and reduced abdominal fat percentage. This indicates that the invasion of Clostridium difficile can reduce meat production performance, while the addition of Boluohui extract can improve meat production performance in both the invasion group and the control group.

2.2 Immune indicators

21 days: The statistical analysis results showed that compared with the control group, the thymus index of the attack group was significantly increased (p<0.05), and="" the="" addition="" of="" boluohui="" extract="" did="" not="" significantly="" affect="" organ="" index="" p="">0.05). The interaction effect between Boluohui extract and Clostridium difficile had a significant impact on the bursa index (p<0.01),. The immune organ index of the control group was 100%, while the thymus index, bursa index, and spleen index of the attack group increased by 18.2%, 8.7%, and 6.9%, respectively. The immune organ index without adding Boluohui extract was 100%, and adding Boluohui extract at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg increased the spleen index. During the 1-21d stage, attacking the virus can stimulate an increase in the index of immune organs.

42d: The organ index was set at 100% without the addition of Boluohui extract, with the addition of Boluohui extract at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg. The immune organ index has increased. During the 1-42 day period, the addition of Boluohui extract can enhance the development of immune organs.

2.3 Development of digestive tract

21 days: The use of Clostridium difficile for infection and the addition of Clostridium difficile extract did not significantly affect gastrointestinal development (p>0.05). The interaction effect between Clostridium difficile and Clostridium difficile extract had no significant impact on various gastrointestinal development indicators (p>0.05). The development of the digestive tract without the addition of Boluohui extract was 100%. Adding Boluohui extract at doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg all increased the length and weight of the small intestine, reduced the length and weight of the large intestine, and increased the relative weight of the digestive tract. Adding Boluohui extract during the 1-21d stage can promote gastrointestinal development.

42d: The use of Clostridium difficile for infection and the addition of Clostridium difficile extract did not significantly affect gastrointestinal development (p>0.05). The interaction effect between Clostridium difficile and Clostridium difficile extract had no significant impact on various gastrointestinal development indicators (p>0.05). The development of the digestive tract without the addition of Boluohui extract was considered 100%. The addition of Boluohui extract at doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg increased the length and weight of the small intestine, as well as the length and weight of the large intestine, while also increasing the relative weight of the large intestine and small intestine. During the 1-42 day period, the addition of Boluohui extract can promote the development of the digestive tract.

2.4 Intestinal injury score

21 days: Statistical analysis showed that the duodenal score of the toxin attack group was higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). The intestinal score of the control group was 100%, while the duodenum and ileum of the attack group were 60% and 50% higher, respectively. The intestinal score of the treatment group without added Boluohui extract was 100%. The intestinal scores of both groups with added Boluohui extract at 200 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg decreased. The duodenal and jejunal scores of the treatment group with added 400 mg/kg decreased, while the ileal score remained unchanged. During the 1-21d stage, the invasion of Clostridium difficile significantly causes duodenal lesions, and the addition of Boluohui extract can reduce intestinal scores.

42 days: Statistical analysis showed that the duodenal and jejunal scores in the toxin attack group were higher than those in the control group (p<0.05); The addition amount of Boluohui extract showed a linear relationship with the scores of duodenum and jejunum (p<0.05). The intestinal score of the control group was 100%, while the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of the attack group were 110%, 240%, and 42.9% higher, respectively. The intestinal score of the treatment group without added Boluohui extract was 100%, while the intestinal scores of the groups with added Boluohui extract at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg decreased. During the 1-42 day period, the invasion of Clostridium difficile significantly caused lesions in the duodenum and jejunum. The addition of Boluohui extract can reduce intestinal scores, especially in a linear relationship with the therapeutic effect on the duodenum and jejunum.

3 Conclusion

3.1 The attack of Clostridium difficile can cause a deterioration in the development of the digestive tract in broiler chickens, an increase in intestinal scores, and a decrease in slaughter performance. And the performance was more pronounced on day 42 than on day 21. The establishment of a necrotic enteritis model by attacking with Clostridium difficile was basically successful.

Adding Boluohui extract to the 3.2 toxin attack group can improve slaughter performance and immune organ index, promote digestive tract development, reduce intestinal score, and the performance is more significant after 42 days. The addition of Boluohui extract has a therapeutic effect on necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium difficile.

3.3 Adding Boluohui extract to the control group can improve slaughter performance and immune organ index, promote digestive tract development, reduce intestinal score, and the performance is more significant at 42 days than at 21 days. Adding Boluohui extract during normal feeding can promote the growth of broiler chickens and increase economic benefits. The specific increase in economic benefits is yet to be determined.

Table 1 Experimental Design

Comparative analysis of the effects of Boluohui extract on the 21 day meat production performance of broiler chickens in Table 2,%

Table 3 Relative values of the effect of Boluohui extract on the 21 day meat production performance of broiler chickens,%

 Comparative analysis of the effects of Boluohui extract on 42 day meat production performance of broiler chickens in Table 4

Table 5 Relative values of the effect of Boluohui extract on 42 day meat production performance of broiler chickens,%

 Comparative analysis of the effects of Boluohui extract on the development of the digestive tract in broiler chickens after 21 days in Table 6

Table 7 Relative values of the effects of Boluohui extract on 21 day digestive tract development in broiler chickens,%

Comparative analysis of the effects of Boluohui extract on the 42 day digestive tract development of broiler chickens in Table 8

Table 9 Relative effects of Boluohui extract on 42 day digestive tract development in broiler chickens,%

Comparative analysis of the effects of Boluohui extract on the small intestine score of broiler chickens at 21 and 42 days in Table 10

Table 11 Relative values of the effects of Boluohui extract on the small intestine scores of broiler chickens at 21 and 42 days,%