Broiler Growth Research Articles

Effect of Ascites Syndrome on Diversity of Cecal Microbiota of Broiler Chickens

Ascites syndrome (AS) is a metabolic disease that seriously affects the growth and development of broiler chickens. Intestinal microbiota play a significant role in the growth of broiler chickens. Therefore, further research on the relationship between AS and intestinal microbiota will help to better understand the impact of AS on broiler growth. In this study, 0.2% sodium chloride was added to the drinking water, which induced AS in broiler chickens, and we detected the influence of AS on the growth performance and cecal microbiota of broiler chickens. The results showed that AS significantly reduced the cecal microbial diversity of broiler chickens and affected the cecal microbial composition at the phylum and genus levels (p = 0.05). Further, LEfSe analysis revealed that AS significantly increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes (p = 0.035) while simultaneously reducing the abundance of Actinobacteria (p = 0.031) in the cecum. Additionally, the differential metabolites associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation were significantly diminished. The findings suggest that AS may further impact the growth rate of broiler chickens by altering cecal microorganisms.

Dietary incorporation of biological curcumin nanoparticles improved growth performance, ileal architecture, antioxidative status, serum lipid profile, and humoral immune response of heat-stressed broiler chickens.

Heat stress greatly impairs poultry productivity, underscoring the urgent need for effective strategies to mitigate these adverse effects and improve overall poultry health. This study assessed the impact of dietary curcumin nanoparticles (CurNPs) on blood metabolites, immunity, redox status, ileal histomorphometry, and growth of broilers subjected to heat stress. A total of 400 one-day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks were randomly distributed into five groups, each consisting of eight replicates with ten birds per replicate. The chicks were fed a basal diet containing CurNPs at concentrations of 0, 100, 200, 300, or 400 mg/kg feed, designated as 0CurNPs, 100CurNPs, 200CurNPs, 300CurNPs, and 400CurNPs, respectively. Dietary CurNPs supplementation linearly (P > 0.001) improved weight gain, feed conversion ratio and European production efficiency index, while feed intake decreased linearly (P > 0.001) with increasing CurNPs supplementation. Carcass traits and serum renal and hepatic function biomarkers remained unaffected by the treatment. Serum cholesterol and LDL levels exhibited linear and quadratic (P > 0.05) reduction in all treated groups, although triglycerides and VLDL levels reduced linearly (P > 0.05) only in the 300CurNPs group. The inclusion of CurNPs resulted in a linear and quadratic increase (P > 0.05) in ileal villi height and a linear elevation (P > 0.05) in the villi height-to-crypt depth ratio. The redox status was improved with CurNPs supplementation, as serum MDA levels showed a linear decrease (P > 0.05) in the 300CurNPs and 400CurNPs groups, while SOD levels increased linearly and quadratically (P > 0.05) across all treated groups. Furthermore, dietary CurNPs exhibited linear (P > 0.001) increases in serum levels of IgM, IgG, and IgA, though antibody titres against NDV and AIV were unaffected. In conclusion, CurNPs proved to be an effective growth promoter, enhancing growth, intestinal architecture, redox status, and humoral immunity in heat-stressed broilers.

Effects of peroxidized soybean oil on growth and energy digestibility in broilers.

