Abstract
BACKGROUND: This 21-day study evaluated the effects of feeding durations of graded levels (RSL) of raw potato starch (RPS) or high amylose corn starch (HCS) on growth performance, energy utilization and intestinal biochemical metrics in broiler chickens. In total, 300 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 10 treatments: three RSL (25 and 50 g kg(-1) of RPS and 35 g kg(-1) of HCS) and three feeding durations (RSD) (21, 14 or 7 days), plus a corn-soybean meal control diet. RESULTS: There were significant effects (P < 0.05) of RSL on feed conversion ratio (FCR), apparent ileal digestible energy (AIDE) and nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy (AMEn). Birds fed 25 g kg(-1) RPS had greater FCR than those fed 35 g kg(-1) HCS. The AIDE and AMEn were greater in birds fed 35 g kg(-1) HCS, except AIDE at 50 g kg(-1) RPS and control diets. The RSD × RSL interaction was significant (P < 0.05) for jejunal glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) and RSD for mucin-2 (MUC-2) expression. Birds fed 25 g kg(-1) RPS for 21 and 14 days had higher GLP-2 expression than those fed for 7 days. MUC-2 expression was greater for 21 and 14 days of RS feeding than 7 days. CONCLUSION: The RSL modulated growth performance and nutrient uptake, whereas gene expression was associated with RSD and RSL synergistic effects. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.