Typology, Structural Characterization and Sustainability of Integrated Broiler Farming System in Epirus, Greece

The aim of this study was the detailed characterization of the existing zootechnical and financial management applied in broiler poultry farms in the Region of Epirus, Greece. The current situation was captured through the formation of a typology on the structural characterization of broiler farming system. The variables were recorded based on data from a stratified random sample according to Neyman’s methodology of 110 poultry farms. In the typology, hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to identify differences between farms and to support most of this differentiation. Chebyshev distance was used to maximize the effect of the cluster elements distance, as well as Ward’s clustering method, which aims to achieve greater homogeneity within the clusters. Bonferroni multiple comparison tests were used to evaluate the differences. Four clusters of different farm types were identified from the hierarchical cluster analysis. In conclusion, the production system of broiler farms in Epirus is intensive, especially in large farms that have made significant investments in fixed capital and implement successful management. However, the poultry sector in Epirus has further margin for improvement in both its productivity and profitability

Energy metabolism, crude protein & amino acid bioavailability and exploitation of field pea seeds in broiler chickens & laying hens diets

Five experiments were conducted during this study: two fecal (by excreta collection) digestibility experiments, one ileal digestibility experiment, one comparative feeding experiment with broiler chickens and finally one comparative feeding experiment with laying hens, in order to study the nutritive value of field pea seeds (FPS) of the Greek cultivar “Olympos” and to determine their exploitation in broilers and layers diets. In the 1st experiment apparent and true crude protein bioavailability of FPS were estimated at 81.0 & 86.6%, respectively. Apparent (AME) and true (TMEN) metabolizable energy of FPS were estimated equal to 2641 & 2693 kcal/kg or 11.05 & 11.27 MJ ME/kg, respectively. In the 2nd experiment apparent and true CP bioavailability of FPS showed a linear trend of decrease by increasing inclusion rates of FPS and this decrease was significant (P<0.05) at the level of 30%. Amino acid bioavailability, as determined by the difference between the untreated diet’s one and that containing 10% FPS, remained at high levels (~80%), with the exception of methionine and valine and was similar to AA mean. The AME and TMEN means of FPS were estimated equal to 10.8 and 11.0 MJ ME/kg, respectively. In the 3rd experiment crude protein ileal digestibility of diets showed a linear decrease by increasing inclusion rates of FPS. A similar trend appeared for the major part of AA. The AA of FPS with the highest values of ileal digestibility were, in decreasing order, arginine, glutamic acid, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, leucine, whereas those with the lowest values were cystine and valine. In the 4th experiment body weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion rate were not significantly affected by the inclusion of FPS. Carcass weight, dressing percentage, carcass yield and composition were also not affected by the diets. The fatty acid profile of edible tissue fat in broilers carcass (leg quarter & breast) was not significantly affected by the inclusion of FPS and the mixture of seed oils and showed a remarkable similarity to that of the diets. Significant (P<0.05) differences were detected in the proportion of total SFAs, MUFAs and PUFAs. However, the ratio ΣSFAs/ΣUFAs remained constant. The results of 5th experiment showed that field pea seeds “Olympos” can be used in layer diets substituting a part or the whole amount of soybean meal without any adverse effect on the performance and egg quality traits of layers. In conclusion FPS “Olympos” are a valuable energy and protein source for poultry. Their inclusion in broilers and layers diets, without adverse effects on their performance, carcass and egg characteristics, offers a viable-alternative protein choice, contributing to preservation of biodiversity and environment, exploitation of native natural resources and production of premium poultry meat and eggs.