Mortality In Broiler Chickens Research Articles

Respiratory distress and mortality in broiler chickens.

Respiratory distress and mortality in broiler chickens.

Reviewing the definition of mortality in broiler chickens and its implications in genomic evaluations.

Mortality is an economically important trait usually handled as a discrete outcome from hatch time until selection in most broiler breeder programs. However, in other species, it has been shown that not only does the genetic component change over time, but there are maternal genetic effects to be considered when mortality is recorded early in life. This study aimed to investigate alternative trait definitions of mortality with varying models and effects. Three years' worth of data were provided by Cobb-Vantress, Inc. and included two mortality traits. The first trait was binary, whether the bird died or not (OM), and the second trait was a categorical weekly mortality trait (WM). After data cleaning, six weeks of data for the two given mortality traits were used to develop five additional trait definitions. The definitions were broiler mortality (BM), early and late mortality (EM & LM), and two traits with repeated records as cumulative or binary (CM and RM, respectively). Variance components were estimated using linear and threshold models to investigate whether either model had a benefit. Genomic breeding values were predicted using the BLUP90 software suite, and linear regression validation (LR) was used to compare trait definitions and models. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.01 (0.00) to 0.16 (0.01) under linear and 0.04 (0.01) to 0.21 (0.01) under threshold models, indicating genetic variability within the population across these trait definitions. The genetic correlation between EM and LM ranged from 0.48 to 0.81 across the different lines, indicating they have divergent genetic backgrounds and should be considered different traits. The LR accuracies showed that EM and LM used together in a two-trait model have comparable accuracies to that of OM while giving a more precise picture of mortality. When including the maternal effect, the direct heritability considerably decreased for EM, indicating that the maternal effect plays an important role in early mortality. Therefore, a suitable approach would be a model with EM and LM while considering the maternal effect for EM. Single nucleotide polymorphism effects were estimated, and no individual SNP explained more than 1% of the additive genetic variance. Additionally, the SNP with the largest effect size and variance were inconsistent across trait definitions. Chicken mortality can be defined in different ways, and reviewing these definitions and models may benefit poultry breeding programs.

Mortality risk on farm and during transport: a comparison of 2 broiler hybrids with different growth rates

Mortality in broilers is often associated with poor health and welfare and has a complex and multifactorial etiology. Recent studies under experimental conditions indicated that genetic selection for fast growth is an important risk factor for mortality in broiler chickens. However, the knowledge on broiler mortality in general, and in slower growing broilers in particular, under commercial conditions is still limited. This retrospective cohort study aimed to describe mortality risk on farm and during transport in two broiler hybrids with different growth rates, Ross 308, and Hubbard JA787, and to estimate the association between hybrid and mortality at different stages of the production cycle. The study sample consisted of 64 651 804 broilers from 4 228 flocks and 139 farms slaughtered from January 1st, 2015, to June 22nd, 2021. Analysis of on-farm mortality was restricted to broiler flocks slaughtered in the period July 2017- July 2018 due to changes known to affect FWM. The effect of hybrid on mortality during three different production stages (first week mortality (FWM), Mortality after the first week (MAFW), and mortality during transport (DOA)), was assessed using mixed effect negative binomial regression models. Descriptively, there were notable differences in mortality at all stages of the production cycle, with higher mean mortalities in Ross 308 (1.40% FWM, 3.05% MAFW and 0.063% DOA) than in Hubbard JA787 (0.76% FWM, 1.49% MAFW and 0.015% DOA). In the analysis, the largest estimated difference was found for dead on arrival under cold conditions, where mortality was almost five times higher in Ross 308 compared to Hubbard JA 787 (IRR: 4.70, 95% CI: 3.74-5.90). The estimated difference in FWM between hybrids was highest during autumn, with an estimated risk approximately 1.6 times higher in Ross than in Hubbard (IRR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.30-1.86). For MAFW, the estimated risk was approximately 2 times higher in Ross than in Hubbard (IRR: 2.13 95% CI: 1.82-2.49). The findings in this study emphasize the need for more knowledge on causes of mortality in broilers including effects of genetic factors as basis for preventive measures.

