Histomorphometry of Small Intestines of Cobb 500 Broilers Raised under the "The Better Chicken Option System TM" System

Date

2024

Degree

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Adviser/Committee Chair

Mary Jasmin C. Ang

Co-adviser

Bella C. Cruzana

Abstract

Intestinal health is crucial for the overall well-being and productivity of food animals, with the small intestine- comprising the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum —being the primary site for food digestion and nutrient absorption. Understanding the impact of rearing conditions on intestinal morphology is essential for optimizing poultry production. This study examined the intestinal histomorphometry of archived samples from a previous experiment involving 1000 day-old Cobb 500 broiler chickens reared under two systems: the conventional system and "The Better Chicken OptionTM" system. Intestinal segments were collected from four randomly selected animals per group during necropsy on day 42. Histomorphometric examination measured villi height, crypt depth, and the villi-to-crypt ratio in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Statistical analysis revealed comparable results in the histomorphological parameters between chickens reared in the conventional system and those in "The Better Chicken OptionTM" system. Opting for a higher welfare method maintains the integrity of the physiological structure of the intestinal morphology in Cobb 500 broilers. Results of this study provide supportive evidence for the use of better welfare systems in the production of food animals.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

Notes

Awards: Benjamin and Asteria Ang Best Thesis Award for Systematic Integration of Patterns in Anatom for Translational Science (Ang-SIPAT Award)

Document Type

Thesis

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