Evaluation of Aspergillus meal prebiotic in productive parameters, bone mineralization and intestinal integrity in broiler chickens

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of Aspergillus meal prebiotic on a spectrum of parameters, including productive performance, bone mineralization, and intestinal integrity, in broiler chickens. Day-of-hatch Cobb 500 by-product male chicks (320 total) were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (G1 and G2) in floor pens (150×300 cm), each pen containing separate feeders and watering systems (8 replicates per treatment, 20 birds/pen). Chickens kept in G1 (control) were fed a basal diet, while those of G2 (treated) were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.2% PRI-A-FERM. Performance parameters, including body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR), were evaluated weekly from the 7th day to the end of the trial at 42 d. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-d) was administered via oral gavage to 3 chickens/replicate (n = 24), and blood was collected on 21d and on 42d to determine serum concentration of FITC-d as a biomarker to evaluate intestinal permeability and peptide YY as an indirect biomarker to evaluate short chain fatty acids. Chickens that received the \textit{Aspergillus} meal prebiotic showed a significant increase in BW, BWG, and FI on days 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 (P<0.05) and a significant reduction in FCR on days 28, 35, and 42 of evaluation compared to control. Moreover, chickens that were supplemented with the Aspergillus meal prebiotic showed a significant reduction in serum concentrations of FITC-d on both days of evaluation, as well as a significant increase in serum concentration of peptide YY. Additionally, treated animals significantly increased bone strength, total bone ash, and calcium and phosphorous content at both evaluation times compared to the control. In summary, the results of this study suggest that Aspergillus meal prebiotic supplementation can positively influence productive parameters, bone mineralization, and intestinal integrity in broiler chickens. The observed improvements underscore the importance of gut health in overall poultry performance. The findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the benefits of prebiotics (0.2%, PRI-A-FERM) in animal nutrition and highlight the potential for their practical application in enhancing poultry production systems. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize prebiotic utilization for improved broiler health and productivity