The effect of feed form (Mash, Pellet, Extrude) on energy and protein efficiency, morphology and microbial population of intestine in broiler chicken

The current study was conducted to determine the effectof feed form (mash, pellet and extrude) on energy and protein efficiency, intestinal morphology and microbiology in broiler chickens. Energy and protein efficiency and European efficiency factor were calculated during the experiment period and jejunum morphology and relative length of intestine, microbial population, volatile fatty acids, viscosity of ileal were determined at 42 days of age. The results have shown that the effect of feed form on jejunum morphology (crypt depth (CD), serosa thickness, villous height (VH) and villous width (VW), VH:CD, length and relative length of intestine, microbial population (spore former bacteria, lactobacilli,colibacilli, total aerobic bacteria) of ileal digesta was not significant (P>0.05). The values of viscosity and volatile fatty acids (butyric, isobutyric, valeric, isovaleric) of ileal digesta was higher and values of pH, ascetic acid was lower in mash diet form in comparison to pellet and extrude diet form (P<0.05). Energy and protein efficiency and European efficiency factor were higher in extrudes diet form in comparison to mash and pellet feed forms in total experiment period (P<0.05). Our findings have shown that that extrusion and pellet feed forms had positive results on volatile fatty acid profile, intestinal contents’ viscosity, energy and protein efficiency and European efficiency factor in comparison to mash feed form in broiler chickens.