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The effects of 2 levels of mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) in feed were compared with antibiotic growth promoters on growth performance, intestinal morphology, cecal and litter microbial populations, and carcass parameters in broilers raised in a sanitary environment. Dietary treatments included: 1) antibiotic growth promoter-free diet (control), 2) VIRG (diet 1 + 16.5 mg/kg of virginiamycin), 3) BACT (diet 1 + 55 mg/kg of bacitracin), 4) LMOS (diet 1 + 0.2% MOS), and 5) HMOS (diet 1 + 0.5% MOS). Birds were randomly assigned to 3 replicate pens/treatment (n = 55/pen). Body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly throughout 38 d. At d 14, 24, and 34, a 1-cm segment of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum was used in morphological analysis (n = 9 birds/d per treatment). At the same bird ages, cecal contents were assayed for lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, Salmonella, Camp ylobacter, and Escherichia coli, whereas litter was analyzed for Salmonella, Camp ylobacter, and E. coli. Carcass yields (breast fillet and tenders, thigh, drumstick, and wing) were determined at d 38. Body weight, feed conversion, and carcass yields did not differ among treatments. In contrast to birds fed VIRG or BACT, LMOS and HMOS consistently increased (P < 0.05) villi height and goblet cell number per villus in all intestinal segments at d 24 and 34. Bifidobacteria concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in LMOSand HMOS-fed birds at all time points. Birds and litter from all treatments were free of Salmonella. At d 14 and 24, cecal E. coli and Camp ylobacter counts were not different among treatments. In comparison to birds fed control, at d 34, BACT, LMOS, and liMOS significantly reduced (P < 0.05) cecal E. coli concentrations, whereas Camp ylobacter counts were reduced (P < 0.05) by VIRG, BACT, and LMOS. Litter bacterial counts were not altered by dietary treatments. In conclusion, under conditions of this study, MOS conferred intestinal health benefits to chickens by improving its morphological development and microbial ecology. But, there were no additional benefits of the higher MOS dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leg problems and resulting mortality can exceed 1% per week in turkey toms starting at approximately 15 wk of age. Dietary supplementation of organic trace minerals (MIN) and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (HyD) may improve performance, decrease incidence of leg abnormalities, and increase bone strength. Nicholas 85X700 toms were assigned to 4 treatments consisting of a factorial arrangement of 2 concentrations of MIN (0 and 0.1% of Mintrex PSe, which adds 40, 40, 20, and 0.3 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, Cu, and Se, respectively) and 2 concentrations of HyD (0 and 92 μg/kg of HyD). Diets were formulated to be equal in nutrient content and fed ad libitum as 8 feed phases. Feed intake and BW were measured at 6, 12, 15, 17, and 20 wk of age. Valgus, varus, and shaky leg defects were determined at 12, 15, 17, and 20 wk of age. Tibia and femur biomechanical properties were evaluated by torsion and bending tests at 17 wk of age. There were no treatment effects on BW. Only MIN significantly improved feed conversion ratio through to 20 wk of age. Cumulative mortality at 3 wk of age was greater among the MIN birds, but it was lower by 20 wk (P = 0.085). The MIN decreased the incidence of varus defects at 17 wk of age; shaky leg at 12, 15, and 17 wk of age; and valgus defects at 15, 17, and 20 wk of age. There were no MIN x HyD interaction effects on individual gait problems. Maximum load and the bending stress required for tibias to break in a 4-point assay were increased with MIN supplementation, especially when HyD was also added. Maximum shear stress at failure of femoral bones in a torsion assay was increased by supplementation with both MIN and HyD together. Dietary supplementation of MIN and HyD may improve biomechanical properties of bones. Dietary MIN supplementation may improve feed conversion of turkeys, likely by decreasing leg problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in ileal bacterial populations of Salmonella-infected turkeys fed different diets were analyzed by using 16S-V3 PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Turkeys raised on litter flooring were fed wheat- and corn-based