Morphometric indicators of the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs as affected by the inclusion of shrub in diet of heterozygotic naked neck chickens

Magdalena Herrera¹

, Lourdes SavÃ³n²

, Odilia GutiÃ©rrez²

1. Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias, Universidad TÃ©cnica Estatal, Ecuador 2. Instituto of Animal Science, Apartado Postal 24, San JosÃ© de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba

Author

Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2015, Vol. 5, No. 2 doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2015.05.0002
Received: 08 Mar., 2015 Accepted: 05 May, 2015 Published: 19 May, 2015

© 2015 BioPublisher Publishing Platform

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Preferred citation for this article:

Herrera et al., 2015, Morphometric indicators of the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs as affected by the inclusion of shrub in diet of heterozygotic naked neck chickens, International Journal of Molecular Zoology, Vol.5, No.2 1-5 (doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2015.05.0002)

Abstract

Forty eight heterozygotic naked neck chickens (T451N), 24 females and 24 males in 28 days of age were arranged for evaluating the morphometric indicators of the gastrointestinal tract (full and empty) and its accessory organs with the inclusion of mulberry tree foliage (Morus alba) in the ration. Animals were distributed according to a random block design in four treatments and six replications consisting of a control (soybean meal-maize) and three inclusion levels of Morus alba (3%, 6% and 9%). The relative weight to live weight (%) of the indicators of the full gastrointestinal tract (GIT) increased significantly (p<0.05) the highest MA inclusion (6 and 9%) in comparision to the control by 3 % MA meal. However, proventriculus and ceca weights of the empty GIT were similar regardless the inclusion MA levels but significantly (p<0.05) difference was shown by from the control treatment. Similar performance was observed in accessory glands. Results have suggested that the possibility of including up to 3 % foliage meal of Morus alba in rations for heterozygotic naked neck chickens without affecting the morphometry of the gastrointestinal tract and its accessory organs.

Keywords

Heterozygotic naked neck chickens; Morus alba; Morphometry

In order to reduce costs and improve the profitability of poultry production in tropical countries, the replacement of imported grains by locally available plant foliage as non-conventional feeds (Dale 2007) has been studied due to their high nutritional value. However, it is of great importance the knowledge of their physicochemical characteristics and their effect on poultry nutrition and physiology that will account for the productive responses (Rodríguez et al. 2006).

Among these new alternatives is the mulberry tree which was sown in Asian countries 4 500 years ago for sericulture (Kitahara 2001). It belongs to the Moraceae family, Dicotyledonous class; Urticaceous subclass (Boschidini 2006). It represents a forage alternative of good adaptation to the tropics and subtropics (Medina et al. 2009), its fibrous fractions are low regarding other foliages (Albert 2006) and by the physicochemical properties of its soluble and insoluble compounds can exert various physiological effects on the gastrointestinal tract of monogastric species, especially poultry, that due to their digestive condition are not capable of degrading high amounts of fiber (Gonzalvo et al. 2001).

The objective of this study was to assess the effects on the morphometry of the GIT and accessory glands of heterozygotic naked neck chickens fed mulberry leaf meal (mfM).

1 Materials and Methods

1.1 Location, soil

This investigation was carried out in the province of Los Ríos, Ecuador, located at 01º06’ South latitude and 79º29’West latitude, at 75 masl, with an average annual temperature of 24.7º C; 87 % relative humidity; 2613 mm rainfall, 886 h of annual heliophany and sandy-slime-clayey soil.

1.2 Sowing and plant drying

The mulberry var. Criolla, was sown using 40 cm cuttings (tilted), at a rate of 40 cm between plants and rows one meter apart, in an area of 5000 m² divided in three lots (1667 m²/lot) by age (30, 45 and 60 d of sprout), fertilized with organic fertilizer (300 kg/ha). One year after its establishment, leaves were manually collected, dried in the shade, in cement floor for three days, and later homogenized and ground for sending them to the laboratory. Average chemical composition of mulberry leaves of 45 d of sprout was (%): 92.8 DM, 24.8 CP, 2.96 Ca, 0.38 P, 39.5 NDF, 27.9 ADF, hemicellulose 17.5, cellulose 12.4, lignin 6.10 and 8.74 MJ/kg ME.

