Histomorphometry of the jejunum and weight gain performance of broiler chickens supplemented with prebiotics (MOS, FOS, and GOS)

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1813612620019

• Palavras-chave: poultry farming, absorption, mannan oligosaccharides, villi.

• Keywords: poultry farming, absorption, mannan oligosaccharides, villi.

• Abstract:

  .—[Jejunal histomorphometry and weight gain performance of broiler chickens supplemented with prebiotics (MOS, FOS, and GOS)] The objective of this study was to evaluate the jejunal histomorphometry and weight gain of broiler chickens supplemented with a prebiotic compound based on mannan-oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharides, and galacto-oligosaccharides. A total of 240 female birds of the Cobb strain were used, distributed across three experimental treatments with three replicates of four birds each, from 1 to 42 days of age. Upon housing, the birds received a diet consisting of water and feed ad libitum. The experimental treatments were: Treatment 1 (T1) 500 g of a prebiotic compound based on mannan oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharides, and gluco-oligosaccharides per ton of feed; Treatment 2 (T2) 16.5 ppm of Flavomycin per ton of feed; Treatment 3 (T3) feed without any treatment. In Treatment 1 (T1), the prebiotic compound used is considered a feed additive and is based on mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). Jejunal samples were collected at 7, 14, 28, and 42 days, fixed in 10% formalin buffered in 0.1M phosphate buffer at pH 7.2, and subsequently processed according to standard histological procedures. The following were measured in each animal: 10 heights, 10 width averages, 10 distances between villi, and 10 crypt diameters. The absorptive area of the jejunum was calculated, and the data were analyzed using the ANOVA normality test and subsequently the Student’s t-test with a significance level of 5%. At 7, 14, 28, and 42 days, the birds were weighed, and the data were analyzed using the ANOVA normality test and then the Student’s t-test with a significance level of 5%. At 7 and 14 days, T1 exhibited a larger absorptive area compared to the other treatments. Thus, we conclude that the inclusion of the prebiotic compound positively influenced the development of the absorptive area of the jejunum in broiler chickens, suggesting a potential application in poultry nutrition.