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Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi
2024 , Vol 30 , Issue 3
Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Alfalfa Polysaccharide on Performance and Immune System Efficacy of Broiler Chickens
1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, CHINA
DOI :
10.9775/kvfd.2023.31166
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Alfalfa polysaccharide (APS) on the
growth performance and immune responses of broilers. A total of 400 1-day-old Avian
broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups and administered
intranasal with different levels of APS (0, 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 mg/dose) on day 1 and day
14. Growth performance, phagocytic activity, T lymphocyte transformation, and serum
antibody titers against the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine were examined.
During the study period of 42 days, no significant differences were observed in food
intake among treatment groups (P>0.05). The APS administered groups displayed a
low FCR, especially the 2.5 mg groups (P<0.05). Broilers with 2.5 mg APS displayed a
much higher phagocytic activity than the control group (P<0.05). At the same time, APS
enhanced the T lymphocyte transformation in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA).
The antibody titer to NDV was not influenced by APS on day 14, while it improved on
day 28 and day 42, especially in the 2.5 mg group (P<0.05). And the above data suggest
that APS could improve innate and cellular immune responses in broilers.
Keywords :
Alfalfa polysaccharide, Broilers, Diseases, Growth, Immunity