Peroxidized lipids have been shown to reduce broiler performance whereupon it was theorized that dietary peroxide value (PV) plus anisidine value (AnV) may be predictive of broiler performance. In experiment (EXP) 1, 64 pens (8 broilers/pen) were fed diets containing 8 levels of peroxidized soybean oil (SO). Broilers were fed diets from 7 to 35 d of age with 8 replications per dietary treatment. Broilers fed diets containing SO processed at 135°C resulted in a reduction in average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI, P ≤ 0.05) compared to birds fed diets containing the unheated SO while birds fed diets containing SO processed at 90°C resulted in a reduction in gain to feed (GF, P ≤ 0.05) compared to birds fed diets containing the unheated SO. Summarization of this data with published data resulted in significant (P ≤ 0.01) regression models for relative ADG [ADG, % = 101.9 - (0.05 × PV) - (0.30 × AnV), SE = 4.1, R2 = 0.43], ADFI [ADFI, % = 101.7 - (0.09 × PV) - (0.19 × AnV), SE = 3.3, R2 = 0.32], and GF [GF, % = 100.4 + (0.05 × PV) - (0.14 × AnV), SE = 2.6, R2 = 0.27], albeit PV was not a significant regression parameter (P ≥ 0.36) for any equation. In EXP 2, the TMEn of four different SO was determined using the precision-fed rooster assay. Diets consisted of ground corn with SO added at 0, 7.5 or 15 % of the diet at the expense of ground corn with 4 roosters per treatment. Relative bioavailability (RBV) was determined using slope-ratio methodology where it was determined that the reduction in the RBV of peroxidized SO ranged from 12 to 29 percent compared to the unheated SO sample. These data suggests that bird performance relative to birds consuming unperoxidized lipids can be predicted based on dietary levels of PV and AnV, although the slopes for performance decline are relatively flat with the combination of PV and AnV accounting for 27 to 43 % of the response variable variance.

Dose Effects of Iron on Growth, Antioxidant Potential, Intestinal Morphology, and Intestinal Barrier in Yellow-Feathered Broilers

Dose Effects of Iron on Growth, Antioxidant Potential, Intestinal Morphology, and Intestinal Barrier in Yellow-Feathered Broilers

Effects of tannic acid on growth performance, intestinal health, and tolerance in broiler chickens.

This study investigated the optimal tannic acid dosage and assessed tolerance levels in broiler chickens. In experiment 1, 525 broilers were randomly divided into 5 treatment groups, the control group (CON group) and groups TA1 to TA4, corresponding to treatments of 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1 % tannic acid, respectively, to determine the effect of tannic acid on broiler growth performance and gut health. Experiment 2 was performed to evaluate the tolerance of tannic acid; 416 broilers were randomly divided into control (CTR), 0.075 % tannic acid (TA), 0.375 % tannic acid (5TA), and 0.75 % tannic acid (10TA) groups. In the first experiment, compared with that in the CON group, the growth performance and the ileal intestinal villi height to crypt depth ratio showed a quadratic curve increase with tannic acid supplementation (P < 0.05). Adding 0.05 % to 0.075 % tannic acid significantly improved the growth performance, intestinal morphology, and intestinal barrier function (P < 0.05). Tannic acid concentrations of 0.075 % significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillaceae in the ileum and decreased the abundance of Vibrionaceae and Yersiniaceae (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, the growth performance of the TA group significantly improved compared with that of the CTR group (P < 0.05). The F/G was significantly higher in the 5TA and 10TA groups than in the CTR group (P < 0.05), and the 10TA group had significantly reduced body weight on d 21 (P < 0.05). The addition of tannic acid resulted in significant glomerular and glandular hyperplasia, as well as muscularis thickening of the gizzard mucosa. However, broilers could not tolerate tannic acid doses of 0.375 % and above. Tannic acid supplementation may protect the proventriculus mucosal layer, reduce villi atrophy, and enhance growth performance by positively influencing the intestinal microbiota, villus morphology, and intestinal barrier function.

Dietary addition of compound organic acids improves the growth performance, carcass trait, and body health of broilers

