Weight Of Small Intestine Research Articles

PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF RABBITS FED ON DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH SUNFLOWER OIL

The current investigation was conducted to study the effects of dietary supplementation of different sunflower oil levels on productive performance and physiological status of New Zealand White Rabbits. A total of 56 weaned New Zealand White rabbits, 5 weeks of age, was assigned randomly into four similar experimental groups, 14 rabbits in each (7 males and 7 females). Rabbits in the first group were served as control (G1), while those in the second, third and 4thgroups were fed diets containing 1% (G2), 2% (G3) and 3% (G4) sunflower oil, respectively, and the experimental period lasted for 8 weeks. Results indicate that all growth performance parameters in G1 and G2, including final LBW and average daily gain were significantly (P<0.05) higher, while average feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) lower than in G3 and G4, being with the best results in G1 and the poorest results in G4. These results reflected significantly (P<0.05) higher feed conversion ratio and productive index (PI) in G1 and G2 than in G3 and G4, being the highest in G1, but did not differ significantly from that in G2. Concentration of blood serum total proteins and globulins in G4, and glucose concentration in G3 and G4 were significantly (P<0.05) decreased as compared to G1. Concentration of blood serum total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides in G3 and G4 significantly (P<0.05) increased, while LDL concentration decreased as compared to G1. However, concentration of blood serum albumin and urea as well as serum activity of AST and ALT were not influenced by experimental diets. On the other hand, biochemical parameters in G2 did not differ significantly from that in control one. Sunflower oil at different levels had no significant effects on carcass and dressing percentage (with or without head) of growing rabbits. The same trend was observed for the relative weight of heart, stomach, small intestine, caecum, proximal colon and distal colon. The histological examination revealed normal liver and kidney function in all studied groups. Although rabbits fed the control diet showed the highest net revenue/rabbit, those in G2 fed diet containing 2% sunflower oil had the highest net revenue/group as a result of the highest viability rate in G2 (14/14) as compared to (12/14) in each of G1, G3 and G4. Dietary supplementation of sunflower oil at a level of 1% showed the highest economic efficiency without adversely effects on growth performance, carcass traits, physiological status, and liver and kidney function of growing rabbits.

Plasma citrulline is not a biomarker for intestinal adaptation in short bowel syndrome, studied in piglets: a model for human neonates.

There are no in vivo methods to measure adaptation in neonatal short bowel syndrome (SBS). We evaluated citrulline (Cit)levels in neonatal piglet surgical models of SBS. Piglets underwent 75% mid-intestinal resection with jejunoileal anastomosis (JI), 75% distal resection of ileum with jejunocolic anastomosis (JC) or sham surgery. Jugular and gastric catheters were inserted for parenteral and enteral nutrition. On D7, small intestine length and weight were measured, jejunum collected for histopathology and Cit level determined. JI (n = 5) compared to JC (n = 5) had increased small intestinal length (JC - 17.5cm; JI +22.0cm; p = 0.02) and mass (JC 43.1mg/cm/kg; JI 51.3mg/cm/kg; p = 0.02), while Cit did not differ (JI 801.0µM; JC 677.7µM; p = 0.90). Including non-resected shams (n = 4), Cit correlated with length (R2 = 0.48; p = 0.006), but not for SBS alone (R2 = 0.11; p = 0.4), mass (R2 = 0.05; p = 0.5). A second experiment compared change in Cit levels from baseline to D7. Levels declined in sham (n = 8) and JC (n = 10) (sham - 110.1µM; JC - 56.6µM; p = 0.17), regardless of intestinal lengthening (sham 29.9cm; JC - 10.4cm; p = 0.002). Citrulline levels predict large differences in intestinal length and 'identify' SBS. However, citrulline cannot discriminate between adaptation in JI and JC, nor predict intestinal lengthening.