Investigation of Factors and Mortality Rate of Broiler Chickens in Poultry Farms in Maymana City

The subject of this research article is the investigation of factors and the rate of mortality in broiler chickens in poultry farms in Maymana city. This article examines the technical, technological, and managerial factors related to poultry farms and aims to assess their impact on the mortality rate of broiler chickens in Maymana city farms. This research can contribute to improving the conditions of chick rearing and reducing mortality rates in the broiler poultry industry.
 The investigation of factors and the rate of mortality in broiler chickens in poultry farms in Maymana city holds great importance in the broiler poultry industry. The mortality of chicks in the early stages of the production chain leads to profitability and performance decline in poultry farms due to technical, technological, and managerial issues. A detailed examination of these factors and the determination of appropriate strategies to reduce chick mortality can enhance the performance and efficiency of the broiler poultry industry. Therefore, this subject is of significant importance and contributes to sustainable development and improvement in the quality of broiler chicken rearing.
 The objective of this research article is to investigate the technical, technological, and managerial factors and their impact on the mortality rate of broiler chickens in poultry farms in Maymana city.
 In this research, using a descriptive research method, the status of the poultry rearing industry and the relationship of its dependent variables were examined. After preliminary investigations, 17 active poultry farms were selected using the systematic sampling method (SD) for conducting face-to-face interviews and completing questionnaires.
 The results showed that many of the examined farms did not reach a satisfactory level in terms of technical, technological, and managerial factors. The influence of each of these factors on animal losses in broiler farms was 31.71%, 33.08%, and 34.19%, respectively. Additionally, disease factors also had an impact on animal losses. The common diseases in broiler farms in Maymana city included Newcastle disease, avian influenza, and Gumboro, which caused significant losses in the chickens.

128 Reviewing the Definition of Mortality in Broiler Chickens

Abstract Mortality has been a trait of importance in livestock species, especially for poultry, as birds continue to become more efficient and grow larger, and mortality rates have shown an increase at the phenotypic level. Mortality at different stages may be due to different genetic, environmental, and biological factors; however, in most cases, selection can be based on overall mortality. This study aimed to investigate alternative models and trait definitions of mortality by exploring the classification of mortality into different life stages and including a maternal effect in the model. Data provided by Cobb-Vantress, Inc. included mortality records from three separate lines of chicken making up about three generations worth of data. The datasets included records for mortality (0-1) and weekly mortality (0-10) recorded on individuals during their first ten weeks of life. Due to low incidence levels of weeks seven through ten for weekly mortality, those birds were combined with those that survived the first six weeks. Three models with different trait definitions were considered in this study. They were compared against a benchmark model with overall survival as trait definition (M0). Each line was evaluated separately for each model investigated, and the traits under different definitions were treated as binary traits. Thus, threshold models were used to estimate variance components under a Bayesian approach via the Gibbs sampling algorithm implemented in Gibbsf90+ software. The first model and trait definition (M1) investigated was a single trait model with weekly mortality classified into a binary response to whether the bird died within the first six weeks of life (BMORT). The second model and trait definition (M2) investigated was a bivariate model that classified weekly mortality into early (EMORT; weeks 1 to 3) and late (LMORT; weeks 4 to 6) mortality. The heritabilities ranged from 0.11 to 0.19 for M1, 0.10 to 0.21 for EMORT, and 0.15 to 0.17 for LMORT. For both models investigated, heritabilities were greater than that of M0, ranging from 0.03 to 0.09. The second model was additionally run with the maternal effect (M3) composed of the additive maternal and maternal permanent environmental (mpe) effects to investigate any potential effect on the estimated variance components. The maternal heritability and the percentage of phenotypic variance explained by mpe ranged from 0.02 to 0.03 and 0.01 to 0.04, respectively. Including the maternal effect considerably decreased direct heritability for EMORT but not for LMORT, indicating the maternal effect plays an important role in early mortality. The genetic correlations between EMORT and LMORT were low, ranging from 0.23 to 0.44; therefore, it may be necessary to include both traits in the selection index to make better-informed decisions. Selecting against early and late mortality may help improve overall livability in broiler chickens.

