In vitro assessment of adsorbents aiming to prevent deoxynivalenol and zearalenone mycotoxicoses

The high prevalence of the Fusarium mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) in animal feeds in mild climatic zones of Europe and North America results in considerable economic losses, as these toxins affect health and productivity particularly of pigs from all age groups. The use of mycotoxin adsorbents as feed additives is one of the most prominent approaches to reduce the risk for mycotoxicoses in farm animals, and to minimise carry-over of mycotoxins from contaminated feeds into foods of animal origin. Successful aflatoxin adsorption by means of different substances (phyllosilicate minerals, zeolites, activated charcoal, synthetic resins or yeast cell-wall-derived products) has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. However, attempts to adsorb DON and ZON have been less encouraging. Here we describe the adsorption capacity of a variety of potential binders, including compounds that have not been evaluated before, such as humic acids. All compounds were tested at realistic inclusion levels for their capacity to bind ZON and DON, using an in vitro method that resembles the different pH conditions in the gastro-intestinal tract of pigs. Mycotoxin adsorption was assessed by chemical methods and distinct bioassays, using specific markers of toxicity as endpoints of toxicity in cytological assays. Whereas none of the tested substances was able to bind DON in an appreciable percentage, some of the selected smectite clays, humic substances and yeast-wall derived products efficiently adsorbed ZON (>70%). Binding efficiency was indirectly confirmed by the reduction of toxicity in the in vitro bioassays. In conclusion, the presented test protocol allows the rapid screening of potential mycotoxin binders. Like other in vitro assays, the presented protocol combining chemical and biological assays cannot completely simulate the conditions of the gastro-intestinal tract, and hence in vivo experiments remain mandatory to assess the efficacy of mycotoxin binders under practical conditions

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Not AvailableObjective An experiment was conducted to study the effect of graded concentration of digestible lysine (dLys) on performance of layers fed diets containing sub-optimal level of protein. Methods Five diets were formulated to contain graded concentrations of dLys (0.700, 0.665, 0.630, 0.593 and 0.563%), but similar levels of crude protein (15% CP), energy (10.25 MJ ME/kg) and other nutrients. A total of 3520 hens (26 wk of age) with mean body weight of 1215+12.65g were randomly divided into 40 replicate groups of 88 birds in each and housed in open sided colony cage house. Each diet was offered ad libitum to eight replicates from 27 to 74 wk of age. The performance was compiled at every 28 d and the data for each parameter were grouped into three phases, that is early laying phase (27 to 38wk), mid laying phase (39 to 58 wk) and late laying phase (59 to 74 wk of age) for statistical analysis. Results Egg production (EP), egg mass (EM) and feed efficiency (FE– feed required to produce an egg) were significantly improved by the dLys level during the early and mid laying phases but not during the late phase. Whereas, feed intake (FI) was significantly reduced by dLys concentration during mid and late laying phases but not during early laying phase. The egg weight (EW) was not affected by dLys concentration in any of the three phases. Conclusion Based on best fitted statistical models, dietary requirements of dLys worked out to be 0.685%, 0.640% and 0.586% during early phase, mid phase and late egg laying phase, respectively. The calculated requirement of dLys for the respective production phases are 727 mg/bird/d during the early and mid laying phases and 684 mg/bird/d during the late laying phase in diets containing 15% CP.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAn experiment was conducted to study the benefits of dietary supplementation of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal (MLM) and pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel meal (PPM) on the performance, carcass attributes, immune and antioxidant responses in commercial broiler chickens during 1–42 days of age. In total, 450 Cobb-400 broiler male chicks raised in wire-floor stainless-steel battery brooder pens in an open-side poultry house were divided into five experimental groups with 18 replicates of five chicks each and fed a standard control diet (CD) and the test diets supplemented with MLM (500 and 1000 mg/kg) or PPM (250 and 500 mg/kg), each at two different concentrations. Bodyweight gain, feed conversion efficiency and carcass attributes were not affected (P > 0.05). The cell-mediated immune response to phytohaemagglutinin phosphate was not influenced (P > 0.05), but the antibody titre against Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine was significantly (P 0.05), while lipid peroxidation (LP) reduced significantly (P 0.05). The degree of LP in the 500 mg/kg PPM group was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that in groups fed the CD. It is concluded that supplementation of MLM (500 and 1000 mg/kg) or PPM (250 and 500 mg/kg) in diets improved humoral immune response (against ND vaccine) at 42 days of age and reduced LP in liver in commercial broilers, without showing any negative effects on performance and carcass attributes. Supplementation of PPM (250 and 500 mg/kg) significantly improved the activity of GSHPx in the liver of broiler chickensNICR

