China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (2): 798-809.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.02.026

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Green Tea Aqueous Extract on Slaughter Performance, Meat quality and Serum Biochemical Indices of Cyan-shank Partridge Chickens

TANG Li(), ZHANG Min, LI Jun, LIU Jinni(), DENG Kaiwei, LIANG Chengcheng, HE Shuhai, WU Haigang, CHEN Hui, LI Yifan, GONG Qimeng, WU Dongke   

  1. College of Animal Science and Technology,Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University,Xinyang 464000,China
  • Received:2025-08-11 Online:2026-02-20 Published:2026-01-27
  • Contact: LIU Jinni E-mail:tangli197710@163.com;jinniliu@126.com

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of green tea aqueous extract on slaughter performance, meat quality, and serum biochemical indices of Cyan-shank partridge chickens. Method A total of 400 one-day-old healthy Cyan-shank partridge chicks with similar body weight (40 g±5 g) were randomly divided into four groups, with five replicates per group and 20 chicks per replicate. All chicks were fed the same basal diet. Chicks in control group received cooled boiled water at room temperature, while chicks in experimental groups Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ were provided with 0.3%, 0.6% and 1.2% green tea aqueous extract for free intake, and the experiment period was 42 days. At the end of the experiment, two chicks from each replicate were randomly selected for blood collection from the wing vein, followed by slaughter. Bilateral breast and thigh muscles were collected to determine slaughter performance and meat quality. Result Regarding slaughter performance, compared with control group, the Cyan-shank partridge chickens in all green tea aqueous extract-treated groups showed a significant increase in slaughter rate and semi-eviscerated yield (P<0.05). Chickens in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ also exhibited a significantly higher eviscerated yield (P<0.05). For meat quality parameters, shear force of the breast muscle was significantly decreased in all treatment groups (P<0.05). The lightness (L*) value of breast muscle was significantly reduced in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P<0.05). Furthermore, the Cyan-shank partridge chickens in group Ⅱ showed a significant increase in thigh muscle crude fat content (P<0.05), while the redness (a*) value of thigh muscle in group Ⅰ was significantly increased (P<0.05). Analysis of serum biochemical indices revealed that chickens in group Ⅱ had significantly higher serum levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P<0.05), along with significantly lower alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (P<0.05). In groups Ⅰ and Ⅲ, chickens exhibited significantly decreased serum TP and globulin (GLB) contents (P<0.05), but an increased ALB content (P<0.05). Additionally, chickens in group Ⅲ showed significantly reduced serum triglyceride (TG) content and ALP activity (P<0.05). Serum urea nitrogen (BUN) content in group Ⅱ was significantly lower than that in groups Ⅰ and Ⅲ (P<0.05). Conclusion Dietary supplementation with green tea aqueous extract improved the slaughter performance and meat quality of Cyan-shank partridge chickens, enhanced fat deposition in thigh muscle, and positively regulated protein and lipid metabolism. The most effective concentration was 0.6%.

Key words: green tea aqueous extract; Cyan-shank partridge chickens; slaughter performance; meat quality; serum biochemical indices

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