The Effects of Savory (Satureja khuzistanica) Extract on Performance, Organ Weight, Blood Parameters and Immune Function in Heat Stressed Broilers

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of savory (Satureja khuzistanica) extract on the performance, organ weight, immune response and hepatic enzymes in broiler chickens. 320 day-old Ross chickens were assigned to four distinct treatments in a completely randomized design. Each treatment was administered to four replicates of twenty birds. The variables were heat stress (34 ± 2 ˚C for 8 hours) and savory extract (0.4 ml/L) in drinking water. Feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured in successive weeks of the trial. The relative weights of different organs (dressing, breast, thigh, liver, heart, spleen and bursa of Fabricius) determined at 42 days. The serum glucose and blood plasma content of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured by blood sampling at 42 days. Plasma IgG were quantified on days 21, 28, 35 and 42. The savory extract did not affect FCR, or the relative weights of different organs (P>0.05). BW and FI increased with savory oil inclusion (P<0.05). Further, the savory extract reduced plasma glucose, AST and ALT in heat stressed broilers significantly (P0.05). Blood IgG in heat stressed broilers, increased in every case of treatment with savory extract (P<0.05). In conclusion, in conditions of heat stress, 0.4 ml/L of savory extract improves economic proficiency in broiler flocks due to the accumulation of minute advantages in increased WG, FI, improved IG and reduced hepatic enzymes

Učinak različitih biljnih ekstrakata na aktivnost hidrolaze žučnih soli sojeva bakterije Lactobacillus izolirane iz probavnog sustava peradi

The bile salt hydrolysis (BSH) enzyme weakens fat metabolism through bile salt deconjugation and reduces poultry performance, in order to cope with the antibacterial properties of the bile. Therefore, reducing the activity of this enzyme through the use of feed additives is probably a promising alternative to antibiotics for improving poultry performance. Plant extracts have long been used as feed additives for promoting poultry growth. In the current experiment, five Lactobacillus strains including Lactobacillus animalis, Lactobacillus acidophillus, Lactobacillus gallinarum, Lactobacillus lactis, and Lactobacillus returi were obtained from the poultry hindgut and were used as the probiotic application. A plate test and two-step enzymatic reaction method were used for deconjugation activity determination of the Lactobacillus strains. Further, four plant extracts (i.e., the aerial parts of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Roselle calyx (Hibiscus sabdariffa), Berberis vulgaris root, and Green tea) were examined in terms of BSH enzyme inhibitors using the cell-free extracts as the potential antibiotic alternative. Furthermore, the gallbladders of the broilers were freshly collected from the poultry slaughterhouses, and their contents were extracted. The results showed that all Lactobacillus strains could hydrolyze the taurocholate acid (TCA) and chicken bile salt mixture (CBSM) to unconjugated bile acid. Moreover, ethanolic extracts of B. vulgaris root and Green tea relatively reduced the activity of the BSH enzyme that could potentially be investigated as an appropriate alternative in poultry feed in vivo. In conclusion, all five Lactobacillus strains were resistant to bile salts (i.e. TCA and CBSM) by BSH activity, and the addition of Green tea and B. vulgaris root extracts to the bacterial medium demonstrated inhibitory effects against the BSH enzyme.Enzimi hidrolaze žučnih soli (BSH) oslabljuju metabolizam masti dekonjugacijom žučnih soli što dovodi do smanjenja proizvodnosti u peradi. Smanjenje aktivnosti ovog enzima, upotrebom dodataka prehrani, mogla bi biti obećavajuća alternativa za primjenu određenih antibiotika u peradarstvu. Biljni ekstrakti dugo se upotrebljavaju kao dodaci prehrani za poticanje rasta. U ovom je istraživanju pet sojeva bakterije Lactobacillus, uključujući Lactobacillus animalis, Lactobacillus acidophillus, Lactobacillus gallinarum, Lactobacillus lactis i Lactobacillus returi, dobiveno iz stražnjeg dijela crijeva peradi te upotrijebljeno kao probiotik. Test na ploči i enzimska reakcija u dva koraka primijenjene su za utvrđivanje aktivnosti dekonjugacije u sojeva Lactobacillus. Nadalje, četiri biljna ekstrakta - nadzemni dijelovi ružmarina (Rosmarinus officinalis), hibiskusa (Hibiscus sabdariffa), korijen obične žutike (Berberis vulgaris) i zeleni čaj - istraživana su s obzirom na inhibitore enzima BSH upotrebom izvanstaničnih ekstrakata kao moguća zamjena antibiotiku. Osim toga, nakon usmrćivanja, prikupljeni su svježi žučni mjehuri brojlera te je izvađen njihov sadržaj. Rezultati su pokazali da svi sojevi bakterije Lactobacillus mogu hidrolizirali tauroholatnu kiselinu i žučne soli pilića (CBSM) u nekonjugiranu žučnu kiselinu. Štoviše, ekstrakti etanola korijena B. vulgaris i zelenog čaja relativno su smanjili aktivnost BSH enzima što bi se moglo istražiti u hranidbi peradi in vivo. Zaključno, svih pet sojeva bakterije Lactobacillus bilo je otporno na žučne soli npr. tauroholičnu kiselinu (TCA) i (CBSM) putem BSH aktivnosti, a dodatak zelenog čaja i ekstrakta korijena B. vulgaris mediju s bakterijama pokazali su inhibitorne učinke protiv BSH enzima

