Enhancing Broiler Chicken Growth, Immunological Response, and Intestinal Morphology Through Organic Copper Supplementation Combined with Synbiotics

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of organic copper (copper-methionine chelate) in combination with synbiotics (SYN) on the growth performance, morphology, intestinal microbial population, immune response, and meat quality of broiler chickens. 360 mixed-sex, one-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to three levels of organic Cu (8, 16, and 32 mg/kg) and two levels of SYN (0 and 200 mg/kg) in a 3×2 factorial arrangement of treatments, with five replicates of 12 birds each at 6 weeks of age. Interaction effects indicated that from 11 to 24 and 25 to 42 days of age, diets containing higher copper levels (16 and 32 mg/kg) combined with SYN resulted in greater body weight gain compared to diets with 8 or 16 mg/kg of copper without SYN (p<0.05). Birds fed a diet containing 8 mg/kg of Cu without SYN exhibited the highest coliform population and pH in the ileum (p<0.05). Elevated Cu levels or SYN supplementation improved intestinal morphology, particularly increasing villus surface area and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth. The total antibody titer and IgM in the serum of chickens fed a diet containing 16 mg/kg of Cu along with SYN were significantly higher compared to those fed diets containing 8 and 16 mg/kg of Cu without SYN. Meat analysis (thigh muscle) showed that the percentage of cooking loss in the meat of chickens fed diets containing 32 mg/kg of Cu with SYN was significantly lower compared to chickens fed diets containing 8 mg/kg of Cu without SYN. The inclusion of Cu-methionine chelate alongside SYN significantly improved the performance, morphology, intestinal microbial population, immune response, and meat quality of broiler chickens. These findings provide a basis for the simultaneous application of organic copper and SYN in the diet of broiler chickens.