Performance Of Chickens Research Articles

Dietary Supplementation of Turmeric Rhizome Promotes the Growth Performance, Serum Lipid Profile and Intestinal Microflora of Broilers

The injudicious use of antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry rations has caused great concern around the world. Scientists are currently trying to replace broadspectrum antibiotics in animal diets with alternative natural feed additives. The current study aimed to investigate the dietary effect of turmeric rhizome powder (TP) on the growth performance, serum lipid profiles, and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens. A total of 75 Cobb-15 broiler chicks (15-day-old) were randomly distributed into five groups offered with five experimental rations designated as T0 (control diet, without TP), T1 (1 g TP/kg feed), T2 (2.5 g TP/kg feed), T3 (5 g TP/kg feed), and T4 (7.5 g TP/kg feed). Parameters such as body weight gain, total feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were used to assess the response of broiler chickens to feed turmeric powder. Supplementation with 5 g TP/kg feed (T3) resulted in the highest increase in body weight with a relatively lower FCR. Serum levels of cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and LDL-cholesterol decreased significantly when supplemented with 5 g TP/kg feed. The bacteriological investigation revealed that a turmeric-supplemented diet significantly lowered the total Salmonella spp. count. The antioxidant property of turmeric rhizome may alleviate stress in broiler chickens. Taken together, these findings indicate that supplementing broiler ration with 5 g TP/kg feed improved growth performance, lipid profiles, and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens, suggesting that turmeric rhizome can be a potential alternative feed additive to synthetic antibiotics for safe and organic poultry meat production. J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 6(1): 117-124, 2024

Evaluation of the Effect of Probiotics on Growth Performance in Backyard Poultry Farming

Early chick mortality is a common issue in improved germplasm of desi birds under backyard system of rearing. Probiotics is one of the feed additives to decrease chick mortality. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of probeads EC on growth performance and livability of vanaraja chicks. This study was conducted at Mangalapuram and Thussur villages of Namakkal district. A total no of 400 nos of vanaraja chicks were distributed to 4 woman groups. Each group consists of 4 replicates with 20 chicks in each. Group I was taken as control (C), Group II was supplemented with probeads EC once in two days (T1), Group III was supplemented with probeadsEConce in a week (T2) and Group IV was supplemented with probeads EC only day old chicks (T3) and Group V was supplemented with oxytetracycline continuously three days from day old (T4). All the treatment groups were supplemented with 5 beads per bird. The present study revealed T1was significantly (P<0.05) increased body weight compared to T2, T3 and control during second and fourth weeks of age of vanaraja chicks. The livability of vanaraja chicks was 87.21, 86.43, 83.52, 79.23 & 77.26 % in T4, T1, T2, control and T3 respectively. The present study concluded that supplementation probeads EC once in two days increased body weight and livability of vanaraja chicken compared to control.

EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF MONOTHECA BUXIFOLIA LEAF POWDER ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Monotheca buxifolia leaf powder on the growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 250 -1-day old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly distributed into five treatments with five replicates and each replicate consists of ten birds. Prior to the arrival of birds, basal diet adequate in all nutrients was formulated according to the requirement of birds by Nutritional Research Council in 1994. Birds in treatment one was fed basal diet without Monotheca buxifolia leaf powder, those in treatment two, three, four and five were fed same diet with Monotheca buxifolia leaf powder at 100 g, 200 g, 300 g and 400 g respectively. The experiment lasted for 42 days and birds had unrestricted access to clean water and feed. A completely randomized experimental design was adopted and all management practices was strictly adhered to. Result on the phytochemical content of Monotheca buxifolia leaf powder flavonoids (863.2 mg/g), phenols (511.8 mg/g) and terpenoids (102.3 mg/g) were the most prominent compounds followed by saponins (72.56 mg/g), tannins (62.34 mg/g), alkaloids (41.88 mg/g) and steroids (30.41 mg/g). Average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake values which varied from 41.24 - 51.37 g/b and 103.7 - 107.5 g/b were higher among birds fed Monotheca buxifolia leaf powder (treatment two, three, four and five) relative to treatment one (P<0.05). Similarly, feed conversion ratio whose value ranged from 2.09 - 2.50 were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatment. In conclusion, feeding broilers Monotheca buxifolia leaf powder up to 400 g/kg diet does not pose any detrimental effect on the performance of birds.

