Lower Abdominal Fat Content Research Articles

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF NATURAL FEED BROILER CHICKEN WITH THE ADDITION OF GARLIC LEAVES MEAL TO PRODUCE PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE, CARCASS QUALITY, AND HEALTHY MEAT QUALITY.

Garlic leaves contain a phytochemical compound, namely allicin which functions as an antimicrobial and antioxidant and can reduce cholesterol and fat in the body so that it can produce healthy chicken growth. Research on meat quality and productivity of broilers obtaining the garlic leaves meal percentage (R0=0; R1=2.5; R2=5.0; R3=7.5; P4=10%) in feed. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with The Honest Significant Difference (HSD) as an advanced test. The parameters observed were feed consumption, body weight gain, feed conversion, carcass percentage, and carcass component percentage (chest, upper thigh, lower thigh, back, wings, and abdominal fat). The results showed the addition of garlic leaves meal had a very significant effect (P<0.01) on protein digestibility, energy metabolism, and feed consumption, but had no effect (P>0.05) on body weight gain and feed conversion. Treatment had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the percentage of chicken breast carcass components, a very significant effect (P<0.01) on the upper thigh and lower thigh carcass components but had no effect (P>0.05) on carcass percentage, chicken back and wings. Treatment had a very significant effect (P<0.01) on the percentage of abdominal fat. In conclusion, the treatment gave excellent growth in broilers and produced healthier meat due to the low abdominal fat content.

Identification of biomarkers associated with the feed efficiency by metabolomics profiling: results from the broiler lines divergent for high or low abdominal fat content

BackgroundImproving feed efficiency (FE) is one of the main objectives in broiler breeding. It is difficult to directly measure FE traits, and breeders hence have been trying to identify biomarkers for the indirect selection and improvement of FE traits. Metabolome is the "bridge" between genome and phenome. The metabolites may potentially account for more of the phenotypic variation and can suitably serve as biomarkers for selecting FE traits. This study aimed to identify plasma metabolite markers for selecting high-FE broilers. A total of 441 birds from Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content were used to analyze plasma metabolome and estimate the genetic parameters of differentially expressed metabolites.ResultsThe results identified 124 differentially expressed plasma metabolites (P < 0.05) between the lean line (high-FE birds) and the fat line (low-FE birds). Among these differentially expressed plasma metabolites, 44 were found to have higher positive or negative genetic correlations with FE traits (|rg| ≥ 0.30). Of these 44 metabolites, 14 were found to display moderate to high heritability estimates (h2 ≥ 0.20). However, among the 14 metabolites, 4 metabolites whose physiological functions have not been reported were excluded. Ultimately, 10 metabolites were suggested to serve as the potential biomarkers for breeding the high-FE broilers. Based on the physiological functions of these metabolites, reducing inflammatory and improving immunity were proposed to improve FE and increase production efficiency.ConclusionsAccording to the pipeline for the selection of the metabolite markers established in this study, it was suggested that 10 metabolites including 7-ketocholesterol, dimethyl sulfone, epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine, gamma-glutamyltyrosine, 2-oxoadipic acid, L-homoarginine, testosterone, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, adrenic acid, and calcitriol could be used as the potential biomarkers for breeding the "food-saving broilers".

Dietary supplementation of medicinal herbs with total mixed ration to mitigate enteric methane emission in sheep

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of pineapple wastes (Ananas comosus), garlic leaves (Allium sativum), moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera) and their combination on growth, plasma metabolites, meat characteristics and enteric methane emission in sheep. A total of 15 sheep (initial BW: 8.3±0.2 kg; age: ~ 1 year; non-descript indigenous to Bangladesh) were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments with three sheep per treatment in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were: (1) CL-diet: a total mixed ration (TMR) pellet based on roadside grass and concentrates with a CP–16.72% and ME–10.7 MJ/kg; (2) PW-diet: CL-diet + 10g DM of pineapple waste (peels, cores, tops, and leaves)/day; (3) GL-diet: CL-diet + 10g DM of garlic leaves/day; (4) ML-diet: CL-diet + 10g DM of moringa leaves /day; (5) HM-diet: CL-diet + 10g DM of herbal mixture (3g pineapples wastes + 3g garlic leaves + 4g moringa leaves)/day. Weekly live weight gain and plasma metabolites did not show any significant variation among the treatments. Compared to the CL-diet group, the herbal supplemented group had 18–34% lower abdominal fat content, and the lowest value was found in the GL-diet group. Furthermore, the methane emission (g/day/sheep) was reduced by 5–13% in herb supplemented groups compared to the CL-diet group. Additionally, the lamb fed GL-diet emitted the lowest enteric methane (21.26 vs 24.07 g/kg DMI) compared to other experimental groups. Overall, garlic and moringa leaves could be added to TMR to minimize fat accumulation and enteric methane emission from sheep.&#x0D; Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2021. 50 (1):28-35

Inclusion of Camelina, Flax, and Sunflower Seeds in the Diets for Broiler Chickens: Apparent Digestibility of Nutrients, Growth Performance, Health Status, and Carcass and Meat Quality Traits.

