Effects of dietary inclusion levels of palm oil on growth performance,antioxidative status and serum cytokines of broiler chickens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary palm oil inclusion levels on growth performance, serum antioxidative status and cytokines in Sanhuang broiler chickens. A total of 208 one‐day‐old female Sanhuang chickens were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with four replicates per group and of 13 birds each for a 42‐day feeding trial. Dietary treatments were basal diet without palm oil (control) and diets containing 2%, 4% or 6% palm oil. During days 22 to 42 and the overall experimental period, chickens fed diets supplemented with 4% and 6% palm oil had a lower average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p = 0.019) and feed to gain ratio (F/G) (p = 0.031). Average daily gain (ADG) tended to be higher (p = 0.089) for palm oil inclusion treatments compared with the control treatment from days 1 to 42. Dietary 2% and 4% palm oil treatments significantly lowed serum malondialdehyde concentration on day 21 when compared to the control and 6% palm oil treatments (p = 0.027). Dietary 6% palm oil treatment significantly reduced the catalase (CAT) activity (p = 0.018) and total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) (p = 0.027) in serum in comparison with the control treatment on day 21. No significant differences were observed in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activities in serum among dietary treatments on day 21. There were no significant differences in T‐AOC, CAT, SOD and GSH‐Px activities among dietary treatments on day 42. Dietary inclusion of 4% and 6% palm oil significantly increased (p = 0.01) serum interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) content, but improved transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) content in serum on both days 21 and 42 (p = 0.032 and 0.022 respectively) as well as IL‐10 content on day 42 (p = 0.022) when compared with the control treatment. Furthermore, dietary inclusion of 6% palm oil significantly reduced tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) content on days 21 and 42 (p = 0.021 and 0.001 respectively) compared with the control treatment. These results suggest that dietary inclusion of 4% and 6% palm oil could improve the growth performance, modulate the balance between pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines, and show limited effect on antioxidative status in Sanhuang broiler chickens.     

马齿苋粉对肉鸡生长性能和抗氧化能力的影响

文章旨在研究饲粮中添加马齿苋粉对肉鸡生长性能和抗氧化能力的影响。试验选取平均体重接近的1日龄AA肉鸡160只,称重后随机分为4组,试验1、2、3组在对照组饲粮的基础上分别添加0.30%、0.60%、0.90%的马齿苋粉,共处理42 d。结果发现,与对照组相比,肉鸡21日龄时,试验1、2、3组ADG分别增加5.5%、10.0%、6.8%(P <0.05),试验1、2组F/C分别降低8.2%、6.4%(P <0.05);42日龄时,试验1、2、3组ADG分别增加8.9%、9.6%、8.7%(P <0.05),F/C分别降低8.6%、9.6%、10.1%(P <0.05)。此外,21日龄时,试验1、2、3组肉鸡血清中T-AOC比对照组分别增加12.0%、14.4%、10.1%(P <0.05),T-SOD活性分别增加6.6%、10.5%、9.1%(P <0.05),MDA浓度分别降低6.3%、8.0%、5.6%(P <0.05);42日龄时,试验1、2、3组肉鸡血清中T-AOC比对照组分别提高13.9%、20.3%、13.6%(P <0.05),T-SOD活性分别提高10.5%、14.8%、9.5%(P <0.05),MDA浓度分别降低11.1%、14.9%、9.7%(P <0.05),试验1、2组血清中GSH-Px活性较对照组分别提高10.2%、11.8%(P <0.05)。结果表明,饲粮中添加马齿苋粉显著促进肉鸡生长及增强抗氧化能力。     

功能性饲料添加剂复方制剂对肉鸡生产性能和脂肪代谢的影响

本试验观察了一种功能性饲料添加剂复方制剂对肉鸡生产性能和脂肪代谢的影响。试验结果表明,在基础日粮中添加该复方制剂500mg·Kg-1可使49日龄肉鸡体重提高5.83%,料重比降低8.48%,成活率提高7.03个百分点;并同时降低肉鸡血清总胆固醇含量、血清甘油三酯含量、腹脂率和肝脏粗脂肪含量,而对胸肌粗脂肪含量无明显影响。     

Effect of purine nucleosides on growth performance,gut morphology,digestive enzymes,serum profile and immune response in broiler chickens

1. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of purine nucleosides on performance, gut morphology, intestinal enzymes and immunity functions in broiler chickens from 0 to 21 d of age.