1.3 Animals and diets

Forty eight heterozygotic naked neck chickens (T451N, Sasso 2010), 24 males and 24 females with average live weights between 750 to 800 g were used for attaining the correct representativeness of the sample by sex and by weight, of 28 days of age vaccinated against Newcastle. They were housed in metallic cages and were adapted to the experimental diets from 14 d. Animals received four diets/ treatments for the growing and final stages, with three levels (3, 6 y 9 %) of mulberry foliar meal (mfM) and a control (maize-soybean) formulated according to the requirements for this poultry category (Table 1) and they had free access to water and feed.

Table 1 Composition of the diets with different inclusion levels of mulberry leaf meal for growing *¹ and finishing *² heterocygotic naked neck chickens

1.4 Chemical analyses

DM and protein content were determined according to AOAC (2006), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin according to Goering and van Soest (1970).

1.5 Statistical method

A random block design with four treatments and six replications per treatment (12 chickens/treatment: 6 females and 6 males) was applied. For the analysis of results, SAS (Statistical Analysis System), version 9.3 (2013) was used. Duncan’s (1955) multiple range test was used for mean comparisons.

1.6 Experimental procedure

Animals were weighed at 91 d and at 2 hours and 30 min after feed intake. Slaughtering was by the bleeding of the jugular vein method (Sánchez 1990) for extracting the accessory organs (liver and pancreas) and the digestive tract. For their analysis, this latter was divided into proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine and cecum. The digestive organs were weighed, full and empty, and results were expressed as relative to live weight (LW) %.

2 Results and Discussion

There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the relative weight to the live weight (LW) (%) of all indicators of the full GIT. With the higher inclusion levels (6 and 9 %) of the MFM weight of GIT increased and differed (P < 0.05) from the control (Table 2). However, the weights of the proventriculus and ceca of the empty GIT, regardless of the inclusion levels of MFM, were similar but differed (P < 0.05) significantly to the control. On the other hand, the gizzard with the highest inclusion level increased its size and differed from the remaining treatments (Table 3).

Table 2 Relative weight (% live weight) of the full gastrointestinal tract

Table 3 Absolute weight of the empty gastrointestinal tract

GIT weight changes could be due to an adaptation process of the chickens for increasing the fermentative capacity of the coarse feed (Savón 2005). Similar responses were observed by González et al. (2007) in broilers and Rodríguez et al. (2006) in layers. As can be observed (Table 1), the fiber percentage both in the growing and finishing phases increased for the levels of 6 and 9 % mfM in comparison to the control.

Correct the values in Table 3, which seem incorrect as very high values are reported. Infact, after emptying, they should have been lower than those of Table 2.

These values are higher than those reported (4 %) Sasso (2010). Thus, the excess fiber in diet increased the weight of these GIT indicators, in agreement to the observation of Itzá et al. (2010).

González- Alvarado et al. (2006) have studied the influence of the type of fat added to the feed and the inclusion of two types of fiber at diet 3 % (oat husk and beet pulp) and observed that the GIT, proventriculus and gizzard increased their size. This is probably due to the increase of the water retention capacity and the enlargement capacity of the fiber. These results have been confirmed by Jiménez Moreno et al. (2006).

The increase of the size of the gizzard is due to greater gastric activity for realizing the mechanic digestion of the fibrous components. The gizzard is a crushing organ of the feed in the birds, but it also acts as filter because it retains or allows the passage of the particles to the duodenum depending upon their characteristics (Mateos et al. 2006). Coarse particles are retained until they attain the critical size determined by the diameter of the pylorus (González- Alvarado et al. 2006; Albetis 2010 and Pietschs 2014) that have an effect on a greater mechanical work and with this its muscle development. In addition, these effects are related with the physical form, chemical nature (source and origin), type of fiber, processing to which is submitted, adaptation and animal characteristics (age and live weight) (Martínez et al. 2010).

