Extraction and purification of ß-glucanase from bovine rumen fungus Trichoderma reesei and its effect on performance, carcass characteristics, microbial flora, plasma biochemical parameters, and immunity in a local broiler hybrid Golpayegan-Ross.

The enzyme ß-glucanase was extracted from Trichoderma reesei in bovine rumen fluid samples collected from a slaughterhouse and its effect was investigated in broilers. Data collected was broiler performance, carcass characteristics, duodenum microbial flora, hematological, and immunological parameters. ß-glucanase activity was assayed through spectrometry and was approximately 0.434 IU per gram culture medium. In the current study, endoglucanase enzymes were extracted from Trichoderma reesei. A total of 160 local broilers (Golpayegan-Ross hybrid) were allocated to 4 treatments with 4 replicates per treatment. Over a 49-day experimental period, broilers were fed a basal diet (T1), basal diet plus 20% barley (T2), basal diet with 10 IU extracted ß-glucanase and 20% barley (T3), and basal diet with 10 IU commercial ß-glucanase and 20% barley (T4). The T3 treatment resulted in the greatest body weight gain at the end of experiment (P < 0.01). No significant differences were for feed conversion (FCR; P > 0.05). The highest cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and LDL cholesterol ratio was observed in the T3 treatment. The highest concentrations of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2), and immunoglobulin M1 (IgM1) were observed in the T4 treatment. The T3 treatment resulted in the best response for all measured carcass characteristics. The highest levels of aerobic bacteria, lactobacilli, anaerobic bacteria, and E. coli were associated with the T4, T3, T4, and T1 treatments, respectively. It is concluded that ß-glucanase supplementation can be used to overcome the anti-nutritive effects of water soluble barley non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) and consequently enhance broiler performance without any adverse effects on humoral immunity parameters.

Effect of vegetable wastage and energy in ostrich chick diet on performance and hematology.

This study evaluated the effects of different levels of dietary vegetable wastage and energy on ostrich chick performance and hematology. Twenty-four ostrich chicks (blue and black African breed) were allocated to eight treatments. The diet in treatments T1 to T4 had 2,500 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy, while treatments T5 to T8 had 2,700 kcal/kg. Each treatment had 0, 10, 20, and 30% of vegetable wastage. Vegetable wastage included parsley (Petroselinum crispum, 51.3 %), cress (Lepidium sativum, 15.0%), spinach (Spinacia oleracea, 15.0%), wild leek (Allium ampeloprasum, 14.0%), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum, 2.5%), and basil (Ocimum basilicum, 2.2 %). The body weight gain and food intake were assessed weekly. Blood was analyzed for total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterols, LDL/HDL, ratio and alkaline phosphatase. The highest level of weight was seen in the second treatment (2,500 kcal/kg dietary energy and 10% dietary wastage). The hematological parameters were different depending on the treatment used. The lowest level of total cholesterol was observed in eighth treatment (2,700 kcal/kg dietary energy and 30% dietary wastage), while the lowest level of triglycerides was in fourth treatment (2,500 kcal/kg dietary energy and 30 % of wastage). The level of alkaline phosphatise was the lowest in seventh treatment (2,700 kcal/kg dietary energy and 20% wastages). The energy level had no effect (P < 0.05) on feed intake, weight gain, and feed efficiency for each week and for all experimental period. The level of vegetable wastage showed effect (P = 0.033) on feed intake, but the increase of this level showed depressive effect on the feed intake. This is the first report on the performance and blood parameters of commercial ostrich chicks fed diets differing in vegetable wastage. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.