The Effect of Fermentation Bran and Chitosan in Ration to Percentage of Tegal Duck Digestive Tract Weight

Duck productivity is largely determined by the optimization of bodily functions. The food consumed greatly determines the development of digestive organs and internal organs of livestock. Digestive organs that are well developed and function optimally will be very decisive in turning feed into meat and eggs. Chitosan is a crustacean waste product known as animal fiber and is antimicrobial. Whereas fermented bran contains natural fiber rich in nutrients and is hypocholesterol. The aim of the study was to look at the role of chitosan and bran fermented on the weight percentage of digestive organs of ducks. The study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 5 replications. Each test consists of 2 ducks as a unit of experiment. The treatment is R0 = 45% corn + 35% concentrate + 20% bran without fermentation, R1 = 45% corn + 35% concentrate + 20% fermented bran, R2 = 45% corn + 35% concentrate + 19.5% fermented bran + 0.5% chitosan and R3 = 45% corn + 35% concentrate + 17.5% fermented + 2.5% chitosan bran. The variable measured is the weight percentage of the digestive organs (gizzard, small intestine and pancreas) in ducks. Data was processed using SAS Windows 16. The results showed that the administration of fermented chitosan and bran gave an average percentage of gizzard weight (ventriculus) and pancreatic weight percentage was not significantly different between treatments (P> 0.05), while treatment R1 (20% fermented bran) It was shown that the percentage of small intestine weight was higher (31.85%) than control R0.

Fructus Gardeniae-induced gastrointestinal injury was associated with the inflammatory response mediated by the disturbance of vitamin B6, phenylalanine, arachidonic acid, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism

Ethnopharmacological relevanceFructus Gardenia (FG) is a widely used bitter and cold herb for clearing heat and detoxicating. Currently, toxicity of FG and its relative formula has been reported in many clinical and animal studies. However, no systematic research has been carried out on FG-related gastrointestinal (GI) injury which has been emphasized in China since the Ming Dynasty. Aim of the studyThe purpose of this article is to investigate whether FG could damage GI and explore the mechanisms involved. Material and methodsFG was given to male mice by 7-day intragastric administration at average doses of 0.90 g (L group), 1.50 g (M group), and 3.00 g (H group) crude drug/kg FG. Comprehensive understanding of changes in weight, diarrhea degree, stool routine, histomorphology and inflammatory factors of stomach, small intestine, and colon for evaluating the effect of different doses of FG on GI injury. Moreover, metabolomics-based mechanisms exploration of FG on GI injury was carried out via HPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis on mice urine. ResultsHigh dose FG caused GI injury with serious diarrhea, decreased weight, abnormal stool routine, sever alteration in histomorphology of small intestine and colon (mild change in stomach), and significant change in inflammatory factors. The results of metabolomics suggested that 55 endogenous metabolites dispersed in 21 significantly altered metabolic pathways in 3.00 g/kg crude FG treated mice. The hub metabolites of GI injury were mainly related with vitamin B6 metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism via correlated network analysis. ConclusionFG affected the normal functions of GI via the regulating a variety of metabolic pathways to an abnormal state, and our results provided a research paradigm for the GI-injury of the relative bitter and cold traditional Chinese medicines.

Evaluation of pea protein isolates as a protein source for broilers

A study was conducted to determine the effect of including pea protein isolate (PPI) in diets for broilers on performance, visceral organ weights, and nutrient digestibility. A total of 192 day-old chicks were assigned to 4 diets with 6 birds per cage and 8 replicates per treatment for a 21-d study. The diets included a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with 0, 5, 10, or 15% of PPI. Total BW and feed disappearance were monitored weekly to determine ADG, ADFI, and feed conversion ratio per cage basis. Excreta samples were collected during the last 3 d of the experiment to determine the apparent total tract retention (ATTR) of protein and energy. On day 21, 3 birds from each cage were euthanized to collect ileal digesta to determine the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of energy and amino acids (AA), and visceral organs were weighed. Increasing dietary inclusion of PPI resulted in a linear decrease in overall ADFI (P = 0.002) and ADG (P = 0.001), and a linear increase in feed conversion ratio (P = 0.013). Dietary PPI quadratically increased (P = 0.005) the spleen weight. The weight of proventriculus showed both linear (P = 0.023) and quadratic (P = 0.005) reduction while the weight of gizzard was quadratically reduced (P = 0.002) with the increase in dietary PPI content. Weights of small and large intestine showed both linear (P < 0.05) and quadratic (P < 0.05) reduction with increasing dietary PPI content. An increase in the dietary level of PPI resulted in a quadratic reduction (P < 0.05) in ATTR of DM and CP. The AID of His, Asp, Glu, Gly, and Ser showed a quadratic reduction (P < 0.05), Tyr a linear reduction (P = 0.031) and Cys and Pro both linear (P < 0.05) and quadratic (P < 0.05) reduction with dietary inclusion of PPI. In conclusion, formulating diets with increasing PPI linearly decreased the growth performance of broilers.