Quercetin mitigates iron-induced cell death in chicken granulosa cell

BackgroundGranulosa cell (GC) apoptosis, ferroptosis, and other programmed cell death processes are markers of follicular aging. Quercetin has been shown to reduce ferroptosis, however, its effects on ferroptosis in poultry remains unexplored. Our preliminary study identified ferroptosis in aging ovaries. Therefore, in the present study, 540-day-old Mountain Plum-blossom chickens were fed with quercetin supplementation at varying doses (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 g/kg), and examined its molecular effects on GC ferroptosis using an in vitro Erastin-induced model.ResultsThe results showed that quercetin supplementation significantly increased egg production, which confirmed its potential to alleviate ferroptosis in chicken ovarian tissue. The in vitro experiment revealed that quercetin and Fer-1 (positive control) mitigated Erastin-induced ferroptosis in GCs. Further, transcriptome analysis revealed that quercetin modulated key genes such as acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and transferrin receptor (TFRC), involved in ferroptosis regulation. The results further showed that quercetin also reduced Erastin-induced apoptosis and inflammation by modulating the expression of genes and proteins related to apoptosis and inflammatory factors (NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10).ConclusionTaken together, the results showed that quercetin improves egg production performance in chickens and mitigates ovarian ferroptosis in aging hens, and inhibits Erastin-induced ferroptosis, inflammation, and apoptosis in GCs. These findings revealed the protective role of quercetin in poultry ovarian tissue and its cellular mechanisms against detrimental factors in poultry production.Graphical

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) on the Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Immune Response of Broiler Chicken

Introduction: Phytogenic substances encompass materials sourced from plants, including spices, herbs, essential oils, and various plant extracts. These materials have been employed for millennia as natural remedies, owing to their distinctive properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) seed powder supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, and immune response of broiler chickens. Materials and methods: A total of 250 one-day-old broiler chicks of mixed sex (Ross 307) were randomly distributed into five treatments with five replicates. The basal diet was formulated to meet broiler chickens' nutrient requirements. Chickens in treatment 1 (T1) received a basal diet, while T2, T3, T4, and T5 were fed with the same diet of date palm seed powder at 100 g, 200 g, 300 g, and 400 g per kg, respectively. Chickens had unlimited access to feed and clean water throughout the 42 days of the experimental period. Parameters, including growth performance, carcass characteristics, and immune response of broiler chickens were examined during the study. Phytochemical examination indicated that date palm seed powder contained phenol at 340.92 mg/g followed by flavonoids (205.67 mg/g), terpenoids (112.81 mg/g), tannins (96.73 mg/g), saponins (41.64 mg/g), alkaloids (30.57 mg/g), and steroids (21.68 mg/g). Results: The treatment significantly influenced average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Chickens fed with date palm seed powder had a higher average body weight, feed conversion ratio, and feed intake compared to the control group. Dressing percentage, slaughtered weight, and edible organ weights were higher in T5 compared to other groups. Conclusion: Date seed powder can be incorporated into broiler chickens' diets up to 400g/kg without negative impacts on the chickens’ performance.

