Comparative impact of conventional and alternative gut health management programs on gastrointestinal responses in broiler chickens raised in commercial and research settings

Abstract

SUMMARY: Gut health management programs are developed to support growth performance and livability of broiler chickens reared in the absence of antibiotics. Identifying the impact of gut health management programs on gastrointestinal responses would improve the understanding of how the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and associated structures are affected in the absence of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of commercial gut health management programs on visceral organ weight, jejunal histomorphology, and concentration of cecal digesta short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in broiler chickens reared under commercial (study 1) and research settings (study 2). Broiler chickens were reared on one of 3 gut health management programs: 1) conventional (CON), 2) raised without medically important antimicrobials (RWMIA), and 3) raised without antibiotics (RWA). Studies showed no statistical differences for d 28 body weight, relative spleen weight, or villus height. Both studies showed lower relative liver weight in birds reared on the CON program compared to the other programs (P ≤ 0.04). A greater crypt depth (CD) and a lower villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) was observed in RWA compared to CON under research settings (study 2). Gut health management program influenced ceca SCFA concentration on d 28 under research settings with CON birds exhibiting higher concentration of acetic, propionic, butyric, and total SCFA than birds reared on the RWA program. Results suggest that broiler chickens reared on conventional and alternative gut health management programs showed some differences in organ weight, intestinal morphology, and cecal SCFA profile.

Keywords

• antibiotics
• broiler
• digesta short chain fatty acid
• gut health
• histomorphology
• organ weight