Effects of in ovo feeding of vitamin E or vitamin C on egg hatchability, performance, carcass traits and immunity in broiler chickens.

The effect of in ovo feeding of different levels of vitamins C and E on egg hatchability, immune response, growth and carcass traits of broiler chickens were investigated. A total of 672 fertilized eggs were assigned to one of eight experimental groups having three replicates with 28 eggs as follows: (1) negative control (not injected); (2) positive control (injected with 0.2 mL deionized water); (3) vitamin C at 1 mg; (4) vitamin C at 3 mg; (5) vitamin C at 6 mg; (6) vitamin E at 0.5 IU; (7) vitamin E at 0.75 IU; and (8) vitamin E at 1.0 IU. At the end of incubation, the number of chicks hatched, and their individual body weight were recorded. Among hatched birds, a total of 240 mixed chicks were randomly selected (30 subject per group equally shared in three pen floors). Chicks were vaccinated against Avian Influenza, Gumboro, Bronchitis, and Newcastle disease virus. Performance parameters were weekly evaluated until 42 days of age. At days 28 and 42, broiler serum and spleen and Bursa of Fabricius relative weight were assessed as well as on day 42 the carcass traits. From results, in ovo injection with 3 mg of vitamin C or 0.75 IU of vitamin E, increased significantly (p < .05) the embryos hatchability when compared to the negative control. However, body weight at hatch and growth performance parameters showed no differences among treatments. Similarly, in ovo concentrations of vitamins C or E showed no differences on carcass traits, immunity-related organs weight or immune response for anti-Newcastle disease hemagglutination-inhibition and total immunoglobulins against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) when compared to the control groups. Based on findings, it can be concluded that in ovo feeding vitamins E and C supported positively chicken embryos hatchability demonstrating the key-role as antioxidant agents; however, further studies are currently being evaluated.

Effects of different levels of dietary black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and their combination on productive traits, selected blood constituents, microbiota and immunity of broilers.

The effects of inclusion of powdered seeds of black cumin (B) (Nigella sativa L.) and fenugreek (F) (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on productive traits, selected blood constituents, microbiota and immunity of broilers were studied. A total of 648 day-old chicks were randomly assigned to nine treatments, with four pen replicates, each with 18 birds, including three levels of B seed powder (BSP; 0, 5 or 10 g/kg) and three levels of F seed powder (FSP; 0, 5 or 10 g/kg) in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement. Neither powder affected feed intake. The FSP increased (p = 0.048) feed conversion ratio (FCR), but decreased daily BW gain (p = 0.02) between days 0 and 21, while BSP increased daily gain between days 22 and 42 and overall (both p = 0.005). Abdominal fat was decreased (p = 0.003) by BSP. Blood constituents were unaffected by either powder, but ileal Escherichia coli were decreased (p = 0.039) at day 42. The BSP increased a range of immunological titers, where BSP affected positively the measured variables. The interactions between BSP and FSP, specifically on broiler carcass cuts, suggested that where BSP is included at 10 g/kg, the inclusion of FSP at the same level may provide no additional benefit. Thus, while either powder could be included separately, the co-inclusion of both at 10 g/kg is not recommended.

Effect of Essential Oil of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) or Increasing Levels of a Commercial Prebiotic (TechnoMOS®) on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Male Broilers.

To investigate the effect of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) essential oil (TEO) or increasing inclusion of a prebiotic (TechnoMOS®) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broilers, 400 one-day-old male broilers (43.5 g, as mean of body weight) were placed in 20 pens (2.0 × 1.0 m, with a floor area of 0.10 m2 per bird) in groups of 20, and each pen cage was assigned to a specific dietary treatment (four replicates per each one). The dietary treatments included basic diet (no additive; CTR), basic diet including 0.025%, 0.075%, or 0.125% of TechnoMOS® (MOS025, MOS075, and MOS125, respectively), or basic diet including 0.075% thyme extract (TEO075). All dietary treatments were offered from the beginning of the study until the end of the trial. There were no effects of MOS or TEO on carcass characteristics. No significant effects of treatment on weight gain were obtained on a week-by-week basis; however, CTR birds gained less weight during the grower phase and overall compared with MOS birds. The same contrast for feed intake revealed that CTR birds had greater feed intake than MOS birds during both the grower phase and overall (492.18 g and 486.35 g, respectively). In conclusion, treated groups showed an improved feed conversion ratio.

