Effects of oligosaccharides on performance, intestinal morphology, microbiota and immune reactions in laying hens challenged with dextran sodium sulfate
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of oligosaccharide extract from bamboo shoot (BOS) on the performance, intestinal morphology, microbiota and immune reaction of laying hens challenged with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Methods: Thirty-two White Leghorn hens (480 days old) were divided into four groups (8 hens each) with similar mean body weights: C (basal diet), D (basal diet + DSS), P (5 g/kg BOS diet), and PD (5 g/kg BOS diet + DSS). They were administered a single oral dose of 4 mL of distilled water/kg body weight with or without 0.45 g of DSS for 7 consecutive days from the 14th day to the 21st day of the experiment. All birds were placed in individual cages under a photoperiod of 14L:10D and reared under ad libitum access to feed and water for 21 days.