Effects of two plant extracts and native Lactobacillus culture on immune response, lymphoid organs and antioxidant properties of broiler chickens

Probiotics and phytogenics have been evaluated as potential alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in poultry feeds in terms of their ability to improve growth performance in commercial poultry production through improving growth performance, feed conversion ratio and immune response efficiency. This study investigated the benefits of Lactobacillus culture (LC), green tea extracts (GTE) and Berberis vulgaris extracts (BVRE) have been investigated on the immune response, lymphoid organs, and antioxidant properties of broiler chickens. A total of 320 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly allotted to 8 treatment groups, each including 4 replicates of 10 chicks. A 2×2×2 factorial arrangement of 8 dietary treatments was used to appraise the effects of the mixture of five LC (none vs. 1-5 × 108 cfu/g), GTE (none vs. 2500 ppm) and BVRE (none vs. 2500 ppm). The relative weight of lymphoid organs (spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius), antioxidant parameters of malondialdehyde (MDA) content and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and immune response indices (white blood cells, antibody response to sheep red blood cell, respiratory burst and splenocytes proliferation) were assessed. According to the results of the current experiment, the relative weights of the spleen and bursa were significantly higher than the control group in broilers fed the LC diet (P ˂ 0.01). The combination of LC and GTE significantly decreased MDA as compared to broilers fed the control diet (P ˂ 0.05). Moreover, the GTE diet markedly increased the T-AOC compared to the control (P ˂ 0.01). The LC and plant extract treatments significantly improved the humoral and cellular immune systems (P ˂ 0.01). Based on obtained results, plant extracts in combination with Lactobacillus strains can improve the immune responses of broiler chickens

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract consumption darkens liver, lowers blood cholesterol, proportional liver and abdominal fat weights in broiler chickens

A study with 160-day-old broiler chickens was conducted to investigate the effects of Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) extract in drinking water on plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-c), proportional abdominal fat, liver weights and liver color index. The chickens were divided into four groups and received 0 (ZT), 0.2 (LT), 0.4 (MT) or 0.6% (HT) thyme extract from day one to day 42 of age. All the birds receiving the Thyme extract had lower plasma total cholesterol, LDL-c concentrations and proportional liver weights compared with the control birds (P<0.05). Liver absolute weight of MT birds and proportional fat weight of HT birds were lower than those of ZT birds (P<0.05). Liver color index of HT and MT birds was higher than that of ZT birds. In orthogonal comparisons, thyme extract supplementation diminished (P<0.05) the plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-c and VLDL-c, decreased the proportional and absolute liver weight and proportional abdominal fat weight and increased the (P<0.05) liver colour index as compared to control. Significant negative correlation (P<0.01) was found between the thyme extract supplementation and plasma cholesterol, proportional abdominal fat weight and liver proportional weight, and a positive correlation (P<0.01) between the thyme extract supplementation and liver colour index. In conclusion, Thyme consumption in broiler chickens could improve the carcass quality to the consumers and net returns of the producers

Effects of dietary glutamine and arginine supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology and ascites mortality in broiler chickens reared under cold environment

Objective An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary glutamine (Gln) and arginine (Arg) supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology and ascites mortality in broilers. Methods A total of 675 day old chicks were randomly allocated to 9 experimental groups in a 3×3 factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design with 5 replicates of 15 chicks. Three levels of dietary Gln (0%, 0.5%, and 1%) and Arg (100%, 130%, and 160% of Ross recommendation) supplementation were used in ascites inducing condition (15°C ±1°C) from 7 to 42 days of age. Results Dietary supplementation of Gln increased body weight gain during grower, finisher and total periods (p<0.05) and increased feed intake during total period. Ascites mortality was decreased by Gln supplementation (p<0.05). Gln supplementation increased the villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) in duodenum and jejunum (p<0.05). Arg supplementation decreased CD in duodenum and jejunum, and increased ileum villus width (VW) and also VH/CD ratio in duodenum and jejunum (p<0.05). Both Gln and Arg increased the goblet cell number (GCN) in duodenum whereas Gln supplementation decreased GCN in jejunum and ileum (p<0.05). The Gln×Arg interaction were observed for right ventricle (RV)/total ventricular (TV) ratio, VH, VW, CD, VH/CD. Conclusion It was concluded that dietary 0.5% Gln alone or along with 130% Arg of Ross requirement, improve the intestinal morphology and performance and hence decrease the ascites mortality in broiler chickens with cold induced ascites

