Work

Effects of dietary supplementation with copra meal on growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal health of Wenchang chicken

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with copra meal on growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal development in Wenchang chickens. A total of 480 healthy, 80-day-old female Wenchang chickens were randomly allocated to 4 groups, each with 6 replicates of 20 birds. The chickens in the control group (Con) received a basal diet, whereas the 3 experimental groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 1.5%, 3.0%, or 6.0% copra meal for 40 days. The results indicated that the 1.5% group exhibited higher average daily gain (ADG) and lower feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) compared with the Con group. Additionally, dietary supplementation with 1.5%, 3.0%, or 6.0% copra meal reduced drip loss in both thigh and breast muscles. In the 1.5%, 3.0% and 6.0% group, the contents of C14:0 were significantly induced, and C14:1 were significantly increased in thigh muscle, compared with the Con group. Moreover, the 6.0% group demonstrated significantly greater villus height and villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio in the jejunum, along with higher levels of propionic and butyric acids in the ileum. At the genus level, Turicibacter abundance was significantly lower in the 6.0% group, whereas Bacteroides and Barnesiella were significantly higher. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with 6.0% copra meal reduces F/G and enhances meat quality and intestinal development in Wenchang chickens.

Source: BMC Veterinary Research

DOI: 10.1186/s12917-025-05083-2