Effect of Selenium Nanoparticles and Mannan Oligosaccharide Supplementation on Growth Performance, Stress Indicators, and Intestinal Microarchitecture of Broilers Reared under High Stocking Density

Abstract

The current study investigated the potential of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS) supplementation in ameliorating high stocking density (HSD) stress in broilers. A total of 392 day-old male chicks were divided into seven groups with eight replicates (n = 7): NSD [basal diet (BD) + normal stocking density: 10 bird/m2], HSD [BD + high stocking density: 16 bird/m2], Se–HSD [BD + Selenium (Se) 0.15 mg/kg], MOS–HSD (BD + MOS 5 gm/kg), Se–MOS–HSD (BD + Se 0.15 mg/kg and MOS 5 gm/kg), SeNPs–HSD (BD + SeNPs 0.15 mg/kg) and SeNPs–MOS–HSD (BD + SeNPs 0.15 mg/kg and MOS-5 gm/kg). HSD stress decreased (p p p p p p p p p p p < 0.05) serum cholesterol and ileal IEL density in HSD-stressed broilers. Our findings signify that HSD is stressful for broilers particularly during the finishing phase. Supplementation with the SeNPs–MOS combination mitigated HSD stress by partially improving the gut microarchitecture, gut barrier function and performance indicators.

Keywords

• crowding stress
• prebiotic
• histomorphometry
• body weight
• corticosterone
• gut health