Effect of Probiotic, Thyme, Garlic and Caraway Herbal Extracts on the Quality and Quantity of Eggs, Blood Parameters, Intestinal Bacterial Population and Histomorphology in Laying Hens

In the current Iranian poultry industry, antibiotics are the most frequently used additive in feeds to increase the productivity. Regarding the negative effects on human health due to consuming chicken whose feeds contain antibiotics, finding an appropriate alternative is of a great importance. This study aims to find an appropriate and harmless feed additive to increase the quality and quantity of poultry eggs. Total of 60 laying hens which had been in production for 85 weeks were allocated in a completely randomized design considering five treatments with four replicates and three birds in each. Group one received a layer basal diet with no supplementation which served as control. The second, third and fourth groups received basal diet with 1 mL of herbal extracts (garlic, thyme and caraway) / L drinking water, respectively. The fifth group fed the basal diet plus 1 g of probiotic / kg diet. The number and weight of produced eggs were measured in a daily manner, feed consumption in weekly manner and the egg quality, yolk cholesterol, intestinal bacterial population and effect of treatments on the morphology of the small intestine were measured at the end of experiment after 8 weeks. All treatments showed no overall effect on quality and quantity of produced eggs in comparison with controls; however, the thyme and garlic extracts reduced the cholesterol of serum and yolk relative to the control. The herbal extracts caused a significant decrease in the intestinal bacterial population and probiotic increased villus height in ileum (

To Reduce the Effects of Experimental Aflatoxicosis in Broiler Chicks Using Specific Egg Yolk Immunoglobulin (IgY)

Background: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the specific egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) on reducing the defects of experimental aflatoxicosis in broilers.Materials and Methods: In a completely randomized design, a total of 128 Ross 308 broiler chicks were used in 4 treatments, 4 replicates and 8 observations (chicks) for 42 days.  Treatments were: 1) control; 2) diet containing 1 ppm aflatoxin B1; 3) diet contaminated with 1 ppm aflatoxin B1 + 0.75 % of egg yolk containing IgY; 4) diet contaminated with 1 ppm aflatoxin B1 + 1.5 % of egg yolk containing IgY.Results: The results showed that the use of aflatoxin containing diet significantly increased the feed conversion ratio, serum cholesterol concentration, serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Also, experimental aflatoxicosis resulted in reduced feed intake, weight gain, serum total protein and albumin concentrations (p<0.05); as well as the liver histopathologic lesions. IgY containing egg yolk (0.75% and 1.5%) added to the contaminated ration improved feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio compared to treatment 2 (p<0.05). Compared to treatment 2, serum cholesterol concentration decreased while total protein concentration increased in treatments 3 and 4 (p<0.05). Liver tissue was approximately normal with mild effects on hepatocytes and mild cytoplasmic changes in chicks receiving treatments 3 and 4. Conclusion: It can be concluded that specific IgY is effective in reducing the defects of experimental aflatoxicosis as well as improving performance in broilers.

Effect of Chamomile, Wild Mint and Oregano Herbal Extracts on Quality and Quantity of Eggs, Hatchability, and Some Other Parameters in Laying Japanese Quails

According to various reports of beneficial effects of medicinal plants on the performance of broiler chickens and less extensively studies in laying poultries, this study was conducted to find an appropriate and harmless feed additive to enhance the quality and quantity of poultry eggs. The effect of three herbal extracts on quantity and quality of eggs, blood parameters, hatchability, intestinal bacterial population, and intestinal morphology in laying Japanese quail were investigated. The study was applied with 64, ten-week old laying Japanese quails for 8 weeks. The experiment was a completely randomized design with 4 treatments, 4 replications and 4 birds per replicate (the ratio of male to female 1:3). Experimental treatments involved: Control, with no additive in drinking water; chamomile extract; wild mint extract; and oregano extract. Herbal extracts were added 1 mL/L drinking water. The three treatments showed no significant effect on productivity, egg mass, FCR, egg weight, feed intake and qualitative indices of eggs; however, the herbal extracts specially the chamomile extract reduced the cholesterol of eggs (

Effect of supplementation of oil palm (Eleis guineensis) frond asa substitute for concentrate feed on rumen fermentation, carcass characteristics and microbial populations in sheep

