Feed Intake In Chickens Research Articles

The effect of intraperitoneal injection of Glycyrrhizin on central regulation of food intake in broilers injected with LPS

ABSTRACT 1. Poultry farming faces challenges regarding correct hygiene and nutrition. One of the challenges is gram-negative bacteria that stimulate pro-inflammatory reactions through lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cause disease and anorexia. Liquorice, a medicinal plant containing glycyrrhizin (Glz; a saponin and emulsifier compound) as its main active ingredient, was injected into broilers to investigate any beneficial effects on feed intake in LPS-injected broilers. 2. The study involved three experiments using 72 male broiler chickens in each, to examine the impact of Glz on feed intake, especially when challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by intra-peritoneal (IP) injection to cause inflammation (n = 24). Experiment 1 was conducted to examine the effects of intraperitoneal injection of Glz (12.5, 25 and 50 mg) on feed intake in chickens. In experiment 2, the effects of intracerebroventricular injections of LPS (6.25, 12.5 and 25 ng) were examined. The third experiment investigated the impact of IP injection of Glz on inflammation induced by LPS. 3. Injection of Glz significantly increased feed intake in a dose-dependent manner. Whereas LPS significantly reduced the feed intake in feed-deprived chickens (p < 0.05). 4. In conclusion, Glz can neutralise the feed intake reduction caused by inflammation in broilers, highlighting its potential role in modulating feed intake in broilers.

The effect of dietary sodium octanoate on Ghrelin concentration and feed intake in chickens and turkeys: a comparative study

Active ghrelin (AG) is produced through the post-translational addition of n-octanoic acid to the amino residue Ser-3, making it the natural ligand for the ghrelin receptor. The synthesis of AG is contingent upon specific dietary fatty acids as substrates for the acylation process. Prior studies have demonstrated that AG infusion can lead to reduced feed intake (FI) in broiler chickens, suggesting that manipulating AG may serve as an alternative to quantitative feed restriction in broiler breeders. In this study, we evaluated the effect of dietary sodium octanoate (Octanoate) on FI, water intake (WI), BW, total ghrelin, and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in two avian species. Broiler chickens and turkeys were reared as recommended by the industry. At 3 wk of age, birds were randomly assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial. The first factor included two species (chickens and turkeys), and the second included doses (0, 4, and 8 mg/mL) of Octanoate in drinking water for 30 d. Feed and WI were recorded daily, while body weight and blood samples were obtained weekly. In chickens, Octanoate doses increased ghrelin and BHB concentrations linearly, while FI and BW decreased linearly with rising Octanoate doses (P < 0.05). However, Octanoate doses did not affect ghrelin, BHB, FI, or BW in turkeys. In conclusion, our data indicate that sodium octanoate administration elicits a differential response in feed intake and body weight gain in chickens and turkeys.

Influence of Dietary Phytase Inclusion Rates on Yolk Inositol Concentration, Hatchability, Chick Quality, and Early Growth Performance

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of dietary phytase in breeder hens on yolk nutrients, hatchability, chick quality, and growth rate of their progeny, and their subsequent performance to 42 d post-hatch when fed diets with the same phytase concentrations. Breeder hens (n = 216) were divided into 3 groups receiving nutrient-adequate diets with reduced calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) (by 0.16% and 0.15%, respectively), supplemented with either 500, 1500, or 4500 FTU/kg phytase from 27 to 50 weeks of age. Eggs were collected at 38 weeks of age and incubated. On the day of hatch, the chick quality and hatchability were determined, and 18 chicks/group were euthanized for yolk sac collection and the determination of inositol and glycerol concentrations. The remaining chicks were divided into three groups, receiving different diets with reduced Ca and P (by 0.16% and 0.15%, respectively), supplemented with 0, 500, or 1500 FTU/kg phytase to 42 d post-hatch. Increasing the phytase concentration in the breeder hen diet linearly (p < 0.05) increased the number of early embryo deaths and decreased the number of late deaths and pips. The inositol concentration in the yolk sac at day of hatch increased (quadratic; p < 0.05) as the phytase dose increased in the breeder hen diet. The breeder hen diet (p < 0.05) influenced the body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) up to 21 days of age. The supplementation of breeder hen diets with 1500 FTU/kg phytase increased the concentration of sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in the yolk sac. The inclusion of phytase doses up to 4500 FTU/kg appeared to influence embryo mortality, chick feed intake, and BW gain to 21 days and the FCR throughout the entire production phase.

