Higher Feed Conversion Ratio Research Articles

Intensive white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture integrated with green mussel (Perna viridis), seaweed (Gracilariopsis bailiniae), and tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus): impacts on water quality and growth of the shrimp

The production of Litopenaeus vannamei has significantly intensified, and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) has emerged as an effective farming technique to sustain the shrimp industry. Integrated aquaculture reduces pollution while increasing aquaculture production. This production system could give both ecological and economic benefits. Its contribution to the reduced amount of nutrients from intensive shrimp farming effluents and to the improvement of water quality conditions and growth of white shrimp are significant. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts on water quality and growth performance of shrimp (L. vannamei) at the same time assess the viability of rearing shrimps integrated with either green mussel, Perna viridis (GM alone), GM+seaweed (Gracilariopsis bailiniae), GM+tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), or GM+seaweed+tilapia. Shrimps were cultured outdoors for 60 days in a recirculating system at an average water exchange rate of 6 L hr-1. Shrimps were stocked at 400 shrimp m-3 in shrimp tank while seaweed (2kg m-2), green mussels (50 individuals per meter line), and tilapia (350 grams m-3) were cultivated separately in plastic baskets inside the biofiltration tank. Shrimp effluents were recirculated from the shrimp tank to the biofiltration tank. After 60 days of culture, results showed that shrimps without integration had the lowest average body weight (ABW), survival, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), biomass gain, and high feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to shrimps with integration. This experiment confirmed that shrimp can be cultured intensively with either green mussel (GM alone), GM+ seaweed, GM+tilapia, or GM+seaweed+tilapia without adversely affecting the water quality and its growth performance and could even result in better yield than the shrimp cultured without integration. This research demonstrated the benefits of integrated aquaculture and could be further verified using large-scale culture.

Temporal Changes in Jejunal and Ileal Microbiota of Broiler Chickens with Clinical Coccidiosis (Eimeria maxima).

Coccidiosis in broiler chickens continues to be a major disease of the gastrointestinal tract, causing economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. The goal of this study was to generate a symptomatic Eimeria maxima (1000 oocysts) infection to determine its effect on the luminal and mucosal microbiota populations (L and M) in the jejunum and ileum (J and IL). Samples were taken from day 0 to 14 post-infection, and sequencing of 16S rRNA was performed using Illumina technology. Infected birds had significantly (p < 0.0001) lower body weight gain (BWG), higher feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p = 0.0015), increased crypt depth, and decreased villus height (p < 0.05). The significant differences in alpha and beta diversity were observed primarily at height of infection (D7). Analysis of taxonomy indicated that J-L and M were dominated by Lactobacillus, and in IL-M, changeover from Candidatus Arthromitus to Lactobacillus as the major taxon was observed, which occurred quicky in infected animals. LEfSe analysis found that in the J-M of infected chickens, Lactobacillus was significantly more abundant in infected (IF) chickens. These findings show that E. maxima infection affects the microbiota of the small intestine in a time-dependent manner, with different effects on the luminal and mucosal populations.

Effects of ginger and purslane supplemented diets on the production and physiology of Japanese quail

The Japanese quail is considered one of the most significant species in the poultry industry. Various dietary strategies aim to improve the quality of quails and reduce or eliminate the use of antibiotics. Therefore, depending on the use of herbal plants, a new trend exists to provide high-quality feed. This study aims to provide insight into the possible improvement effects of ginger and purslane powder concentrations (1% and 2%) on the growth performance and reproductive aspects of quail and to implement a completely randomized design (CRD) in triplicate. The results revealed that 1% ginger powder significantly influenced the final week of feed intake, resulting in minimum cholesterol and blood sugar levels in the blood. The data indicated that 1% purslane powder affected body weight and weight gain. It also has a positive effect on blood attributes, including PCV, Hb, amylase, and HDL, while the lowest LDL level is recorded. The application of 2% purslane resulted in the highest feed conversion ratio (FCR) and lipase blood parameters. The male quail presented the highest levels of PCV, Hb, and HDL but the lowest levels of blood sugar and TG. However, the female quail presented the lowest levels of cholesterol and LDL and the highest total protein. The findings of this study suggest that incorporating herbal plants like ginger and purslane into Japanese quail diets can enhance poultry quality. Such dietary supplements may offer natural, cost-effective alternatives for improving the health and productivity of quails, benefiting breeders and farmers in the poultry industry.

