Introduction: In the past studies, the beneficial effect of insoluble fiber in broiler feed has been well demonstrated. Studies have shown that moderate amounts of fiber in poultry diets lead to significant improvements in nutrient utilization efficiency. Depending on the type of dietary fiber (soluble or insoluble), the particle size plays a role in the growth and development of gizzard and improves the mixture of digestive substances with digestive secretions. On the other hand, nutritionists are trying to respond to the rapid growth needs of birds by increasing the energy concentration of diets. Fats are considered for this purpose, as their energy value is at least twice that of carbohydrates and proteins. At a young age, the secretion of bile acids and the activity of pancreatic lipase are low, and therefore, the ability to digest fat in young broilers is compromised. Some studies have shown that cellulose and oat hull as a source of insoluble fiber (3%) in the diet of broiler chickens have increased the apparent digestibility of crude fat in the ileum and increased the availability of energy for the bird. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of sunflower hull with different particle sizes in diets containing different sources of fat on growth performance, digestibility of nutrients and the microbial population of the caecum of broiler chickens.
Materials and methods: This experiment was conducted using 360 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens in a completely randomized design with a 2×3 factorial arrangement for 42 days. Experimental treatments included: sunflower hulls (SFH) (without hulls, 3% with 1 mm particle size and 3% with 5 mm particle size) and different fat sources (3% tallow, 3% canola oil). Feed intake (FI) and body weight gain (BWG) of birds were recorded and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. To determine the ileal digestibility of nutrients, 3 g/kg of chromium oxide was fed to chickens on days 37-42 of the rearing period. On the 42nd day of rearing, the ileum contents of 2 birds were collected and stored in a freezer at -20◦C. To investigate the morphology of the small intestine, 5 cm of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were taken. Cecal microbial population also determined at 42 days of age. The data obtained from the experiment were analyzed using SAS statistical software and GLM procedure. To compare means, Duncan's (1955) multi-range test was used at a significant level of 5%.
Results and discussion: The results showed that, using of the coarse and fine SFH in the diet of broiler chickens increased FI and improved the FCR in the whole period of experiment (P<0.05). Canola oil improved FI and BWG compared to tallow (P<0.05). Apparent digestibility of crude protein and crude fat also increased by using of coarse SFH in the diet (P<0.05). The use of coarse SFH increased the villus height of duodenum and the villus height and thickness of ileum (P<0.05). Canola oil increased the villus height of ileum, but decreased the villus thickness compared to tallow treatment (P<0.05). The use of coarse SFH in the diet reduced the population of Escherichia coli bacteria in the cecum, and coarse SFH with different sources of fat increased the population of Lactobacillus (P<0.05).
Conclusions: In general, the results of the present study showed that the addition of coarse sunflower hull to the diet could improve the growth performance of broilers by increasing the digestibility of crude protein, crude fat, Lactobacillus population, and reducing the cecal population of E. coli. Although its interaction with canola oil also had positive effects on the population of beneficial gut bacteria.