Effect of chronic heat stress on gastrointestinal histology and expression of feed intake-regulatory hormones in broiler chickens

Heat stress (HS) dramatically impairs the growth performance of broiler chickens, mainly as a consequence of reduced feed intake due to the loss of appetite. This study was aimed at evaluating the alterations induced by chronic HS conditions on the morphological and morphometric features of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and on the expression of some enteroendocrine cells (EECs) involved in the regulation of feed intake in chickens. Three hundred male chickens (Ross 308) were divided into two experimental groups and raised either in thermoneutral environment for the whole fattening period (0–41 days) (TNT group) or subjected to chronic HS conditions (30 °C for 24 h/day) from 35 to 41 days (HS group). Samples of proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum and cecum were collected from 24 broilers (12/group). Haematoxylin-eosin was used for the morphometric evaluations, while immunohistochemistry was applied for the evaluation of EECs expressing ghrelin (GHR), cholecystokinin (CCK), neuropeptide Y (NPY), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and serotonin (5-HT). In the proventriculus, HS reduced total wall thickness and mucous layer height (P ≤ 0.01) as well as mean diameter, circumference, and area of the compound tubular glands (P ≤ 0.001) with respect to TNT. The small intestine of HS birds was characterised by decreased villous height and total thickness (duodenum, P ≤ 0.01; jejunum, P ≤ 0.001), whereas crypt depth and width were reduced only in the jejunum (P ≤ 0.01). HS had negligible effects on the morphological aspects of the cecum. In the proventriculus, an increase in GHR and NPY EECs was observed in response to HS (P ≤ 0.001). Similarly, the small intestine villi of the HS group showed greater GLP-1 (P ≤ 0.05), 5-HT (P ≤ 0.001) and CCK (P ≤ 0.01) EECs. Moreover, the expression of 5-HT EECs was higher in the duodenal (P ≤ 0.01) and jejunal (P ≤ 0.01) crypts of HS birds, whereas GLP-1 and CCK EECs increased only in jejunal crypts (P ≤ 0.05). Finally, 5-HT EEC expression was increased in the cecum of HS group (P ≤ 0.01). In conclusion, these outcomes demonstrate that chronic HS induces morphometric alterations not only in the small intestine but also in a key organ such as the proventriculus. Furthermore, HS conditions affect the presence and distribution of EECs, suggesting that some GI peptides and biogenic amine may be implicated in the regulation of appetite and voluntary feed intake in heat-stressed broiler chickens.

Effects of polysaccharides from Yingshan Yunwu tea on free amino acids, flavor nucleotides and antioxidant abilities in chickens

Tea polysaccharides possess a variety of physiological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, hypolipidemic, and cation chelating ability, which have been proved a promising feed additive. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of polysaccharides from Yingshan Yunwu tea (GTPS) on free amino acids, flavor nucleotides and antioxidant ability in chickens. A total of 200 chickens were randomly divided into to 4 groups. Chickens were fed chicken basal diet with GTPS (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg). The results showed that GTPS increased body weight, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake in chickens. Moreover, GTPS increased the total amount of free amino acids of meat, and increased the content of histidine, leucine, serine, glutamic acid and alanine. GTPS also increased contents of inosine monophosphate and guanylic monophosphate, which improved the meat flavor of chickens. In addition, GTPS significantly increased (P < 0.05) contents of GSH-Px, SOD and T-AOC, and reduced content of MDA. It also increased Nrf2, NQO-1 and HO-1 mRNA expressions, and decreased Keap1expression. GTPS increased Nrf2 and HO-1 protein levels, and decreased Keap1 level. The above findings indicated that GTPS could be a promising natural feed additive in poultry industry.