Dried Chlorella powder supplementation: Impact on broiler chicken growth, health, and intestinal microflora

The use of dried Chlorella as an immune and growth stimulant to enhance nonspecific host defense mechanisms or as an antimicrobial to inhibit bacterial growth has been reported. This study aimed to assess the effects of dried Chlorella powder (DCP) supplementation on the growth, health, and intestinal microflora of commercial broiler chicks, comparing a diet containing DCP with an antibiotic-based diet. A total of 120 pieces day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were reared at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Dhaka, and randomly divided into four experimental groups of three replicates each, with 10 chicks per replication. One group was fed a control diet, while the remaining three groups were fed diets with 0.5% and 1.0% DCP, and antibiotics, respectively. Results indicated significant (P&lt;0.05) improvements in body weight and dressing percentage with DCP inclusion compared to control-fed broilers. A linear increase in body weight was observed with higher DCP levels, with birds on the 1% DCP diet achieving superior body weights (1665.13±8.82) compared to the control and antibiotic groups. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and feed consumption were also significantly (P&lt;0.05) improved, with the best FCR at 1% DCP (1.37±0.01) and the highest FCR in the control group (1.45±0.00). The highest feed consumption was noted in the control group. No significant (P&gt;0.05) differences were observed in the relative weight of spleen and bursa among the groups. DCP had no significant (P&gt;0.05) effects on liver, gizzard, intestine, and heart weights. Hematological studies revealed no significant (P&gt;0.05) differences, except for Hemoglobin and Red Blood Cells (RBC), which were significantly (P&lt;0.05) increased by DCP compared to control and antibiotic groups. DCP supplementation significantly (P&lt;0.05) reduced E. coli and Salmonella sp. counts while increasing Lactobacillus sp. counts. Additionally, treatments with DCP significantly (P&lt;0.05) boosted Newcastle disease (ND) titre levels compared to the control group. The study showed that DCP can be effectively replaced antibiotics in broiler diets, enhancing growth, health, and immune response, thereby promoting sustainable and safer poultry production practices.

Evaluation of fibrous feed ingredients alternatives to oat hulls as a source of feed structure in broiler diets

This study aimed to evaluate several fibrous feed ingredients as potential substitutes for oat hulls (OH), assessing their efficacy in providing structural integrity to broiler feeds. A total of 4,160 day-old male Ross-308 broilers were allocated to eight dietary treatments, including a control group (CON) without additional fiber supplementation and 7 diets where 3% of the wheat content was replaced by either OH, soy hulls (SH), beet pulp (BP), carob bean (CB), wheat straw (WS), rice hulls (RH), or wheat bran (WB). The experimental design followed a complete randomized block design with 10 pens per treatment and 52 birds each. Growth performance and gut development indices were monitored, and the coefficients of total tract apparent retention (CTTAR) of nutrients were measured at 28 d. The OH improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the entire growth period (1-36 d) compared to the CON, SH, CB, WS, RH, and WB (P < 0.05). Conversely, BP diets reduced the final BW and ADFI compared to OH (P < 0.05) but were not different from the CON (P > 0.05). However, the FCR in birds fed with BP was similar to OH but lower than the CON group. In addition, BP-fed birds had higher CTTAR of ether extract and non-starch polysaccharides and relative weight of empty proventriculus and gizzard to BW at 14 and 28 d compared to CON. The WS, RH, and WB yielded similar final BW to OH and CON but higher FCR (P < 0.05). The CB, on the other hand, resulted in the highest FCR when contrasted with the other substitutes and CON (P < 0.05). Finding an alternative to OH with comparable benefits remains a challenge, with WS, RH, and WB showing similar final BW but inferior FCR to OH, and BP showing similar FCR but lower BW and ADFI.