diets with and without enzyme preparations (XY1 and XY2, respectively) from 0 to 126 d. Preparation XY1 contained exclusively endoxylanase, whereas preparation XY2 contained endoxylanase, protease, and α-amylase (Danisco,, Wiltshire, UK). The dietary activity levels of XY1 and XY2 were 2,500 and 650 endo-1,4-β-xylanase units/kg of feed, respectively. Microbial DNA was extracted from the ileal content of 16-wk-old turkeys, and the 16S rDNA gene was amplified by PCR and analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Diversity indexes, including richness (number of species, S), evenness (relative distribution of species, EH), diversity (using Shannon's index, H′), and Sorenson's pairwise similarities coefficient (measures the species in common between different habitats, Cs) were calculated. Additionally, diversity indexes were associated with Salmonella prevalence determined from fresh fecal droppings collected from each pen. On the basis of contrast analysis, the wheat-based diets resulted in higher microbial diversity indexes than the corn-based diets (S = 10 vs. 12; EH = 0.9 vs. 0.8; H′ = 2.2 vs. 1.9, P < 0.05). Likewise, enzyme supplementation stimulated growth of the microbiota and increased the diversity indexes in comparison with unsupplemented treatments (S = 13 vs. 10; EH = 0.9 vs. 0.8; H′ = 2.2 vs. 1.9, P < 0.05). Salmonella prevalence was higher (P < 0.05) at 15 wk in turkeys fed the corn-based diet (Salmonella prevalence = 50%) than in turkeys fed the corn-enzyme (Salmonella prevalence = 13%) and wheat-based (Salmonella prevalence = 0%) dietary treatments. Therefore, contrast analysis showed that birds fed the corn control diet had lower microbiota diversity but higher Salmonella prevalence than birds fed the enzyme-supplemented and wheat-based diets. In contrast, birds fed the wheat-based diets had higher diversity but lower Salmonella prevalence than birds fed the corn-based diets. High dietary nonstarch polysaccharides from wheat and dietary exogenous enzyme supplementation promoted microbial community diversity and apparently discouraged Salmonella colonization through competitive exclusion. Nonstarch polysaccharides and dietary exogenous enzyme supplementation may be practical tools to control enteric pathogens and benefit the intestinal health and food safety of the birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In ovo feeding, injecting nutrients into the amnion of the avian embryo, may enhance jejunal nutrient uptake, activity of the intestinal enzymes, and posthatch growth. This hypothesis was tested in the following in ovo feeding (IOF) experiments. In experiment 1, 400 eggs were evenly distributed among 4 nutritional treatments at 23 d of embryonic development (23E) and administered 1 of 4 treatments as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of arginine (ARC 0, 0.7%) and β-hydroxy-β-methyl-butyrate (HMB 0, 0.1%). Tissues were assayed for maltase, sucrase, and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) at 25E, hatch, and 3, 7, and 14 d. In experiment 2, all IOF procedures were repeated and treatments were administered at 21E: injected or noninjected control, 21% egg white protein (EWP), 21% EWP + 0.1% HMB. In experiment 3, two hundred eggs were evenly distributed among the following treatments at 23E: noninjected control or 0.7% ARC + 0.1% HMB + 21% EWP. Jejunal samples were assayed for glucose or alanine uptake at 23E, 25E, and hatch (experiment 2), and hatch and 7 d (experiment 3), respectively. All poults were fed a turkey starter diet ad libitum immediately upon hatching. There was a highly significant HMB × ARC interaction on jejunal sucrase, maltase, and LAP activities at 25E and 14 d. Poults in ovo (IO) fed HMB + ARC had approximately a 2- to 3-fold increase in jejunal sucrase, maltase, and LAP activities at 25E, and a 3-fold increase at 14 d, over other treatments. Poults 10 fed EWP + HMB (experiment 2) had enhanced glucose uptake at 25E, whereas poults IO fed ARC + HMB + EWP (experiment 3) had enhanced alanine uptake at hatch and 7 d. These studies demonstrate that IOF ARC, HMB, and EWP may enhance jejunal nutrient uptake and digestion in turkeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to determine the serotypes, genotypes, and antibiotic resistance (AbR) patterns of 42 Salmonella isolates recovered from either fecal or litter samples of 12 commercial turkey farms across two seasons (summer and winter) and two ages (3 and 19 weeks). Isolates