Effect of feeding broccoli floret residues on leghorn layer performance and egg quality and nutrient digestibility

1. A study was conducted to determine the effects of dried broccoli floret (DBF) on egg production parameters, egg quality and apparent nutrient digestibility of laying hens. It was hypothesised that feeding DBF can improve egg quality without adversely affecting layer performance.2. Seventy-two White Leghorn layers aged 62 weeks were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments (6 cage replicates with 3 hens each) and fed diets containing 0, 40, 80 and 120 g/kg DBF in feed for 56 d.3. Inclusion of DBF had no effect on feed intake, egg production, feed conversion ratio or egg components. However, egg weight increased (linear effect, P < 0.05) as the level of DBF in the diet increased. Egg breakage strength, eggshell strength and Haugh unit were not influenced by dietary treatments. Egg yolk colour (quadratic effect, P = 0.002) and α-tocopherol concentration (quadratic effect, P < 0.0001) improved as a result of DBF inclusion. Egg yolk cholesterol concentration was not altered by DBF inclusion. Apparent total tract nutrient (dry matter, organic matter and crude protein) digestibility coefficients decreased (linear effect, P < 0.05) as the level of DBF increased.4. Feeding DBF to layers up to 120 g/kg of the diet had no negative effects on feed intake, egg production and feed efficiency and improved egg yolk colour and α-tocopherol concentration. However, total tract nutrient digestibility coefficients were negatively decreased as a result of DBF inclusion.     

Effect of dietary lignocellulose on ileal and total tract digestibility of fat and fatty acids in broiler chickens

The study was conducted to determine the effect of a lignocellulose supplemented diet on apparent ileal and total tract digestibility of fat and fatty acids (FA) in broiler chickens. A total of 48 21‐day‐old male Ross 308 chickens were divided into four treatment groups (n = 12) with six replicates per treatment. From 21 to 42 days of age, the broilers were fed experimental diets varied in the amount of lignocellulose: 0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1%. Total excreta were gathered during the last 3 days of the feeding trial and digesta was collected from the ileum at 42 days of the bird age. Digestibility was determined by the indicator method. The ether extract content in diet/digesta/excreta was determined by the gravimetric method, and fatty acid methyl esters were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Fat digestibility measured to the end of the small intestine and in the whole gastrointestinal tract in birds was high and exceeded 90% and 87% respectively. Addition of lignocellulose (1%) increased (p < 0.05) ileal fat digestibility but had no significant effect on total tract fat digestion. Absorption of total fatty acids (TFA) as well as myristic (C14:0), palmitoleic (C16:1) and α‐linolenic (C18:3n?3) acids, estimated by both methods, was significantly higher in birds fed the diets supplemented with lignocellulose, especially at a dose of 1%. Total tract absorption of some dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (C20:2, C20:4n?6) was significantly lower from diet supplemented with 0.5% and 0.25% lignocellulose. There was observed a decrease in apparent digestibility of fat and most examined fatty acids, when measured between terminal ileum and total gastrointestinal tract. The results suggest that lignocellulose can affect digestion and FA absorption in broilers but, as the effect of lignocellulose was not studied previously, further investigations are necessary to confirm the results of the present experiment.     

Effects of enzymatic treatment and shell content of palm kernel expeller meal on performance,nutrient digestibility,and ileal bacterial population in broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of enzymatic treatment and shell content of palm kernel expeller meal (PKE) on the performance, nutrient digestibility, and ileal bacteria population in broiler chickens. Part of the PKE sample was sieved (3 mm) to remove the shell (lower shell PKE) and part was used as is. The primary mannan-oligosaccharides in the experimental diets were determined using HPLC analysis. During the finisher phase, one hundred male broiler chickens (Cobb-500) were fed a control diet or the diets containing 200 g/kg of normal PKE (70 g/kg shell), low shell PKE (30 g/kg shell), enzymatically (cellulase and mannanase) treated PKE, or low shell, enzymatically treated PKE. The DM, CP, and ether extract digestibility coefficients were measured using acid insoluble ash as an insoluble marker. The quantitative rea-time PCR was used to determine the ileal bacteria populations. The enzymatic treatment significantly increased the mannose and also mannan-oligosaccharides content of PKE. Feed intake was not affected by dietary inclusion of PKE. In the birds fed the low shell PKE diet the average daily weight gain was lower and the feed conversion ratio was higher than those in the control and other PKE fed groups. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter and ash were lower in PKE containing diets than the control diet. However, there were no differences in the crude protein and ether extracts digestibility coefficients between the diets containing the enzymatic treated PKE (normal or low shell) and the control diet. The lowest ileal Lactobacilli population was found in the chickens fed the low shell PKE diet. Dietary normal PKE or low shell-enzymatic treated PKE decreased the Escherichia coli population compared to the control diet. The results suggested that PKE could be included up to 200 g/kg in the finisher diet without any apparent adverse effect on performance in broilers; however, any screening practice to reduce the shell content of PKE without enzymatic degradation of β-mannan, decreased its nutritive value.     

