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• Effect of Banana Peel Powder as a Feed Ingredient on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Carcass Yield, and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens

  Duong Thu Huong, Tran Bich Phuong, Nguyen Van Thong, Dao Thi Ngoc Anh, Bui Huy Doanh, Nguyen Thi Phuong Giang, Nguyen Thi Vinh

  Received: Oct 21, 2025 / Accepted: Mar 03, 2026 / Published: Mar 31, 2026

   Abstract PDF

  This study investigated the effects of banana peel powder (BPP) on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, carcass yield, and meat quality of broilers. A total of 126 one-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments: control (BPP0, corn–soybean basal diet), BPP7 (7% banana peel), and BPP10 (10% banana peel), with three replicates of 14 birds each, and reared for 35 days. The survival rate was not significantly different among the groups (P > 0.05), although BPP10 showed the highest value (96.97%). The inclusion of 7% and 10% BPP in the diets did not significantly affect the initial weight, average daily gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio (P > 0.05). However, broilers fed the 10% BPP diet showed numerically higher final weight and weight gain values, with both parameters reaching statistical significance (P = 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the villus height, crypt depth, or villus height to crypt depth ratio. The carcass traits were not influenced by diet (P > 0.05). However, several meat quality traits were significantly affected (P <0.05). In the thigh meat, yellowness (b*) decreased in BPP7 and BPP10. In the breast meat, lightness (L*) increased and yellowness (b*) decreased with banana peel inclusion (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of 10% banana peel powder tended to enhance growth and altered the meat color without adverse effects on the FCR or carcass yield, supporting its potential as a sustainable feed ingredient in broiler production.

• Effects of Guanidinoacetic Acid (GAA) Supplementation on the Growth Performance and Meat Quality in Ross 308 Broiler Chickens

  Dinh Thi Yen, Dang Thai Hai, Nguyen Thi Chau Giang, Pham Thi Thu Ha, Nguyen Thi Vinh, Bui Huy Doanh

  Received: Jul 03, 2025 / Accepted: Sep 24, 2025 / Published: Sep 30, 2025

   Abstract PDF

  This study investigated the effects of dietary guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in Ross 308 broilers. A total of 270 one-day-old chickens were randomly assigned to three dietary groups: treatment 1 (0.6 g GAA kg-1 feed), treatment 2 (1.2 g GAA kg-1 feed), and a control group (no GAA). GAA supplementation had no significant effect on the survival rate or feed intake (P >0.05). However, it tended to improve the cumulative body weight gain, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in treatments 1 and 2 during the finishing phase (P <0.05), with the 1.2 g GAA kg-1 feed achieving the lowest overall FCR (1.33). Furthermore, GAA supplementation increased the carcass yield, breast meat yield, and thigh meat yield, and reduced breast meat toughness; however, most of these differences were not statistically significant (P >0.05). These results indicate that dietary GAA supplementation may have the potential to enhance the growth performance and meat quality in Ross 308 broiler chickens.

• Study on Meat Yield and Quality Characteristics of Hac Phong Chicken

  Nguyen Thi Phuong Giang, Nguyen Thi Vinh, Nguyen Thi Chau Giang, Pham Kim Dang

  Received: Feb 22, 2022 / Accepted: Sep 22, 2022 / Published: Sep 30, 2022

   Abstract PDF

  The study aimed to evaluate meat yield and meat quality of Hac Phong chickens. A total of 100 birds (50 males and 50 females)from 1 days of agewas raised at the experimental station of Faculty of Animal Science, Vietnam National University of Agriculture . The chickens were fed ad libitum with a complete compound feed. Twenty chickens (10 males and 10 females) were slaughtered at 20 weeks of age with an average live weight of 1303.70 kg. The results found the carcass, breast, and thigh meat percentages were 70.36%, 16.16%, and 22.42%, respectively. The pH value at 15 min and 24 h post-mortem were in the normal range. The color of the meat was dark. The L* (lightness) value was low. The drip loss and cooking loss percentages were low while the tenderness was high. Hac Phong chicken meat contained a high crude protein content (27.71%) and low cholesterol content (25.45%).

• Additive and Dominance Effects of MC4R and PIT1 Polymorphisms on Production and Carcass Traits in Duroc Pigs

  Ha Xuan Bo, Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Xuan Manh, Nguyen Thi Vinh, Do Duc Luc

  Received: Apr 13, 2022 / Published: Dec 30, 2022

   Abstract PDF

  This study aimed to estimate the allelic and genotypic frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MC4R (melanocortin-4-receptor gene) and PIT1 (pituitary specific transcription factor-1) genes, and their additive dominance genetic effects on production and carcass traits in Duroc pigs. A total of 2170 tail tissue samples (1728 gilts and 442 male pigs) were collected from Dabaco Nucleus Breeding Pig Company, Bac Ninh province, Vietnam from January 2017 to June 2020. Polymorphisms in the MC4R and PIT1 genes were detected using the PCR-RFLP method. For MC4R, the frequencies of alleles A and G were 0.430 and 0.570, respectively. For PIT1, the frequencies of alleles A and B were 0.460 and 0.540, respectively. The genotype frequency distribution of the MC4R gene was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P = 0.375), but the genotype frequency distribution of PIT1 (P <0.001) was not. The MC4R and PIT1 polymorphisms were significantly associated with final body weight and average daily gain (P <0.001). Significant additive effects were also found (P <0.05) for the two traits. The selection of individuals with the MC4R genotype AA and PIT1 genotype AA could improve final body weight and average daily gain in Duroc pigs.

• Effects of Dietary Supplementation with a Mixed Powder of Medicinal Plants on the Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Chemical Composition, and Meat Quality of Pigs

  Nguyen Cong Oanh, Nguyen Thi Huyen, Nguyen Dinh Tien, Vu Dinh Ton

  Received: Jun 17, 2021 / Published: Dec 31, 2021

   Abstract PDF

  The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a medicinal plant mixture (MP) (60% Bindens pilosa L., 15% Urena lobata L., 15% Pseuderanthemum palatiferum, 5% Ramulus Cinnamomi, and 5% Illicium verum Hook. f.) as a feed additive to promote the growth performance and meat quality of grower-finisher pigs. Forty-eight crossbred pigs (Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire)), with initial live body weights of 30.3 ± 1.42kg, were randomly allocated to four dietary groups, with three replicates of each group and four animals per replicate. The experimental pigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with MP powder at 0, 20, 40, or 60 g kg-1 of feed (T0, T20, T40, and T60) for 15 weeks. The growth performance, carcass quality parameters, chemical composition, fatty acids, and cholesterol contents of the pig meat were measured. There were no statistical differences (P> 0.05) in the final live body weight, overall average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio among the control and MP treatments. MP supplementation significantly increased the protein content (P = 0.02) and decreased the cholesterol content (P = 0.04) of raw longissimus dorsi muscle. The obtained results indicate that the dietary MP supplementation tested could have the potential to improve meat quality and decrease the cholesterol content in pork with no adverse effects on the growth performance.