Effects of Hawthorn Extract on Growth Performance and Intestinal Microflora of Broilers

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of hawthorn extract on growth performance and intestinal microflora of broilers,and discuss the optimal supplement in broiler diets.Three hundred one-day old AA+ broilers were randomly assigned to five treatment with six replicates.There were ten broilers per replicate.The experiment was divided into two phases(0~3 week and 4~6 week).The birds were fed the basal diet,or basal diet supplemented with 10,15,20,25 mg/kg hawthorn extract.The results showed that the average feed intake and average daily gain of broiler was increased by hawthorn entract supplementation(P0.05),the FCR was improved in anaphase,and the sum of Escherichia Coli in Ileum and Cecum was decreased(P0.05).It showed positive effect on the colonization of Lactic bacteria in Jejunum,Ileum and cecum.Based on the rusults,it is suggested that the optimal level of hawthorn extract in broiler diet was 20 mg/kg.