Effects of Chitosan Oligosaccharide and/or Beta-Glucan Supplementation to Diets Containing Organic Zinc on Performance and Some Blood Indices in Broilers

This study was carried out to investigate effects of chitosan oligosaccharides and/or beta-glucan addition into diets containing organic zinc on performance and biochemical profiles in broilers. One-day old broiler chicks (n=540) were assigned to six groups for six replicates (15 chicks for each). Chicks in control group were fed basal diet containing soybean meal and corn, and experimental groups were fed diets containing 1% organic zinc (Or.Zn) or 0.025% chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) or 0.050% beta-glucan (BG) or 1% Or.Zn plus 0.025% COS or 1% Or.Zn plus 0.050% BG during 42 days. There were no significant differences between groups for performance (body weight, daily body weight gain, daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio) during experimental period. Although, there were no differences between all groups for serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, VLDLcholesterol, urea, insulin and glucose levels, statistical significances were determined between Or.Zn plus COS and Or.Zn plus BG groups for total protein, and Or.Zn plus COS and BG groups for GPT on d 21 (P 0.05). GOT levels were lower only in control group on d 42 (P 0.05). Groups fed diet with COS had lower serum LDL-cholesterol levels than control group at the end of the experiment. As a result of this study, there were no significant effects of organic zinc, beta-glucan and chitosan oligosaccharide supplementations into diets on performance. However, the use of chitosan oligosaccharides in diets decreased LDL-cholesterol levels without any alteration in HDL-cholesterol levels in broilers.