Infertile Egg Powder Improves Nutrient Digestibility, Digestive Organ Development, and Performance of Broiler Chickens

Received: 2020-11-16 | Accepted: 2021-06-01 | Available online: 2021-12-31 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.04.334-339 In this work we aimed to analyse the effect of different levels of Musculaton ® with selected amino acids and herbal extracts on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total 240 one-day-old broiler chickens Ross 308 of mixed sex were divided into four experimental groups (n = 60): a control and three experimental groups with addition of Musculaton ® in levels 0.75%, 1.00% and 1.25% in drinking water from 22 to 35 day of fattening. In nutrition, we used commercial feed mixtures, water and feed was provided ad libitum throughout the experimental period of 42 days. The body weights of all birds were recorded individually at weekly interval from 1 to 42 day. Total feed consumption and total mortality were determined to 42 day of fattening period. Carcass characteristics were detected at the end of the experiment. The addition of different levels of Musculaton ® significantly increased ( p  <0.05) the live weight of broilers from 28 to 42 days of age compared with control. In the whole trial period, feed consumption and mortality were no affected by addition of Musculaton ® to drinking water compared control group. As regards carcass parameters, the addition Musculaton ® in drinking water significantly decreased ( p  <0.05) abdominal fat weight and significantly increased ( p  <0.05) breast proportion. Carcass yield and thigh proportion were not affected ( p  >0.05) by the application of Musculaton ® . The liver, pancreas, kidney and small intestine proportions were significantly higher ( p  <0.05) in chickens supplemented by Musculaton ® . In case of neck, crop, heart, proventriculus, gizzard, caecum and large intestine weights among control and experimental groups we observed no statistically significant differences ( p  >0.05). 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The study investigated the effects of varying dietary calcium (Ca) levels and sources of oil on performance of broiler chickens. A total of 378 one-day-old birds were fed 6% palm oil (PO), soybean oil (SO) or linseed oil (LO) in combination with three levels of Ca, 1%, 1.25% and 1.5%, for six weeks in a 3 x 3 factorial experiment. Birds fed diet supplemented with SO and PO had higher average daily gains, more abdominal fat and greater villi height compared with those fed LO. However, feed efficiency, apparent digestibility of organic matter, ether extract, crude protein and ash were similar across treatments. Regardless of oil source, the chickens fed diets containing 1.5% Ca had a lower bodyweight and apparent digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, ether extract and phosphorus (P) than those fed 1% and 1.25% Ca. In contrast, the birds fed 1.25% Ca had higher ash, Ca and P digestibility than did the 1% Ca birds. Interaction between source of oil and Ca level on mineral digestibility was significant. It can be concluded that palm oil could be used as an alternative to soybean and linseed oils to improve growth performance in broiler chickens. Moreover, increasing the level of Ca to 1.25% can improve broiler performance and apparent nutrient digestibility, regardless of the type of oil used in the current study. Keywords: Broiler performance, dietary calcium levels, linseed oil, nutrient digestibility, palm oil, soybean oil, villus height

