Entermorpha prolifera: Effects on Performance,Carcass Quality and Small Intestinal Digestive Enzyme Activities of Broilers

To determine the optimum supplemental level of Entermorpha prolifera for broiler diet,this experiment w as conducted to investigate the effects of different supplemental levels of Entermorpha prolifera on performance,carcass quality and small intestinal digestive enzyme activities of broilers.Four hundred 1-day-old healthy Arbor Acres broilers w ere randomly allocated to 4 groups w ith 5 replicates per group and 20 chickens per replicate.Control group w as fed a basal diet,and test groups w ere fed the basal diet supplemented w ith 2%,3% and 4% dry pow der of Entermorpha prolifera,respectively.The experiment lasted for 35 days.The results show ed as follow s: 1) the average daily gain of broilers fed diets w ith 3% and 4% Entermorpha prolifera dry pow der w ere significantly higher than that in the control group(P 0.05),the feed consumption of broilers fed diets w ith 3% Entermorpha prolifera dry pow der w as significantly higher than that in the control group(P 0.05),the ratio of feed to gain in all test groups w as low er than that in the control group to some extent,w hile there w ere no significant differences among them(P 0.05).2) Adding 2% to 4% Entermorpha prolifera dry pow der in diets significantly decreased the thickness of subcutaneous fat,abdominal fat rate and the content of fat in breast muscle(P 0.05 or P 0.01),and adding 3% and 4% Entermorpha prolifera dry pow der in diets significantly decreased the w idth of intramuscular fat(P 0.05).3) The amylase activities in duodenal content of broilers w ere increased by adding 2% to 4% Entermorpha prolifera dry pow der in diets to some extent,w hich only in 4% group w as significantly increased(P 0.05).It is concluded that adding 2% to 4% Entermorpha prolifera dry pow der in diets of broilers can improve the grow th of broilers, decrease abdominal and subcutaneous fat,improve breast meat quality,and enhance the activities of amylase in duodenal content of broilers.The effects of 3% and 4% Entermorpha prolifera dry pow der supplementation are better.