Feeding graded levels of dried Sea buckthorn (Hippophaes rhamnoides) berries to broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of graded levels (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 g/kg) of dry Sea buckthorn (SB) berries on growth performance, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, jejunal histomorphology, bird antioxidant status and caecal short-chain fatty acid concentration when fed to female Ross 308 broiler chickens. In addition, expression of cytokine biomarker genes in the jejunum was evaluated. The five experimental diets were fed from 7 to 21 days age to 8 pens (two birds in each) following randomisation. Feeding SB did not influence bird growth performance (p > .05). There was a linear decrease in butyric, acetic and valeric acid concentrations in caecal digesta (p < .05) and a decrease (p < .05) in crypt depth. The expression of IFNG and CD40LG responded quadratically (p < .05), peaking at 6-9 g/kg dietary inclusion of SB, respectively. Other studied variables were not affected by dietary SB inclusion (p > .05). Feeding dry SB berries up to 12 g/kg of diet did not improve the zootechnical variables of healthy commercial-strain broilers in this study.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels of dry Sea buckthorn (SB) berries on the growth performance, gastrointestinal tract development, jejunal histomorphology, bird antioxidant status, and caecal short-chain fatty acid concentration in female Ross 308 broiler chickens. The results showed that feeding SB did not affect bird growth performance. However, there was a linear decrease in caecal digesta butyric, acetic, and valeric acid concentrations and a decrease in crypt depth. The expression of IFNG and CD40LG responded quadratically, peaking at 6-9 g/kg dietary inclusion of SB. Other variables were not significantly affected by dietary SB inclusion. Feeding dry SB berries up to 12 g/kg of diet did not improve the zootechnical variables of healthy commercial-strain broilers in this study.