OPTIMIZATION OF CHITOSAN AND WHEY POWDER DOSAGES IN BROILER CHICKENS DURING GROWTH PERIODS

This scientific article investigates the effect of adding chitosan and whey powder to the diet of broiler chickens during the starter, grower, and finisher periods on zootechnical indicators, feed conversion, biochemical composition of the liver and blood, and immunological resistance. The research was designed using a 2x3 factorial scheme, which allowed for the evaluation of the separate and combined effects of each additive. Through mathematical modeling, optimal dosages for each growth period were determined. The results demonstrated that the synergistic effect of the sorption and immunomodulatory properties of chitosan with the high biological value proteins and prebiotic components of whey powder led to an increase in the average daily gain of broilers in experimental groups by 10-12% compared to the control group, while feed consumption decreased by 7-9%. Biochemical analysis of the blood indicated the normalization of metabolic processes and an improvement in liver function.