Standardized ileal phosphorus digestibility of meat and bone meal and poultry byproduct meal for broilers

Two experiments were conducted using direct method to determine the standardized ileal phosphorus (P) digestibility coefficient (SIPDC) of meat and bone meal (MBM) and poultry byproduct meal (PBM) for broilers. In the first experiment, three MBM from different batches were evaluated, with four treatments (MBMI, MBMII, MBMIII, and a P-free diet) and nine replicates of seven birds each, totaling 252 birds distributed across a completely randomized design. The P-free diet was used to determine endogenous P losses. Titanium dioxide (5 g kg−1) was used as an indigestible indicator. In the second experiment, three PBM from different batches were evaluated, with 189 birds distributed over three treatments (PBMI, PBMII, and PBMIII) and nine replicates of seven birds each. These two experiments were conducted when birds were 19-22 days old. The birds were euthanized to collect the ileal content. Using the P-free diet, endogenous P losses were determined at 94.9 mg kg−1 dry matter intake. Standardized ileal P digestibility of MBMI (0.65) and MBMIII (0.69) was higher compared with MBMII (0.49). The SIPDC determined for three PBM sources were similar and 0.96, 0.96, and 0.93 for PBMI, PBMII, and PBMIII, respectively. The present study demonstrates that P in MBM is not as available as it is believed and that the variability between batches should be considered by nutritionists, while PBM can be considered an excellent P source to broiler diets.

Effects of xylanase and probiotic supplementation on broiler chicken diets

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of xylanase and probiotic supplementation on the performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal pH, intestinal viscosity, and ileal microbiota of broiler chickens fed diets containing wheat bran. The study animals were kept in metal cages, and the study was performed using a completely randomized design, with four treatments, six birds per treatment, and six replicates. The four treatments included a control group, a probiotic-supplemented group, a xylanase-supplemented group, and a group that received both xylanase and probiotic supplementation. The diets of all four groups contained wheat bran (50 and 30 g/kg for the starter and grower phases, respectively) and phytase, and at 10 d after hatching, the experimental birds were challenged orally with Eimeria sp commercial vaccine. During the initial phase, supplementation with xylanase, probiotics, or their combination yielded greater weight gains than the control diet; however, considering the period from 10-35 d, the chickens receiving xylanase + probiotic and the diet without the additives showed lower weight gain (2.746 and 2.600 kg, respectively). All the supplemented diets reduced cecum viscosity, and supplementation with probiotic showed a significantly lower pH (6.11). The ileal microbiota was also influenced by xylanase and probiotic supplementation, modulating the frequencies of the genera Lactobacillus and Clostridium. The positive effects of supplementation with xylanase or probiotics alone were similar to those of co-supplementation, and no associative effect was observed.(AU)

Digestible threonine for slow-growing broilers: performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal mucin, and duodenal morphometry

Five experiments were conducted to estimate the digestible threonine requirements of slow-growing broilers: experiment 1, starter phase (days 10 to 28); experiment 2, grower I phase (days 29 to 49); experiment 3, grower II phase (days 50 to 69); experiment 4, finisher phase (days 70 to 84); and experiment 5, which was specifically conducted to determine the production of intestinal mucin over two periods (days 50 to 69 and 70 to 84). Different birds were used in all experiments. A completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates was used. Treatments consisted of increasing the values of digestible threonine in the diet through basal feed supplementation with L-threonine (98.5%), which was added instead of cornstarch. The following values of digestible threonine were investigated: 0.622, 0.697, 0.772, 0.847, and 0.922% in experiment 1; 0.586, 0.662, 0.738, 0.814, and 0.890% in experiment 2; 0.570, 0.640, 0.71, 0.780, and 0.850% in experiments 3 and 5; and 0.520, 0.595, 0.670, 0.745, and 0.820% in experiments 4 and 5. The digestible threonine values presented quadratic effects on feed conversion ratio in experiments 1, 2, and 3. Digestible threonine values of 0.628 and 0.609% resulted in higher villus height and greater duodenal crypt depth, respectively. Digestible threonine values of 0.762, 0.767, and 0.733% may be recommended for the starter, grower I, and grower II phases, respectively, based on the best feed conversion ratio. In addition, a digestible threonine level of 0.694% may be recommended for the finisher phase based on the highest production of intestinal mucin.(AU)