饲粮中添加黄芩提取物对肉鸡生长性能、营养物质消化率和肉质的影响

文章旨在研究饲粮中添加黄芩提取物对肉鸡生长性能、营养物质消化率和肉质的影响。试验选取平均体重接近的1日龄AA肉鸡100只,称重后随机分为4组,试验1、2、3组在对照组基础饲粮基础上分别添加0.02%、0.04%、0.06%的黄芩提取物,处理42 d。试验结果:与对照组相比,试验2、3组肉鸡21日龄体重分别显著提高10.5%、9.3%(P<0.05),试验1、2、3组肉鸡42日龄体重分别显著提高8.7%、11.9%、10.4%(P<0.05)。1~21日龄,试验2、3组肉鸡ADG分别显著提高11.2%、10.0%(P<0.05);22~42日龄,试验1、2、3组肉鸡ADG分别显著提高9.5%、12.5%、10.9%(P<0.05),试验2、3组FCR分别显著降低12.7%、8.2%(P<0.05);1~42日龄,试验1、2、3组肉鸡ADG分别显著提高8.8%、12.2%、10.7%(P<0.05),试验2、3组FCR分别显著降低11.0%、7.8%(P<0.05)。试验1、2、3组肉鸡对饲粮中氮的消化率较对照组分别显著提高8.2%、9.8%、7.5%(P<0.05),试验2、3组肉鸡对GE的消化率分别显著提高8.5%、7.3%(P<0.05),试验2组肉鸡对饲粮中DM的消化率提高8.0%(P<0.05)。试验1、2、3组肌肉第5天的滴水损失较对照组分别显著降低14.9%、15.7%、15.2%(P<0.05)。表明,黄芩提取物可以促进肉鸡生长,改善养分消化率和肉质,添加量为0.06%时效果最好。     

Wheat particle size,insoluble fibre sources and whole wheat feeding influence gizzard musculature and nutrient utilisation to different extents in broiler chickens

A 21‐day experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of wheat particle size, insoluble fibre source and whole wheat (WW) inclusion on the gizzard musculature, intestinal architecture and nutrient utilisation of broiler chickens. The following seven treatments, all in mash form, were tested: control diet using finely ground wheat (Fine); control diet using medium‐ground wheat (Medium); control diet using coarsely ground wheat (Coarse); fine diet diluted with 10 g/kg lignocellulose (LC); fine diet diluted with 30 g/kg oat hulls (OH); fine diet diluted with 30 g/kg wood shavings (WS); and ground wheat in the fine diet replaced with 50 and 100 g/kg WW during the second (day 8–14) and third (day 15–21) weeks of the study respectively. Except for the LC diet, all treatments increased (p < 0.05) the thickness of the caudodorsal thick muscle of gizzard compared to the fine diet. The highest (p < 0.05) caudoventral thin and cranioventral thick muscle diameters in the gizzard walls were achieved with the OH and WS diets. Feeding OH, WS and WW diets improved (p < 0.05) starch digestibility compared with the fine diet, while medium, coarse and LC diets had no effect (p > 0.05). All diets containing fibre sources (LC, OH and WS) reduced (p < 0.05) the energy digestibility compared to the fine diet. Birds fed OH and WS diets gained the lowest (p < 0.05) weights. Feeding LC, OH, WS and WW diets increased (p < 0.05) the feed per gain compared with the fine diet. The current results suggest that there is a potential for coarse particles, insoluble fibre sources and WW feeding to improve the gizzard musculature and digestibility of some nutrients, with the effect being more pronounced with the inclusion of structural fibre sources.     