2. A total of 360 1-d-old male chickens (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 6 replications. Experimental diets consisted of a control without any additives and diets containing 0.1% pure adenosine, 0.1% pure guanosine and 0.1% equal aliquots of pure adenosine and guanosine. Two birds per cage (12 birds per treatment) were killed on d 11 and 21 in order to obtain serum samples for lipid profile, jejunal samples for morphology and mucosal immunity, digestive enzymes for epithelial maturation, and bursa and spleen samples for relative weight of immune organs to live body weight.

3. Birds receiving adenosine in their diets showed a significant increase in body weight and average daily gain and a significantly lower feed conversion ratio compared to the control birds. Villus height and width in jejunal samples also increased significantly in birds supplemented with adenosine. Although maltase was not affected by the experimental diets, adenosine increased alkaline phosphatase and aminopeptidase. Adenosine and its combination with guanosine boosted mucosal immunity as a result of increased IgA production. While there was no significant difference among treatments regarding the relative weight of the spleen, adenosine increased the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius. Present results also showed that adding guanosine to broiler diets had no significant effects on growth, gut morphology, enzymes activity and immunological indices.

4. In conclusion, the improvement in growth performance, gut morphology and immunity in birds receiving adenosine demonstrated that pure adenosine could be a beneficial feed additive for the poultry industry, while guanosine showed no significant improvement.     

Effects of dietary oregano essential oil supplementation on growth performance,intestinal antioxidative capacity,immunity, and intestinal microbiota in yellow-feathered chickens

Essential oils are plant-derived aromatic volatile oils, and they contain bioactive compounds that have been shown to improve poultry nutrition. In this study, we investigated the effects of oregano essential oil (OEO) on intestinal antioxidative capacity, immunity, and gut microbiota of young yellow-feathered chickens. A total of nine hundred and sixty 1-d-old female Qingyuan partridge chickens were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with six replicates of 40 birds each, and the feeding trial was lasted for 30 d. The controls were fed on a basal diet without in-feed antibiotics; the birds in the antibiotic group were fed the basal diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg virginiamycin; the remaining birds were fed the basal diet containing 150 or 300 mg/kg OEO, respectively. Dietary supplementation with 150 or 300 mg/kg OEO increased average daily feed intake (P = 0.057) and average daily gain (P < 0.05). The activities of glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidative capacity in plasma, jejuna, and ileal mucosa were increased by OEO supplementation (P < 0.05), with a trend of lower jejunal content of malonaldehyde (P = 0.062). Moreover, dietary OEO increased the content of secretory immunoglobulin A (P = 0.078) and the relative expression of Claudin 1, Mucin 2, and Avain beta-defensin 1 in ileum (P < 0.05). Sequencing data of 16S rRNA indicated that dietary OEO increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes phylum, and Clostridium and Lactobacillus genera, and decreasing that of Romboutsia. Functional analyses indicated that microbial amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, replication, and repair systems were higher in OEO groups than those of controls and antibiotic treatment. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with OEO enhanced growth performance, alleviated local oxidative stress in intestine, improved production of natural antibodies, and favorably modulated intestinal microbiota composition.     