In ovo sodium butyrate administration differentially impacts growth performance, intestinal barrier function, immune response, and gut microbiota characteristics in low and high hatch-weight broilers

BackgroundHatch weight (HW) affects broiler growth and low HW (LHW) often leads to suboptimal performance. Sodium butyrate (SB) has been shown to promote growth through enhanced intestinal health. This study investigated how broilers with different HW responded to in ovo SB injection and whether SB could enhance gut health and performance in LHW chicks. Ross 308 broiler eggs were injected on incubation d 12 with physiological saline (control) or SB at 0.1% (SB1), 0.3% (SB3), or 0.5% (SB5). Post-hatch, male chicks from each treatment were categorized as high HW (HHW) or LHW and assigned to 8 groups in a 4 × 2 factorial design. Production parameters were recorded periodically. Intestinal weight, length, and gene expression related to gut barrier function and immune response were examined on d 14 and 42. Cecal microbiota dynamics and predicted functionality were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.ResultsSB treatments did not affect hatchability. HHW-control group exhibited consistently better weight gain and FCR than LHW-control group. SB dose-dependently influenced performance and gut health in both HW categories, with greater effects in LHW broilers at 0.3%. LHW-SB3 group attained highest body weight on d 42, exceeding controls but not significantly differing from HHW-SB3 group. LHW-SB3 group showed upregulation of gut-barrier genes CLDN1 in ileum, TJP1 in jejunum and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in both jejunum and ileum on d 14. Additionally, LHW-SB3 group upregulated mucin-producing MUC6 gene in ileum, while HHW-SB5 group increased pro-inflammatory IL-12p40 cytokine in caecum on d 42. LHW-SB3 group demonstrated shorter relative intestinal lengths, while HHW-SB5 had longer lengths. HHW-control group had higher bacterial diversity and growth-promoting bacteria while LHW-control group harbored the potential pathogen Helicobacter. SB reshaped gut microbiota biodiversity, composition, and predicted metabolic pathways in both HW categories. The LHW-SB3 group exhibited highest alpha diversity on d 14 and most beneficial bacteria at all timepoints. HHW-SB5 group presented increased pathogenic Escherichia-Shigella and Campylobacter on d 42.ConclusionsHW significantly affects subsequent performance and SB has differential effects based on HW. LHW chicks benefited more from 0.3% SB, showing improvements in growth, intestinal development, health, and gut microbiota characteristics.

Wine Pomace as Feed in Native Chicken Farming: A Revenue-Cost Analysis

Objective: This study analyzes the feasibility of using wine pomace as a feed supplement for native chickens in Bali, Indonesia, focusing on the financial benefits of this practice. Theoretical Framework: Small-scale farmers in Bali rely heavily on commercial feed for their chickens, which accounts for a significant portion of their expenses. This study explores the use of locally available grape wine pomace as a cost-effective alternative feed source. Wine pomace is rich in protein, fiber, and fat, making it a suitable ingredient for native chickens, especially KUB chickens. Method: This multi-stage study involves a survey to assess wine pomace availability, followed by fermentation and nutritional analysis. A feeding trial using a Completely Randomized Design evaluates the impact of different wine pomace percentages on chicken growth and performance. Economic analysis compares revenue and costs to determine profitability. Results and Discussion: Results show wine pomace is readily available, with nutritional value suitable for animal feed. A 5% wine pomace ration resulted in improved feed efficiency and increased profitability. Research Implications: This study highlights the potential of utilizing agro-industrial waste as a sustainable and cost-effective feed ingredient, promoting a circular economy approach in the poultry industry. Originality/Value: This research contributes to existing literature by exploring the potential of wine pomace as a feed ingredient for KUB chickens in Bali, providing valuable data on its nutritional composition and economic benefits.

Effect of Powdered Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus) as Feed Supplement on the Growth Performance of Native Chicken

