Abstract: [Objective] To assess the application effects of lemongrass meal as feed additive instead of antibiotics in Wenchang chickens feeding, and to explore new route for antibiotic-free feeding of Wenchang chickens. [Method] A total of 30 one-month-old Wenchang chickens were randomly divided into three groups, and there were 10 individuals with half males and half females in each group. The control group was fed with a basal diet, and the experimental groups 1 and 2 were fed with the basal diet supplemented with 3% lemongrass meal and 0.1% amoxicillin, respectively. The male and female Wenchang chickens were reared in separate cages. The experimental period lasted for 28 d. The daily feed intake was recorded, and the average daily weight gain and feed to gain ratio were calculated; the villus height and crypt depth of duodenum, jejunum and ileum were determined, and the corresponding villus height to crypt depth ratio （V/C） was calculated; the activities of serum total superoxide dismutase （T-SOD） and catalase （CAT） as well as the serum content of malondialdehyde （MDA） were determined. [Result] The average daily weight gains of experimental groups 1 and 2 were significantly （P<0.05） higher in comparison with control group, and there was no significant （P>0.05） difference between experimental group 1 and experimental group 2; no significant （P>0.05）differences in average daily feed intake and feed to gain ratio among different groups were observed. Compared with control group, the villus height of duodenum and jejunum as well as the V/C of jejunum in experimental groups 1 and 2 were significantly （P<0.05） increased, and there were no significant （P>0.05） differences between experimental group 1 and experimental group 2; no significant （P>0.05） differences in V/C of duodenum and ileum as well as villus height of ileum among different groups were found. Experimental group 1 had significantly （P<0.05） higher activity of serum CAT in comparison with control group and experimental group 2; no significant （P>0.05） differences in activities of serum T-SOD were observed among different groups; the serum contents of MDA in experimental groups 1 and 2 were significantly （P<0.05） lower in comparison with control group, and there was no significant （P>0.05） differences between experimental group 1 and experimental group 2. [Conclusion] Dietary supplementation of lemongrass meal improves the growth performance of Wenchang chickens, and has better growth promoting effect than antibiotics.

Key words: lemongrass meal, Wenchang chicken, growth performance, antibiotics