Correlation of Histamine Receptors and Adrenergic Receptor in Broilers Appetite.

The current study was conducted to investigate the interaction between the central adrenergic and histaminergic systems and the broiler chick's feed intake. In the first experiment, the intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of solutions was conducted which included 10 nmol of prazosin (an α1-receptor antagonist), 300 nmol of histamine, co-injection of prazosin and histamine. Experiments two to five were conducted similarly the same as the first experiment, in which chickens were ICV injected with 13 nmol of yohimbine (an α2-receptor antagonist), 24 nmol of metoprolol (a β1 adrenergic receptor antagonist), 5 nmol of ICI 118,551 (a β2 adrenergic receptor antagonist), and 20 nmol of SR 59230R (a β3 adrenergic receptor antagonist). The injected solutions in the sixth experiment included 300 nmol of noradrenaline, 250 nmol of α-FMH (an alpha fluoromethyl histidine), noradrenaline, and α-FMH. Seventh to ninth experiments were similar to the sixth experiment, except that the chickens were ICV injected with 300 nmol of chlorpheniramine (a histamine H1 receptors antagonist), 82 nmol of famotidine (a histamine H2 receptors antagonist), and 300 nmol of thioperamide (a histamine H3 receptors antagonist), rather than α-FMH. Afterward, the cumulative food intake was measured 120 min after injection. Based on the obtained results, both histamine ICV injection and noradrenaline injection reduced food intake (P<0.05). Moreover, co-injection of histamine and ICI 118,551 (P<0.05), and co-injection of noradrenaline and Chlorpheniramine reduced food intake (P<0.05). In addition, noradrenaline and Thioperamide co-injection improved hypophagic effect of noradrenaline in neonatal chicken (P<0.05). These findings suggested the effect of interconnection between adrenergic and histaminergic systems, which may be mediated by H1 and H3 histaminergic and β2 adrenergic receptors, on the regulation of food intake in the neonatal broiler chicken.

Role of Hypothalamic Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad Signaling in Feeding Regulation in Chickens.

Previous studies in mammalian obesity models have suggested that central transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) controls the gene expression of appetite-regulating neuropeptides and peripheral energy metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the possible involvement of central TGF-β/Smad signaling in feeding regulation in chickens. Central administration of TGF-β1 resulted in phosphorylation of Smad2 in the hypothalamus of chicks and suppressed feed intake without changing the gene expression of hypothalamic appetite-regulating neuropeptides (neuropeptide Y, agouti-related protein, proopiomelanocortin, and corticotropin-releasing factor). However, neither fasting nor refeeding induced the phosphorylation of hypothalamic Smad2. These findings suggest that the activation of hypothalamic TGF-β/Smad signaling suppresses feed intake in chicks but it might not occur in response to feeding status.

Growth performance of broiler chickens fed on sprouted-papaya seed based diets

ABSTRACT The study investigated how sprouted-papaya seed meal (SPSM) a total of affected the growth and carcase traits of broilers. Based on a completely randomized design, 390 day-old Lohmann broiler chicks were allotted to CONT (chicks provided with control diet), SEED25 (diet containing 2.5% papaya seed meal), GERM1 (diet containing 1% SPSM), GERM25 (diet containing 2.5% SPSM) and GERM5 (diet containing 5% SPSM). Body weight and feed intake of chickens were weekly recorded from 14 to 36 days of age, while birds (six birds per treatment group; 30 birds in total) were slaughtered at day 36. Feeding SPSM up to 5% did not impair (p > 0.05) broilers’ growth or feed intake. At 5%, SPSM compromised (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) and reduced breast meat proportion. SPSM at 2.5% in diets had no (p > 0.05) detrimental effects, while papaya seed meal at the same proportion lowered (p < 0.05) final body weight, weight gain, and cumulative feed intake. Overall, SPSM may be incorporated in broiler rations up to 2.5% with no harmful effects on growth, feed intake, FCR and carcase traits of broiler chickens.