ABSTRACTIn this study, the effect of grinding or pelleting of rapeseed on the digestibility, apparent metabolisable energy (AMEN), growth performance and gizzard weight of broiler chickens was evaluated. In Exp. 1, four treatments were tested (240 broiler chickens, 20 replications, 3 birds per cage). Birds received either a basal diet or were fed with rapeseed of different sized particles (fine, medium and coarse ground, respectively). In Exp. 2, 10 treatments were assessed (360 chickens, 12 replications, 3 birds per cage), where five different diets (a basal diet and four diets with intact rapeseed, fine ground, medium ground or coarse ground rapeseed, respectively) were fed non-pelleted or pelleted. In Exp. 3, two treatments were compared (224 broiler chickens, 14 replications, 8 birds per floor pen): fine ground rapeseed (FG) and intact rapeseed (IS). Compared with medium and coarse ground rapeseed, fine grinding increased in Exp. 1 the AMEN of rapeseed and the precaecal digestibility (PD) of dry matter and ether extract (EE) (p < 0.05). In Exp. 2, the content of AMEN and the PD of EE and crude protein (CP) increased as the degree of grinding increased when diets were not pelleted (p < 0.01). In contrast, the significantly highest values for these parameters were measured after pelleting without effect of grinding, resulting in a significant interaction between pelleting and grinding (p < 0.001). In Exp. 3, performance of chickens was not affected by dietary treatments, but gizzard weight and the PD of CP were higher when IS were included in the diet (p < 0.05). The results suggested that fine grinding may be used to increase the feeding value of full-fat rapeseed for broiler chickens. Nevertheless, pelleting of diets with rapeseed seemed to be much more effective in the reduction of particle size than grinding.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the growth performance, microbial population, intestinal morphology and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with lysophospholipids (LPL) in combination with soybean (SO), flaxseed (FSO) or sesame seed (SSO) oil sources. A completely randomised design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement including two levels of LPL (0 or 0.1% Lipidol) and three different oil sources was used. A total of three hundred one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated into six treatments of five pens with ten birds per pen. The results showed that body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly increased in broilers fed dietary LPL and SSO (p < .05). There was a significant interaction between the oil sources and LPL supplementation on 10 days of age (p < .05). Inclusion of SSO to the diets increased villus width and villus surface area compared with SO diet (p < .05). Broilers fed LPL supplemented diets had lower crypt depth, while villus length to crypt depth ratio was greater in broilers fed LPL supplementation (p < .05). Lactobacillus population increased in broilers fed LPL supplemented diet compared to those without dietary LPL (p < .05). Inclusion of LPL increased ileal digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and ether extract (p < .05). Broiler fed SSO diets had greater digestibility coefficient for ether extract compared with SO group (p < .05). In conclusion, dietary LPL supplementation and SSO increased growth performance, intestinal morphology, microbiota activity and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens. HIGHLIGHTS Lysophospholipids (LPL) supplementation increased growth performance, intestinal morphology, and microbiota activity in broiler chickens. Supplemental LPL enhanced ileal nutrient digestibility coefficients in broiler chickens. Dietary sesame seed oil (SSO) increased growth performance, ether extract digestibility and intestinal morphometric variables in broiler chickens compared with soybean oil (SO).

The current study aimed to determine the impact of acidified feed on apparent ileal starch digestibility, intestinal transport and barrier function and intestinal glucose transporter expression. The experiment included a control group and a treatment group with broilers fed a standard diet without or with 1.5% of a commercial organic acid product (64% formic acid, 25% propionic acid, 11% water). Broilers were fed with the experimental diets from hatching until days 32-35. Starch digestibility was determined using 0.2% titanium dioxide as ingestible marker. Gene expressions of the intestinal sodium glucose transporter 1 (SGLT-1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT-2) were analysed using qPCR analysis. Additionally, SGLT-1 function and chloride secretion were analysed in Ussing chamber experiments. Jejunal samples were sequentially exposed to 10 mm glucose, 100 μm phloridzin, 100 μm histamine and 100 μm carbachol. Apparent ileal starch digestibility (±SEM) of the control group (97.5 ± 0.35%) and the acid-treated group (97.0 ± 0.59%) did not differ (p = 0.674). The mean tissue conductance of intestinal samples obtained from the control group and the treatment group was similar [10.6 mS/cm(2) (±0.68) and 9.4 mS/cm(2) (±0.80) respectively (p = 0.147)]. The mean short-circuit currents (ΔIsc ) of the samples exposed to glucose, phloridzin, histamine and carbachol did not differ (p > 0.05). Additionally, no differences in the expression of SGLT-1 and GLUT-2 could be observed (p = 0.942, p = 0.413). Based on this study, the consumption of feed supplemented with organic acids was not associated with effects on ileal starch digestibility and functional traits of jejunal tissues, indicating that these additives have no major impact on the small intestinal function in broilers.