Novel Long‐Acting GLP‐2 Analogue, FE 203799 (Apraglutide), Enhances Adaptation and Linear Intestinal Growth in a Neonatal Piglet Model of Short Bowel Syndrome with Total Resection of the Ileum

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is an intestinotrophic factor released from L-cells in the ileum, a segment commonly resected or atretic in neonatal short bowel syndrome (SBS). In piglets, ileal resection decreases intestinal adaptation and endogenous GLP-2 production, whereas exogenous replacement promotes adaptation. In this study, we determined the effect of a novel long-acting GLP-2 analogue, FE 203799 (FE; apraglutide), upon intestinal growth, adaptation, and function in neonatal SBS piglets without ileum. Neonatal piglets were randomized to saline (n = 10) vs FE treatment (n = 8). All piglets underwent 75% intestinal resection with jejunocolic anastomosis and were pair-fed parenteral and enteral nutrition. Saline and FE (5mg/kg) treatments were administered subcutaneously on days 0 and 4. On day 6, 24-hour fecal samples were collected for subsequent nutrient analysis. On day 7, small-intestinal length and weight were measured and tissue collected for analyses. On day 7, saline and FE-treated piglets were healthy and gained equivalent weight (P = 0.12). Compared with saline piglets, FE-treated piglets had lower fecal fat (P = 0.043) and energy (P = 0.043) losses and exhibited intestinal lengthening (P = 0.001), greater small-intestinal weight (P = 0.004), longer villus height (P = 0.027), and greater crypt depth (P = 0.054). The subcutaneous GLP-2 analogue, FE, enhanced intestinal adaptation in a neonatal model of SBS without ileum. The observed intestinal lengthening with FE treatment was unique compared with our prior experience with native GLP-2 in this same model and has important clinical implications for treating neonatal SBS. At this developmental stage, growth in the intestine, if augmented, could accelerate weaning from parenteral nutrition.

Relationship between Residual Feed Intake and Production Traits in a Population of F2 Ducks.

Improving feed efficiency is important for decreasing feed cost in poultry production, because feed account for approximately 70% of the total production costs. The selection of feed efficiency may affect other important economic traits. Therefore, the objectives of this present study was to evaluate the relationships of the residual feed intake (RFI) with live body weight, carcass weight, carcass composition, and size of small intestines in a population of F2 Pekin ducks. Nine-hundred and eighty F2 ducks were derived from a cross between 40 Pekin ducks and 10 Mallard ducks. The results showed no significant correlation of RFI with live body weight and eviscerated carcass weight. RFI had negative effects on breast meat weight and gizzard weight. A positive correlation of RFI with abdominal fat weight, skin weight, and jejunum length was detected. Our results indicated that the selection of RFI could improve the feed efficiency of ducks without affecting their carcass compositions.

Crocin exerts improving effects on indomethacin-induced small intestinal ulcer by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.

Crocin is a plant-derived carotenoid and bears potent antioxidant property. Ranitidine (a histamine H2 receptor blocker) is used for peptic ulcer treatment. The present study was planned to investigate the effects of crocin and ranitidine on indomethacin-induced ulcer in small intestine of rats. Animals were randomized into two major groups including indo-methacin (10.00 mg kg-1, ulcer group, 48 rats) and normal saline (1.00 mL kg-1, intact group, 48 rats) groups. Each of these two major groups was subdivided into eight subgroups for intra-peritoneal (IP) injections of normal saline, crocin (2.50, 10.00 and 40.00 mg kg-1), ranitidine (5.00 and 20.00 mg kg-1), crocin (2.50 and 10.00 mg kg-1) plus ranitidine (5.00 mg kg-1). Indomethacin induced intestinal ulcer was characterized by bleeding, inflammation, epithelial hyperplasia and crypt loss. This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), indomethacin decreased goblet cell number and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and increased small intestine weight, organo-somatic index (OSI), malodealdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and caspase-3 contents of intestine. Crocin resolved all the above-mentioned parameter changes induced by indomethacin. These treatments produced no significant effects on the above-mentioned parameters of intact group. The results of the present study showed tissue protective and anti-ulcer effects of crocin on small intestine by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Ranitidine alone showed no effect; however, in combination with crocin it exerted recovery effects. It is recommended that crocin, be considered as a therapeutic agent for NSAIDs-induced intestinal damage management.