IntroductionThe poultry industry constantly seeks strategies to enhance broiler growth performance and overall health. Organic acidifiers, including L-lactic acid, L-malic acid, and acetic acid, have gained attention as potential feed additives to improve animal production by modulating gut health, enhancing nutrient absorption, and supporting immune function. Despite their promising effects in other animal species, the impact of this novel compound organic acidifier on broiler performance, metabolism, and immune response has not been fully elucidated. This study aims to evaluate the effects of this compound acidifier on growth performance, serum lipid profile, antioxidant status, and immune parameters in broilers, providing insights into its potential benefits as a dietary supplement for broiler health and productivity.MethodsA total of 240 broilers were randomly divided into four groups: a control group and three treatment groups receiving 0.25%, 0.5%, or 1.0% acidifier, with six replicates of ten birds each. Over a 6-week period, various parameters were measured, including serum triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, lysozyme, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, IL-2, TNF-α, and gene expressions related to lipid metabolism.ResultsOver a 6-week period, the acidifier decreased serum triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins while also enhancing growth performance. Additionally, it raised the serum levels of lysozyme, IgA, IgM, and the SOD. Additionally, IL-2 and TNF-α concentrations in the jejunum mucosa decreased. The acidifier upregulated PPARα, AMPK, FABP1 and MTTP expressions, and downregulated APOB100. Overall, the acidifier effectively improved broiler growth performance during the early development phase primarily by enhancing hepatic lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and immune function.ConclusionThese results suggest that the acidifier may accelerate liver lipid metabolism in broilers by modulating the gene expression profiles involved in lipid metabolism.

Effects of different environmental enrichment tools to improve behavior, welfare, and growth performance of broiler chickens.

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of various environmental enrichment (EE) tools on broiler growth, welfare, behavior, carcass, and meat quality. A total of 300 commercial broilers were randomly divided into 05 treatments. The treatments include various EE tools such as perches, balls, hanging bottles, and laser lights placed for birds and a control group. The birds kept with perches and hanging bottles had the lowest feed intake, while the birds in the control group showed the poor feed conversion ratio compared to all EE treatments. Broilers raised under different EE were more active and exhibited frequent maintenance behavior (i.e., walking, jumping, running, wing flapping and aggressiveness) than the control group which spent more time in feeding and drinking. Moreover, the birds with EE had reduced incidence of toe injuries and footpad dermatitis than those in the control group. Birds reared with perches had higher meat lightness, whereas meat from the birds in the control group had lower cooking loss and shear force. It can be concluded that the use of various EE tools improved the welfare and behavior of the birds without affecting bodyweight of the birds. Furthermore, the use of hanging bottles and placing perches reduced feed intake and improved feed conversion ratio.

Impact of Threonine Supply in Early Ages on Gut Tissue Morphology, Liver Histology, and the Possible Changes in Leukocyte Numbers of Broilers

Delayed feed access post-hatch negatively impacts growth and intestinal development in broilers. Threonine (Thr) is known to support epithelial tissue development. This study evaluated the effects of early feeding strategies, including in ovo Thr administration and hydrogel provision, on broiler performance, gut and liver histomorphology, and leukocyte profiles. Control birds were fed immediately post-hatch, while others experienced a 48 h feed delay. One group received in ovo Thr on day 17 of incubation, while others were given Hydrogel® with or without Thr during the first 48 h post-hatch. Immediate feed birds showed the best performance (p &lt; 0.05), while early Thr supplementation (in ovo or hydrogel) partially mitigated the negative effects of delayed feed access. On day 21, birds treated with in ovo Thr had 4% higher body weight (BW) than untreated birds (p &lt; 0.05). Birds given hydrogel post-hatch showed no significant BW differences compared to other groups (p &gt; 0.05), but 48 h delayed, non-supplemented birds had 34.3% lower BW than immediate-fed birds (p &lt; 0.05). Compensation was linked to improved gut architecture, though no significant effects were observed on leukocyte profiles or liver histology. In ovo Thr feeding is recommended to mitigate the adverse effects of a two-day delay in feed access for broiler chickens.

