Influence of spray-dried rumen fluid supplementation on performance, blood metabolites and cytokines in suckling Holstein calves.

Rumen fluid from slaughtered animals is one of the wastes of slaughterhouses released to the environment that, due to its high nitrogen and phosphorus contents, can lead to soil and groundwater pollution. Meanwhile, it contains ruminal microbes and some bioactive compounds such as enzymes, minerals, vitamins and organic acids. This study was designed to examine the potential of rumen fluid as a feed additive. Therefore, the effects of spray-dried rumen fluid (SDR) with 1% maltodextrin on the performance, blood metabolites and some cytokines of sucking dairy calves during the pre-weaning phase were investigated. Forty male Holstein calves, with a mean weight of 39.4 ± 3.7 kg and 7 ± 1 days old, were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10 calves per group) in a completely randomized design. Experimental treatments were: control diet with no additive (CON); control diet with 0.5 g/day of SDR (SDR0.5); control diet with 1 g/day of SDR (SDR1); and control diet with 1.5 g/day of SDR (SDR1.5). Daily feed intake and average daily gain of calves were not affected by feeding SDR as a feed additive. Cholesterol concentration was significantly affected by the 20th and 40th days of the experiment and decreased linearly by increasing SDR feeding level. Levels of liver enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, in the blood decreased by feeding SDR at day 40 of the experiment. Serum concentration of interleukin-6 at day 20 was not affected by dried rumen fluid feeding, whereas at day 40, a significant effect was observed among experimental treatments. The lowest value was recorded for SDR1.5 v. control calves. At day 20, the serum concentration of interferon-γ was influenced by supplementing SDR, and the highest value was recorded for SDR1.5 calves. The inclusion of SDR with 1% maltodextrin in suckling dairy calves had beneficial effects on the stimulation of calves' immune system.

The favorite dosage of garlic meal as a feed additive in broiler chickens ratios.

This experiment carried out as a completely randomized design with six treatments and 3 replicates pens of 100 birds each (total of 1800 birds). Treatments were consisted of a common corn-soybean meal based starter and grower diets supplemented by 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 or 2% garlic meal. At 1-21 days of age, daily feed intake per chicks influences by dietary garlic meal level so that the birds fed diets with 0.125 and 0.25% garlic meal had a significantly higher daily feed intake (p < 0.05) than birds fed 0.5% dietary garlic meal. At 22-42 days of age and the whole experimental period (1-42 days of age), garlic meal level didn't affect daily feed intake. No significant difference recorded for daily weight gain of experimentally birds at 1-21 days of age, But at 22-42 days of age and the whole experimentally period (1-42 days of age) the birds fed the control diet (free of garlic meal) and the diet containing the highest garlic meal dosage (2%) had a significantly lower daily weight gain in compare to other birds (p < 0.05). At 1-21 days of age the birds fed diet supplemented with 0.5% garlic meal had a lower feed conversion ratio than the control birds (p < 0.05) but at 22-42 days of age and the whole experimentally period (1-42 days of age) birds fed the control diet and the diet whit 2% garlic meal supplement showed a higher feed conversion ratios in compare with birds fed diets containing 0.125, 0.5 or 1% garlic meal. No significant differences were detected in carcass percentage and interior organs between birds fed experimental diets. The weight gain reduction in birds fed 2% dietary garlic meal means that herbal additives have their limitations too and needs more investigation.

Effects of a locally produced blood meal on performance, carcass traits and nitrogen retention of broiler chickens.

The study was designed as a 2 x 5 factorial arrangement with main effects of feeding blood meal as a replacement of 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100% of dietary fish meal and the duration of this substitution at 1-42 or 21-42 days of age. One thousand 1 day old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks assigned randomly to each of 40 floor pens (25 birds/pen) and were fed five isonitrogenous and isocaloric feeds formulated to contain 20.38 and 17% crude protein and 2900 and 3000 kcal kg(-1) metabolizable for starter and grower periods, respectively. Duration of dietary manipulation didn't affect the measured parameters. More than 25% blood meal/fish meal substitution ratios significantly increased chickens daily weight gain and decreased the cost of producing a unit of meat. Other traits didn't affect by dietary fish meal/blood meal replacement ratio. Spleen and proventriculus percents and small intestine length affected by level of replacement but didn't follow a distinct pattern. These results indicate that this locally produced blood meal is a suitable substitute for dietary fish meal and a full replacement didn't cause any adverse effect on performance, carcass important traits and dietary nitrogen retention of broiler chickens.