A comparative study on the effects of dietary sunflower hulls on growth performance and digestive tract traits of broilers and pullets fed a pullet diet from 0 to 21 days of age

Dietary fiber in poultry nutrition and their effects on nutrient utilization, performance, gut health, and on the environment: a review

“…Moreover, the highest villus height to crypt depth ratio was observed with 2.5% pea hulls inclusion in the diet. Similar conclusions were made by Kimiaeitalab et al [ 23 ] that villus height and crypt depth were higher in broilers than in pullets at 21 d of age when fed with the same SFH meal, which was consistent with the greater GIT capacity and average daily FI of broilers. Tüzün et al [ 25 ] reported that increasing dietary crude fiber content in Nick Chick pullet from 30 to 40–45 g SFM/kg level increased VH, villus weight, the VH/CD ratio and surface area.…”

“…However, no adverse effects of SBP inclusion were observed during the first 10 d of life. In the study of Kimiaeitalab et al [ 23 ], the increased inclusion of sunflower hull diet did not affect FI in both pullets and broilers from 0 to 21 d of age, which shows consistency with data of Walugembe et al [ 57 ]. Walugembe et al [ 57 ] also observed the non-significant decrease in feed efficiency in broiler chicks fed higher fiber diets and a non-significant increase in feed efficiency in layer chicks fed higher fiber diets.…”

“…Soluble fiber particles such as those from SBP, retain water and swell in the digestive tract, causing digesta bulk and physical distension of the walls and increase in size. Kimiaeitalab et al [ 23 ] reported that all the organs of the GIT were heavier and the small intestine and cecum were longer in broilers than in pullets when feeding with same high fiber containing SFH meal compared to SBM, consistent with the greater GIT capacity and average daily FI of broilers. An increase in the weight of GIT is important to pancreatic enzymes secretion to achieve better growth in birds during the early stage of life.…”

“…In contrast, Saadatmand et al [ 58 ] observed a decrease in feed intake and weight gain significantly when fed with 30 g/kg SBP and rice hull. Overall, the mortality of poultry was not related to the dietary treatments containing different levels of fiber [ 23 , 57 ]. Vierira et al [ 14 ] reported that substituting SBM with SFM has no adverse effect on egg weight, shell quality, and egg production.…”

Effects of floor- and net-reared systems on the intestinal growth and microbial diversity in the cecum of ducks

“…Both intestinal relative length, which can re ect the intestinal capacity, and the ratio of relative weight to relative length, which could re ects intestinal motility, were higher in FRS, suggesting that ducks reared in oor system have stronger intestinal peristalsis ability and larger food digestion areas, and it may result from increased activity in a swimming pool. Many reports have shown that the length and weight of poultry intestines are affected by the level of ber, for example, dietary sun ower hulls could increase the length of the small intestine of broilers [26]. Considering the speci c situation of this experiment, it may be because in addition to arti cial feeding, ducks in the FRS also consume mattresses on the ground and algae in ponds, which increase their ber levels.…”