EFFECT OF STRAIN AND PROTEIN SOURCE ON HISTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS OF SMALL INTESTINE OF BROILER CHICKS

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the poultry farm, College of Agriculture, American University of Biuret for the period of March, 11, 2005. The objective of this study was to find out the effect of strain and protein source (Animal or plant protein) in the length, weight and histological assessments of small intestine .and its effect in food absorbtion and body weight. Three broiler strains were used in this study these strain were Ross308, Cobb500 and Hubbard. These strains were raised on two rations differ in the protein source (Animal or plant protein). Statistic analysis of data showed no significant differences for Protein source in the length and weight duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caeca, total length of digestive tract and villi depth at 6 or 8 weeks of age within the three strains. significant differences in the length and depth for strain Hubbard . no significant effect for Protein source in the villi length.