Effect of dietary oligochitosan supplementation on ileal digestibility of nutrients and performance in broilers

Abstract

The effect of dietary chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) supplementation on ileal digestibilities of nutrients and performance in broilers was assessed by feeding graded levels (0, 50, 100, 150 mg/kg) of COS. Two thousand four hundred male commercial Avian broilers (1-d-old) were assigned randomly to 5 dietary treatment groups (60 birds per pen with 8 pens per treatment). Diet A was a typical corn- and soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 6 mg/kg of an antibiotic flavomycin (positive control). Diet B was the basal diet without any supplement. Diets C, D, and E were formulated by adding 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg of COS to the basal diet, respectively. On the morning of d 21 and 42, 64 birds (8 per pen with 8 pens per treatment) from the growth trial for each age group were killed by cervical dislocation for determination of the ileal digestibilities of nutrients. Dietary supplementation with COS and antibiotic enhanced (P < 0.05) the ileal digestibilities of DM, Ca, P, CP, and all amino acids (except for alanine in the 21-d-old birds or phenylalanine, glutamate, and glycine for the 42-d-old birds). Feed efficiency was improved (P < 0.05) in response to dietary supplementation of an antibiotic or COS (150 mg/kg for d 1 to 21, and 100 and 150 mg/kg for d 21 to 42). The results demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge that dietary COS supplementation was effective in increasing the ileal digestibilities of nutrients and feed efficiency in broilers. Our findings may explain a beneficial effect of COS on chicken growth performance.

Dietary oligochitosan supplementation enhances immune status of broilers

“…15 Our recent studies with the same birds as in this study showed that dietary supplementation of oligochitosan (COS) increased the ileal digestibility of nutrient and improved performance in broilers. 16 We have also reported that dietary supplementation of COS to weanling piglets promoted intestinal microflora balance and enhanced immune function. 12 At present, little is known about the effect of chitosan on the development of avian lymphoid organs or the molecular mechanisms of its action on the immune response.…”

“…It is tacitally assumed that the supplementation of such compounds to food-animal diets can minimise the use of antibiotics, thereby reducing the possible occurrence of drug resistance in bacteria. 3 To better understand the mechanisms for the beneficial action of COS on immune functions, we determined the effects of COS on lymphoid organ development, serum concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM, and cell mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-1β (the present study) 16 in chicks. Results of this study showed that chicks supplemented with 100 or 150 mg kg −1 COS had heavier weights of immune organs, and higher serum levels of immunoglobulins, which collectively suggest an improvement in the immune response.…”

“…Results of this study showed that chicks supplemented with 100 or 150 mg kg −1 COS had heavier weights of immune organs, and higher serum levels of immunoglobulins, which collectively suggest an improvement in the immune response. 20 Through an increase in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, 16 dietary supplementation with COS is expected to increase the availability of circulating amino acids for immunoglobulin synthesis by B lymphocytes. Whether COS or its fermentation products in the colon may directly improve the production of immunoglobulins in broilers warrants further investigation.…”

“…minerals) and improve meat quality by altering lipid metabolism in livestock and poultry. 12,16,23 The mechanisms whereby dietary supplementation with prebiotcs improved nutrient utilisation in animals are likely multifactorial. One of the complex mechanism has been suggested to involve an increase in the amount of those beneficial bacteria (e.g.…”

“…The design of this study with regard to animal treatments, housing, diets and management has been described by Huang et al 16 Briefly, 2400 male commercial Avian  broilers (1 day old) were assigned randomly to five dietary treatment groups (60 birds/pen with eight pens per treatment). The broilers were housed in a battery brooder house between days 1 and 21 of age and in a concretefloored henhouse between days 22 and 42 of age.…”