Effects of non-starch polysaccharides in semi-purified diets on performance, serum metabolites, gastrointestinal morphology, and microbial population of male broiler chickens

We investigated the effects of soluble or insoluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) on growth performance, serum metabolites, and intestinal morphology of male broiler chickens. One hundred and forty 1-d-old male chicks (Ross 308) were assigned to 4 diets with 7 cages per treatment and 5 chickens per cage in a completely randomized design during a 15-d study. Experimental diets included: 1) semi-purified control diet (Ctrl), 2) Ctrl plus 3% pectin, 3) Ctrl plus 3% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and 4) Ctrl plus 3% cellulose. On d 10, 1 chicken from each cage was slaughtered to obtain the intestinal tissues for morphological indices, blood samples for serum metabolites, and ileal content for microbiological count at the end of the experiment. Adding pectin and CMC to broiler chicken diet decreased (P < 0.05) weight gain and increased (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio. There were no differences in growth performance traits between chickens fed cellulose compared with the Ctrl diet. The length of the duodenum and jejunum increased (P < 0.05) in chickens supplemented with pectin or CMC. Adding CMC or pectin to the diet reduced serum high density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations (P < 0.05). Pectin and CMC impaired the villi morphology, while cellulose had no effect compared to the Ctrl diet, except for villus height in the lower jejunum. In conclusion, the inclusion of soluble NSP in chicken diets had negative effects on growth performance and ileal microbiota of broiler chickens, while cellulose inclusion did not affect the productive performance and microbiological counts here studied.