Effects of dietary threonine and crude protein on growth performance, carcase and meat composition of broiler chickens

1. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary threonine (Thr) and crude protein (CP) in maize-soybean meal based diets on the growth performance, carcase traits and meat composition of broiler chickens and to determine the dietary Thr requirement for optimum performance (weight gain and feed conversion efficiency (FCE)) at 0 to 3 weeks and 3 to 6 weeks of age. 2. Two basal diets that differed in CP (191.3 or 179.7 and 176.7 or 165.4 g/kg at 0 to 3 and 3 to 6 weeks, respectively) were formulated to have identical contents of Thr (6.0 and 5.4 g/kg), energy (12.97 and 13.39 MJ ME/kg) and other essential amino acids except for Gly + Ser. Basal diets were supplemented with L-Thr from 0.6 to 1.8 g/kg in 0.6 g/kg increments. Broiler chicks (540) were randomly allocated to 9 dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 10 (5 female, 5 male) chicks. 3. A significant interaction between dietary CP and Thr was found for feed intake, body weight (BW) gain and FCE. Increasing Thr supplementation improved feed intake, BW gain and FCE, especially in high CP diets in both feeding periods. 4. Incremental increases in dietary Thr increased breast yield at both CP levels and drumstick yield only on high CP diets. The proportion of thigh decreased with Thr concentration. Liver weight was significantly reduced by Thr supplementation; abdominal fat was not affected. 5. Estimated Thr requirements for FCE increased as dietary CP increased according to an exponential model. This model indicated higher Thr requirements than those of broken-line models for growth performance.     

Effect of dietary fibres on small intestine histomorphology and lipid metabolism in young broiler chickens

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of dietary fibres on small intestine histomorphology and lipid metabolism in broilers from 1 to 21 day of age. In experiment 1, diets containing insoluble [cellulose (CEL); 2% and 4%] or soluble [carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); 2% and 4%] fibre were fed to broilers from day 1 to 21 post‐hatch and ileal tissue was collected at day 21 of age for histological evaluation. In experiment 2, broilers diet was supplemented with 0%, 1% or 2% insoluble fibre (Arbocel) during day 7 to 21 post‐hatch and plasma and liver lipid metabolism were evaluated at day 21. In experiment 1, inclusion of CMC reduced body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with others. Intestinal histomorphology was unaffected by CEL, but CMC led to an increase in crypt depth (CD) and serosa thickness and a decrease in villus height (VH), villus width (VW), VH:CD ratio and villus surface area (VSA), rather than control and CEL groups. Treatment did not affect goblet cell type. Moreover, the CMC‐fed birds had greater total goblet cell count (GCC) as compared with others. In experiment 2, fibre inclusion was associated with increases in BWG from 7 to 14 day of age and an improvement in FCR, whereas FI was not influenced by treatments. Inclusion of fibre in the diet decreased the weight of the abdominal fat and cholesterol concentrations of liver and plasma. No significant effects on fatty acid composition of liver lipid were observed by fibre supplementation. These findings suggest dietary fibre affects performance, intestinal histomorphology and lipid metabolism in young chicks, which may directly affect poultry feeding strategies.     

复合非淀粉多糖酶制剂对肉鸡生长性能及肠道酶活性的影响

将200只21日龄罗斯肉鸡分成5个处理组:处理1组(正对照组)、处理2组(负对照组),处理3～5组在负对照组日粮基础上各添加一种商业复合非淀粉多糖酶制剂产品。测定肉鸡生长性能及42日龄肠道消化酶活性。结果显示:处理3组肉鸡的料肉比显著优于(P≤0.05)处理1、2和5组;末体重指标,处理3和4组间无显著差异(P>0.05),但显著高于处理2和5组。处理3组肉鸡十二指肠的淀粉酶以及十二指肠内容物的蛋白酶活性显著高于(P≤0.05)处理1和2组。处理4和5组肉鸡的十二指肠淀粉酶和蛋白酶活性差异不显著,但显著低于处理3组。处理3组肉鸡空肠内容物的淀粉酶、蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性显著高于其它4个处理组。以上结果说明,选用复合NSP酶制剂应实测产品的酶种类和酶活性,以合理有效使用。     

Effects of increasing dietary concentrations of specific structured triacylglycerides on performance and nitrogen and energy metabolism in broiler chickens

