<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The effect of dietary arginine on disease prevention, immune system modulation, the gut micro-biota composition and growth of broiler chicken was reviewed. The main aim of poultry production is the maximization of profit at the least possible cost. This objective can mainly be achieved by ensuring that there is no interference in growth or disease outbreak and by feeding chicken with the best possible level of nutrients. With the ban on antibiotic growth promoters, attention is shifted towards other nutrition methods to prevent diseases and promote growth. More attention is therefore given to protein diets in animal nutrition due to their importance as essential part of active biological compounds in the body, assisting in the breakdown of body tissue and helping in the physiological processes of the animal. Arginine plays important function in serving as building blocks of proteins and polypeptides. It performs other roles during the regulation of important biochemical functions such as maintenance, growth, reproduction and immunity. Arginine cannot be synthesized by the body so it has to be supplemented in the diet. When arginine is supplemented above the recommended level, the gut mucosa is protected, immunosuppression is alleviated, diseases like necrotic enteritis, infectious bursal disease and coccidiosis in broiler chickens are prevented. There is an improvement in growth resulting from the increase in intestinal absorption, barrier function and microbiota composition.</p></abstract>

The effect of dietary arginine on disease prevention, immune system modulation, the gut micro-biota composition and growth of broiler chicken was reviewed. The main aim of poultry production is the maximization of profit at the least possible cost. This objective can mainly be achieved by ensuring that there is no interference in growth or disease outbreak and by feeding chicken with the best possible level of nutrients. With the ban on antibiotic growth promoters, attention is shifted towards other nutrition methods to prevent diseases and promote growth. More attention is therefore given to protein diets in animal nutrition due to their importance as essential part of active biological compounds in the body, assisting in the breakdown of body tissue and helping in the physiological processes of the animal. Arginine plays important function in serving as building blocks of proteins and polypeptides. It performs other roles during the regulation of important biochemical functions such as maintenance, growth, reproduction and immunity. Arginine cannot be synthesized by the body so it has to be supplemented in the diet. When arginine is supplemented above the recommended level, the gut mucosa is protected, immunosuppression is alleviated, diseases like necrotic enteritis, infectious bursal disease and coccidiosis in broiler chickens are prevented. There is an improvement in growth resulting from the increase in intestinal absorption, barrier function and microbiota composition.

The Role of Arginine in Disease Prevention, Gut Microbiota Modulation, Growth Performance and the Immune System of Broiler Chicken – A Review

Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The effect of dietary arginine on disease prevention, immune system modulation, the gut micro-biota composition and growth of broiler chicken was reviewed. The...

The Role of Arginine in Disease Prevention, Gut Microbiota Modulation, Growth Performance and the Immune System of Broiler Chicken – A Review

Published Online: May 04, 2020

Page range: 325 - 341

Received: Sep 03, 2019

Accepted: Nov 05, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2019-0081

Keywords
arginine, immune system, growth modulator, microbiota, immune modulation

© 2020 Harry A. Aguzey et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Role of Arginine in Disease Prevention, Gut Microbiota Modulation, Growth Performance and the Immune System of Broiler Chicken – A Review

Published Online: May 04, 2020

Page range: 325 - 341

Received: Sep 03, 2019

Accepted: Nov 05, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2019-0081

Keywordsarginine, immune system, growth modulator, microbiota, immune modulation

© 2020 Harry A. Aguzey et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
arginine, immune system, growth modulator, microbiota, immune modulation