Effects of Hogweed (Heracleum persicum) Powder, Flavophospholipol, and Probiotics as Feed Supplements on the Performance, Carcass and Blood Characteristics, Intestinal Microflora, and Immune Response in Broilers

The effect of different levels of hogweed powder (HP; Heracleum persicum), flavophospholipol (antibiotic), and probiotics in diet on the performance, carcass quality, blood biochemical parameters, immunity, and intestinal flora of broiler chickens was investigated. In total, 270-day-old male broilers were randomly assigned to six treatment groups as follows: control basal-diet and diet supplemented with flavophospholipol, probiotics, or 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75% HP. Birds in each group were divided into three subgroups with 15 chicks each. Results indicated that the treatment groups did not vary with respect to feed intake (FI), whereas those supplemented with the antibiotic or 0.5% HP showed significantly higher body weight gain (BWG) and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR). Carcass characteristics did not vary among treatments, with the exception of abdominal fat percentage, which was the lowest in broilers fed 0.5% and 0.75% HP. Supplementation of 0.5% and 0.75% HP decreased plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Furthermore, dietary HP significantly reduced serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels compared to that in the other groups. Antibody titers against Newcastle disease vaccine were not markedly affected by the treatments, whereas titers against avian influenza vaccine were significantly higher in probiotic- and 0.75% HP-supplemented groups. Antibody production against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and IgM and IgG levels were not significantly different among groups. The ileum Lactobacillus counts in broilers fed 0.5% or 0.75% HP were significantly higher than those in the other treatment groups, whereas Escherichia coli counts in all treatments were significantly lower than that in the control. Therefore, our observations indicated that HP positively affected the gut microbiota and enhanced feed digestion. In conclusion, supplementation of 0.50–0.75% HP in broiler diet during the entire rearing period improved BWG and decreased abdominal fat deposition

Effect of dietary dried orange (Citrus sinensis) peel powder and exogenous multi-enzymes on growth and carcass traits and ileal microflora of broiler chickens

The effects of dietary inclusion of dried orange peel powder (OPP) and supplementation of a commercial multi-enzymes (Natuzyme P50®) on the growth and carcass traits, gastrointestinal tract size and ileal microflora of meat-type broiler chickens were evaluated. Broiler chicks were assigned to treatments according to a completely randomized design by adding different levels of dried OPP (0, 1 and 4 g/kg, respectively) and multi-enzymes (0, 350 and 700 ppm, respectively) and their combination. On day 42, birds were slaughtered and samples collected. Growth traits varied marginally among dietary groups; however, multi-enzymes inclusion appeared to improve broilers weight gain without affecting feed efficiency. Dietary treatments did not affect the immunity-related organs weights. The multi-enzymes inclusion led a significant improvement of the gastrointestinal tract size as well as of gut microflora markers. In overall, our findings suggest that the inclusion of multi-enzymes in diet appeared to improve broilers performance; whereas supplementing dried orange peel powder has no effect

Effect of different levels of L-carnitine and lysine-methionine on broiler blood parameters

ABSTRACT Objetive. In the present study a completely randomized 3×3 factorial design was used to analyze the effects of different levels of L-Carnitine, lysine(Lys) and methionine (Met) on the blood concentrations of energy, protein and lipid metabolites of male broiler chickens. Materials and methods. A total of 270 newly hatched male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to 9 groups (ten broilers per replicate and three replicates per treatment). The control group was fed a basal diet, whereas the treatment groups were fed basal diets supplemented with L-Carnitine (0 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg) and lysine-methionine (0, 15 and 30%) for 42 days. On day 42, one bird was randomly chosen per replication, a blood sample was taken and the blood concentrations of glucose (GLU), uric acid (UAc), triglyceride (TG), VLDL, HDL, LDL, total protein (TP), albumin (Alb) and total cholesterol (TC) were analyzed. Results. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation had a significant effect (p<0.05) on uric acid (UAc), HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol (TC). The birds feed L-carnitine plus Lys and Met presented the highest plasmatic UAc level and the lowest plasmatic TC and LDL level. Moreover, L-carnitine significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) when compared with both the control group and the birds feed Lys and Met without L-carnitine. Conclusions. A diet with 150 mg/kg L-carnitine plus 15% Lys and Met seems to be enough to sustain low plasmatic TC, LDL and HDL concentrations on male broiler. RESUMEN Objetivo. Se realizó un estudio para determinar el efecto de la suplementación deL-carnitina, lisina (Lys) y metionina (Met) sobre los metabolitos sanguíneos de pollos de engorde. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaran 270 pollos de la línea Ross 308 de un día de edad y se dividieron en 9 tratamientos en un diseño al azar con arreglo factorial 3x3: tres niveles de L-carnitina (0 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg y 150 mg/kg) y tres de lisina-metionina (0, 15 y 30%) durante 42 días. Cada tratamiento constó de 3 repeticiones con 10 pollos por repetición. El día 42 de edad, se tomaron muestras de sangre de tres aves por tratamiento para cuantificar niveles séricos de glucosa (GLU), ácido úrico (UAc), triglicéridos (TG), VLDL, HDL, LDL, proteínas totales (PT), albúmina (Alb) y colesterol total (TC). Resultados. La suplementación de L-carnitina en la dieta tuvo un efecto significativo (p<0.05) en los niveles de ácido úrico en suero (UAC), HDL, LDL y colesterol total (CT). Las aves alimentadas con L-carnitina más Lys y Met mostraron niveles séricos más altos de UAc y menor TCy LDL. Por otra parte, la L-carnitina redujó significativamente el colesterol total (CT), cuando se comparó con el grupo control y con los pollos alimentados con Lys y Met, sin L-carnitina. Conclusiones. Una dieta con 150 mg/kg de L-carnitina y 15% Lys y Met parece ser suficiente para mantener bajas concentraciones plasmáticas de TC, LDL y HDL en pollos de engorde

