Effect of honeysuckle extract on growth performance, blood biochemical indexes, slaughtering performance and meat quality of Tong geese.

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of different levels of honeysuckle extract on growth performance, nutrient metabolic rate, slaughter performance, serum biochemical indexes and meat quality of Tong geese. A total of 200 healthy male Tong geese with body weight of (2.04±0.12) kg were randomly divided into four groups with five replicates per group and 10 geese per replicate. The groups were supplemented with 0, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg honeysuckle extract in the basal diets, respectively. The pre-test lasted for 6 d and the formal test lasted for 35 d. The results showed that the average daily gain of Tong geese in group 3 and group 4 was significantly higher than that in group 1 (P<0.05), and the feed to gain ratio was significantly lower than that in group 1 (P<0.05). The metabolic rates of crude protein, crude fat and crude fiber of Tong geese in groups 3 and 4 were significantly higher than those in group 1 (P<0.05). The content of TP and GLB in serum of Tong geese in group 3 and group 4 were significantly higher than those in group 1 (P<0.05), and the activity of AST and ALT in group 3 and group 4 were significantly lower than those in group 1 (P<0.05). The leg muscle percentage and chest muscle percentage of Tong geese in groups 3 and group 4 were significantly higher than those in group 1 (P<0.05), and the abdominal fat percentage was significantly lower than that in group 1 (P<0.05). The intermuscular fat content of Tong geese in group 3 and group 4 was significantly lower than that in group 1 (P<0.05). The study indicates that the addition of honeysuckle extract can effectively improve the growth performance, nutrient metabolic rate, blood biochemical indexes, slaughter performance and meat quality of Tong geese, and the appropriate dosage is 300 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]