title: Evaluation of mango saponin in broilers: effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and plasma biochemical indices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study was to determine whether mango saponin (MS) could be used as a feed additive in broiler chicks by evaluating growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and plasma biochemical indices.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 216 1-d-old Arbor Acres male broiler chicks were randomly assigned into three dietary treatments supplemented with 0 (control), 0.14% (MS 0.14%), or 0.28% (MS 0.28%) MS. Each treatment had six replicates (cages) with 12 chicks each. The feeding trial lasted for six weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control, dietary supplemented with 0.14% or 0.28% MS increased average daily weight gain of chicks in the grower (22 to 42 d) and the whole (1 to 42 d) phases, and the final body weight of chicks on d 42 was higher in MS supplemented groups (p<0.05). Lower L45 min* (lightness) and L24 h* values, lower b24 h* (yellowness) value, and higher a45 min* (redness) and a24 h* values of the breast muscle were observed in chicks fed with 0.28% MS on d 42 (p<0.05). The total antioxidant capacity in plasma increased in MS 0.14% group on d 21 (p<0.001). Lower contents of plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride were observed in chicks fed with 0.28% MS on d 21 and d 42, whereas the group supplemented with 0.14% MS only decreased plasma triglyceride content on d 21 (p<0.05). The glucose content in plasma decreased in MS 0.28% group on d 42 (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, MS could be used as a feed additive in broiler chicks, and the supplemental level of 0.28% MS in diet could improve growth performance, meat quality, and plasma lipid metabolism in broiler chicks.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Y N
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou, Hainan 571737, China.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou, Hainan 571737, China.
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Qi
keywords: Broiler Chick; Growth Performance; Mango Saponin; Meat Quality; Plasma Biochemical Index