Appraisal of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) extract on production performance, internal organs, and gut microflora of japanese quail

ABSTRACT. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of Echinacea purpurea (EP) extract at 5 levels (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1 or 2 mL L-1 of drinking water) on performance, internal organs and gut microflora of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica). The results showed that EP extract decreased feed intake and body weight gain of quails. The feed conversion ratio of quails fed with EP extract at the level of 0.5 ml L-1 drinking water was significantly decreased compared to the control group. Adding EP extract at the levels of 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mL L-1 drinking water decreased carcass yield of the birds (p < 0.05). The relative weight of internal organs of the birds fed different levels of EP extract was not significantly different. Birds consumed EP extract at the levels of 1 or 2 mL L-1 drinking water had lower ileal aerobic bacteria population compared to the control group; however, the ileal Coliform population increased by EP extract supplementation (p < 0.05). Results of the present study indicated that using EP extract at the level of 0.5 mL L-1 drinking water could improve feed conversion ratio of quails; however, it decreased the carcass yield of the birds.

摘要 本试验旨在评估5个浓度梯度（饮水添加量分别为0、0.25、0.5、1及2 mL·L⁻¹）的紫锥菊（Echinacea purpurea, EP）提取物对日本鹌鹑（Coturnix coturnix Japonica）生产性能、内脏器官及肠道菌群的影响。试验结果显示，EP提取物可降低鹌鹑的采食量与体增重；饮水添加0.5 mL·L⁻¹ EP提取物组的饲料转化率显著低于对照组。饮水添加0.25、0.5或1 mL·L⁻¹ EP提取物可降低鹌鹑的屠宰率（p<0.05）。各EP添加组鹌鹑的内脏相对重量均无显著差异。饮水添加1或2 mL·L⁻¹ EP提取物的鹌鹑回肠需氧菌数量低于对照组，但EP提取物添加会使回肠大肠菌群数量升高（p<0.05）。本研究结果表明，饮水添加0.5 mL·L⁻¹的EP提取物可改善鹌鹑的饲料转化率，但会降低其屠宰率。