Effect of dietary 1,4-diaminobutane as a growth promotant and preventive agent for infection in broiler chickens

Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of feeding supplemental dietary putrescine on the performance of broiler chicks. Tissue concentrations of polyamines and metabolites, protein and DNA, morphology of the small intestine and the ability to overcome the effects of an oral challenge of 'Eimeria acervulina' were determined. Practical diets were supplemented with 1, 4-diaminobutane at 0.0 to 0.5% with a concomitant reduction in corn. Diets were fed for 21 days with the exception of experiment 2 which was 42 days. In experiment 1, the feeding of 0.1% putrescine increased chick growth rate, feed intake and feed efficiency. Protein concentrations increased in the duodenum while concentrations of putrescine increased in the duodenum, jejunum+ileum, spleen, pancreas and breast muscle. In experiment 2, there was an increased polyamine deposition in edible tissues after 3 weeks of feeding although this effect was less pronounced after 6 weeks. In experiment 3, there was no effect of an oral challenge (200,000 oocysts) with 'E. acervulina' on growth rates although intestinal morphology was affected. Feed intake decreased during the infection period. Lesion scores correlated with the oocyst count thereby demonstrating the infection was accomplished. In experiment 4, a larger dose (1,000,000 oocysts) of 'E. acervulina' was administered. Increasing dietary putrescine decreased growth rate and feed consumption of both control and infected birds. Feed efficiency decreased with increasing dietary putrescine. Lesion scores again indicated an active infection. It was concluded that dietary putrescine supplementation may promote duodenal development in broiler chicks resulting in increased growth although the concentration required to do this will vary with the duration of feeding. Levels of putrescine supplemented were inadequate to overcome the protozoal challenge. Infection influenced the morphology of the small intestine although this effect was not consistently influenced by diet. There may be benefits, to dietary putrescine supplementation of practical corn-soy diet due to altered intestinal development. It is unlikely that putrescine supplementation will be effective, however, in combating or preventing coccidiosis.