Effect of Vegetable Oil Types on Energy Expenditure, Abdominal Fat Deposition and Fatty Acid Profile of Breast and Thigh Muscles in Broilers

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different vegetable oil types on broiler energy expenditure, abdominal fat deposition and fatty acid profile of breast and thigh. A total number of 300 un-sexed day-old cobb 500 broiler chickens were used in a completely randomized design, consisted of five treatments (five different vegetable oil sources including soy, flaxseed, canola, corn, and sunflower oil), with five replicates and 10 chicks in each. Different vegetable oil sources had no significant effect on energy efficiency ratio and abdominal fat deposition. Flaxseed oil increased C18:3 and C20:5 in breast and C18:3, C20:3, C20:4 and C20:5 in thigh muscle (P< 0.05). The highest content of n-3 fatty acids was observed in breast of broilers fed diets treated with flaxseed oil (P< 0.05). The C18:3 content of thigh of broilers fed flaxseed was significantly higher than those chicken received other oil sources (P< 0.05). A significant increase in C20:5 was seen in the thigh of chicken received flaxseed oil, too (P< 0.05). The highest content of C18:2 was observed in the breast of the chickens fed corn oil and the lowest was seen in broilers received canola oil (P< 0.05). The results showed that dietary oil type could affect fatty acid profile of broiler breast and thigh despite lack of significant difference in broiler energy expenditure or abdominal fat deposition

Algal Crude Fucoidan Alone or with Bacillus subtilisDSM 17299in Broiler Chickens Diet: Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Blood Metabolites, and Morphology of Intestine

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of algal fucoidan and probiotic Bacillus subtilison growth performance, blood metabolites and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens. A total of 250 one-day-old Ross 360 male broiler chickens were randomly distributed into 5 treatments (6 replication pens/treatment) and reared for 42 d. The 5 dietary treatments were as follow: 1) a corn-soybean meal basal diet (control treatment); 2) a basal diet supplemented with antibiotic oxytetracycline; 3) a basal diet supplemented with the prebiotic fucoidan; 4) a basal diet supplemented with a probiotic product containing Bacillus subtilis spores; and 5) a basal diet supplemented with both the prebiotic and probiotic (served as a synbiotic). Birds received antibiotic and probiotic exhibited greater body weight gain (about 5.42% and 4.80%, respectively) than control treatment. The percentage of thigh and abdominal fat in birds fed probiotic diet were lower compared to the antibiotic treatment. The use of fucoidan and probiotic resulted lower (P< 0.05) serum concentration of triglyceride than those of antibiotic treatment. Supplementing of synbiotic increased villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum (P< 0.05). Present study revealed that supplementing of probiotics with fucoidan could be advised as an effective synbiotic, instead of antibiotics, to improve the performance and health of broiler chickens

Effects of black pepper and turmeric powder on growth performance, gut health, meat quality, and fatty acid profile of Japanese quail

In poultry production, the search for alternatives to in-feed antibiotics continues unabated. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of black pepper and turmeric powder, separately or in combination, on the growth performance, gastrointestinal microbiota population, intestinal morphology, serum biochemical parameters, meat quality, and meat fatty acid profile in Japanese quails. Five hundred-day-old mixed-sex Japanese quail chicks were randomly assigned to one of five treatments: a control diet (CON); CON +0.2% antibiotic flavomycin as an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP); CON +0.5% turmeric powder (TUP); CON +0.5% black pepper powder (BPP); and CON +0.5% TUP, and 0.5% BPP (MIX). The findings showed that quail chicks fed AGP and TUP throughout the rearing period had better body weight gain (p = 0.007) and feed conversion ratio (p = 0.02) than the other treatments. The TUP, BPP, and MIX feeds reduced (p = 0.005) abdominal fat percentage. The MIX group had a better breast muscle water-holding capacity (p = 0.04) and lightness index (p = 0.02) and lower (p = 0.02) malondialdehyde concentration after 7 days of refrigerated storage. Feeding BPP, TUP, and MIX diets decreased (p = 0.001) serum cholesterol concentration. Quail chicks fed the CON diet showed significantly higher coliform counts in the crop and ileum (p &lt; 0.001), whereas the lactic acid bacterial population was lower (p = 0.008) in the ileum. Birds that received the MIX diet exhibited a higher (p = 0.02) villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum compared to the other groups. The tested feed additives increased (p &lt; 0.001) villus height in the jejunum and ileum compared to other groups. Feeding the TUP, BPP, and MIX diets reduced (p &lt; 0.001) total saturated fatty acid content and increased (p = 0.004) total polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration, where the MIX diet had the best results. Overall, the present data indicate that supplementing the basal diet with turmeric powder enhances the growth performance of Japanese quails. In some respects, such as gut health and meat quality, combining turmeric powder and black pepper powder was more effective than using them independently

