Comparison of yolk fatty acid content, blood and egg cholesterol of hens fed diets containing palm olein oil and kilka fish oil

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of dietary palm olein oil (POO) and Kilka fish oil (KFO) on yolk fatty acid content, ratio of fatty acids (FAs), antibody titre, and blood and yolk cholesterol of laying hens. One hundred White Hy-Line 26-wk-old (W-36) hens were allotted to 6 dietary treatments containing 0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5% POO or 2 and 4% KFO. The FAs and cholesterol content of yolk were measured at the end of three consecutive days of each period. Results reveal that the oleic acid increased and palmitic acid decreased (P<0.05) when hens were fed diets containing POO. The KFO diets reduced the blood cholesterol, yolk linoleic acid and yolk ω-6 FA (P<0.05), whereas the blood cholesterol increased by the supplementation of POO to dietary treatments. The yolk long chain polyunsaturated ω-3 FAs [Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] increased as KFO was increased in diets (P<0.001). The diets supplementation of KFO and POO thus, showed a decrease and an increase in the ratio of ω-6/ ω-3 FAs (P<0.05), respectively. It is concluded that supplementation of KFO to the dietary treatment may improve deposition of ω-3 FAs; however, the POO supplementation may improve deposition of ω-9 FAs without alteration of yolk cholesterol.Key words: Palm olein oil (POO), Kilka fish oil (KFO), hens, egg omega-9 and omega-3 fatty acid

Antioxidant status, immune system, blood metabolites and carcass characteristic of broiler chickens fed turmeric rhizome powder under heat stress

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary turmeric rhizome powder (TP) on performance, blood metabolite, immune system, antioxidant status, and relative weight of organs in pre and post heat stressed broilers. Two hundred and sixty-four (264) day-old male Arian broiler chicks were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments containing 0, 0.4 or 0.8% turmeric powder. Each diet was fed to four replicates of 22 birds each. Heat stress was applied for 5 h (33°C) from 28 to 42 days. Two birds from each replicate were randomly selected and blood samples were taken to collect the serum, plasma and whole blood. These were slaughtered to determine the relative weight of organs pre (28 days PHS) and after heat stress (42 days AHS). TP did not affect feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), production index, and protein and energy efficiency ratio of broilers. Blood cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) decreased and blood high density lipoprotein (HDL) increased when fed TP in PHS and AHS birds. TP did not affect serum triglyceride, protein, antibody production against sheep red blood cell (SRBC), IgG, IgM and Newcastle vaccination (ND) in PHS and AHS. TP suppressed the enzyme activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of heat stressed birds. The enzyme activity of creatine kinase (CK) in AHS and superoxide dismutase (S OD) in PHS were not affected by TP diets. TP diets increased blood activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and SOD and decreased blood thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) index. The H:L ratio, relative weight of bursa of fabircus and abdominal fat decreased in birds fed TP diets. TP diets did not alter percentage of bone Ash, and P of heat stress broilers; however, it increased bone Ca of heat stressed broilers. It can be concluded that the supplementation of TP to diets, decreased the activity of dehydrogenase enzyme, stressor index, and improved the antioxidant status without affecting performance and the immune system of heat stressed broilers.Key words: Turmeric powder, immune and antioxidant system, blood metabolite, broiler

Evaluation of Dietary Hempseed and Hempseed Oil on Performance, Egg Quality and Some Blood Parameters in Laying Hens after Peak Period

The aim of this study was to recognize the effects of dietary hempseed (HS) and hempseed oil (HO) on performance, egg quality and blood parameters of laying hens. A total of 320 Hy-line 55-weeks laying hens were randomly allotted to eight dietary treatments with five replicates (8 birds each). The experimental treatments were offered as a completely randomized design as follow: control group (no addition), four levels of HS (5, 10, 15, 20%), and three levels of HO (2, 4, 6%) added to the basic diet. The trial was performed for 12 weeks (3 four-weeks periods) started at the age 55 wk. Eggs were daily collected and weighed. Results showed that the highest egg production, egg mass and the lowest feed intake and feed conversion ratio were observed in birds fed 6% HO in diet (P< 0.05). With increasing the levels of HO from 4 to 6%, the Haugh unit significantly increased at the third period (