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Not AvailableWith increasing menace of antimicrobial resistance, demand for organically grown chicken is increasing and the concept of gut health is attracting huge interest among all stakeholders of chicken production system. Chicken gut microbiome plays a key role in the maintenance of gut health and productivity of host through competitive exclusion of pathogens, contribution to the development and function of host immune system and gut epithelial barrier, besides contributions to host nutrition. Recently research focus has shifted towards defining gut microbial community composition in relation to performance variables in different breeds or lines of chicken using high throughput sequencing technologies and towards development of feed additives to support development and maintenance of healthy gut. Host, diet and environment play key role in succession of gut microbial community of chicken, although some evidence suggest that some form of microbial inheritance occurs naturally from dam through the pores of the eggshell and that early interventions can influence intestinal colonization of birds with a healthy microbiota. This review compiles information about the connection of gut microbiome with gut health and performance of chicken and advances in technologies related to dietary interventions to modulate gut health in chicken favorably.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableGut microbiota plays an important role in the health and performance of the host. Characterizations of gut microbiota, core microbiomes, and microbial networks in different chicken breeds are expected to provide clues for pathogen exclusion, improving performance or feed efficiency. Here, we characterized the gut microbiota of “finishing” chickens (at the end of production life) of indigenous Indian Nicobari, Ghagus, and Aseel breeds, originating from the Nicobari island, coastal India, and the Indian mainland, respectively, as well as a global commercial broiler line, VenCobb 400, using 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. We found that diversity, as well as richness of microbiota, was higher in indigenous breeds than in the broiler line. Beta diversity analysis indicated the highest overlap between Ghagus and Nicobari breeds and a very low overlap between the broiler line and all indigenous breeds. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) revealed 82 breed- or line-specific phylotype operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level biomarkers. We confirm the presence of breed specific and across-breed core microbiomes. Additionally, we show the existence of breed specific complex microbial networks in all groups. This study provides the first (and comprehensive) insight into the gut microbiota of three indigenous breeds and one commercial broiler line of chickens reared without antimicrobials, and underscores the need to study microbial diversity in other indigenous breeds.Not Availabl

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Not Available1. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementing higher concentrations (100% vs. 110%) of critical amino acids (CAA) on performance (body weight gain – BWG, feed efficiency – FE), slaughter variables and nitrogen retention in broiler chicken (1–6 weeks of age) fed graded levels of toasted guar meal (TGM) as a protein source in diets. 2. The TGM was included at five graded concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg) in iso-caloric and iso-protein diets with either the recommended concentration (100%) of CAA (lysine, total sulphur amino acids, threonine, tryptophan and valine) or at 10% higher (110%) concentration. A metabolism trial of 3-day duration was conducted during 6th week of age to study nitrogen retention. 3. The TGM levels and CAA concentration at 21 or 42 d of age did not influence BWG, FI and FE. BWG was not affected with inclusion of TGM up to 100 g/kg in starter and overall production (1–42 d of age) phases. The FE improved with TGM supplementation during starter phase, while at the end of experiment (42 d), FE was depressed by inclusion of TGM in dose dependant manner. All performance variables improved with increase in concentration of CAA from 100% to 110%. 4. Breast meat weight improved and abdominal fat weight reduced with higher levels of CAA in diet. Retention of nitrogen reduced with increase in level of TGM in broiler diet. Increasing concentrations of CAA in diet improved nitrogen retention. 5. It was concluded that TGM could be incorporated up to 100 g/kg with 100% CAA and up to 150 g/kg with 110% CAA without affecting performance. Increasing CAA concentration (110%) in diets significantly improved BWG and FE (21 and 42 d), breast meat weight and nitrogen retention in broiler chicken.Contract Researc