Comparative studies of the growth promoting efficiency of Jerusalem artichoke and 1-3,1-4,1-6 yeast beta-glucan on broiler chicks

Abstract EN

The present study was designed to evaluate the growth promoting efficacy of Jerusalem artichoke (JA) in comparison with yeast beta-glucan (YBG) on the performance of broiler chickens, as well as their effects on blood parameters, hepatic and renal function tests and histophathological changes.

therefore 120 one day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to 3 groups.

two experimental groups with food additives (with JA tuber powder 3% or with YBG 0.03% on ration) and control (without any additives) groups.

all chicks had free access to feed and water ad libitum for 6 weeks.

the results detected that JA significantly improved average weight gain (AWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), gizzard index weight, length and width of intestinal villi and WBCs count than YBG treated chicks and control chicks.

both food additives groups showed a significant improvement in PCV values, Hb content, RBCs count than the control group.

moreover, both food additives groups showed a significant decrease on serum total bilirubin, cholesterol and triglycerides levels than control group.

we can conclude that both JA and YBG could be used as growth promoting agent on broiler chicks.

however, JA was superior to YBG on most productive, hematological, biochemical and histopathological criteria.