Effects of starter diet supplementation with arginine on broiler production performance and on small intestine morphometry

Abstract

The effects of starter diet (days 1 to 21) supplemented with arginine (Arg) on the production performance and duodenum and jejunum mucosa morphometry of broilers were studied. Male Cobb broiler chickens (990) were randomly assigned to one of ϐive treatments in a complete random design. Measurements of 33 chicks per treatment were made in six repetitions. The treatments consisted of a basal diet with 1.390% digestible Arg (no supplementation) and four dietary levels (1.490%, 1.590%, 1.690%, and 1.790%), providing a relationship with lysine of 1.103; 1.183; 1.262; 1.341 and 1.421%, respectively. From the age of 22 days on, all birds received conventional grower diet. The data were submitted to regression analysis by polynomial decomposition of the degrees of freedom in relation to the levels of Arg. The Arg supplementation increased (P<0.05) the live weight and the feed conversion ratio without increasing the feed intake of the birds. However, no effect was observed (P>0.05) in the growth phase (days 22 to 42) in the absence of the Arg supplementation. The supplementation of Arg over of NRC recommendation during the starter phase may be necessary for the expression of the maximal weight gain potential in birds. No effect (P<0.05) of Arg dietary supplementation was observed either on small intestine weight and length at any age. However, the duodenum villus:crypt ratio increased and the crypt depth decreased in the ϐirst week in response to increasing dietary Arg. It is concluded that broiler Arg dietary supplementation in the starter diet improved production performance and small intestine morphometry, especially in the ϐirst week.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Spirulina platensis and Garlic on the Growth Performance and Expression Levels of Immune-related Genes in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

“…The higher villi length may be related to the higher protein contents in Spirulina (55-65%). it includes all of the essential amino acids especially tryptophan and arginine which play a significant role to keep the maintenance of the intestinal epithelium [55]. Also the presence of amino acid arginine and glutamic acid in garlic beside the higher potentiality of garlic allicin to improve the protein assimilation could influence the gut health.…”

The effect of different dietary ratios of lysine and arginine in diets with high or low methionine levels on oxidative and epigenetic DNA damage, the gene expression of tight junction proteins and selected metabolic parameters in Clostridium perfringens-challenged turkeys

“…According to the cited authors, higher intake of readily digestible amino acids can compensate for impaired intestinal absorption in challenged birds. Arginine, the key precursor of polyamine synthesis, can stimulate the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of intestinal cells, and promote mitotic processes in intestinal crypts and villi [49]. Tan et al [14] found that the density of the intestinal mucosa increases linearly with a rise in dietary Arg levels, which could be attributed to the indirect effect of polyamines.…”

Effect of Dietary Arginine Supplementation on Some Hormones and Its Relation to Performance of Local Chickens. 1- Growing Period.

“…Also, Al-Daraji and Salih (2012a) reported that adding Arg to the diet of broiler chickens at levels of 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06%, resulted in significant increase in accumulative feed intake and the best results with respect to FCR as compared with control group (C) at 6 wks of age, who also reported that a possible explanation for this effect, apart from their roles in protein structure, might be the unique and additional roles of Arg in the urea cycle and methionine as a methyl donor, particularly in the synthesis of creatine. Murakami et al (2012) observed that live weight and feed conversion at 21 days of age improved linearly (P<0.05) with Arg supplementation, whereas feed intake did not vary among the treatments. Khajali et al (2013) found that Arg requirements for maximal optimal feed: gain during the 21 days was estimated to be 15.1 g/kg of diet.…”