Abstract
In the antibiotic-free era, traditional antibiotics have been suggested as alternatives to antibiotic-based growth promoters. Among the various methods, self-nano-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) are increasingly utilized to improve the bioavailability of oils containing essential substances. In this study, we evaluated the effects of black soldier fly oil (BSFO) SNEDDS in chicken drinking water on growth performance, small intestine histomorphology, and poultry health status. We divided 225 male Indian River strain broiler chickens into five treatment groups, each consisting of 5 replicates. The chickens were reared from to 0 to 35 d of age in a controlled environmental housing system. The BSFO SNEDDS was administered via drinking water. Treatments included ordinary drinking water (P1), bacitracin (P2), and 10 mL/L (P3), 20 mL/L (P4), and 30 mL/L (P5) BSFO SNEDDS. The observed parameters included growth performance, carcass yield, blood hematology, intestinal histomorphology, digestive microflora, and immunoglobulin (Ig) levels. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's test. The results indicated that administering BSFO SNEDDS via drinking water improved feed conversion (P < 0.05), enhanced the performance index (P < 0.05), increased carcass percentage (P < 0.001), and increased the weight of the carcass parts. Additionally, it increased villus height (P < 0.01), lowered jejunal pH (P < 0.001), reduced pathogenic bacteria in the jejunum, and decreased the leukocyte count. BSFO SNEDDS in drinking water is expected to be used as a traditional antibiotic with the potential to replace synthetic antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chickens.