Potential of using unconventional animal protein ingredients to replace fish meal in Nile tilapia diets

The study was performed to evaluate the partial replacement of fish meal by unconventional animal protein ingredients; feather meal [FM] and/or rabbit manure [RM] in Nile tilapia diets. Fish were fed for 15 weeks on six isonitrogenous and isocaloric experimental diets. The control group diet contained fish meal, whereas the other five groups received diets in which fish meal was partially replaced by incorporation of [7.5-15%] FM or [7.5-15%] RM or [7.5 and 7.5%] FM and RM respectively. Incorporation of FM at both levels [7.5-15%] in Nile tilapia diets decreased body weight gain, feed intake and reduced the digestibility of DM and CP. RM at levels of [7.5-15]% increased fish body weight gain, feed intake, protein intake and improved digestibility of DM and CP. Feed conversion ratio [FCR], specific growth rate [SGR], protein intake and protein efficiency ratio [PER] were decreased by incorporation of 7.5% FM in fish diet. Meanwhile 7.5% RM resulted in an increase of FCR and improve PCR, while 15% RM increased SGR. A combination of 7.5% FM and 7.5%RM achieved' best DM and CP retention and highest CP content in body composition. The lowest nutrient retention, CP content of fish body and dressing% were recorded in groups fed FM containing diets. Conclusively, the present results suggested that FM and RM could be included safely in Nile tilapia diets to reduce feed cost. Partial replacement of fish meal by incorporation of RM in the diet of Nile tilapia achieved the best growth performance

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

Impact of fish meal replacement by uncounentional ingradients on performance of Nile telepia

The effect of partial or total replacing fish meal with dried rumen content [RC] and or Azolla meal [AM] in diets of Nile tilapia of initial weight [7.35g +/- 0.23] was investigated in 12-week experiment. Eight experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Beside the basal diet, each of RC and AM were incorporated at levels of 5, 10 and 15%. A combination of 5% RC and 5% AM [RC-AM] was served to replace 10% fish meal. The control group achieved the significant highest final body weight gain, protein efficiency and food conversion ratio followed by the group fed 10% RC. Azolla incorporation failed to improve any of the performance parameters. The group fed 15% AM was the worth regarding performance parameters, CP and EE retention of final body composition and dietary CP digestibility. The group fed a combination of 5% RC and 5% AM sustained intermediate pattern among treated groups with improved in FCR [4.05]. The results indicate some benefits from replacing dietary 10% fish meal with either 10% RC or a combination of RC-AM on Nile tilapia performance as well as reducing feed cost

Effect of dietary selenium 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 Se 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. The experiment was extended for 6 weeks. Inorganic Se source [sodium selenite] was supplemented in the basal diets of two groups, one of them drank water with 1ml/L probiotic and the second group drank water without probiotic. Organic Se source [OSY-E] was supplemented in the basal diets of another two groups one of them drank water with 1ml/L probiotic and the second group drank water without probiotic. Se sources were supplemented at the same dose [0.2 mg Se/ kg diet]. 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 and tissue of bursa was used for histopathological examination. Best body weight gain was achieved by groups received inorganic Se source in their diet. Probiotic in drinking water failed to improve body weight gain over that obtained from Se supplementation without probiotic. Feed intake from either inorganic or organic Se soure was lower than the control group. The entire treated group showed improving in FCR at different degree. Over all results of HI test, skin response test and lymphoid organs weight showed that Se supplementation in both source was improved the immune status of birds while the highest immune response achieved in birds received inorganic Se supplementation in their diet. It can be concluded that dietary Se supplementation in broilers diets succeed to improve both the productive performance and immune status of the birds, whereas the over all findings indicated that inorganic Se source superior over organic Se source

Implication of pre-and postpartum energy intake with body condition to direct reproductive performance of friesian dairy cow