DIETARY EFFECTS OF TULSI LEAVES AND BLACK PEPPER EXTRACT ON BROILER GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of the dietary effect of different levels of Tulsi leaves (Ocimum sanctum) and Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) Extract (TBE) on growth performance and carcass traits of commercial broiler. The study was conducted at the Poultry farm of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during the period from 11 April to 08 May, 2019. A total of 96 day old broiler chicks (Lohman Meat) were randomly and equally distributed to 4 groups having 3 replicates of 8 birds each. The birds were grouped as T0, T1, T2 and T3 group with normal water (control group), 1% TBE 1ml /L of drinking water, 2% TBE 2 ml/L of drinking water and 3% TBE 3ml /L of drinking water, respectively. Body weight gains, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), mortality (%) and meat yield traits were recorded. The collected data were analyzed by using ANOVA with SPSS version 22. Feed intake (g/bird) was almost similar (P&gt;0.05) among the dietary treatment groups. Body weight gain (g) and FCR were significantly (P&lt;0.05) differed among the dietary treatment groups. The highest body weight gain (g) was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in T2 (1659.35g±2.19), followed by T1 (1631.05g±2.52), T3 (1590.67g±2.73) and T0 (1472.01g±4.58), respectively. The lowest FCR was found in T2 (1.41±0.00) and the highest FCR in T0 (1.52±0.01), the intermediate in T1 (1.45±0.01) and T3 (1.46±0.01), respectively. It was found that there was significant (P&lt;0.05) difference among the dietary treatment groups in case of live weight (g), carcass weight (g),dressing percentage (%), breast weight (g), liver weight(g), but there was almost similar (P&gt;0.05) among the dietary treatment groups in case of heart weight (g), spleen weight (g), gizzard weight (g), thigh weight (%), head weight (g), intestine weight (g) and shank weight (g). The carcass meat weight, Carcass yield (%), breast weight and breast meat weight (%) was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in treatment T2 group compared to control group T0. Liver weight was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in control group T0 compared to treatment group T2. No mortality was found among the dietary treatment groups during experimental period. Based on the result it could be concluded that 2% Tulsi leaves and Black Pepper Extract (TBE) 2 ml/L of drinking water may be used in broiler diet as growth promoter and it may also serve as an antioxidant.

Dietary fat content and supplementation with sodium butyrate: effects on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and myopathies in broiler chickens

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the dietary inclusion of microencapsulated sodium butyrate (Na-butyrate; 0, 150, and 300 mg Na-butyrate/kg diet) and dietary fat reduction (7.7% vs. 6.7% in the grower diet; 8.9% vs. 7.7% in the finisher diet) in 792 (half male and half female) broiler chickens on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality and the occurrence of wooden breast (WB), white striping (WS), and spaghetti meat (SM). Dietary supplementation with Na-butyrate did not affect the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality traits, or myopathy rates. Dietary fat reduction did not influence feed intake (FI) but decreased average daily gain (ADG); increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P < 0.001); and decreased the occurrence of WS (-38%; P < 0.01), WB (-48%; P < 0.05), and SM (-90%; P < 0.01). Dietary fat reduction also increased cold carcass weight (P < 0.01), carcass yield (P < 0.05), and pectoralis major yield (P < 0.05), whereas meat quality was not affected. Compared to females, males had high body weight, ADG, and FI and low FCR (P < 0.001) at the end of the trial. Moreover, cold carcass weight and hind leg yield were higher in males than in females (P < 0.001), whereas females had higher carcass, breast, and p. major yields (P < 0.001). Males showed a higher rate of WB (P < 0.001) and a lower rate of SM (P < 0.01) than females, whereas WS occurrence did not differ between sexes. In conclusion, Na-butyrate supplementation did not affect growth performance, carcass traits, or meat quality. Conversely, the reduction in dietary fat greatly decreased myopathy occurrence, whereas moderately impaired growth performance.

Integrating Multi-Omics Data to Identify Key Functional Variants Affecting Feed Efficiency in Large White Boars.

Optimizing feed efficiency through the feed conversion ratio (FCR) is paramount for economic viability and sustainability. In this study, we integrated RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and genome-wide association study (GWAS) data to investigate key functional variants associated with feed efficiency in pigs. Identification of differentially expressed genes in the duodenal and muscle tissues of low- and high-FCR pigs revealed that pathways related to digestion of dietary carbohydrate are responsible for differences in feed efficiency between individuals. Differential open chromatin regions identified by ATAC-seq were linked to genes involved in glycolytic and fatty acid processes. GWAS identified 211 significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with feed efficiency traits, with candidate genes PPP1R14C, TH, and CTSD. Integration of duodenal ATAC-seq data and GWAS data identified six key functional variants, particularly in the 1500985-1509676 region on chromosome 2. In those regions, CTSD was found to be highly expressed in the duodenal tissues of pigs with a high feed conversion ratio, suggesting its role as a potential target gene. Overall, the integration of multi-omics data provided insights into the genetic basis of feed efficiency, offering valuable information for breeding more efficient pig breeds.

