| Summary: | This study aimed to determine whether adding a blend based on zinc chloride and lignans from magnolia to the diet of broilers could replace conventional performance enhancers. For this study, 360 chickens were divided into four groups, with six repetitions per group (<i>n</i> = 15), as follows: CN, without promoter; GPC, control, 50 mg/kg of enramycin growth promoter; T-50, additive blend at a dose of 50 g/ton; and T-100, additive blend at a dose of 100 g/ton. Chickens fed with the additive blend at 50 g/ton showed a production efficiency index equal to that in the GPC group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). At 42 days, the lowest total bacterial count (TBC) was found in the T-100 group, followed by that in the GPC group (<i>p</i> < 0.001). For <i>E. coli</i>, the lowest count was observed in the T-100 group, followed by that in the CP and T-50 groups (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Higher villus/crypt ratios were observed in birds belonging to the T-100 and T-50 groups than in the GPC and NC groups (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Greater water retention was found in the T-50 group than in NC and T-100 groups (<i>p</i> < 0.048). The lowest water loss during cooking was also noted in the T-50 group (<i>p</i> < 0.033). We concluded that adding the antimicrobial blend, primarily at 50 g/ton, maintains the efficiency of the index of production and improves the intestinal health and meat quality of the birds.
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