Effect of corn germ on performance and immunological indices of broiler chickens

Corn and its byproducts are of the most important products used in livestock and poultry nutrition to supply energy. In order to investigate the effect of different levels of corn germ (high-oil content) on performance and immunological indices of broiler chickens, an experiment were conducted in a completely randomized design with 5 experimental groups, 5 replicates and 30 birds per each experimental unit from 14 to 42 days of age. Experimental groups were included birds received levels of zero (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20 percentage of corn germ in diet., Birds received 10% corn germ in diet showed highest live body weight compared to others on days 21 and 28. On day 42, effects of corn germ level on live body weight, production index and feed cost per kilogram of live body weight was significant (p < 0.05). Lowest production index was observed in group received 20% corn germ (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in feed intake and intestinal morphological indices including villus length, villus width, crypt depth, villus length to crypt depth ratio between experimental groups. Also, Effects of different levels of corn germ on antibody titers against sheep red blood cell (SRBC), IgM, IgG and white blood cells differentiations were not significant. Based on the obtained result about feed cost per kilogram of live body weight, corn germ can be included in broiler diets up to level of 10 percent during days 15 to 42.