This study was conducted to determine the growth performance of the native chicken using different levels of powdered lemon grass as feed supplement in the diet. The study utilized 128 unsexed native chickens were randomly distributed into 4 experimental treatments with 4 replications and 8 birds per treatment using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The different levels of powdered lemon grass in treatments were T1 (Control) – 0%, T2 –1%, T3 –1.5%, and T4 - 2.5% powdered lemon grass, respectively. The results revealed that there is no significant difference in the body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of the native chicken among the experimental animals. In the feed consumption, there is a highly significant difference among the treatment mean during week 2 and 8, and significant difference on week 4, 11 and 12. These findings suggest that the inclusion of powdered lemongrass influenced the feed consumption of the chickens, particularly in certain periods of the study. This implies that while powdered lemongrass, particularly at 1%, appeared to enhance feed consumption during specific weeks. In terms of the average daily gain, results revealed a significant difference only in week 14. The result suggests that while the inclusion of powdered lemongrass in the diet did not significantly affect ADG during the early and middle stages of growth, it exhibited a notable positive effect in the later stages. This indicate a cumulative or delayed impact of lemongrass supplementation on growth performance, which becomes evident as the birds approach maturity. Based on the findings stated above, it can be concluded that the body weight, feed consumption, FCR and ADG of the experimental birds were affected by the different inclusion levels of powdered lemon grass. Inclusion of 1% lemon grass powder in feedstuff is recommended as it enhanced the overall growth performance of native chickens.

Effect of a Broiler-Specific Light Spectrum on Growth Performance and Adrenocortical Activity in Chickens: A Pilot Study on a Commercial Farm

This study evaluated the effect of a broiler-specific light spectrum on productive performance corticosterone (fCC) and androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (fDHEA) concentrations in feathers, and glucocorticoid (GCMs) and androgen (AMs) metabolites in droppings of broilers. Two groups of female Ross 308 broilers were reared under white LED (WL, n = 9000) and broiler-specific LED (BSL, n = 9000) lights. The body weight (BW) of 150 randomly selected animals/groups was measured weekly. Droppings and feathers were collected at the end of the cycle (29 days) from 20 animals/group. The BSL group showed higher final BW than WL (1407 ± 11 vs. 1341 ± 15 g, respectively; p < 0.001) and higher indices of uniformity (76.8% vs. 61.2% animals in the 10% around the mean, respectively; p < 0.001). No difference between groups was found in fCC and fDHEA concentrations or in the fCC–fDHEA, indicating similar long-term HPA axis activity during the cycle. A higher concentration of GCMs was found in the BSL group, indicating higher glucocorticoid secretion before sampling, with neither a difference in AMs nor in GCMs–AMs. Finally, there was a positive correlation between fCC and fDHEA and between GCMs and AMs (p < 0.01). Our findings suggest that the use of broiler-specific light improved the productivity performances of chickens without long-term consequences on HPA activation. However, the results of this pilot study in a commercial farm setting must be interpreted with caution and need confirmation.

Effect of different arginine-to-lysine ratios and guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and breast myopathies in broiler chickens

Effect of different arginine-to-lysine ratios and guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and breast myopathies in broiler chickens

Supplementation of precision biotic leads to improved growth performance by modulating the microbiome of broiler chickens fed corn or wheat-based diets

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a precision biotic (PB; Symphiome®, dsm-firmenich) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, litter quality, blood uric acid (UA) concentration, cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentration, and ileal and cecal microbiome of broiler chickens fed corn or wheat-based diets. One-day-old broiler chicks were placed in a completely randomized design (2 × 2 factorial scheme) in 4 treatments, 8 replicates/treatment, and 16 birds/replicate. The treatments were a corn or wheat and soybean meal-based diet without or with supplementation of 0.9 kg/MT of PB. All the birds were vaccinated against coccidiosis at the time of placement (Paracox 5). Growth performance was evaluated weekly and at the end of the experiment. At d 35, blood was collected to determine UA concentration and cecal content for SCFA concentration analysis. Ileal digesta was also collected for nutrient digestibility analysis, and ileal digesta and cecal content were collected for microbiome analysis. The data were submitted to two-way ANOVA (P ≤ 0.05), and LSM was used to separate the means in case of interaction. During the starter and grower phases of the study, a better body weight gain (P = 0.0008 and P = 0.04, respectively) was observed in birds fed wheat compared to corn-based diets. From 28 to 36 d of age, the supplementation of PB increased feed intake (P = 0.05), and tended (P = 0.06) to improve the feed conversion ratio by 4.3 points vs non-supplementated birds. Birds fed wheat-based diets had higher (P = 0.02) blood UA than corn based-diets fed birds, and the supplementation of PB led to a reduction (P = 0.02) of blood UA compared to non-supplemented birds. The supplementation of PB changed the abundance of core metabolic pathways of the microbiome, mostly related to protein metabolism, which led to a reduction in blood UA concentration and increase of cecal SCFA concentrations. In conclusion, by beneficially modulating the microbiome, the supplementation of PB was translated into improved growth performance of broiler chickens fed corn or wheat-based diets.

