Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of a Low-Input Diet on Different Chicken Breeds
Reducing the environmental impact of poultry farming aligns with the European Green Deal’s goal of climate neutrality and sustainable food production. Local chicken breeds and low-input diets are promising strategies to achieve this goal. This study evaluated the effects of diet (standard vs. low-in...
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2025-02-01
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| author | Elisa Fonsatti Martina Bortoletti Marco Birolo Francesco Bordignon Gerolamo Xiccato Angela Trocino Daniela Bertotto Marta Vascellari Giuseppe Radaelli Cristina Ballarin |
| author_facet | Elisa Fonsatti Martina Bortoletti Marco Birolo Francesco Bordignon Gerolamo Xiccato Angela Trocino Daniela Bertotto Marta Vascellari Giuseppe Radaelli Cristina Ballarin |
| author_sort | Elisa Fonsatti |
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| description | Reducing the environmental impact of poultry farming aligns with the European Green Deal’s goal of climate neutrality and sustainable food production. Local chicken breeds and low-input diets are promising strategies to achieve this goal. This study evaluated the effects of diet (standard vs. low-input, formulated with reduced soybean meal in favour of local ingredients) on the morphological characteristics of the jejunum in fast-growing chickens (Ross 308), local breeds (<i>Bionda piemontese</i>, BP; <i>Robusta maculata</i>, RM), and their crosses with Sasso (SA) hens (BP × SA, RM × SA). Histological samples from the jejunum were collected at slaughter (47 days for Ross 308, 105 days for others). Jejunal morphology was assessed focusing on villi height, crypt depth, goblet cell density, and immune markers (CD3+ and CD45+ cells). Local breeds, particularly RM, exhibited superior villus height-to-crypt depth ratios, related to better nutrient absorption compared to fast-growing genotypes. Ross chickens had higher goblet cell densities, reflecting greater sensitivity to environmental stress. Although the low-input diet reduced villi height and villus-to-crypt ratio, it tended to increase CD3+ cell density. These effects may be ascribed to the replacement of soybeans with fava beans and their antinutritional factors. These findings highlight the resilience of local breeds to dietary changes, supporting their suitability for alternative poultry production systems. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-bcabf43b95264aa693156b30f6170e522025-08-20T02:57:41ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-02-0115569610.3390/ani15050696Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of a Low-Input Diet on Different Chicken BreedsElisa Fonsatti0Martina Bortoletti1Marco Birolo2Francesco Bordignon3Gerolamo Xiccato4Angela Trocino5Daniela Bertotto6Marta Vascellari7Giuseppe Radaelli8Cristina Ballarin9Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, ItalyDepartment of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, ItalyDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, ItalyDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, ItalyDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, ItalyDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, ItalyDepartment of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, ItalyHistopathology Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, PD, ItalyDepartment of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, ItalyDepartment of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, ItalyReducing the environmental impact of poultry farming aligns with the European Green Deal’s goal of climate neutrality and sustainable food production. Local chicken breeds and low-input diets are promising strategies to achieve this goal. This study evaluated the effects of diet (standard vs. low-input, formulated with reduced soybean meal in favour of local ingredients) on the morphological characteristics of the jejunum in fast-growing chickens (Ross 308), local breeds (<i>Bionda piemontese</i>, BP; <i>Robusta maculata</i>, RM), and their crosses with Sasso (SA) hens (BP × SA, RM × SA). Histological samples from the jejunum were collected at slaughter (47 days for Ross 308, 105 days for others). Jejunal morphology was assessed focusing on villi height, crypt depth, goblet cell density, and immune markers (CD3+ and CD45+ cells). Local breeds, particularly RM, exhibited superior villus height-to-crypt depth ratios, related to better nutrient absorption compared to fast-growing genotypes. Ross chickens had higher goblet cell densities, reflecting greater sensitivity to environmental stress. Although the low-input diet reduced villi height and villus-to-crypt ratio, it tended to increase CD3+ cell density. These effects may be ascribed to the replacement of soybeans with fava beans and their antinutritional factors. These findings highlight the resilience of local breeds to dietary changes, supporting their suitability for alternative poultry production systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/696low-input dietslocal chicken breedsgut morphologyimmunohistochemistry evaluation |
| spellingShingle | Elisa Fonsatti Martina Bortoletti Marco Birolo Francesco Bordignon Gerolamo Xiccato Angela Trocino Daniela Bertotto Marta Vascellari Giuseppe Radaelli Cristina Ballarin Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of a Low-Input Diet on Different Chicken Breeds Animals low-input diets local chicken breeds gut morphology immunohistochemistry evaluation |
| title | Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of a Low-Input Diet on Different Chicken Breeds |
| title_full | Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of a Low-Input Diet on Different Chicken Breeds |
| title_fullStr | Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of a Low-Input Diet on Different Chicken Breeds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of a Low-Input Diet on Different Chicken Breeds |
| title_short | Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of a Low-Input Diet on Different Chicken Breeds |
| title_sort | histochemical and immunohistochemical evaluation of the effects of a low input diet on different chicken breeds |
| topic | low-input diets local chicken breeds gut morphology immunohistochemistry evaluation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/696 |
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