Ginger extract enhances antioxidant ability and immunity of layers.

This experiment was to investigate ginger extract on production performance, antioxidant ability and immunity of laying hens. A total of 600 Hy-Line brown laying hens aged at 25 wk old were randomly divided into 2 treatments, 4 replicates per treatment, 75 layers each replicate. The control group hens were fed a basal diet; the experimental group hens were fed basal diets with 0.1% ginger extract. The results were shown as follows: 1) ginger extract significantly enhanced laying rates (P < 0.05) and daily egg weight (P < 0.05), substantially reduced the ratio of feed to egg (P < 0.05) of the hens; 2) ginger extract did not change the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) but significantly improved plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (P < 0.05), reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content (P < 0.05) of the birds; 3) ginger extract did not affect the contents of serum total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB), but significantly increased lysozyme (LZM) activity (P < 0.05); 4) ginger extract also significantly reduced plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content (P < 0.05). This study shows that ginger extract not only can improve the birds' antioxidant capacity, enhance immune function, but also has a potential of reducing inflammatory response.

Dietary mineral sources altered lipid and antioxidant profiles in broiler breeders and posthatch growth of their offsprings.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of mineral sources on broiler breeders and their offsprings. Broiler breeding hens were fed with diets containing either organic or inorganic trace minerals at equal levels, i.e., (1) control group was fed with basal diet supplemented with inorganic trace minerals; (2) OZ group was fed with organic Zn instead of sulfate; and (3) OTM group was fed with organic Cu, Mn, Zn, and Se instead of inorganic sources. Results indicated that OTM supplementation decreased plasma cholesterol and triglyceride and increased yolk triglyceride via increasing high-density lipid protein cholesterol and decreasing low-density lipid protein cholesterol and very low-density lipid protein (VLDL) in plasma. OZ diets decreased plasma cholesterol and triglyceride mainly by reducing VLDL concentration. For control group, increased lipid concentrations resulted in increased lipid peroxidation in serum and malondialdehyde retention in yolk. Zn retention was not affected. Otherwise, OZ diet was observed to decrease Cu in yolk and albumen. While for OTM group, albumen Cu, albumen Se, and hepatic Se of hatched chicks were increased, but yolk Cu was decreased. Moreover, organic mineral supplementations improved broilers' growth performance. In conclusion, organic mineral supplementation in breeders' diets protected breeders from lipid peroxidation, increased egg nutrition retention, and benefit for growth of broilers.