China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (7): 3047-3058.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.07.007

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Different Fermentation Bedding Materials on Growth Performance, Digestive Enzyme Activities, Serum Biochemical and Immune Indices in Patridge Shank Chickens

LI Jun1, YIN Lei1, YANG Ying1, HU Jianxin2, TANG Li1, QIN Qingming1, LIANG Chengcheng1, WU Haigang1, ZHAO Mengting1, DUAN Wenmiao1   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, Xinyang 464000, China;
    2. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Technical Service Center of Xinyang, Xinyang 464000, China
  • Received:2024-08-08 Online:2025-07-05 Published:2025-07-01

Abstract: 【Objective】 The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different fermentation bedding materials on the growth performance,digestive enzyme activities,serum biochemical indexes and immune indexes of Patridge Shank chickens. 【Method】 Four hundred healthy 1-day-old Patridge Shank chickens (equal sex ratio) with similar body weights were randomly allocated to four groups:Control group (concrete floor feeding with pure chicken manure generated during the feeding process as bedding materials,without additional bedding litter),group A (wheat straw bedding litter),group B (sand bedding litter),and group C (wheat straw and sand with a volume ratio of 1∶1). No feces was removed in any group,each group was sprayed with activated and diluted bacterial solution (bacterial solution∶water=1∶20) and turned over every 7 days.The pre-feeding period was 7 days,the experimental period was 21 days.The temperature and pH of bedding were observed regularly during the experiment period and at the end,organic matter,total nitrogen content and carbon-nitrogen (C/N) ratio of the fermentation bedding materials were determined by four division method for each group,and two chickens were randomly selected from each replicate for blood sampling,slaughtering,and collecting pancreas and duodenum to determine serum biochemical indices and intestinal digestive enzyme activities. 【Result】 The pH of the bedding in each group showed an overall increasing trend with the prolongation of the rearing time of broilers, and eventually stabilized between 7.88 and 8.03, and the pH of bedding litter in experimental groups were relatively higher than that of control group throughout the whole period.The litter temperature of all experimental groups was higher than that of control group,with group A having the highest temperature and fastest warming up.Compared with control group,the moisture content of bedding litter was significantly higher in group A (P<0.05),while the moisture and organic matter contents were significantly lower in groups B and C (P<0.05),and the total nitrogen content of each experimental group was lower (P<0.05),and C/N of each experimental group was higher (P<0.05).Compared with control group,the final weight and average daily weight gain of chickens in groups A,B and C were significantly higher (P<0.05),and there were no significant differences in average daily feed intake and feed to gain ratio (P>0.05).Compared with control group,the activity of pancreatic trypin and lipase in pancreas of chickens were significantly increased in experimental groups (P<0.05),the activity of α-amylase in pancreas and the activity of lipase in duodenum were enhanced in group B (P<0.05),and the activities of lipase and α-amylase in duodenum were significantly enhanced in group C (P<0.05).Compared with control group,the serum total protein content (TP) of chickens in group B was significantly higher (P<0.05),the serum TP, albumin (ALB) and glucose (GLU) contents of chickens in group C were significantly higher (P<0.05),while blood urea nitrogen (BUN) content of chickens in experimental groups were significantly lower (P<0.05).The TP content in the serum of chickens in group C was significantly higher than that of group B (P<0.05),and the ALB content was significantly higher than that of groups A and B (P<0.05).Compared with control group,IgA,IgM and IgG concentration in the serum of chickens were significantly higher in group C (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 The bio-bed system with sand and straw litters could improve the growth performance of Patridge Shank chickens to a certain extent,enhance the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes,promote body metabolism,and improve its immune function,especially the bio-bed of mixture litters with 50% sand and 50% wheat straw was more effective.

Key words: fermentation bedding materials; Patridge Shank chickens; growth performance; digestive enzyme activities; serum biochemical indices; immune indices

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