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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #194352
Title: GASTROINTESTINAL MATURATION IS ACCELERATED IN TURKEY POULTS SUPPLEMENTED WITH A MANNAN-OLIGOSACCHARIDE YEAST EXTRACT (ALPHAMUNE)

Author
item FAUSTO, DE LOS SANTOS - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item FARNELL, MORGAN - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie
item Huff, Geraldine
item Huff, William
item Rath, Narayan
item DONOGHUE, DAN - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2006
Publication Date: 7/12/2006
Citation: Fausto, D., Farnell, M.B., Donoghue, A.M., Huff, G.R., Huff, W.E., Rath, N.C., Donoghue, D.J. 2006. Gastrointestinal maturation is accelerated in turkey poults supplemented with a mannan-oligosaccharide yeast extract (Alphamune)[abstract]. Poultry Science Association Meeting. 87:75.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Alphamune is a yeast extract antibiotic alternative that has been shown to stimulate the immune system and increase BW in pigs. The influence of Alphamune on gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development of turkey poults has not been reported. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of Alphamune on gut maturation of 7 and 21 d old turkey poults. Poults were fed a standard control unmedicated turkey starter diet or the same diet supplemented with either 1 lb/ton or 2 lb/ton Alphamune (n = 18 poults/group). On d 7 and 21, a 2-cm section was collected from the mid-point of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of each bird (9 poults/day/treatment) and fixed in a 10% formalin solution for 72 h and then stained. Twenty measurements of villus height, villus surface area, lamina propria thickness and crypt depth were taken per section per poult. On d 7, villus height and surface area of the duodenum and ileum were consistently greater for the 2 lb/ton Alphamune group. The crypt depths were deeper and the number of neutral goblet cells higher for all areas of the GIT evaluated in the Alphamune supplemented birds compared to controls on d 7. The intestinal morphology of the duodenum was not different between the controls and treated birds on d 21. However in the jejunum villus height, villus surface area, lamina propria thickness and crypt depth were increased for both doses of Alphamune supplementation compared to controls in both trials. The ileal villus height was higher in the 2 lb/ton Alphamune birds and ileal surface area was increased for both doses of Alphamune compared to controls in both trials. The ileal crypts were deeper for all treatments compared to controls. These results suggest that feed supplemented with Alphamune, a mannan-oligosaccharide, may accelerate gastrointestinal maturation in turkey poults.