This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of inulin on the intestinal microflora, gut morphology, and performance of broiler chickens. After sex identification, 168 male Ross 308 broilers were randomly allotted to 3 treatment groups with 4 replicates and fed for 42 days. Experimental treatments including 0%, 0.5%, or 1% inulin were used. The experimental diets were formulated based on maize-soyabean meal. The results showed that livability and body weight gain were better for broilers fed diets supplemented with inulin, but livability did not vary significantly among groups and the control. Live body weight on d 42 was significantly increased when the diets were supplemented with 1% inulin. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected in birds fed diets with supplements in comparison with the control group. Inulin inclusion had no effect on Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli and E. coli counts in ileal contents, but significantly increased Bifidobacteria counts and decreased E. coli counts in caecal contents. With the exception of significantly increased villus height in the ileum, the morphological measurements of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum showed no response to dietary levels of inulin as compared with the control diet.In conclusion, the results from the current study suggest that feeding inulin may have a beneficial effect on intestinal microflora and morphology, and on the performance of broiler chickens.

No abstract

A total of 810 one-day-old, straight-run broilers were used to evaluate the effects of dietary nutrient density and feed additives included in the starter diet on their performance, intestinal microbiota, gut morphology, and immune response. A 3×3 factorial arrangement with three nutrient densities (100, 103.75 and 107.5%, as recommended) and three feed additives (no additives, 0.5 g/kg diet Maxi-Gen, and Maxi-Gen + Superzyme + Bio-Phytase at the rate of 0.5, 0.25 and 0.1 g/kg diet, respectively), fed from 1 to 10 d of age. Similar commercial corn-soy grower and finisher diets fed to all birds from 10-24 and 24-42 d of age, respectively. There was higher (p<0.05) body weight gain and lower (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio in chicks fed starter diet with 107.5% nutrient density and Maxi-Gen with or without exogenous enzymes compared with those fed control diet at 10 and 42 d of age. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria counts in the cecal content were increased linearly as dietary nutrient density increased in 10-d-old birds (p<0.05). Higher duodenal and jejunal villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio (p<0.05) were measured in the birds fed the starter diets with 103.75% and 107.5% nutrient density at 5 and 10 d of age. Total anti-SRBC and IgM titers were significantly higher in the broilers fed the 107.5% nutrient density diet containing feed additives at 35 day of age. It is concluded that higher nutrient density and the inclusion of feed additives in the starter diet may improve the growth performance, gut morphology, and immune response of broiler chickens.

No abstract

No abstract