Effect of feeding pattern on the acetic acid content and mucosa morphology in the intestines of Dagu chickens

Li Xin; Su Yuhong; Tian Yumin; Zhou Dayong; Zhou Hongbin; Liao Yang; Shi Donghui; Wang Jiali

doi:10.20154/j.cnki.issn1672-9692.2025.02.008

Abstract：The experiment aimed to explore the effects of rearing methods on the digestive and absorptive performance of Dagu chickens.A total of 500 one-day-old Dagu chickens were selected for online rearing and free feeding.At 30 days of age,48 chickens with similar body weight were randomly divided into two groups(half male and half female in each group,with no significant difference in initial weight),24 of which were set as free-range group.Another 24 animals were raised in a single cage as a cage group.The experiment lasted for 94 days.The results showed that compared with the caged Dagu chickens,the acetic acid content in the cecum and duodenal chyme of the free-range Dagu chickens at 85 days of age showed an upward trend,but the difference was not significant(P>0.05),at 124 days of age,the acetic acid content in the cecum and duodenal chyme of the free-range Dagu chickens significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the caged Dagu chickens,the villus height and villus surface area at the 1 cm segment of the anterior end of the duodenum of the free-range Dagu chickens at both 85 and 124 days of age significantly improved(P<0.05),and the villus width also showed an increasing trend(P>0.05).The villi of the duodenum in the free-range group of Dagu chickens were cylindrical,regularly arranged,proportionally coordinated,and evenly distributed in height,with furrow-like folds visible on the villus surface and no signs of damage.In the caged group of Dagu chickens,the villi of the duodenum were underdeveloped,irregularly arranged,and some villi were curled and accompanied by shedding.The study indicates that the free-range mode is conducive to increasing the acetic acid content in the intestine of Dagu chickens,improving the morphology of the intestinal mucosa,and promoting the digestion and absorption of nutrients.