Specific structured triacylglycerides (STG) containing medium chain fatty acids in sn-1,3 positions and a long chain fatty acid in sn-2 position were prepared from rapeseed oil and capric acid (C10:0). A total of 80 female broiler chickens (Ross 208) were randomly allocated into five dietary treatments as two series of 40 chicks: a basal diet with graded levels of STG of 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 g/kg diet at the expense of rapeseed oil were fed to the chickens in groups of four. At 12 d of age the chickens were placed pair-wise in metabolism cages. The grower period (d 13-36) was divided into four consecutive balance periods each of 6 d. Two 24 h measurements of gas exchange in two open-air circuit respiration chambers were performed during the second and third day of each balance period. During the whole experiment there was a negative effect of the inclusion of STG on average feed intake. However, this only slightly affected average daily weight gain. Feed conversion efficiency improved linearly with the inclusion level of STG. Daily gain adjusted to mean daily feed intake increased linearly with inclusion rate of STG, indicating that the weight gain was affected by both feed intake and the enhancing effect on digestibility of STG. Weight of small intestine and colon decreased with increasing inclusion of STG. Utilisation of dietary protein relative to intake increased while that of retained fat tended to decrease resulting in a decreased utilisation of metabolisable energy (RE/ME) in birds receiving STG. Heat production (HE) was slightly lower in the STG groups. More of the dietary fat was oxidised when more STG was added, although the total amount of fat in the diets was kept constant.     

Effects of dietary phytase on performance and nutrient metabolism in chickens

1. A broiler growth study was conducted to compare the effect of different concentrations of an Escherichia coli-derived phytase on performance, apparent metabolisable energy (AME), nitrogen (N), amino acid and mineral metabolisability, sialic acid excretion and villus morphology when fed to broiler chickens. 2. Female Ross 308 broilers (480) were reared in floor pens from 0 to 28 d of age. All birds were fed on nutritionally complete starter (0 to 21 d of age) and grower diets (21 to 28 d of age) with the exception that they were low in P (28 and 23 g/kg available P, respectively). These maize-soy diets were supplemented with 0, 250, 500 or 2500 phytase units (FTU)/kg feed. 3. Between 21 and 28 d of age, two birds from each floor pen were selected, and each pair placed in one of 32 metabolism cages (two birds per cage). Feed intake was recorded and excreta collected for the last 2 d of the feeding period, and AME, N, amino acid and mineral metabolisability coefficients and endogenous losses were determined following a total collection procedure. 4. Feed intake and weight gain increased in a linear manner in response to phytase dose, with an average increase of approximately 11.7 and 13.5%, respectively, compared with chickens fed on the low-P diet. Birds given diets with 2500 FTU weighed 6.6% more and had a 2.4% higher feed conversion efficiency (FCE) than those fed on diets containing 500 FTU. 5. Enzyme supplementation increased the intake of AME and metabolisable N by 10.3 and 3.9%, respectively, principally through increases in feed intake. Birds given enzyme-supplemented diets also improved their intake of metabolisable amino acids and P by approximately 14 and 12.4%, respectively, compared with birds fed on the control diet. Enzyme supplementation did not affect ileal villus morphometry of the birds.     

不同营养水平饲粮中添加饲用复合酶对肉鸡生产性能的影响

试验用360只1日龄艾维茵肉鸡,采用二因素D-饱和最优设计,考察不同营养水平饲粮及复合酶添加量对肉鸡生产性能和养分利用率的影响。饲粮营养水平在基础日粮的水平上用谷壳进行稀释,能量、蛋白质及氨基酸水平分别降低0%～11.51%;复合酶的添加量为0%～0.23%。复合酶制剂添加量和饲粮营养水平都是影响肉鸡生产性能的重要因素。降低饲粮营养水平显著降低肉鸡增重和饲料转化效率(P<0.05);复合酶制剂添加量对肉鸡的生产性能和养分利用率呈二次曲线关系(脂肪利用率除外)。复合酶的适宜添加量为0.1%。低营养水平时复合酶作用效果更大。复合酶的表观能值与营养水平有关,低营养水平时复合酶的表观能值越高。在本试验条件下,添加0.1%复合酶,饲粮营养水平可降低5%左右。     

Effects of dietary fiber and threonine on performance,intestinal morphology and immune responses in broiler chickens

