EFFECTS OF EUBIOTIC LIGNOCELLULOSE SUPPLEMENTAION ON PRODUCTION, BLOOD BIOMARKERS, INTESTINAL HEALTH, AND LITTER QUALITY IN BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

There is a great concern with maintaining the integrity of the digestive tract and limiting pathogenic load, which is critical for poultry performance. The dietary inclusion of new natural fiber sources can improve the poultry's gut health and the overall performance. The goal of the current research was to study the effect of a fiber supplement (eubiotic lignocellulose; insoluble and partially fermentable) on the production, carcass traits, blood metabolites, antibody titers, intestinal health state, and litter condition of broiler chickens. 450 day-old unsexed Cobb 500 chicks (3 repetitions) were divided at random into three dietary treatments as follows: control (T1) was fed the standard diet (no supplementation of lignocellulose), the second treatment (T2) was supplemented with 0.8% lignocellulose on top of the standard diet, and the third group (T3) received a reformulated standard diet that included 0.8% lignocellulose. Eubiotic lignocellulose dietary supplementation resulted in a notable improvement (P ≤ 0.05) in production metrics, including body weight, body weight gain, and the European Production Efficiency Factor, compared to the control birds. Additionally, eubiotic lignocellulose supplemented birds had significantly higher levels of total proteins and lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (P < 0.01). Birds fed a diet supplemented with 0.8% eubiotic lignocellulose showed a considerable increase in the length of three small intestinal villi sections (P < 0.001). Diet formulation with 0.8% eubiotic lignocellulose showed relatively enhanced serum antibody titers and lowered caecal Clostridia counts in birds. Based on our findings, the incorporation of 0.8% eubiotic lignocellulose in broiler diets, whether on top of or integrated into the diet, led to improved body weight gain, gut health, blood biochemical profile, and litter quality parameters.