Zinc and Copper with New Triazine Hydrazone Ligand: Two Novel Organic Complexes Enhanced Expression of Peptide Growth Factors and Cytokine Genes in Weaned V-Line Rabbit

Two novel transitional organic Zn/Cu complexes based on a new biocompatible bidentate triazine–hydrazone ligand (Thz) was designed, synthesized, and evaluated in this study. This study evaluated the effects of injecting 60 mg of Zn and 40 mg of Cu in three different forms, twice per week, for eight weeks on growth performance, expression of growth factors and cytokine genes, carcass yield, blood biochemicals, and intestinal morphology in weaned rabbits. The tested complexes were sulfate (Cu/ZnSO4), montmorillonite (Cu/Zn-Mnt), and triazine hydrazone (Cu/Zn-Thz). A total of 60 V-line weaned rabbits at four weeks of age were assigned to four treatments (n = 15), which were intramuscularly injected with 0.5 mL of either (1) saline (control) or saline containing (2) Cu/ZnSO4, (3) Cu/Zn-Mnt, or (4) Cu/Zn-Thz. Compared to the controls, the rabbits injected with Cu/Zn-Thz showed a higher (p < 0.01) growth rate, carcass yield (p < 0.05), and liver expression of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), growth hormone receptor (GHR), fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF1), and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFB1) (p < 0.05), as well as better jejunum morphometric variables (p < 0.05). On the other hand, mRNA of FGF1, TGF1, TCIRG1, and adenosine deaminase (ADA) were higher expressed (p < 0.05) in the spleen tissues of Cu/Zn-Mnt group. Collectively, the results indicated that our novel synthesized organic complexes of Zn/Cu-Thz proved to be a suitable feed supplement, as it increased rabbit productive performance through enhancing expression of peptide growth factors and cytokine genes

IMPACTS OF PROBIOTICS WITH OR WITHOUT ORGANIC ACIDS AS DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS QUALITY, DIGESTIBILITY, INTESTINAL DEVELOPMENT, AND GUT MICROBIOTA OF BROILER CHICKS

Background. Due to the harmful effects resulting from the addition of antibiotics to treat diseases affecting poultry and their use as growth promoter, it was necessary to have safe alternatives such as organic acids and probiotics, which work to provide an appropriate pH for activity of beneficial bacteria and reducing the numbers of harmful pathogenic bacteria. Objective. To assess the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotics, with or without organic acids (acetic, propionic, and benzoic) on growth performance, carcass quality, digestibility, intestinal development, gut microbiota, and serum parameters of broiler chicks. Methodology. A total number of 250 one-day old, unsexed Ross (308) broiler chicks, were equally assigned to five feeding treatments (50 birds/treatment, five replicates of ten birds/treatment) as follows: T1 (control); fed a basal diet (BD), T2; fed BD + 2g commercial probiotics (PRO)/kg diet, T3: fed BD + 2g PRO/ kg diet + 10 ml acetic acid/kg diet, T4: fed BD + 2g PRO/kg diet + 10 ml propionic acid/ kg diet, and T5: fed BD + 2g PRO/ kg diet + 10 ml benzoic acid / kg diet. The trial prolonged from day 1 to day 42 of age. Results. Compared to the control, the results revealed that body weight and body weight gain were significantly improved at 3 and 6 wks of age as a result of supplementing the diets with probiotics and organic acids (especially benzoic acid). The positive impacts of the supplements on FCR were more pronounced from 4-6 weeks and for the overall period (0-6 wks). No mortalities occurred when organic acids were supplemented. The tested supplements also decreased bacterial counts of ileal E. coli. Moreover, probiotics plus benzoic acid treatment (T5) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the ileal lactobacilli count. Carcass traits, internal organs and GIT histological parameters were positively affected by different treatments, especially probiotics plus benzoic acid treatment. The supplements improved ALT, AST and ALP activity and decreased cholesterol and triglycerides content in blood serum (P <0.05). Implications. The study showed that the addition of organic acids to probiotics led to an increase in the lactobacilli count. Conclusions. The tested feed supplements displayed beneficial impacts and positive role on broilers productive performance and improved their gut health and function through enhancement of the intestinal microbiota

Effects of storage period on nutritive value of broilers feeds and their remedy through some dietary treatments

There is scarce information on the effects of feed storage period on poultry performance, which has not been investigated thus far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding broilers on feeds stored for different periods, with or without supplemental amino acids and vitamins. This study followed a factorial design (3 x 3), i.e. three dietary treatments and three feed storage periods. The three dietary treatments consisted of 1) a basal diet, 2) a basal diet including additional 5g methionine and 13 g lysine/kg, and 3) a basal diet including 3 g vitamin premix/kg. The 3 dietary treatments were tested with feeds stored for three different periods (Fresh, 4-months, and 6-months). A total of 450 one-day old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to the 9 treatments, each treatment contained 5 replicates of 10 chicks each (n = 50/group). The experiment lasted for 42 days. The results indicated that the final BWs of the birds received 4- or 6-months stored feed were greater than that of those fed fresh diets. The best total BWG was seen in the 4-month-stored feed group. There was no significant effect of storage period on total FC and FCR during period from 0 to 6 weeks of age, but the FCR tended to be better with the feed stored for 4 months. Haemoglobin was significantly higher in the birds fed fresh or 4-month stored feed. The percent of liver and spleen of the birds received 6-month-stored feed were the highest (P ˂ 0.01). Plasma content of albumin was higher in the birds received 4-or 6-month stored feed than the fresh diet. The use of additional amino acids increased the final BW and total BWG than those of the control and vitamin-supplemented treatments. The main effect of dietary treatments on percentages of immune organ weight was insignificant. The control (basal diet) recorded higher lymphocytes percentage, while T2 (BD + double level of amino acids) recorded higher eosinophil, heterophil and H/L ratio, whereas T3 (BD + double level of vitamins) recorded higher levels of haemoglobin, eosinophil, and monocytes. The main effect of dietary treatments on blood plasma proteins was insignificant. The tested treatments did not show a significant effect on broilers mortality. The detected values of AF1, AF2, AG1, and AG2 were very low in all 9 diets. In conclusion, enrichment of broiler feeds with higher levels of lysine and methionine (double level of NRC, 1994) together with antioxidants supplement could prolong their shelf-life to 6 months without any deleterious impact on productive performance of broiler chickens