PEMANFAATAN CACING TANAH (Lumbricus rubellus) PADA PENDEDERAN LOBSTER AIR TAWAR (Cherax quadricarinatus) DENGAN SISTEM RESIRKULASI

Recirculation systems are intensive cultivation methods that offer an attractive alternative to extensive systems for lobster farming. This study aims to evaluate the utilization of earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) in the juvenile rearing of freshwater lobsters (Cherax quadricarinatus) using a recirculation system. The research was conducted at the Wet Laboratory of the Seed and Fish Feed Production Technology Study Program, Politeknik Indonesia Venezuela, from October to November 2022. The experimental design used was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) non-factorial, consisting of 4 treatments and 4 replications: A (control), B (10% of biomass), C (15% of biomass), and D (20% of biomass). The results showed that treatment D (20% of biomass) produced the highest absolute weight growth, with an average of 12.0 g, while treatment A (control) had the lowest weight with an average of 1.2 g. The highest absolute length growth was also observed in treatment D, with an average of 4.5 cm, while treatment A had the lowest length growth at 0.7 cm. The highest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was achieved by treatment B (10% of biomass) with an average of 2.57, whereas the lowest FCR was observed in treatment D with an average of 1.63. The highest molting frequency over 30 days was recorded in treatment D, while the lowest molting frequencies were found in treatments A and B. ANOVA test results indicated that the earthworm treatments significantly affected absolute weight growth, absolute length growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and molting frequency of the lobsters over 30 days. However, there was no significant effect on the survival rate (SR) of the lobsters.

Effects of dietary Adansonia digitata L. (baobab) seed meal on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract The seeds of lesser-known tropical legume trees are currently being promoted as a cost-effective method of increasing broiler productivity, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Several feeding trials have evaluated the effects of baobab seed meal (BSM) on broiler chicken productivity. However, due to differences in experimental conditions among feeding trials, drawing broad conclusions using this large volume of data appears difficult. Thus, the meta-analytic effect of BSM on growth performance [i.e., feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and body weight gain (BWG)] and carcass characteristics of broilers were investigated using 14 peer-reviewed published articles. These articles were retrieved via a systematic search conducted on Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Elicit.com, and PubMed databases. The effect size was calculated via a random effect model, and results were expressed as standardised mean differences (SMD) at 95% confidence intervals. The pooled results showed that broilers fed BSM had significantly lower BWG (SMD = −0.77; −0.19, −0.30; p &lt; 0.001), dressed carcass weight (SMD = −0.84; −1.44, −0.23; p = 0.007), and higher FCR (SMD = 0.55; 0.19, 0.91; p &lt; 0.001) than those fed control diets. However, feed intake, dressing percentage, and weights of breast, thigh, and drumstick were not significantly affected. Subgroup analyses showed that the Marshall strain-fed BSM-based diets had significantly heavier BWG (p &lt; 0.001) than the Hubbard, Ross, and Anak strains. Similarly, results revealed that broilers fed soaked and roasted BSM had significantly better FCR and BWG than broilers fed sundried and fermented BSM. Broilers fed BSM-based diets from days 29–56 (SMD = 0.17; −0.51, 0.84; p = 0.622) and days 1−56 (SMD = −0.89; −1.41, −0.36; p &lt; 0.001) had significantly improved FCR compared to those offered BSM-based diets from days 1–21 (SMD = 2.58; 1.65, 3.51; p &lt; 0.001), days 1–28 (SMD = 0.85; 0.35, 1.34; p &lt; 0.001), and days 22–42 (SMD = 1.82; 1.02, 2.62; p &lt; 0.001). Similarly, broilers fed BSM-based diets from days 29–56 (SMD = 0.21; −0.38, 0.79; p = 0.484) and days 1−56 (SMD = 0.92; 0.16, 1.69; p = 0.018) had significantly higher BWG than those offered BSM-based diets from days 1–21 (SMD = −3.39; −4.41, −2.37; p &lt; 0.001), days 1–28 (SMD = −1.32; −1.91, −0.72; p &lt; 0.001), and days 22–42 (SMD = −2.24; −2.75, 1.73; p &lt; 0.001). Meta-regression revealed a low to moderate effect of processing methods, broiler strains, inclusion level, and feeding duration as covariates, explaining most of the sources of heterogeneity. In conclusion, broilers fed 1–10% of soaked, and roasted BSM from days 1 to 56 had improved growth performance parameters when compared to those on the control.