New Insights From Imputed Whole-Genome Sequence-Based Genome-Wide Association Analysis and Transcriptome Analysis: The Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Residual Feed Intake in Chickens.

Poultry feed constitutes the largest cost in poultry production, estimated to be up to 70% of the total cost. Moreover, there is pressure on the poultry industry to increase production to meet the protein demand of humans and simultaneously reduce emissions to protect the environment. Therefore, improving feed efficiency plays an important role to improve profits and the environmental footprint in broiler production. In this study, using imputed whole-genome sequencing data, genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was performed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes associated with residual feed intake (RFI) and its component traits. Furthermore, a transcriptomic analysis between the high-RFI and the low-RFI groups was performed to validate the candidate genes from GWAS. The results showed that the heritability estimates of average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and RFI were 0.29 (0.004), 0.37 (0.005), and 0.38 (0.004), respectively. Using imputed sequence-based GWAS, we identified seven significant SNPs and five candidate genes [MTSS I-BAR domain containing 1, folliculin, COP9 signalosome subunit 3, 5′,3′-nucleotidase (mitochondrial), and gametocyte-specific factor 1] associated with RFI, 20 significant SNPs and one candidate gene (inositol polyphosphate multikinase) associated with ADG, and one significant SNP and one candidate gene (coatomer protein complex subunit alpha) associated with ADFI. After performing a transcriptomic analysis between the high-RFI and the low-RFI groups, both 38 up-regulated and 26 down-regulated genes were identified in the high-RFI group. Furthermore, integrating regional conditional GWAS and transcriptome analysis, ras-related dexamethasone induced 1 was the only overlapped gene associated with RFI, which also suggested that the region (GGA14: 4767015–4882318) is a new quantitative trait locus associated with RFI. In conclusion, using imputed sequence-based GWAS is an efficient method to identify significant SNPs and candidate genes in chicken. Our results provide valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms of RFI and its component traits, which would further improve the genetic gain of feed efficiency rapidly and cost-effectively in the context of marker-assisted breeding selection.

Pharmacodynamic Effects of Bacillus Subtilis Probiotic and Propionic Acid on Growth Performance, Microflora Microbial Counts, Hematological, Biochemical And Immunological Parameters and Histomorphological Changes in Japanese Quails

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the dietary probiotic Bacillus subtilis and propionic acid on growth performance, microflora microbial count, some hematological, biochemical, immune response parameters and the health status of gastrointestinal tract tissues in quail. In a completely randomized design, 200 one-day old Japanese quail chicks were divided into 4 groups (each group consists of 50) and reared in 20 cages of 10 birds each and caged for 35 days. Dietary treatments consisted of a control diet without any additives, the control diet + 1 g/kg probiotic, the control diet + 2 g/kg probiotic and the control diet +1 g/kg propionic acid. On the day 35, body weight gain and feed intake of chicks were calculated. On the same day, the quails from each cage were bled to determine the hematological, biochemical and immunological parameters. Feed conversion ratio for birds fed a diet of probiotic and propionic acid differed (p 0.05). There were significant differences in RBCs, WBCs, hemoglobin, lymphocytes, monocytes, heterophils in treated groups specially in the group fed 2g/kg feed probiotic Bacillus subtilis and the group fed 1g/kg feed propionic acid compared to those in the control group. Also, there was a significant increase in immune parameters in birds received dietary treatments compared to those in the control group. Finally, the histological structure of gastrointestinal tract was highly improved and the health status was better in birds fed probiotic and propionic acid feed additives than those in the group receiving the control diet. In conclusion, based on the results of the experiment, probiotic and propionic acid have the potential to be used as feed additives in quail chick’s diets.

