Effects of Fermented Puffed Feather Meal on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indices, Meat Quality, and Intestinal Microbiota in Broilers.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of fermented puffed feather meal (FPFM) on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, meat quality, and intestinal microbiota in Arbor Acres (AA) broilers. A single-factor design was adopted, and four treatments were administered with five replicates to 240 one-day-old AA broilers. The control group (group A) received a basal diet, while the experimental groups received a basal diet plus 33% (group B), 67% (group C) and 100% (group D) FPFM, respectively. Compared with group A, (1) the average daily gain (ADG) in group C decreased (P<0.05), and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in group D increased (P<0.05); (2) the level of serum urea nitrogen in treatment groups decreased (P<0.05), and the levels of triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, cholesterol, and glucose contents in group D increased (P<0.05) at day 21; (3) the serum immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G in group B and the immunoglobulin A in group C increased (P<0.05) at day 21, and the serum immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G in group D decreased (P<0.05) at day 42; (4) the share force of breast muscle and thigh muscle in group D increased (P<0.05); (5) the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum of group B increased (P<0.05) at day 21, and the villus height in group C and D increased (P<0.05) at day 42; (6) the proteobacteria counts in the cecum digesta in treatment groups decreased (P<0.05) at day 21. The basal diet supplemented with 33% FPFM promoted protein metabolism, enhanced immunity and improved meat quality, promoted the digestion and absorption of nutrients, increased intestinal microbial diversity, and improved the content of beneficial bacteria without affecting the growth performance, it was possible to be used as a good substitute for fish meal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]