The effects of dietary bile salts supplementation on performance, digestibility and intestinal morphology in broiler chicken

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bile acids (BAs) on performance, digestibility of nutrients, and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens. A total of 300 one-day-old male broiler chicken (Ross 308) were distributed into five treatments, six replications with 10 chicks each in a completely randomized design. experimental diets included: 1) control diet (CON; based on corn and soybean meal), 2) basal diet containing a commercial emulsifier, 3) basal diet containing 0.05 % BAs, 4) basal diet containing 0.1 % BAs, and 5) basal diet containing 0.2 % BAs. Intestinal morphological specifications, including villus height index, crypt depth, and villus height to crypt depth ratio were determined in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The results showed that consumption of 0.1 % BAs improved daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio during the starter period (p< 0.05). Broiler chickens fed a diet containing 0.1 % BAs had higher fat and energy digestibility compared to chicks of other treatments (p<0.05). Birds fed 0.1 % BAs had a higher villus height in the jejunum compared to the birds in control group (p<0.05). Dietary BAs supplementation of 0.1% significantly increased the villus height to crypt depth ratio in all three portions of the small intestine compared to the control treatment. In conclusion, dietary BAs supplementation may probably promote performance to some extent by improving the intestinal morphology and utilization of fat and energy in the broiler diet.