Dietary Supplementation of Lactobacillus Sporogenes on Performance and Serum Biochemico - Lipid Profile of Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of probiotic Lactobacillus sporogenes (L. sporogenes) on performance and serum biochemico-lipid profile of broiler chickens. One hundred and twenty, day-old commercial broiler chicks were distributed equally into 3 groups of 40 chicks each, which was further replicated to 8 groups of 5 each. The chicks were placed on one of three dietary treatments : basal, basal with probiotic (6×108 spore of Lactobacillus sporogenes per g) at 100 or 200mg per kg feed. Body weight gain increased and feed conversion ratio improved significantly due to dietary supplementation of 100mg probiotic per kg diet. However, no further benefits on the above parameters could be observed by increasing the level of supplementation from 100 to 200mg per kg. Leg abnormality score is not influenced by probiotic supplementation in the diet. However, the bone breaking strength and bone ash content increased significantly by probiotic supplementation at 100mg per kg diet. The concentration of protein and calcium increased significantly due to dietary supplementation of L. sporogenes. Neither concentration of inorganic phosphorus nor activities of enzymes such as serum glutamate-oxaloacetate transminae (SGOT), serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum were influenced due to L. sporogenes supplementation. Serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglycerides were reduced significantly by dietary supplementation of L. sporogenes at 100mg per kg diet. However, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol of birds was not influenced by L. sporogenes supplementation. It is concluded that dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus sporogenes (6×108 spore per g) at 100mg per kg diet significantly enhanced body weight gain, improved feed conversion ratio, bone ash and bone breaking strength and lowered total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations in the serum of broiler chickens

Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Low Non Phytate Phosphorus Diets Supplemented with Microbial Phytase

An experiment was conducted with 270 broiler chicks to examine the effect of microbial phytase supplementation to low non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) diets on growth performance, bone mineralisation and nutrients retention during 1 to 21 days of age. Four isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated to contain 0.30, 0.35, 0.40 and 0.45% NPP with the two lowest NPP levels (0.30 and 0.35%) supplemented with microbial phytase (500FTU per kg diet). Each diet was offered ad libitum to 9 replicates of 5 chicks each throughout the experimental period. The performance in terms of body weight gain, feed intake and feed/gain was significantly depressed in chicks fed lowest level of NPP (0.30%). Supplementation of phytase to either 0.30 or 0.35% NPP diet significantly improved body weight gain and feed conversion, which was comparable with 0.40% NPP diet. The leg abnormality increased and, tibia ash and tibia breaking strength decreased significantly in diets containing 0.30 and 0.35% NPP. Increasing NPP level to 0.40% or supplementing 500FTU phytase/kg diet to 0.30 and 0.35% NPP diets alleviated leg abnormality and enhanced tibia breaking strength and ash content. Serum Ca concentration was not influenced, but serum concentration of P and protein increased significantly either by enhancing NPP content to 0.40% or supplementing microbial phytase to 0.30 and 0.35% NPP diet. The nitrogen retention was significantly higher in 0.40% NPP diet compared with lower levels (0.30 or 0.35% NPP). Supplementation of microbial phytase to low NPP diet (0.30 and 0.35%) significantly increased nitrogen retention. The excretion of nitrogen decreased significantly in phytase-supplemented group compared with that of either 0.40 or 0.45% NPP diet. It is concluded that microbial phytase supplementation (500FTU/kg diet) to low NPP (0.30%) maize-soybean meal based poultry diets enhanced performance, increased retention nutrients (N, Ca and P) and improved bone mineralisation

Energy Restriction in Broiler Breeders during Rearing and Laying Periods and its Influence on Body Weight Gain, Conversion Efficiency of Nutrients, Egg Production and Hatchability

