Abstract
Simple SummaryThe extraction of oils from olives usually results in large quantities of olive cake meal (OCM), which has a high nutritional value. The OCM is used successfully in livestock and poultry feeding, but due to the high fiber content, alternative methods of treating OCM must be considered. To increase the efficiency of OCM in broiler chickens’ diet, it can be mixed with suitable microorganisms with beneficial effects. Hence, the current study investigated the influence of OCM and Bacillus licheniformis (BL) on the growth, nutrient utilization, blood chemistry, and muscle fatty acid profile of broilers. Birds were divided into six experimental groups (control, OCM (2%), OCM (4%), BL, OCM (2%)/BL, and OCM (4%)/BL groups). The results revealed that the inclusion of BL with OCM diets improved the fat utilization and, accordingly, increased the growth, nutrient utilization, and antioxidative response in broilers.Olive cake meal (OCM) is characterized by its high nutritional value and is used as an alternative source of protein and fats in poultry diets. However, due to the high percentage of fiber in OCM, beneficial bacteria cells are used to improve the digestion rates. Therefore, the influence of OCM and Bacillus licheniformis (BL) on the growth, nutrient utilization, blood chemistry, and muscle fatty acid profile of broilers was exclusively examined in this study. Three hundred and sixty birds were randomly divided into six experimental groups (6 replicates/10 birds each): Control, OCM (2%), OCM (4%), BL, OCM (2%)/BL, and OCM (4%)/BL groups. Although feed intake was not meaningfully influenced by dietary treatments, weight gain was enhanced and feed conversion ratio was reduced (p < 0.05). The abdominal fat was lowered in broilers fed OCM (2%), OCM (4%), OCM (2%)/BL, and OCM (4%)/BL diets without a difference to those fed BL only (p < 0.05). Interestingly, blood total protein, albumin, Newcastle disease (ND) titer, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were significantly increased, while total cholesterol was decreased by the mixture of OCM and BL (p < 0.05). Muscle oleic and linoleic acids, as well as vitamin E, increased significantly in broilers fed both OCM (4%) and BL, while linolenic acid increased in all groups except those fed BL and control diets (p < 0.05). Liver malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased by feeding BL or both OCM at 2% or 4% and BL (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of BL to OCM diets resulted in improved fat utilization and, accordingly, enhanced growth, nutrient utilization, and antioxidative response in broilers. Based on the obtained results, it is recommended to use BL to improve the nutritional value of OCM and to increase the feed utilization of OCM by broilers.
Highlights
As a result of increasing demand, limited supply, and a dramatic increase in the prices of feed ingredients, suitable alternative sources for poultry feed have recently been intensively studied [1,2].Feed cost may account for more than 70% of the total production costs of broilers [3,4]
Body weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and abdominal fat were significantly influenced by Olive cake meal (OCM), Bacillus licheniformis (BL), and their interaction (p < 0.05) (Table 2)
The highest WG and the lowest FCR were observed in birds fed both OCM (4%) and BL (Table 2)
Summary
As a result of increasing demand, limited supply, and a dramatic increase in the prices of feed ingredients, suitable alternative sources for poultry feed have recently been intensively studied [1,2].Feed cost may account for more than 70% of the total production costs of broilers [3,4]. A considerable effort has been applied to find alternative and sustainable protein sources to be included in broilers diets [5]. In this context, among the available plant protein alternatives, olive cake meal which has high nutritional value (lipids, 13–15%, and proteins, 9–10%), with a high level of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) (xyloglucan and xylan-xyloglucan complexes) [3,6,7,8]. The olive cake meal is available in several countries around the world at reasonable prices and can be used as a plant ingredient in the feed of broilers [7]. To increase the efficiency of olive cake meal in broilers’ diet, it can be mixed with suitable microorganisms to obtain beneficial effects
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