The effect of egg powder inclusion in the pre-starter diet (1-7 days of age) on the performance, and intestinal morphology and microbiology of male broiler chickens was evaluated in a completely randomized design. Starter diets with equal metabolizable energy and crude protein levels were formulated to contain 0, 20, 40, or 60 g egg powder/kg diet. Results showed that body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and European efficiency index were positively affected (p≤0.05) by egg powder inclusion in the starter diet. Inclusion of 40 g egg powder/kg diet in the starter diet promoted the best performance results. Jejunal villus height and villus to crypt ratio increased (p≤0.05) and intestinal length decreased (p≤0.05) as a result of egg powder inclusion in the starter diet. Egg powder inclusion in the starter diet reduced (p≤0.05E. coli counts, but increased (p≤0.05) lactic acid bacteria counts in the small intestine. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the inclusion of 40 60 g egg powder/kg of starter diet g improved the performance and intestinal health of broilers.

A completely randomised design was performed to evaluate the effect of inclusion of egg powder in the pre-started diet (1-7 day age) on the immune response of male broiler chickens. Experimental pre-starter diets formulated to have 0, 20, 40 or 60 g/kg egg powder. The relative weight of lymphoid organs (spleen and bursa) was reduced, in days 7 and 42 of age, by graded inclusion of egg powder in the pre-starter period (P≤0.05). The highest antibody titre against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in days 7 and 42 of age was for chickens fed the diet containing 60 g/kg egg powder in the pre-starter diet (P≤0.05). At day 7 of age, birds fed the diet containing egg powder had a higher antibody titre against Infectious bursal disease virus (IB) compared to the control group (P≤0.05), but at day 42 of age, there was no significant difference between the treatments (P>0.05). There was no difference (P>0.05) among the treatments for the titre against sheep red blood cells and immune response against dinitrochlorobenzene. It was concluded that the inclusion of egg powder to the pre-starter diet could significantly enhance the immune response of the male broiler chickens.

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