Phytobiotic effect of Marrubium vulgare and Leonurus sibiricus on productive performance of griller-type broilers

ABSTRACT: The food industry is in a continuous search for strategies of reducing of antibiotic residues in livestock production, given the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In that context, there is a consistent increasing in the usage of alternative feed phytogenic additives. Due to the pharmacological, the plants Marrubium vulgare and Leonurus sibiricus, are both potential replacements for growth-promoting antibiotics. This study evaluated the productive performance and analyze the sensory qualities in the meat of broiler that were administered M. vulgare and L. sibiricus infusions. A total of 320 chicks from an poultry farm were distributed in 8 groups groups according treatments by 28 days: Control Group (Saline); Positive control (tylosin 1%, 50 ppm); Groups of M. vulgare (MV) infusion: 2% (MV2), 4% (MV4) and 6% (MV6); and groups treated with L. sibiricus (LS) infusion: 2% (LS2), 4% (LS4) and 6% (LS6), all of them received relative doses corresponding to the live weight percentage in milliliter. There was weght gain in MV6 and LS6 group and a better food conversion in MV4, MV6, LS4, and LS6. In addition, weight gain and enhancement of the pectoral muscles were observed in these groups. The sensory analysis revealed that the broilers’ meat of MV had a more intense flavor. For marketing purposes the meat from birds that received LS had a better demand. Improvement of productive performance and sensory qualities of the broilers meat might be associated with the phytobiotic activity in it. Therefore, MV and LS can be used as natural growth promoter in broilers.摘要：鉴于耐药菌（antibiotic-resistant bacteria）的不断演化与扩散，食品工业始终在积极探寻降低畜牧生产环节中抗生素残留（antibiotic residues）的有效策略，在此背景下植物源性替代饲料添加剂（alternative feed phytogenic additives）的使用量持续稳步增长。研究表明，欧夏至草（Marrubium vulgare）与西伯利亚益母草（Leonurus sibiricus）均具备药理活性，有望替代促生长抗生素（growth-promoting antibiotics）。本研究评估了灌服欧夏至草与西伯利亚益母草浸液的肉鸡的生产性能，并分析了其肉质的感官品质。本次试验选取某家禽养殖场的320羽雏鸡，按处理方案分为8组饲养至28日龄：空白对照组（生理盐水）、阳性对照组（1%泰乐菌素，50 ppm）、欧夏至草浸液组（MV组）的2%浓度组（MV2）、4%浓度组（MV4）及6%浓度组（MV6），以及西伯利亚益母草浸液组（LS组）的2%浓度组（LS2）、4%浓度组（LS4）及6%浓度组（LS6），所有组别均按照对应活体体重百分比的毫升剂量给药。试验结果显示，MV6组与LS6组肉鸡的体重增益显著提升，MV4、MV6、LS4及LS6组的饲料转化效率更优，且上述组别肉鸡的体重增长更为显著、胸肌发育更佳；感官分析表明，MV组肉鸡的肉品风味更为浓郁，而就市场接受度而言LS组肉鸡的肉品更受青睐。肉鸡生产性能的提升与肉质感官品质的改善或与其所含的植物生物活性（phytobiotic activity）密切相关，因此欧夏至草与西伯利亚益母草可作为肉鸡的天然促生长剂应用于养殖生产。