The effect of a feed additive containing sweet chestnut extract and calcium butyrate on the histostructure of the glandular stomach of broilers

Abstract

The studies were carried out on broilers of the “Smena 8” cross. At one day of age, the birds were divided into 4 groups using the method of analogue pairs based on live weight. Throughout the experiment, the control group received the main diet, the experimental groups received the main diet with the feed additive “Butitan (Farmatan BCO)” O1 – 250 mg/kg, O2 – 500 mg/kg and O3 – 1000 mg/kg. Morphometry of the glandular section of the stomach at 7 days of age showed that O1 broilers in terms of the size of the submucous membrane were superior to the control group by 6,1%, and O2 and O3 were significantly inferior to the control group in terms of the size of these indicators by 16.4% and by 8,5%. Gland epithelium height of the gastric submucous membrane was higher in all experimental groups by 11.1%. At the end of the experiment at 42 days of age in O1, the mucous membrane in thickness exceeded the control group by 11.4%, the indicators of the submucous membrane did not have significant differences, O2 and O3 were inferior to the control group in the size of these membranes by 4% and by 11.6%. Gland epithelium height of the gastric submucous membrane was higher in O3 by 9.1 %.