Effect ofBacillus amyloliquefaciens-based direct-fed microbials and antibiotic on performance,nutrient digestibility,cecal microflora,and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens

Two hundred eighty-eight 1-d-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allocated to 4 treatments to examine the effect of usingBacillus amyloliquefaciens-based direct-fed microbials (DFM) to replace antibiotics in the late growth stage on performance, nutrient digestibility, cecal microflora, and intestinal morphology in broilers. The experimental diets were (1) a negative control (NC) group fed a basal diet without any antibiotics; (2) a positive control (PC) group fed the basal diet with 200 mg/kg of zinc bacitracin; (3) a test group fed the basal diet with 200 mg/kg of zinc bacitracin from d 1 to 21 and 30 mg/kg of DFM from d 22 to 42 (DFM30); and (4) a test group fed the basal diet with 200 mg/kg of zinc bacitracin from d 1 to 21 and 60 mg/kg of DFM from d 22 to 42 (DFM60). The results showed that DFM30 and DFM60 increased BW gain and improved FCR as compared with NC group (P < 0.05). Generally, the PC, DFM30, and DFM60 groups showed increased apparent total tract nutrient digestibility for DM, CP, and AME as compared with the NC group. Both the DFM30 and DFM60 groups decreased cecalEscherichia coli population as compared with the NC group, and increased the population ofLactobacillus as compared with the PC group. The PC, DFM30, and DFM60 groups increased villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth compared with NC. In conclusion, dietary supplementation withB. amyloliquefaciens-based DFM during d 22 to 42 may enhance performance by increasing nutrient digestibility and improving intestinal health in birds fed diets supplemented with zinc bacitracin from d 1 to 21.     

饲粮中添加紫花苜蓿草粉对蒙古马运动性能及养分表观消化率的影响

本试验旨在探讨饲粮中添加不同水平的紫花苜蓿草粉对蒙古马运动性能及养分表观消化率的影响,试验选用体重、年龄、体尺、运动成绩相近的蒙古马27匹随机分为3组,每个组3个重复,每个重复3匹,1组饲喂基础日粮为对照组,2、3组分别在基础日粮中添加2.5%、5.0%紫花苜蓿草粉,试验开始第20天对各组马匹逐个进行20 km模拟比赛,在赛后0、20 min测定试验马匹的体温、脉搏、呼吸等运动性能,采集粪便测定养分表观消化率。结果表明:(1)试验2、3组平均速度高于1组(P> 0.05);试验2、3组赛后0 min体温低于1组(P> 0.05);试验3组赛后5 min呼吸频率较1组相比降低22.3%(P <0.05);试验3组赛后0、20 min的心率较1组相比分别降低15.3%,33.1%(P <0.05)。(2)试验2、3组的有机物、粗蛋白质、钙、磷表观消化率均高于1组(P> 0.05);试验3组干物质、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维表观消化率较1组相比分别提高10.0%、13.4%、15.5%(P <0.05)。综上,在饲料中添加5.0%紫花苜蓿草粉可提高蒙古马运动性能,有利于运动后生理指标的快速恢复,同时提高养分表观消化率。     

Comparative efficacy of up to 50% partial fish meal replacement with fermented soybean meal or enzymatically prepared soybean meal on growth performance,nutrient digestibility and fecal microflora in weaned pigs

This study was conducted to determine the comparative efficacy of partial fish meal (FM) replacement (up to 50%) with fermented soybean meal (FSBM; SoELAB, PepSoyGen and Soytide) or enzymatically prepared SBM (HP 300) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and fecal microflora in weaned pigs. A total of 100 weaned pigs (body weight 6.59 ± 0.29 kg) were used in experimental feeding trials, lasting for up to 6 weeks, and were randomly allotted to five groups with four block replicates of five pigs per pen serving as one block. Dietary treatments were as follows: (i) 100% FM, (ii) 50% FM + 50% SoELAB‐54, (iii) 50% FM + 50% PepSoyGen, (iv) 50% FM + 50% Soytide and (v) 50% FM + 50% HP 300. Concerning growth performance, none of the treated SBM preparations demonstrated any significantly different effect compared with FM treatment. With respect to nutrient digestibility, SoELAB and HP 300 treatments demonstrated no significant difference compared with FM treatment. Lastly, none of the SBM preparations demonstrated any significant differences in animal fecal score and all of the differentially treated SBM increased fecal Lactobacillus counts, while maintaining similar Escherichia coli counts compared with FM treatment.     