Effect of different dietary levels of atorvastatin and L-carnitine on performance, carcass characteristics and plasma constitutes of broiler chickens

The effects of L-carnitine, atorvastatin and their combination on growth and lipid metabolism of broiler chickens is not yet known. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary L-carnitine and atorvastatin on the performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters in broilers. Different dietary levels of L-carnitine (0, 150 and 300 mg/kg, respectively) and atorvastatin (0, 1 and 2 g/kg, respectively) were added to the daily birdsâ\u80\u99 ration. Significant positive effects (Pï¼\u9c0.05) on broiler body weight for both L-carnitine and atorvastatin were reported, and this effect became clear starting from the 4th week of rearing period till the slaughter age. Dietary treatments had also significant (Pï¼\u9c0.05) positive effects on broilers empty carcass, breast and drumstick weights. Conversely, L-carnitine slightly increased abdominal fat, whereas supplementing atorvastatin slightly reduced it (Pï¼\u9c0.05). However, Combining the treatments, resulted in reduction of abdominal fat pad, showing also the best development of breast and drumstick muscles (Pï¼\u9c0.05). Moreover, the weight of gizzard, liver and heart were significantly higher in birds treated with the highest doses supplied (Pï¼\u9c0.05). Dietary treatments had also influence on blood biochemical parameters of broilers. In overall, our findings suggest that combining dietary L-carnitine and atorvastatin supported birds growth and muscles development reducing the body fat deposition. However, further studies are needed to deeply study the potential effect of statins on meat quality

Dietary green tea powder affects the immunologic parameters of broiler chicks

Green tea powder diet supplementation effect on some immunological parameters in broiler chickens has been evaluated. To assess both the effect and the beneficial dose, the diet of 271 day-old Ross 308 male broiler chickens has been supplemented with 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00% (w/w) green tea powder in addition to feed. The experiment lasted for 21 and 42 days, respectively, for each value of the green tea supplement and for separate groups of animals. Immune response against Newcastle disease, influenza viruses and sheep red blood cells, has been determined as well as lymphoid organ (bursa of Fabricius, thymus and spleen) weights. The sero-response to avian influenza ranged between 3.7 and 6.3 lg2 (33 days) and 3.9–3.8 lg2 (42 days) for all the animals treatment groups. The total sero-response to sheep red blood cells was moderate, in a range from 1.7 to 1.5 lgT after 21 and 42 days, respectively. The plots of the weight of immune organs did not show any relation between organ weight and immunoglobulin titre. While additional data would be needed to assess the optimum supplement feed dose, it can be concluded that green tea feed supplementation is not likely to be able to induce any negative effects on immunological parameters

Effects of dietary inclusion level of a mixture of probiotic cultures and enzymes on broiler chickens immunity response

The current study was conducted to analyse the effect of a mixture of probiotic cultures and enzymes (Probio Enzyme, XVET GmbH, Germany) on the immune response and weight of central lymphoid organs and liver in broilers. A total of 270 male chickens were randomly divided into nine groups, with three replicates of 10 birds each. Treatment groups were fed for either 22 or 42 days with different levels of Probio Enzyme 250, 500, 750 and 1000 g/ton, whereas the control group fed a basal diet without Probio Enzyme. To analyse the effects of dietary supplementation on broilers humoral immune response, the antibodies titres for avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and to the sheep red blood cells (SRBC) challenge were assayed in birds from each experimental unit, along with the assessment of the weight of the main lymphoid organs and liver. The addition of the Probio Enzyme mixture did not significantly affect the titres of the antibodies against AI and NDV at day 42, despite the wide individual variation observed specially on the antibody titres at day 33. Treatments affected the production of IgG after the second challenge with SRBC (P = 0.003), which was transposed to the correspondent total Ig titres (P = 0.044). Conversely, a lower birdsâ\u80\u99 body weight (BW) was found in the majority of treated groups compared to control (P = 0.031). The spleen was the only lymphoid organ showing differences in the absolute and relative weight (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively). No differences were found in thymus and Bursa of Fabricius weights. In conclusion, broilers treated with Probio Enzyme showed a satisfactory immune response compared with control, despite the wide variation found after the first vaccine challenge against AI. Moreover, the probiotic mixture dose and duration modulated differently the immune response and the spleen weight, unaffecting the central lymphoid organs weight