Effect of Inclusion of Degraded and Non-Degraded Date Pits in Broilers’ Diet on their Intestinal Microbiota and Growth Performance

Abstract

The current study aims to assess the effect of non-degraded date pits (NDDP) and degraded date pits (DDP) in broilers’ diets on gut microbiota and growth performance. The degradation of date pits (DP) occurred via the cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma reesei by a solid-state degradation procedure. One-day-old Brazilian broilers were allocated into six dietary groups: (1) maize–soy diet, (2) maize–soy diet with oxytetracycline (20%, 50 g 100 kg−1), (3) maize–soy diet with 5% NDDP, (4) maize–soy diet with 10% NDDP, (5) maize–soy diet with 5% DDP, and (6) maize–soy diet with 10% DDP. At the end of the trial, the total count of bacteria was significantly (p < 0.05) less in broilers fed 10% DDP diet (treatment 6) compared with the control group (treatment 1). In addition, DDP and oxytetracycline control diets have a similar diminishing effect on total bacterial counts and the populations of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella spp., and Escherichia coli. Over 35 days of trial, weight gains were similar among the six dietary groups. Our results showed that DDP and control diets have a similar effect on growth performance. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was poorer in broilers fed NDDP diets than other treatments. The European Production Efficiency Index (EPEI) was greater with 5% and 10% DDP than those fed NDDP at the same levels, with no significant variance from the control and antibiotic-supplemented diet (treatment 2). Overall, it can be suggested that maintaining 10% of DDP can partly replace dietary maize while also serves as a gut health enhancer and thus a growth promoter in the diet for broilers.

Applications of date pits in foods to enhance their functionality and quality: A review

“…Date pits are a rich source of fibers, with fiber content varying between 60 and 80 g/100 g total weight (Habib and Ibrahim, 2009;Ataye et al, 2011;Habib et al, 2017;Metoui et al, 2019;Alyileili et al, 2020a;Al-Khalili et al, 2021). As lignocellulosic biomaterial, the insoluble fiber content consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, .…”

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by-Products: Chemical Composition, Nutritive Value and Applications in Poultry Nutrition, an Updating Review

“…Recently, there have been trends to utilize the phytochemical properties of industrial fruit or herbs wastes in animal feeding, which will not only reduce environmental burdens, but also improve animal production and health [ 47 , 48 ]. Similarly, phytochemical or nutraceutical prosperities of date pit or waste have been explored or attempts have been made to improve them using solid state degradation by Trichoderma reesei L. and their utilization in animal feeds [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. Alyileili et al [ 49 ] reported that solid state degradation of date pit with T. reesei enhanced mannan oligosaccharide content, phenolic (142 g gallic equivalent/kg) and flavonoid (117 g rutin equivalent/kg) content of degraded date pits and antioxidant activities.…”

“…However, body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were not influenced by 10% degraded date pits compared with the control [ 52 ]. Alyileili et al [ 53 ] compared 5 and 10% non-degraded date pits vs. degraded date pits in chickens. The populations of Escherichia coli, Salmonella , Campylobacter and Shigella spp.…”

“…Body weight gains were not affected, but feed conversion ratio was higher for non-degraded date pits diets than control and degraded date pit diets. European production efficiency index was greater with 5% and 10% degraded date pits than non-degraded date pits and the control [ 53 ]. Overall, these results suggested that date pits can improve gut health by reducing pathogenic bacteria, enhancing beneficial bacteria, gene expressions of antimicrobial peptides in the jejunum, and immunoglobulin concentrations in the intestine and serum while degraded date pits likely have greater effects than the non-degraded date pits.…”

Nontraditional Feedstuffs as an Alternative in Poultry Feed

“…Regarding date pits meal, it could be fed to laying hens up to 5% without adverse effects on their performance and egg quality. In addition, broilers fed diet incorporated with 4% date pits meal showed an ability to resist the deleterious effects of aflatoxine B1 [14].…”