Influence of Levels of Dietary Fiber Sources on the Performance, Carcass Traits, Gastrointestinal Tract Development, Fecal Ammonia Nitrogen, and Intestinal Morphology of Broilers

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fiber source levels on the fecal ammonia nitrogen, growth performance, carcass traits, gastrointestinal tract development, and intestinal morphology of broilers. A total of 420 one-day-old unsexed broiler chicks were individually weighed and randomly divided into 5 groups, each with seven replicates of twelve chicks. Rice hulls (RH) and soybean hulls (SH) were ground through a hammer mill with a 2-mm screen. The RH and SH experimental diets were as follows: 0% (control); 2.5% RH; 2.5% SH; 5% RH; and 5% SH. No significant differences were found in growth performance and fecal ammonia nitrogen among the dietary treatment groups (p>0.05). Compared with the control, the experimental diets with 2.5% SH significantly decreased the wing weight of chickens (p<0.05), while no significant differences in the weight of the other visceral organs were observed. Compared with the control, broilers in the 5% SH group had a longer jejunum and ileum (p<0.05). Feeding the broilers SH and RH had no effect on the villus area and crypt depth of the intestine. Compared with the control, the experimental diet with 2.5% RH significantly increased the duodenal villus height of chickens (p<0.05). These findings suggest that the inclusion of 5% SH in the diets resulted in improved intestinal morphology without negatively affecting growth performance and carcass traits.

Impact of fiber on growth, plasma, gastrointestinal and excreta attributes in broiler chickens and turkey poults fed corn- or wheat-based diets with or without multienzyme supplement

“…Thus, essential amino acids are converted into NEAA, causing an increase in PUA ( Casartelli et al., 2005 ). Typically, the nitrogen present in poultry manure consists mostly of uric acid, amino acids and bacterial protein, mainly from undigested nitrogen and endogenous nitrogen ( Sittiya et al., 2020 ). Additionally, ammonia is also emitted from the manure due to microbial decomposition of the nitrogenous compounds, but primarily from uric acid ( Li et al., 2008 ).…”

The Impact of Hydrated Aluminosilicates Supplemented in Litter and Feed on Chicken Growth, Muscle Traits and Gene Expression in the Intestinal Mucosa

“…The lower content of crude protein in the feed also reduced nitrogen excretion [ 36 ], which was noted in the authors’ own research. Nitrogen excretion is also related to the development and health of the digestive tracts of young chickens and the digestibility of the feeds [ 37 , 38 ]. Clays and aluminosilicates can stabilize gases and nitrogen in the manure (litter) [ 39 ], which is very important for maintaining appropriate hygienic conditions in production.…”

Role of Dietary Fiber in Poultry Nutrition

“…The unique ability of fiber to escape digestion and absorption provides the opportunity to regulate intestinal morphology [ 13 , 14 ], interact with nutrients of the digesta [ 15 ], interact with intestinal microflora [ 16 , 17 ], and modulate general digestive organ activity [ 18 , 19 ], resulting in changes in nutrient utilization and growth performance. It has also been reported that different components of DF can modulate the physiological structure and functionality of the gastrointestinal tract differently [ 6 , 18 , 20 ].…”

“…The growth performance is the sum of all the parameters aforementioned. In general, improvements in intestinal morphology and organ development can lead to increase nutrient absorption, which will be reflected in enhanced performance [ 19 , 30 , 37 ]. As is clear, different carbohydrates from dietary fiber can have different modes of action once ingested by the bird.…”