Abstract

A 21-day experiment evaluated the effect of different insoluble fiber (IF) sources on growth performance, nutrient and energy utilization, and foregut organ development of broiler chicken starters fed mash diets. Four dietary treatments were developed: a control (a commercial broiler chicken starter diet) and three experimental diets prepared by diluting the control diet (60 g/kg [w/w]) with three IF sources (rice hulls [RH], lentil hulls [LH], and wood shavings [WS]). A total of 120, one-day-old broiler chicks (6 birds/cage; 5 cages/treatment) were used in a completely randomized design. Compared with birds fed the control diet, those fed IF-containing diets showed lower WG and FI (p < 0.001). Feed per gain (F/G; p < 0.05; d1-21) was lowest in the control; however, after correcting for IF inclusion, F/G was not affected by dietary treatments (p > 0.05). The effects of IF on foregut development were source-dependent. Feeding RH and WS improved crop development (p < 0.05) compared to the control. Incorporating RH resulted in higher gizzard growth (p < 0.05) compared to the control and LH diets. Birds fed RH and LH had lower (p < 0.05) gizzard pH compared to those fed WS. Despite being considered a nutrient diluent, tested IF did not impair (p > 0.05) the energy utilization or nutrient digestibility.

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