Abstract
Responses of broiler to dietary Japanese green tea powder (GTP) were investigated using 30 broiler chicks reared from 18 to 52 days of age. Five rations were formulated by addition of 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5% of GTP to starter and finisher diets, and each ration was fed ad libitum to appropriate group each consisting of 6 birds. Supplemental GTP tended to decrease feed intake and body weight gain with a higher dose, but tended to improve feed conversion ratio. Dressing percentage was not affected by GTP, though proportions of some parts of the carcass were influenced. Proportion of thigh meat was increased by 1.5% GTP feeding while that of wing meat was decreased in all GTP-fed groups. The quantity and percentage of abdominal fat were decreased significantly (P<0.05) by GTP supplementation. Levels of liver cholesterol, liver fat and blood serum cholesterol were significantly reduced (P<0.05) by GTP feeding. Thiobarbituric acid content of meat remained significantly lower (P<0.05) in GTP fed broilers. GTP is likely to produce broilers with less fat, cholesterol and oxidative profiles without serious adverse effects on general performance.
