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Effects of soybean meal-free (corn-based) diets on performance, immune response and hematological parameters of broiler chickens
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Mohammad Ali Behroozi Lak *   , Seyed Adel Moftakharzadeh , Seyed Abdullah Hosseini , Ruhollah Kianfar , Shahrooz Khorrami |
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Abstract: (608 Views) |
Introduction: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of a corn-based diet free of soybean meal on the performance, immune response, and hematological parameters of broiler chickens from 21 to 42 days of age.
Materials & Methods: A total of 400 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were allocated to two treatments with 5 replicates per treatment and 40 chicks per replicate. The experimental treatments consisted of a corn-based diet free of soybean meal and a conventional corn-soybean meal-based diet (as control). To evaluate humoral immune responses, antibody levels produced in response to Newcastle and influenza vaccine injections were measured. Additionally, hematological blood parameters of the chicks were examined.
Results: The performance traits showed that the live body weight and feed intake of broiler chickens fed the corn-based diet were lower than those fed the control diet (corn-soybean meal) (P<0.01). On day 42 of the trial, the feed conversion ratio and production efficiency index of birds fed the control diet improved compared to those fed the corn-based diet (P<0.05). Furthermore, carcass characteristics indicated that broilers fed the corn-based diet had a lower breast yield compared to the control group (P<0.05). The relative weight of abdominal fat was lower in birds fed the corn-based diet compared to the control (P<0.05). Hematological parameters revealed significant differences between the two groups in white blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, heterophils, lymphocytes, and the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, with birds fed the corn-based diet showing altered values compared to the control (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The overall results of this experiment indicated that despite the reduced performance observed in birds fed the corn-based diet, the use of this diet may positively contribute to improving bird health through reducing abdominal fat deposition and enhancing hematological parameters. |
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| Keywords: Corn-based diet, Broiler chicken, Performance, Abdominal fat, Hematological parameters |
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Full-Text [PDF 703 kb]
(258 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/01/19 | Accepted: 2026/01/30 | Published: 2026/06/5
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