Zhang Guanfeng¹,Song Xianfan²,Yan Zhaoming¹,Yang Xiaojin³,Zheng Mengli¹,Liu Yating¹, Chen Qinghua¹
1.College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China;
2.Hunan Debang Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., Changsha 410000, China;
3.Luoyang Oukebaike Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Luoyang 471611, China
[Objective] This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of dietary superoxide dismutase (SOD) supplementation on the growth performance, immune performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal function of broilers, providing a reference for the application of SOD in livestock and poultry.
[Methods] Three hundred one-day-old male AA broilers were randomly divided into five groups, with six replicates per group and ten chickens per replicate. The control group was fed a basal diet, while groups A, B, C, and D were supplemented with 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg SOD, respectively, to their basal diet. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Feed intake was recorded daily. After the experiment, one chicken was randomly selected from each replicate, given water and fasted for 12 hours, and then weighed. Samples were collected from immune organs, blood, liver, and intestines to determine the broiler's growth performance, immune performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal function indicators.
[Results] Compared with the control group, ① the feed conversion ratio of broilers in group B (1-21 days old) was significantly lower (P < 0.05). ② The thymus index and bursa of Fabricius index of broilers in groups A to D showed an increasing trend, but the differences were not significant (P > 0.05); the spleen index of broilers in groups B and C was significantly increased (P < 0.05). ③ There was no significant change in the serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) content of broilers in groups A to D (P > 0.05); the serum IgG and IgM contents of broilers in group B were significantly increased (P < 0.05). ④ The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and T-SOD activities in the serum of broilers in groups B and C, as well as the T-AOC and T-SOD activities in the liver, were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the MDA content in the serum and liver was significantly decreased (P < 0.01); the GSH-Px and catalase (CAT) activities in the liver of broilers in group B were significantly increased (P < 0.05); the MDA content in the serum of broilers in group D was significantly increased (P < 0.05). ⑤ The length and weight of the duodenum and jejunum in group B broilers were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Trypsin activity in the duodenum and jejunum of broilers in groups B and C were significantly increased (P < 0.05).
【Conclusion】Under the conditions of this experiment, adding 200 mg/kg SOD to the diet can improve the antioxidant capacity, immunity, intestinal function, and growth performance of broilers aged 1–21 days.
