Investigation of the effects of different levels of hydrolyzed hoof meal on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and jejunum histology in broiler chickens during the finisher phase

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.

2 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Payame Noor University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

This study was conducted to study the effects of different levels of hydrolyzed hoof meal, as a dietary ingredient, on the performance, carcass characteristics, and jejunum histology of broiler chickens during the finisher phase with pelleted diets. Six hundred Ross 308 male broiler chicks, with equal average weight, were randomly assigned to four experimental groups in a completely randomized design, with five replicates per group and 30 birds per replicate, from 25 to 44 days of age. The experimental treatments included: (1) a control diet (without hoof meal), (2) a diet containing 2% hoof meal, (3) a diet containing 4% hoof meal, and (4) a diet containing 6% hoof meal. The results of performance showed that, compared to the control diet use of 2% and 6% of hoof meal reduced the cost of feed consumed per kilogram of live weight of chicks by improving the feed conversion ratio of the bird between 35 and 44 days of age. Relative carcass and thigh weight were increased by the dietary inclusion of 6% hydrolyzed hoof meal compared to the control (P < 0.05). Histological analysis revealed that jejunal crypt depth was significantly decreased in broilers fed 2% hydrolyzed hoof meal compared with the control diet (P < 0.05). This study demonstrated that feeding dietary hydrolyzed hoof meal during the finisher phase positively influenced broiler carcass traits and jejunum histology without negatively impacting performance.

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Iranian Journal of animal Science

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 August 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 March 2025
  • Revise Date: 11 June 2025
  • Accept Date: 16 June 2025

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