Novel insight into the feed conversion ratio in laying hens and construction of its prediction model

Feed efficiency (FE) is an important economic factor in poultry production, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) is one of the most widely used measures of FE. Factors associated with FCR include genetics, the environment, and other factors. However, the mechanisms responsible for FCR in chickens are still less well appreciated. In this study, we examined the pattern changes of FCR, then delved into understanding the mechanisms behind these variations from both genetic and environmental perspectives. Most interestingly, the FCR at the front section of henhouse exhibited the lowest value. Further investigation revealed that laying rate in the high FCR (HFCR) group was lower than that in the low FCR (LFCR) group (P < 0.05). Cortisol, total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), and IgG levels in the LFCR group were significantly lower than those in the HFCR group (P < 0.05), while BUN level was significantly higher than that in the HFCR group (P < 0.05). We identified a total of 67 and 10 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with FCR in ovarian and small intestine tissues, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis of DEGs revealed that they might affect FCR by modulating genes associated with salivary secretion, ferroptosis, and mineral absorption. Moreover, values for relative humidity (RH), air velocity (AV), PM2.5, ammonia (NH3), and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the LFCR group were significantly lower than those in the HFCR group (P < 0.05). Conversely, value for light intensity (LI) in the LFCR group was significantly higher than that in the HFCR group (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between FCR and RH, AV, PM2.5, NH3, and CO2, and a negative correlation with LI. Finally, the FCR prediction model was successfully constructed based on multiple environmental variables using the random forest algorithm, providing a valuable tool for predicting FCR in chickens.

Effect of hempseed products on growth performance, carcass yield, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids in broiler: A meta-analysis

Abstract Hempseed is the edible fruit of the Cannabis sativa L. plant, potentially serving as feed ingredients in broiler production due to its high nutritional value. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to determine the effect of hempseed products (seeds, cakes, or oils) on body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass yield (CY), and fatty acid (FA) composition (ω-3 and ω-6) in broiler chicken. Ten eligible publications were retrieved from Google Scholar and Scopus databases for the meta-analysis. The random-effects model was used for data analysis in OpenMEE software. Results were expressed as standardized mean differences (SMD) at 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results show that dietary hempseed products increased ω-3 FA (SMD = 1.107; P&lt;0.05) and ω-6 FA (SMD = 0.987; P&lt;0.01) but reduced BW (SMD = -0.403; P&lt;0.05) and FI (SMD = -0.470; P&lt;0.05) compared to the controls. On the other hand, CY (SMD = 0.053; P&gt;0.05) and FCR (SMD = 0.046; P&gt;0.05) were not significantly influenced by hempseed product supplementation. Subgroup analysis revealed that hempseed oil reduced BW (SMD = -1.041; P&lt;0.05) and FCR (SMD = -0.797; P&lt;0.05) but enhanced both ω-3 FA (SMD = 2.372; P&lt;0.01) and ω-6 FA composition (SMD = 1.630; P&lt;0.01). There were no adverse effects of hempseed and hempseed cake on BW (P&gt;0.05), but a higher FCR (SMD = 0.658; P&lt;0.05) was obtained on broilers fed with hempseed. Moreover, dietary hempseed and hempseed cake also increased ω-3 FA (SMD = 0.952; P&lt;0.05) and ω-6 FA composition (SMD = 1.107; P&lt;0.01), respectively. This study concluded that dietary hempseed products had beneficial effects on the fatty acid composition of meat. However, its effect on growth performance should be considered.

