Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation on the quality and in vitro gas production of einkorn wheat straw

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation on the quality of einkorn wheat straw (EWS) and in vitro gas production (GP). It was found that AM inoculation of EW seed before sowing caused significant increases in crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) levels of straw, and a (P <0.05) decrease in crude ash (CA), metabolizable energy (ME), and organic matter digestibility (OMD) compared with the straw of non-inoculated EW. The observed difference in the average GP among the between EWS from plants grown from inoculated seed and those from the untreated control was significant at all times between the third and 96th hour. However, when the GP kinetics of the groups was examined after 96 hours’ incubation, only the difference in the gas amount of the easily soluble fractions of feeds was significant. The GP from the slowly fermented part, the GP rate constant and the potential GP of the straws were not affected by the AM inoculation (P >0.05). Thus, inoculation of einkorn wheat with AM altered the nutritional value of the straw produced creating a roughage with decreased value for feeding ruminant livestock. Keywords: artificial rumen, fermentation kinetics, nutrient digestibilit

Arbuscular mycorrhizae inoculation of einkorn wheat affects fatty acid, nutrient and mineral concentrations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) inoculation, which was administered to increase the quality of einkorn wheat in its fatty acid composition, quality and mineral concentration. Wheat grown from AM inoculated seed (AM+) had increased the dry matter (DM), iron (Fe), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), especially oleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid, and cis-5,-8,-11,-14, and cis-17 eicosapentaenoic acid from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (P <0.05), but decreased crude ash (CA), potassium (K), and total saturated fatty acids (UFA), especially myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and monounsaturated fatty acids, especially cis-palmitoleic acid, cis-10-heptadecenoic acid, cis-11 eicosenoic acid, erucic acid, and linoleic acid (P <0.05) compared with einkorn wheat grown from non-inoculated seed (AM-). Crude protein (CP) content ranged from 10.56% to 10.68%, and ether extract (EE) content varied between 2.03% and 2.41%, neither of which was significantly different between treatments. Significant increases were observed in UFA, and in the ratios of UFA to SFA and PUFA to SFA in AM+ compared with AM-. Keywords: mycorrhizal inoculation, nutrient composition, Triticum monococcu

Effects of Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Mannanoligosaccharide (Bio-Mos®) Supplements on Performance and Immune System in Broiler Chicks

Maintaining gut health is important for the production of high quality and profitable poultry. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of supplemental mannan oligosaccharide (Bio-MOS (R)), Vitamin E (VE) and C (VC) on the growth performance and immune response of broilers given a corn based diet over a 6 weeks experimental period. About 1 day old male broilers (n=300) were randomly distributed to 4 groups (75 birds in each group and 15 birds in each subgroup for repetation 5 times) and reared under similar conditions. Standard husbandry and good management practices were followed that met or exceeded industry guideline. At each feeding, the following treatments were administered: control (no Bio-MOS (R), VE and VC), 1.5 g kg(-1) Bio-MOS (R), 500 mu g kg(-1) VE and 500 mu g kg(-1) VC. Body Weights (BW), Feed Intake (FI) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were measured on day 1, 21 and 42. Blood samples were taken from vena ulnaris every 7 days and were analyzed on IgG concentration. The results showed that there was no significant difference in BW, FI and FCR among the treatment groups. During the 6 weeks of trial period considering plasma IgG levels significant differences were only found as following: compared to control group it was significantly lower in VE group at week 1 and 2, higher in VC and Bip-MOS (R) groups at week 2 and lower in Bio-MOS (R) group at week 6. Additionally, at 4 week lowest (0.90+/-0.06 mg, n=15) and at 5 week highest (2.85+/-0.18 mg, n=15) plasma IgG levels was found after applying the dietary treatment in Bio-Mos (R) group. Consequently, this data suggest that supplementation of Bio-MOS (R), VE or VC may not improve either broiler performance or immune response in healthy broilers

The effects of Broilact (R) on performance and feed digestibility of broilers

This experiment was conducted using male broiler chicks to determine the effects of competitive exclusion and/or Zn bacitracin on performance, intestinal pH, fecal dry matter and feed digestibility. Day-old chicks were divided into four treatments with 60 broilers in each group. The groups are control, Zn bacitracin, Broilact(R) and Broilact(R) with Zn bacitracin

Effects of Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Mannanoligosaccharide (Bio-Mos (R)) Supplements on Performance and Immune System in Broiler Chicks

