China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (2): 723-734.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.02.020

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Pomegranate Peel Powder on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity and Intestinal Microorganisms of Broilers

YI Lin1,2(), ZHOU Changming2(), KANG Shouting2, ZHAO Fuwei2, ZHAO Xianlin2, WAN Shuangxiu2, JIANG Lili2, WANG Shiyu2, FAN Zhaobin2(), ZHANG Jianbin1()   

  1. 1.College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Tianjin Agricultural University,Tianjin 300000,China
    2.Heze University,Heze 274015,China
  • Received:2025-07-15 Online:2026-02-20 Published:2026-01-27
  • Contact: FAN Zhaobin, ZHANG Jianbin E-mail:yilinhn2023@163.com;306716753@qq.com;fanzhaobin79@163.com;zjbzwz@126.com

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with pomegranate peel powder (PPP) on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, serum biochemical and antioxidant indices, and cecal microbiota structure of White-feathered broilers. Method A total of 288 one-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups with 3 replicates per group and 24 broilers per replicate. The control group (CON) was fed a basal diet, while groups 1, 2 and 3 received the basal diet supplemented with 0.75%, 1.5% and 3.0% PPP, respectively. The trial lasted for 42 days. Body weight and feed intake were recorded at the beginning and end of the trial to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed-to-gain ratio (F/G). At the end of the experiment, 12 chickens were randomly selected. Blood was collected and serum was sparated. Collect jejunal and ileal tissues as well as cecal contents and determine serum biochemical and antioxidant indices, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbial composition (analyzed via 16S rDNA sequencing) were determined. Result Compared with CON group, the growth performance of broilers in group 1 showed an improving trend, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Compared with CON group, the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum of broilers in group 1 was significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with CON group, the villus height (VH) and villus/crypt ratio (V/C) of the jejunum in group 1 broilers were significantly increased (P<0.05). The results of cecal microbiota sequencing showed that 0.75% PPP could significantly increase the richness and diversity of the microbiota, promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as BacteroidesBifidobacterium and ChristensenellaP<0.05), and significantly reduce the abundance of the potential pathogen AlistipesP<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium were positively correlated with serum antioxidant indicators and intestinal morphology parameters. Conclusion Under the present experimental conditions, dietary supplementation with 0.75% PPP could significantly enhance antioxidant capacity, improve intestinal mucosal morphology, and increase the richness of beneficial cecal microbiota in broilers.

Key words: pomegranate peel; intestinal morphology; serum biochemistry; antioxidant capacity; intestinal flora

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