Various ratios of pectin to cellulose affect intestinal morphology, DNA quantitation, and performance of broiler chickens

This study investigated the effect of various ratios of pectin to cellulose on intestinal morphology, DNA quantitation, and broiler chicken performance. Four hundred 1-day-old chickens were randomly divided into 4 experimental diets and 4 replications with 25 chickens each. Experimental diets consisted of a control (treatment 1) or diets containing different pectin:cellulose ratios: 2:1 (treatment 2), 1.5:1.5 (treatment 3), and 1:2 (treatment 4). Growth performance parameters were assayed on days 14, 21, and 42. Treatment 2 led to an increase in DNA content at day 14 (P < 0.05), decreased small intestine weight at day 21, and increased small intestine weight at day 42 (P < 0.05). The duodenal length increased by all experimental diets as compared to that of the control at day 21 but decreased at day 42 (P < 0.05). The greatest jejunal length was observed with treatment 4 at 21 days of age (P < 0.05). All treatments except treatment 3 induced a decrease in jejunal length at 42 days of age (P < 0.05). The greatest and shortest cecum lengths were observed at 42 days of age with treatments 4 and 2, respectively (P < 0.05). The smallest villous height, villous surface area, villous height:crypt depth ratio, and uppermost crypt depth were observed with treatment 2 at 14 days of age (P < 0.05). Treatment 2 also resulted in the smallest villous height, villous surface area, and villous height:crypt depth ratio at day 21 (P < 0.05). The greatest villous width was observed with treatment 1 (P < 0.05). Overall, the growth performance parameters considerably declined by treatment 2.In this study, we show that different ratios of non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) can differentially affect the intestinal condition and performance. The effects of NSPs are governed by their solubility and fermentative ability. Indeed, the birds counteracted the effects of NSPs with changes in the intestinal length and weight, and with ageing. An increased ratio of cellulose to pectin partially hindered and moderated some of the effects of pectin.