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of fiber and threonine (Thr) on growth performance, intestinal morphology and immune responses of broiler chickens. A total of 420 one-day-old mixed sex broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly divided into 6 experimental diets and 5 replicates of 14 chicks based on a factorial arrangement (2 × 3) from 1 to 42 d of age. Experimental factors included dietary supplemental fiber type (no supplemental fiber [NSF], 30 g/kg sugar beet pulp [SBP] or 30 g/kg rice hull [RH]) and Thr inclusion level (100% or 110% of Thr requirement recommended by breeder company [Ross 308]). Growth performance of broilers was assayed at different periods of the experiment. Intestinal morphometric features were measured at 21 d of age. Antibody titer against sheep red blood cells (SRBC), Newcastle and influenza disease viruses were measured on d 30 of trial. Dietary inclusion of SBP and RH significantly decreased feed intake and weight gain during the entire rearing period (P < 0.05). Interaction of fiber and Thr had no beneficial effects on the performance of chickens across the entire rearing phase. Dietary supplementation of 110% Thr required level improved jejunal morphometric features (P < 0.05), whereas its inclusion with fibrous materials failed to show the same effects. Dietary supplemental Thr together with SBP significantly increased antibody production against SRBC (P < 0.05). In conclusion, although supplemental 30 g/kg fibrous materials impaired growth performance, inclusion of SBP along with 110% Thr level improved the humoral immunity in broiler chickens.     

不同抗氧化剂和添加水平对肉仔鸡生产性能和抗氧化性影响的研究

为了研究不同抗氧化剂产品和添加水平对肉仔鸡生产性能和抗氧化性能的影响,本研究选用1日龄爱拔益加(AA)肉仔鸡96只,随机分为3个处理,每个处理4个重复,每个重复8只鸡。对照组(CTR)饲喂不添加任何抗氧化剂的基础日粮;SQM6组饲喂基础日粮+48mg/kgSQM6;SQMax组饲喂基础日粮+80mg/kgSQMax。记录肉仔鸡的日均采食量和平均日增重,并于28日龄时,随机在每个重复中选取1只鸡进行翅静脉采血,测定血清抗氧化指标。研究结果表明:与CTR相比,肉仔鸡日粮中添加抗氧化剂有改善饲料转化率的趋势(P>0.05);添加SQM6显著提高了血清中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性(P<0.05),并显著降低了丙二醛(MDA)的含量(P<0.05);日粮中添加SQMax显著提高了肉仔鸡血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P<0.05)。以上结果表明,肉仔鸡日粮中添加抗氧化剂SQM6和SQMax能够提高血清中超氧化物歧化酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性,降低丙二醛含量,改善肉仔鸡机体抗氧化功能。     

Effect of dietary oregano essential oil on performance of chickens and on iron-induced lipid oxidation of breast,thigh and abdominal fat tissues

1. We studied the effect of dietary oregano essential oil (50 and 100 mg/kg of feed) on the performance of broilers, and determined the susceptibility of the resulting broiler meat to iron-induced lipid oxidation. 2. Performance of the birds was unaffected by the experimental diets. Therefore, dietary oregano oil exerted no growth-promoting effect on broilers. 3. Iron-induced lipid oxidation showed that as oregano oil increased in the diet, malondialdehyde values decreased in tissue samples, suggesting that the oil, particularly at 100 mg/kg of feed, exerted an antioxidant effect on chicken tissues. 4. Dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation at 200 mg/kg of feed displayed greater antioxidant activity than oregano oil at either supplementation rate. 5. Thigh muscle was more susceptible to oxidation than breast muscle, although the former contained alpha-tocopherol at higher concentration. Muscle alpha-tocopherol is an important factor influencing lipid oxidation, but the influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids and content of pro-oxidants must be taken into consideration too.     

Effects of inulin on growth performance,nutrient digestibility and metabolisable energy in broiler chickens

1. A 35 d feeding trial with 480 d-old male broiler chickens (Cobb) was conducted to evaluate the effects of graded levels of inulin (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/kg diet) in a maize-soybean meal based diet on growth performance, AME_N and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of crude protein, amino acids, starch, crude fat and fatty acids. A commercial product (Inulina 95®) containing 914?0 g/kg of inulin and a degree of polymerisation (DP) ranging from DP 1–10 to DP 51–60 was used.