Effects of graded yeast cell wall supplementation on growth performance, immunity and intestinal development of broiler chickens raised in floor pens for 42 days

Effects of graded yeast cell wall supplementation on growth performance, immunity and intestinal development of broiler chickens raised in floor pens for 42 days

Long lasting effects of short-term temperature training during the hatching phase under commercial incubation conditions on performance and physiological parameters in male and female broiler chickens

Long lasting effects of short-term temperature training during the hatching phase under commercial incubation conditions on performance and physiological parameters in male and female broiler chickens

Hatching Traits and Post-Hatch Performance of Broiler Chickens on In Ovo Feeding of Aqueous Extracts of Garlic, Mushroom and Their Combination

Abstract Feeding embryos with exogenous feed components prior to hatching has been reported to positively improved the growth and immune response in poultry. This study investigated the effects of in ovo administration of aqueous extracts of garlic, oyster mushroom and their combination on hatching traits and post-hatch performance of broiler chickens. A total of 230 broiler hatching eggs were sorted and incubated. On candling, 200 (85.11 % fertility) fertile eggs were obtained and distributed into five treatments: control, in ovo injection of garlic, oyster mushroom, combination of garlic and oyster mushroom, and de-ionized water (SHAM) at 0.1 ml.egg-1 in each treatment. In ovo injection was done on 18th day of incubation. Data collected were subjected to One-Way Analysis of Variance. Chick weight was the highest (P < 0.05) in birds hatched from eggs injected with aqueous extracts of garlic (50.91 g per chick). The highest proportions (P < 0.05) of heart (0.65 %) and spleen (0.18 %) were observed in birds from eggs injected with oyster mushroom and the combination of garlic and oyster mushroom, respectively. Significantly highest lymphocyte counts (P < 0.05) were found in birds from eggs injected with aqueous extracts of garlic, and the combination of garlic and oyster mushroom. The best (P < 0.05) feed conversion rate (FCR) (1.82) was recorded in birds from eggs on in ovo injection of aqueous extract of oyster mushroom. The study suggests that in ovo injection of aqueous extracts of garlic and oyster mushroom at 0.1 ml per egg can enhance chick weight, heart, spleen functions and overall growth performance in broiler chickens.

Nutrient utilisation and growth performance of broiler chickens fed standard or moderately reduced dietary protein diets with and without β-mannanase supplementation