Effect of Different Levels of Mushroom Waste (Agaricus bisporus) with or without Probiotic on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Breast Meat Quality in Broiler Chickens

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mushroom waste and probiotic levels on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in broiler chickens. A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with two levels of probiotic supplementation (0 and recommended rate) and three levels of mushroom waste inclusion (0%, 3%, and 6%) was used in a completely randomized design using male broiler chickens (Ross 308 strain). Different levels of mushroom waste and probiotic had no significant effect on body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in broiler chickens. Neither different levels of mushroom waste nor probiotic independently had any significant effect on carcass characteristics. However, the use of mushroom waste and probiotics significantly reduced the malondialdehyde content in chicken breast meat 30 days after storage (P). Breast meat pH value was significantly reduced by supplementation with probiotic 1 and 30 days after storage (P). In conclusion, under the conditions of this experiment, inclusion of mushroom waste, particularly at 6% level, numerically improved growth performance and was effective in preventing meat oxidation

Effect of utilization of maize silage in moult inducing diets on performance, immune response and bone quality in laying hens

The aim of the study was to evaluate the utilization of maize silage (MS) in moult induction and its effects on immune response and bone quality in laying hens. Laying hens were subjected to 1 of 6 treatments: full-fed (control; FF); total feed withdrawal (positive control for moult induction; FW); 100 MS (M100); 90 MS + 10 layer ration (LR) (M90); 80 MS + 20 LR (M80); and 70 MS + 30 LR (M70). After 9 days body weight loss occurred in all moulting treatments. The examined treatments caused cessation of egg production on day 4 (M90), 5 (FW, M100) and 7 (M70, M80). On day 6 the heterophil : lymphocyte (H:L) ratio did not differ between all MS treatments and FF; however FW caused its increasing only in comparison to FF, M80 and M70. On day 9 H:L ratio for FF did not differ only from M70 and M90. Antibody production against sheep red blood cell was unaffected by all moulting treatments. The femur dry weight for FF did not differ from M70, M80, M100; however there was observed no difference between FW and M70, M90, M100. The treatments caused decrease of femur ash content in comparison to FF group (except M70) with the lowest value in FW. In conclusion, obtained data indicate that the use of MS mixed with LR results in moult induction. Likewise, it is suggested to use 70 MS addition because of reduced moulting stress in birds and smaller losses of bone mineralization

Zinc Requirements of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) by Assessing Dose- Evaluating Response of Zinc Oxide Nano-Particle Supplementation

This study was conducted to determine the effects of various doses and particle sizes (micro or nano) of dietary zinc and zinc oxide on growth performance, serum enzyme activities, carcass characteristics, and zinc requirements in Japanese quails. A total of 576 day-old Japanese quails (both sexes) were housed in 36 deep litter floor pens. Birds received a basal corn–soybean meal diet that was deficient in zinc (27 mg zinc/kg) for 10 days post-hatching in order to deplete them from zinc reserves. Then, quails were randomly allocated to nine dietary treatments: a control treatment (27 mg of Zn/kg of diet), or one of four levels of Zn (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg of diet) that were one of two ZnO particle sizes (micro or nano ZnO). Birds were fed the experimental diets from 10 to 40 days of age. Body weight and feed intake per pen were measured every 10 days and feed conversion ratio was calculated. On day 40, two males per replicate were slaughtered and carcass characteristics were measured. A quadratic increase in body weight gain (P < 0.01) and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) were found in zinc-supplemented quails between 20 to 30 d. Increasing dietary Zn levels significantly increased the relative weights of testes (P < 0.01), and thigh (P < 0.05). In this study, the optimal dietary Zn levels for body weight gain of Japanese quails were 90 mg/kg of diet for birds 10-20 days old, 70 mg/kg of diet for birds 20-30 days old, and 59 mg/kg of diet for birds 30-40 days old