Strongyloides venezuelensis infection augments arterial blood pressure in male wistar rats

Strongyloidiasis is an intestinal parasitosis that occurs in humans infected by Strongyloides stercoralis mostly. At its acute phase, symptoms like constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain can be observed, but become asymptomatic for a long time, until an immunosuppression will start a hyperinfection and the dissemination of the disease, prevalent on the elderly population in tropical countries. Ivermectina treatment is the currently choice for this disease, due to its great efficacy and the results reported. It is expected that around one hundred million individuals have been infected around the world. Strongyloides venezuelensis is an intestinal helminth utilized on Strongyloidiasis investigations, in rodents. As the parasites reach the blood stream after subcutaneous infection, the larvae migrate to the lung by systemic circulation, but the effects of S. venezuelensis in the circulation remain widely unknown. Moreover, the role played by S. venezuelensis in the cardiovascular function has been understudied. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine whether acute infection with S. venezuelensis alters systemic blood pressure or not. Male wistar rats were infected subcutaneously with 2000 L3 larvae of S. venezuelensis and monitored during 21 days (Infected group), compared to a Healthy group, no infected. Oviposition, body and faeces weight, water and food intake were determined every 3 days. Moreover, systemic blood pressure was assessed by tail cuff plethysmography. At the end of experiments, the animals were euthanized and the number of worms, ventricles, lung and thymus and small intestine weight were registered. It was possible to observe that systolic blood pressure (126.86 ± 2.74 vs 155.08 ± 7.61 at 9°-day post infection – dpi - and 134.44 ± 5.22 vs 157.77 ± 9.55 at 21° dpi) and mean arterial pressure (71.72 ± 1.59 vs 80.51 ± 2.32 at 21° dpi) were markedly higher (P < 0.001) in infected group in comparison to the Healthy group. Those changes occurred after larvae passes through the circulation and demonstrated a late response to the presence of this parasite. These results suggest that host circulatory system reacts to this infection resulting in a significant increase in blood pressure.

PO-017 Effects of Food Composition and Exercise Training on Body Weight Regulation and Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms in Male Mice

PO-017 Effects of Food Composition and Exercise Training on Body Weight Regulation and Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms in Male Mice

Effect of energy source and level, and sex on growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of long-fed lambs

The objective of the present study was to assess energy source, level, and sex of the lamb, on the growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of long-fed lambs (218 days on feed and 294 days of age). Ewe (n = 24) and wether (n = 24) lambs were blocked by sex and stratified by initial weight to pens containing four lambs within a pen, with two pens of each sex assigned to each of the three dietary treatments. The three diets offered were ad libitum access (WSC100) to whole shelled corn (WSC), 85% access of the ad libitum WSC diet (WSC85), and ad libitum access to alfalfa pellets (AP). Lambs offered WSC100 had greater (P < 0.05) ADG when compared with lambs offered WSC85 or AP, which resulted in a greater (P < 0.05) final body weight (93.6, 83.4, 86.0 kg, respectively). Lambs offered AP had a greater (P < 0.01) DMI when compared with lambs offered WSC100 or WSC85. Wether lambs had a greater final body weight (90.6 vs. 87.5 kg; P < 0.05), ADG (P < 0.05), and DMI (P < 0.01) when compared with ewe lambs. Lambs offered WSC had a greater (P < 0.01) G:F and a lower (P < 0.01) feed cost per unit of gain when compared with lambs offered AP. Lambs offered WSC100 had a greater final body weight (P < 0.05), hot carcass weight (HCW; P < 0.05) and visceral fat weight (P < 0.01) compared with lambs offered AP or WSC85. Lambs consuming WSC100 or WSC85 had a lighter reticulum (P < 0.01), omasum (P < 0.01), small (P < 0.01) and large intestine (P < 0.05), cecum (P < 0.05), and total tract weight (P < 0.01), but a greater (P < 0.05) amount of kidney fat compared with lambs offered AP. Wether lambs had a greater (P < 0.05) HCW, but a lighter (P < 0.05) small intestine weight when compared with ewe lambs. Lambs offered WSC100 had a greater final body weight (P < 0.01) and produced carcasses with a greater HCW (P < 0.01), backfat thickness (P < 0.05), body wall thickness (P < 0.01), yield grade (P < 0.05), and marbling score (P < 0.05) when compared with carcasses from lambs offered AP or WSC85. However, carcasses from lambs offered WSC100 had a lower percentage of boneless closely trimmed retail cuts (P < 0.05) when compared with carcasses from lambs offered AP or WSC85. Both WSC100 and WSC85 diets produced lamb carcasses with greater (P < 0.01) dressing percentages and kidney fat weights when compared with carcasses from lambs offered AP. Wether lamb carcasses had a greater final body weight, HCW, dressing percentage, and BWT when compared with ewe lamb carcasses. Overall, lambs offered WSC100 or WSC85 grew faster and more efficiently with a lower feed cost of gain. Lambs offered WSC100 and WSC85 also had a lower total digestive tract weight compared with lambs offered AP. However, feeding WSC100 produced carcasses with greater amounts of fat in multiple fat depots when compared with lambs offered AP or WSC85.

