Effects of Feeding Xylose on the Growth of Broilers and Nutrient Digestibility as well as Absorption of Xylose in the Portal-drained Viscera

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of dietary inclusion of xylose on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and xylose absorption in the portal-drained viscera of broiler chicks. In Exp. 1, ninety male 14 day-old broilers were used to study the effects of different inclusion levels (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40%) of D-xylose in the semi-purified diets on the growth and nutrient digestibility of broilers. In Exp. 2, One hundred and eight male broilers, fed by precision feeding at 22 day-old, were used to investigate the absorption and transportation of dietary xylose in the portal-drained viscera of broiler. The results of Exp. 1 indicated that the growth of broilers was gradually decreased as the xylose level increased (p<0.01). With the xylose supplementation increased, the moisture in broiler excreta was gradually elevated (p<0.01), AME and the digestibilities of crude protein and ether extract were significantly reduced and the digestibilities of xylose and arabinose were also decreased (p<0.01). The results of Exp. 2 showed that the concentrations of ribose, xylose and galactose in serum were significantly influenced by different dietary levels of xylose (p<0.01), but there’s no apparent difference among rhamnose, glucose and arabinose (p>0.05). The xylose concentration in serum was highest in Vena Cava, middle in Portal Vein and lowest in Ulnar Vein within 6 h after precision feeding. And then the xylose concentration in Portal Vein and Ulnar Vein were higher than that of Vena Cava. The concentration of ribose, xylose and galactose in serum were also significantly changed with time prolongation (p<0.01). The concentration of xylose in serum was highest in the 40% xylose treatment, middle in the 20% xylose group and lowest in the control group. The glycogen contents in liver and muscle were linearly decreased as the level of xylose increased (p<0.01). The higher the dietary level of xylose was, the lower digestibility of dietary xylose was (p<0.10). 40% xylose markedly decreased the digestibility of dietary glucose (p<0.01). In conclusion, high levels of xylose in the diets inhibited the growth and nutrient digestibility of broiler. The outputs of xylose from the hydrolyzation of wheat-based diet by xylanase should have no adverse effects on broiler performance. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 8 : 1123-1130)