were serotyped on the basis of the Kauffmann-White scheme. Genotyping was done by restriction digestion of cDNA (XbaI) and subsequent pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The AbR was determined with Sensititre susceptibility plates. Serovar Kentucky was the most prevalent serotype (26%), followed by Senftenberg (19%), Muenster (17%), Mbandaka (10%), Javiana (7%), Hadar (5%), Heidelberg (5%), 8,(20):nonmotile (5%), Agona (2%), Infantis (2%), and 4,12:r:(2%). Serovars Kentucky, Heidelberg, Hadar, and 8,(20):nonmotile were isolated only from the 19-week-old bird samples, whereas Senftenberg and Muenster were isolated only from the young birds (3 weeks old). Isolates within any one serotype showed minor PFGE banding pattern differences, but dendogram analysis indicated that sequence variability between serotypes was more significant than within serotypes. Isolates were resistant to tetracycline (86%), sulfisoxazole (71%), streptomycin (64%), gentamicin (41%), ampicillin (36%), kanamycin (26%), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (7%), nalidixic acid (5%), cefoxitin (2%), and ceftiofur (2%). One isolate (Muenster) was resistant to nine antibiotics (2%), and the others were resistant to six (7%), five (12%), four (10%), three (21%), two (24%), and one (10%) antibiotic. Only two isolates (5%) were susceptible to all antibiotics tested. The AbR patterns were affected by age; on average, strains recovered from young birds were resistant to more than four drugs compared with fewer than three in older birds (P < 0.05). This study showed that Salmonella enterica subsp, enterica serotypes, genotypes and AbR patterns were affected by bird age but not by season or farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body weight, livability, and feed conversion of a randombred control turkey line (RBC2) started in 1966 at The Ohio State University was compared with that of modern commercial turkeys hatched in 2003 when fed representative 1966- and 2003-type diets from hatch (March 5, 2003) through 196 d of age. Each pen of modern turkeys consisted of 5 birds each of the Nicholas, British United Turkeys of America, and Hybrid strains. Eight groups (i.e., 2 strains (RBC2 vs. modern), 2 sexes, and 2 dietary regimens) were randomly assigned into each of 4 blocks of 8 litter floor pens (32 total) for growout. Using the BW performance of the 2 strains on the modern feed as the basis, the study showed that the 2003 turkeys were approximately twice as heavy as the 1966 RBC2 at the 4 slaughter ages and that tom weights have increased by 186, 208, 227, and 241 g/yr, and hen weights have increased by 164, 179, 186, and 205 g/yr at 112, 140, 168, and 196 d of age, respectively, over the past 37 yr. Cumulative feed conversion (kg of feed/kg of BW) was approximately 20% better in the 2003 tom turkey on the 2003 feed (2.638) than in the RBC2 tom on the 1966 feed (3.278) at 20 wk of age. Feed efficiency to 11 kg of BW in the 2003 toms (2.132 at 98 d of age) was approximately 50% better than in the RBC2 toms (4.208 at 196 d of age). The number of days to reach that weight was halved during this period of time. Growth performance during the different periods of the study appeared to be strongly affected by type of feed used and seasonal changes in ambient temperature. Overall livability was very good for all groups, but the mortality level of the RBC2 was consistently higher, although not significantly so, than for the modern birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance of glucose homeostasis during late-term embryonic development is dependent upon the amount of glucose held in reserve primarily in the form of glycogen in the liver and upon the degree of glucose generated by gluconeogenesis from protein first mobilized from amnion albumen and then from muscle. Insufficient glycogen and albumen will force the embryo to mobilize more muscle protein toward gluconeogenesis, thus restricting growth of the late-term embryo and hatchling. We hypothesize that administration of available carbohydrates to the amnion will improve glycogen reserves and spare muscle protein mobilization for gluconeogenesis during late-term embryonic and posthatch neonatal development. Our hypothesis was tested by comparing BW gain, liver glycogen reserves, and muscle weight of in ovo fed and control embryos during last days of embryonic incubation until 25 d after hatching. We examined, using 600 birds from 2 different strains