Body size and gastrointestinal morphology of nutria (Myocastor coypus) reared on an extensive or intensive feeding regime.

Although plasticity of growth rates is mainly associated with ectotherm species, it does occur in endotherms as well, but has not been documented systematically for many species. We compared the effect of 2 common types of feeding systems, differing in energetic value, on body size and gastrointestinal tract morphology in nutrias (Myocastor coypus). A total of 30 extensively (E) fed and 20 intensively (I) fed animals were used in the study. We noted significant effects of age, sex, and feeding regime on body weight and length, with 1-yr-old females attaining 3.7 ± 0.4 kg and 33.4 ± 1.5 cm on E and 4.9 ± 0.3 kg and 36.1 ± 2.3 cm on I. A significant treatment-sex interaction indicated that treatment had a greater effect on the length growth in males (1-yr-old males attaining 4.0 ± 0.2 kg and 34.7 ± 1.2 cm on E and 5.4 ± 0.4 kg and 41.0 ± 1.4 cm on I). The differences matched individual literature reports of free-ranging or intensively fed nutrias. The majority of gastrointestinal tract measurement results were only related to body weight, without additional effect of the diet regime, except for a higher small intestinal tissue weight on I (79 ± 14 g vs. 61 ± 7 g on E). In contrast, the wet content weight of the stomach, caecum, and the total gastrotinestinal tract was higher on E (196 ± 34 g vs. 164 ± 51 g on I). Overall, we observed strong influence of dietary regime on body development but not on digestive anatomy, indicating a distinct phenotypic flexibility in growth rates in nutrias.

Endogenous glucagon-like peptide- 1 and 2 are essential for regeneration after acute intestinal injury in mice.

ObjectiveMucositis is a side effect of chemotherapy seen in the digestive tract, with symptoms including pain, diarrhoea, inflammation and ulcerations. Our aim was to investigate whether endogenous glucagon-like peptide -1 and -2 (GLP-1 and GLP-2) are implicated in intestinal healing after chemotherapy-induced mucositis.DesignWe used a transgenic mouse model Tg(GCG.DTR)(Tg) expressing the human diphtheria toxin receptor in the proglucagon-producing cells. Injections with diphtheria toxin ablated the GLP-1 and GLP-2 producing L-cells in Tg mice with no effect in wild-type (WT) mice. Mice were injected with 5-fluorouracil or saline and received vehicle, exendin-4, teduglutide (gly2-GLP-2), or exendin-4/teduglutide in combination. The endpoints were body weight change, small intestinal weight, morphology, histological scoring of mucositis and myeloperoxidase levels.ResultsAblation of L-cells led to impaired GLP-2 secretion; increased loss of body weight; lower small intestinal weight; lower crypt depth, villus height and mucosal area; and increased the mucositis severity score in mice given 5-fluorouracil. WT mice showed compensatory hyperproliferation as a sign of regeneration in the recovery phase. Co-treatment with exendin-4 and teduglutide rescued the body weight of the Tg mice and led to a hyperproliferation in the small intestine, whereas single treatment was less effective.ConclusionThe ablation of L-cells leads to severe mucositis and insufficient intestinal healing, shown by severe body weight loss and lack of compensatory hyperproliferation in the recovery phase. Co-treatment with exendin-4 and teduglutide could prevent this. Because both peptides were needed, we can conclude that both GLP-1 and GLP-2 are essential for intestinal healing in mice.