Use of reduced protein diets in broiler chicken production provides potential benefits for performance and environmental footprint of production. The effectiveness of β-mannanase supplementation in wheat and soy based standard protein (SP) and reduced protein (RP) diets was tested for growth performance, nutrient utilisation and selected intestinal gene expression of broiler chickens. In a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments, two main factors included dietary protein (standard and reduced protein) and β-mannanase supplementation (with or without). All diets contained phytase and carbohydrases (xylanase and glucanase). A total of 480 Ross 308 male off-sex day-old chickens were assigned to the four experimental diets in a 35-d study. Each diet was replicated 12 times with 10 birds per replicate. Using an additional 160 birds, separate apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nutrient digestibility assays were undertaken for the 4 experimental diets from d 21 to 24 of age. Selected gene involved in gut integrity, inflammation and immune response were quantified using quantitative PCR assays. There was no interaction between β-mannanase and dietary protein for any of the studied parameters except ileal viscosity. Enzyme had no effect on feed intake but tended to increase body weight gain (BWG) from d 0 to 35 of age (P=0.079). Birds fed RP diet consumed more feed when assessed from d 0 to 35 of age (P=0.029). At the same time, β-mannanase tended to reduce feed conversion ratio independent of dietary protein (P=0.069). β-mannanase reduced ileal viscosity of the birds fed RP diet (P<0.001). Reducing dietary protein increased nitrogen retention, nitrogen digestibility coefficient and digestibility coefficients of 11 amino acids (P<0.001). β-mannanase significantly improved digestibility coefficients of nitrogen and Arg, Gly, Thr, Lys, and Ile (P<0.05). Dietary treatments had no effect on AME or gene expression of selected tight junction proteins, interleukin-10, interleukin-1β, mucin-2 and nuclear factor-kappa B. In conclusion, supplementation of β-mannanase tended to improve feed efficiency and increased nutrient digestibility of broilers fed wheat-based diets independent of a moderate reduction in dietary protein. Complementary mode of actions of β-mannanase for intestinal health requires further investigation.

Effect of Supplementation on Performance of Indigenous Chicken under Farmer’s Condition at Barishal District of Bangladesh

The study was carried out to know the effect of supplementation on growth performance of indigenous chicken in Barishal district of Bangladesh. The study was conducted at Babuganj upazila of Barishal district, Bangladesh. Randomly ten households were selected with a pretested questionnaire by face to face interview and direct observation. The major constraints of rural poultry production were dirty, non-structured poultry house. As a part of the study the existing chicken house of the farmers was modifying first. Feeder and drinker also supplied for easy supply of feed and water. Body weight and body weight gain was recorded both cock and hen in indigenous chicken at selected farmers house feeding supplementation compared with scavenging group. Mean body weight with standard error showed significance differences from 4th weeks of age to 22nd weeks of age in cock. Indigenous cock gained 1kg body weight at 22nd weeks of age feeding supplementation where highest body weight gain at 18th weeks of age. Hen also showed significance differences in body weight and body weight gain between supplemented group and scavenging group. Where hen attained 1004.46±1.72g body weight at 22nd week of age in supplemented group and 792.35±5.38g at scavenging group. Body weight gain of hen highest at 102.30.±2.35g at 16th weeks of age. Fertility, hatchability and mortality in artificial and natural incubator showed no significance difference between supplemented and scavenging group. Chick mortality showed significance difference during brooding period and it recorded highest 18.3± 1.31% during first week of age. Finally we can conclude that supplementation can improve the body weight gain and lower the risk of chick mortality of indigenous chicken in rural condition. We hope that this study will support farmers by enhancing their knowledge about supplementation feeding of indigenous chicken for better body weight gain and lower mortality of chicks.

Additive and Non-additive Genetic Effects on Growth and Egg Production Performance of Crossbred Chicken in Ethiopia

The present review article aims to provide an overview of the additive and non-additive genetic effects of crossbreeding and their contribution to the improvement of growth and egg production traits in chickens. It discusses the advancement in crossbreeding effects and mating design contribution to a significant rate of genetic progress in indigenous chicken. In Ethiopia, crossbreeding practice may be used to enhance the performance of local chicken ecotypes. The article extensively reviews various papers related to crossbreeding trials conducted in Ethiopia, evaluating their effectiveness in improving growth and egg production. It discusses the mating design and breeds used in these programs, such as exotic breeds like Rhode Island Red, Fayoumi, White Leghorn, Koekoek, Sasso, Kuroiler, and local Ethiopian chicken ecotypes. Among the exotic breeds involved in crossbreeding, Rhode Island Red and Sasso are considered more favorable for improving growth rate and color preference, while White Leghorn is preferred for enhancing egg production traits. In opposite to these indigenous chickens are preferred for disease resistance and product quality. Additive genetic effects are typically responsible for the genetic improvement of traits over generations through selection. In egg production, additive genetic effects influence the overall capacity of a chicken to lay eggs, affecting traits like egg number and egg size. Whereas, In growth performance, additive genetic effects influence traits like body weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and overall growth rate. Non-additive genetic effects include dominance and epistatic interactions between genes. These effects can lead to genetic heterogeneity and can impact traits like egg production and growth performance besides playing a role in hybrid vigor or heterosis. In conclusion, both additive and non-additive genetic effects play a crucial role in determining egg production and growth performance in chickens. Additive effects drive genetic improvement over generations, while non-additive effects provide immediate benefits like hybrid vigor. Understanding and utilizing both types of genetic effects is essential for enhancing these traits in poultry breeding programs. Chicken crossbreeding programs are highly important in the poultry industry as they continuously improve the genetic potential of chickens, leading to more efficient production systems and higher profitability for producers.

