The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of dietary arginine level on the growth performance,immune function,and small intestine development of broilers.A total of 600 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into five groups with six replicates in each group and 20 chickens in each replicate.Each group was supplemented with 0,0.65%,1.15%,1.65%,and 2.15%arginine in the basal diet.The trial period was 42 days.The results showed that compared with the control group,the body weight and average daily gain(ADG)of broilers in the 0.65%supplementation group were significantly higher(P<0.05),and the villus height/recess depth of duodenum and jejunum were significantly higher after 42 days of experiment(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the content of serum immune protein in the 2.15%supplementation group increased significantly on the 21st day(P<0.05),and the index of bursa of fabricius increased significantly on the 42st day(P<0.05).The study indicates that proper addition of 0.65%arginine in basal diet can increase the body weight,average daily gain,and promote the development of duodenum and jejunum in the later growth stage of broilers.High level of arginine(2.15%)can improve the level of serum immune protein and promote the development of small intestine.
broilersargininegrowth performanceimmune functionintestinal development