Effect of Dietary Incorporation of Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Rhizome Powder as Feed Additive on Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization in Broiler Chickens

A feeding trial was conducted to discern the effect of dietary incorporation of aniseed and ginger rhizome powder on growth performance and nutrient utilization in commercial broiler chickens. A total of 120, day-old broiler chicks were divided randomly into 4 treatment groups with 3 replicates each i.e. 10 broiler chicks per replicate. The feeding trial lasted for 42 days viz., A metabolism trial was conducted during the 6th week of feeding trial to know the nutrient utilization. During the starter phase, maximum weight gain was recorded in broiler chicks of treatment group T3 (827.70 g) fed diet incorporated with 1.0% ginger rhizome powder followed by treatment groups T1, T2 and T4, however, there was no significant difference in body weight gain amongst the different treatment groups. During finisher phase, the average body weight gain was 1313.50, 1365.32, 1308.20 and 1291.36 g in broiler chicks of treatment groups T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively and did not differ significantly among different groups. During entire feeding trial period (0-42 days), incorporation of aniseed and ginger rhizome powder in the basal diets non-significantly improved growth performance in terms of body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and performance index. The average cumulative body weight gain was 2120.57, 2152.75, 2135.90 and 2064.43 g in broiler chicks of treatment groups T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively and did not differ significantly among different groups. There was no significant difference in nutrient utilization among different treatment groups of broiler chickens

Coccidiose clínica em frangos de corte infectados naturalmente e imunossuprimidos com dexametasona / Clinical coccidiosis in broiler chicks naturally infected and immunosuppressed with dexamethasone

A ocorrência de coccidiose clínica em aves está relacionada com a competência do sistema imune. Com o objetivo de avaliar a ocorrência natural de coccidiose em aves imunossuprimidas, foram selecionados frangos de corte, de ambos os sexos, com a 35 a 38 dias de vida para constituir 3 grupos - grupo I (n = 25), formado por aves sem coccidiose e negativas para coccídias no exame de fezes; grupo II (n = 25), formado por aves com coccidiose e positivas para coccídias no exame de fezes, e grupo III (n = 25), formado por aves sem coccidiose, negativas para coccídias no exame de fezes e submetidas à imunossupressão com dexametasona (4 mg/kg/dia por 4 dias, via subcutânea). Realizou-se o diagnóstico de coccidiose com a técnica de centrífugo-flutuação com solução saturada de sacarose para investigação de oocistos nas fezes e pela análise macro e microscópica das lesões intestinais observadas após a necropsia. A resposta imune foi avaliada pela reação de hipersensibilidade basofílica cutânea (CBH) à fitoemaglutinina (PHA) e pela relação entre o peso corporal e o peso da bursa de Fabricius ou do baço. Os frangos dos grupos II e III apresentaram menor reação CBH à PHA que os do grupo I, evidenciando-se diminuição da resposta imune. As aves do grupo III mostraram diminuição significante do peso da bursa de Fabricius e do baço em relação aos animais dos outros grupos. As espécies de coccídias encontradas foram E. acervulina e E. maxima nos animais dos grupos II e III, sendo ainda observada E. tenella nas aves do grupo III. A imunossupressão induzida pela dexametasona aumentou a suscetibilidade à coccidiose de ocorrência natural em frangos de corte criados comercialmente.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of clinical coccidiosis in broilers immunosuppressed with dexamethasone. Male and female broiler chickens, from 35 to 38 days old were divided into 3 groups ­ group I (n = 25), including chickens without coccidiosis and negative for coccidia in fecal examination; group II (n = 25), including birds with coccidiosis and positive for coccidia in fecal examination; group III (n = 25), constituted by chickens with no coccidiosis, negative for coccidia in fecal examination and immunosuppressed with dexamethasone (4 mg/kg/day for 4 days, subcutaneous route). The diagnosis of coccidiosis was achieved using the centrifugal floatation technique in sucrose solution to investigate the presence of oocystis in stools, as well as by the observation of macroscopic and microscopic changes in the gut after necropsy. The immune response was evaluated by determination of cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity (CBH) response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and of the weight ratio of bursa of Fabricius and spleen in relation to body weight. Broilers from group II and III presented decreased CBH reaction to PHA in relation to group I, suggesting a decrease of the immune response. In addition, chickens from group III presented a significant decrease in the weight of the bursa of Fabricius and of the spleen. The coccidian types were E. acervulina and E. maxima in chickens from groups II and III, as well as E. tenella in chickens treated with dexamethasone. Immunosuppression induced by dexamethasone increased susceptibility to natural coccidiosis in commercially raised broiler chicks.

