Table 2 Effects of Nc dry powder and water extract on immune organ index of yellow-feathered broilers (n = 6)

Thymus

21 d

4.81 ± 0.23

4.47 ± 0.27

4.19 ± 0.77

4.74 ± 0.84

4.34 ± 0.47

4.67 ± 0.51

35 d

4.28 ± 0.33^ab

4.56 ± 0.26^a

4.36 ± 0.33^ab

4.93 ± 0.26^a

4.61 ± 0.42^a

3.47 ± 0.34^b

63 d

2.81 ± 0.48^b

3.93 ± 0.86^ab

4.88 ± 1.10^a

3.92 ± 0.45^ab

3.39 ± 0.37^ab

4.62 ± 0.51^ab

Spleen

21 d

1.66 ± 0.17^ab

2.43 ± 0.51^a

1.64 ± 0.20^ab

1.59 ± 0.30^ab

1.59 ± 0.10^ab

1.48 ± 0.18^b

35 d

1.48 ± 0.07

1.56 ± 0.12

1.45 ± 0.10

1.79 ± 0.05

1.67 ± 0.25

1.52 ± 0.18

63 d

1.37 ± 0.19^ab

1.70 ± 0.13^ab

1.56 ± 0.33^ab

2.04 ± 0.27^a

1.22 ± 0.24^b

1.27 ± 0.15^b

Bursae of Fabricius

21 d

3.12 ± 0.48

4.06 ± 0.21

3.14 ± 0.21

3.61 ± 0.15

4.05 ± 0.25

3.47 ± 0.69

35 d

1.05 ± 0.11

1.10 ± 0.06

0.99 ± 0.24

1.12 ± 0.17

1.29 ± 0.05

1.00 ± 0.16

63 d

1.57 ± 0.19^a

1.02 ± 0.25^ab

0.78 ± 0.29^b

0.99 ± 0.24^ab

1.33 ± 0.24^ab

0.99 ± 0.20^ab