The effect of grit administration on the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of starter phase broilers digestive tract

Abstract

Digestive tract has a key role in poultry growth due to its function in absorbing nutrients. Grit is one of feed ingredients widely used to accelerate grinding process. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of grit administration on broiler chickens in the starter phase from age 1 to 21 days on the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of the digestive tract. The study design consisted of four combinations and five replications group from 200 broilers, with 10 broilers in each group. The treatments given were 0% grit; 0.5% grit of BW (body weight); 1% grit of BW; 1.5% grit of BW. The results showed that grit administration affected the macroscopic appearance of broilers digestive tract. Grit administration had a significant effect (P<0.05) on gizzard weight, duodenal length, jejunum length, ileum length, total intestinal length and total intestinal surface of broilers and had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the width of the small intestine. The results showed that grit administration affected the microscopic appearance of broiler chicken intestines. Grit administration had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the basal width and surface area of the small intestine villi and had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the villi apical width, villi height, and cryptic depth. In conclusion, grit administration grit administration to starter phase broilers can improve the macroscopic appearance of digestive tract and can improve the surface area of the small intestine villi with the optimal concentration 0.5% of body weight.