Effects of raffinose supplementation on growth performance, carcass quality, blood chemistry, gut microbiota, and intestinal morphology in Yellow-feathered broilers

This study aimed to assess the effect of supplementing broilers' diets with raffinose on growth efficiency, blood indicators, intestinal microbial communities, and morphology. In a randomized experimental design, 195 one-day-old, yellow-feathered broilers were randomly allocated into 3 treatments, with 5 replicates in each treatment and 13 chickens in each replicate. The control group was administered a basal diet, whereas the remaining two groups were provided with meals enriched with 0.1 and 0.3 % of raffinose. The findings found that raffinose increased ADFI and BWG, but the change in feed-to-gain ratio was not substantial (P > 0.05). The 0.1 % raffinose group had significantly higher semi-clean and total clean carcass rates than controls (P < 0.05), while the 0.3 % group showed a lower slaughter rate. From days 1 to 21, the amounts of "dry matter, organic matter, either extract, crude protein, and metabolizable energy" were higher in the raffinose groups, but not significant (P > 0.05); however, from days 22 to 42, these amounts showed a significant improvement. Urea and TC levels were substantially elevated (P < 0.05) in raffinose groups at 1-21 days but were not different between groups in later periods. Raffinose increased volatile fatty acid content in the cecum without significance. Importantly, it significantly raised beneficial lactobacillus populations and reduced harmful coliform bacteria in the ileum and cecum. Also, raffinose increased the height of intestinal villi and the ratio of villus to crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (P < 0.05), which helped the intestines grow better and improved how broilers digest and absorb nutrients. In conclusion, adding raffinose to their diet helped broiler chickens grow better, balanced their gut bacteria, and had a positive effect on their intestinal development and health markers.