Characterizing the impact of Enterococcus cecorum infection during late embryogenesis on disease progression, cecal microbiome composition, and early performance in broiler chickens

Enterococcus cecorum (EC) has been associated with septicemia and early mortality in broiler chickens. There is limited research investigating the pathogenicity of EC field strains obtained from affected birds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of in-ovo administration into the amnion with different EC field isolates at d 18 of embryogenesis (DOE18). In Exp 1, 7 EC field isolates alone or in combination (EC1-EC3, EC4-EC5, EC6, and EC7) were selected based on phenotypic characteristics and evaluated at different concentrations (1×102, 1×104, and 1×106 CFU/200 µL/embryo) to assess the impact on early performance and macroscopic lesions. Three isolates (n=3; EC2, EC5, EC7) were selected for additional evaluation based on the significant (P < 0.05) BWG reduction (d 0-21) compared to the negative control (NC) and the presence of macroscopic lesions observed during posting sessions at d 14 and d 21. An additional isolate associated with enterococcal spondylitis was included in Exp 2 (EC11B). Treatment groups for Exp 2 include: 1) NC, 2) EC2, 3) EC5, 4) EC7, and 5) EC11B (n=90-120/embryos/group). Groups 2 to 5 were challenged at 1×102 CFU/200 µL/embryo by in-ovo injection into the amnion at DOE18. Chicks were placed in battery cages for the duration of the study (21 d), and pen weights were recorded at d 0, d 7, d 14, and d 21 to calculate average BW and BWG. At d 14 and d 21 posthatch, liver, spleen, free thoracic vertebrae (FTV), and femoral head (FH) were aseptically collected to enumerate Enterococcus spp. using Chromagar Orientation as the selective media. Cecal contents were collected at d 21 to evaluate the effect of EC challenge on the cecal microbiome composition. There was a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in BW at d 21, and BWG from d 14 to 21 and d 0 to 21, for EC7 and EC11B. Enterococcus cecorum was recovered from the FTV of all challenged groups at d 14 and d 21. The most representative lesions were pericarditis, hydropericardium, focal heart necrosis, and FH osteomyelitis. However, lesions were not uniform across challenged groups or ages (d 14 and d 21). Alpha diversity of the cecal contents was markedly lower in EC5 and EC11B compared to all treatment groups suggesting that EC exposure during late embryogenesis affect the cecal microbiome up to 21 d posthatch. Additionally, these results highlight the differences in pathogenicity of EC strains isolated from field cases and suggest that hatchery exposure to EC during late embryogenesis is a potential route of introduction into a flock.

Correlation of avian influenza-H9N2 with high mortality in broiler flocks in the southwest of Tripoli, Libya.

Low pathogenic H9N2 avian influenza (LPAI H9N2) caused by the influenza A virus which belongs to the family Orthomyxoviridae. It caused mild respiratory symptoms and a drop in egg production in poultry. Outbreaks of AI-H9N2 have occurred in poultry since the 1990s in many countries in USA, Europe, and Asia. Recently, outbreaks of H9N2 in commercial chicken were recorded in Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Furthermore, numerous studies demonstrated that co-infection with AI H9N2 and other pathogens results in severe respiratory illness with high mortality in broiler chickens. Outbreaks of respiratory disease with variations in mortality rate were recorded in broiler flocks growing in the southwest of Tripoli in Libya. The present study was conducted to explain the variation of mortality rate on broiler flocks growing in the southwest area of Tripoli by detection of AI H9N2 antibodies and antigens. A total of 453 sera samples, 60 tracheal swabs, and 60 cloacal swabs were collected from unvaccinated broiler flocks against avian influenza. Specific avian influenza type A antibodies were detected by using the Elisa test, and specific AI-H9N2 antibodies were detected by using the HI test, whereas specific AI-H9N2 antigens were detected in tracheal and cloacal swabs by using One-Step RT-PCR (M gene) technique. Respiratory diseases with high variations in mortality rate were recorded in broiler flocks growing in the southwest of Tripoli in Libya; the broiler mortality rate in Twisha farms was higher than other farms (62.2% and 11%, respectively). Whereas avian influenza type A antibodies were detected at a high level in Twisha and other farms (95.2%, and 76.7%, respectively). The positive samples for AI type A were tested for AI H9N2 using the HI test. Interestingly the percentage of AI-H9N2 antibodies was quite similar in high and low mortality regions (53.4% and 46.8%, respectively). Additionally, AI-H9N2 antigens were detected only in tracheal swabs in Twisha farm 3, Al-Maamoura, and Ber Al-Tota districts. This study confirmed the endemic of AI- H9N2 in broiler flocks in the southwest of Tripoli-Libya. Also, it clarified that AI-H9N2 was not responsible for the high mortality rate by itself in broiler flocks. Moreover, this study supported the presence of other subtypes of avian influenza in the studied area.

