Impact of a direct-fed microbial supplementation on intestinal permeability and immune response in broiler chickens during a coccidia challenge

Maintaining intestinal health supports optimal gut function and influences overall performance of broilers. Microlife® Prime (MLP) contains a unique combination of four strains of Bacillus spp. selected to support a healthy gut which may improve performance. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of MLP supplementation on intestinal health and immunity of broilers challenged with a mixed coccidia infection during peak [0 to 6-day post-infection (dpi)] and recovery phases (6 to 13 dpi). A total of 120 male, 4 days-old Ross 708, broiler chicks were allotted to 3 treatment groups (8 replicate cages; 5 birds/cage) in a randomized complete block design. Treatments included a non-challenge (NEG), a coccidia challenge (POS), and coccidia challenge fed MLP (5 × 105 CFU/g of diet). Diets were corn-soybean meal-based. At 11 days of age, all birds, except for NEG, were orally gavaged with 15 doses (3 × the recommended commercial dose). On 6, 9, and 13 dpi, birds were orally gavaged with fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate dextran (FITC-d). Plasma and mid-jejunum tissues were collected 2 h later. On 6 dpi, duodenal lesions from 2 birds/cage were scored and droppings were collected for oocyst enumeration. Body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated over the experimental period. Data were analyzed with GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. During the peak phase, POS birds had reduced BWG (23%) and FCR (15%) compared to NEG birds (P < 0.05), while birds fed MLP had similar BWG (209 and 208 g) and FCR (1.17 and 1.21) compared to NEG (P > 0.05). On 6 dpi, POS birds had higher lesion scores and oocyst shedding, 2 × increase in serum FITC-d, and higher jejunum IL-10, and IFN-γ mRNA compared to NEG (P < 0.05). Birds fed MLP had reduced plasma FITC-d compared to POS birds (P < 0.05) and similar IL-10 and IFN-γ mRNA. On 13 dpi, birds fed MLP had lower plasma FITC-d, jejunum IL-10 and IFN-γ mRNA compared to POS birds (P < 0.05), but similar IL-10 to NEG birds (P > 0.05). This study confirms MLP improves intestinal health and positively modulates mucosal immune response post-coccidia challenge

Effect of Coat Colour on Water Intake and Feed Utilization of Intensively Reared West African Dwarf Sheep in the Humid Tropics

The effect of coat colour on water intake and feed utilization of intensively reared West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep in the humid tropics was examined. 60 WAD sheep of different coat colours were used for the experiment which lasted for 6 months. Prominent coat colour types in the region are black, brown and badgerface.  Animals were grouped into sexes. Daily free water intake (DFWI), DFWI/metabolic weight, daily total water intake (DTWI), DTWI/metabolic weight, daily feed intake (DFI), DFI/metabolic weight, DFWI/DFI, daily weight gain (DWG) and feed efficiency (FE) were measured. Analysis of data revealed that coat colour and sex had significant (P<0.05) effect on parameters measured except DTWI and DTWI/metabolic weight. Brown sheep had the highest value for the parameters measured except DFWI/DFI and FE. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in DWG of black sheep (96.64±3.42 g) and brown sheep (95.24±2.77 g). Best feed efficiency (0.17±0.01) was observed in black sheep. Rams had the highest value for the parameters measured except DFWI/DFI and FE. Based on our results, we concluded that brown WAD sheep and rams consumed more feed and water, while black sheep consumed less feed and they are better feed utilizers. Keywords: Colour variant, feed intake, qualitative trait, sex, sheep, water consumptio

Health status and blood parameters of weaner rabbits fed diets containing varying dietary fibre and digestible energy levels

The maintenance of a good health status in rabbits is hinged upon appropriate balance between dietary fibre and energy level. A 70-day feeding trial was conducted to study the health status and blood parameters of weaner rabbits fed diets containing varying fibre and digestible energy (DE) using a total of ninety 4-weeks-old rabbits. There were 9 dietary treatments laid out in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of 3 levels of dietary fibre [low (249-258 g/kg NDF and 149-157 g/kg ADF), optimum (349-381 g/kg NDF and 188-193 g/kg ADF) and high (430-456 g/kg NDF and 249-253 g/kg)] and digestible energy levels [low (8-8.5 MJ/kg), optimum (10.5-11 MJ/kg) and high (12-12.30 MJ/kg)]. Each of the diet was fed to 10 rabbits individually caged in a completely randomized design. Polynomial contrasts were done for linear and quadratic effects. Results indicated that rabbits fed low fibre diets showed high incidence of transitory diarrhoea, total morbidity and symptoms of other sickness. Interaction effect (fibre × digestible energy) indicated that irrespective of the digestible energy level of the diet, mortality, tendency to go off feed and incidence of transitory diarrhoea increased as dietary fibre level increased. Rabbits fed low fibre diets had the least packed cell volume (36.00%) and highest serum uric acid concentration (51.22 mg/dl). Rabbits fed diet containing high fibre + optimum DE recorded the highest packed cell volume (44.00%) and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (29.00 IU/L). Highest haemoglobin (16.00 g/dl), total serum protein (66.00 g/L) and serum cholesterol concentration (165.00 mg/dl) were recorded with rabbits fed diet containing optimum fibre + optimum DE. It was concluded that feeding low fibre diets increased the susceptibility of rabbits to transitory diarrhoea, morbidity and tendency to go off feed. High fibre diets in rabbit nutrition thus favoured improved health status.   Keywords: Health status, Blood parameters, Weaner rabbits, Dietary fibre, Digestible energ

