Effect of sunflower hulls with different particle sizes on growth performance, intestinal morphology, immunity response and intestinal characteristics of broiler chickens fed different levels of protein

Beigzadeh, Najibeh; Salari, Somayyeh; Zaefarian, Faegheh; Hosseinifar, Shima

doi:10.22034/jar.2025.8649.1999

Effect of sunflower hulls with different particle sizes on growth performance, intestinal morphology, immunity response and intestinal characteristics of broiler chickens fed different levels of protein

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Najibeh Beigzadeh ¹

Somayyeh Salari ¹

Faegheh Zaefarian ²

Shima Hosseinifar ³

¹ Department of Animal Science, Animal Science and Food Technology Faculty, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan

² Adisseo France S.A.S. European Laboratory of Innovation Science & Expertise (ELISE). Department of R&I in Monogastric Animal Nutrition. 20 rue Prosper Monnet, 69190

³ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz,

10.22034/jar.2025.8649.1999

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Broiler chickens

Growth performance

Intestinal histomorphology

Gizzard pH

Dietary protein

Subjects