Influence of Dietary Supplementation of Salix alba Bark on Performance, Oxidative Stress Parameters in Liver and Gut Microflora of Broilers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Nowadays, due to genetic evolution, poultry is more susceptible to stressful factors (nutritional, environmental, etc.), which causes imbalances in the redox status, namely oxidative stress. Among the consequences of oxidative stress in poultry are impaired performances, gut microflora imbalance, as well as the deterioration of the overall health status. Consumer pressure about the quality and safety of animal products has prompted the need for use, among many dietary factors, of natural antioxidants. Salix alba bark represents a source of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids, with an important role in poultry nutrition. This study aims to describe the effects of dietary Salix alba bark powder on the performance of oxidative stress parameters in liver and gut microflora of broilers. As conclusion, the paper proposes that dietary 0.05% Salix alba bark powder could be an effective solution to impede the oxidative stress in broiler liver and to improve gut microflora. The paper manifests noteworthy concern in poultry nutrition, whereas many diseases have been related to oxidative stress. ABSTRACT: The paper aimed to analyse the effect of dietary Salix alba L. bark powder (SAB) on broiler performance in terms of oxidative stress parameters in liver and gut microflora. One hundred and eighty Cobb 500 broiler chicks (14 days) were allotted to three homogeneous treatments (SAB 0%; SAB 0.025%; SAB 0.05%). The broilers were housed in an environmentally controlled space (10 replicates, six broilers/replicate). Compared to dietary control treatment (SAB 0%), the other treatments included 0.025% SAB (SAB 0.025%) and 0.05% SAB (SAB 0.05%). The results showed that SAB powder used in broiler diet had a high total phenolic content. Regarding the performance results, significant differences between experimental and control treatments were recorded only for average daily feed intake (35–42 days). The broilers fed with SAB powder had a significantly lower hepatic level of malondialdehide and glutathione, a higher total antioxidant capacity than those fed control treatment, and demonstrated a positive effect on the development of non-pathogenic bacteria (lactobacilli) but a decrease in the population of pathogenic ones (E. coli, staphylococci). Our findings suggested that dietary 0.05% SAB powder could be an effective solution to impede the oxidative stress in broiler liver and to improve gut microflora.