Modified-dietary fiber from cassava pulp reduces abdominal fat and meat cholesterol contents without affecting growth performance of broiler chickens

The present study was carried out to assess the dietary potency of sun-dried turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder on the performance of the broiler chicks. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) day old abor acre plus chicks were randomly allocated to four (4) dietary treatments each with three replicates of ten (10) chicks. Four experimental diets were formulated in such a way that the control diet (T1) did not contain turmeric powder whereas birds in T2, T3 and T4 fed diets contained 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30% turmeric powder respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 28 days and parameters on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and cost analysis were evaluated. Proximate analysis showed that turmeric powder possesses some nutrients which make it nutritionally viable as a feed additive in the broiler chick diet. There were no significant differences among all the growth performance parameters evaluated across the dietary treatments. Broiler chicks fed 0.30% turmeric recorded numerically best value in terms of body weight and feed conversion ratio compared to other treatments including control. No significant difference was observed in nutrient utilization across the treatment groups. Turmeric powder resulted in efficient feed cost reduction, and among the treatments, the diet with 0.30 % of turmeric powder provides a better economic advantage in terms of feed cost per weight gain. It is concluded that supplementation of turmeric powder up to 0.30% as feed additives in broiler chicks’ diet had no negative impact on growth performance, nutrient utilization and production cost of the abor acre plus breed of chicks.

&lt;p&gt;African locust bean (&lt;em&gt;Parkia biglobosa&lt;/em&gt;) seed is rich in protein and has recently found its way into the feed industry. This research was conducted to determine the growth performance, haematological profile and nutrient digestibility by broiler chickens fed diets containing soaked and fermented African locust bean &lt;strong&gt;(&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Parkia biglobosa&lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;) &lt;/strong&gt;seed meal (SFALBSM). Five diets were formulated in which SFALSBM was included at graded levels of 0, 7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30% designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Two hundred and twenty five (225) day old broiler chickens (Marshall Strain) were fed these diets in a completely randomized design and each treatment was replicated three times with 15 birds per replicate. The experiment lasted 8 weeks (4week starter phase and 4week finisher phase). The results of performance of broiler chicks at starter phase showed there were differences (P&amp;lt;0.05) in final body weight (734.25 - 937.81 g) and total weight gain of birds (679.13 -898.31 g). T3 had the highest body gain compared to other treatments. Similarly, final body weight of broilers at finisher revealed that birds fed T3 and T4 (2786.14 g and 2686.14 g) were higher (P&amp;lt;0.05) than those fed other diets. Birds fed T5 had the lowest value (2312.73g). There were differences (P&amp;lt;0.05) in the feed conversion ratio (3.26 - 4.55) and feed cost per kilogram gain (222.33 - 316.70 &lt;span style="text-decoration: line-through;"&gt;N&lt;/span&gt;/kg gain). The best feed conversion ratio was observed on birds fed T3 diet. The results of blood analysis showed that there were differences (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in the packed cell volume (23.33 - 27.67 %), total glucose (129.22 - 161.01 mmol/l), and red blood cell (3.30 - 4.29 X10&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt;/l). There were no effect (P &amp;gt;0.05) on digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and ash. The crude fibre, ether extract and nitrogen free extract digestibility were affected by treatments (P&amp;lt;0.05). Birds fed T3 had highest crude fibre digestibility value (P&amp;lt;0.05). It was concluded that soaked and fermented African locust bean seed meal can be included in broiler chickens diets up to 15% dietary level at the starter phase and 22.5% at the finisher phase without any adverse effect on performance, haematological profile and nutrient digestibility.&lt;/p&gt;

Changes in performance and apparent ileal digestibility of broiler chickens fed diets containing electron-irradiated full-fat canola seed

