Effect of dietary chromium source with or without probiotic on productive performance and immune status of broiler chicken

An experiment was conducted using 360 one day old sexed male broiler breeder COBB chicks to investigate the effect of dietary Cr source [inorganic-organic] supplementation in broiler diets with or without addition of probiotics in drinking water on productive performance and immune status of broiler chicken. Inorganic Cr source [chromium chloride] was supplemented to the basal diets of two groups, the first group drank water with 1ml/L probiotic and the second group drank water without probiotic. Organic Cr source [OCY] was supplemented to the basal diets of another two groups, one of them drank water with 1ml/L probiotic and the second group drank water without probiotic. Cr sources were supplemented at the same dose [4.0 mg Cr/kg diet]. The experiment was extended for 6 weeks. Body weight development, body weight gain, feed intake and FCR were calculated weekly. Serum GOT, GPT, uric acid and creatinine were determined. Lymphoid organs weight [bursa, spleen, thymus] were recorded. Both Cr sources supplementation increased body weight gain of the birds significantly except chromium chloride with probiotic addition which showed non significant increase. Feed intake from either inorganic or organic Cr source was lower than the control group. FCR was improved by Cr supplementation in both sources, but inorganic Cr supplementation showed better FCR than organic Cr source. Over all results of HI test, skin response test, lymphoid organ weight showed that supplementation of Cr in both source was stimulate the immune response of bird. The current study indicated that dietary Cr supplementation [inorganic- organic] in broiler diet achieved maximal performance of broiler chicken. Inorganic and organic Cr supplementation stimulates immune response of the birds in various degrees

Influence of vitamin E dietary supplementation on some bone characteristics in broiler chicks

One hundred and sixty, commercial, one day old, Cobb chicks were randomly allocated into four groups each of forty. The first group was fed on a control diet. The second group was fed on the control diet in which 250 mg vitamin E/kg diet was added. The third group was fed on the control diet in which 500 mg vitamin E/kg diet was added while the fourth group was fed on a control diet in which 750 mg vitamin E/kg diet was added. Several parameters were assessed including body weight development, weight gain, feed consumption and conversion, serum parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, bone Ca, P, S, Mg as well as Mn. Tibia length and weight as well as scanning electron microscope examination of the tibia were recorded. Results indicated that vitamin E supplementation significantly improved body weights starting from the first week of the study throughout the experimental period. All treated groups had better weight gain and feed conversion. Vitamin E supplementation at a level of 250 mg/kg diet significantly [P < 0.05] increased bone P and Mg. Moreover, vitamin E supplementation at a level of 500 mg/kg diet significantly [P< 0.05] increased bone Ca, P, S as well as Mg. In addition, vitamin E supplementation at a level of 750 mg/ kg significantly [P< 0.05] increased bone Ca, P, S, Mg as well as Mn. None of the used levels of vitamin E had any effect on tibia length 7, 28 and 60 days from the beginning of the study. The three used levels of vitamin E significantly [P < 0.05] increased the tibia weight compared to the control group at the age of 60 days. At the age of 28 days, vitamin E supplementation at levels of 500 and 750 significantly [P < 0.05] increased serum calcitonin, while no significant effect was found regarding parathyroid hormone. Moreover, at the age of 56 days, vitamin E and only at a Ievel of 750 mg/kg diet significantly [P < 0.05] increased serum calcitonin and also no significant effect was found regarding parathyroid hormone. The scanning electron micrograph examination of tibia revealed a positive impact of supplemental vitamin E on bone characteristics

Influence of the administration of dried calf thymus or calf thymus extract on performance and immunity of broilers

The effect of administration of dried calf thymus [DCT] or calf thymus extract [CTE] with protein concentration 6 mg/ml was studied using 4 groups of one-day old Cobb chicks. The first group was fed on a diet contained 1% [DCT], the second group received orally 1.5 ml/bird [CTE], the birds in the third group received 0.3 ml/bird [CTE] by i.p. injection, while the fourth group was the control one. The treatments were administered daily for 20 days starting from the second day of the study. Production performance and immune parameters used were body weight, body gain feed consumption, feed efficiency, total and differential leukocytic count, total serum proteins, albumin, globulins, relative weights of thymus, bursa and spleen,% of active phagocytes in the peripheral blood, phagocytic index, HI antibody titer against NDV as well as wattle dermal testing using oil adjuvant killed NDV vaccine. Results showed that treated groups had significantly higher body weights and gain as well as better feed efficiency. The injected group had higher total leukocytic count, serum globulins and% of active phagocytes. The relative weights of bursa and thymus were significantly higher in the [DCT] group only. The obtained results augment the supposition of presence of growth factor[s] in calf thymus extract and its [their] possible involvement in modulating immunity in broilers

Effect of prepartum and postpartum vitamin E and selenium supplementation on serum electrophoresis and some reproductive patterns of Egyptian buffaloes

Twelve Egyptian buffalos were used to determine the effect of supplementation with vitamin E alone or in combination with selenium [Se] during the pre- and postpartum periods or serum electrophoretic pattern and some reproductive characteristics of parturient animals. At the last month of gestation the animals were divided into three equal groups. The first group received 4200 mg vitamin E and 4.2 mg Se, the second group received 142 mg vitamin E, while the third group was left without supplementation as a control. The blood sera at the last week of gestation as well as at the fourth week after parturition were used for the determination of total proteins, electrophoretic pattern as well as for the FSH and LH assay. Buffalos supplemented with vitamin E in combination with Se showed significantly higher levels of gamma-globulins and LH as well as significantly lower levels of FSH compared to animals supplemented with vitamin E alone or in the control group. It was concluded that the pre- and postpartum supplementation with vitamin E and Se combination can improve the reproductive efficiency and the immune status of Egyptian buffalos