ABSTRACT
This experiment aimed to examine the effect of periodical application of bioactive peptides derived from cottonseed (BPC) in comparison with using sub-therapeutic doses of lincomycin and the excessive inclusion of vitamin E on performance, immunity, total antioxidant capacity of serum and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-d-old male broiler chicks with similar initial weight (Ross strain) were randomly assigned to 6 groups (8 chicks/pen): non-treated group (basal diet), basal diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg lincomycin, basal diet supplemented with 50 IU vitamin E, basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg in starter period, basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg in starter and grower periods and basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg throughout the whole experiment. The highest final body weight was obtained in the group supplemented with BPC in starter and grower periods. In the finisher phase, broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the starter period and in the whole trial had significantly (P < 0.05) better feed conversion ratios (FCR). Jejunal villus height was significantly elevated in broilers supplemented with antibiotic (P < 0.001), furthermore it tended to be greater in broilers fed BPC in the starter period. The jejunal villus height-to-crypt depth ratio was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in broilers fed the diet containing antibiotic in comparison to other groups. Humoral immune response against Newcastle disease vaccine tended to be elevated in broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the whole trial (P > 0.05). Broilers supplemented with BPC in starter and grower, and in the whole trial had significantly (P < 0.05) higher antibody titers against sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The highest total antioxidant capacity was obtained in broilers supplemented with the excessive level of vitamin E, furthermore it tended to improve in broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the whole trial. In summary, the results of the study indicated that addition of BPC in broiler diets in the whole trial could improve FCR, immune responses and total antioxidant activity of serum, and BPC could be used in broiler diets as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of dried powder of Calendula officinalis L. (marigold) flower as an antibiotic growth promoter substitute on growth performance, organ weights, and immunological parameters in broilers. A total of 240 mixed sex broilers (Ross 308) at 1 d of age were individually weighed and randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 4 replicates of 15 birds for 6 wk. The dietary treatments were: 1) a basal diet (control); 2) control plus 4.5 mg flavophospholipol/kg of diet; 3) control plus 5 g marigold/kg of diet; 4) control plus 10 g marigold/kg of diet. Antibody responses against Newcastle (NDV), influenza (AI) viruses, and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were measured. Supplementing 4.5 mg flavophospholipol/kg of diet enhanced body weight (BW) of broilers at 14 and 28 d of age (P < 0.05), but final BW at 42 d was not markedly affected. At 14 and 28 d of age, broilers fed diets supplemented with 10 g marigold/kg of diet had significantly lower BW compared with broilers fed the basal diet supplemented with antibiotic or 5 g marigold/kg of diet. During the starter period, broilers fed diets supplemented with antibiotic had significantly (P < 0.05) better FCR compared with broilers supplemented with 10 g marigold/kg of diet, but did not differ from broilers fed the basal diet or basal diet supplemented with 5 g marigold/kg of diet. There were no significant differences in FCR between treatments, during grower, finisher phases as well as for the whole experiment. Carcass yield was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in broilers supplemented with 5 g marigold/kg of diet compared with broilers in other groups. The treatments failed to induce any marked effect on immune parameters. In conclusion, the results of this experiment showed that supplementation of 5 and 10 g dried powder of marigold/kg of diet has no affirmative influence on growth performance of broilers.
ABSTRACT
This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary 1α-hydroxycholecalciferol (1α-OH-D3) in calcium (Ca)- and phosphorous (P)-deficient diets on growth performance, carcass characteristics, tibia related parameters, and immune responses of broiler chickens. A total of 280 one-day-old broiler chickens (Ross 308) were assigned to 20 floor pens and 4 dietary treatments with 5 replicates. Dietary treatments consisted of starter diets (starter diet of treatment A: 1% Ca, 0.73% total phosphorus [tP]; starter diet of treatment B: 0.85% Ca, 0.64% tP + 5 µg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; starter diet of treatment C: 0.85% Ca, 0.59% tP + 5 µg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; starter diet of treatment D: 0.85% Ca, 0.54% tP + 5 µg/kg of 1α-OH-D3), grower diets (grower diet of treatment A: 0.86% Ca, 0.68% tP; grower diet of treatment B: 0.73% Ca, 0.59% tP + 5 µg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; grower diet of treatment C: 0.73% Ca, 0.55% tP + 5 µg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; grower diet of treatment D: 0.73% Ca, 0.50% tP + 5 µg/kg of 1α-OH-D3) and finisher diets (finisher diet of treatment A: 0.81% Ca, 0.64% tP; finisher diet of treatment B: 0.68% Ca, 0.56% tP + 5 µg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; finisher diet of treatment C: 0.68% Ca, 0.52% tP + 5 µg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; finisher diet of treatment D: 0.68% Ca, 0.48% tP + 5 µg/kg of 1α-OH-D3). Results showed that body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) of broilers in treatment B were similar to those of broilers in treatment A at the end of the trial (P < 0.05). Broilers in treatments C and D had lower BWG and FI than those in treatment A during the whole trial (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio, carcass traits and relative weight of lymphoid organs were not affected by dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Dietary treatments had no significant effect on antibody titers against Newcastle and Influenza disease viruses as well as sheep red blood cells. Dietary treatments had no significant effects on tibia ash and tibial dyschondroplasia score. Broilers fed Ca-P deficient diets had lower tibia Ca and P than those in treatment A (P < 0.05). In conclusion, results indicated that broilers fed Ca-P deficient diets supplemented with 5 µg/kg 1α-OH-D3 failed to achieve the same tibia Ca and P values as broilers fed nonphytate phosphorus adequate diets.