Evaluation of Different Levels of Canola Meal on Performance, Organ Weights, Hepatic Deiodinase Gene Expression and Thyroid Morphology in Broiler Chickens

This study was carried out to determine the effects of dietary inclusion level of canola meal (CM) on performance, organ weights and hepatic type I deiodinase gene expression in broilers. A completely randomized design with 4 levels of CM (0, 10, 20 and 30%) as a substitute for soybean meal (SBM) was utilized with 5 replicates of 9 birds each. The results showed that body weight gain (1 to 42 d) decreased linearly (P&lt;0.01) as the inclusion of CM increased. An increase in dietary level of CM also resulted in a linear (P&lt;0.05) increase in feed conversion ratio (1 to 42 d). Proportion of thyroids (P&lt;0.05) and liver (P&lt;0.01) increased linearly with increased levels of CM. A significant linear increase in right ventricular weight: total ventricular weight ratio (P&lt;0.01) and heart weight (P&lt;0.05) were observed by substituting CM for SBM. The concentration of plasma triiodothyronine and triiodothyronine: tetraiodothyronine ratio decreased linearly (P&lt;0.01) with increasing level of CM. Expression of hepatic type I deiodinase gene (D1) decreased linearly (P&lt;0.01) as inclusion level of CM in diets increased. Moreover, increasing linear (P&lt;0.01) and quadratic responses (P&lt;0.05) were observed in follicles number and epithelial thickness in broilers thyroids followed by increased levels of CM. In addition, increases in dietary CM inclusion led to a linear (P&lt;0.01) increase in thyroid follicles diameters. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that feeding increasing CM inclusions from 0 to 30% negatively affect growth performance of broiler chickens. From this study, it can also be concluded that substitution of CM for SBM adversely interferes with thyroid and liver functions and decrease D1 gene expression, likely because of higher dietary concentration of glucosinolates

Evaluation of Steviol Injection on Chicken Embryos: Effects on Post-hatch Development, Proportional Organ Weights, Plasma Thyroid Hormones and Metabolites

At day 7 of incubation, eggs were injected with high levels of steviol (1.5 and 3mg per egg). At hatch, no effect of steviol injection was observed on plasma thyroid hormone levels, hatchability, body weight and chick quality. Proportional liver weight of chicks receiving the highest steviol dose was significantly higher, while the proportional bursa weight of the steviol injected groups was significantly lower compared to that of the control. Moreover, plasma lactate dehydrogenase activity of chicks from the highest steviol injected group was significantly higher compared to control values. At 7 days of age, proportional liver weight of chicks of the 3mg steviol injected group was significantly lower compared to that of the control treatment. It is concluded that injection of a high dose of steviol has no effect on plasma thyroid hormones and has only slight and temporary metabolic effects on the chicken embryo. © 2010 Japan Poultry Science Association.status: publishe

Evaluation of dietary stevioside supplementation on anti-human serum albumin immunoglobulin G, Alpha-1-glycoprotein, body weight and thyroid hormones in broiler chickens

Sixty male broiler chickens fed a diet supplemented with 130 mg/kg stevioside (S group) or an unsupplemented diet (C group) from day 1 of age onwards. On day 21 of age, ten birds from either the S (SH) or C (CH) group were injected subcutaneously with 100 μg human serum albumin (HSA) and ten others from either S (SP) or C (CP) group injected with 100 μl phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in the same way. There were no significant effect of supplementation nor interaction with age on average body weights, T(3) and T(4) concentrations of non-injected chickens. After the primary immunization, α(1) -glycoprotein concentrations increased in all treatment groups except the CP group, and were significantly higher in the CH group in relation to the other groups. Fourteen and 18 days after the primary immunization, HSA injected chickens of both dietary treatments had significantly higher anti-HSA immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels than their PBS injected controls. No effect of stevioside supplementation was observed for IgG level. In conclusion, dietary stevioside inclusion can attenuate the pro-inflammatory response after stimulation of the innate immune response in broiler chickens.status: publishe

Evaluation of Steviol Injection on Chicken Embryos: Effects on Post-hatch Development, Proportional Organ Weights, Plasma Thyroid Hormones and Metabolites

At day 7 of incubation, eggs were injected with high levels of steviol (1.5 and 3mg per egg). At hatch, no effect of steviol injection was observed on plasma thyroid hormone levels, hatchability, body weight and chick quality. Proportional liver weight of chicks receiving the highest steviol dose was significantly higher, while the proportional bursa weight of the steviol injected groups was significantly lower compared to that of the control. Moreover, plasma lactate dehydrogenase activity of chicks from the highest steviol injected group was significantly higher compared to control values. At 7 days of age, proportional liver weight of chicks of the 3mg steviol injected group was significantly lower compared to that of the control treatment. It is concluded that injection of a high dose of steviol has no effect on plasma thyroid hormones and has only slight and temporary metabolic effects on the chicken embryo