Eucalyptus leaves powder, antibiotic and probiotic addition to broiler diets: effect on growth performance, immune response, blood components and carcass traits

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of eucalyptus powder (EP), virginiamycin and probiotic on performance, immunity, blood components and carcass traits of broiler chickens. A total of 250, 1-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replicates and 10 chicks each, as a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments consisted of: basal diet (BD), BD+0.25% EP, BD+0.5% EP, BD+0.01% of diet probiotic (Protexin), BD+0.02% of diet antibiotic (virginiamycin). Dietary supplementation did not affect feed intake, BW gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during starter and grower phases, but BWG and FCR were affected during the finisher and whole periods (P<0.05).The highest BWG and lowest FCR were obtained in birds fed with virginiamycin and 0.5% EP. Dietary supplementation significantly increased the relative weight of carcass and breast (P<0.05). Treatments had no effect on relative weights of internal organs and small intestine except for bursa that increased by treatments. Relative length of jejunum also increased by treatments (P<0.05). Antibody production against sheep red blood cells did not changed in primary titer (day 35), but it significantly increased in secondary titer (day 42) by 0.5% EP. White blood cell counts were increased and cholesterol decreased by dietary supplementation (P<0.05). In conclusion, the results of this study showed that 0.5% EP served as a useful replacement for antibiotic and would improve performance and immune response of broiler chickens.

Effect of age and sex on carcass characteristics and internal organ weights of scavenging chickens and helmeted guinea fowls

ABSTRACTThe objective of the study was to determine the effect of age and sex on carcass characteristics and internal organ weights in scavenging guinea fowls and chickens. Ninety-six scavenging birds, purchased from farmers, were used comprising 48 guinea fowls and 48 chickens from communal farmers. Guinea fowls comprised 25 females and 23 males, with 21 growers and 27 adults. Chickens had 18 females and 30 males with 19 growers and 29 adults. Guinea fowls had heavier body weight and relative hot carcass and cold dressed weight than chickens and which increased with age. Breast and wing relative weights were higher in guinea fowls. Chickens recorded the higher weight of leg and drumstick than guinea fowls. The neck, feet and head weights were heavier in chickens except for the back which was similar to guinea fowls. Chickens had significantly higher abdominal fat than guinea fowls. Relative weights of the heart, liver, kidney, lung and gizzard were higher in chickens. Relative total intestinal weight and lengths of total intestines, small and large intestines were higher in chickens than in guinea fowls. Relative lengths of the intestines decreased with age. Chickens and guinea fowls could have different capacities to utilize scavengeable feed resources.

Effect of different levels of green tea (Camellia sinensis) on productive performance, carcass characteristics and organs of broiler chickens

In this work we aimed to determine the effect of different levels of green tea in powder form to feed on productive performance, carcass parameters and organs in broiler chickens. Totally 240 day-old broiler chickens Ross 308 were divided to four dietary groups (n = 60) namely control and three experimental groups with supplementation of green tea to feed mixture in levels 0.5%, 1% and 1.5%. Broiler chickens were feeding with commercial feed mixtures and feed and drinking water were provided ad libittum. The feeding period lasted 42 days. Individual body weight of broiler chickens was determined at 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 day, feed sonsumption and mortality per group were determined at 42 day of fattening period. Carcass quality and organs weight of broiler chickens were determined at the end of the experiment. The results indicated that supplementation of different levels of green tea statistically significant decreased body weight gain and we recorded lower body weight in 21 days of age compared with control group. However, in second period of fattening, broiler chickens in experimental groups growing faster and in 42 days of age we found statistically no significantly differences among control and experimental groups. Feed consumption did not differ among the dietary groups at 42 days of fattening. Mortality no affected by supplementation of green tea to broiler chickens diets in comparison with control group. From the carcass parameters addition of green tea significantly decreased percentage of abdominal fat between control and 1.5% green tea level, in other parameters (percentage of breast, percentage of drumstick, carcass yield) were different among control and experimental groups not statistically significant. The caecum and small intestine weights was significantly (p ≤0.05) decreased in chickens fed diets containing 0.5% green tea supplement compared to 1% and 1.5%. For neck, crop, heart, liver, proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, kidneys, small intestine, caecum and large intestine weights among control and experimental groups we recorded no statistical differences (p ˃0.05).