of commercial boilers, body and muscle weights and glycogen reserves following feeding embryos at d 17.5 of incubation with a solution containing maltose, sucrose, dextrin, and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB). Providing carbohydrates and HMB to late-term embryos increased hatching weights by 5 to 6% over controls, improved liver glycogen by 2- to 5-fold, and elevated relative breast muscle size by 6 to 8%. These weight advantages were sustained through the end of the experiments at 25 d of age. It is reasonable to assume that the elevated glycogen levels in the in ovo treatment reduce the need to produce glucose via gluconeogenesis and, therefore, contribute to less use of muscle protein and hence a greater percentage of pectoral muscle weight in the in ovo birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early posthatch satellite cell mitotic activity is an important aspect of muscle development. An understanding of the interplay between nutrition and satellite cell mitotic activity will lead to more efficient meat production. The objective of this study was to test the influence of the leucine metabolite, β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB), and feed deprivation on muscle development in the early posthatch poult. Male Nicholas poults were placed on I of 4 treatments: immediately fed a starter diet with 0.1% HMB (IF-HMB), immediately fed a starter diet containing 0.1% Solka-Floc for a control (IF-No HMB), feed and water withheld for 48 h immediately posthatch and then fed the HMB diet (WF-HMB), and feed and water withheld for 48 h immediately posthatch and then fed the control starter diet (WF-No HMB). 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected intra-abdominally into all poults to label mitotically active satellite cells. The pectoralis thoracicus was harvested 2 h after the BrdU injection. Immunohistochemistry for BrdU, Pax7, and laminin along with computer-based image analysis was used to study muscle development. IF-HMB poults had higher body weights (P < 0.01) at 48 h and 1 wk of age and had higher satellite cell mitotic activity at 48 h of age (P < 0.01) compared with the IF-No HMB and WF poults. Therefore, dietary supplementation of HMB may have an anabolic effect on early posthatch muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the additive effects of a commercial feed supplementation blend (Ava Cid P)—consisting of humic substances, coated sodium butyrate, and a small acidifier portion— on the growth, immune response, and gut health of broiler chickens. A total of 540 female and 540 male broilers were raised from 1–49 d. On the first day, the animals were distributed in a completely randomized 2 × 5 factorial design (2 sexes and 5 treatments) with 7 replications of 15 birds each. The 5 treatments were 1) birds did not receive Ava Cid P (control); 2) birds received 0.91 kg/t of Ava Cid P from 1–21 d (AVA1–21); 3) birds received 0.91 kg/t of Ava Cid P from 1–21 d and 0.45 kg/t from 22–35 d (AVA1–35); 4) birds received 0.91 kg/t of Ava Cid P from 1–21 d and 0.45 kg/t from 22–42 d (AVA1–42); and 5) birds received 0.91 kg/t of Ava Cid P from 1–21 d, 0.45 kg/t from 22–35 d, and 0.23 kg/t from 36–49 d (AVA1–49). ANOVA and Tukey’s tests were applied to compare the means (P < 0.05) between treatments. The Ava Cid P showed no effect on male or female growth performance or goblet cell density. However, the supplement modified gut morphometry, and jejunum villi were 32% higher at 9 and 35 d in the AVA1–35 birds compared with those of the control group. The apparent villus surface and villus height increased by 87% and 46%, respectively, in the AVA1–49 birds compared with the AVA1–21 birds. The expression of mucin 2 (MUC2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were 1.6% and 0.9% lower in the AVA1–21 birds than in the control birds, but no effects were observed for interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-10. The Ava Cid P altered the mRNA expression of MUC2 and TNF-α and some characteristics of intestinal morphometry, but did not change the performance of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this 14-d cage study, the effects of feed form (mash and crumble) and 6 coarse ground corn (CC) inclusions [0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% CC that replaced fine corn (FC)] on broiler live performance, BW uniformity, gizzard weight, excreta nitrogen, and particle size preference were