Flaxseed extrusion and expansion coupled with enzyme and pelleting changed protein and lipid molecular structure of flaxseed and improved digestive enzymes activity, intestinal morphology, breast muscle fatty acids and performance of broiler chickens

An experiment was performed as a completely randomized design in a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 4 replicates of 15 chicks in each pen to investigate the effects of flaxseed extrusion and expansion accompanying with enzyme addition in mash or pelleted diets on protein and lipid molecular structure spectral and performance characteristics of broiler chickens. Factors included were four types of flaxseed: control (corn-soybean meal based diet with no flaxseed), raw flaxseed (RF, 200 g/kg), extruded flaxseed (ETF, 200 g/kg) and expanded flaxseed (EPF, 200 g/kg); two levels of carbohydrase enzyme (0 or 25 mg/kg) and two forms of diet (pellet or mash). Performance criteria, protein and lipid molecular structures, blood biochemical characteristics, digestive enzymes activity and nutrient digestibility, cecal microbial population and breast muscle fatty acids profile were evaluated during the trial. EPF increased BW and reduced FCR compared to the RF and ETF throughout the experimental period (0–28 d., P ≤ 0.001). Pelleting the diets increased BW, improved feed consumption and reduced FCR in comparison to the mash diets fed chicks (P ≤ 0.001). Enzyme addition had no impact on BW, FCR and feed intake of chickens. Both EPF and ETF reduced α-helix and increased ß-sheet height and increased CH3 asymmetric stretching compared to raw flaxseed (P < 0.05). Distinct spectral differences were detected between RF and processed flaxseed and also diets containing the processed flaxseed. Digestive lipase and alkaline phosphatase activity were increased when chicks were fed with diets containing EPF and ETF (P ≤ 0.003). Total alkaline protease (APA) was reduced by inclusion of RF. Plasma total protein concentration was significantly increased and triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels were reduced in chicks fed with flaxseed included diets (P ≤ 0.05). Except for villus to crypt ratio which was increased (P ≤ 0.05) by RF addition, no significant differences were observed in intestinal morphological characteristics by flaxseed processing, pelleting the diets and enzyme supplementation. Apparent total tract lipid and calcium digestibility were increased (P ≤ 0.001) and phosphorus digestibility was reduced as RF incorporated to the diets. Salmonella and E. coli population were considerably reduced by ETF and EPF (P ≤ 0.001). The total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were increased and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were reduced in breast muscle by feeding the flaxseed containing diets regardless of flaxseed processing (P ≤ 0.01). Long chain n-3 fatty acids (18:3 n-3; 20:5 n-3; 22:5 n-3 and 22:6 n-3) were increased and n-6 to n-3 ratio was reduced with inclusion of flaxseed regardless of processing conditions (P≤0.01). Myristic, palmitic and stearic acid content of breast muscle were reduced (P ≤ 0.01) in EPF included diets. In conclusion the findings suggest that expansion of flaxseed is beneficial for inclusion of high levels of flaxseed in broiler rations and for meat enrichment with n-3 fatty acids.

Evaluation of broiler chickens’ digestibility of Neurospora intermedia biomass

A total of 70 broiler chickens were used to evaluate the apparent ileal digestibility coefficient (AIDC) of protein and amino acids, and apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of energy in the protein rich Fungal Biomass of Neurospora intermedia (FBN) obtained from bioethanol production. The chickens were housed in 10 pens with seven chickens per pen and fed one of two experimental diets between day 28 and 35 of age. The experimental diets were wheat-soybean meal-based control diet and a diet composed of 70% control diet and 30% of FBN. There were no difference (P > 0.05) between the control and FBN diet on chick feed intake and body weight at day 35. However, the AIDCs of crude protein and amino acids were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in control diet than in the FBN diet except for proline and phenylalanine. The AIDC of CP (0.74), cysteine (0.68), methionine (0.70), AME (15.6), and threonine (0.69) in FBN were comparable to the corresponding values in other protein-rich feedstuffs such as soybean meal and fish meal. The results from this study show that FBN may be an alternative protein source for poultry.

