Effect of Chitosan Supplementation to drinking water in productive performance, physiological and micro flora traits of broiler

Abstract

     This study carried out in the farms of animal production department /College of Agriculture /University of Tikrit during the period from 15/2/2014 to 22/3/2014. It aims to investigate effect of adding chitosan to the drinking water on the productive performance and some physiological characteristics and intestinal micro flora of broiler. A total of 150 unsexed  broiler chinks at 21 day of old divided to five treatments by three replicates (10 per each ) , the first treatment  without any adding ( control treatment ), in the 2^ed ,3^ed , 4^th and 5^th treatment was adding chitosan to drinking water by concentration (100,150,200 and 250 mg/l) respectively     

It has been found a significant increase (P<0.05) in the average weekly live body weight for the fifth week, and the total average  of  live body weight gain for T3 and T4 and there have not any significant differences in  average consumption feed ; and a significant improvement (P<0.05) in the average of feed conversion ratio for T2,T3 and T4 . Any significant differences have not been recorded in the RBCs numbers, Hb concentration  PCV%  , hetrophil cells WBCs , the Cells , lymphocyte cells , H/L ratio proportion , and the concentration of globulin , Cholesterol , glucose , uric acid , ALT and AST enzymatic blood. In addition a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the total protein concentration for T3 compared with control treatment , albumin concentration for T3 compared with T5 , total number of  bacteria for T2 , and bacteria number of  lactobacillus acid for T3 . In addition, a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the triglyceride concentration for T3 and E.coil bacteria number for T3 compared with control treatment. 

Concludes from this study the water soluble chitosan improved broiler performance and intestinal   micro flora without any effect of physiological status