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Introduction:
The poultry industry has been characterized as an “age-for-weight” market industry. The intestinal growth has potential effects on the body weight of chickens. The intestinal growth can be measured by different morphometric parameters. Intestinal length, enlargement of the mucosal surface area, villus und epithelial length of the intestinal mucosa are indicators for digestion and absorption efficiency. This study aimed to compare anatomical and histological differences of the intestines of broiler (Ross) and dual-purpose (LD) chickens.
Materials and Methods:
Sixtysix LD and 54 Ross chickens were housed until 5 (Ross) or 9 (LD) weeks of age. At 7 day intervals 6 birds from each line were weighed and then euthanized by decapitation. The weight and length of the intestine were measured. Villus and epithelial height, crypts´ depth, the mucosal enlargement factor and the thickness of the tunica muscularis were histologically determined.
Results:
The Ross birds were about 2.6 times heavier than the LD birds by day 35. LD chickens have a shorter intestine and a smaller mucosal enlargement factor compared to Ross chickens. Furthermore, the intestinal tunica muscularis of the LD chickens was thicker than the one of Ross chickens.
Disscussion:
LD chickens may have lower nutrient absorption capacity due to their smaller intestinal tract and mucosal surface area, resulting in slower body growth rates than Ross chickens. The short intestine of LD chickens combined with thicker tunica muscularis could lead to a shorter intestinal passage time, subsequently, a lower uptake of available nutrients compared to Ross chickens.