Effects of in ovo feeding of cationic amino acids on hatchability, hatch weights, and organ developments in domestic pigeon squabs (Columba livia).

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of in ovo feeding of cationic amino acids on hatchability, hatch weights, and organ developments in pigeon squabs. Two experiments were conducted in this study. Eggs in Exp. 1 were subjected to modification of in ovo feeding in pigeons. Optimal time was determined by checking amniotic fluid volume, and suitable length was confirmed through ink injection. Results showed that the optimum time of in ovo feeding was on d 13 of embryonic development, and the suitable injected length was 20mm to reach the amniotic cavity of the embryo. Eggs in Exp. 2 were transferred to access in ovo feeding of cationic amino acids. A total of 75 fertile pigeon eggs was randomly distributed into 5 treatments of 15 replicate eggs. Treatments in Exp. 2 consisted of non-injected controls (Control), a sterile buffered solution (0.75% saline), or a cationic amino acid mixture (> 98.5% purity crystalline L-arginine, >98% purity crystalline L-lysine, and >98.5% purity L-histidine) containing 0.1, 1, or 10% concentration (Conc.), which were relative to their total content in the eggs, respectively. The crystalline amino acids were dissolved in 200 μL buffered solution prior to in ovo feeding. After hatching, hatch weight (HW) and organ weight (OW) of the squabs were measured immediately. In ovo feeding of cationic amino acids increased the proportions of yolk-free hatch weight to hatch weight (YFHW/HW) (quadratic P = 0.01), and those of OW to YFHW including the heart (quadratic P = 0.01), kidney (quadratic P <0.01), and liver (quadratic P = 0.02) compared to the control group, and the levels of those ratios were maximized in the 1% Conc group. Also, a proportion of small intestine weight to YFHW improved (linear P = 0.02, quadratic P = 0.05) after in ovo feeding. The organ weight of the head, leg, heart, lung, kidney, proventriculus, pancreas, liver, and small intestine correlated with YFHW positively (0.4 < correlation coefficient < 0.8, P <0.05). In conclusion, cationic amino acids injection into amnion can improve the embryonic development, which may be mediated by the increment of relative organ weight.

Apparent and standardized ileal nutrient digestibility of broiler diets containing varying levels of raw full-fat soybean and microbial protease

BackgroundAlthough soybean meal (SBM) is excellent source of protein in diets for poultry, it is sometimes inaccessible, costly and fluctuates in supply. The SBM can partially be replaced by full-fat SBM, but the meals prepared from raw full-fat soybean contain antinutritional factors. To avoid the risk of antinutritional factors, heat treatment is always advisable, but either excessive or under heating the soybean could negatively affect the quality. However, the potential for further improvement of SBM by supplementing with microbial enzymes has been suggested by many researchers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and ileal nutrient digestibility of birds fed on diets containing raw soybeans and supplemented with microbial protease.MethodsA 3 × 2 factorial, involving 3 levels of raw full-fat soybean (RFFS; 0, 45 or 75 g/kg of diet) and 2 levels of protease (0 or 15,000 PROT/kg) was used. The birds were raised in a climate-controlled room. A nitrogen-free diet was also offered to a reference group from day 19 to 24 to determine protein and amino acid flow at the terminal ileum and calculate the standardized ileal digestibility of nutrients. On days 10, 24 and 35, body weight and feed leftover were recorded to calculate the body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). On day 24, samples of ileal digesta were collected at least from two birds per replicate.ResultsWhen RFFS was increased from 0 to 75 g/kg of diet, the content of trypsin inhibitors was increased from 1747 to 10,193 trypsin inhibitors unit (TIU)/g of diets, and feed consumption of birds was also reduced (P < 0.05). Increasing RFFS level reduced the BWG from hatch 0 to 10 d (P < 0.01) and hatch to 24 d (P < 0.05). The BWG of birds from hatch to 35 was not significantly (P = 0.07) affected.Feed intake was also reduced (P < 0.05) during 0 to 35 d. However, protease supplementation improved (P < 0.05) the BWG and FCR during 0 to 24 d. Rising levels of RFFS increased the weight of pancreas (P < 0.001) and small intestine (P < 0.001) at day 24. Except for methionine, apparent and the corresponding standardized ileal digestibility of CP and AA were reduced (P < 0.01) by increasing levels of RFFS in diets.ConclusionThis study showed that some commercial SBM could be replaced by RFFS in broiler diets, without markedly compromising productivity. The AID and SID of CP and lysine were slightly improved by dietary supplementation of microbial protease.