Effect of Giving Black Cumin Seed (Nigella Sativa) Extract on Broiler Body Weight and Death Rate at Broiler Chicken Farming

This study aims to determine the effect of black cumin seed extract (Nigella sativa) on body weight and mortality of broiler chickens. Broiler chickens were randomly selected to represent 4 dose groups: control group (P0), 1.5 ml/liter extract (PI), 2 ml/liter extract (PII), and 2.5 ml/liter extract (PIII). The treatment was given by mixing black cumin seed extract (Nigella sativa) into the drinking water of broiler chickens for 3 weeks. The variables observed included body weight and mortality of broiler chickens. Data analysis used the one way ANOVA test followed by the LSD (Least Significant Difference) test. The results showed that the higher the dose of black cumin seed extract (Nigella sativa) given, the greater the broiler weight gain, while the mortality rate did not show any effect on the dose given. It can be concluded from this study that black cumin seed extract (Nigella sativa) has a significant effect on weight gain, but has no effect on broiler mortality

The effect of water shower spray on stress physiology and mortality in broiler chickens subjected to road transportation under the hot and humid tropical condition.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of water shower spray on rectal temperature (RT), serum levels of corticosterone (CORT), heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and creatine kinase (CK) in broiler chickens road transported at different times of the day. A total of 320 male broiler chickens (35days of age) were crated and subjected to either water shower spray (WS) for 10min or no water shower (control). The WS and control broilers were then loaded into an open truck and transported either from 0900 to 1100h (29.0°C and 89.0% RH) (AM) or 1900h to 2100h (26.0°C and 94.0% RH) (PM) with an average speed of 80km/h. The CORT of AM birds were significantly reduced by WS, but the treatment had negligible influence on the PM group. Transportation during AM significantly elevated RT, CORT and HSP70 compared to the PM group. Water shower spraying of birds before transit significantly reduced RT and HSP70 compared to controls. Neither water shower treatment nor transportation time had a significant on CK and mortality rate of broilers. In conclusion, water shower spray is beneficial to alleviate the physiological stress response in road-transported broilers under the hot and humid tropical environment.

Impacts of Stocking Density on Broiler Chicken Performance Stress Reaction and Mortality in Broiler Chicken

tThe present study investigated the effect of stocking density on growth performance, stress reaction, and mortality in broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty (240) day-old straight run commercial broiler chicks (Vencob) were divided into two batches having 120 chicks each and further subdivided into three equal groups (G1, G2, G3) representing different stocking densities (20, 25, and 30-meter square/bird) having 40 chicks in each group. It was evident that, after the 2nd week, body weight gain of G3 group was significantly (p&lt;0.01) higher than G2 and G1. In 4th week, body weight gain of G2 and G3 groups was significantly (p&lt;0.01) higher than G1. After completion of 35 days of the trial, the last week’s body weight gain of G2 (577.15 ± 28.78 g) was found significantly (p &lt;0.01) higher than G1 (554.07 ± 28.78 g) and G3 (517.35 ± 28.78 g). During 1st week, the FCR of broiler chicken of G1 (1.96 ± 0.02) group was found to be significantly (p &lt;0.01) higher than G2 (1.83 ± 0.02) and G3 (1.82 ± 0.02). During 3rd week, FCR of G1 (1.94 ± 0.02) group was significantly (p&lt;0.01) higher, while at 4th week, the FCR of G3 (1.81 ± 0.03) was found significantly (p&lt;0.01) higher than other groups. The least square means of H/L ratio were significantly higher in G1 and G3 groups as compared to the G2 group. During the experimental period, 2.5 % mortality was observed in G1 and G2 groups, whereas 5% in group G3.