Effect of Coat Colour on Water Intake and Feed Utilization of Intensively Reared West African Dwarf Sheep in the Humid Tropics

The effect of coat colour variation on water intake and feed utilization needs to be fully investigated, determined and exploited to help West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep breeders in genetic improvement programmes. This study examined the effect of coat colour on water intake and feed utilization of intensively reared WAD sheep in the humid tropics. Sixty (60) WAD sheep of different coat colours were used for the experiment which lasted for 6 months. Prominent coat colour types in the region are black, brown and badgerface.  Animals were grouped into sexes. Daily free water intake (DFWI), DFWI/metabolic weight, daily total water intake (DTWI), DTWI/metabolic weight, daily feed intake (DFI), DFI/metabolic weight, DFWI/DFI, daily weight gain (DWG) and feed efficiency (FE) were measured. Analysis of data revealed that coat colour and sex had significant (P<0.05) effect on parameters measured except DTWI and DTWI/metabolic weight. Brown sheep had the highest value for the parameters measured except DFWI/DFI and FE. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in DWG of black sheep (96.64±3.42 g) and brown sheep (95.24±2.77 g). Best feed efficiency (0.17±0.01) was observed in black sheep. Rams had the highest value for the parameters measured except DFWI/DFI and FE. Based on our results, we concluded that brown WAD sheep and rams consumed more feed and water, while black sheep consumed less feed and they are better feed utilizers. Keywords: Colour variant, feed intake, qualitative trait, sex, sheep, water consumptio

Health and Function of Gastrointestinal Tract as Influenced by Dietary Immunomodulatory Components in Poultry

Experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of soybean bioactive peptide and chitosan oligosaccharide on a stress and disease challenge model. For the first study, responses of broiler chickens (Cobb 500) to graded concentrations of dietary soybean bioactive peptide (SBP) (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 g of SBP/kg of diet) and coccidia challenge (CC) were investigated. In Experiment 1, 384 male broiler chicks were used to investigate the effect of graded dietary concentrations of SBP in a randomized complete block design. There were linear effects (P \u3c 0.05) of graded concentrations of SBP on BW, BW gain, gain:feed, ileal villus height and jejunal crypt depth at d 22 post hatch. There were linear effects (P \u3c 0.01) of graded SBP concentrations on ileal dry matter and energy digestibility. Experiment 2 was conducted to investigate the immune-protective properties of SBP during a coccidia challenge. Dietary SBP ameliorated the CC-induced effect (P = 0.01) on gain:feed. Coccidia challenge reduced (P \u3c 0.05) jejunal villi height whereas dietary SBP supplementation increased (P \u3c 0.05) jejunal villi height. Dietary SBP attenuated the CCinduced effects (P \u3c 0.05) on the expression of plasma interleukin-1β, transforming growth factorβ, claudin-1 and occludin genes. The second study examined the response of broiler chickens (Cobb 500) to graded dietary concentrations of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 g of COS/kg of diet) and coccidia challenge (CC). Experiment 1 was conducted to investigate the effect of graded dietary concentration of COS in a randomized complete block design. There were linear effects (P \u3c 0.05) of graded COS concentration on body weight (BW), BW gain, feed intake, jejunal villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio at d 22 post hatch. Between 0.50 and 1.18 g COS/kg diet was optimum for BW gain, jejunal villus height, and villus height to crypt depth ratio. There were linear increases (P \u3c 0.05) in ileal dry matter and energy digestibility. Experiment 2 was conducted to investigate the immune-protective properties of COS on broiler chickens during CC. Coccidia challenge reduced (P \u3c 0.05) and dietary COS increased (P \u3c 0.05) BW gain, and feed intake. Dietary COS mitigated (P \u3c 0.05) the CC-induced effects (P \u3c 0.05) on gain:feed. Coccidia challenge reduced (P \u3c 0.05) jejunal villus height whereas dietary COS supplementation increased (P \u3c 0.05) jejunal villus height. Dietary COS supplementation attenuated the CC-induced effects (P \u3c 0.05) on the expression of plasma interleukin-6 and 10, claudin-1 and occludin genes. Next, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, jejunal morphology, gene expression, and plasma antioxidant enzymes in male broiler chickens under experimentally induced stress via infeed dexamethasone (DEX). The results showed that dietary COS also decreased (P \u3c 0.05) DEXinduced effects (interaction; P \u3c 0.05) on BW, BW gain, and gain:feed. Dietary COS supplementation attenuated the DEX effects (interaction; P \u3c 0.05) on villus height, crypt depth, villus height to crypt depth ratio, and ileal digestibility of DM and energy. The DEX-induced effect of relative mRNA expression of jejunal mucosa IL-6, IL-10, and claudin-1 was reduced by dietary COS supplementation (interaction; P \u3c 0.05). Responses (interaction; P \u3c 0.05) in the activity of plasma superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase to COS and DEX were similar to that observed with the relative mRNA expression. Chitosan oligosaccharide supplementation increased (P \u3c 0.05) the mRNA expression of IL-8 and occludin. In the final experiment, the objectives of this study were to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of garlic-derived diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) on growth performance, gut morphology, and cecal microflora in broiler chickens. Dietary concentrations of garlic-derived DADS + DATS between 0 and 75 mg/kg had no effect (P \u3e 0.05)on growth performance and gut morphological responses examined. There was a quadratic effect (P \u3c 0.05) of DADS + DATS on log10 number of copies of cecal Escherichia coli at d 8 post hatching. However, Lactobacillus spp log10 number of counts were not affected by dietary supplementation of garlic derived DADS + DATS