Development of small intestinal morphology on the basis of growth and absorption rate in Broiler chicken (Cobb 500) of Bangladesh

Abstract

A gross and histomorphometric study was undertaken to evaluate the development of small intestinal morphology on the basis of growth and absorption rate in broiler chicken (Cobb 500) in Chattogram, Bangladesh from June to July, 2017. A total of 60 different ages (day I, day 7, day 14, day 21, and day 28) broiler chickens were collected from a standard local broiler farm in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The live weight, gross length and diameter, villi length and diameter, thickness of tunica muscularis and the number of goblet cells of small intestinal segments (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) were studied. The tissue samples were fixed, processed and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin stain and image measurement software was used for histomorphometric study. The average length and diameter of duodenum, jejunum and ileum were significantly higher in chicken at day 28 than that of others (day 21, day 14, day 7 and day 1). The villi of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were lined by simple columnar epithelium. The length, width and goblet cells of villi and thickness of tunica muscularis of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of broiler chicken were increased with the age significantly (P ≤0.05). The highest mean value of villi length (282.39 ÷ 4.90 um), width (38.49 ≤ 9.68 um), goblet cells (1291.20 $ 26.10 per mm²) and thickness of tunica muscularis (75.34 ÷ 1.67 um) were found in jejunum at 28 days old broiler chickens. These results indicate that the highest growth and absorption of broiler chicken (Cobb 500) occur in the jejunum at 21 to 28 days. So, it is suggested that the longer and wider villi as well as a large number of goblet cells increase the growth and absorption rate of broiler chicken (Cobb 500).