In this sense, diets rich in non-amylaceous polysaccharides provoke modifications in the intestinal morphology, mainly in ceca weight. This effect is due to an adaptation process of the birds for increasing the fermentative capacity through the presence of bacteria and fungi as observed in pigs, poultry and man (Apajalahti and Kettunen 2002; Donalson et al. 2005; Dunkley et al. 2007; Rodríguez et al. 2012).

Martínez et al. (2010) used three levels of mulberry foliar meal (5, 10 and 15 %) and a control (maize and soybean). With 10 % of meal, ceca distended its size, cholesterol (mmol/L) decreased and fermentability increased with higher production of short chain fatty acids (mmol/L). Other researchers (Rodríguez et al. 2006; Martínez et al. 2008) have found similar results on utilizing other fiber sources for broiler and layer feeding.

With the highest inclusion levels of MFM the relative weight of liver and pancreas increased (P < 0.05) in comparison to the control and 3 % meal (Table 4). According to Martínez et al. (2010) these organs increased their weight through their function for degrading the fibrous feed, by their contribution, with their secretions.

Table 4 The results suggested that mulberry foliar meal could be used upto 3 % in diet without affecting the morphometric indicators of the full GIT of heterocygotic naked neck chickens

References

Albert A., 2006, Evaluación biofisiológica de las especies Trichantera gigantea, Morus alba y Erythrina poeppigiana en cuyes, en la región de Topes de Collantes. Tesis presentada en opción al título de Doctor en Ciencias. La Habana-Cuba, p.98

Albetis M., 2010, El uso de dietas altas en fibras (6%) en aves de postura en la etapa de recría (10 a 16 semanas de edad). Disponible en:<http://www.e engormix.com/MA-avicultura/nutricion/articulos/uso-dietas-alta-fibras-t2902/141-p0.htm.Consultado27/08/ 2013]

AOAC, 2006, Official Methods of Analysis. Ass. Off. Anal.Chem. (18th) Arligton, VA. Washington, D.C. 475

Apajalahti J.,and Kettunen A, 2002, Efecto de la dieta sobre la flora microbiana en el tracto gastrointestinal de aves. XVIII Curso de Especialización FEDNA, Fira de Barcelona, España, p. 39-51

Boschidini, C. 2006. Nutrientes digestibles, energía neta, fracciones proteícas de la morera (Morus alba)aprovechable. Agronomía Mesoamericana. 17(2):141
http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/am.v17i2.5154

Dale, N. 2007.Biocombustibles y producción avícola. Ind. Avic. Marzo 19-21

Donalson, L.M., Kim, W.K., Woodward, C.L., Herrera, P., Kubena, L.F., Nisbet, D.J. and Ricke, S.C. 2005. Utilizing different ratios of alfalfa and layer ration for molt induction and performance in commercial laying hens. Poult Sci. 84(3):362
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ps/84.3.362

Duncan, D.B. 1955.Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics.11: 1
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3001478

Dunkley, K.D., Dunkley, C.S., Njongmeta, N.L., Callaway, T.R., Hume, M.E., Kubena, L. F., Nisbet, D.J. and Ricke, S.C. 2007. Comparison of in vitro fermentation and molecular microbial profiles of high-fiber feed substrates incubated with chicken iecalInocula. Poult Sci. 86: 801
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ps/86.5.801

Goering, H.K. and Van Soest, P.J. 1970. Forage fibre. Analysis Department of Agriculture. Handbook.No. 379.Washington, D.C. p.119

González, J., Jiménez, E., Lázaro, R. y Mateos, G. 2007. Effect of type of cereal, heat processing of the cereal, and inclusion of fiber in the diet on productive performance and digestive traits of broilers. Rev. Poult. Sci. N⁰ 86, p. 705

González- Alvarado, J.M., Jiménez- Moreno, E., González- Serrano, A., Lázaro, R., y Mateos, G. G. 2006. Poult. Sci. 85 (Suppl. 1):54

