Characterisation of undigested components throughout the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens fed either a wheat-or maizebased diet

摘要

This study was to characterise the undigested nutrients present along the gastrointestinal tract of birds offered common wheat-or maize-based diets,with the goal of optimising utilisation of enzymes to enhance digestive efficiency.Wheat-and maize-based diets were offered to 240 mixed-sex broilers(10 birds/pen;n=12)from 1 to 35 d postehatch.Digestibility of dry matter,starch,crude protein and nonstarch polysaccharides(NSP)were measured in the crop,gizzard,duodenum,jejunum,ileum,caeca and excreta at d 12 and 35 postehatch.Analysis of nutrient levels in the excreta presented that more than 30%of nutrients provided in the feed was wasted,irrespective of wheat or maize diet type.On average,92 g/kg crude protein,92 g/kg insoluble NSP and 14 g/kg oligosaccharides were not utilised by birds at d 12 postehatch.The quantity of water-insoluble NSP in the small intestine at d 12 was lower in birds offered the wheat-based diet compared to those fed the maize-based diet(P<0.05),with the reverse being true for water-soluble NSP(P<0.001).On average,84 g/kg crude protein,79 g/kg insoluble NSP and 9 g/kg oligosaccharides remained in the excreta at 35 d of age.At this time period,accumulation of feed in the gizzard was noted for birds offered both diets,but was more pronounced in those offered the maize-based diet(P<0.001).Birds offered the maize-based diet demonstrated improved utilisation of oligosaccharides compared to those fed the wheat-based diet at both d 12 and 35(P=0.087 and P=0.047,respectively).Protein utilisation in the jejunum and ileum was greater in birds offered the wheat-based diet compared to those fed the maize-based diet(P=0.004 and P<0.001,respectively).Thus,while both diets supported standard growth performance of birds,the degree and flow of nutrient disappearance along the gastrointestinal tract was influenced by cereal type and bird age.