This study was conducted to investigate the prediction of growth performance using linear regression and artificial neural network (ANN) in broiler chicken. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are powerful tools for modeling systems in a wide range of applications. The ANN model with a back propagation algorithm successfully learned the relationship between the inputs of metabolizable energy (kcal/kg) and crude protein (g/kg) and outputs of feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio variables. High R2 and T values for the ANN model in comparison to linear regression revealed that the artificial neural network (ANN) is an efficient method for growth performance prediction in the starter period for broiler chickens. This study also focused on expanding the experiment with more levels of inputs to predict outputs the using best ANN model. Manuscript profile

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary myrtle essential oil on small intestinal morphology and microbiology of broiler chickens. Two hundred day-old broiler chickens (Ross 308) were allocated to 5 treatments, 4 replications with a completely randomized design. The diets were supplemented with: no myrtle essential oil (control), each of myrtle essential oil at levels of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg flavophospholipol antibiotic of diet. On day 42 days of age, one bird from each replicate was selected and then slaughtered and the intestinal microflora contents as well as morphology were analyzed. Dietary myrtle essential oil and antibiotic supplementations consistently resulted in significantly longer villus height, lower epithelial thickness and lower goblet cell number of the small intestinal at 42 day of age compared with the control treatment (P<0.05).Also, lower Escherichia coli count and higher Lactobacillus count of the caecum was found by inclusion of myrtle essential oil in the diet (P<0.001). The results of this study suggested that myrtle essential oil may be considered as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter may improve poultry performance. Manuscript profile