The effects of diets supplemented with fermented or non-fermented cherry kernels (Prunus avium L.) on growth performance, ileal histology, caecum microflora, and some meat quality parameters in broiler chickens

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of diets supplemented with fermented or non-fermented cherry kernels on growth performance, ileal histology, caecum microflora, and some meat quality parameters in broiler chickens. A total of 120 male broilers (1 day of age, Ross 308) were allocated randomly to three treatments with 5 replicates per treatment. Control groups (CONT) were provided the basal diet without cherry kernel powder, while treatment groups were provided the basal diet supplemented with either non-fermented cherry kernel powder at 10 g/kg of feed (C) or fermented cherry kernel powder at 10 g/kg of feed (FC). From 1 to 42 days of age, the C and FC treatments had a higher feed intake compared to CONT (P<0.01). However, feed conversion ratio (FRC) of these birds was lower compared to CONT (P<0.05). There were no differences between C and FC in terms of FCR, and body weight gain (BWG) for all treatments for the same time period (P>0.05). None of the carcass and slaughter parameters, except for the bursa of Fabricius (P<0.01), were affected by any of the treatments (P>0.05). In the FC treatment the highest lightness, yellowness, hue angle, chroma, and colour difference values for breast meat were recorded (P<0.01). The villus heights of chickens in the C and FC treatments were higher than those of CONT (P<0.01). The C treatment increased Lactobacillus acidophilus counts in the caecum compared to the other groups (P<0.05). These results showed that both cherry kernel treatments (C and FC) could have the potential as feed additive to promote growth performance (especially for BWG in the starter period), intestinal health and meat colour in broiler.