STUDY ON THE APPLICATION OF IRRADIATED β -GLUCAN AS A GROWTH PROMOTER FOR BREEDING.

Abstract

                10% β-glucan solution irradiated by gamma-rays from a Co-60 source at the doses of 100-300 kGy has been used for supplementing into food in order to study the growth promotion effect on chickens. The results obtained after 8 weeks of raising have indicated that the supplementation of irradiated β-glucan product has not only promote the growth of chicken but also reduced the food consumption rate. In addition, the quatity of eviscerated chicken has also increased by feeding of irradiated β-glucan product. The β-glucan product irradiated at 200 kGy with a molecular weight of about 25 kDa has shown the highest effect on the

chicken growth. In comparison with the untreated control, the addition of β-glucan product irradiated at 200 kGy has helped to increase the average of total body weight by ~40%, the eviscerated rate by 5.7%, the carcass yield by 9.6%, the thigh yield by 5.6%, and the chest yield by 3%, and reduced about 35.4% food consumption rate for each kg of chicken weight. The irradiated β-glucan, a natural product is promising to apply for production of safe, high quatity products and bring the economic benifit for raisers.