Simple SummaryThe presented results were obtained in a scientific trial, in which the addition of camelina, flax, and sunflower seeds to Ross 308 broiler diets was tested in terms of improvement of production efficiency, health status parameters, and quality of poultry meat. The results of the research showed that the tested full-fat seeds can be considered good dietary ingredients with a positive effect on the poultry production process and, consequently, on the dietary value of poultry meat.The study determined the effect of the addition of 15% of camelina, flax, and sunflower seeds to iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets for broiler chickens during 21–42 days of age on the nutrient digestibility, production traits, slaughter analysis parameters, hematological indices, blood mineral elements, and dietary value of breast and drumstick meat. Two hundred one-day-old broiler chickens were assigned to four groups (treatments) with five replicates (10 birds per cage, 5 females and 5 males). The experiment lasted 6 weeks. Broiler chickens receiving diets supplemented with camelina and flax seeds exhibited an increase (p < 0.05) in average body weight and a decrease (p < 0.05) in the ether extract content and energy digestibility of the diets. Moreover, the best carcass quality with a high proportion of muscles and low abdominal fat content (p < 0.05) was noted in broilers fed flax- and sunflower-enriched diets. The treatments with the oil seeds reduced the ether extract content and the calorific value of breast and drumstick muscles. The flax seeds contributed to an increase in the Fe content in drumstick muscles. Additionally, some blood parameters were influenced by the flax seed supplementation, e.g., the level of hemoglobin declined (p < 0.05) and the iron level in plasma increased (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that the camelina, flax, and sunflower seeds can be regarded as good dietary components with positive effects on the dietary value of poultry meat.

Metabolisable energy levels for stress broilers under thermal stress

ABSTRACT The research was carried out with the objective of evaluating different levels of metabolisable energy (3050, 3100, 3150, 3200 and 3250 kcal.kg-1) in the diet of 22-to-42-day-old broilers kept in an environment of thermal stress. Three hundred male chicks weighing 814.7 g initial average weight were distributed in a completely randomised design with five treatments, six replications and ten birds per experimental unit. Feed metabolisable energy levels did not influence (P &gt; 0.05) the performance variables of feed conversion, daily weight gain and daily feed intake in the two phases studied. There were no statistical differences in carcass yields: carcass, chest, thigh, drumstick, heart, wing and back. Differences were observed for the two variables gizzard yield and abdominal fat. A linear increase in the percentage of abdominal fat with an increase in energy levels in the diet was observed. The 3100 kcal.kg-1 level of metabolisable energy is the level indicated by this research because it results in lower abdominal fat content and lower cost per kilo of feed.

Comparative study of growth performance and meat quality of three-line crossbred commercial group from Shanzhongxian and W-line chicken

Growth performance and meat quality of commercial groups from two different three-line crossbreds, SWS and WSS, was compared. All birds were raised under the same condition and body weight was measured at two weeks interval. On d 70, 24 male chickens were randomly selected, and on d 180 and 240, 24 female chickens were randomly selected for euthanised. Carcass performance, meat quality and sensory was determined. At 6–12 weeks of age, body weight of chickens from WSS was higher than that of SWS (p < .05). Percentage of breast and leg muscle was higher in WSS as compared with birds from SWS in 70 d males (p < .05). At 240 d of age, chickens from WSS exhibited higher semi-eviscerate, breast muscle and liver percentage, lower abdominal fat content (p < .05). Male birds at 70 d, shear force, intramuscular fat content (IMF) and L* was higher in SWS (p < .05). A higher IMF of breast meat was detected in 180 d SWS female birds (p < .05). The appearance acceptability and flavour of WSS male chickens was more preferred by panellists (p < .05). The texture of breast meat from 180 d SWS chicken was more preferred (p < .05). Soup cooked from 240-d-old chickens was more preferred in SWS crossbred (p < .05). The WSS had better growth performance and meat quality in male chickens, while the SWS had more abdominal fat in female chickens which led it more flavour of its soup.