Slowly digestible starch impairs growth performance of broiler chickens offered low-protein diet supplemental higher amino acid densities by inhibiting the utilization of intestinal amino acid

BackgroundThe synchronized absorption of amino acids (AAs) and glucose in the gut is crucial for effective AA utilization and protein synthesis in the body. The study investigated how the starch digestion rate and AA levels impact intestinal AA digestion, transport and metabolism, breast muscle protein metabolism, and growth in grower broilers. A total of 720 21-day-old healthy male Arbor Acres Plus broilers were randomly assigned to 12 treatments, each with 6 replicates of 10 birds. The treatments comprised 3 different starch [corn: control, cassava: rapidly digestible starch (RDS), and pea: slowly digestible starch (SDS)] with 4 different AA levels [based on standardized ileal digestible lysine (SID Lys), 0.92%, 1.02% (as the standard), 1.12% and 1.22%].ResultsAn interaction between dietary starch sources and SID Lys levels significantly affected breast muscle yield (P = 0.033). RDS and SDS diets, or SID Lys levels of 0.92%, 1.02%, or 1.22%, significantly decreased the breast muscle yield of broilers in contrast to the corn starch diet with 1.12% SID Lys (P = 0.033). The SID Lys levels of 1.12% and 1.22% markedly improved body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG) from 22 to 42 days of age, and mRNA expression of y+LAT1 and mTOR while reducing feed intake (FI) and feed/gain ratio (F/G) compared to the 0.92% SID Lys level (P < 0.05). The SDS diet significantly decreased BW and BWG of broilers from 22 to 42 days of age, distal ileal starch digestibility, jejunal amylase and chymotrypsin activities, and mRNA expression of GLUT2 and y+LAT1 compared to the corn starch diet (P < 0.05). The RDS diet suppressed the breast muscle mass by down-regulating expression of mTOR, S6K1, and eIF4E and up-regulating expression of MuRF, CathepsinB, Atrogin-1, and M-calpain compared to the corn starch diet (P < 0.05). Targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that the SDS diet significantly increased acetyl-CoA and α-ketoglutaric acid levels in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (P < 0.05) but decreased the ileal digestibility of Lys, Tyr, Leu, Asp, Ser, Gly, Pro, Arg, Ile, and Val compared to the corn starch group (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe SDS diet impaired broiler growth by reducing intestinal starch digestibility, which inhibited intestinal AA and glucose absorption and utilization, increased AA oxidation for energy supply, and lowered the efficiency of protein synthesis. Although the RDS diet resulted in growth performance similar to the corn starch diet, it reduced breast muscle mass by inhibiting protein synthesis and promoting degradation.Graphical

Alleviation of Acute Heat Stress in Broiler Chickens by Dietary Supplementation of Polyphenols from Shredded, Steam-Exploded Pine Particles

Reducing the detrimental effects of heat stress (HS) in poultry is essential to minimize production losses. The present study evaluates the effects of dietary polyphenols prepared from underutilized wood byproducts on the growth, gut health, and cecal microbiota in broilers subjected to acute heat stress (AHS). One hundred eight one-day-old Indian River broilers were fed with 0%, 0.5%, or 1% polyphenols from shredded, steam-exploded pine particles (PSPP) in their diet. On the 37th day, forty birds were equally distributed among four groups containing either a control diet at thermoneutral temperatures (NT0%) or AHS temperatures with 0% (AHS0%), 0.5% (AHS0.5%), and 1% (AHS1%) PSPP-supplemented diets. The temperature in the NT room was maintained at 21.0 °C, while, in the AHS room, it was increased to 31 °C. AHS negatively influenced performance parameters and increased rectal temperature (RT) in broilers. The AHS0% group showed a higher expression of NOX4, HSP-70, and HSP-90 genes, while the expression was lower in PSPP-supplemented birds. In the jejunum, mRNA expression of SOD was increased in all the birds under AHS compared to NT. The expression of the CLDN1 and ZO2 genes was increased in AHS0%, while that of the ZO1 and MUC2 genes was increased in PSPP-supplemented birds. HS tends to increase TLR2 and TLR4 gene expression in chickens. The significantly modified genera were Bariatricus, Sporobacter, Sporanaerobacter, and Natranaerovirga. Concludingly, AHS negatively influences the performance parameters, RT, stress, gut-health-related genes, and pathogenic penetration, but PSPP supplementation reduces its bad impact by overcoming the stress and gut-health-related genes, increasing favorable bacterial abundance and reducing pathogenic penetration in chickens.