Στα πλαίσια της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής διεξήχθησαν πέντε πειράματα: δύο πειράματα ολικής πεπτικότητας (συλλογή περιττωμάτων), ένα πείραμα ειλεακής πεπτικότητας, ένα πείραμα συγκριτικής διατροφής σε κρεοπαραγωγά ορνίθια και ένα πείραμα συγκριτικής διατροφής σε όρνιθες αυγοπαραγωγής, με σκοπό την εκτίμηση της θρεπτικής αξίας σπερμάτων κτηνοτροφικού μπιζελιού της ελληνικής ποικιλίας «Όλυμπος» (P) και τη διερεύνηση της αξιοποίησής τους σε σιτηρέσια κρεοπαραγωγών ορνιθίων και ορνίθων αυγοπαραγωγής. Στο 1ο πείραμα η φαινομένη και η πραγματική βιοδιαθεσιμότητα των αζωτούχων ουσιών του κτηνοτροφικού μπιζελιού εκτιμήθηκαν ίσες με 81,0 & 86,6%, αντίστοιχα. Η φαινομένη (ΦΜΕ) και η πραγματική (ΠΜΕN) μεταβολίσιμη ενέργεια του κτηνοτροφικού μπιζελιού εκτιμήθηκαν σε 2641 & 2693 kcal/kg ή 11,05 & 11,27 MJ ME/kg, αντίστοιχα. Στο 2ο πείραμα η φαινομένη και η πραγματική βιοδιαθεσιμότητα των αζωτούχων ουσιών του κτηνοτροφικού μπιζελιού έδειξαν τάση γραμμικής μείωσης με την αύξηση της συμμετοχής του, η οποία ήταν σημαντική (Ρ<0,05) στο επίπεδο συμμετοχής 30%. Η διαθεσιμότητα των αμινοξέων, όπως προσδιορίστηκε με τη μέθοδο της διαφοράς μεταξύ του σιτηρεσίου μάρτυρας (Μ) και του επιπέδου συμμετοχής 10% Ρ, διατηρήθηκε σε υψηλά επίπεδα, με εξαίρεση εκείνη της βαλίνης και της μεθειονίνης και ήταν κ.μ.ό. παραπλήσια εκείνης των αζωτούχων ουσιών. Η ΦΜΕ και η ΠΜΕN του κτηνοτροφικού μπιζελιού εκτιμήθηκαν κ.μ.ό. σε 10,83 και 10,98 MJ ME/kg, αντίστοιχα. Στο 3ο πείραμα η ειλεακή πεπτικότητα των αζωτούχων ουσιών παρουσίασε μία γραμμική μείωση μεταξύ βασικού σιτηρεσίου και σιτηρεσίων που περιείχαν σπέρματα κτηνοτροφικού μπιζελιού σε επίπεδα συμμετοχής 150 & 300 g/kg. Η ίδια τάση εμφανίστηκε και για τα περισσότερα αμινοξέα. Τα αμινοξέα των σπερμάτων κτηνοτροφικού μπιζελιού με τις μεγαλύτερες τιμές ειλεακής πεπτικότητας ήταν κατά φθίνουσα σειρά: αργινίνη, γλουταμινικό οξύ, λυσίνη, μεθειονίνη, φαινυλαλανίνη, λευκίνη. Αντίθετα, τα αμινοξέα με τις χαμηλότερες τιμές ήταν η κυστίνη και η βαλίνη. Τα αποτελέσματα του 4ου πειράματος έδειξαν ότι ο ρυθμός ανάπτυξης, το τελικό σωματικό βάρος των ορνιθίων, η κατανάλωση και η εκμετάλλευση τροφής δεν παρουσίασαν σημαντικές διαφορές μεταξύ των επεμβάσεων. Η απόδοση των ορνιθίων σε θερμό και ψυχρό σφάγιο, η περιεκτικότητα του ψυχρού σφάγιου σε εδώδιμο ιστό και οστά και η περιεκτικότητα του εδώδιμου ιστού σε πρωτεΐνη, λίπος, υγρασία και τέφρα, δεν επηρεάστηκαν σημαντικά από την προοδευτική αντικατάσταση σογιαλεύρου με κτηνοτροφικό μπιζέλι. Η σύσταση του λίπους του εδώδιμου ιστού, καθώς και η σχέση κορεσμένα προς ακόρεστα τόσο στο στήθος, όσο και στο μηρό των σφάγιων, ήταν ευθέως ανάλογη με εκείνη του λίπους των σιτηρεσίων. Τα αποτελέσματα του 5ου πειράματος έδειξαν ότι τα σπέρματα κτηνοτροφικού μπιζελιού μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν στη διατροφή των ορνίθων αυγοπαραγωγής και να υποκαταστήσουν επιτυχώς ή να αντικαταστήσουν πλήρως το σογιάλευρο, χωρίς δυσμενείς επιπτώσεις στην αυγοπαραγωγή των ορνίθων και στα ποιοτικά χαρακτηριστικά του αυγού. Συμπερασματικά τα σπέρματα κτηνοτροφικού μπιζελιού «Όλυμπος» είναι μία αξιόλογη ενεργειακή και πρωτεϊνική πηγή για τα πτηνά. Η συμμετοχή τους στα σιτηρέσια κρεοπαραγωγών ορνιθίων και ορνίθων αυγοπαραγωγής, χωρίς δυσμενείς επιπτώσεις στις αποδόσεις και στα χαρακτηριστικά του σφάγιου και των αυγών, προσφέρει μία βιώσιμη-εναλλακτική πρωτεϊνική επιλογή και συμβάλλει σημαντικά στη διατήρηση της βιοποικιλότητας, στην προστασία του περιβάλλοντος, στην αξιοποίηση παραδοσιακών εγχώριων γενετικών πόρων και στην παραγωγή ορνίθειου κρέατος και αυγών ποιότητας