Growth performance and bone characteristics of broiler chickens fed corn-soy diet supplemented with different levels of vitamin premix and sources of mineral premix

SummaryInorganic trace mineral salts in the premix have a detrimental effect on the stability of vitamins due to redox reactions. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of different levels of vitamin premix with different mineral premixes on the performance and bone characteristics of broilers. A 2 x 2 factorial dietary treatment was used with two levels of vitamins and two types of minerals in the premix. A total of 1056, one-day old chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments with 12 replicate pens of 22 chicks for 28 d. An interactive effect between vitamin levels and mineral sources on weight gain and feed intake of chickens was detected. Chickens fed the diet containing 100% vitamin premix with either source of mineral premix had higher (P &amp;lt; 0.01) weight gain and feed intake than those fed the diet containing 30% vitamin premix with either source of mineral premix. However, the chickens fed the diet containing the 30% vitamin premix with the organic minerals had higher (P &amp;lt; 0.01) weight gain and feed intake than those fed the diet containing 30% vitamin premix with inorganic minerals. Chickens fed the diet containing organic mineral premix had lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) mortality and feed to gain ratio and higher (P &amp;lt; 0.01) bone breaking strength and ash content of tibia than those fed the inorganic mineral premix treatment. Chickens fed the diet containing 100% vitamin premix had higher (P &amp;lt; 0.01) breaking strength of femur and tibia ash than those fed the diet containing 30% vitamin premix. The results from this trial indicated that total replacement of inorganic trace minerals with organic minerals can increase the storage stability of vitamins in feed premixes containing both vitamins and trace minerals, which is reflected in better growth performance in poultry.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of hypothalamus-regulated feed intake induced by exogenous visfatin in chicks

BackgroundThe intracerebroventricular injection of visfatin increases feed intake. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism in chicks. This study was conducted to assess the effect of visfatin on the feeding behavior of chicks and the associated molecular mechanism.ResultsIn response to the intraventricular injection of 40 ng and 400 ng visfatin, feed intake in chicks was significantly increased, and the concentrations of glucose, insulin, TG, HDL and LDL were significantly altered. Using RNA-seq, we identified DEGs in the chick hypothalamus at 60 min after injection with various doses of visfatin. In total, 325, 85 and 519 DEGs were identified in the treated chick hypothalamus in the LT vs C, HT vs C and LT vs HT comparisons, respectively. The changes in the expression profiles of DEGs, GO functional categories, KEGG pathways, and PPI networks by visfatin-mediated regulation of feed intake were analyzed. The DEGs were grouped into 8 clusters based on their expression patterns via K-mean clustering; there were 14 appetite-related DEGs enriched in the hormone activity GO term. The neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway was the key pathway affected by visfatin. The PPI analysis of DEGs showed that POMC was a hub gene that interacted with the maximum number of nodes and ingestion-related pathways, including POMC, CRH, AgRP, NPY, TRH, VIP, NPYL, CGA and TSHB.ConclusionThese common DEGs were enriched in the hormone activity GO term and the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway. Therefore, visfatin causes hyperphagia via the POMC/CRH and NPY/AgRP signaling pathways. These results provide valuable information about the molecular mechanisms of the regulation of food intake by visfatin.

Intestinal microbiota profiles associated with low and high residual feed intake in chickens across two geographical locations.

