Effects of single or combined dietary supplementation of -glucan and kefir on growth performance, blood characteristics and meat quality in broilers

1. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary -glucan and kefir (a fermented milk product) on growth performance, blood profiles, relative organ weight and meat quality in broilers. 2. A total of 375 day-of-hatch mixed sex ROSS 308 broilers (BW of 46 +/- 0.1g) were used in a 5-week experiment and randomly allotted to one of the following dietary treatments: (1) NC, basal diet; (2) PC, basal diet+40mg/kg of avilamycin; (3) B, NC+0.1% -glucan; (4) K, NC+0.1% kefir; (5) BK, NC+0.1% -glucan+0.1% kefir. 3. During weeks 03, broilers in B, K and BK treatments had higher body weight gain (BWG) than those in NC treatment. During weeks 45, BK treatment had a higher BWG than NC treatment. Overall, broilers given PC, K and BK diets had higher BWG than those given NC diet. The feed efficiency ratio (FCR) was improved by PC treatment. 4. Relative liver weight was increased by B treatment, whereas the relative weight of breast meat and gizzard was higher in BK group than that in NC group. Broilers given PC, B and BK diets had greater breast meat redness value and reduced drip loss at d5 and d7. The cooking loss was also reduced by B and BK treatments compared with NC treatment. 5. In conclusion, the results suggested that inclusion of 0.1% -glucan and 0.1% kefir, either individually or combined, would improve growth performance and benefit meat quality in broiler chickens.