Feed Particle Size And Digestive Tract Development

1. Effects of feed pellets on the digestive tract🐔

The development of the digestive tract is affected by feed particle size. Large pellet feed requires more time to be ground into smaller particles in the gizzard before it can enter the small intestine. Large particle feed takes a longer time to process in the intestine, and the length of microvilli in the intestine increases, which increases the absorption surface area, thus having a positive impact on digestion and nutrient absorption. Adding larger particles of feed to the diet will increase the secretion of local digestive enzymes in the small intestine, which is beneficial to overall nutrient digestion.

When the diet consists primarily of pellets, these smaller feed particles pass quickly through the gizzard without being ground up and directly into the glandular stomach. The result is a smaller gizzard, enlarged glandular stomach, and reduced intestinal length.

2. Feed size pellets 🌞

Feed particle size plays a very important role in regulating feed intake. As the beak, gizzard and digestive tract develop, the size of feed particles increases with age. Chickens have a preference for larger pellets, which becomes stronger with age.

Chicks are given broken pellet feed 6 weeks before birth, which is made by breaking the pellets made of fine pellet feed into particles of 1 to 3 mm in size. Crushed feed is ideal for young chicks because each crumb is a mixture of different ingredients in the diet. When chicks are over 6 weeks old and continue to use crushed feed, the length of the small intestine and the size of the gizzard will be reduced.

After 6 weeks of age, granular powder is the first choice. It ensures the normal development of the digestive tract. The particle diameter is between 1 and 3 mm. Beginning in the pre-laying period, the granular meal includes large particles of calcium carbonate. Chickens need large particles of calcium carbonate to maintain good eggshell quality

3. Conclusion🐔

Chickens have no teeth, so wild chickens grind their food by pecking at the crumbs. In order to match the clearly sized chicken feed, feeds of different particle sizes should have a certain proportion, so as to promote the digestion and nutrient absorption of chickens.