Abstract
A 3 × 3 factorial experiment (4 pens/treatment, 10 birds/pen) was conducted with 3 levels of supplemental taurine (Tau) (0.0, 0.25 and 0.50%) and 3 levels of dissected bile acid (DBA): 0.0, 0.25 and 0.50% of the diet were arranged in a completely randomized design. Isocaloric and isonitrogenous starter and grower diets were fed ad libitum to chickens from 7 - 21 and 22 - 42 d, respectively. The measured parameters were body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), fat digestibility, serum cholesterol (Chol), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (HDL). The supplementation of Tau had no effect on FI, BWG and FCR for all periods. Moreover, BWG and FCR were a function of the DBA level in the diet for the finisher and the cumulative periods; birds which received the highest level of DBA (0.50%) had the highest BWG and the best FCR as compared to 0.0 and 0.25%. Fat digestibility was significantly improved by Tau and DBA supplementation. DBA and Tau supplementation had increased serum components at 21 and 42 d of age. The supplementation of Tau or DBA in the diets did not affect carcass parameters at 42 d of age. However, a linear reduction on the small intestinal weight was observed as a result of DBA supplementation. Supplementation of the diets with Tau significantly increased bursa weights. The results of this study indicated that Tau had limited impact on performance, while the supplementation of DBA at 0.50% had the best improvements in performance and blood characteristics and this could be explained in part by its positive effect on fat digestibility.