Bıldırcın Rasyonlarına Kitosan Oligosakkarit İlavesinin Besi Performansı, Karkas Özellikleri, Karaciğer ve Barsak Histolojisi ile Barsak Mikroflorası Üzerine Etkisi

This research was conducted to determine effects of chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) addition to quail diets on growth, carcass traits, liver and intestinal histology, and intestinal microflora. Two hundred forty Japanese quail chicks were distributed among three treatments groups, with four replicates. A group was fed with a basal starter diet for 1-21th and a grower diet for 22-42th days (Control). The experimental groups were fed the same diets, in addition to 75 mg/kg (Trial I) or 150 mg/kg (Trial II) of COS. The final live weights of the quails in the Control and Trial I groups were higher than in the Trial II group. There were no differences among the groups in gain, feed intake, feed conversion, and carcass traits. Steatosis in the Trial II group was less than in the Control and Trial I groups. Crypt depth and villus length were higher in the Trial II group than in the other groups. The number of bacteria and yeast in the intestine were lower in the Trial I and II groups than in the Control group. In conclusion, the addition of 75 mg/ kg of COS had no adverse effect on the tested parameters, and it increased the crypt depth, villus length, and beneficially on intestinal microflora