Effects of feed form on growth performance, carcass traits, digestive tract development and intestinal histomorphology of broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feed form which has been produced commercially and has similar properties in different physical form (mash, crumble, pellets) on performance, carcass yield, carcass parameters organ relative weights, relative length and weight of small intestine and histomorphological parameters in broiler chickens. A total of 224 one-d-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 4 different dietary treatment groups. Each group consisted of 8 subgroups of 7 chicks. The groups were fed with different forms of feed for 42 days. For the first three weeks, two groups were fed with mash feed and two groups were fed with crumble feed. In the second three weeks, one group was fed with mash feed (TT) and the other group was fed with pellet feed (TP). One group of the groups consuming crumble form feed was given in pellet form, and the other group was given feed in crumble form again. Feeding in crumble form in the first three weeks of the experiment positively affected the performance and histomorphology of the jejunum and ileum. Performance, EPEF, carcass yield and breast yield were negatively affected in the group consuming feed in mash form during the six week trial. After feeding in crumble form for the first three weeks, feeding in crumble or pellet form had a positive effect on performance, EPEF, carcass yield and breast yield. Giving pellet feed to the group that consumed mash feed for the first three weeks also increased performance, EPEF, carcass yield and breast yield. Feeding mash feed improved intestinal histomorphology more than feeding other forms. Gizzard relative weight was found to be higher in the group consuming feed in mash form during the six week trial than in the other groups. Total small intestine, liver, heart, spleen and Bursa fabricius relative weights were not affected by the feed form. The relative length of the small intestine was found to be higher in the group consuming feed in mash form during the six-week trial. Although using crumble feed for six weeks had a positive effect on performance, it did not provide any improvement in intestinal villi compared to mash feed. Although the use of mash feed in broiler production negatively affected performance in the first three weeks, an improvement in performance was observed later when pellet feed was used. As a result, it was concluded that feed in crumble form for the first three weeks and then feed in pellet form would positively affect performance, carcass yield, digestive system and intestinal histomorphology in broilers. Keywords: Broiler Performance, Carcass Traits, Digestive System, Feed Form, Intestinal Histomorphology