Authors : A. Nabizadeh, O. Gevorkyan and A. Golian
Abstract: The objective of this experiment was to study the influence of inulin on blood parameters, humoral immune response and performance of broiler chickens. After sexing, one hundred and sixty eight, day old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 3 treatments with 4 replicates of 14 chicks each. The experimental diets including 0, 0.5 and 1% of inulin were fed for 42 days. The experimental diets were formulated based upon corn-soybean meal. Results showed that livability and Body Weight Gain (BWG) were numerically improved for broilers fed diets supplemented with inulin but differences did not vary significantly from one another and from the control. The live body weight on d 42 significantly increased when the diet supplemented with 1% inulin. Feed Intake (FI) was not affected in birds fed diets with inulin supplement compared to control bird. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) significantly improved when diet supplemented with 1% inulin. Indices of main immune organs except Bursa of fabricius at 42 days old were not affected in birds fed diets with inulin supplement in comparison with control group. The results of this experiment showed that inulin could affect the immune response. Total anti-SRBC and IgM titers of broiler chickens significantly increased at 35 days of age when diets supplemented with inulin. There was no significant differences in Hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and Red Blood Cells (RBCs) but the differences in White Blood Cells (WBCs), heterophils, lymphocytes and heterophils to lymphocytes ratios were significant (p<0.05) at 42 days of age. In conclusion, dietary inulin supplementation significantly improved the growth performance and may enhance immune response in broiler chickens.
A. Nabizadeh, O. Gevorkyan and A. Golian, 2012. Effect of Inulin on Some Hematological, Immunological Parameters and Broiler Chickens Performance. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 3304-3311.