The Effects of Silymarin on Oxidative Status and Bone Characteristics in Japanese Quail Subjected to Oxidative Stress Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride

This experiment was conducted to assess the effects of Silymarin on oxidative status, bone characteristics, and some blood parameters in Japanese quail subjected to oxidative stress induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The experiment was performed as a completely randomized design with four replicates, each with 30 birds, using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two doses of Silymarin (0 and 1 mL/kg BW) and CCl4 (0 and 1 mL/kg BW). Results revealed that the interaction between Silymarin and CCl4on concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, albumin, calcium, and alkaline phosphatase were significant (P < 0.05). In contrast, concentrations of phosphorus, total protein, and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol in blood serum did not differ between experimental treatments. Experimental treatments had a significant effect on superoxide dismutase activity in blood serum (P < 0.05), but not on glutathione peroxide activity and malondialdehyde concentration. Experimental treatments significantly affected the weight, thickness, and external and internal diameters of tibia bone (P < 0.05), but not its length, ash, volume, and density. This study shows that Silymarin has potential to attenuate adverse effects of oxidative stress induced by CCl4 in Japanese quail

Evaluating the Growth Response of Broiler Chickens to Probiotic Supplementation under Feed Restriction

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of Probiotic supplementation and feed restriction on growth response in broiler chickens. For this purpose, 336 male broiler chickens of Ross 308 were used. After housing, broilers allocated to experimental pens in a completely randomized design with factorial 2×3 arrangement. First and second groups considered as positive control group with supplemented probiotic or negative control group without supplemented probiotic, respectively, that birds in these groups had free access to feed. Four other groups used a diet same as control groups, but from 7 to 35 days of age subjected to 4 or 8 hours feed restriction. Four replicates of 14 birds were allocated to each experimental group. Results of the experiment indicated the birds subjected to feed restriction had significantly lower feed intake and body weight gain during the first week of rearing compared to those fed ad-libitum. There was no significant difference between experimental treatments for feed intake. In the group of without probiotic, feed restriction for 8 hours led to reduce weight gain and carcass weight compare to those fed ad-libitum. But when use probiotic, weight gain and carcass weight was similar to those birds were fed ad-libitum. The results of this experiment showed that the use of probiotic can improve the performance of broilers under severe feed restriction

Effect of Different Levels of Germinated Barley on Live Performance and Carcass Traits in Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of germinated barley (GB) on live performance and carcass traits in broiler chickens. The experiment lasted for 5 weeks starting from 7 days of age and ending at 42 days of age. Chicks (Ross 308) were fed six dietary treatments including a corn–soy diet (corn diet), a barley–soy diet (barley diet), a barley diet plus enzymes (enzyme barley diet), and 3 other diets in which GB was replaced with barley at levels of 33%, 66%, and 100% in the barley diet (33% GB diet, 66% GB diet, and GB diet, respectively). Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design. Results indicated that birds fed a barley diet had significantly lower performance than those fed other diets (P). Supplementing of the barley diet with β-glucanase enzyme as well as replacing GB with barley improved the performance of broilers. Birds fed a GB diet had a significantly higher carcass yield those fed other diets (P). The lowest abdominal fat percentage was observed in birds fed a barley diet or a corn diet. Thus, it is concluded that replacing GB with barley, especially at 33% level, is more effective than supplementing barley diets with β-glucanase enzyme in improving live performance of broiler chickens