Feed Conversion, Ileal Digestibility and Intestinal Morphology of Broilers Fed Two Feed Forms

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate feed conversion, intestinal morphology and ilea nutrient digestibility of broilers fed pellet and mash feed forms. Two hundred Cobb-500 one-day-old broilers used were randomly grouped into two treatments of five replicates and 20 birds per replicate in a deep litter system. The birds in the first group were fed with 2mm and 4mm die size pelletized feed at the starter and finisher phase respectively while commercial mash feed grade was applied at the starter and finisher phase for birds in the second group. The experiment lasted 7 weeks. On the last week of the experiment, 4 birds per replicate were separated into the metabolic compartment for the ilea digestibility trial and they were offered feed treated with chromic oxide at 200mg/kg diet for five days. On the 6th day, the birds were slaughtered and the ilea contents of the gut were collected for the proximate, energy, and chromic oxide content determination. Performance traits and morphometric measurement of the internal organs and intestinal components of the birds were taken with cut samples preserved in 10% formalin solution for histological assessment. The result showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the performance parameters measured with the birds-fed pellet having higher feed intake, body weight gained, and better feed conversion ratio. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the length of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, including organ weights (heart and liver) between the two treatments while the gizzard weight was higher (P<0.05) in birds fed mash feed form. Ilea nutrient digestibility for ether extract was higher (p<0.05) in birds on pellet. It was deduced from the results that although mash feed form improved gizzard development, better feed conversion was observed in birds fed pellet feed form with significant positive influence on the gut morphometric and ilea nutrient digestibility.