Effects of astragalus powder on serum lipid and body fat content of fast large-scale quality chickens.

[Objective] To study the effects of astragalus powder on serum lipids and body fat contents of fast large-scale quality chickens, and thus provide a theoretical basis for its application in poultry production. [Method] All the 180 1-day-old healthy Liangfeng chickens were randomly divided into six groups. Group 1 was the control group, fed with basal diet; group 2, group 3 and group 4 were fed with basal diet added with 0.75%, 1.0% and 1.25% astragalus powder, respectively; group 5 and group 6 were separately fed with basal diet added with 1.0% and 1.25% astragalus powder, but the astragalus powder was used for 10 d and then was forbidden for 10 d in turn during the whole experiment. The content of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TCHO), high-density lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C) were respectively determined when the chickens were 35-day-old and 63-day-old, while the percentage of abdominal fat (PAF) as well as intramuscular fat (IMF) and subcutaneous fat ply (SFP) was measured when the chickens were 63-day-old. [Result] In 35-day-old chickens, the levels of TCHO were significantly or very significantly lower in group 3, group 4, and group 6 than in control group (P0.05 or 0.01); the levels of LDL-C significantly lower in group 3 and group 6 (P0.05); the level of HDL-C significantly higher in group 5 (P0.05). In 63-day-old chickens, the levels of TCHO and LDL-C were significantly or very significantly lower in group 3, group 4, and group 5 than in control group (P0.05 or 0.01) while the levels of HDL-C were significantly higher in these groups; the PAF was significantly lower in group 3 (P0.05). [Conclusion] Astragalus powder should reduce the levels of TG, TCHO and LDL-C, promote HDL-C content, and also play a certain regulative role in deposition of abdominal fat.