Broiler performance in response to different methionine levels

Abstract The effect of different levels of Met on performance and carcass quality of broilers was investigated. Based on a completely randomized design, three treatments including T1 (+10% NRC requirement of Met), T2 (NRC requirement of Met), and T3 (-10% NRC requirement of Met) were used. Feed intake (FI) , body weight (BW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly. The effects of treatments on BW and FCR were not significant. Birds fed T1 had the highest FI among treatments, as the difference between T1 and T2 was significant. Significantly, carcass yield of T3 was lower than others. Birds fed control diet decreaes abdominal fat, significantly. The effects of treatments on other parameters (thigh, breast and liver percentages) were not significant. It can be concluded that diet formulation based on low Met level (-10% NRC) results in negative effects on broiler chickens

Influence of xylanase and vitamin A in wheat-based diet on performance, nutrients digestibility, small intestinal morphology and digesta viscosity in broiler chickens

The effect of wheat-based diet (WBD), supplemented with xylanase and surplus vitamin A, on performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology and digesta viscosity of broiler chickens was investigated. Based on a completely randomized design, 240-day-old chickens were randomly divided into six experimental diets and four replications with 10 chickens each. Experimental diets consisted of corn-based diet (CBD) (T1), WBD with routine amounts of vitamin A (9000 IU kg-1) (T2), T2 without vitamin A in premix (T3), T2 + 6000 IU kg-1 vitamin A (T4), T2 + 420 IU kg-1 xylanase (T5), and T2 + 6000 IU kg-1 vitamin A + 420 IU kg-1 xylanase (T6). For Feed Conversion Rate (FCR) between day 1 and 21 and between day 21 and 42 WBD supplemented with vitamin A and enzyme was less than CBD (p < 0.05). Also, supplementation of surplus vitamin A singly, and vitamin A and enzyme improved digestibility of crude protein (CPD) and crude fat (CFD) than WBD with routine amounts of vitamin A (p < 0.05). The villus (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) was longer (p < 0.05) in broilers fed on diet supplemented with vitamin A and enzyme than those with CBD. It may be concluded that enzyme and vitamin A supplementation to WBD may improve mentioned parameters

Improving performance, reproduction, and immunity in laying Japanese quail with algal derivatives

ABSTRACT: We investigated the effect of the Persian Gulf algae derivatives, namely phycocyanin (PC) and fucoidan (FUC), on the performance, reproductive traits, and immune responses of laying Japanese quails. A completely randomized design was used to distribute 250 six-wk-old Japanese quails with an average body weight of 215 ± 10 g into 5 treatments, 5 replicates, and 10 birds in each replicate over a 5-wk period. Unlike the control groups, the treatment groups received drinking water supplemented with PC and FUC at concentrations of 20 or 40 mg/L, denoted as PC20, PC40, FUC20, and FUC40, respectively, while all birds were provided with identical feed. Supplemental algal derivatives notably improved hen day egg production (HDEP), egg mass, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Incorporating PC and FUC had no significant effect on the weight of males' testes or the weight and length of hens' oviducts. Additionally, the experimental treatments had no impact on the chicks' hatching weight. The supplementation of PC and FUC resulted in increased fertility (P = 0.038) and hatchability (P < 0.001) rates, with the exception of fertility in the PC40 group. The effect of the experimental treatments on immune responses was largely not statistically significant, except in the case of ND. Specifically, the experimental treatments resulted in increased (P = 0.033) antibody titers against ND when compared to the control group, with the exception of FUC20. Supplemental algal derivatives significantly (P < 0.01) reduced total cholesterol, creatinine, and triglycerides (except in the case of PC20). Overall, these findings underscore the potential of algal derivatives to enhance quail performance, reproductive traits, and immune responses