Single administration of xylitol to newly hatched chicks enhances growth, digestive enzyme activity and immune responses by 12 d of age

1. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of a single administration of xylitol to newly hatched chicks on growth, digestive enzyme activity and immune responses at 12 d of age. 2. Female broiler chicks (Cobb) were given 0.5 ml of either 20% glucose, 20% xylitol or water alone within 24 h after hatch. Thereafter, all chicks were reared under conventional conditions and given a commercial broiler starter diet until 12 d of age in experiment 1. In experiment 2, they were deprived of feed and water for 24 h and kept at 27 degrees C to mimic transportation stress before given feed and water. 3. Body weights at 5 d of age did not differ among the treatments, but at 12 d of age chicks given 20% xylitol showed greater body weight than those in the other treatment groups. Bursa weight (mg per 100 g body weight) was greater in chicks given xylitol solution than in chicks given glucose solution or water at 5 and 12 d of age. 4. Amylase and chymotrypsin activities in the pancreas of chicks given xylitol solution were higher than in chicks given water or glucose solution at 5 and/or 12 d of age. 5. A single administration of xylitol within 24 h after hatch increased splenocyte proliferation against concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen, and antibody titres to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) and Mycobacterium butyricum (Mb) as compared to glucose, administration at 12 d of age, but not as compared to water administration. 6. These results indicated that xylitol may be a functional carbohydrate source to improve growth rate and health and to relieve transportation stress in broiler chicks.