A trial was carried to verify the effect of increasing levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%) of canola meal in diets of broiler chickens, on performance and mucous morphology, during the starting period (1 - 21 days). 1,000 male chicks one-day-old were used, distributed in a randomized experimental assay, with five treatments, four replicates and 50 birds per experimental unit. At the 1st, 21st and 41st days, the birds and the rations were weighed and at the 21st day two birds of each experimental unit were sacrificed for collection of a duodenum segment for evaluation of intestinal morphometry. The results demonstrated that increasing levels of canola meal induced to a linear reduction in weight gain, weight and feed intake and worst feed conversion. During the growing period (21 to 41 days), in which all of the birds received similar diet, a decrease was observed in the weight and weight gain, with the increase of the levels of canola meal, while parameters feed conversion and feed intake were similar. Data regarding mucous morphology, submitted to the regression analysis, demonstrated that there was increase in crypt depth in accordance of increasing levels of canola meal. It is possible to include up to 20% of canola meal without damages on broiler performance and in the digestive tract.
villi height; duodenum; anti-nutritional factor; crypt depth; tannin
