Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Tra Vinh University, Vinh Long, Vietnam.
10.32598/ARI.81.1.3588
Abstract
Introduction: Native chicken farming plays an important role in agriculture, and protease enzyme supplementation has been shown to enhance digestion and nutrient absorption. Materials & Methods: The experiment was conducted on 128 native chickens (aged 5–12 weeks), arranged in a completely randomized design with four treatments and four replications to assess the effect of protease enzyme supplementation in the diet on growth performance, carcass traits, and hematological characteristics of native chickens. The experimental chickens were fed and given water ad libitum, and the same basal diet was provided to the experimental birds, consisting of a control diet (the diet without protease) and three different levels of protease enzyme supplementation (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5%). Results: The results showed that the 0.3% protease enzyme supplementation group had significantly (P<0.05) increased final body weight (1.854 g/bird) and daily weight gain (30.02 g/bird/day) compared with the control group; meanwhile, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was also significantly improved (P<0.05). Moreover, carcass weight (1.273 g/bird), breast weight (215.7 g), and thigh weight (155.5 g) exhibited a substantial increase in the 0.3% protease group (P<0.05), while there was no significant effect on other slaughter characteristics (P>0.05). However, protease enzyme supplementation had no effect on immune organ indices, hematological parameters, or liver function, including gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P<0.05), apart from a significant difference in liver weight (43.5 g) among treatments. Conclusion: This suggests that the addition of 0.3% protease enzyme can improve the growth performance and carcass quality of indigenous chickens, all without any negative effect on health status.
Qui, N. H. and Linh, N. T. (2026). Effect of Dietary Protease Supplementation on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Blood Biochemical Characteristics of Native Chickens. Archives of Razi Institute, 81(1), 223-232. doi: 10.32598/ARI.81.1.3588
MLA
Qui, N. H. , and Linh, N. T. . "Effect of Dietary Protease Supplementation on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Blood Biochemical Characteristics of Native Chickens", Archives of Razi Institute, 81, 1, 2026, 223-232. doi: 10.32598/ARI.81.1.3588
HARVARD
Qui, N. H., Linh, N. T. (2026). 'Effect of Dietary Protease Supplementation on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Blood Biochemical Characteristics of Native Chickens', Archives of Razi Institute, 81(1), pp. 223-232. doi: 10.32598/ARI.81.1.3588
CHICAGO
N. H. Qui and N. T. Linh, "Effect of Dietary Protease Supplementation on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Blood Biochemical Characteristics of Native Chickens," Archives of Razi Institute, 81 1 (2026): 223-232, doi: 10.32598/ARI.81.1.3588
VANCOUVER
Qui, N. H., Linh, N. T. Effect of Dietary Protease Supplementation on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Blood Biochemical Characteristics of Native Chickens. Archives of Razi Institute, 2026; 81(1): 223-232. doi: 10.32598/ARI.81.1.3588
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