Antibacterial activity of fat from black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae against antibiotic resistant Campylobacter spp. strains

Abstract In this study, the antibacterial effect of fats derived from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) were evaluated against various antibiotic-resistant strains of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. BSFL fats with different free fatty acids (FFAs) contents were obtained based on the larvae’s processing conditions. Initially, antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that all Campylobacter strains were resistant to at least one antibiotic, with two strains classified as multidrug-resistant. The antibacterial activity of the BSFL fats was directly correlated with their FFAs content. Fats obtained through freeze-drying and defatting via supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) exhibited the strongest antibacterial effects against Campylobacter spp., reducing bacterial growth by 4.1 to 5.6 log CFU/mL in C. jejuni and demonstrating bactericidal activity (reducing bacterial growth &gt;6 log CFU/mL) against all C. coli strains. An analysis of the individual contributions of FFAs in BSFL fat revealed that lauric and linoleic acids were bactericidal (reducing bacterial growth &gt;8 log CFU/mL), completely inhibiting the growth of C. jejuni and C. coli strains, while myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids showed no effect on Campylobacter growth. These findings suggest that BSFL fat, which has been shown to enhance broiler growth, could also serve as an effective strategy to combat Campylobacter spp. contamination in the food chain.

Protease and Bacillus coagulans Supplementation in a Low-Protein Diet Improves Broiler Growth, Promotes Amino Acid Transport Gene Activity, Strengthens Intestinal Barriers, and Alters the Cecal Microbial Composition.

Low-protein (LPRO) diets can effectively reduce feed costs and decrease environmental pollution, making them an important pathway to enhance the sustainability of livestock production. However, they may have adverse effects on the growth performance of broiler chickens, which has limited their widespread application. This study aims to explore the impact of adding protease (PRO) to LPRO diets on the growth performance of broiler chickens, especially under conditions with or without the presence of Bacillus coagulans (BC), in order to provide theoretical support for the scientific application and promotion of LPRO feeds. We selected 432 one-day-old broiler chickens and divided them into four treatment groups, which were fed with the control (CON) diet, the LPRO diet, the PRO diet (LPRO diet with added protease), and the PAB diet (PRO diet with added BC). The LPRO group demonstrated decreased growth performance while both PRO and PAB diets resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05). Both PRO and PAB diets significantly enhanced the expression of amino acid transport genes and tight junction genes (p < 0.05) and optimized the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Overall, LPRO diets have a detrimental effect on the growth of broiler chickens, while the PRO and PAB diets effectively counteract these negative effects by improving protein digestion, amino acid absorption, and intestinal health.

Use of Seed Meal from the ICP7035 Variety of Cajanus cajan in Broiler Rearing in the Republic of Congo

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of gradual incorporation of Cajanus cajan ICP7035 seed meal on broiler growth, carcass and internal organ development. The study was based on 48 two-week-old Cobb500 broiler chicks. The chicks were randomly divided into 04 homogeneous batches of 12 chicks each, and fed 04 diets of identical composition but differentiated by the substitution rate of soybean meal by Cajanus cajan ICP7035 seed meal containing 0, 7, 14 and 21% of Cajanus cajan ICP7035 sheath meal respectively. Each batch was divided into two sub-batches of 6 subjects each. The results obtained showed that subjects fed rations of 0, 7 and 14% Cajanus cajan ICP7035 seeds performed satisfactorily compared with those fed 21%. On the other hand, it had no significant adverse effect on the weight of the liver, intestines, spleen and gizzard taken individually of subjects fed Cajanus cajan ICP7035 seed meal compared with control subjects, nor on the weight of all these organs. Thus, the incorporation of Cajanus cajan ICP7035 seed meal should be at rates of up to 14% to reduce soybean meal loads in broiler rations.

