Effects of different levels of perlite on the brush-border Alkaline phosphatase activity of the small intestine of broiler chicks.

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of different levels of perlite on brush-border Alkaline phosphatase activity of the small intestine of male broilers. The experimental design was arranged as randomized complete bocks in 4 * 2 factorial arrangement of treatment. 180 male broilers of ross commercial hybrid (Ross 308) was designated into 3 groups (0,2 and 4 %). 3 replicates of 20 birds were assigned to each treatment. Control treatment were fed base diet and treatments with the same base diet plus 2 and 4% perlite. Animals were slaughtered and different segments of small intestine(at1,10,30,50,70 and 90% of total length the small intestine) were taken from each replicates (N=2) Alkaline phosphatase activity was measured and recorded. Data were analyzed by SAS. (p < 0.05).

As intake of perlite significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity at weeks and sites of the small intestine of the broiler chicks (p < 0.05), These data suggested that perlite administration improves fat digestion and absorption in broiler chicks. As Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme responsible for digestion and absorption of long chain fatty acid in the small intestine and as the effect of perlite administration in the diet of broilers on this enzyme had not been investigated the following work had been designed and performed.