ABSTRACT
The present study was to evaluate thyme and ajwain as antibiotic growth promoter substitutions on growth performance, carcass characteristics and serum biochemistry in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). A feeding trial was conducted over 28 d with 4 groups of Japanese quails fed experimental diets formulated to provide no supplementation (control), or control + 55 mg zinc bacitracin/kg, 2 g thyme/kg, and 2 g ajwain/kg. At 35 d of age, 2 quails from each replicate were sacrificed and eviscerated. Liver, empty small intestine and heart were weighed and calculated as a percentage of live body weight. The carcasses were weighed and the cuts were performed to evaluate the yield of legs and breast. At 35 d of age, 2 quails per replicate were chosen and approximately 1-mL blood samples were collected through brachial vein, and concentrations of albumin, total protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) -cholesterol were determined. Final body weight were not affected by the dietary treatment whereas, it tended to increase in quails supplemented with antibiotic. Overall feed conversation ratio values were similar though it tended to improve in quails supplemented with thyme compared with other groups. Daily feed intake, internal organ weights and carcass traits were not influenced by the dietary treatments. Serum total cholesterol contents were lower (P < 0.05) in quails supplemented with ajwain compared with control and quails supplemented with antibiotic and thyme. The highest serum HDL-cholesterol was seen in the group supplemented with thyme compared with other groups. It was concluded that the addition of 2 g/kg thyme can improve serum biochemistry in quails, although its effects on performance criteria was negligible.
ABSTRACT
This experiment was conducted to determine whether dietary cholecalciferol will alleviate a calcium and phosphorous (Ca-P) deficiency when one-alpha-hydroxy-cholecalciferol, 1α(OH)D3, is supplemented, and to determine the effects of adequate and inadequate Ca-P when 1α(OH)D3 is supplemented and vitamin D3 is adequate. A total of 144 one-d-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to 3 treatments. The dietary treatments were as follows: treatment A, adequate Ca-P + cholecalciferol + 5 µg/kg 1α(OH)D3; treatment B, inadequate Ca-P + cholecalciferol + 5 µg/kg 1α(OH)D3; treatment C, inadequate Ca-P + 5 µg/kg 1α(OH)D3. All diets were mixed with 500 FTU/kg of phytase, and cholecalciferol was provided in 5,000 IU/kg except for treatment C that fed diets without vitamin D3. The Ca-P levels in the adequate diets were 0.90% Ca, 0.66% total phosphorus (tP); 0.75% Ca, 0.59% tP; 0.69% Ca, 0.54% tP for the starter, grower and finisher periods. At d 42 of age, broilers were inspected for incidence and severity of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD). The results showed that inadequate Ca-P supplementation with cholecalciferol significantly decreased the incidence of TD, score and tibia ash compared with broilers fed the same diet in the absence of cholecalciferol (P < 0.05). The broilers fed inadequate Ca-P diets with cholecalciferol were unable to achieve the same tibia ash and incidence of TD as those fed Ca-P adequate diets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this trial suggests that broilers fed an inadequate Ca-P diet with 1α(OH)D3 and adequate level of cholecalciferol are unable to sufficient bone formation. There was no indication that 1α(OH)D3 in the absence of cholecalciferol was effective in reducing TD whereas it could improve tibia ash.