Effects of Maternal Low-Energy Diet during Gestation on Intestinal Morphology, Disaccharidase Activity, and Immune Response to Lipopolysaccharide Challenge in Pig Offspring.

Maternal nutrition during gestation is involved in the offspring’s intestinal development and immunity. The aim of this study was to (1) determine the effects of maternal energy on intestinal digestion and absorption function in offspring, using pigs as a model; and (2) to evaluate the potential effect and mechanisms of maternal energy in modulating immune responses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged piglets. After mating, thirty-six nine-parity sows (Landrace × Yorkshire), body weight (BW) (initial body weight 233.56 ± 2.77 kg) were allocated to two dietary treatment groups; a control diet (CON) group and a low-energy diet (LED) group. The nutrient levels of the CON were based on the nutrient recommendations by the National Research Council (NRC, 2012), and contained 3.40 MCal digestible energy (DE)/kg diet and 7.3% crude protein; while the LED contained 3.00 MCal DE/kg diet. The dietary treatments were introduced from day 1 of gestation to farrowing. Intestine samples were collected from the pigs’ offspring at birth, and at weaning (day 28 post-birth). At weaning, male pigs from control and LED groups were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (50 μg/kg body weight) or saline (n = 6), and sacrificed at 4 h post-injection to collect blood, intestine and digesta samples for biochemical analysis. The results indicated that the maternal LED markedly decreased the BW, small intestinal weight, and the ratio of jejunum and ileum villus height to crypt depth in the offspring. Moreover, the activities of lactase and sucrase in newborn piglets’ intestine, and sucrase and maltase in weaning piglet intestine were markedly decreased by the maternal LED. In addition, maternal LED significantly increased the mRNA relative expression of ileal IL-6 and TNF-α in newborn piglets. Plasma IL-1β concentration and colonic Escherichia coli amount were affected by maternal diet (p < 0.05) and LPS challenge (p < 0.001). Maternal LED significant increased the mRNA relative expression of ileal TLR-4, IL-1β and NF-κB as well as decreased ZO-1 in weaning pigs after LPS challenge (p < 0.05). In conclusion, decreasing energy intake could suppress the offspring’s intestinal digestion and absorption function, and increase the susceptibility of weaning piglets to LPS challenge.

Effects of dietary lentil seeds inclusion on performance, carcass characteristics and cecal pH of broiler chickens

This study evaluated the effects of dietary replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with two cultivars of lentil seeds (cv. Eston, green-seeded and cv. Anicia, green marbled-seeded) on performance, carcass characteristics and pH of the cecal digesta in broiler chick diets. Day old, broiler chicks (1,000; Cobb 500) were randomly allocated to the following 5 treatments, viz. a diet based on corn and SBM as control; 200 g/kg of raw lentil seeds cv. Eston (LE); 400 g/kg of LE; 200 g/kg of raw lentil seeds cv. Anicia (LA); 400 g/kg of LA. The broilers fed raw lentils had comparable BW, ADG, ADFI and FCR to the control group. The digestive organ sizes (i.e. gizzard, heart, liver, pancreas, small intestine, caecum and the small intestine) and cecal pH were not affected by feeding diets with increasing levels of raw lentil seeds. Nevertheless, the data showed that cultivar (cv. Anicia) increased (P = 0.021) small intestine weight. A significant interaction between lentil levels and cultivars was observed for pancreas weight (P=0.042). Carcass, breast, thigh weight and dressing percentage were not affected by feeding diets with lentil seeds. No significant interaction between lentil levels and cultivars was noticed for growth performance, carcass characteristics as well as pH of the cecal digesta. Based on the results, it can be concluded that lentil seeds (cv. Eston or cv. Anicia) can be used as an alternative protein source to replace SBM in broiler chicken diets, at inclusion levels up to 200 g/kg.