Prebiotics, probiotics and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) for broilers: performance, carcass traits and blood variables / Prebióticos, probióticos y tomillo (Thymus vulgaris) para pollo de engorde: rendimiento, características de la canal y variables sanguíneas / Prebióticos, probióticos tomilho (Thymus vulgaris) para frangos de corte: desempenho, características da carcaça e variáveis sanguíneas

Summary Background: a stressful environment predisposes broilers to various diseases. Probiotics, prebiotics and essential oils can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in poultry production. Objective: to evaluate the effects of the Fermacto (prebiotic), Bioplus 2B (probiotic), and thyme essential oil on growth, organ and carcass traits, and hematology of Ross broiler chicks during 42 days. Methods: broilers (n=140) were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatment groups with 20 broilers in each group. The experiment was repeated four times; hence, a total of 560 broilers were used in the study. The diets contained 1 or 2 g/kg Fermacto, 1 or 2 g/kg Bioplus 2B, and 0.5 or 1 g/kg thyme essential oil. A negative control was also included. Results: when compared with the control group, Fermacto, Bioplus 2B, and thyme essential oil resulted in an increase in body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI), while feed conversion ratio (FCR) was enhanced by 2 g/kg Fermacto. Although thyme essential oil at 1 g/kg also improved FCR, it led to a reduction in the relative weight of thighs and wings. Limited differences were observed in blood parameters. Conclusion: Fermacto, Bioplus 2B, and thyme essential oil improved the average daily gain of broilers and had a limited effect on carcass, organs and plasma constituents.

Resumen Antecedentes: en la industria del pollo de engorde, el ambiente estresante predispone las aves a diferentes enfermedades causadas por patogenos. Los probióticos, prebióticos y aceites esenciales pueden ser una alternativa a los antibióticos en la producción de pollos de engorde. Objetivo: evaluar el efecto del prebiótico Fermacto, del probiótico Bioplus 2B y del aceite esencial de tomillo sobre el crecimiento, las características de la canal y de los órganos, y paramentros hematológicos de pollos de engorde "Ross" durante un período de 42 días. Métodos: quinientos sesenta pollos de engorde fueron asignados aleatoriamente a siete grupos alimenticios con cuatro repeticiones de 20 pollos cada uno. Las dietas contenían 1 o 2 g/kg de Fermacto, 1 o 2 g/kg de Bioplus 2B, y 0.5 o 1 g/kg de aceite esencial de tomillo. También se incluyó un grupo control (sin aditivos). Resultados: en comparación con el control, Fermacto, Bioplus 2B, y el aceite esencial de tomillo aumentaron la ganancia de peso corporal (BWG) y la ingesta de alimento (FI). El índice de conversión del alimento (FCR) se vió mejorado con 2 g/kg de Fermacto. La suplementación con 1 g/kg de aceite esencial de tomillo causó el aumento del FCR, pero al mismo tiempo redujo el peso relativo de los muslos y de las alas. Se observaron pocas diferencias en las variables sanguineas entre los grupos. Conclusiones: el prebiótico (Fermacto), el probiótico (Bioplus 2B) y el aceite esencial de tomillo mejoraron la ganancia diaria de peso de los pollos de engorde, pero con un efecto limitado sobre las características de la canal, de los órganos, y de los constituyentes del plasma.

