Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University Veterinary Research Forum 2008-8140 4 3 2013 09 01 Effects of chicory root powder on growth performance and histomorphometry of jejunum in broiler chicks 169 174 2828 EN Homan Izadi Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Javad Arshami Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Abolghasem Golian Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Mohammad Reza Raji Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Journal Article 2013 08 14 In the present study, chicory<em> </em>root powder (CRP) as growth promoter at 1% and 3% levels was supplemented in broilers’ diet to investigate the growth performance and histo-morphometry of jejunum. One hundred twenty, one-day-old male broilers were used in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 treatments and 4 replicates (10 chicks per replicate). At the end of each period (0-10, 11-24 and 0-24 days), feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. At the end of experiment (day 24), one bird per replicate was sacrificed for breast weight (BW), drumstick weight (DW), and jejunum length (JL) as a percentage of body weight, and histomorphometry of villus. The FI increased by 3% CRP in the 1^st period (<em>p </em>< 0.01). The percentage of WG significantly increased at 1% during the 1^st period and, in the 2^nd and total periods, it increased only at 3% CRP (<em>p </em>< 0.05). The FCR decreased at 1% in the 1^st(<em>p</em> < 0.04) and, at 3% in the 2^nd (<em>p </em>< 0.01) and total periods (<em>p </em>< 0.05). The percentage of DW increased at 3% CRP (<em>p </em>< 0.05). The treatments increased the percentage of BW (<em>p </em>< 0.059) and, percentage of JL (<em>p </em>< 0.079) as well. The villus width and, crypt depth (CD) at 1% and 3% CRP and, villus surface at 3% reduced. The 3% CRP increased the villus length (VL) and villi number (<em>p</em> < 0.05) and, VL/CD (<em>p</em> < 0.01) and, villus surface area (<em>p </em>< 0.02). The percentage of leaf-like villi decreased in CRP treatments (<em>p </em>< 0.05). The number of goblet cells increased in CRP treatments (<em>p </em>< 0.01). In conclusion, chicory<em> </em>root powder can improve growth performance in broilers by enhancing food digestion and absorption through modification of jejunum histomorphometry. https://vrf.iranjournals.ir/article_2828_b139aeda1c2914e3b579aafd3ceeb1bd.pdf