Effects of Maize, Millet, and Sorghum as Energy Sources of Diet on Growth Performance of Guinea Fowl

Guinea fowls are more valuable in the market in Niger than chickens; however, their ability to meet consumer demands is limited by low productivity. Therefore, suitable nutrition is an important factor for this productivity. The current study aimed to evaluate the growth performance of guinea fowl using maize, millet, and sorghum as energy sources in the diet. A total of 108 one-day-old unsexed local keets, with an average live weight of 25.5 ± 0.83 g were randomly distributed among three dietary treatments with four replicates per treatment. The keets were reared on the ground with litter at CERRA Maradi, Niger, for an 8-week experimental period, involving 36 keets per treatment and 9 keets per replication. The parameters monitored were feed intake (FI), live weight (LW), average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). After 8 weeks of experimentation, the results indicated that the cereal used in the diet had no statistically significant effect on the keets’ FI. Those fed millet-based diets had higher LW, compared to those fed maize and sorghum diets, respectively, however, this difference was not statistically significant. Millet also facilitated a higher ADG, compared to maize and sorghum, although the differences were statistically insignificant. The keets fed sorghum-based had higher FCR, compared to the FCR of the guinea fowls fed maize and millet diet. based on the growth performance assessed in this study, the recommended order for cereals in guinea fowl feed to ensure better growth is millet, followed by maize, and then sorghum. Keywords: Cereals, Energy source, Growth performance, Keets

Effect of Plumage Colour on The Productive and Physiological Performance of Two Lines of Turkey During Egg Production Period

Using 32 hens from two turkey lines; broad-breasted bronze (BBB) and bourbon red (BR), this study assessed how plumage colour affects egg production and physiological functions during (26-40) weeks of observation. A total of 32 hens, namely 16 hens from the BBB line and 16 hens from the BR line, were bred from 26 weeks up to 40 weeks of age. According to our results, BBB line significantly (p≤0.05) outperformed BR line in terms of body weight at first egg production, feed intake, and yolk diameter during the study period. A significantly (p≤0.05) higher feed conversion ratio, an increased egg mass, a higher production rate of hen-day eggs, and a higher rate of albumen was achieved by the BR line. It is, however, noteworthy that the age at first egg production, the egg weight, the egg mass, the yolk weight, the yolk percentage, the albumen weight, the shell weight percentage, the egg shell thickness, width, and length, the shape index, yolk height and yolk index were not significantly (p≥0.05) different between the two lines at 24 and 36 weeks of age. The levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were not significantly (p≥0.05) different between the two lines at 24 and 36 weeks of age when eggs were produced. Both turkey lines presented in the current study can potentially be raised in Iraq, as well as used as hens to produce hatching eggs and for genetic improvement.

Supplementation of Chicken Feed with Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt) Extract and Lactobacillus Plantarum Improves Broiler Chicken Performance

This study aimed to assess the synbiotic effect of nutmeg flesh extract and Lactobacillus plantarum on the growth performance and serum enzyme concentrations of broiler chickens raised at high stocking density (HSD). A total of 410 broiler chickens with an average body weight of 142 ± 4.71 g were randomly divided into five treatments. Data on feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR), body weight gain, and serum enzymes, e.g., aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, were collected. Body weight and weight gain were lower (P &lt; 0.05) at CONT+ as compared with CONT–, SNP0.5, SNP1.0, and SNP1.5. The birds in SNP1.0 had higher FCR (P &lt; 0.05) as compared with those in CONT–, CONT+, and SNP0.5 treatments. Similarly, the cumulative feed consumption was higher in SNP1.0 and SNP1.5 (P &gt; 0.05) than in CONT–, CONT+, and SNP0.5. The levels of total serum protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase in broiler chickens were not affected (P &gt; 0.05) by HSD or synbiotic administration of nutmeg flesh extract and L. plantarum. In conclusion, the use of synbiotics from nutmeg flesh extract and L. plantarum as much as 1.5 ml/kg of feed can improve the performance of broiler chicken while not interfering with enzyme serum metabolites.

An analysis of the welfare of fast-growing and slower-growing strains of broiler chicken

