Impacts of dietary different doses of Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce fibrous root powder as a natural growth promoter on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and intestinal health of broilers

This study systematically evaluated the potential of Polygonatum odoratum fibrous root powder (YZF) as a natural growth promoter in broiler feed by its effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and cecal microbiota. 240 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups (6 replicates of 10 birds each), the control group received a basal diet, while the experimental groups were supplemented with 0.5 %, 1 % and 2 % YZF, respectively, with an experimental period of 56 days. The results showed that 1) BW (p < 0.001), ADG (p < 0.001) and ADFI (p = 0.005) were significantly higher and FCR was lower (p < 0.001) in all dose groups than in the control group in the 1 ∼ 28 days of age, whereas there was no significant difference in the later 29 ∼ 56 days of age. 2) The addition of 1 % YZF significantly increased the semi-eviscerated rate, eviscerated rate and breast muscle rate of broilers (p < 0.05). 3) Addition of YZF significantly reduced serum triglyceride (p = 0.032) and malondialdehyde levels while enhancing total antioxidant capacity in yellow feather broilers (p < 0.05). 4) Supplementation of YZF not only significantly reduced the shear force and cooking/dripping loss of chicken (p < 0.05), but also significantly enhanced the content of essential amino acids, umami amino acids and sweet amino acids of chicken (p < 0.05). 5) Supplementation of YZF significantly altered the cecum flora composition of broiler, in which the low and medium dose groups significantly increased the relative abundance of butyrate-producing genera (e.g., Butyricimonas, Shuttleworthia) and the relative abundance of these beneficial bacteria was positively correlated with growth performance (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with lipid levels (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 0.5 % and 1 % YZF improved growth performance, carcass quality, meat quality, and antioxidant status in broilers, while also increasing the abundance of beneficial cecal bacteria. These findings support the potential of YZF as a natural growth-promoting feed additive for poultry production, with the 1 % supplementation level proving to be optimal.