Molecular and cellular markers in chickens exposed to stressors and the ability of feed supplements to overcome negative effects – a review

Abstract Performance of chickens is negatively impacted by stressors such as heat stress, infection with Campylobacter jejuni, the mycotoxins – aflatoxin B1 and deoxynivalenol, the glucocorticoid dexethasone, insecticides and Eimeria tenella. Effects of stressors include reduced gastrointestinal function and induction of inflammation. Stressors influence the following molecular and cellular structures and functions: gastro-intestinal integrity, villus height, crypt depth, mast cell number, expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, concentrations of leukocytes, and antioxidant status. In multiple studies, adverse effects of multiple stressors were overcome partly by supplementation. The utility of these parameters is discussed of these are considered and recommendations/guidelines for future research made.

Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of the jejunum revealed the effects and mechanism of protocatechuic acid on alleviating Salmonella typhimurium infection in chickens

Salmonella typhimurium is a common cause of gastroenteritis, which infects animals and human. Protocatechuic acid has anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory and anti-pathogenic effects, and is expected to be an effective choice for alleviating Salmonella infection and intestinal injury. A total of 180 1-d female, yellow-feathered chickens were randomly allocated into 3 treatment groups, the controls (Ctr), the Salmonella-challenged treatment (Sal) and the protocatechuic acid treatment (PA). Birds were fed a basal diet for 18 d, with birds in PA supplemented with 600 mg/kg protocatechuic acid. On 14 and 16 d, birds in Sal and PA were orally challenged with 109 CFU S. typhimurium, while birds in Ctr received an equal amount of PBS. The results showed that protocatechuic acid improved growth performance and jejunal structure in Salmonella-infected chickens (P < 0.05). In addition, protocatechuic acid suppressed (P < 0.05) the secretion of plasmal IgG, IL-1β, and IFN-β, and jejunal mucosal IL-6, IFN-β, complement protein 3 and 4. Mechanistically, the transcriptomic results showed that dietary protocatechuic acid inhibited acute inflammatory response and activated the signaling pathways of cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, complement and coagulation cascades. Results of proteomic showed that protocatechuic acid inhibited the positive regulation of dendritic cell cytokine production and I-κB kinase/NF-κB signaling, as well as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and MAPK signaling pathways, and activated the mTOR signaling pathways. These results were critical to both suppressing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and restoring the intestinal function. Dietary protocatechuic acid (600 mg/kg) was effective to alleviate Salmonella infection, as it suppressed the levels of cytokines and complement protein by inhibiting MAPK, I-κB kinase/NF-κB and enhancing the mTOR signaling pathway, thus offset the decline in weight loss and intestinal injury caused by infection.