Due to concerns about the welfare of fast-growing (FG) strains of broiler chicken, animal welfare organisations have advocated the use of certain slower-growing (SG) strains that meet key welfare targets under test conditions. However, a widespread transition to SG strains could negatively affect sustainability because these birds tend to have higher feed conversion ratios and longer production cycles. It is important therefore to review the extent and limits of SG welfare improvements under test conditions and on commercial farms, to support the best policy decisions. Following a systematic literature search, 63 source papers were identified. Most reported comparative welfare outcomes for at least one SG strain with at least one FG counterpart, whilst a minority examined the suitability of various SG strains for niche production. The literature review considered different types of study design and accounted for confounding factors such rearing environment and diet. Additionally, a quantitative analysis of effect size for mortality, gait score and contact dermatitis was conducted across studies that had compared birds under similar rearing conditions and that had used SG strains with an average daily growth rate of at least 40g/day. Modern, commercial SG strains performed better on most relevant welfare traits than FG strains. This was the case even when the ‘fairest’ comparisons were made at equivalent bodyweights (when SG birds were older), under matched-environmental conditions, experimentally or on farm. The quantitative analysis found that FG strains had a higher estimated incidence rate ratio for mortality (risk of death over a given period of time) of between 1.69 and 2.16, contact dermatitis affecting 15-25% more birds, and a mean gait score 0.65 points higher than SG strains. FG strains were also less active but other differences in behaviour were inconsistent with some behaviours (e.g. dustbathing) often absent altogether. Growth rate was generally, but not always, predictive of welfare problems. Alternative strategies, such as the slaughter of birds prior to the onset of any welfare decline, could be evaluated in future in terms of welfare improvement and efficiency of production.

Turning fishery waste into aquafeed additives: Enhancing shrimp enzymes immobilization in alginate-based particles using electrohydrodynamic atomization

Alternative protein ingredients are gradually replacing fish meal in aquafeeds. However, farmed animals often struggle to digest the provided feed, which leads to inefficient nutrient assimilation. This results in a high feed conversion ratio and in water quality deterioration. Fish waste-derived proteases show great potential as bioactive ingredients to enhance protein digestibility. To achieve this, a suitable carrier is essential to include exogenous proteases in the fish feed formulation. Therefore, this research aimed to immobilize a shrimp enzyme extract into different alginate-based microcapsules through electrodynamic atomization and compare their structural and functional properties. Morphology, physicochemical and thermal properties, and in vitro protein release were evaluated for the following microcapsules made from various materials: alginate (A), alginate-chitosan (AC), alginate-bentonite (AB), alginate-bentonite previously subjected to a sonication treatment (ABs), and a combination of all materials (ABsC or ABC). The average sizes ranged from 360 to 790 μm (wet) and 260–516 μm (freeze-dried), confirming the expected differences, with larger sizes for those including chitosan and bentonite. ABsC proved to be the most suitable system for immobilizing exogenous proteases, as these particles exhibited high encapsulation efficiency in both wet and freeze-dried versions and displayed controlled protein release under typical conditions of the proximal intestine. This was further confirmed through an in vivo trial. Two bioassays were conducted with tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (n = 42, 2.6 ± 0.58 g) to evaluate the distribution of ABsC-rodamine labeled particles in digestive organs and digestive enzyme activity. ABsC remained in the intestine for over 7 h, and a significant increase in total proteolytic activity was observed 60 min after feeding. These findings suggest that ABsC microcapsules could serve as effective carriers for exogenous proteases in feeds for aquaculture.

Assessment of four different dietary amino acid profiles recommended for ISA Brown layer hens: A validation study

The current feeding study was designed to validate the two dietary essential amino acid profiles (EAAP) established based on linear broken-line (LBL) and quadratic broken-line (QBL) models, in a previous study, against Evonik (AMINOHen) and breeder recommendations for ISA Brown layers for peak production (PP, 20 to 44 weeks of age), and post peak production (post PP, 44 to 75 weeks of age). The EAAP based on LBL models on average had 19.5% and 26.0% lower digestible AA (Lys, Met + Cys, Thr, Trp, Ile and Val), than the EAAP based on QBL models for PP and post PP, respectively. The EAAP based on AMINOHen and breeder recommendation had lower digestible AA than QBL, and higher EAAP than LBL models for both production phases. At 20 weeks of age, 224 ISA Brown layer hens were weighed and randomly allocated to individual battery cages. Each of the four diets was replicated 8 times with 7 birds per replicate. Egg production was recorded daily, and egg weights were measured at the end of each week. Feed consumption was measured at the end of each period. The egg production rate was not significantly affected by the diets and remained at around 98.0% (PP) and 95.0% (post PP) (P > 0.05). Birds fed diets based on LBL recommendation consistently laid smaller eggs, resulting in a lower egg mass (59.8 vs. 62.0 g egg/hen per day during PP, and 60.3 vs. 63.0 g egg/hen per day during post PP; P < 0.05). Diets had no significant effect on feed intake and body weight (P > 0.05). The highest feed conversion ratio (FCR) during PP (P = 0.067) and post PP (P < 0.05) was recorded for the birds offered diets based on LBL recommendation. In conclusion, all four EAAP tested in this study support an above average egg production rate. However, the EAAP based on LBL models may potentially decrease the input feed cost per kilogram of eggs but are not set to optimise FCR and maximise egg mass.

