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A total of 432, ISA Brown growing pullets were used to evaluate the effects of feeding diets containing Turmeric, Clove and Turmeric + Clove on growth performance and intestinal morphology. The birds were divided into 36 groups of 12 each weighed and allotted into experimental units. A total of nine experimental diets were formulated such that they contained 0, 1 and 2% turmeric, 0, 1 and 2% clove, and 0, 1 and 2% turmeric + clove combination on a 1:1 basis, respectively, in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement (turmeric × clove × turmeric + clove: 0 × 1 × 2), replicated four times. The birds were weighed weekly to determine their body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. At the end of the experiment, 27 birds were sacrificed, and the duodenum, jejunum and ileum segments of the gastro intestinal tract were removed for gut histo-morphometry. Results showed that level of inclusion of feed additives significantly influenced feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Birds fed 1 and 2% inclusion of feed additive had reduced feed intake and lower FCR value when compared to higher FI and FCR values recorded in birds fed 0% inclusion of additives. Duodenal, jejunal and ilea morphology were significantly influenced by turmeric, clove, turmeric + clove, inclusion levels and treatment interaction. Birds fed diet containing turmeric + clove have significantly longer duodenal and jejunal villi as well as best duodenal and jejunal villus height: crypt depth ratio. It was concluded that up to 2% turmeric and turmeric + clove can be included in growing pullet’s diet for improved performance. Inclusion of turmeric, clove and turmeric + clove improved morphological changes in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of birds which might influence nutrient absorption and thus, improved FCR.

This work sought to look into the impacts of glutamine in drinking water on performance, intestinal morphology and corticosterone level of chickens under different stocking densities. A total 300 male chicks randomly were divided to battery cages as 10 birds/(normal stocking density) and 15 birds/(high stocking density). The chicks received feed as (i) control diet and (ii) control diet + 5g glutamine/ liter in drinking water under normal and high stocking density for the whole experiment. On d 42, 3 chicks from each cage were randomly selected and slaughtered to collect blood and duodenal samples. The results showed significant improvement in growth performance and longer villi when chicken were supplemented with glutamine via drinking water. High stocking density impaired performance of chicks in the control diet, but not in chicken supplemented with glutamine under high stocking density condition. Moreover, high stocking density increased the level of corticosterone in the both groups. More interestingly, the rate of mortality significantly decreased in chickens fed with glutamine supplemented diet (2% when supplemented with glutamine and 5.33% without supplementation). In conclusion, glutamine supplementation via drinking water resulted in better growth performance of birds subjected to high stocking density.

This study was designed to evaluate the impact of garlic powder (GAR) on performance and intestinal morphology when chicken were subjected to different stocking densities. A total 100 one-day old Cobb 500 male chicks were housed in cages as 10 birds/m2 and 15 birds/m2. The chicks received feed as (i) basal diet + 0 g/kg garlic powder and (ii) basal diet + 5g/kg garlic powder supplementation from 1-42d. At the end of experiment, ten chicks per treatment randomly selected to collect duodenal samples. The results showed significant improvement in body weight and villi length when diet supplemented by GAR. High stocking density (HD) had negative impact on growth performance and villi length in basal diet, but chicken supplemented by GAR diet did not affect by HD in the both parameters. In conclusion, diet supplemented by GAR can improve performance and villi length when the chickens were subjected to HD condition.