A Study on the Effects of Weichangning on Growth Performance and Health Status of White Feather Broilers

       This study focuses on white-feathered broiler chickens, with the objectives of: ① investigating how different levels of enteric-coated tannins (Weichangning) affect the growth performance of these birds, thereby providing a scientific basis for the rational application of enteric-coated tannins (Weichangning) in broiler farming; and ② comparing the practical differences between Weichangning and its imported competitor products.

Materials and Methods

Experimental Design and Grouping

Table 1: Experimental Design

Note: Wei Chang Ning: Coated with natural plant tannins, with an effective tannin content of ≥50%; Imported Competitors: Imported from Italy, this product features tannin encapsulation using a cold-spray process, with an effective tannin content of ≥35–37%.
                                                 

The experiment used 1,080 Ross 308 broiler chickens, 11 days old with an average body weight of 0.272 ± 0.002 kg, randomly divided into 4 treatment groups, with 3 replicates per group and 90 birds in each replicate. Chickens were weighed at 11, 21, and 42 days of age, and the trial lasted for 30 days.

Test location and time: The trial was conducted at a chicken farm belonging to a certain group in Guangdong, lasting from May 10 to June 20, 2024—totaling 30 days.

Test diet: The experimental diet was a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet, formulated in-house by a certain group in Guangdong. Weichangning (enteric-coated tannin) was provided by Guangdong Nan Kun Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Test indicator measurement: Daily record feed intake, the number and weight of dead or culled chickens, and calculate average daily weight gain, daily feed consumption, feed-to-meat ratio, and mortality rate for each phase during the trial period.

Results and Analysis

Impact on the Growth Performance of White Broiler Chickens

Table 2: Body Weights (kg) of White Broiler Chickens at Different Ages

Note: In the same column, identical letters for the data indicate no significant difference (P > 0.05), while different lowercase letters denote a highly significant difference (P < 0.05). The same applies to the table below.

As shown in Table 2, adding 250 g/t of coated tannin (Weichangning) to the diet of white-feathered broilers significantly improved their final body weight, average daily gain, average feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, thereby positively influencing the birds' growth performance.

Impact on the Health of White Broiler Chickens

Table 3: Survival Rate (%) of White-Legged Broilers in Different Experimental Groups

As shown in Table 3, no mortality or culling occurred among the experimental chicken groups, demonstrating that the farming environment is excellent, management practices are thorough, and the feed rations are fresh and safe.

Stool score versus stool water content

Table 4: Fecal Scores and Moisture Content of White-Legged Broilers in Different Experimental Groups

As shown in Table 4, adding coated tannins to the chickens' diet can further and effectively improve intestinal health, reducing the incidence of watery droppings in the flock.

Conclusion