Abstract

SAVON, Lourdes et al. Effect of a dry fermented product on morphological, immunological, histological and health indicators of broilers. Cuban J. Agric. Sci. [online]. 2020, vol.54, n.1, pp.85-94.  Epub Mar 01, 2020. ISSN 0864-0408.

To determine the effect of the inclusion of a dry fermented product, prepared from ruminal content, on the morphological, immunological, health and histological indicators of broilers, 32 EB24 hybrid male animals, with 42 days of age, were used. Broilers were distributed according to a completely randomized design with eight repetitions per treatment: control of corn/soybean and three experimental diets including 1, 2 and 3% of the dry fermented product. Morphological indicators (relative weights, g/gLW x 100) of digestive organs, accessory organs of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) were determined, as well as other immunological (spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius) and histological indicators. Health indicators (hematocrit) and serum concentrations of total proteins, uric acid, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were also analyzed. The dry fermented product did not alter the relative weights of organs of full and empty gastrointestinal tract, nor that of accessory organs and lymphoids. There was increase of relative weight of spleen (P=0.0693), which corresponded with an increase in hematocrit, in broilers that received up to 3% of the dry fermented product. Protein metabolism indicators did not vary with the inclusion of the dry fermented product, which influenced on energy metabolism, with an increase of 6.85 vs. 9.52 and 10.21 of serum glucose (P<0.0091 mmol/L) for 2 and 3% of dry fermented product, with a decrease of 0.84 vs. 0.52 and 0.54 (P<0.0032 mmol/L) of triglycerides regarding the control. An elongation of villi of the small intestine mucus and a hyperplasia of cecal tonsils was observed, which could indicate better nutrient absorption and possible immunostimulatory effect. Results suggest that the inclusion of up to 3% of the dry fermented product in the diet of broilers based on corn/soybean, favors health and histological indicators of these animals.

Keywords : fermentation; ruminal content; lymphoid organs; histology; broilers.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English | Spanish     · English ( pdf )