Iranian Journal of animal Science

Iranian Journal of animal Science

The effects of L-arginine on growth, small intestine, and immune system of broilers in starter period

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Masoud Adibmoradi 1
Marziyeh Ebrahimi 2
Ahmad Zare Shahneh 3
Mahmoud Shivazad 3
Zarbakht Ansari Pirsaraei 4
Majid Tebianian 5
Keramat Nourijelyani 6
1 Associate professor at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran
2 Assistant professor at Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Tabriz-Tabriz
3 Professors, University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran-Karaj
4 Assistant professor at Sari Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University
5 Assistant professor at Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute-Karaj
6 Associate Professor at School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
10.22059/ijas.2014.53778
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of high dietary levels of L-arginine during starter period on growth, intestine morphology and immune system of female Ross broiler chicks. In this experiment, 192 day old female Ross broiler chicks were fed with 4 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design, in which each dietary treatment included 4 replications. Dietary treatments included 100%, 153%, 168% and 183% of digestible arginine, based on the Ross recommendation, and were fed from day 1 to 10. On d 10 of the experiment, chicks were weighed and feed consumption was recorded. Then, three chicks per replication were slaughtered in order to survey intestinal histology and immune system. The results showed that high dietary levels of arginine had an increasing effect (P<0.01) on 10th day body weight, feed efficiency, immune system characteristics, weight and length of small intestine, and its villus height and crypt depth. According to the results of this study, 168% digestible arginine, based on the Ross recommendation, had the best desirable results on growth improvement of broiler chicks and it also improved weight, length and histology of small intestine, and immune characteristics.
 
Keywords
arginine
growth performance
Morphology of Small Intestine
Immune system
broiler chick
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Iranian Journal of animal Science
Volume 45, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
Autumn 2014
Pages 223-233

  • Receive Date 27 October 2013
  • Revise Date 25 July 2014
  • Accept Date 05 August 2014