Effects of Different Feeding Regimes on Growth Performance and Intestinal Morphology of Commercial Broilers

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of various levels of synbiotics on growth performance and intestinal morphology of fast-growing broilers during different phases. A total of 720, oneday-old straight run broilers (Ross 308) were randomly divided into 12 treatment groups according to a completely randomized design having three supplemented diets of synbiotics (a combination of probiotics and prebiotics) (0.5, 1, and 1.5%) reared at four phases [starter (1-11 days), grower (12-22 days), finisher (23-35 days), whole life (1-35 days)]. Every treatment was replicated six times with ten birds each. The parameters were evaluated in growth performance (feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio, and mortality) and intestinal morphology (Villus height, Crypt depth and Villus to Crypt ratio). Results of the present study revealed that growth performance, feed intake (p=0.0029), body weight (p=0.0001) and feed conversion ratio (p=0.0001) were improved with 1 percent synbiotics diet supplementation,while1.5 percent synbiotics level showed lower body weight. Crypt death (p=0.0529) has been marginally greater in the whole life. It can be inferred that a 1 % synbiotics supplemented diet has had a beneficial impact on growth and gut health throughout life.