The effect of natural feed additive on productive performance of broiler chickens

The effect of natural feed additive on productive performance of broiler chickens

Addition of bidara leaves (Ziziphus spina – christi L.) in drinking water on production and mortality of broiler chickens

The bidara plant is known as a plant that contains active ingredients and phytochemicals that have the benefit of stimulating physiological processes in the body to run well and have a healthy effect. This study aimed to determine the effect of giving bidara leaf extract on the production performance and mortality of broiler chickens. A total of 60 DOC broiler chickens were used in this study with an average body weight of 45 g which was divided into 4 treatments, including T0: control, T1: 10% bidara leaf extract, T2: 15% bidara leaf extract, T3: 20% bidara leaf extract. Each treatment was repeated 5 times with 3 research units per plot. The study was carried out experimentally in vivo using the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) research method. The data was processed by analysis of variance with the F test at the 5% level and continued with Duncan’s test. The results showed that the treatment had a significant effect (P<0.05) on production performance and mortality in broiler chickens at the 10% bidara leaf usage level. The use of bidara leaf extract can be used as a supplement in the maintenance of broiler chickens as a substitute for synthetic supplements.

The influence of the prebiotic mannan-oligosaccharides (Actigen™) on fattening indicators and mortality of broiler chickens

Cilj rada bio je utvrditi utjecaj dodavanja prebiotika, manan-oligosaharida (ActigenTM) krmnim smjesama na proizvodne rezultate pilića u tovu. U istraživanju je korišteno 300 muških jednodnevnih pilića hibrida Ross 308 koji su slučajnim izborom smješteni u dvije skupine sa šest ponavljanja. Istraživanje je trajalo 38 dana, a podijeljeno je u tri razdoblja. Tijekom istraživanja pilići iz kontrolne skupine hranjeni su 14 dana početnom krmnom smjesom (PPT-1) sa 24,4% SB, 14 dana krmnom smjesom za piliće u porastu (PPT-2) sa 21,0% SB i 10 dana završnom krmnom smjesom ( PPT-3) sa 20,1% SB. Pilići pokusne skupine hranjeni su istim krmnim smjesama, ali s dodatkom ActigenTM-a. U PPT-1 je dodano 800g/t; u PPT-2 400 g/t, a u PPT-3 200 g ActigenTM-a po toni krmne smjese. Prosječne tjelesne mase na kraju istraživanja bile su 2808,86 u kontrolnoj i 2880,42 u pokusnoj skupini, a konverzija krmnih smjesa 1,58 i 1,56 kg za kilogram prirasta. Budući da su tjelesne mase u pokusnoj skupini bile veće za 2,55%, a konverzija niža, može se preporučiti upotreba ActigenTM-a u krmnim smjesama za hranidbu pilića.

SELECTED WELFARE PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKENS ON DIFFERENT FEED QUANTITY AND TIME

This study was conducted to determine welfare of broiler chickens fed ad libitum and restricted feed during early (08.00hour) and late (16:00hour) of the day. One hundred and eighty (21d old) broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 4 treatments in a 2x2 factorial arrangement comprising of ad libitum and restricted feeding (75% of ad libitum) quantity at 8 and 16 hours feeding time in three replicates. Data were collected on leg problem, dust bathing, body temperature, mortality and haematology. Result revealed that neither feed quantity nor time had significant (P&gt;0.05) effect on leg problem, dust bathing and mortality of broiler chickens. Broiler chickens under ad lib feed quantity and 16:00hours feeding time had (P&lt;0.05) highest body temperature (40.93oC) while those under ad libitum morning (08:00hours) recorded the least (40.75°C). Pack Cell Volume had similar (P&gt;0.05) increase from 26.75% at the beginning (21d) to 31.25 (%) at 56d with broiler chickens under restricted feeding and fed at 16:00hours feeding time. Basophil count reduced from a range of 0.5-2% (P&lt;0.05) to 1% (P&gt;0.05) with restricted feeding. Also eosinophil reduced from 2-4% (P&lt;0.05) range to 0-2.5% (P&gt;0.05) with restricted feeding while birds under ad lib increased from 0-1% (P&lt;0.05) at 21d to 2.75% (P&gt;0.05) at 56d. Better welfare (good body temperature) of broiler chicken could be achieved with early feeding time irrespective of quantity. However, restricted feeding could be explored in broiler production where reduced basophil, eosinophil and stress are vital for enhanced welfare and performance.&#x0D; &#x0D;

