Effects of spray-dried colostrum and plasmas on the performance and gut morphology of broiler chickens

The influence of feeding with starter diets containing spray-dried bovine colostrum (SBC), spray-dried bovine plasma (SBP), or spray-dried porcine plasma (SPP) on the growth performance and gut morphology of broiler chickens was investigated. The crude protein, lysine, and methionine plus cystine contents (g/kg as received) of SBC, SBP, and SPP were determined to be 766, 736, and 684; 58, 61, and 55; and 27, 28, and 24, respectively. The 3 test proteins were incorporated into a maize - soybean meal diet at a level of 50 g/kg and fed to 6 replicates of 8 male broiler chicks from 1 to 14 days of age. On Day 14, the experimental diets were replaced with a common grower-finisher diet, which was offered until Day 35. Dietary treatments had no effect (P> 0.05) on the weight gain or feed intake of birds during the first 14 days. However, feed/gain of birds fed the SBC diet was lower (P< 0.05) than of those fed the control diet. A trend for a reduction in feed/ gain (P= 0.06) was observed in SBP and SPP diets. Dietary treatments had no effect ( P> 0.05) on performance during Days 14 - 35 or Days 1 - 35. Villus height was increased by 5.7% ( P< 0.05) and 4.6% ( P= 0.05) in birds fed the SPP and SBP diets, respectively, compared with those fed the control diet. Crypt depth was 6% greater ( P< 0.05) in birds fed the SPP diet and tended ( P= 0.08) to be greater in birds fed the SBC diet, compared with birds fed the control. The ratio of villus height to crypt depth tended ( P= 0.06) to be lower in birds offered the SBC diet compared with the control. Crypt goblet cell density was reduced ( P< 0.05) by 13.9% in birds fed the SBC diet, compared with control birds. These results suggest that feeding with diets containing the SBC, SBP, and SPP during 1 - 14 days of age has some beneficial effects on broiler chickens. Further studies are needed to evaluate these products in less sanitary environments, which may increase the positive responses.