Physicochemical properties and ellagic acid accumulation in Tenebriomolitor larvae fed with pomegranate peel-enriched media

Edible insects are a promising and sustainable food source for humans due to their low environmental footprint, high feed conversion ratio, and high protein content. Furthermore, the nutritional profile of the edible insects can be modified depending on the provided diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth performance, proximate composition, and ellagic acid accumulation in Tenebriomolitor larvae fed on corn flour media enriched with pomegranate peel. Corn flour and pomegranate peel were mixed in a 1:1 ratio (w/w) (PCM) and 50 T.molitor larvae were added to each jar. After 12 days of rearing, the weight of T.molitor larvae fed on PCM and the control increased by 88.35% and 58.6%, respectively, compared to their initial values. An increase in carbohydrate, protein and ash contents, along with a decrease in lipid content, was observed in the control diet after 12 days of feeding compared to the initial larvae. Conversely, the PCM diet exhibited an increase in ash and carbohydrate contents and a decrease in lipid and protein contents after 12 days of feeding compared to the initial larvae. Total phenolic content (TPC) of T.molitor larvae did not significantly vary when fed with the control group, while it increased on the fourth and twelfth days for larvae fed with the PCM diet. The CUPRAC antioxidant activity of larvae also increased on the fourth day of feeding on the PCM diet. Ellagic acid was not detected in larvae fed with control and initially, it accumulated in T.molitor larvae fed with PCM after 8 and 12 days of rearing, with concentrations of 92.54 and 115.6 µg/g larvae, respectively. This study highlights the importance of diet in changing the phenolic profile of T.molitor larvae, which can be used as a functional food ingredient to obtain value-added products from agricultural wastes.

Solid‐state fermentation pro‐enzymes supplementation benefits growth performance, health, and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens fed wheat‐based diet

AbstractWheat as a kind of diet material can be used for broiler production. However, due to non‐starch polysaccharides in wheat, wheat may lead to lower growth performance and worth health. To reverse the negative effect, solid‐state fermentation pro‐enzymes were added. In this experiment, growth performance, intestinal health‐related genes, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and intestinal microbiota were detected to find the effects of wheat meal and combined with enzymes on broiler chickens from 15 to 42 days of age. A total of 432 1‐day‐old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were fed corn‐based diet (CD) for 14 days as the preparation stage of the experiment. Then, they were randomly divided into three groups and fed three different kinds of diets which were corn‐based diet (CD group), wheat‐based diet (WD group), and SFP enzymes supplementation in WD (Enzymes+Wheat‐based diet group). The results showed that compared with broilers in CD group, broilers in WD group had lower weight gain and higher Feed conversion ratio (p &lt; 0.05) during the whole experimental period especially from day 15 to day 21, but there was no significant effect on feed intake (p &gt; 0.05). Moreover, SFP enzymes decreased the spleen index (p &lt; 0.05). Wheat also had trends to decrease the expression of ZO‐1 (p = 0.096) and increase the concentrations of acetate (p &lt; 0.05), butyrate (p &lt; 0.05) and total SCFAs (p &lt; 0.05), in which SFP enzymes caused the opposite results except for butyrate, and SFP enzymes even increased the expression of ZO‐1 (p &lt; 0.001) and OCCLUDIN (p = 0.075) and decreased the expression of TNF‐α (p &lt; 0.01). Meanwhile, wheat enhanced the abundances of Barnesiella and Bifidobacterium (p &lt; 0.05) and inhibited the abundances of Flavonifractor, Sellimonas, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Subdoligranulum, and Ruminococcus_gauvreauii_group (p &lt; 0.05), and SFP enzymes could reverse the negative effects, and the changes in microbiota could explain the other different parameters. Collectively, wheat results in inflammation and worse growth performance, but SFP enzymes supplementation in WD benefits chickens' growth performance by improving intestinal barrier function, decreasing inflammation, modulating cecal microbiota and SCFAs production.