Effects of formulating growing pig diet with increasing levels of wheat‐corn distillers dried grains with solubles on digestible nutrient basis on growth performance and nutrient digestibility

Formulating swine diets containing fibrous coproducts based on net energy (NE) and standardized ileal digestible amino acid (SID AA) values is recommended for optimizing pig performance. However, the effects of applying this approach to diets with increasing dietary levels of wheat‐corn‐derived distillers dried grains with soluble (wcDDGS) on pig performance have not been evaluated. Thus, 48 pigs with an average body weight [BW] of 25.5 kg were used to determine the effects of increasing wcDDGS (1:1 wheat to corn ratio) content in grower diets on performance and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy and nutrients. Pigs were housed in pens of either 2 barrows or gilts balanced for BW and fed 4 diets within sex for 42 days. Diets were a nutrient adequate corn–barley–soybean meal‐based diet with 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% wcDDGS, and were similar in calculated NE and SID AA values. Acid insoluble ash was used as the indigestible marker. Final BW and overall average daily gain (ADG) linearly decreased (p < 0.05) and feed efficiency tended to decrease (p = 0.07) with increased dietary wcDDGS. Overall average daily feed intake was not affected (p > 0.10) by dietary treatment. The ATTD of dry matter and energy linearly decreased (p < 0.01), whereas the ATTD of neutral detergent fibre linearly increased (p < 0.01) with increasing dietary level of wcDDGS. Increasing dietary wcDDGS content did not affect (p > 0.10) ATTD of Ca and P. In conclusion, increasing dietary wcDDGS content reduced growth performance and ATTD of energy in growing pigs. Thus, the risks of high dietary wcDGGS content may not be completely alleviated by formulating growing pig diets on the basis of NE and SID AA systems.     

黄芩黄酮对肉仔鸡营养物质消化率和生长性能影响

探讨黄芩黄酮对肉用仔鸡主要营养物质代谢率以及生长性能的影响。选择1日龄AA肉仔鸡500只,随机分为5个处理,每个处理5个重复,每个重复20只,分别在基础饲料中添加0、5、10、15和20 mg/kg黄芩提取物黄芩黄酮,试验期为49 d。测定各组营养物质代谢率和生长性能指标。结果表明,在0-3周龄,黄芩黄酮可提高肉仔鸡干物质和表观代谢率,3-7周龄,肉仔鸡干物质和表观代谢率降低;在3-7周龄,粗蛋白和粗脂肪代谢率最高的是20 mg/kg黄芩黄酮添加组,分别比对照组提高4.47%和2.12%,差异不显著(P>0.05);在0-3周龄,黄芩黄酮对钙的代谢影响显著(P<0.05),效果最好的是10 mg/kg黄芩黄酮添加组,比对照组提高17.32%,对磷的代谢影响不显著。10 mg/kg黄芩黄酮添加组可明显提高肉仔鸡49日龄平均体重、平均日增重、并降低料肉比(P>0.05)。由此可知,饲料中添加适量的黄芩黄酮在一定程度上可以提高肉鸡对营养物质的代谢,增加对钙的吸收,降低料肉比,提高生长性能,其中10 mg/kg添加量效果较好。     

Whole pearl millet feeding does not impair performance and nutrient digestibility in 28-day-old broiler chickens

