Effects of sprouted and nonsprouted wheat and barley with and without enzyme on intestinal morphometry of broiler chickens

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of sprouted and nonsprouted wheat and barley with and without enzyme on the histomorphology of small intestinal mucosa. Three hundred and thirty-six 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were divided randomly into seven treatments and four replications (12 chicks in each replicate). The experimental treatments were as follows: (1) corn-based diet (control), (2) wheat-based diet + 0.1 % enzyme (a multienzyme product), (3) sprouted wheat-based diet + 0.1 % enzyme, (4) sprouted wheat-based diet without enzyme, (5) barley-based diet + 0.1 % enzyme, (6) sprouted barley-based diet + 0.1 % enzyme, and (7) sprouted barley-based diet without enzyme. For enteric morphometric analysis, the small intestines of the four broilers for each treatment were collected at 42 days. The traits evaluated were villus length, villus width, and crypt depth. The addition of multienzyme to wheat- and barley-based diets and the use of sprouted wheat in the diet increased the villus height in the ileum compared with the control. The addition of multienzyme to wheat- and barley-based diets and the use of sprouted wheat in the diet increased (P < 0.05) the villus height in the ileum compared with the control. The villus crypt depth was significantly decreased for sprouted barley supplementations compared with the control. The sprouted wheat with enzyme supplementation increased the villus length/crypt depth ratio compared with the control. According to results of this experiment, it can be concluded that wheat and barley with multienzyme or sprouting wheat and barley can be used as replacement grains for corn in broiler production.