Effect of fermented pearl millet on performance, physiological responses, gut morphology, and caecal microbiotas in broiler chickens

This study evaluated the contribution of fermented pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br.,] on growth performance, physiological responses, gut morphology, and microbial composition in the caeca. One hundred and eighty day-old Arbor Acre broiler chicks were assigned into five groups and were fed starter (d 0 to 21) and finisher (d 22 to 42) diets. Test diets included a control composed of maize-soybean meal (0%); a similar diet with maize replaced with fermented pearl millet (FPM) at 25, 50, 75, and 100%. Results showed that there was no significant improvement in weight gain and feed conversion ratio although more feed was consumed (P = 0.035) as FPM increased in the diet. Carcass yield increased linearly (P = 0.05) at d 42. Bursa of Fabricius quadratically increased (P = 0.02) in weight particularly at 25% and 50% FPM levels at d 21. Concentrations of total protein (P = 0.026) and low-density lipoprotein (P = 0.037) increased linearly as FPM increased in the diets. Proventriculus weight, lymphocyte concentration in the blood, and size of gut segments linearly reduced (P < 0.05). Proventriculus and crop pH improved linearly (P = 0.05) while digesta pH in jejunum reduced linearly (P = 0.005) at d 21. Duodenal villus width increased quadratically (P = 0.008), and the highest width occurred in the 50% FPM group. Furthermore, dietary FPM did not influence caeca Salmonella and Lactobacillus. In conclusion, replacement of maize with FPM had no adverse effect on performance, physiological status, gut morphology and microbial composition of broiler chickens. Our results suggest that FPM represents a potential alternative in diets of broiler chickens without sacrificing the nutritional quality of the diet. Keywords: Broiler chickens, Fermented pearl millet, Gut morphology, Gut microbiota, Nutritional quality.