Efficacy of Phyllanthus amarus leaf on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria oocysts

The development of drug resistance of Eimeria spp. in poultry necessitated chemotherapeutic control alternatives from plant extracts as potential solution. This study investigated in-vitro evaluation was studied on the anti-coccidial properties from P. amarus leaf extracts and its effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken challenged with Eimeria oocysts. Phytochemical screening of the plant extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, cummarin, glycoside, triterpenes and alkaloids while saponin, tannin, phenolics, steroid, anthocyanins, terpenoid, amino acids and phylobatanins were negative. In the In-vitro trial, the effects of P. amarus on the inhibition of the sporulation of oocysts of Eimeria spp. were undertaken. The experimental design was complete randomized design (CRD) consisting of 5 treatments with 4 replicates each. T1 received 5 mL of P. amarus extracts, T2 received 10 mL of P. amarus leaf extract, T3 received 15 mL of P. amarus leaf extract, T4 was positive control using Embazine forthe and T5 negative control. The chicks of all the groups were inoculated orally with sporulated oocysts on day 28 (4th week), 7 days post-infection, the birds were treated with different regimens, (5, 10 and 15 mL) of P. amarus leaf extracts for 3 consecutive days with the exception of T4 and T5. Oocysts clearance showed a decrease in the amount of oocysts in the feaces of all the groups treated with P. amarus leaf extract. The feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved in all treatment groups in comparison with the infected but not treated broiler chickens. 5 mL of P. amarus extract had sporulation inhibition percentage of 58% at 72 hours, 10 mls of P. amarus had sporulation inhibition rate of 73% while 15 mL of P. amarus has higher sporulation inhibition of 84% at 72 hours. In conclusion, the study showed that 15mls of ethanoic extract of P. amarus was effective in control of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria infection in broiler chicken. Le développement de la résistance aux médicaments des Eimeria spp. chez les volailles a nécessité des alternatives de contrôle chimiothérapeutique à partir d'extraits de plantes comme solution potentielle. Cette étude a examiné l'évaluation in-vitro des propriétés anti-coccidiennes des extraits de feuilles de P. amarus et ses effets sur les performances de croissance et les caractéristiques de carcasse des poules de chair confrontées aux oocystes d'Eimeria. Le dépistage phytochemical des extraits de plantes a révélé la présence de flavonoïdes, de coumarine, de glycosides, de triterpènes et d'alcaloïdes, tandis que les saponines, les tanins, les phénoliques, les stéroïdes, les anthocyanines, les terpènes, les acides aminés et les phylobatanins étaient négatifs. Dans l'essai in-vitro, les effets de P. amarus sur l'inhibition de la sporulation des oocystes d'Eimeria spp. ont été étudiés. Le design expérimental était un design complètement aléatoire (DCA) comprenant 5 traitements avec 4 répliques chacun. T1 a reçu 5 mL d'extrait de P. amarus, T2 a reçu 10 mL d'extrait de feuilles de P. amarus, T3 a reçu 15 mL d'extrait de feuilles de P. amarus, T4 était un contrôle positif utilisant Embazine, et T5 un contrôle négatif. Les poussins de tous les groupes ont été inoculés oralement avec des oocystes sporulés le jour 28 (4e semaine), 7 jours après l'infection, les oiseaux ont été traités avec différents régimes (5, 10 et 15 mL) d'extraits de feuilles de P. amarus pendant 3 jours consécutifs, à l'exception de T4 et T5. L'élimination des oocystes a montré une diminution du nombre d'oocystes dans les fèces de tous les groupes traités avec l'extrait de feuilles de P. amarus. L'ingestion de nourriture, le gain de poids corporel et le ratio de conversion alimentaire se sont significativement améliorés dans tous les groupes de traitement par rapport aux poules de chair infectées mais non traitées. 5 mL d'extrait de P. amarus ont eu un pourcentage d'inhibition de la sporulation de 58 % à 72 heures, 10 mL d'extrait de P. amarus ont eu un taux d'inhibition de la sporulation de 73 %, tandis que 15 mL d'extrait de P. amarus ont montré une inhibition plus élevée de la sporulation de 84 % à 72 heures. En conclusion, l'étude a montré que 15 mL d'extrait éthanolique de P. amarus était efficace dans le contrôle de la coccidiose causée par l'infection par Eimeria chez les poules de chair.