Thirty growing cross-bred sheep (20.4 ± 1.9 kg body weight (BW)) were used to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of oil palm (Eleis guineensis) frond (OPF) pellets on growth performance, microbial population and carcass characteristics of sheep. Experimental animals were allotted into three treatment groups fed varying levels of OPF pellets and commercial sheep pellets. Treatment diets were control diet (CON group, n=10), 25% OPF pellet in diet (% w/w) (HAF group, n=10) and 50% OPF pellet in diet (OPF group, n=10). After 100 days of feeding, all animals from each group were slaughtered, and carcass and rumen fluid were sampled. Both the HAF and CON groups had much more propionic acid and less acetic acid (P<0.05) compared to the OPF group at 8 h of sampling. Both HAF and CON had more marbling compared to OPF (P˂0.05). The HAF and CON groups had also more bacteria per milliliter (mL) of rumen fluid compared with the OPF group at 0 and 2 h of sampling. Therefore, the supplementation of OPF, which is an easily available oil palm by-product, could be used as a feed ingredient at 25% inclusion level to support sheep farming in tropical countries that lack grazing pasture

Development and evaluation of semi-purified diets for fiber related studies in Japanese quails

An experiment was carried out to develop and evaluate a semi-purified diet suitable for fiber related studies without negative impacts on performance, serum biochemistry and intestinal morphology of growing Japanese quails. Total of 144 Japanese quail chicks were used in a factorial arrangement using completely randomized design with 6 treatments, 4 replicates of 6 quails in each replicate. The levels of dietary crude fiber (3.37%, 1.18% and 0.08%, respectively) viz. high, medium and low crude fiber diets. The dietary supplementation levels of a commercial feed additive concentrate fiber-Arbocel were considered 0 and 3 %. The medium crude fiber semi-purified diet produced acceptable growth performances comparable to conventional high crude fiber diet. Serum triglyceride concentration was influenced by the levels of dietary crude fiber and the highest level was related to low crude fiber diet which was significantly different from high crude fiber diet (

Isolation of Lytic Bacteriophage from Poultry’s Feces and Evaluation of It’s Efficiency to Reduce Salmonella enteritidis In Vitro and In Vivo

Background and Aim: The role of poultry in production of protein for growing population is undeniable. In other hand, these products are known as a resource of zoonotic pathogens specially Salmonella enteritidis. In past, antibiotics were used as a controlling agent for these pathogens, nowadays according to the banning of antibiotic growth promoters application and spread of resistant pathogens, administration of antibiotic alternatives is necessary. This study was conducted to isolate the bacteriophage and evaluation of it’s safety and efficiency on S. enteritidis in in vitro and in vivo conditions. Materials and Methods: Bacteriophage was isolated in Poultry Microbiology Research Center of Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University of Tehran and it’s efficiency on S. enteritidis was evaluated by measuring optical density (OD) of nutrient broth containing S. enteritidis in presence of phage and lack of it, also experiment on animals was conducted. In order to evaluate phage safety, the effect of it on immune organ weights and humoral immune response of Japanese quail was determined. Results: Isolated bacteriophage showed a potential ability in reducing S. enteritidis. Antibody titer against sheep erythrocytes and immune organ weights were not affected by treatments, while, the count of ileal lactic acid bacteria and antibody titer against influenza killed vaccine virus (H9N2) in groups that received bacteriophage had a significant difference in comparison to positive control (P<0.05). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that administration of this phage via oral gavage and cloacal drinking route can eliminate and decrease S. enteritidis colonization respectively, moreover it can improve immune response of challenged animals

