The trial evaluated the effects of different fiber sources on growth performance, gut health, nutrient digestibility, digesta attributes and microbial counts in broilers. A total of 600 Ross 308 broiler chicks (day old) were allotted to five groups with six replicates (20 birds/replicate). The control diet (CON) contained a 3% filler, which was replaced with 3% of either soybean hulls (SH), wheat bran (WB), maize bran (MB), or sugar beet pulp (SBP) in the other four treatments. Growth performance was monitored phase wise, whereas development of gastrointestinal tract and pH, digesta attributes, gut health, nutrient digestibility and microbial population were assessed on day 35 of the experiment. The SBP significantly reduced (P<0.05) growth performance across all the phases. Conversely, during grower phases, WB and SH groups exhibited greater average daily gain (ADG) and better FCR (P<0.05). Overall, WB and SH had the highest (P<0.05) ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and FCR, whereas SH was similar (P>0.05) to CON. The SH group had the greatest gizzard weight (P<0.05) than all the groups. The SBP significantly increased (P<0.05) digesta viscosity, small intestinal weight, duodenal crypt depth and cecal E. coli counts. In contrast, WB improved (P<0.05) the villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio, ileal digestibility of CP and ether extract than the MB and SBP, whereas remained comparable to the SH and CON. The WB and SH increased (P<0.05) the cecal Lactobacillus spp. counts. In conclusion, 3% WB and SH supported growth, gut development and CP digestibility, whereas SBP reduced growth, worsened duodenal morphology and nutrient digestibility, increased digesta viscosity and cecal E. coli, in broilers.

To Cite This Article: Akram CA, Qaisrani SN, Saima and Ahmad S, 2026. Effects of different fiber sources on growth performance, gut health, nutrient digestibility, digesta characteristics and cecal microbial population in broilers. Pak Vet J. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.244