Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of glutamine supplementation of the diet on intestinal mucosa morphology, performance, and egg quality of commercial laying hens, submitted to heat stress and thermoneutral conditions. In this study, 96 (Isa Babcock) laying hens at 35 weeks of age were used and distributed in a completely randomized design according to a 2x2 factorial arrangement, with two levels of ambient temperature (thermoneutral and hot) and two levels of glutamine in the diet (0.0 and 1.0% of inclusion), in 6 replicates of 4 hens per box. Feed intake, daily egg production, feed conversion per kilogram of eggs, and egg quality were obtained in two periods of 28 days each. Heat stress decreased egg production and quality, and glutamine supplementation improved egg quality and feed conversion. The heat and glutamine supplementation provided an increase in calliciform cells quantity in duodenum and ileum, respectively. Significant morphological modifications in the intestinal mucosa of laying hens were not found. KEYWORDS: egg quality; glutamine; intestinal morphology; thermal stress.
Highlights
Environmental factors such as high temperature and air relative humidity may be a challenge to poultry production
This work aimed to verify the effect of glutamine supplementation in the diet on the morphology of the intestinal mucosa, performance and egg quality of laying hens submitted to conditions of heat stress and thermoneutrality
We evaluated feed intake per bird, the average daily production of eggs and feed conversion per kilogram and per dozen eggs produced
Summary
Environmental factors such as high temperature and air relative humidity may be a challenge to poultry production. It is known that high temperatures reduce food intake impairing performance. The higher the temperature, the lower the loss of sensible heat by the bird due to lower thermal gradient between the environment and the bird's body. Homeostatic mechanisms of body temperature control are activated, so that the animal does not develop hyperthermia. Heat stress is a factor that may alter intestinal morphology, the ability of nutrients digestion and absorption by the birds (MACARI et al, 2002). The number of enterocytes, microvilli height and density and the membrane structure determine the dimension of the digestion surface and intestinal absorption, the higher the villi, the better the performance of birds (FERRER et al, 1995)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
