نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of sunflower hull particle size in broiler diets with different protein levels on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, immune response, as well as the weight, length, and pH of different small intestinal segments. Sunflower hulls, as a by-product of sunflower seed processing, were used in the experiment. The dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude fiber, and ether extract content of the sunflower hulls were determined using standard methods (AOAC, 2000). A total of 360 Ross 308 broiler chicks were used in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design. The trial was conducted from 1 to 42 days of age with six dietary treatments and six replicates per treatment (10 mixed-sex birds per replicate). Treatments included three levels of sunflower hull inclusion (0%, 4% with 1-mm particles, and 4% with 5-mm particles) combined with two dietary crude protein levels (normal and 10% reduced). Results showed that inclusion of 4% sunflower hulls, particularly in coarse form, improved feed intake, body weight gain, intestinal histomorphology (villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio), and immune response at the end of the rearing period. Additionally, coarse sunflower hulls reduced gizzard pH, and in combination with reduced dietary protein level, increased duodenum length. In conclusion, sunflower hulls, especially in coarse form, can be used as an effective insoluble fiber source to improve growth performance, intestinal structure, and immune function in broiler chickens.
کلیدواژهها English
مجله پژوهشهای جانوری (مجله زیست شناسی ایران)(علمی)