Fermented Bamboo Powder Affects Dwarf Yellow-Feathered Broiler Growth, Blood Biochemistry, Antioxidant Status, Intestinal Morphology, and Nutrient Transporter Gene Expression

This study explores the effects of fermented bamboo powder (FBP) on the growth performance, antioxidant status, intestinal morphology, and expression of nutrient transporter genes in broiler chickens. Two groups were formed from 600 healthy 1-day-old chicks; each group included 30 chicks, repeated 10 times. The control group was fed a basal diet and supplemented the experimental group’s diet with 1.0 g/kg FBP during phase I (days 1–22) and 2.0 g/kg FBP during phase II (days 23–45). The findings revealed a significant enhancement in the growth performance for the group that received fermented bamboo powder in contrast to the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The levels of triglycerides exhibited a significant reduction (<i>p</i> < 0.05), alongside a significant decrease in urea and creatinine levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress, exhibited a significant reduction in the FBP group compared to the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.01). It was found that the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) worked much better in the FBP group than in the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.01). On the other hand, fermented bamboo powder greatly increased the surface area that could absorb nutrients in the intestines (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) by increasing the villus height, intestinal lumen depth, and villus area (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Compared to the control, FBP increased the expression levels of genes involved in the transport of nutrients from the intestinal regions (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), including GLUT1, GLUT2, CAT1, CAT2, PEPT1, PEPT2, and LAT1. The upregulation of nutrient transporter genes further facilitated nutrient absorption, contributing to the observed improvements in growth and body weight. These findings endorse FBP as a viable feed additive in broiler diets to enhance health and performance.