The effects of cellulose and soybean hulls as sources of dietary fiber on the growth performance, organ growth, gut histomorphology, and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens

This study evaluated the effects of dietary fiber provided as purified cellulose (Solka-Floc, SF) or soybean hulls (SH) on the growth performance, organ growth, intestinal histomorphology, and nutrient digestibility. A total of 420 one-day-old Cobb male broilers were randomly assigned to 7 dietary treatments and reared to 20 d of age in battery cages (n = 6 replicates per treatment). The control group consisted of a simple corn and soybean-meal–based diet. The 6 fiber treatments had increasing amounts of SF or SH to achieve 4, 6, and 8% crude fiber (CF). Chromium oxide was added as an indigestible marker at 0.3% in all treatment diets from 14 to 20 d for nutrient digestibility analyses. Weights for digestive organs were taken on day 20. Growth performance was measured weekly. Birds fed 4% SH diet had a higher day 20 body weight gain than those fed 8% CF regardless of fiber sources (P = 0.0118). Control and 4% SH groups had the best feed conversion ratio among the treatments at 7, 14, and 20 d (P < 0.05). SH-containing diets had heavier relative gizzard and intestine weights (P < 0.001). Birds fed 8% SH diets had the highest duodenal villi height among the treatments (P < 0.001). Birds fed control and 4% SH had the highest jejunal villi height among the treatments (P < 0.001). Birds fed 4% SF and 4% SH had the highest ileal villi height among the treatments (P < 0.001). Dry matter digestibility was higher in 6% SF than in 8% SH (P = 0.0105). In general, birds fed high-SH diets had higher amino acid digestibility (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the study suggests that fiber type and inclusion level are crucial factors regulating intestinal development, nutrient digestion, and growth performance.