Effect of Feed Additives on Intestinal Histomorphology of Broilers Fed Wheat-Based Diet

A 2 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of enzyme Endofeed W (EEW) at 0 and 0.05%, thyme essential oil (TEO), probiotic Primalac® (PP) and non-feed additive, on intestinal histo-morphology of broilers fed wheat-based diet. Each of the 6 dietary treatments was replicated 4 times with 12 chicks each from 0 to 42 days of age. There was no interaction between enzyme and growth promoters on any measured parameters. Data showed that supplementation of wheat-based diet with EEW enhanced (P < 0.05) intestinal histomorphology including jejunal villus height (VH), villus width (VW), villus surface area (VS), crypt depth (CD), mucosa layer thickness (MCL), muscular layer thickness (MSL) and number of goblet cells (GC) and ileal VH, MCL and GC at 21 and 42 days of age, as compared to broilers fed con-trol diet. The TEO in diet did ameliorate (P < 0.05) some jejunal and ileal morphological parameters, but it was less effective as compared to EEW or PP supplementation. The PP improved (P < 0.05) the intestinal histomorphology in the present study in all measured parameters except the jejunal and ileal VH:CD. It was concluded that dietary EEW and growth promoters (TEO or PP) supplementation improved (P < 0.05) gut health in broilers fed wheat-based diet, but the effect of probiotic Primalac® was more pronounced as com-pared to natural thyme essential oil.