investigated. The geometric mean diameter by mass (dgw) of mash diets increased from 422 fim to 431, 471, 509, 542, and 640 fim, respectively, as the percentage of CC increased. Feed intake and BW were decreased by CC and mash at 7 d. Interactions between feed form and CC were observed for feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 7 d of age (P < 0.01), and feed intake (P < 0.05), BW (P < 0.01), and gizzard weight (P < 0.01) at 14 d of age. Feed intake for all CC inclusions in crumble diets was similar and exceeded (P < 0.01) that of mash diets at 14 d. Among mash diets, the 10 and 30% CC feed intake was greater (P < 0.05) than 40 and 50% CC with 0 and 20% CC intermediate. Crumble diets produced a similar BW but greater 14-d BW than mash diets (P < 0.01). Within mash diets, 40 and 50% CC produced a smaller BW (P < 0.01). The FCR at 7 d of CC inclusions in crumble diets was improved (P < 0.01) versus the same CC in mash diets. Within mash diets, 40% CC performed poorer than 0, 10, 20, and 30% CC diets with 50% CC diet intermediate (P < 0.01). Crumble diets improved FCR at 14 d, but CC worsened FCR. Gizzard weight at 14 d was not affected by CC in crumble diets, while it increased with CC in mash diets (P < 0.01). Excreta nitrogen was increased (P < 0.01) by crumble diets. These data demonstrated that pelleting and crumbling reduced the impact of CC, produced a more consistent feed intake, and reduced selective feeding, and that CC stimulated gizzard weight in a linear manner in mash diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of the dietary inclusion of 2 coarsely ground corn (CC) levels (0 or 50%) in diets of broilers reared on 2 litter types (new wood shavings or used litter) on live performance, litter characteristics, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of energy and nitrogen (N), and intestinal morphology. No interaction effects between CC level and litter type were observed on live performance. No litter effect was observed on live performance. Dietary inclusion of 50% CC increased BW at 35 d (P < 0.01) and improved cumulative feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 35 and 49 d of age (P < 0.01). The 50% CC treatment increased absolute and relative gizzard weight (P < 0.01) and decreased jejunum unit weight (g/cm) (P < 0.01). The new litter treatment (litter N) increased absolute and relative proventriculus weight (P < 0.05) but did not affect gizzard weight. An interaction effect between CC level and litter type was observed for litter N, where the 50% CC treatment reduced litter N regardless of litter type (P < 0.01), but litter N was reduced by new litter only among birds fed 0% CC (P < 0.05). The 50% CC inclusion increased litter pH (P < 0.05) and improved the AID of energy and N by 6.8% (P < 0.01) and 3.5% (P < 0.05), respectively. The 50% CC treatment increased jejunum villi tip width (P < 0.05) and villi surface area (P < 0.01), and decreased the muscularis layer thickness (P < 0.01), whereas new litter increased jejunum villi and ileum villi height (P < 0.05), jejunum villi surface area (P < 0.01), and the ratio of jejunum villi height to crypt depth (P < 0.01). This study showed that birds fed pelleted and screened diets containing 50% CC exhibited improved BW, FCR, and AID of energy and N, in conjunction with altered morphology of the GIT and intestinal mucosa. Litter type affected some GIT traits and functions but did not affect live performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two 49 d floor pen studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of litter type and dietary coarse ground corn (CC) inclusion on broiler live performance, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, and litter characteristics. Experiment 1 was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of 2 genders (male or female) and 2 CC levels (0 or 50%). From 15 to 35 d, the addition of CC decreased feed intake (P < 0.01) and BW gain (P < 0.05) of males but not females. The inclusion of CC decreased feed intake (P < 0.01) and BW gain (P < 0.01) from 0 to 49 d but improved adjusted feed conversion ratio (AdjFCR) from 35 to 49 d (P < 0.05). Male broilers exhibited better live performance than females during the study as evidenced by greater feed intake (P < 0.01) and BW gain (P < 0.01), and improved FCR (P < 0.01), but with increased mortality (P < 0.05). The inclusion of CC increased relative gizzard weight (P < 0.01) and decreased relative