The effects of varying inclusion levels of whole grain millet in millet–soya bean-based diets on growth performance, gizzard development, digesta characteristics and nutrient digestion in broiler chicken were investigated. Starter (0–14 days) and grower (15–28 days) broiler chicken diets containing pearl millet at 500 and 540 g/kg diet, respectively, were formulated. The diets comprised of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of millet incorporated as whole grain. One-day-old unsexed Arbor Acres Plus chicks (n = 540) were allotted to the experimental diets in a completely randomized design with the diets and water provided ad libitum for 28 days. Each treatment was replicated seven times, and each replicate had 12 chicks. Results showed that daily live weight gain and feed conversion ratio of chickens on the whole millet grain diets compared favourably with chicken on the control in both starter and grower phases, while feed intake reduced quadratically (p < .05) with increased whole grain millet levels in the starter phase. Morphological and structural characteristics of the gizzard and small intestine and intestinal digesta pH and viscosity were also unaffected (p > .05) by whole grain millet inclusion levels. However, the weight of intact millet grain in gizzard increased linearly (p < .001) with whole grain millet inclusion in the diets. Dietary whole grain millet inclusion also consistently lowered (p < .05) jejunal and ileal maltase and sucrase activities, but did not influence (p > .05) pancreatic amylase activity. Ileal crude protein and starch digestibility increased, while ileal energy digestibility decreased significantly (p < .05) with whole grain millet inclusion. Whole grain millet inclusion in broiler starter and grower diets up to 500–540 g/kg did not negatively impact on broiler chicken performance.     

Apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients and amino acids in soybean meal,fish meal,spray‐dried plasma protein and fermented soybean meal to weaned pigs

This study sought to determine whether fermentation could increase apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), energy (E) and amino acids (AA) in fermented soybean meal (FSBM) greater than that of soybean meal (SBM) in weaned pigs. Four weaned pigs (10.00 ± 0.30 kg) were surgically equipped with T‐cannulas and randomly followed a 4 × 4 Latin square design of treatments (SBM, FSBM, fish meal and spray‐dried plasma protein). Overall, the fermentation process was able to reduce the amount of anti‐nutritional factors (ANF), including trypsin inhibitors, raffinose and stachyose, in the FSBM diet, which were significantly reduced by 39.4, 92.2, and 92.9%, respectively, as compared to the SBM diet. As a consequence of ANF reduction in FSBM, the AID of DM, N and E as well as AA was significantly greater with FSBM than SBM. Taken all together, the fermentation process improved the nutritional quality of SBM, due to ANF reduction, leading to improvement of digestibility of AA. As such, FSBM can be potentially used as a specialized feed ingredient, especially for young animal diets in an attempt to reduce diet costs.     

植酸酶、柠檬酸和碳酸化合物酶对肉鸡生长性能和养分利用率的影响

文章旨在研究低磷、低钙水平日粮添加植酸酶、柠檬酸和碳水化合物酶对1~21 d肉鸡生长性能及养分消化率的影响。试验选择1日龄肉仔鸡576只,随机分为6组,每组4个重复,每个重复24只鸡。试验共分为6种日粮,阳性对照组日粮(正常钙磷水平)、阴性对照日粮(低磷、低钙)、阴性对照日粮+600 IU/kg植酸酶,阴性对照日粮+600 IU/kg植酸酶+5 g/kg柠檬酸,阴性对照日粮+600 IU/kg植酸酶+500 mg/kg复合碳水化合物酶,阴性对照日粮+600 IU/kg植酸酶+5 g/kg柠檬酸+500 mg/kg复合碳水化合物酶。试验共开展21 d。结果显示:阳性对照组肉鸡日增重和采食量显著高于阴性对照组(P<0.05);植酸酶组添加碳水化合物酶较单独添加植酸酶组显著提高了肉鸡的日增重(P<0.05);植酸酶+碳水化合物酶较阴性对照组显著改善了料肉比(P<0.05)。阳性对照组较阴性对照组显著提高肉鸡胫骨灰分含量(P<0.05);植酸酶组显著提高了总磷、有效磷和植酸磷的回肠表观消化率(P<0.05),同时植酸酶组添加柠檬酸或碳水化合物酶进一步提高了总磷和植酸磷的回肠表观消化率(P<0.05)。阴性对照组添加植酸酶显著提高了表观代谢能及干物质、总能、氮和总磷的表观沉积量(P<0.05),而植酸酶组添加碳水化合物酶提高了干物质和总磷表观沉积量(P<0.05)。结论:在本试验条件下,低磷、低钙水平日粮添加植酸酶和碳水化合物酶改善了肉鸡生长性能、提高了营养物质的消化率和沉积量,而植酸酶日粮添加柠檬酸可以改善营养物质消化率和沉积量。     

Screening of in vitro nutrient digestibility coefficients of selected insect meals in broiler chickens,black-meat chickens and quails

