Animals (Jan 2025)

Impact of Threonine Supply in Early Ages on Gut Tissue Morphology, Liver Histology, and the Possible Changes in Leukocyte Numbers of Broilers

  • Veronika Halas,
  • Szilvia Áprily,
  • József Nagy,
  • Janka Turbók,
  • Annamária Tischler,
  • Nóra Katalin Szeli,
  • Örs Petneházy,
  • Orsolya Csötönyi,
  • Judit Enyezdi,
  • Virág Ács

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030370
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 3
p. 370

Abstract

Read online

Delayed feed access post-hatch negatively impacts growth and intestinal development in broilers. Threonine (Thr) is known to support epithelial tissue development. This study evaluated the effects of early feeding strategies, including in ovo Thr administration and hydrogel provision, on broiler performance, gut and liver histomorphology, and leukocyte profiles. Control birds were fed immediately post-hatch, while others experienced a 48 h feed delay. One group received in ovo Thr on day 17 of incubation, while others were given Hydrogel® with or without Thr during the first 48 h post-hatch. Immediate feed birds showed the best performance (p p p > 0.05), but 48 h delayed, non-supplemented birds had 34.3% lower BW than immediate-fed birds (p < 0.05). Compensation was linked to improved gut architecture, though no significant effects were observed on leukocyte profiles or liver histology. In ovo Thr feeding is recommended to mitigate the adverse effects of a two-day delay in feed access for broiler chickens.

Keywords