Age-related features of the manifestation of non-contagious pathology and metabolic disorders of liver in broiler chickens

The article presents the data on the study of age-related features of non-contagious pathology in broiler chickens, as well as the level of metabolic processes in liver of healthy poultry and poultry with diseases. The results of the studies indicate that in the conditions of an industrial enterprise specializing in meat poultry rearing, poultry mortality in different age periods ranged from 3 to 5 % of the total population. In the structure of the causes of mortality of broiler chickens from the 8th to the 15th day, an increase in mortality from hepatopathies was registered, and by the 25th day of life hepatosis was recorded in the bulk of the dead poultry. Biochemical monitoring of blood serum in poultry with signs of liver pathology revealed an increase in the level of ALAT, β-globulins, and the “inflammation syndrome” of the hepatic parenchyma was confirmed by a positive thymol test. Long-term consumption of feed contaminated with mycotoxins by broilers led to the deterioration in the health of the poultry, an imbalance in liver and the development of general metabolic disorders of the poultry organism.

The efficacy of litter management strategies to prevent morbidity and mortality in broiler chickens: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

A systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) were conducted to address the question, 'What is the efficacy of litter management strategies to reduce morbidity, mortality, condemnation at slaughter, or total antibiotic use in broilers?' Eligible studies were clinical trials published in English evaluating the efficacy of litter management in broilers on morbidity, condemnations at slaughter, mortality, or total antibiotic use. Multiple databases and two conference proceedings were searched for relevant literature. After relevance screening and data extraction, there were 50 trials evaluating litter type, 22 trials evaluating litter additives, 10 trials comparing fresh to re-used litter, and six trials evaluating floor type. NMAs were conducted for mortality (61 trials) and for the presence or absence of footpad lesions (15 trials). There were no differences in mortality among the litter types, floor types, or additives. For footpad lesions, peat moss appeared beneficial compared to straw, based on a small number of comparisons. In a pairwise meta-analysis, there was no association between fresh versus used litter on the risk of mortality, although there was considerable heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 66%). There was poor reporting of key design features in many studies, and analyses rarely accounted for non-independence of observations within flocks.

Mortality of Broiler Chickens During Summer Fattening Periods Affected by Microclimatic Conditions

Abstract Mortality of chickens during two summer fattening periods L1 and L2 in commonly used halls for chicken fattening in Slovakia have been evaluated in this paper. Effect of microclimatic conditions in housing area on recorded mortality has been analysed. Mortality was assessed in six halls, microclimate parameters and surface temperatures were continually measured only in one of the middle halls. It was documented that high mortality occurred during summer in the last phase (P3) of fattening period due to sudden hot weather waves. Daily mortality rate varied up to 447 birds in evaluated hall 3. During the last third of both fattening periods, it was significantly higher than during the first two phases (P L1 = 0.0036; P L2 = 1.4·10−6). Differences among halls were insignificant (P L1 = 0.614; P L2 = 0.413). In L1, average daily temperatures went beyond the recommended temperatures from 21st to 31st day. During L2, it was from 29th to 31st day and from 36th to 38th. The extra high mortality occurred in L1 on 31st day (447 birds) and during L2 on 36th day (88 birds), 37th day (96 birds) and 38th day (155 birds). High differential temperatures have been recorded and uninterrupted time periods (6 hours or more) with temperature higher than 30 °C and/or the relative humidity (RH) exceeding 70% were occurred during these days. In order to eliminate effect of sudden hot weather waves, modern digitally controlled microclimate regulation technologies (heat pumps, floor cooling, etc.) can be used, supported by data obtained from detailed microclimate analysis documented in this paper.