Maintaining gut health is important for the production of high quality and profitable poultry. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of supplemental mannan oligosaccharide (Bio-MOS (R)), Vitamin E (VE) and C (VC) on the growth performance and immune response of broilers given a corn based diet over a 6 weeks experimental period. About 1 day old male broilers (n=300) were randomly distributed to 4 groups (75 birds in each group and 15 birds in each subgroup for repetation 5 times) and reared under similar conditions. Standard husbandry and good management practices were followed that met or exceeded industry guideline. At each feeding, the following treatments were administered: control (no Bio-MOS (R), VE and VC), 1.5 g kg(-1) Bio-MOS (R), 500 mu g kg(-1) VE and 500 mu g kg(-1) VC. Body Weights (BW), Feed Intake (FI) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were measured on day 1, 21 and 42. Blood samples were taken from vena ulnaris every 7 days and were analyzed on IgG concentration. The results showed that there was no significant difference in BW, FI and FCR among the treatment groups. During the 6 weeks of trial period considering plasma IgG levels significant differences were only found as following: compared to control group it was significantly lower in VE group at week 1 and 2, higher in VC and Bip-MOS (R) groups at week 2 and lower in Bio-MOS (R) group at week 6. Additionally, at 4 week lowest (0.90+/-0.06 mg, n=15) and at 5 week highest (2.85+/-0.18 mg, n=15) plasma IgG levels was found after applying the dietary treatment in Bio-Mos (R) group. Consequently, this data suggest that supplementation of Bio-MOS (R), VE or VC may not improve either broiler performance or immune response in healthy broilers

Effect of activated clinoptilolite in aflatoxin B1 contaminated laying hen diets on aflatoxin B1 residues and quality of eggs

This study was carried out to determine the effect of a high level of aflatoxin B1 in laying hen diets, supplemented with deactivated and activated clinoptilolite, on inner and outer quality and aflatoxin B1 residues in eggs. Two experimental groups were formed and fed high aflatoxin B1 diets (965 ppb) containing deactivated and activated (450 °C for 60 minutes) clinoptilolite (2% of diet) for 49 days. In the experiment, a total of 960 55-week-old Lohmann LSL (white) laying hens were used. Each group had 8 replicates and 480 hens. Egg weight, inner and outer egg quality parameters and egg aflatoxin B1 levels were determined in a total of 90 eggs collected on the 15th, 30th and 49th days of the experiment. Diets containing deactivated or activated clinoptilolite decreased aflatoxin B1 production in laying hen diets after incubation period of 15 days. Activation of clinoptilolite by heat treat­ment significantly reduced aflatoxin B1 level in eggs (p<0.05). In addition, the use of clinop­tilolite as an antifungal agent in the presence of high aflatoxin B1level in layer hen diets significantly increased the weight of eggs and significantly reduced the ratio of broken-cracked and dirty eggs (p<0.05). Chicken blood albumin, creatinine and calcium levels were higher in hens fed diet containing activated clinoptilolite (p<0.05). However, triglyceride and VLDL levels decreased significantly in the blood of these animals (p <0.05). In conclusion, the supplementation of hen diets containing high aflatoxin B1 with activated clinoptilolite improves production performance, egg quality and decreases aflatoxin B1 residue in the egg

Effect of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) powder dietary supplementation on performance, egg quality, yolk cholesterol, serum parameters and antioxidant status of laying hens in the post-peak period

The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Maca powder on the performance, egg quality, serum parameters, hormones and antioxidant enzyme levels of laying hens in their post-peak period. A total of 150 hens, 56 week of age, were separated into three treatment groups (50 hens per group). Over 16 weeks, diets were supplemented with Maca powder at concentrations of 0 (control), 5 and 10 g/kg respectively. Performance and egg quality were not significantly influenced by the supplementation of Maca powder. Cholesterol contents of the yolk were not influenced by the experimental diets. At the end of the study, no significant difference in the levels of serum glucose, total triglyceride and total cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus, progesterone and oestradiol was detected. However, serum magnesium levels decreased as the rate of Maca powder increased (P< 0.05). A significant increase in serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was measured in the hens fed with 10 g/kg Maca powder. In conclusion, Maca powder had neither positive nor adverse impacts on performance, egg quality, yolk cholesterol content, serum parameters (except magnesium) and hormones. Despite that serum magnesium levels were adversely affected, Maca powder may enhance the antioxidant status, specifically GPx, of laying hens in the post-peak period