Effects of Phytogenic Feed Additive on Production Performance, Slaughtering Performance, Meat Quality, and Intestinal Flora of White-Feathered Broilers

Abstract

This study systematically evaluates the effects of dietary supplementation with phytogenic feed additive (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.8%) on white-feathered broilers (n = 88) through a 42-day controlled trial with the weight of approximately 50 g. The experimental design incorporates a triplicate-group-replicated protocol with daily feed intake monitoring, culminating in comprehensive assessments of the growth performance, slaughter traits, meat quality, and cecal microbiome dynamics. The results demonstrated that the 0.8% supplementation significantly enhanced average daily weight gain (p < 0.05), optimized meat characteristics (elevated the redness of meat, reduced pH; p < 0.05), and restructured cecal microbiota by enriching Deinococcus-Thermus, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria (p < 0.05). Based on microbiota-based functional prediction analyses (COG/KEGG/MetaCyc), phytogenic feed additive significantly activated lipid metabolism pathways in broilers. The immunomodulatory correlations between Deinococcus/Thermus/Cyanobacteria and immune indicators suggested their potential immune-enhancing effects mediated through host immune regulation. The findings established the 0.8% phytogenic feed additive as a multifunctional phytogenic additive that synchronously improves zootechnical performance, meat quality, and microbiome homeostasis, offering a scientifically validated strategy for antibiotic-free precision nutrition in sustainable poultry production.

Keywords: 16S rDNA; average daily gain; beneficial flora; correlation analysis; meat quality.

Figure 1

Effect of phytogenic feed additive on the alpha-diversity of the intestinal microbiota in white-feathered broilers. (A) Ace index, (B) Chao index, (C) Shannon index, and (D) Simpson index.

Figure 2

Effect of phytogenic feed additive on the β-diversity of the intestinal microbiota in white-feathered broilers. (A) OTUs clustering diagram and (B) PCoA clustering diagram.

Figure 3

Effects of phytogenic feed additive on the phylum- and genus-level composition and the intestinal microbiota structure in white-feathered broilers. (A) Phylum diagram, (B) genus diagram, and (C) LEfSe diagram.

Figure 4

Prediction of the effects of phytogenic feed additive on COG, KEGG, and Metacyc pathways. (A) COG access road forecast, (B) KEGG access road forecast, and (C) Metacyc access road forecast.

Figure 5

Correlation analysis between clinical indicators and significant differences in cecal microbiota in white-feathered broiler chickens. L* represents the brightness value of the chicken breast, b* represents the yellowness value of the chicken breast, and a* represents the redness value of the chicken breast. The red indicates a positive correlation and blue indicates a negative correlation.