Volatile basic nitrogen measurement in digesta using a Berthelot reaction in automated Skalar instrumentation

The undigested nitrogenous fraction entering the hindgut of chickens is further metabolized by microbiota present producing volatile basic metabolites including amines and ammonia (NH3). Ammonia increases pH and may result in overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens further producing toxic metabolites that cause dysbacteriosis or necrotic enteritis (NE). There are few reports in chickens examining the production and concentration of nitrogenous metabolites in the hindgut. A Berthelot reaction using an automated flow, reaction and spectrophotometric instrumentation to detect volatile basic nitrogen in the form of NH3 from cecal contents was carried out. In the Berthelot reaction, NH3 in the sample is chlorinated to monochloramine using dichloroisocyanuric acid that then reacts with salicylate to form 5-aminosalicylate which is stable under alkaline conditions (pH 12 to 13). After oxidation and oxidative coupling, a coloured complex is formed that can be measured at 660 nm. Cecal contents were collected and pooled from 2 birds per pen with 48 pens total in each of 3 experiments and stored in sealed containers at −20 °C prior to analysis. Experiment 1 compared samples collected from birds fed either no meat and bone meal (MBM) or 6% MBM from d 0 to 14, and samples collected from birds fed either no MBM or 5% MBM from d 14 to 42. All birds were challenged with Eimeria on d 9 and C. perfringens on d 14 and 15. Experiment 2 compared cecal contents from birds fed either 0.5% or 0.9% calcium (Ca), and Exp. 3 compared unchallenged with NE challenge on d 16 and 29. Results demonstrated an increase (

Interactive effect of dietary calcium and phytase on broilers challenged with subclinical necrotic enteritis: part 2. Gut permeability, phytate ester concentrations, jejunal gene expression, and intestinal morphology

Calcium has the capacity to interact with phytate-P to form Ca-phytate complexes and decrease the ability of exogenous phytase to degrade phytic acid. This study investigated the hypothesis that high dietary Ca would impair gut permeability, phytate esters (inositol x-phosphate, IPx: IP3, IP4, IP5, and IP6) degradation, jejunal gene expression, and intestinal morphology. Ross 308 day-old male broilers (n = 768) were distributed into 48-floor pens each housing 16 birds in a factorial arrangement. Factors wereNE challenge - no or yes; phytase level of 500 or 1,500 FTU/kg, and Ca level 0.6 or 1.0% starter, 0.5 or 0.9% grower, 0.4 or 0.8% finisher with available P in each phase. Challenged birds were gavaged with 3 field strains of Eimeria on day 9 and 108 CFU per mL of Clostridium perfringens Strain EHE-NE18 on day 14 and day 15. A phytase × Ca interaction was observed in the ileum for IP3(P P P P P

Over-processed meat and bone meal and phytase effects on broilers challenged with subclinical necrotic enteritis: Part 1. Performance, intestinal lesions and pH, bacterial counts and apparent ileal digestibility

This feeding study investigated the hypothesis that over-processing of meat and bone meal (MBM) would impair the performance, gut health and ileal digestibility of nutrients in birds challenged with necrotic enteritis (NE). The effect of phytase (500 vs. 5,000 FTU/kg) was also examined using manufacturers recommended matrix values for 500 FTU for both levels. Ross 308 male broilers (n=768) were assigned to 8 diets, with 6 replicate pens per diet and 16 birds per replicate pen using a randomized design with a factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors were NE challenge (no or yes), MBM (as received or over-processed), and phytase level (500 or 5,000 FTU/kg). Half of the birds were challenged with 5,000 oo-cysts offield strains of Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria brunetti, and 2,500 oocysts of Eimeria maxima on d 9 and 108 CFU/mL of Clostridium perfringens strain EHE-NE18 on d 14 and 15 post-hatch. Challenge × MBM interactions were detected for weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed intake (FI) at d 14, 21 and 28, showing that challenged birds fed over-processed MBM had decreased WG (PPPPP>0.05) at d 28. Birds fed low phytase had increased livability (0.05) at d 28. Birds fed low phytase had increased livability (PPPPPPPPPLactobacillus spp. (PC. perfringens(

Over-processed meat and bone meal and phytase effects on broilers challenged with subclinical necrotic enteritis: Part 3. Bone mineralization and litter quality

This study was conducted to determine the effect of necrotic enteritis (NE), phytase level and meat and bone meal (MBM) processing on bone mineralization of broilers and litter quality. Ross 308 male broiler chicks (n = 768) were allotted to 48 pens with 16 birds each. There were 8 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 × factorial arrangement. Factors were NE challenge (no or yes), phytase level (500 or 5,000 FTU/kg), and MBM (as-received or over-processed). Half of the birds were challenged with field strains of Eimeria spp. at d 9 and 108 CFU per mL of Clostridium perfringens strain EHE-NE18 on d 14 and 15. The middle toe, tibia and femur of 2 birds per pen were excised at d 16 and 29 for determination of ash, breaking strength (BS) and bone mineralization. At d 42, all were assessed for hock burns and litter was scored and assessed for dry matter (DM). At d 16, challenged birds had lower toe ash (P P P P P P P P P P P = 0.058) and fewer hock burns than those unchallenged (

Over-processed meat and bone meal and phytase effects on broilers challenged with subclinical necrotic enteritis: Part 2. Inositol phosphate esters hydrolysis, intestinal permeability, hematology, jejunal gene expression and intestinal morphology

This study investigated the hypothesis that feeding broilers over-processed meat and bone meal (MBM) would impair gut health in the absence of phytase and in turn, affect inositol phosphate (inositol xphosphate, IPx: IP3, IP4, IP5 and IP6) ester hydrolysis, intestinal permeability, hematology, jejunal gene expression and intestinal morphology during necrotic enteritis (NE). Ross 308 male broilers (n = 768) were assigned to one of 8 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with 6 replicate pens per diet and 16 birds per pen in a completely randomized design. Factors were: NE challenge (no or yes), phytase level (500 or 5,000 FTU/kg) and MBM processing (as-received or over-processed). For the NE challenge, half of the birds were challenged with field strains of Eimeria spp. on d 9 and 108 CFU/mL of Clostridium perfringens strain EHE-NE18 on d 14 and 15. A 3-way challenge, phytase and MBM processing interaction was detected for IP5 (P P P P P P P MUC-2) expression (P APN; P VDR;