ABSTRACT
AIM: An in vivo experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of ethanolic extract of propolis, on growth performance, carcass traits, serum biochemistry, and humoral immune responses of chickens, as compared with the antibiotic flavophospholipol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 312 1-day-old as-hatched broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to 6 treatments with 4 replicate pens per treatment. The 6 dietary treatments fed for 42 days consisted of a corn-soybean meal basal diet (control); control plus 4.5 mg/kg flavophospholipol, and control plus 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg ethanol extracts of propolis, respectively. RESULTS: Neither propolis nor antibiotic affected the performance criteria; however, dietary treatments tended to enhance to enhance body weight and daily feed intake of broiler chickens compared with control group (p>0.05). None of the dietary treatments significantly altered feed: Gain though; broilers fed diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg propolis had better feed: gain values compared with other groups in starter, and grower phases as well as the whole experimental period (p>0.05). Carcass yield and internal organ relative weights were not affected by treatments on day 42, except for abdominal fat pad weight that decreased in broilers supplemented with antibiotic. None of the treatments significantly affected humoral immune function. Dietary treatments failed to induce any significant effect on serum biochemistry (p>0.05); though broilers receiving 100 mg/kg propolis had greater high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and lower triglyceride concentrations compared with other groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results indicated that addition of ethanolic extract of propolis to routine dietary components of broilers, such as corn and soybean, seems not to have a positive influence on performance criteria.
ABSTRACT
AIM: The risk of bacteria resistance to specific antibiotics possibly by continuous subtherapeutical administration of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry feed led to a ban on the use of AGP in poultry production. As a result of this ban, alternative substances for poultry growth promotion and disease prevention are being investigated, among which phytogenic and herbal products have received increased attention as natural additives because they have been accepted by consumers as natural additives. The effect of water supplementation of Aloe vera (AV) as an AGP substitute on performance, intestinal microflora, and immune responses of broilers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The five experimental treatments were allocated to four replicates. The following treatments were applied (1) a basal broiler diet (C) and normal drinking water, (2) 0.5% AV gel in drinking water, (3) 0.75% AV gel in drinking water, (4) 1% AV gel in drinking water, and (5) diet C supplemented with flavophospholipol at 4.5 mg/kg and drinking normal water. Vaccines against influenza disease and sheep red blood cell (SRBC) were administrated to immunological stimuli. The populations of Lactobacilli spp. and coliforms were enumerated in ileum. RESULTS: Body weight of broilers supplemented with different levels of AV increased compared with control group (p<0.05). Birds supplemented with antibiotic had the best feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) in different periods. Supplementation of 0.5% and 0.75% AV improved F: G entire experimental period compared with control group (p<0.05). Coliform bacteria were reduced in broilers supplemented with different levels of AV or antibiotic (p<0.05). The Lactobacilli spp. population in birds supplemented with 0.75%, 1% AV or antibiotic significantly was higher than other groups (p<0.05). Supplementation with 1% AV led to greater antibody titers against SRBC compared with other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated a possibility of supplementing broiler drinking water with 1% AV gel as an alternative for AGP substitution.
ABSTRACT
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of milk or molasses kefir as a probiotic on growth performance, carcass traits, serum biochemistry and humoral immune responses in broiler chickens. A total of 192 one-d-old as hatched broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to 4 treatments, each with 4 replicate pens of 12 chicks. The following treatments were applied: 1) a basal diet (C) and normal drinking water, 2) 2% milk kefir in drinking water, 3) 2% molasses kefir in drinking water, and 4) the diet C supplemented with commercial probiotic. At d 42, eight birds per treatment were killed for determination of carcass traits. Broilers at 28 days of age were bled for measuring antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and avian influenza virus (AIV), at 30 days of age for antibody titers against sheep red blood cell (SRBC), and at 42 days of age for biochemical analysis. Supplementing 2% milk kefir increased body weight of broilers at 28 and 42 days of age (P < 0.05). Supplementing 2% molasses kefir improved feed conversation ratio (FCR) of broilers during growth period (P < 0.05), but FCR of broilers in other periods was not affected. Daily feed intake, internal organ weights, and carcass traits were not influenced by the treatments except for small intestine and ceca length. Small intestinal length significantly decreased in broilers supplemented with milk and molasses kefir (P < 0.05). Molasses kefir supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) increased antibody titer against SRBC at 31 days of age but other immune related parameters were not statistically different among treatments. Biochemical parameters including serum protein, albumin, and triglyceride concentrations were not statistically (P > 0.05) influenced. Broilers supplemented with molasses kefir, had a significantly lower concentration of serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated high density lipoprotein cholesterol at 42 days of age (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the results indicated that inclusion of 2% milk kefir in drinking water would improve growth performance of broiler chickens.
