EFFECT OF WHEAT BRAN WITH OR WITHOUT ENZYMES SUPPLEMENTATION ON INTESTINAL MORPHOLOGY, ENZYMES ACTIVITY AND CECUM MICROBIOLOGY OF BROILER CHICKS

The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible effect (s) of enriching the broiler chick's diet with wheat bran (WB) on intestinal morphology, enzymes activity and cecum microbiology of broiler chicks. A total number of 210 unsexed one-day-old broiler chicks Indian River were used. These chicks were randomly distributed into Seven groups of 30 chicks each, in three replicates (10chicks each). The first group was fed the basal diet (control group), while groups (T1-6) were fed diet with 5%, 7.5%, and 10% respectively without and with enzymes. The results showed that at five weeks significant effect between treatments in total length of digestive tract, total small intestinal and cecum length compared with control, there were significantly improved in birds fed WB (T1-6) on Amylase, Cellulase and Xylanase activity in addition to significant increase in Villi length, Villi width and Crypt depth. Used WB in broiler (T1-6) led to increase in total counts of bacteria compared to control group, increase in the count of lactic acid bacterium, and decrease the count of Coliforms.