This study evaluates the collaborative effect of exogenous enzyme blend and dietary nutrient density on the performance of broiler chicken. A total of 600 Ross 308 broiler chickens with same average initial body weight were randomly assigned to 5 treatments. Each treatment contained 8 replicates, and 15 birds per replicate. The diets included a control (CON) starter/finisher (S/F) diet with metabolizable energy (ME) 3,100/3,200 in Kcal/kg and crude protein (CP) content 22.0.0/20.00 in % as (S/F 3,100/3,200 Kcal/kg + CP, 22.00/20.00 %). S/F with ME 3,060/3,150 Kcal/kg + CP 21.50/19.50 % with and without the exogenous enzyme blend as (S/F 3,060/3,150 Kcal/kg + 21.50/19.50 % with, and without the exogenous enzyme blend), and lastly, S/F with ME 3,010/3,100 Kcal/kg + CP 21.50/19.50 % with, and without the exogenous enzyme blend as (S/F 3,010/3,100 Kcal/kg + 21.50/19.50 % with, and without the exogenous enzyme blend). The impact of the treatments was tested on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, intestinal microflora, and morphology of broiler chicken. The inclusion of exogenous enzyme blend in the nutrient-deficient diet S/F 3,060/3,150 + 21.50/19.50 increased (p<0.05) broilers body weight, feed conversion ratio, nutrient digestibility of crude protein, gross energy, phosphorus, and blood phosphorus, with tendency (p<0.10) of higher dry matter. The treatment also showed lower (p<0.05) total anaerobic bacteria, coliform, and higher (p<0.05) villus height (VH) in the jejunum, with tendencies (p<0.10) of higher lactobacillus in the ileum and caecum, and higher tendency (p<0.10) of VH in duodenum and ileum. We concluded that the improved performance could be attributed to the potency of S/F 3,060/3,150 + 21.50/19.50 supplemented with 0.05% of the multienzyme to reduce the level of potential pathogenic bacteria with an increased level of positive bacteria, which in turn creates an enabling intestinal villi structure in broiler chicken.

Efficacy of dimethylglycine as a feed additive to improve broiler production

The eight-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the nutrient digestibility and growth performance of broiler chickens fed raw or processed Senna obtusifolia seed meal (SOSM). Six experimental diets were compounded to contain 0% SOSM and 20% each of the raw, boiled, soaked, sprouted and fermented SOSM respectively. Two hundred and sixteen (216) broiler chicks were randomly allotted to six (6) dietary treatments in a randomised complete block design with three (3) replicates containing 12 chicks each. Data were collected on nutrient digestibility, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. The result of productive performance indicated that feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P&lt;0.05) depressed in broiler chickens fed raw, soaked and sprouted Senna obtusifolia seed meal. However, broiler chickens fed fermented SOSM showed better (P&lt;0.05) productive performance that was close to those fed the positive control diet (0% SOSM). The mortality rate did not reveal any particular trend. However, the low mortality rate recorded in the different treatments indicated broiler chicken can tolerate up to 20% of either raw or processed SOSM. Broiler chickens fed raw SOSM recorded lower values for dry matter (63.06%), crude protein (52.46%), ether extract (53.88%), crude fibre (30.72%) and nitrogen-free extract (46.11%) digestibility than those fed the other processed SOSM. The nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens fed fermented SOSM was significantly (P&lt;0.05) better followed by those fed boiled Senna obtusifolia seed meal. For instance, broiler chickens fed fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal recorded the highest crude protein and ether extract of 69.91 and 70.03% compared to the other processing methods. It can be concluded that 20% fermented SOSM can be incorporated in the diets of broiler chickens with acceptable depreciation in biological performance. Slightly lower levels of boiled SOSM can be included in the diet of broiler chickens but the levels should be ascertained in further studies.