Enhancing Broiler Growth and Carcass Quality: Impact of Diets Enriched with Moringa oleifera Leaf Powder Conjugated with Zinc Nanoparticles

This study evaluated the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf powder extract stabilized with zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs-MLPE) as a natural growth promoter in broiler diets. Randomly assigned 264 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks to four different feeding treatments, with each group being subdivided into six replicates, each comprising 11 unsexed chicks. The control group was fed a basic diet without additives, while the experimental groups were supplemented with 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 cm³ of ZnNPs-MLPE/L of diet. The findings demonstrated that 2.0 and 3.0 cm³/L ZnNPs-MLPE supplementation significantly enhanced live body weight (LBW) and weight gain (BWG). Feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) did not show significant differences between the treated groups and the control, indicating that the additive did not negatively affect feed efficiency. However, an increase in abdominal fat was noted in the ZnNPs-MLPE treatments relative to the control. Blood analysis revealed that the ZnNPs-MLPE groups had significantly lower levels of "total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and alanine transaminase (ALT) compared to the control group. In contrast, total protein (TP), albumin, and the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio" were higher in the ZnNPs-MLPE groups. Immunoglobulins IgY and IgM, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, were elevated. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were reduced, indicating improved antioxidant capacity and immune function in the ZnNPs-MLPE-treated groups. In conclusion, supplementation with ZnNPs-MLPE at 2.0 and 3.0 cm³/L positively impacted broiler growth efficiency, antioxidant capacity, and immunological functionality. These findings support the potential of ZnNPs-MLPE as an effective natural growth enhancer for producing healthier poultry products.

Use of a plant-based flavonoid blend in diet for growth, nutrient digestibility, gut microbiota, blood metabolites, and meat quality in broilers

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the optimal doses of a flavonoid blend (FB) for enhancing cost-efficient production, digestibility, gut-beneficial microbiota, serum metabolites, and meat quality in broilers. Materials and Methods: For 35 days, 280-day-old chicks (Cobb-500) were randomly allocated to four groups, each containing 70 birds, with 5 replicates. Birds were given FB (gm/kg) at the levels of 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 in a basal diet (corn-soya-based) and designated as the control, 0.2 FB, 0.4 FB, and 0.6 FB groups, respectively. At 35 days, 15 birds from each group were slaughtered to analyze cecum microbiota, serum profiles, meat, and bone quality. Results: Compared with the control, birds given FB linearly showed better feed intake and overall performance, with the optimum results observed in 0.6 FB. Birds fed FB resulted in linear, quadratic, and cubic improvements in digestibility, with the 0.6 FB group presenting 12% more (p &lt; 0.01) crude protein digestibility than the control. Birds offered either 0.4 FB or 0.6 FB increased (p &lt; 0.01) the population of beneficial bacteria while reducing (p &lt; 0.01) pathogenic bacteria in the cecum compared to the control. Birds fed 0.6 FB showed substantial improvements in beneficial serum metabolites and liver health, along with reduced bad cholesterol compared with the control. Although FB was unaffected (p &gt; 0.05) by dressed yield, meat composition, lightness, or bone characteristics, the 0.6 FB group showed substantially (p &lt; 0.01) more meat redness and bone ash percentage in broilers than in the control. Conclusions: Supplementing 0.6 gm FB/kg of diet improved growth performance, enhanced digestibility, increased beneficial gut microbiota and serum metabolites, and ameliorated meat quality in broilers.

The efficacy of Artichoke leaf extract conjugated with organic zinc nanoparticles on growth, carcass traits and blood biochemical parameters of broilers

