The effect of a protein-rich oat by-product on growth performance, carcass traits, gastrointestinal function and morphology in broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a protein-rich oat by-product obtained during β-glucan extraction, used as a partial substitute for soybean meal (SBM) in broiler chicken diets, on growth performance, carcass traits, and selected gastrointestinal parameters. The experiment involved 320 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers divided into four groups (10 replicates of eight birds each). Diets contained 0%, 10%, 15%, or 20% oat by-product. Growth performance parameters were monitored throughout the experiment, and on day 42, carcass traits, gastrointestinal function, the pH of cecal digesta, the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and intestinal histomorphology were evaluated. No significant differences were found in final growth performance or dressing percentage among treatments. The birds that received the oat by-product had a lower proportion of abdominal fat (P < 0.001). Diets containing 10% or 15% oat by-product reduced cecal pH and the concentrations of isobutyric and isovaleric acids (P < 0.001). Histomorphological analysis revealed optimal villus and crypt parameters at 10-15% inclusion levels of the tested product and less favorable values at 20% (P < 0.001). These results indicate that the tested oat by-product may be considered a promising partial substitute for SBM in broiler diets, although its efficacy depends on the inclusion level. The 10%-15% range yielded the most favorable overall response, while the 20% level was associated with suboptimal histomorphological characteristics of the small intestine.