Interaction effect of ruminal undegradable protein level and rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) inclusion in the diet of growing goat kids on meat CLA content and quality traits.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of dietary rumen undegradable protein (RUP) level and rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acid (rpCLA) on meat fatty acid (FA) profile, chemical compositions and colour parameters of growing kids. Thirty-two Kurdish goat kids (13·06 ± 1·08 kg body weight) were fed diets differing in RUP level (low = 250 v. high = 350 g/kg of dietary crude protein) supplemented either with 15 g/kg of rpCLA or 12 g/kg of hydrogenated soyabean oil (HSO) for 80 d. Interaction of dietary rpCLA and RUP level had no effect on hot carcass weight, dressing and cut percentage, and meat chemical composition and colour parameters. Meat total SFA, MUFA and PUFA concentrations were not influenced by experimental diets, whereas kids fed diets supplemented with rpCLA had lower meat total SFA and higher PUFA concentrations compared with those fed diets supplemented with HSO. The concentration of meat trans-11-8 : 1 was not influenced by rpCLA supplementation, RUP level and their interaction. Kids fed diets containing rpCLA supplementation had higher meat total CLA and cis-9, trans-11-CLA and trans-10, cis-12-CLA isomers compared with those fed diets containing HSO supplementation. Desaturase indexes of C14, C16 and C18 were not influenced by rpCLA supplementation, RUP level and their interaction. It is concluded that supplementing growing kids' diets with RUP and 15 g/kg of rpCLA not only decreased meat fat content but also increased some FA considered to be of potential benefit to human health.

The effects of increasing levels of dietary garlic bulb on growth performance, systolic blood pressure, hematology, and ascites syndrome in broiler chickens.

The effects of dietary garlic bulb were studied separately on hematological parameters, ascites incidence, and growth performance of an ascites susceptible broiler hybrid under both standard temperature conditions ( STC: ) and cold temperature conditions ( CTC: ). A total of 336 one-day-old male broiler chickens were allocated to 4 experimental groups with 4 replicates of 21 birds each under STC. In addition, the same grouping with another 336 birds was used for CTC. Under CTC, the birds were exposed to cold temperatures for induction of ascites. Experimental groups were defined by the inclusion of 0 (control), 5, 10 or 15 g/kg garlic bulbs in the diets under both STC and CTC. Growth performance, systolic blood pressure (as a measure of systemic arterial blood pressure), physiological and biochemical parameters, as well as ascites indices (right ventricle [ RV: ], total ventricle [ TV: ] weights, and RV/TV: ) were evaluated. Systolic blood pressure was determined using an indirect method with a sphygmomanometer, a pediatric cuff, and a Doppler device. The final body weight decreased quadratically (P = 0.003), with increasing garlic bulb levels in the diets under STC. The feed conversion ratio showed no significant differences among all groups under both STC and CTC. No significant differences were observed in total mortality and ascites-related mortality in all groups under STC, although total mortality (L: P = 0.01; Q: P = 0.001) and ascites-related mortality (L: P = 0.007; Q: P = 0.001) were significantly different among the diets under CTC. Under STC, the systolic blood pressure, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, RV, TV, and RV/TV did not vary significantly among the diets. However, red blood cell count and erythrocyte osmotic fragility decreased linearly (P < 0.005) with increasing garlic bulb levels in the diets under STC. Under CTC, the systolic blood pressure, packed cell volume, red blood cell count, and erythrocyte osmotic fragility decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing garlic levels. It is concluded that the inclusion of 5 g/kg garlic bulb in susceptible broiler chicken diets has a systemic anti-hypertensive effect and could decrease ascites incidence without impairing broiler chicken performance.