Relação entre imunossupressão e coccidiose clínica em frangos de corte criados comercialmente / Relationship between immunosuppression and clinical coccidiosis in broiler chicks commercially raised

Frangos de corte criados comercialmente estão expostos a vários fatores que podem comprometera competência do sistema imune, tornando-os suscetíveis à infecção por coccídias. A coccidiose provoca no hospedeiro a ativação das respostas imunes humoral e celular, sendo esta última a responsável pela proteção contra a cocidiose. A presente revisão tem por objetivo descrever a dinâmica da resposta imune de aves frente à coccidiose e evidenciar os principais fatores imunossuppressores que podem estar presentes em criações comerciais de frangos de corte.

Broiler chicks commercially raised are exposed to a number of factors which may compromise the competence of the immune system, possibly increasing susceptibility to coccidia infection.Coccidiosis causes the activation of both humoral and cellular immune responses, the latter being responsible for the protection against coccidiosis. The present review focuses the dynamics of the avian immune response against coccidiosis and describes the major immunosuppressive factors which may be present in broiler chicken commercial breedings.

Efeitos do período de jejum entre o nascimento e o alojamento de pintos de corte e da adição de óleo à ração sobre o desenvolvimento do trato gastrintestinal e concentração de lipase

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the efects of the fasting periods (zero, 24 and 48 hours) between hatching and housing of broiler chicks and the addition of oil to the feed, on the alometric growth of the digestive organs and lipase concentration in the pancreas and small intestine. In the experiment, 720 male broiler chicks were raised from one to 15 days of housing. The evaluations of development of the digestive organs were done on days zero, three, six, nine, 12 and 15 of age. The evaluations of the lipase concentrations in the pancreas were done on days zero, three, six, nine, 12 and 15, and in the small intestine on days zero, three and six. A factorial 3 x 2 (three periods of fasting and two types of ration) experimental design was used. The alometric growth of the digestive organs was greater for the broilers not submitted to fasting, and the greatest rates of alometric growth were observed on the first days of life, showing a faster growth of the digestive organs at this stage. Although there was some lipase storage in the pancreas, in the small intestine the concentration was low and increased with age. The content of lipase in the intestine varied with the concentration of lipid in the diet.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar o efeito de três períodos de jejum (zero, 24 e 48 horas) entre o nascimento e o alojamento de pintos e da adição de óleo à ração sobre o crescimento alométrico dos órgãos digestivos e estudar a atividade da lipase no pâncreas e intestino delgado. Foram utilizados 720 pintos de corte machos, criados de um a 15 dias de alojamento. As avaliações do crescimento dos órgãos digestivos foram feitas nos dias zero, três, seis, nove, 12 e 15 de idade. As avaliações da concentração de lipase no pâncreas foram feitas nos dias zero, três, seis, nove, 12 e 15, e no intestino delgado nos dias zero, três e seis. O delineamento experimental foi em arranjo fatorial 3 x 2 (três períodos de jejum e dois tipos de ração). O crescimento alométrico dos órgãos digestivos foi maior para as aves alojadas ao nascimento e a maior taxa de crescimento alométrico foi observada nos primeiros dias de vida, demonstrando crescimento mais acelerado dos órgãos digestivos nesta fase. Embora tenham sido encontradas reservas de lipase no pâncreas, ao nascimento as concentrações de lipase no intestino foram baixas e aumentaram com a idade. O conteúdo de lipase no intestino variou com a concentração de óleo na dieta.

Efeito do período de jejum entre o nascimento e o alojamento e da adição de óleo à ração sobre o desempenho de pintos de corte e digestibilidade da ração

In order to evaluate the effects of three fasting periods (zero, 24 and 48 hours) between hatching and housing of broiler chicks and the addition of oil to the feed, 360 male broiler chicks were used, raised during a period ranging from 1 to 21 days in cages designed for collecting feces. The performance and digestibility of the feed ration were evaluated. A factorial 3 x 2 (three periods of fasting and two types of ration) experimental design was used. It was concluded that the fasting birds had better results at 21 days when compared with not fasting birds. The interval between hatching and housing did not have a clear effect on the coefficients of apparent digestibility of the dry mater, crude protein and ether extract of the feed, while the birds which were fed with the diet containing oil showed higher coefficients of apparent digestibility for the ether extract of the feed.

Com o objetivo de verificar os efeitos de três períodos de jejum (zero, 24 e 48 horas) entre o nascimento e o alojamento e da adição de óleo à ração sobre o desempenho de pintos de corte e a digestibilidade da ração, foram utilizados 360 aves de corte machos, criados de um a 21 dias em gaiolas metálicas próprias para coleta de excretas. O delineamento experimental foi em arranjo fatorial 3 x 2 (três períodos de jejum e dois tipos de ração). As aves submetidas ao jejum apresentaram melhor desempenho aos 21 dias quando comparadas com as não submetidas ao jejum. O intervalo entre o nascimento e o alojamento não teve efeito sobre os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca, da proteína bruta e do extrato etéreo da ração, enquanto que as aves que se alimentaram com dieta contendo óleo apresentaram maior coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente do extrato etéreo.