The effect of feeding measured energy (ME) allowances during rearing and laying periods on body weight (BW) gain, production performance and hatchability were evaluated in a female broiler parent line. In grower period (5-20wk), ME required for maintenance, activity and growth was calculated targeting 100g increases in BW/week in control (C) group. In another group, ME was quantitatively reduced by 20% (R) over C. Both groups were offered measured quantity of grower diet to satisfy the scheduled energy inputs. At 21 weeks, C and R groups were individually sub-grouped into four each, to either restrict energy severely (S-20%), moderately (M-10%) or increase (E-10%) over control. Thus, 8 sub-groups were formed: CS, CM, CC, CE and RS, RM, RC, RR. The CC and RC sub-groups were offered calculated ME for 50g increase in BW/week and anticipated egg production. Measured amount of breeder diet was offered to each sub-group following energy schedule. At 20 weeks, significant increase in BW was observed in C-group with better conversion efficiency of feed, energy and protein compared to R-group. The R-group had lesser abdominal fat and liver weights, higher muscle protein and lower fat than C-group. Breeders in R-group matured late by 7.7 days, but produced significantly more eggs with better-feed efficiency up to 64 weeks than C-group. In laying phase, breeders maintained on 20 and 10% less energy (RM) during rearing and production periods, respectively matured late, but produced significantly more eggs with higher persistency than CC. At 68 weeks, maximum fertility and hatchability on total eggs set was recorded in RM sub-group. These results showed complimentary influence of grower and breeder energy restriction on egg and chick production and saved feed substantially in RM sub-group. It appeared that the energy requirement under energy restriction was lesser than that calculated

Effect of Supplemental Manganese on Mineral Uptake by Tissues and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens

Two feeding trials were simultaneously conducted using 240 and 120 broiler chicks (Hubbard) for evaluating the mineral retention by tissues and immune competence, respectively as influenced by manganese (Mn) levels in feed. Mn was added at 0, 100, 400, 800, 1600 or 3200ppm levels to a corn-soya basal diet, using sulphate salt. In both trials, chicks were uniformly distributed into 6 experimental groups and housed in stainless steel battery brooders. From 8-28 days of age, each experimental diet was fed ad libitum to one test group. Results indicated that Mn supplementation from 0-800ppm did not influence body weight gain or feed consumption, but a significant depression in both parameters was noticed at 1600 and 3200ppm levels. The feed conversion efficiency was however, not affected by dietary Mn levels. Excess (1600ppm and above) or non - supplementation of Mn increased leg abnormality scores. Mn levels above 400ppm significantly decreased Ca, P and Zn retention in tibia, which was related to higher leg scores. A linear increase of Mn content in bone, kidney, liver and pancreas was noticed with the increase of Mn in feed. The antibody titers against inoculation of sheep red blood cells or cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity to phytohaemagglutinin-P were not influenced by the dietary increases of Mn up to 800 or 1600ppm levels, respectively. Both responses were negatively affected by increased Mn levels in feed. Heterophil to lymphocyte ratios, the indicators of stress were not altered by Mn supplementation up to 800ppm, but higher levels produced wider ratios. In conclusion, supplementation of Mn at 100ppm level was essential for leg health, better retention of Ca, P and Zn in bone besides optimum immune response. Mn supplementation at 100ppm level was as efficient as higher levels (upto 800ppm). Higher levels of Mn (1600ppm and above) had negative effect on all parameters studied in broilers up to 28 days of age

Effect of Surfeit Concentrations of Vitamin D3 on Performance, Bone Mineralization and Mineral Retention in Commercial Broiler Chicks

An experiment was conducted to see the effect of higher concentrations of vitamin D3 in diets containing sub optimal levels of calcium (Ca) and non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) in broiler chickens. Maize-soybean meal based starter and finisher reference diets (RD) prepared to contain 1.0% and 0.9% Ca, 0.45 and 0.35% NPP, respectively. The RD contained 1200ICU D3/kg. Another basal diet (BD) was prepared to contain 0.4% Ca and 0.2% NPP. The BD was supplemented with D3 at 4 different concentrations such as 1200, 2400, 4800 and 9600ICU/kg. Each diet was fed to 11 replicates of 5 chicks each during experimental period of 0 to 6 weeks of age. The body weight gain decreased significantly with reduction in levels of Ca and NPP in diet compared to those fed RD. Supplementation of vitamin D3 to the low Ca and NPP diet, though improved the weight gain significantly but not at per with RD. The feed efficiency was not affected by concentrations of Ca, NPP and D3 in diet at 36d of age. The relative weight of tibia, tibia breaking strength and tibia ash content decreased significantly with reduction in Ca and NPP levels in diet. Supplemental D3 replenished the tibia ash content and enhanced tibia weight and strength. Supplemental D3 non-linearly increased the serum Ca, P, acid and alkaline phosphatase contents in serum. Concentrations of Ca, P, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu in excreta decrease non-linearly with increase vitamin D3 concentration in BD. It is concluded that higher levels of D3 supplementation to low Ca and NPP diet improved the performance partially but not at per with diet containing the recommended concentrations of Ca and NPP in broiler diet