The objective of this study is to identify potential insect species comparing with commonly used protein sources based on efficiency of the in vitro digestibility on dry matter (DMd), organic matter (OMd) and crude protein (CPd) in broiler chickens, black-meat chickens (Native breed) and quails. Each of gastric mucosa, pancreas and duodenal mucosa were obtained from proventriculus, pancreas and duodenum, respectively. Crude digestive enzyme extracts (CTE) were extracted from these organs to perform in vitro digestibility. Eighteen insect samples and six commonly used protein sources were served as substrates which were evaluated on DMd, OMd and CPd in triplicate for each substrate. The CTE from gastric mucosa was used to simulate proventriculus, whereas small intestine was simulation by adding the CTE from pancreas and duodenum. The large variation of chemical composition between insect meals was presented. For commonly used protein sources, animal proteins were higher on digestibility than plant proteins (p < .001). Quails represented a great potential to digest insect meals comparing other animals. Based on CPd results, there were potential insect species for broiler chickens (Achroia grisella: AG, Tenebrio molitor: TM and Musca domestica), black-meat chickens (Patanga succincta, TM and AG) and quails (Hermetia illucens, Acheta domesticus and Locusta migratoria; p < .001). The evidences from this study suggest that these insect species contain a great potential to use as alternative protein sources promoting an animal production with sustainability. However, the in vivo experimentation must be performed to confirm in further study.     

Effects of Aspergillus niger fermented rapeseed meal on nutrient digestibility,growth performance and serum parameters in growing pigs

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influences of Aspergillus niger fermented rapeseed meal (FRSM) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. A total of 72 growing pigs (body weight = 40.8 ± 2.1 kg) were used in feeding trials, lasting for up to 42 days, and were randomly allotted to one of three diets, including a corn‐soybean meal control diet as well as two experimental diets containing 10% unfermented rapeseed meal (RSM) or 10% FRSM. The results showed that average daily gain and feed conversion ratio of pigs fed FRSM were superior (P < 0.05) to that of pigs fed unfermented RSM and did not differ from the control. Pigs fed control diet had higher (P < 0.05) total tract apparent digestibility for dry matter, protein, calcium and phosphorus than pigs fed unfermented RSM diet and did not differ from the FRSM diet. Pigs fed FRSM had lower levels (P < 0.05) of serum aspartate transaminase compared to unfermented RSM. In conclusion, solid state fermentation using Aspergillus niger may improve the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of RSM for pigs and FRSM is a promising alternative protein for pig production.     

The effect of dietary supplementation with globin and spray-dried porcine plasma on performance,digestibility and histomorphological traits in broiler chickens

This study evaluated the effects of globin and spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on growth performance, digestibility, nitrogen retention, energy retention efficiency (ERE) and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 336-day-old male broiler chickens were reared from 1 to 40 days of age and fed 3 diets (8 replicates/diet, 14 birds/replicate) during 3 feeding phases: starter (1–12 days), grower (12–25 days) and finisher (25–40 days). Isonitrogenous diets were formulated by replacing gluten protein isolate contained in the control diet (C diet) with 2% (starter) or 1% (grower and finisher) spray-dried porcine plasma in the plasma diet (SDPP diet). The globin diet (G diet) was obtained by adding globin on the top of C diet at a dose of 0.08% for the whole rearing period. Total tract apparent digestibility (aD), nitrogen retention and ERE were assessed during the three growing phases. At 12  and 40 days of age, one bird per pen was slaughtered to sample gut, liver, spleen and bursa of Fabricius for histomorphological investigations. The SDPP diet increased body weights of chickens at 12 (+60 g; p < .001), 25 (+101 g; p < .001) and 40 days (+130 g; p = .018) of age compared to C and G diets. Also SDPP improved crude protein aD (+9.7%) and ERE (+12.3%) during the starter phase (p < .001). Dietary globin and SDPP inclusion did not affect either the gut morphology or the histopathological findings in birds at 12 and 40 days of age, despite a numerical (+6.90% and +7.40% respectively) villus height improvement in the SDPP group. Overall, these results confirm that dietary supplementation with SDPP and, to a lesser extent, with globin can improve growth performance and dietary protein and energy utilization in broiler chickens without effect on gut functionality.