This study aimed to discover how using nano artichoke leaf extract Stabilized with zinc Nanoparticles (ZnO-Nano-ALPE) as an alternative to antibiotics and an antioxidant in broiler feed affected their growth, meat quality, and blood. In a completely randomized design experiment, 210 1-day-old chicks (Arbor Acres) were assigned to three trial groups. Each group was subdivided into seven replicates, each with ten unsexed chicks. The groups formed were as follows: the control group received a basal diet without additives. In contrast, the ZnO-Nano-ALPE1 and ZnO-Nano-ALPE2 groups received a basal diet plus 1.0 and 2.0 cm3 of nano artichoke leaf extract ZnO-Nano-ALPE /kg diet, respectively. The results showed significant changes in LBW on days 28 and 31 of their lives, with the ZnO-Nano-ALPE groups showing the greatest changes. Variation analysis revealed no discernible changes between the treatment groups; however, there were notable variations in the calculated feed intake (FI) on days 29 and 31. There were no notable variations in carcass features between treatments, except for the percentage of carcass, dressing, thigh, heart, and intestine cecum in the control group. In addition, we found significant differences in total protein, albumin, and globulin levels between treatments, with the control group showing higher levels compared to the other two groups. The diet increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and elevated cholesterol levels. The study revealed significant differences in immunoglobulins, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels among the treatments, with the 1.0 cm3 treatment group exhibiting the highest levels. Thus, adding ZnO-Nano-ALPE to growing chick feeds at 1.0 and 2.0 cm3 rates could improve productivity, some carcass characteristics, and blood parameters.

Hesperidin enhances broiler growth performance by augmenting gastric acid secretion via the proton pump pathway.

Hesperidin exhibits promising potential as a feed additive for augmenting gastric acid secretion in animals. Gastrointestinal function is essential for animal growth and the efficient digestion of dietary nutrients, with gastric acid secretion serving as one of its critical components. The secretion of gastric acid, together with other digestive fluids and substances, significantly influences the digestion and absorption of animal feed, which in turn affects growth performance. However, there is limited research regarding the application of hesperidin as a feed additive to enhance gastric acid secretion. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of hesperidin as a feed additive in enhancing gastric acid secretion and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. A total of 200 newly hatched (1-day-old) broilers with similar body weight were randomly allocated into four groups as follows: the control group receiving only the basal diet, and the other three groups supplemented with 50, 100, and 150 mg of hesperidin per kg of the basal diet, respectively. Each group consisted of five replicates with ten broilers per replicate, and the feeding trial lasted for a duration of 21 days. The growth performance was evaluated by monitoring feed intake and body weight throughout the trial. A four-day nutrient utilization trial was conducted prior to the conclusion of the feeding experiment. Adoption of the total collection method, the collected droppings were weighed and dried at 65 °C. Fifteen broilers from each group were euthanized and immediately dissected to obtain gizzard, proventriculus, gizzard chyme, and jugular blood samples, The proventriculus and gizzard weight were weighed and the pH of gizzard chyme was measured at the same time. The collected jugular venous blood was used to assess gastrin levels, whereas chicken gizzard chyme was utilized for the analysis of lactate, hydrochloric acid, and pepsin activity. Proventriculus and gizzard tissues were used to evaluate pepsinogen levels, perform hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, conduct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for key proton pump components, and assess proton pump activity. The results demonstrated that, in comparison to the control group, both the 100mg/Kg and 150 mg/Kg groups exhibited a significant increase in final body weight (FBW) and average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.05). Additionally, the feed to gain ratio (F/G) was significantly reduced in the 150mg/Kg group (P < 0.05). The results of the nutrient utilization trial indicate that all treatment groups had significantly higher levels of dry matter (DM) and ether extract (EE) compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, crude protein (CP) and gross energy (ME) were significantly higher in the 100mg/Kg and 150mg/Kg groups than in both the control group and the 50mg/Kg group (P < 0.05). The inclusion of hesperidin in broiler diets leads to significant improvements in stomach development and lactic acid content, while pH and hydrochloric acid content exhibit opposite trends (P < 0.05). Supplementation of broiler diets with hesperidin at doses of 100 mg/Kg and 150 mg/Kg significantly up-regulates pepsin activity and pepsinogen levels (P < 0.05). Incorporation of hesperidin into the broilers' diet significantly enhances parietal cell numbers (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of hesperidin in broilers effectively up-regulates key signaling pathways and intracellular signal substances involved in proton pump activation (P < 0.05). The proton pump activity also exhibited a significant increase compared to the control group of 100mg/Kg and 150mg/Kg (P < 0.05) in our findings. In conclusion, hesperidin exhibits promising potential as a feed additive for broilers, and it can improve the growth performance of broilers by increasing gastric acid secretion and promoting nutrient utilization through activation of proton pump. Notably, basal diet supplemented with 150mg/Kg hesperidin demonstrates superior efficacy.