Association of DGAT2 gene polymorphisms with carcass and meat quality traits in domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

ABSTRACT1. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) plays an important role in the synthesis of triacylglycerol, but its effects on meat quality and carcass composition in pigeons are unclear. In this study, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the exons of the DGAT2 gene were identified and analysed by using DNA sequencing methods in 200 domestic pigeons (Columba livia). The associations between DGAT2 polymorphisms and carcass and meat quality traits were also analysed.2. Sequencing results showed that 5 nucleotide mutations were detected in exons 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the DGAT2 gene. The analysis revealed three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) in G18398T and G22484C, in which the AA genotype and A allele had the highest frequency.3. In the SNP of G18398T located in exon 5, individuals with genotype BB had significantly higher meat quality and lower abdominal fat content than those with AA or AB genotype. In the SNP of G22484C located in exon 6, the genotype AA showed highest carcass trait values, while the genotype BB represented better meat quality, compared to AA and AB genotypes.4. The results imply that DGAT2 gene has a close relationship with carcass and meat quality traits in pigeons, and the SNPs of G18398T and G22484C can be used as genetic markers for marker-assisted breeding in pigeon.

The effect of Boswellia serrata resin diet supplementation on production, hematological, biochemical and immunological parameters in broiler chickens

Boswellia serrata resin (BSR), exhibiting a variety of therapeutic properties, is applied in Asian traditional medicine. These properties can be used in poultry production as well. Application of the resin as a phytobiotic in broiler chicken rearing can increase the productivity and improve meat quality. However, the optimum and maximum levels of BSR in broiler diets need to be assessed. The study determined the effect of different levels of supplementation of BSR (directly derived, unprocessed) in diets for broiler chickens on the production traits, selected slaughter analysis parameters, nutrient digestibility and selected hematological, biochemical and immunological parameters. In total, 200 1-day-old broiler chickens were assigned randomly to four treatments with five replicate cages of 10 broiler chickens/cage (five females and five males). The experiment lasted 6 weeks, and the broiler chickens were fed diets containing 0% (control), 3% (BSR3), 4% (BSR4) or 5% (BSR5). In the broiler chickens receiving diets with addition of resin BSR3 and BSR4, there was an increase in (P<0.05) BW gain, ether extract, ADF, organic matter and energy digestibility of the diets. Moreover, the best carcass quality with a high proportion of muscles and low abdominal fat content (P<0.05) was noted in these groups. The content of uric acid (P<0.01) and the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (P<0.001) and alkaline phosphatase (P<0.05) in blood plasma decreased upon the BSR supplementation. Globulin content increased in blood plasma (P<0.05) along the increasing level of BSR. The blood immunoglobulin A concentration was only affected by the BSR treatments (P<0.05). It may be concluded that BSR can be regarded as a safe and effective dietary additive for broiler chicken.

Selection against abdominal fat percentage may increase intramuscular fat content in broilers.

Excessive abdominal fat content (AFC) has negative impacts on feed efficiency and carcass quality. Unlike AFC, intramuscular fat content (IMFC) could be a favourable trait, which has a positive impact on meat quality. To meet consumers' needs, a long-term goal of broiler breeders is to decrease AFC and improve the IMFC simultaneously. The current study was designed to investigate the relationship between AFC and IMFC and to compare IMFC, including the pectoral major muscle fat content (PIMFC) and intramuscular fat content of leg muscle (LIMFC), between two broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat percentage over 17 generations. The results showed that there was a significant difference in PIMFC and LIMFC between the two lines in all five generation populations used. The birds in the lean line had significantly lower AFC but higher PIMFC and LIMFC than the birds in the fat line. We also detected differences in the liver fat content (LFC) between the two lines and the results showed that birds in the fat line had significant higher LFC than birds in the lean line. Our results indicated that a desirable broiler line with higher IMFC but lower AFC could be obtained by genetic selection.

Effects of distance and barriers between resources on bone and tendon strength and productive performance of broiler chickens

