Effects of dietary supplementation with copra meal on growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal health of Wenchang chicken

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with copra meal on growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal development in Wenchang chickens. A total of 480 healthy, 80-day-old female Wenchang chickens were randomly allocated to 4 groups, each with 6 replicates of 20 birds. The chickens in the control group (Con) received a basal diet, whereas the 3 experimental groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 1.5%, 3.0%, or 6.0% copra meal for 40 days. The results indicated that the 1.5% group exhibited higher average daily gain (ADG) and lower feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) compared with the Con group. Additionally, dietary supplementation with 1.5%, 3.0%, or 6.0% copra meal reduced drip loss in both thigh and breast muscles. In the 1.5%, 3.0% and 6.0% group, the contents of C14:0 were significantly induced, and C14:1 were significantly increased in thigh muscle, compared with the Con group. Moreover, the 6.0% group demonstrated significantly greater villus height and villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio in the jejunum, along with higher levels of propionic and butyric acids in the ileum. At the genus level, Turicibacter abundance was significantly lower in the 6.0% group, whereas Bacteroides and Barnesiella were significantly higher. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with 6.0% copra meal reduces F/G and enhances meat quality and intestinal development in Wenchang chickens.