Effect of multi-strain probiotic supplementation as alternative to antibiotics on growth, blood biochemistry, ileal digestibility, bacterial growth, and gut histomorphology of broiler fed on poultry byproduct meal

ABSTRACT The study aimed to evaluate the effects of multi-strain probiotic (MSP) on broiler growth, health, and nutrient utilization under high animal protein concentrate conditions. Male Ross-308 broilers were assigned to four groups: a control (C), MSP at 50 mg/kg (MSP50), MSP at 100 mg/kg (MSP100), and Zinc bacitracin (ZB) as a positive control. MSP supplementation significantly improved feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion efficiency, with MSP100 demonstrating the best feed conversion ratio during both starter and finisher phases. MSP also enhanced dressing percentages and positively influenced blood lipid profiles. The supplementation reduced harmful bacterial growth (E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens) while promoting beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus). Moreover, MSP positively impacted gut histomorphology, showing higher villus height, width, and crypt depth in the MSP100 group. Digestibility of dry matter and crude protein was enhanced in birds fed the MSP100 diet. Overall, MSP supplementation exhibited positive effects on broiler performance, health, and nutrient digestibility, indicating its potential as an antibiotic alternative for improving practices in the poultry feed industry.

Effect of Various Types of Housing Systems in Poultry Especially Broilers

This study examines the impact of various housing systems on broiler chicken productivity, welfare, and overall performance. As poultry farming faces an increasing demand for meat production, understanding how different housing arrangements affect broiler growth, health, and behavior is essential. Four housing systems were analyzed such as traditional cages, deep litter, free-range, and environmentally controlled systems. Data were collected over 42 days, focusing on key performance indicators, such as weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality rates, and behavioral scores. The study used a randomized experimental design, with 400 broiler chicks randomly assigned to each housing system. The results indicated significant variations across the systems. The controlled-environment group showed the highest weight gain and the lowest FCR, suggesting improved production efficiency. However, while fostering better behavioral welfare through natural behaviors, such as foraging and dust bathing, the free-range system exhibited higher mortality rates. While efficient in terms of space, traditional cages had moderate welfare scores and were less favorable in promoting natural behaviors. Deep litter systems provided moderate welfare benefits and weight gain but were less efficient in feed conversion. Statistical analyses confirmed that all housing systems significantly affected broiler performance, with the controlled environment outperforming other systems regarding weight gain and feed efficiency, whereas the free-range system excelled in welfare. The study concluded that housing systems required balancing productivity, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability and highlighted the need for more research to optimize broiler housing designs for diverse production contexts.

Impact Of Magnetised Water on Nigeria Broiler Chicken Performance and Growth Rate

Poultry farming is vital to Nigeria’s economy and provides a key protein source, yet many farms struggle with slow growth and high mortality in broiler chickens. This study aimed to assess the impact of magnetised water on broiler growth. 40 broiler chickens were housed in four groups (T0-T3) at the National Integrated Farm Project in Ilorin, Nigeria. The water treatment involved a setup with neodymium magnets and varied exposure times: T0 (control, no magnetisation), T1 (55 s), T2 (110 s), and T3 (165 s). Each group had 10 birds, and weekly weight was recorded over seven weeks. A paired t-test was used to analyze growth differences between treatments. Average weekly weight gains for T0, T1, T2, and T3 increased progressively, with T3 showing the highest gain. Paired t-test results indicated significant differences in growth between magnetised and non-magnetised groups, with calculated values above the threshold (ttab = 2.969). This study established that magnetised water increased the performance and growth rate of broiler chicken. It is therefore recommended that magnetised water can be used in producing broiler chicken for high income from poultry farming.