The effect of inulin on broiler chicken intestinal microflora, gut morphology, and performance

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of inulin on the intestinal microflora, gut morphology, and performance of broiler chickens. After sex identification, 168 male Ross 308 broilers were randomly allotted to 3 treatment groups with 4 replicates and fed for 42 days. Experimental treatments including 0%, 0.5%, or 1% inulin were used. The experimental diets were formulated based on maize-soyabean meal. The results showed that livability and body weight gain were better for broilers fed diets supplemented with inulin, but livability did not vary significantly among groups and the control. Live body weight on d 42 was significantly increased when the diets were supplemented with 1% inulin. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected in birds fed diets with supplements in comparison with the control group. Inulin inclusion had no effect on Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli and E. coli counts in ileal contents, but significantly increased Bifidobacteria counts and decreased E. coli counts in caecal contents. With the exception of significantly increased villus height in the ileum, the morphological measurements of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum showed no response to dietary levels of inulin as compared with the control diet. In conclusion, the results from the current study suggest that feeding inulin may have a beneficial effect on intestinal microflora and morphology, and on the performance of broiler chickens.