Effect of dietary nano zinc oxide supplementation on performance and zinc bioavailability in broilers

The present work was planned to investigate the effect of zinc oxide nano particles on performance traits in broiler chickens. Three hundred straight run ‘Vencobb 400’ day-old broiler chicks were equally and randomly distributed into five treatment groups which subdivided into three replicates containing 20 chicks in each, reared on deep litter system in pens up to 6 weeks of age. The dietary treatment groups were control group offered basal feed (BIS, 2007) without nano zinc (A), and treatment groups B, C, D and E received nano zinc oxide @ 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, respectively. Nano zinc oxide fed groups had significantly higher (P<0.01) live body weight and weekly body weight gain in 1st week as compared with control group. Cumulative feed consumption in group B (replacement level of zinc by nano zinc @ 25%) showed numerically higher feed consumption as compared to other treatment groups in all weeks and lowest cumulative feed consumption observed in treatment group E (100% replacement level by nano zinc). The cumulative weekly feed conversion ratio did not differ significantly among different treatment groups. It was observed that the total percent mortality in treatment group A-6.66%, B-1.66%, C-3.33%, for treatment group D and E were 0%. The bioavailability of zinc significantly increased at (P<0.01) in the diets having nano zinc oxide compared to control. The results of the present study suggested that the dietary inclusion of nano zinc in broiler diets replacing inorganic zinc was found to improve growth performance during pre-starter phase along with zinc bioavailability and resulted in reduced mortality in broiler chickens.

Effects of dietary glutamine and arginine supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology and ascites mortality in broiler chickens reared under cold environment

ObjectiveAn experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary glutamine (Gln) and arginine (Arg) supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology and ascites mortality in broilers.MethodsA total of 675 day old chicks were randomly allocated to 9 experimental groups in a 3×3 factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design with 5 replicates of 15 chicks. Three levels of dietary Gln (0%, 0.5%, and 1%) and Arg (100%, 130%, and 160% of Ross recommendation) supplementation were used in ascites inducing condition (15°C ±1°C) from 7 to 42 days of age.ResultsDietary supplementation of Gln increased body weight gain during grower, finisher and total periods (p<0.05) and increased feed intake during total period. Ascites mortality was decreased by Gln supplementation (p<0.05). Gln supplementation increased the villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) in duodenum and jejunum (p<0.05). Arg supplementation decreased CD in duodenum and jejunum, and increased ileum villus width (VW) and also VH/CD ratio in duodenum and jejunum (p<0.05). Both Gln and Arg increased the goblet cell number (GCN) in duodenum whereas Gln supplementation decreased GCN in jejunum and ileum (p<0.05). The Gln×Arg interaction were observed for right ventricle (RV)/total ventricular (TV) ratio, VH, VW, CD, VH/CD.ConclusionIt was concluded that dietary 0.5% Gln alone or along with 130% Arg of Ross requirement, improve the intestinal morphology and performance and hence decrease the ascites mortality in broiler chickens with cold induced ascites.

Longitudinal study of transmission of Escherichia coli from broiler breeders to broilers

Escherichia coli is of major importance in industrial broiler production as the main cause of salpingitis and peritonitis in broiler breeders. Furthermore E. coli is the most common cause of first week mortality in broiler chickens. The aim of the present study was to investigate the transmission of E. coli, isolated from broiler breeders with salpingitis, to the progeny and the possibility of subsequent first week mortality. Four parent flocks were followed during the whole production period (20-60 weeks) by post mortem and bacteriological examination of randomly selected dead birds. Newly hatched chickens from each flock were swabbed in the cloaca on four occasions (parent age 30, 40, 50, 60 weeks) and E. coli was isolated. Causes of first week mortality were determined pathologically and bacteriologically. E. coli isolates from parents, newly hatched chickens and first week mortality were selected for Pulsed-Field-Gel-Electrophoresis (PFGE) and Multi-Locus-Sequence-Typing (MLST) to determine their clonal relationships. E. coli was the main cause of both salpingitis in parents and first week mortality in broilers, and E. coli dominated the bacterial flora of the cloaca of newly hatched chickens. PFGE of E. coli showed identical band patterns in isolates from the three different sources indicating a transmission of E. coli from parent birds to chickens. In conclusion, E. coli isolated from salpingitis in broiler parents were found to be transmitted to broilers in which some sequence types contributed to the first week mortality.