Effect of Feeding Wet Feed or Wet Feed Fermented by <i>Bacillus licheniformis</i> on Growth Performance, Histopathology and Growth and Lipid Metabolism Marker Genes in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effect of three feeding methods (dry feed, wet feed or wet feed fermented with Bacillus licheniformis) on the growth performance, intestinal histomorphometry and gene expression of the lipid metabolism- and growth-related genes of broiler chickens. A total of 360 one-day-old Cobb-500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted into three groups containing four replicates with 30 birds each. The first group (control) was fed a dry mash basal diet. The second and third groups were fed wet feed and fermented wet feed. The final body weight and weight gain were reduced (p p p IGF-1, GH and m-TOR genes in the pectoral muscle of birds fed wet feed was decreased (p PPARγ and increased that of FAS. In conclusion, wet feed negatively affected the broiler chickens’ efficiency under heat stress; however, fermenting the wet feed with Bacillus licheniformis improved feed utilization and birds’ performance compared to the dry feed group.

Keywords

• performance
• dry feed
• fermented wet feed
• intestinal morphology
• gene expression
• broilers