Intestinal microbe-host interactions can affect the feed efficiency (FE) of chickens. As inconsistent findings for FE-associated bacterial taxa were reported across studies, the present objective was to identify whether bacterial profiles and predicted metabolic functions that were associated with residual feed intake (RFI) and performance traits in female and male chickens were consistent across two different geographical locations. At six weeks of life, the microbiota in ileal, cecal and fecal samples of low (n = 34) and high (n = 35) RFI chickens were investigated by sequencing the V3-5 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Location-associated differences in α-diversity and relative abundances of several phyla and genera were detected. RFI-associated bacterial abundances were found at the phylum and genus level, but differed among the three intestinal sites and between males and females. Correlation analysis confirmed that, of the taxonomically classifiable bacteria, Lactobacillus (5% relative abundance) and two Lactobacillus crispatus-OTUs in feces were indicative for high RFI in females (P < 0.05). In males, Ruminococcus in cecal digesta (3.1% relative abundance) and Dorea in feces (<0.1% relative abundance) were best indicative for low RFI, whereas Acinetobacter in feces (<1.5% relative abundance) related to high RFI (P < 0.05). Predicted metabolic functions in feces of males confirmed compositional relationships as functions related to amino acid, fatty acid and vitamin metabolism correlated with low RFI, whereas an increasing abundance of bacterial signaling and interaction (i.e. cellular antigens) genes correlated with high RFI (P < 0.05). In conclusion, RFI-associated bacterial profiles could be identified across different geographical locations. Results indicated that consortia of low-abundance taxa in the ileum, ceca and feces may play a role for FE in chickens, whereby only bacterial FE-associations found in ileal and cecal digesta may serve as useful targets for dietary strategies.

Effect of replacement corn by brown rice on performance of chicken production in Vietnam

Rice is a major staple food in Vietnam in which brown rice has been recognized as a potential feedstuff for poultry but data on nutritional value of this feed are lacking. In this study the using of brown rice as replacement of corn in chicken diet was evaluated. The body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded. In total, 192 day old chicks of country breed (Ri lai) were used in this study. Chickens were divided into four groups and reared at same conditions for 12 weeks. The first group as the control group fed on 100% corn, second group fed on 75% corn and 25% brown rice, third group fed on 50% corn and 50% brown rice and the last group fed on 25% corn and 75% brown rice. The average body weight of chickens among all the treatments was 1.7 kg per bird which was not significantly different (P=0.44). The total feed intake of chickens (4-5 kg) was recorded without significant difference (P=0.23), however the feed conversion ratio were significantly different (P&lt;0.05) between treatments. This study considered as the first report that demonstrates the usefulness of brown rice as a potential alternative of corn for chicken diet in rural areas in Vietnam, especially on the prevailing conditions such as during high price spell of corn.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.3(1): 139-144, April 2016

Diet energy and feed intake in chickens

Energy homeostasis is of fundamental importance to animal well-being as well as in the feeding of species like chickens. Optimizing the balance between energy intake and expenditures is required for efficient, highly productive flocks, and understanding its relationship to production characteristics including energy and feed intake is fundamental to the formulation of chicken diets and levels of other dietary nutrients. A historical perspective on this relationship is that chickens alter feed intake to maintain energy intake when diets contain variable dietary energy. In turn levels of other nutrients, and in particular amino acids, should be adjusted in accordance. However, control of feed intake is complex and even if this perspective were correct, multiple factors can compromise the appropriate adjustment in feed intake. The validity of broilers altering feed intake in response to dietary energy has been questioned for some time and more recent evidence suggests that modern strains of laying hens also are unable to accurately or reliably alter feed intake in response to dietary energy levels. Based on the premise that chickens do not appropriately respond to dietary energy, diets must therefore be formulated to ensure adequate dietary energy to meet the bird’s requirements for maintenance and production, and thereby maximize the protein accretion potential of the diet.