Twenty nine Friesian cows in their 1st to 5th lactation were used to study the interaction of prepartum and postpartum energy intake combinations with cow body condition on reproductive performance. Forty five days prior to calving [prepartum] cows were divided into two groups first group received low energy [LE] ration [70% of NRC prepartum energy requirement]. At parturition, cows of each group were divided within prepartum energy intake to either a low energy [70% of NCR post partum energy requirement] or high energy [HE] intake [130% of NRC postpartum energy requirement. High energy ration was achieved by addition of 7.2% dried fat. The designed treatments were: prepartum LE followed by postpartum LE; prepartum LE followed by postpartum HE; prepartum ME followed by postpartum LE and prepartum ME followed by postpartum HE. Prepartum LE intake had an adverse effect on calf birtg weight. No significant difference was obtained among calf weaning weight between treated groups except for cows fed pre-and postpartum LE rations. The results of postpartum interval [PPI], evaluation of postpartum cow and milk yield indicated that postpartum energy intake had an affective role over that of prepartum energy intake. Pregnancy rate and the number of cows in estrus within 60 days were dependent upon both pre-and postpartum energy intake. A negative relationship was exerted between cow body condition score [BCS] at parturition and length of PPI. Both thin and fatty cows had lower pregnancy percentage as compared with moderately BCS cow. Cow BCS had no effect on calf weaning weight and milk yield. Cow body weight change during postpartum was associated with the cow reproductive performance. Cows supplemented with dried fat in their postpartum ration showed marked elevation of serum total lipid and cholesterol levels. The present study has considered that pre and postpartum energy intake besides body condition performed an integrate system to exist the reproductive performance of dairy cows. However, it is worthy to mention that postpartrum energy intake has an effective role over prepartum nutrition to direct reproductive performance. The present study suggested that prepartum LE followed by postpartum HE is the most economic treatment for optimum productive performance of Friesian dairy cow

Dietary lipids modulation of performance and immune response in Nile catfish [clarias lazera] under variable temperature in Egypt

Nile catfish [Clarias Lazera] were fed diets containing different lipid sources for 12 weeks to examine their modulatory effect on performance and macrophage activity at 25 and 32C. The diets contained 7% lipid from either fish oil [highly unsaturated fatty acid, supply n-3], linseed oil [polyunsaturated fatty acid, supply n-3] corn oil [polyunsaturated fatty acid, supply n-6], beef tallow [saturated fatty acids] or an equal mixture of the 4 lipid sources. Fish fed on beef tallow and fish oil achieved the best growth and feed efficiency. Final body length, body condition and fillets analysis were not affected by lipid sources. Fatty acids composition of pronephros were closely correlated to the fatty acid composition of the dietary lipids fed to Nile catfish. At both temperature trials macrophage ability to engulf Pseudomonas was positively correlated with the level of n-3 fatty acids in the diet from either animal or plant origin [fish oil and linseed oil, respectively]. Overall results were suggested that the use of a mixture of beef tallow and linseed oil in the diet of Nile catfish achieved beneficial growth and maximal immune response, however, further research is warranted in this area to determine the proper proportion

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

Biological availability of manganese from several inorganic sources in Fayoumi chicks

An experiment was conducted using 180 one day old Fayoumi chicks to investigate the biological availability of Mn from different sources. Mn sources [Sulfate and Carbonate] were added to commercial diet [concentrate-yellow corn and soyabean meal] at levels of 60 and 100 ppm. Potassium permenganate was used as a Mn source added at level of 60 ppm on drinking water. Body weight development, average body weight gain and food conversion efficiency were calculated throughout 35-days experimental period. Bone measurements, such as tibial ash percentage, tibial Mn concentration and bone abnormality score were recorded. Best body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were achieved by the group of chicks receiving potassium permenganate, while the basal group showed the lowest values for such parameters. Mn supplementation from different sources at both levels [60 and 100 ppm] had increased significantly p< 0.05, tibial ash% and tibial Mn concentration as compared by the group which received the basal level [15 ppm]. The highest tibial Mn concentration was noted in potassium permenganate group, while the lowest was recorded in the group receiving manganese carbonate as Mn supplemental source. Potassium permenganate and manganese sulfate groups demonstrated lowest bone abnormality scores. Results indicated that potassium permenganate was highly available source followed by manganese sulfate, while manganese carbonate showed the lowest availability based on bone Mn concentration and leg lesion score