Lameness or leg weakness is becoming an important problem in broilers selected for rapid growth, and although the causes are not known, sedentary behavior could be a cause. Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of distance and the presence of ramps between resources (feed and water) on bone and tendon strength, ability to stand, and productive performance. In experiment 1, straight run Ross 708 chicks (n = 1,260) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 1.0, 3.3, or 6.6 m between resources (6 pen replicates/treatment). In experiment 2, Cobb 500 male chicks (n = 864) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (2 × 2 factorial, 4 pen replications/treatment) consisting of 2 distances (3 or 8 m) with (WR) or without (NR) a ramp (a triangular prism 31 cm high and 132 cm wide at the base). At d 21, 45, and 56 (experiment 1), or at d 28, 35, 42, and 49 (experiment 2), birds were weighed, killed, and tibias collected to measure breaking strength (BBS), and abdominal fat (AbF) content. At d 49 (experiment 2), calcaneus tendons were also collected to measure breaking strength (TBS). Foot pad lesions and latency to lie (LTL) were determined before killing the birds. In experiment 1, distance did not affect BBS, LTL, foot pad lesions, or BW, but at d 49, birds in the 6.6 m treatment had lower AbF than birds in the other treatments. In experiment 2 at d 49, birds in the 8 m treatment tended to have a higher BBS than birds in the 3 m treatment (P = 0.09), whereas WR birds had lower tendon breaking strength than NR birds (P < 0.01); however, LTL was highest in 8-m NR birds. Final BW was not affected by distance, but birds in the NR group were heavier than birds in the WR group. Furthermore, AbF was lower in 8 m than in 3 m birds. Our results suggest that longer distances between resources have limited effects on bone strength, but increase the LTL, and may change feeding patterns and carcass characteristics, as evidenced by the lower AbF content. Ramps or inclination affected tendon breaking strength.

The effects of dietary supplementation of Citrus sinensis peel extract on production and quality parameters of broiler chicken

Citrus peel, a by-product of citrus processing is a rich source of numerous bioactive nutrients. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of Citrus sinensis peel extract (CSPE) on few production and quality traits of broiler chickens. Four hundred broiler chicks (one-day-old) were assigned to any of the five dietary treatments comprised of: basal diet for 42 days, or basal diet containing 1000 ppm or 1250 ppm CSPE for 21 days, or basal diet containing 1000 ppm or 1250 ppm CSPE for 42 days. Compared to the final weight of broilers on the basal diet (2426.3 ± 120.9 g), the supplementation of the diet with 1000 ppm CSPE for 21 days resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher final weight (2692.5 ± 120.9 g), while that with 1250 ppm CSPE for 42 days resulted in a significantly lower (P < 0.05) abdominal fat content (47.94 vs. 28.75 ± 4.38 g). Supplementation with 1000 or 1250 ppm CSPE for 21 days or 42 days had no significant effect on the final weight, empty body weight, breast weight, thigh yield and wing yields and fresh weights and percentages of internal organ/tissues (pancreas, liver and bile, gizzard, heart) and intestinal length (duodenum, jejunum and ileum). It is concluded that citrus peel extract can be utilized as a dietary supplementation to improve the productivity (higher final weight) and quality (lower abdominal fat content) of broiler chicken.

Dietary L-arginine supplementation reduces abdominal fat content by modulating lipid metabolism in broiler chickens

This study investigated the effects of different levels of dietary L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation on the abdominal fat pad, circulating lipids, hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene expression, gene expression related to fatty acid β-oxidation, and the performance of broiler chickens. We tested whether the dietary L-Arg levels affected the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in order to reduce body fat deposition. A total of 192 broiler chickens (Cobb 500) aged 21 days with an average BW of 920 ± 15 g were randomly assigned to four groups (six broilers per replicate and eight replicates per treatment). The control group was fed a basal diet, whereas the treatment groups were fed basal diets supplemented with 0.25%, 0.50%, or 1.00% L-Arg for 3 weeks. The average daily feed intake, average daily gain and feed : gain ratio were not affected by the dietary L-Arg levels. However, chickens supplemented with L-Arg had lower abdominal fat content, plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) concentrations, hepatic FAS mRNA expression and increased heart carnitine palmitoyl transferase1 (CPT1) and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (3HADH) mRNA expression. These findings suggest that the addition of 0.25% L-Arg may reduce the plasma TC concentration by decreasing hepatic 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase mRNA expression. This may lower the plasma TG and abdominal fat content by suppressing hepatic FAS mRNA expression and enhancing CPT1 and 3HADH (genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation) mRNA expression in the hearts of broiler chickens.

Growth, carcass composition and meat quality response to dietary concentrations in fast-, medium- and slow-growing commercial broilers