2. The performance of birds (feed intake, BW gain and feed to gain ratio) was not affected by the different dietary inclusions of inulin.

3. Dietary inulin significantly improved the AID coefficient of crude protein and crude fat. Also, there was a significant effect of inulin on the digestibility of most amino acids (10 out of 15) and major fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acids). The AID coefficient of starch and the AME_N content of diets were not affected by inulin inclusion.

4. In conclusion, the current study showed that inulin supplementation improved the digestibility of protein and fat in a maize-soybean meal based diet, but had no effect on the performance of broiler chickens.     

日粮中添加(-)-羟基柠檬酸对肉鸡脂肪代谢的影响

为探讨(-)-羟基柠檬酸[(-)-HCA]对肉鸡脂肪代谢的影响,120羽21日龄罗氏308肉鸡随机分成4组,每组3个重复,每个重复10羽。分别于基础日粮中添加0、150、300和600 mg/kg的(-)-HCA,饲喂至50日龄,各组分别从每个重复中随机抽取4只肉鸡宰杀,采集血液、肝脏、腹脂、肌肉等样品。试验结果表明,与对照组相比,3个剂量组的(-)-HCA对腹脂率、日采食量、料重比影响虽无统计学上的差异,但3个剂量(-)-HCA的处理均有降低使腹脂率、日采食量,并提高饲料转化率的趋势。与对照组相比,600 mg/kg的(-)-HCA处理能显著降低肉鸡血清中甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(TC)的含量(P0.05),但3个剂量组的(-)-HCA均可显著降低血清中游离脂肪酸(NEFA)的含量显著(P0.05)。与对照组相比,300和600 mg/kg的(-)-HCA处理可显著升高血清中高密度脂蛋白-胆固醇(HDL-C)的含量(P0.05),3个剂量的(-)-HCA处理均可显著降低血清中低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇(LDL-C)的含量(P0.05)。与对照组相比,300 mg/kg的(-)-HCA处理可显著提高肉鸡肝糖元的含量(P0.05),但3个剂量组的(-)-HCA对肌糖元的含量均无显著影响(P0.05)。3个剂量的(-)-HCA处理对肝脂酶活性均无统计学上的差异(P0.05),但不同剂量的(-)-HCA处理均有提高肝脂酶活性的趋势。提示(-)-HCA可通过抑制脂肪酸的合成、加快脂肪的分解,从而减少脂肪在肉鸡体内的沉积。     

Effects of epigallocatechin gallate on lipid metabolism and its underlying molecular mechanism in broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on fat metabolism and to establish the molecular mechanism of these effects in broilers. Seventy‐two 28‐day‐old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were divided into three groups with different levels of EGCG supplementation for 4 weeks: normal control (NC) group, L‐EGCG (a low‐level supplement of EGCG, 40 mg/kg body weight daily) and H‐EGCG (a high‐level supplement of EGCG, 80 mg/kg body weight daily). After 4 weeks of oral administration, EGCG significantly reduced the level of abdominal fat deposition in broilers. The serum triglycerides and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol of chickens in H‐EGCG group were also significantly decreased compared with the NC group, and the high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol was notably increased at the same time. Moreover, the vital role of the liver and abdominal adipose tissue in lipid metabolism of poultry animals was examined through gene expression and enzyme activities related to fat anabolism and catabolism in these organs. Our data show that EGCG supplementation for 2 weeks significantly downregulated the expression of fatty acid synthesis and fat deposition‐related genes, and upregulated the expression of genes involved in fatty acid β‐oxidation and lipolysis genes. Simultaneously, the activities of hepatic fatty acid synthesis enzymes (fatty acid synthase and acetyl CoA carboxylase) were significantly decreased, and the activity of carnitine palmitoyl transferase‐1 was notably elevated. The results suggest that EGCG could alleviate fat deposition in broilers through inhibiting fat anabolism and stimulating lipid catabolism in broilers.