Influence of ellagitannins (Chestnut Wood Extract) in drinking water on growth, meat quality, muscle growth and intestinal health of European meat pigeon squabs
Ellagitannins (ETs), a class of plant tannins, extracted from chestnut wood, possess natural antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties and so on, showing great potential as a feed additive. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ETs supplementation via drinking water on growth performance, slaughter traits, meat quality, serum immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of squabs. A total of 360 pairs of pigeons were randomly assigned to four groups, receiving 0, 250, 350, or 450 g/t ETs in drinking water for 30 days. Growth metrics, slaughter yields, meat tenderness, jejunal morphology, serum biochemical indices, gene expression related to intestinal barrier and myogenesis, and cecal microbiota composition were analyzed.The results show that supplementation with 350 g/t ETs provided the most significant benefits. This group exhibited the highest nest weight gain and improved feed conversion ratio. It also showed superior slaughter performance, including increased live weight, breast muscle yield, and overall lean meat yield. Meat tenderness was notably enhanced, with the lowest shear force in breast muscle in the 350 g/t group. Furthermore, ETs supplementation improved intestinal health by increasing the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, up-regulating tight junction gene expression, and modulating the cecal microbiota, particularly by increasing the abundance of beneficial Bacillota. Serum IgG levels demonstrated a dose-dependent increase with ETs supplementation.In conclusion, dietary supplementation with ellagitannins, especially at 350 g/t via drinking water, effectively enhanced the growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal health of European meat pigeon squabs.