Cecal and blood fermentative indicators in broiler chickens fed Morus alba foliage meal in the ration

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Madeleidy Mart?nez
Lourdes Sav?n
Luis Enrique Dihigo
Yasmila Hern?ndez
A. Oramas
F?lix Sierra
Alba Montejo
Milbis Cueto
F?lix Rafael Herrera

Abstract

In order to study the cecal and blood fermentative indicators through the substitution of the corn ration by foliage of Morus alba (mulberry), 32 male broiler chickens of 21 d of age (HE21) were used. The birds were distributed according to complete random design into four treatments and eight repetitions, being a control (corn-soybean) and three levels of inclusion of mulberry foliage: 5, 10, and 15 %. The weight of the empty and full ceca and their length were measured. Besides, the concentration of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and ammonia was determined, as well as the values of pH. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and total cholesterol concentration were determined in blood. There was increase (P < 0.05) in the relative weights of the ceca (empty and full) using diets with mulberry foliage meal, compared with the control group (12.86, 13.93, and 13.96 vs 7.68 g/kg, respectively). The lengths of the right and left ceca differed (P < 0.05) between the control and the 10 % of substitution of mulberry foliage meal (17.88 vs 22.00 and 19.00 vs 23.25 cm, respectively, being superior in the latter. A similar performance (P < 0.05) had the concentration of total SCFA (49.60 vs 81.00 mmol/L). In the concentration of NH3 and the pH values, the control was superior (P < 0.05) compared with the rest of the treatments (2.43 vs 1.16, 1.32 vs 1.05 mmol/L and 6.74 vs 5.54, 5.58 and 5.70, respectively). The blood indicators did not show differences for hemoglobin and hematocrit. However, the cholesterol diminished with the inclusion of the mulberry foliage meal in the ration. It was concluded that with the inclusion of mulberry foliage meal up to 15 % in the ration of broiler chickens, the fermentative capacity of the ceca is increased, and it is proved the decrease in the cholesterol absorption provoked by this fibrous source.
Key words: cecal fermentative indicators, blood indicators, broiler chickens, Morus alba foliage.

Article Details

How to Cite
Mart?nez, M., Sav?n, L., Dihigo, L. E., Hern?ndez, Y., Oramas, A., Sierra, F., Montejo, A., Cueto, M., & Herrera, F. R. (2010). Cecal and blood fermentative indicators in broiler chickens fed Morus alba foliage meal in the ration. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science, 44(1). Retrieved from https://cjascience.com/index.php/CJAS/article/view/291
Section
Animal Science
Author Biographies

Madeleidy Mart?nez

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, La Habana

Lourdes Sav?n

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, La Habana

Luis Enrique Dihigo

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, La Habana

Yasmila Hern?ndez

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, La Habana

A. Oramas

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, La Habana

F?lix Sierra

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, La Habana

Alba Montejo

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, La Habana

Milbis Cueto

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, La Habana

F?lix Rafael Herrera

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, La Habana

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