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the nutritive value of wheat screenings, bakery by-products and wheat mill run used by the feed industry in Canada and to investigate the effect of enzyme supplementation on available energy content, nutrient digestibility and broiler chicken growth performance. Broiler chicken performance (2-wk growth trial) was compared using a wheat/soybean meal-based control diet and diets substituted with wheat by-products (wheat screenings, 200 g kg-1; bakery by-products or mill run, 100 g kg-1). In addition, diets containing one sample of each of the by-products were fed to broiler chickens with enzyme supplementation (Superzyme W®). Chicken performance was not affected by dietary substitution of wheat by-products for wheat as values for control, wheat screenings (three samples), bakery by-products (two samples) and mill run (one sample) were similar for body weight gain (514, 520, 515, 500 g bird-1) and for feed to gain ratio (1.52, 1.52, 1.52, 1.50), respectively. Response to enzyme supplementation was highest for wheat screenings showing a statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) improvement in body weight gain (523 vs. 548 g bird-1) and feed to gain ratio (1.54 vs. 1.47). To further substantiate the importance of enzyme supplementation, a long-term production trial with broiler chickens was conducted. Five replicate pens of 60 birds per treatment were used in the starter (21 d) and grower (16 d) phases of the experiment consisting of three treatments: positive control (PC) (wheat/soybean meal/fish meal), negative control (NC) (wheat/wheat screenings/barley/soybean/ canola meal) and NC + Enzyme (Superzyme W®). In comparison to PC, the NC diet contained 5% less metabolizable energy, 8–10% less crude protein, amino acids and calcium and 25% less available phosphorus. Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio averaged 2.14, 2.10, 2.17 kg bird-1 and 1.68, 1.76, 1.66 for PC, NC and NC + Enzyme, respectively. A significant (P &lt; 0.05) improvement in broiler chicken performance with enzyme supplementation was further substantiated by the same magnitude of difference in dry matter (71.2, 68.7, 75.1%), starch (92.5, 90.3, 95.6%), non-starch poly saccharides (NSP) (4.8, 15.0, 36.1%), energy (AME) (12.37, 11.83, 12.84 MJ kg-1) and phytate (44.3, 37.5, 69.5%) digestibilities. It is evident from this study that the use of wheat by-products in concert with an effective enzyme supplement in broiler chicken diets will allow for optimum growth performance. Key words: Broilers, by-products, feeding value, enzymes

ObjectiveThe purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of dietary essential oils (EOs) on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum metabolite profiles of broiler chickens and to compare their effectiveness as growth-promoting additives against antibiotics.MethodsPeer-reviewed articles were retrieved from Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and Google scholar and selected based on pre-determined criteria. A total of 41 articles containing 55 experiments with 163 treatment units were eligible for analyses. Data were subjected to a meta-analysis based on mixed model methodology considering the doses of EOs as fixed effects and the different studies as random effects.ResultsResults showed a linear increase (p<0.001) on body weight gain (BWG) where Antibiotics (FCR) and average daily feed intake decreased (p<0.001) linearly with an increasing dose of EOs. Positive effects were observed on the increased (p<0.01) digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and cecal Lactobacillus while Escherichia coli (E. coli) population in the cecum decreased (p<0.001) linearly. There was a quadratic effect on the weight of gizzard (p<0.01), spleen (p<0.05), bursa of fabricius (p<0.001), and liver (p< 0.10) while carcass, abdominal fat, and pancreas increased (p<0.01) linearly. The dose of EOs linearly increased high density lipoprotein, glucose, protein, and globulin concentrations (p<0.01). In comparison to control and antibiotics, all type of EOs significantly reduced (p<0.001) FCR and tended to increase (p<0.1) BWG and final body weight. Cinnamaldehyde-compound was the only EOs type showing a tendency to increase (p<0.1) carcass weight, albumin, and protein of serum metabolites while this EOs together with EOs-Blend 1 decreased (p<0.01) E. coli population. Low density lipoprotein concentration decreased (p<0.05) with antibiotics and carvacrol-based compound when compared to the control group.ConclusionThis evidence confirms that EOs are suitable to be used as growth promoters and their economical benefit appears to be promising.

Effects of enzymatic treatment and shell content of palm kernel expeller meal on performance, nutrient digestibility, and ileal bacterial population in broiler chickens