Peripheral Insulin Doesn't Alter Appetite of Broiler Chicks.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of peripheral insulin treatment on appetite in chicks. Six-d-age chicks with ad libitum feeding or fasting for 3 h before injection received a subcutaneous injection of 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, or 20 IU of insulin or vehicle (saline). The results showed peripheral insulin treatment (1 to 20 IU) did not alter significantly the feed intake in chicks under either ad libitum feeding or fasting conditions within 4 h (p>0.05). Compared with the control, plasma glucose concentration was significantly decreased after insulin treatment of 3, 5, 10, and 20 IU for 4 h in chicks with ad libitum feeding (p<0.05). In fasted chicks, 10 and 20 IU insulin treatments significantly decreased the plasma glucose level for 4 h (p<0.05). Peripheral insulin treatment of 10 IU for 2 or 4 h did not significantly affect the hypothalamic genes expression of neuropeptide Y, proopiomelanocortin, corticotropin-releasing factor and insulin receptors (p>0.05). All results suggest peripheral administration of insulin has no effect on appetite in chicks.

Nutritional Value of electron beam irradiated cottonseed meal in broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of electron beam-irradiated cottonseed meal on performance, carcass characteristics and some blood parameters of broiler chicks. Treatments were cottonseed meal (CSM) at levels of 12% and 24% (raw and irradiated at 30 kGy) and corn-soya bean meal diet (as control, without CSM and without irradiation) that used with five dietary treatments, four replicates and 10 birds of each for 42days in completely randomized design. Feed intake (FI) and body weight gain (BWG) were recorded weekly. At 42days of age, two birds per pen were randomly selected for the determination of carcass characteristics and blood parameters. BWG decreased with increasing levels of dietary CSM during the experiment (p<0.05). In addition, radiation had significant positive effect in broilers fed 12% compared with those fed 24% CSM. FI in chicks fed control and diet containing 24% CSM were increased significantly in starter period. But FI was significantly decreased in broilers consumed CSM compare to the control in grower and during the experiment. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased with increasing levels of CSM in the diets. Relative weights of liver, gastrointestinal tract (GI), pancreas, gizzard and abdominal fat were increased by increasing levels of CSM in the diet (p<0.05). Glucose, cholesterol, HDL, triglyceride and phosphorous concentrations increased, and LDL concentration decreased as the dietary CSM levels increased (p<0.05). But radiation had not significant effect on blood parameters. Electron irradiation seems to be a good procedure to improve the nutritional quality of CSM, but it seems higher dose of it was needed to improve performance of chickens.

Effect of arginine and threonine administered in ovo on digestive organ developments and subsequent growth performance of broiler chickens.

This trial was conducted to investigate the effect of arginine (Arg), threonine (Thr) and Arg+Thr administered in ovo on growth performance, digestive organs and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens. On day 14 of incubation, 400 fertile eggs were randomly allotted to five experimental treatments through injection in the amniotic fluid including: (i) control (none injected), (ii) sham (0.5ml of 0.5% saline), (iii) Arg (35mg/egg), (iv) Thr (25mg/egg) and (v) Arg+Thr (35+25mg/egg). After hatching, chicks were given a commercial corn-soya bean diet up to 42days of age. Daily feed intake (FI) and body weight (BW) of chicks were measured during different periods of the trial. Digestive organs were measured for their relative weight and intestinal length on days 11 and 42 of age. Intestinal morphometric traits were evaluated on day 11 of the experiment. Supplementing amino acids affected the performance of broiler chicks as Thr significantly increased FI and BW across starter, grower and finisher periods compared with sham and control (p<0.05). Furthermore, Arg+Thr injection increased jejunal weight compared with control on day 42 (p<0.05). Moreover, Arg inclusion led to the greatest villus height and crypt depth among treatments in duodenum (p>0.05); however, amino acid supplemented groups had lower villus height than control in jejunum (p<0.05). Negative correlations found between digestive organs related to day 11 of age containing pancreas (r=-0.484; p=0.030), duodenal (r=-0.577; p=0.007) as well as ileal lengths (r=-0.471; p=0.035) and FI of entire period. Otherwise, positive relationships were observed between duodenum (r=0.580; p=0.007) and ileum (r=0.582; p=0.007) weights on day 42 and FI of chickens across the entire phase. In conclusion, Arg and particularly Thr injection into amnion can improve FI and post-hatch growth performance of chickens which may be mediated by the development of digestive organs.