proventriculus weight (P < 0.01) at 49 d. Experiment 2 was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of 2 CC levels (0 or 50%) and 2 litter types (ground old litter or new wood shavings litter). The inclusion of CC decreased feed intake throughout the experiment without affecting final BW when only males were used and improved FCR after 25 d (P < 0.01). New litter improved FCR from 1 to 14 d (P < 0.01). At 49 d, the birds fed the CC diet had reduced excreta nitrogen (P < 0.05) and litter moisture (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 50% CC inclusion initially produced negative effects on live performance that became positive as BW increased. The effects of CC became evident at an earlier age for males. New litter had only a marginal benefit on broiler live performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Dietary structural material has been reported to improve broiler live performance and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) function. In this 50 d cage study, the effects of coarsely ground corn (CC) inclusion on broiler live performance, GIT development, apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of energy and nitrogen (N), and digesta particle size distribution and retention time were investigated. This study included 3 CC inclusions (0, 25, and 50% fine corn [FC] replaced by CC), with 6 replicate cages of 10 birds per treatment. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 35 and 42 d was improved (P < 0.01) as the dietary inclusion of CC increased without effect on feed intake. The 50% CC diet increased absolute and relative gizzard weight at 42 d of age as compared to diets with 0 and 25% CC (P < 0.01). Dietary CC increased absolute proventriculus weight at 28 d of age (P < 0.05). A numerically lower gizzard digesta pH (P < 0.08) was observed at 28 d but not 42 d of age, and there was no difference in proventriculus, jejunum, or ileum digesta pH at 28 or 42 d of age. The 25 and 50% CC treatments increased the digesta retention time at 30 and 45 d of age (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). The 25 and 50% CC treatments improved AID of energy by 7.1 and 8.2%, respectively, when compared with the 0% CC treatment, and they improved AID of N by 12.2 and 12.4%, respectively (P < 0.01). The digesta particles in the jejunum exhibited a similar distribution, with a dgw (geometric mean diameter by mass) of 218, 204, and 181 μm when 0, 25, of 50% CC diets were consumed, respectively. In conclusion, birds fed pelleted and screened diets that contained 25 and 50% CC exhibited increased BW, improved FCR, and increased AID of energy and N, which was probably due to enhanced gizzard development and greater digesta retention time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean meal (SBM) is a co-product that remains after the oil is removed from whole soybeans by either solvent extraction or mechanically pressing soybeans using an expeller. Expeller-extracted soybean meal (ESBM) contains more fat and less protein than solvent-extracted soybean meal (SSBM), but has higher trypsin inhibitors (TI) that limit its inclusion in poultry diets. We hypothesized that increasing the particle size of ESBM could enhance chick tolerance to dietary TI. The experiment consisted of a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement of 2 ESBM particle sizes (coarse, 1,300 pm, and fine, 530 pm) and 6 TI levels (6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 TlU/mg). A total of 672 male broiler chicks was randomly assigned among the 12 treatment combinations with 8 replicates per combination. The birds were provided with 1 kg/bird of starter diet in a crumble form. The pancreas and gizzard were excised and weighed at 16 d of age and organ weights relative to BW calculated. Feed consumption, BW, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined at 7 and 14 d of age. Increasing TI level produced a quadratic effect (P < 0.01) on BW and FCR at 14 d of age. The best performance was obtained when chicks were fed diets containing ESBM at intermediate TI levels. Increasing the particle size of the ESBM from 530 to 1,300 pm improved BW and feed intake (P < 0.01) without affecting FCR. The relative weight of the pancreas increased linearly as TI level increased (P < 0.001). The results of this study indicated that chicks performed better when fed coarse ESBM at an intermediate TI level [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]