Uso de farinha de minhoca com vermi‑húmus em dieta para codornas de postura

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of dietary earthworm (Eisenia fetida) meal (EW), associated with vermi-humus (VH), on the performance, egg characteristics, immunity, and blood constituents of laying quails. A total of 336 female quails (163.94±1.5 g), with 30 days of age, was distributed in 7 treatments and 4 replicates of 12 birds during 42 days. The following treatments were evaluated: control diet without the inclusion of VH and EW; diet with the inclusion of only 0.8% VH; and diets with 0.8% VH supplemented with different EW levels (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5%). A greater body weight, weight gain, and feed intake were obtained with 1.5% EW; a higher egg productivity, with 0.5–1.0% EW; and a higher egg mass, with 0.5% EW. The inclusion of 2.5% EW reduced eggshell weight and thickness. Levels of 1.0–2.0% EW decreased malondialdehyde in the eggs, whereas 2.0% EW reduced cholesterol content. Higher blood cell volume and antibody titer were obtained with 1.0% EW, whereas higher total protein, globulin, and calcium were obtained with 0.5% EW. Levels of 1.0–1.5% EW + 0.8% VH improve egg production and characteristics, as well as the humoral response of quails, whose performance is not affected.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de farinha de minhoca (EW) (Eisenia fetida) dietética, associada ao vermi-húmus (VH), sobre o desempenho, as características dos ovos, a imunidade e os constituintes do sangue de codornas poedeiras. Um total de 336 codornas fêmeas (163,94±1,5 g), com 30 dias de idade, foi distribuído em 7 tratamentos e 4 repetições de 12 aves, por 42 dias. Foram avaliados os seguintes tratamentos: dieta controle sem a inclusão de VH e EW; dieta com inclusão somente de 0,8% VH; e dieta com 0,8% VH suplementada com diferentes níveis de EW (0,5, 1,0, 1,5, 2,0 e 2,5%). Foram obtidos maiores peso vivo, ganho de peso e consumo de ração com 1,5% de EW; maior produção de ovos com 0,5–1,0% de EW; e maior massa de ovos com 0,5% de EW. A inclusão de 2,5% EW reduziu o peso e a espessura da casca do ovo. Níveis de 1,0–2,0% de EW diminuíram o malonaldeído nos ovos, enquanto o de 2,0% de EW reduziu o conteúdo de colesterol. Foram obtidos maiores volume de células sanguíneas e título de anticorpos com 1,0% de EW, enquanto maiores proteína total, globulina e cálcio foram obtidos com 0,5% de EW. Níveis de 1,0–1,5% + 0,8% de VH melhoram a produção e as características dos ovos, bem como a resposta humoral das codornas, cujo desempenho não é afetado

SPME/GC-MS characterization of volatile compounds of Iranian traditional dried Kashk

The volatile aromatic components in cow’s or sheep’s milk Kashk samples collected from 11 regions of Iran were extracted by solid-phase micro-extraction and analyzed by GC/MS. Alkenes, aldehydes, free fatty acids, esters, terpenes, alcohols, sulfur compounds, and ketones were the most frequently used compounds in samples. Same volatile compounds were identified in sheep’s and cows’ milk Kashk, whereas the numbers of compounds were different. The results from principle component analysis (PCA), performed to distinguish flavor from different regions, showed that Kashk samples are divided into three groups, in which flavor of some regions in two groups is affected by ingredients

Protective Effect of Egg Yolk Immunoglobulin (IgY) Against Aflatoxin on Blood Parameters, Ileum Morphometry and Hepatocytes’ Histopathology of Broiler Chickens Fed Aflatoxin B1

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of specific egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) against aflatoxin on reducing the defects of aflatoxin by adding to the drinking water of 192 day Ross 308 broiler chickens from 1 to 42 days old. Materials and Methods: The experiment was based on a completely randomized design with 6 treatments, 4 replications, and 8 observations (chicks). First egg yolks were immunized against aflatoxin by injecting aflatoxin-BSA conjugate to laying hens. Also extracted immunoglobulin with 1 and 0.5 percent /volume concentration was added to broilers' drinking water. The experimental treatments were: 1) control (without any additives); 2) ration contaminated with 1 mg kg-1 aflatoxin B1 (negative control treatment); 3) negative control + 0.5% (V/V) immunized yolk against AFB1, 4) negative control + 0.5% (V/V) unimmunized yolk against AFB1; 5) negative control + 1% (V/V) immunized yolk against AFB1 and 6) negative control + 1% (V/V) unimmunized yolk against AFB1. Results: Using aflatoxin contaminated diet significantly increased serum cholesterol, and decreased serum total protein and albumin concentration (P<0.05). Also, histopathologic lesions observed in the liver. Adding 1 % (V/V) of immunized egg yolk to the drinking water (treatment 5) reduced serum cholesterol and increased total protein concentration compared to treatment 2 (P<0.05). The length and width of the villi and the villi surface area of chicks receiving treatment 5 were higher than treatment 2 (P<0.05). Liver tissue in chicken receiving treatment 3 and 5, was almost normal and few changes were observed in hepatocytes. Conclusions: The results indicate that specific IgY against AFB1 can be effective in reducing the defects of experimental aflatoxicosis as a detoxification agent