Growth, carcass composition and certain meat quality traits were studied in fast (F), me- dium (M) and slow (S) growing broilers fed with 3 regimes appropriate for each chicken type and dif- fering on average by 418 kJ·kg -1 AMEn and 1% crude protein (P1 > P2 > P3). No significant interactions between chicken types and feed were measured 3 weeks and 6 weeks of age, indicating that the 3 genotypes had similar responses to the 3 diets during these periods. Before 3 weeks of age, body weight was 5% higher for P1 compared to P2 and P2 compared to P3 fed chick- ens for a comparable feed intake. After 6 weeks of age, a 10% reduction in feed intake occurred in P3 compared to P1 and P1 compared to P2 fed chickens for similar body weight gains. The differing re- sponses 6 weeks of might be linked to high heat stress that occurred at 7 weeks of age. Be- tween 3 and 6 weeks of age, interactions between chicken type and dietary concentration on feed intake, body weight gain characterised an after 6 weeks of age response for F-chickens whereas M- and S-chickens had a before 3 weeks of age response. These interactions might be explained by a higher sensitivity of fast-growing chickens to environmental conditions. For chickens slaughtered at market (F = 6, M = 8 and S = 12 weeks of age), higher breast meat yield (Pectoralis major + mi- nor) and lower abdominal fat content were observed in the F-chickens (17.2% and 2.64%, respec- tively) compared to the M- (15.7% and 2.86%, respectively) and S-chickens (14.4% and 3.44%, re- spectively; P< 0.05). Breast meat was more coloured in the S-chickens with lower L* and higher b* and a* 72 hours slaughter than in the M- and F-chickens ( P< 0.05). Dietary concentration had no significant effect on carcass composition, ultimate pH or drip loss of breast meat. Our results sug- gest that changes in dietary concentration alter growth performance but have little effect on carcass composition and meat quality traits.

Identification of growth hormone DNA polymorphisms which respond to divergent selection for abdominal fat content in chickens

Two strains of meat-type chickens which had been derived from the same genetic base, but were selected for high or low abdominal fat content, respectively, were analyzed for polymorphisms in the growth hormone gene (GH). A total of four DNA polymorphisms were identified, one at a SacI restriction site and three at MspI restriction sites. Restriction mapping indicated that all polymorphisms were in exons and/or introns and not in flanking regions of the gene. The incidence of GH polymorphisms was determined in 20 chickens from each strain and significant differences were observed for two of the four polymorphisms. Analysis by DNA fingerprinting using (CAC)5 as a probe indicated that the inbreeding coefficient was 0.1 in both strains and that random genetic drift was minimal. Thus, the selection for abdominal fat appears to have affected the frequency of alleles of the growth hormone gene. Whether this is the direct consequence of an altered growth hormone gene on fat metabolism or reflects linkage to an allele of a neighbouring gene remains to be determined.

Further characterization of insulin secretion from the perfused duodenum-pancreas of chicken: a comparison of insulin release in chickens selected for high and low abdominal fat content.

Insulin release from the perfused pancreas was studied in genetically selected fat and lean chickens. The previously described glucose insensitivity of the chicken pancreas cannot be overcome by 5 or 10 mM D-glyceraldehyde, suggesting that the resistance is not related to glucose metabolism before the triose phosphate step. At 42 mM, glucose induced a biphasic insulin release which was specific, since 42 mM mannitol did not elicit insulin release. Arginine (10 mM) or acetylcholine (0.1-1 microM), which in themselves do not cause insulin release, generated a biphasic insulin release in the presence of a low nonstimulating glucose concentration (14 mM); the effect was synergistic. In contrast to the glucose tolerance test observed in vivo, the pancreas from the fat line chicken in response to glucose or glucose plus arginine released significantly less insulin during the first phase. The significance of this defect awaits further elucidation. On the other hand, acetylcholine, a more potent secretagogue, did not reveal any significant difference between fat and lean chickens.

Longitudinal Study of Adiposity in Chickens Selected for High or Low Abdominal Fat Content: Further Evidence of a Glucose-Insulin Imbalance in the Fat Line

Selected fat (FL) or lean (LL) lines of chickens have been further studied. Total lipid and abdominal fat content and size of adipocytes isolated from the gizzard were significantly increased in both sexes of the fat line from 2 to 4 weeks of age onwards. The divergence in abdominal fat content was maximum at 9 weeks of age. Both in the fed and the fasted state, the plasma glucose level was lower in FL than in LL chickens, at hatching and shortly after. This was not, however, associated with higher plasma insulin levels in FL chickens. At 2 weeks of age, insulin content of the pancreas did not differ. From 5–8 weeks of age after ad libitum refeeding or forced-feeding following a fast, plasma glucose increased to similar levels in both lines but in contrast, plasma insulin levels were largely enhanced in FL chickens. At 17 weeks of age, glucose clearance was faster in FL chickens and associated with a slightly (although nonsignificant) higher insulin release. In eggs laid by FL hens, yolk weight was dispro-portionately increased and albumen glucose content was decreased. During the last third of embryonic development, plasma glucose levels were similar in both lines at the F4 generation and in contrast lower in the FL embryos at the F5 generation. The physiological situation of FL chickens appears therefore very similar to short-lived preobese state observed in mammals.obesity plasma glucose plasma insulin adipocyte genetic