Abstract
Simple SummaryTons of green tea powder (GTP) are produced and cast off during green tea processing. It is suggested that GTP could increase immunity and health, and so improve animal production performance. We demonstrated that one percent of GTP supplemented in the diet did not affect egg production. However, long time GTP inclusion resulted in decreased egg weight and increased feed-to-egg ratio. Combined with plasma lipid concentration, the decreased egg weight might be because of lower plasma lipid concentration, increased plasma orexin A, and liver lipoprotein lipase expression in chickens fed a diet containing GTP.Whether or not green tea promotes egg production is unclear. Huainan partridge chickens at 20 weeks of age were divided into two groups, with one group fed a basal diet (control) and one fed a basal diet plus 10 g/kg green tea powder (GTP) for 12 weeks. Egg production (EP) and feed intake (FI) were recorded daily. Plasma lipid parameters, and apolipoprotein-B (Apo-B), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression were determined every four weeks. Egg production and FI showed no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). Egg weight was 47.58 g in the control group, which was higher than that of the GTP group, and the feed-to-egg ratio (FCR) was 4.62 in the control group, which was lower than that of the GTP group after 12 weeks feeding. Compared with the control group, plasma orexin A (p < 0.05), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), apolipoprotein A (Apo A), and very high-density lipoprotein (VHDL) (p < 0.01, respectively) were increased. Plasma glucose (Glu), free fatty acid (FFA), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) (p < 0.01, respectively), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) (p < 0.05) were decreased in the GTP group after 8 weeks feeding. The LPL expression in the liver was increased in the GTP group after 8 to 12 weeks feeding when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Chickens fed GTP did not affect EP, but decreased egg weight, which might be because of lower plasma lipid concentration, increased plasma Orexin A, and liver LPL expression.
Highlights
Green tea is one of the most popular beverages worldwide and produces nearly 14,380,000 tons each year in China
Egg weight, and feed intake significantly increased with age (p < 0.01, respectively), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly decreased with age (p < 0.01)
No significant difference was observed in egg production performance between the control and green tea powder (GTP) groups during the experimental period
Summary
Green tea is one of the most popular beverages worldwide and produces nearly 14,380,000 tons each year in China. 5% to 10% green tea powder is produced during green tea processing and Animals 2020, 10, 370; doi:10.3390/ani10030370 www.mdpi.com/journal/animals. Major components of green tea are polyphenols, including catechins Of its dry weight), alkaloids, polysaccharide, etc. Tea polyphenols are natural antioxidants that can scavenge free radicals and protect magnum from damage [3]. Green tea could prevent dental caries and reduce cholesterol and lipid absorption in the gastrointestinal tract [4]. Koo and Noh [5]
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