Effect of Feeding Rosemary and &alpha;-Tocopheryl Acetate on Hen Performance and Egg Quality

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of feeding rosemary and &alpha;-tocopheryl acetate on hen performance and egg quality. Ninety-six Lohmann laying hens, 32-week-old, were allocated into four groups. One of the groups was given a control diet (CONT), two groups were given diets supplemented with ground rosemary at 5 and 10g/kg (ROS-5 and ROS-10, respectively), whereas the other group a diet supplemented with 200mg/kg &alpha;-tocopheryl acetate (VIT-E). Following 60 days feeding, hen performance and some egg quality characteristics were determined, whereas the oxidative stability of the refrigerated stored eggs and liquid yolks was also examined. Results showed that there were no significant (P&gt;0.05) differences in egg production, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, egg weight and shape, yolk diameter, height and color, Haugh units, and shell thickness, among the dietary treatments. The extent of lipid oxidation in eggs differed (P&lt;0.05) between the dietary treatments, but did not change with the storage time. In liquid yolks, lipid oxidation was lower (P&lt;0.05) in the ROS-5 group compared to the CONT group. The ROS-10 group, in turn, exhibited lower (P&lt;0.05) oxidation rate than the ROS-5 group, a finding suggesting that rosemary exerted a dose dependent antioxidative activity. The VIT-E group presented lower (P&lt;0.05) lipid oxidation rate compared to all other groups

Typology, Structural Characterization and Sustainability of Integrated Broiler Farming System in Epirus, Greece

The aim of this study was the detailed characterization of the existing zootechnical and financial management applied in broiler poultry farms in the Region of Epirus, Greece. The current situation was captured through the formation of a typology on the structural characterization of broiler farming system. The variables were recorded based on data from a stratified random sample according to Neyman’s methodology of 110 poultry farms. In the typology, hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to identify differences between farms and to support most of this differentiation. Chebyshev distance was used to maximize the effect of the cluster elements distance, as well as Ward’s clustering method, which aims to achieve greater homogeneity within the clusters. Bonferroni multiple comparison tests were used to evaluate the differences. Four clusters of different farm types were identified from the hierarchical cluster analysis. In conclusion, the production system of broiler farms in Epirus is intensive, especially in large farms that have made significant investments in fixed capital and implement successful management. However, the poultry sector in Epirus has further margin for improvement in both its productivity and profitability

Effect of <i>Spirulina</i> Dietary Supplementation in Modifying the Rumen Microbiota of Ewes

Supplementing ruminant diets with microalgae, may prove an effective nutritional strategy to manipulate rumen microbiota. Forty-eight ewes were divided into four homogenous groups (n = 12) according to their fat-corrected milk yield (6%), body weight, age, and days in milk, and were fed individually with concentrate, alfalfa hay, and wheat straw. The concentrate of the control group (CON) had no Spirulina supplementation, while in the treated groups 5 (SP5), 10 (SP10), and 15 g (SP15) of Spirulina were supplemented as an additive in the concentrate. An initial screening using metagenomic next-generation sequencing technology was followed by RT-qPCR analysis for the targeting of specific microbes, which unveiled the main alterations of the rumen microbiota under the Spirulina supplementation levels. The relative abundance of Eubacterium ruminantium and Fibrobacter succinogenes in rumen fluid, as well as Ruminococcus albus in rumen solid fraction, were significantly increased in the SP15 group. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Prevotella brevis was significantly increased in the rumen fluid of the SP5 and SP10 groups. In contrast, the relative abundance of Ruminobacter amylophilus was significantly decreased in the rumen fluid of the SP10 compared to the CON group, while in the solid fraction it was significantly decreased in the SP groups. Moreover, the relative abundance of Selenomonas ruminantium was significantly decreased in the SP5 and SP15 groups, while the relative abundance of Streptococcus bovis was significantly decreased in the SP groups. Consequently, supplementing 15 g Spirulina/ewe/day increased the relative abundance of key cellulolytic species in the rumen, while amylolytic species were reduced only in the solid fraction

