A feeding trial was carried out using 576 Ross 308 male chickens to test the effects of an amorphous lignocellulose (LC) product (Arbocel). Three dietary treatments (control, 0.5% LC (LC 0.5), and 0.8% LC (LC 0.8) were used, and the diets were fed in eight replicate pens of 24 chickens. The LC treatments did not modify the weight gain of the chickens, but they tended to decrease the feed intake and FCR in the grower phase. The high swelling characteristics of LC resulted in lower dry matter (DM) contents in the crop (p < 0.002) and gizzard (p < 0.047) on day 14 and day 24, respectively. The lower pH in the gizzard and duodenum of LC diets suggests longer retention time and more HCl secretion in the proventriculus and gizzard. Except for α-amylase on day 24, the treatments did not modify the digestive enzyme content of the jejunum. The microbiota diversity and microbiota composition of ileal contents were affected only by the age of birds. The results suggest that the LC product can exert its potential positive effects mainly in the upper part of the digestive tract due to its special physical characteristics. LC can slow down the passage rate in the gizzard and modify the digestion and the dynamics of water absorption from the jejunum and ileum.

Sunflower meal (SFM) is an alternative protein source for poultry. It is locally available and cheap, and its protein is rich in methionine and cystine. The high fibre and phytate content of SFM are, however, limitation factors. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of feeding SFM and using superdosing phytase (1500 FTU) on the production performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. A total of 576-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were fed four iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric diets: control (C), C with superdosing phytase (CP), SFM, and SFM with superdosing phytase (SFMP). SFM was included at 20% and 30% in the grower and finisher phases, respectively. Neither SFM nor phytase superdosing affected the production traits in the grower phase. However, in the finisher phase, SFM significantly increased body weight gain (BWG) and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR). This positive result was also true for the cumulative performance of birds. On day 42, feeding SFM increased fat digestibility and the AMEn content of diets, but decreased the digestion of starch. Superdosing phytase increased both fat and starch digestion, as well as the AMEn and the N-retention of chickens. SFM was found to have no effect on the apparent ileal amino acid (AA) digestibility. Conversely, the phytase treatment significantly increased the absorption of several essential AAs. In conclusion, not only is fibre SFM tolerated by broiler chickens, but it can also improve production traits. Although superdosing phytase positively affects the digestibility of nutrients, it fails to cause changes in the BWG or FCR of chickens.