Effect of electron beam irradiated barley grains on growth performance, blood parameters, nutrient digestibility, microbial population, and intestinal histomorphometry in broiler chickens

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the effect of electron beam-irradiated barley on performance and some physiological parameters of broiler chicks. Treatments were barley (25% and 50% of diet, raw and irradiated at 40 kGy) and control diet that used with five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Irradiation decreased the negative effects of barley on weight gain during the entire production phases at the level of 50%. Relative weight of breast increased in birds fed 25% irradiated barley compared to those fed 50% barley (P < .05). The relative weight of the gizzard as well as the lengths of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum was higher (P < .05) in birds fed 50% raw barley compared to that of the other treatments. Broilers fed a 50% barley diet had lower (P < .05) cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations compared to the birds fed 25% barley. The ileal apparent digestibility of nutrients decreased in birds fed 50% barley compared to those fed 25% barley. The caecal population of Lactobacillus was decreased (P < .05) in broilers fed on 50% raw barley. It is concluded that electron irradiation seems to be an effective procedure to improve the performance parameters of broiler chickens when the birds are fed high levels of barley.