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of a Resin-Purified Aqueous-Isopropanol Olive Leaf Extract on Meat and Liver Antioxidant Parameters in Broilers

Olive leaves are byproducts οf the agro-industrial sector and are rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. They could be supplemented in poultry diets powdered or less frequently as extracts to improve performance, health and product quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible beneficial effects of an aqueous isopropanol olive leaf extract—purified through filtration (250–25 µm) and a resin (XAD-4)—when supplemented in broiler chickens’ diets, on meat quality parameters, focusing mainly on antioxidant parameters as there is limited published information. For this purpose, four-hundred-and-eighty-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: T1 (control: basal diet); T2 (1% olive leaf extract); T3 (2.5% olive leaf extract); T4 (positive control: 0.1% encapsulated oregano oil commercially used as feed additive). At the end of the experimental period (day 42), the birds were slaughtered, and samples from breast, thigh meat and liver were collected for antioxidant parameters evaluation. On day 1, after slaughter, in thigh meat, Malondialdehyde (MDA) was lower in T2 compared to T3, and total phenolic content (TPC) was higher in T2 compared to T3 and T4. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was increased in T2 and T4 breast meat compared to the control. In liver, T4 treatment resulted in higher TPC. The lack of dose-dependent effect for olive leaf extract may be attributed to the pro-oxidant effects of some bioactive compounds found in olive leaves, such as oleuropein, when supplemented at higher levels. In summary, it can be inferred that the inclusion of 1% olive leaf extract in the feed of broilers has the potential to mitigate oxidation in broiler meat and maybe enhance its quality

Dietary Supplementation with Pomegranate and Onion Aqueous and Cyclodextrin Encapsulated Extracts Affects Broiler Performance Parameters, Welfare and Meat Characteristics

The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effects of Punica granatum L. and Allium cepa L. peels aqueous and cyclodextrin extracts on broiler chicks&rsquo; performance and welfare status, as well as on the meat chemical composition and oxidative stability. A total of 120 one-day-old male Ross-308 chicks were randomly allocated to three treatments with four replicate pens (10 chicks per pen). Broiler chicks in the control group were fed typical commercial rations in mash form, based on maize and soybean meal. The rations of the other two treatments were further supplemented with the mixture of Punica granatum and Allium cepa aqueous and cyclodextrin extracts at the level of 0.1% of the feed, respectively. At the end of the trial (day 35), tissue samples were collected for analysis. Body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), average daily gain (ADG) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the period of 1&ndash;10 days, 11&ndash;24 days, 25&ndash;35 days and 1&ndash;35 days were evaluated. Litter score, dry matter in litter, pododermatitis and feather score were also assessed at the end of the trial. Data were analyzed with ANOVA using SPSS v25 software. The results showed that BW, FI and FCR values did not differ among the groups. Scoring of pododermatitis, diarrhea, feather, fecal moisture, wooden breast and white stripping did not differ (p &ge; 0.05) among the groups. Punica granatum and Allium cepa aqueous and cyclodextrin extracts favorably affected (p &lt; 0.05) meat composition, color parameters, TBARS and protein carbonyls. Diet supplementation also increased (p &lt; 0.05) &sum;n-3 fatty acids as well as &sum;n-6 fatty acids in the thigh meat. The cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-Docosahexaenoic acid fatty acids in the breast meat of broilers fed with diets supplemented with the aqueous pomegranate and onion peel extracts were found to be higher (p &lt; 0.05), while these fatty acids in the thigh meat were found increased (p &lt; 0.05) in the cyclodextrin group. Aqueous and cyclodextrin pomegranate and onion peel extracts may provide a promising additive to the broilers diet with functional properties, in the absence of stressful conditions