Gonzalvo, S., Nieves, D., Ly, J., Macías, M., Carón, M. and Martínez, V. 2001. Algunos aspectos del valor nutritivo de alimentos venezolanos destinados a animales monogástricos. Livestock Res. Rural Devel. 13:25

Itzá, M., Lara, P., Magaña, M. A. y Sanginés, J. 2010.Evaluación de la harina de hoja de morera (Morus alba) en la alimentación de pollos de engorda. Zootecnia Trop. 28 (4):477

Jiménez- Moreno, E., González- Alvarado, J.M., González- Sánchez, D., Lázaro, R., y Mateos, G. G. 2006. Poult. Sci. 85:64
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ps/85.1.64

Kitahara, N. 2001.Mulberry-pasture association system in Japan.In:Mulberry for animal feeding in China. (Eds. Jian, L.; Yuyin, C.; Sánchez, M. y Xingmeng, L.).Langzhou, China. p. 27-28

Martínez, M., Savón, L., Dihigo, L.E., Hernández ,Y., Oramas, A., Sierra, F., Montejo, A., Cueto, M. and Herrera, F.R. 2010. Cecal and blood fermentative indicators in broiler chickens fed Morus albafoliage meal in the ration. Cuban J. Agric. Sci. 44:49

Martínez, M., Savón, L., Dihigo, L., Rodríguez, R., Sierra, F., Orta, M., Hernández,Y., Rodríguez, V., Domínguez, D. y Sarduy, L. 2008. Indicadores morfométricos del tracto gastrointestinal y sus órganos accesorios con la inclusión de follaje de Lablab purpureus en las raciones para pollos de engorde. Rev. Cubana Cienc. Agríc. 42(2):191

Mateos, G. G., Lázaro, R., González, J. M., Jiménez, E. and Vicente, B. 2006. Efectos de la fibra dietética en piensos de iniciación para pollitos y lechones. XXII Curso de Especialización FEDNA. Barcelona. p. 39.

Medina, M.G., García, D.E., Moratinos, P. y Cova, L. J. 2009. La morera (Morus spp.) como recurso forrajero: Avances y consideraciones de Investigación. Zootecnia Trop., 27(4): 313.

Pietsch, M. 2014. Fibra cruda insoluble: Un nuevo enfoque para la salud y desempeño. Disponible en: http://www.emgormix.com/MA-avicultura/manejo/artículos/fibra-cruda insoluble-nuevo-t5356/124-p0.htm. Consuted: 01/01/2014. 1-5 p

Rodríguez, R., Labrada, A., Isert,M., Betancur, C., Merlos, C. and Liu, G. 2012. Effect of mulberry foliage (Morus alba) meal on growth performance and edible portions in hybrid chickens. International J. Anim. Vet. Advances 4: 263

Rodríguez, R., Martínez, M., Valdivié, M., Cisneros, M., Cárdenas, M. and Sarduy, L. 2006. Morphometry of the gastrointestinal tract and its accessory organs in laying hens fed feedstuffs containing proteinic sugarcane meal. Cuban J. Agríc. Sci. 40: 343

Sánchez, A. 1990.Enfermedades de las aves. Editorial ENPES. La Habana. p.185

SAS, 2013, User’s guide: Statistics. v. 9.3. De SAS Institute. INC, Cary, N.C., USA

Sasso, 2010, La mayor variedad de reproductores coloreados. Disponible en:
http://www.sasso.fr/polluelos-label-coloreados.php?ref_coq=T77N&lg=es.Consulted:2/08/2014

Savón L., 2005, Alimentación no convencional de especies monogástricas: Utilización de alimentos altos en fibra. VII Encuentro de Nutrición y Producción de Animales Monogástricos. Curso Pre-evento. UNELLEZ, Venezuela. p 30

International Journal of Molecular Zoology

• Volume 5

View Options
. PDF(324KB)
. HTML
Associated material
. Readers' comments
Other articles by authors
. Magdalena Herrera

. Lourdes SavÃ³n

. Odilia GutiÃ©rrez

Related articles
. Heterozygotic naked neck chickens

. Morus alba

. Morphometry

Tools
. Email to a friend
. Post a comment