Comparative effect of potentiated zinc oxide and antibiotic growth promoters on intestinal morphometry and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens

Abstract

This study aims to determine the comparative effects of potentiated zinc oxide (pZnO) and antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) supplementation on intestinal morphometry and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens. Four hundred straight-run day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments replicated 10 times with 10 birds per replicate. Dietary treatments were: T1: Basal diets without AGP (negative control; NC), T2: Basal diets with 500 g/ton Maduramicin 10g and 500 g/ton Zinc bacitracin 150 (positive control; PC), T3: NC added with 150g/ton pZnO, and T4: PC added with 150g/ton pZnO in a 2x2 factorial design in RCBD. At days 18 and 35, 10 birds were randomly selected per treatment for morphometry of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. At day 38, eight birds per treatment were used for the nutrient digestibility study. Results showed significant interaction effects (P<0.05) of AGP and pZnO supplementation on day 35 intestinal morphometry of duodenum's villi height and villi height: crypt depth, and ileum's crypt depth; apparent CODGE, AME, CP, DM and EE. Significant differences (P<0.05) with pZnO supplementation were only observed on feed intake and FCR of birds fed with pZnO at days 8-14 and fecal quality at days 0-7. Results of the study suggest that pZnO has the potential to replace AGPs without negatively affecting the intestinal morphometry, digestibility and growth performance of broiler chickens.