Resumo Antecedentes: na indústria avícola, o stresse ambiental é um fator que predispõe a numerosas doenças. Os probióticos e prebióticos podem ser uma alternativa viável ao uso de antibióticos na produção de frangos. Objetivo: avaliar o efeito do prebiótico Fermacto, probiótico Bioplus 2B e óleo essencial de tomilho (OET) no desempenho zootécnico e nos parâmetros hematológicos em frangos Ross, durante um ciclo de produção de 42 dias. Métodos: quinhentos e sessenta pintos foram aleatoriamente distribuídos por sete grupos, cada um constituído por quatro replicados com 20 aves. Foram usadas dietas contendo 1 ou 2 g/kg de Fermacto, 1 ou 2 g/kg de Bioplus 2B e 0.5 ou 1 g/kg de OET, e um grupo controlo. Resultados: o Fermacto, o Bioplus 2B e o óleo essencial de tomilho aumentaram o ganho de peso e o consumo da ração. O índice de conversão alimentar (IC) foi influenciado pelo adição de 2 g/kg de Fermacto. A suplementação da ração com 1 g/kg de óleo essencial de tomilho aumentou o IC e reduziu o peso relativo das coxas e das asas na carcaça. Não se observaram diferenças significativas entre grupos para os parâmetros da bioquímica sérica. Conclusães: as suplementações da dieta com Fermacto, Bioplus 2B e óleo essencial de tomilho melhoram o ganho de peso diário, mas seu efeito sobre as características da carcaça e os parâmetros bioquímicos do plasma sanguíneo foi limitado.

Effect of different levels of dietary sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel extract on humoral immune system responses in broiler chickens.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel extract (SOPE) on humoral immune system responses in broiler chickens. Three hundred 1-day broilers (Ross-308) were randomly allocated to treatments varying in supplemental SOPE added in the drinking water. The experimental groups consisted of three treatments fed for 42 days as follows: a control treatment without feed extract, a treatment containing 1000 ppm of SOPE and a treatment containing 1250 ppm of SOPE. All treatments were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Broilers were vaccinated with Newcastle disease virus (NDV), avian influenza (AI), infectious bursal disease (IBD) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccines. Antibody titer response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was higher in the group fed 1250 ppm of SOPE (P < 0.05) as well as for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM. Similarly, antibody titer responses to all vaccines were constantly elevated (P < 0.05) by SOPE enrichment in a dose-dependent manner. Relative weights of spleen and bursa of Fabricius were unaffected by treatments. Dietary SOPE supplementation may improve the immune response and diseases resistance, indicating that it can constitute a useful additive in broiler feeding. Thus, supplying SOPE in rations may help to improve relative immune response in broiler chickens.

Effects of different levels of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seed powder and extract on serum biochemical parameters, microbiota, and immunity in broiler chicks.

The use of herbs and spices has gained increasing interest as feed additives and possible alternative to antibiotics in poultry production. The effects of using different levels of coriander seed powder or extract on selected blood parameters, intestinal microflora, and immune response of broiler chickens were investigated in this study. A total of 420-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 7 treatments with 4 replicates and fed for 42 days. Results showed that inclusion of 2.0% coriander powder in broiler diets lowered total cholesterol while blood urea was significantly higher in birds on T4 compared to T1 and T2. Furthermore, there were no treatment effects on Lactobacillus bacteria; however, the population of E. coli was significantly higher in the ileum of chickens fed T0. Noticeable significant improvements of antibody titer against Newcastle, infectious bronchitis, and infectious bursal disease were observed in birds receiving coriander extract in water. Immunoglobulin G antibody against sheep red blood cells showed significant improvement in birds fed T3; likewise, immunoglobulin M was significantly higher in birds on T2 and T3 at 28 d of age. These results revealed that coriander extract or powder can be used as antibiotic alternative in broiler feeds.

Influence of dietary fat source on growth performance responses and carcass traits of broiler chicks.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of three different fat sources and their combination on growth performance, carcass traits and intestinal measurements of broiler chickens reared to 42 d of age. Two hundred day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to one of five treatments with four replicates of 10 chicks based on a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments consisted of 4% added fat from three different sources and their combination as follows: T, diet containing 4% tallow; CO, diet containing 4% canola oil; SFO, diet containing 4% sunflower oil; TCO, diet containing 2% tallow+2% canola oil; TSFO, diet containing 2% tallow+2% sunflower oil. Dietary fat type affected significantly BW and gain as well as feed efficiency in birds fed the TCO diets compared with those fed the other diets. Dietary fat type also modified meat yield, resulting in a higher breast and drumstick yields in the birds fed TCO and TSFO diets, respectively. Most of internal organ relative weights and small intestine measurements were not influenced by dietary treatments, except for the abdominal fat pad weight that was lower in birds fed SFO and for small intestinal length that was influenced by fat source. Results from the current study suggested that the supplementation with a combination of vegetable and animal fat sources in broiler diet supported positively growth performance and carcass parameters.