Supplement For Broiler Chickens Research Articles

Effect of Shrimp Liquid Extract on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Biochemical Parameters and Immunological Responses of Broiler Chicken

The present study was conducted to investigate effect of shrimp liquid extract on growth performance, carcass traits, immunological responses, and biochemical parameters evaluation of broiler chickens. A total of 360 day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five experimental treatments, with six replicates of 12 birds each. The dietary treatments comprised five different levels (0, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 ml/l) of shrimp liquid extract added to the drinking water of the birds in a completely randomized design over a 35-day trial period. Results showed that supplementation of broiler chickens with different concentrations of shrimp liquid extract, particularly at 2 and 2.5 ml/l, resulted in improved performance metrics. Notably, these concentrations showed optimal results in terms of carcass yield, weight gain, and organ weights such as breast, thigh, and heart. Serum lipid fractions were not affected by the shrimp liquid extract. However, birds receiving the extract exhibited lower levels of serum creatinine and uric acid, along with higher urea levels. Furthermore, the shrimp liquid extract significantly boosted antibody titers against AIV (Avian Influenza Virus), NDV (Newcastle Disease Virus), IBD (Infectious Bursal Disease) and IBV (Infectious Bronchitis Virus) post-vaccination. Specifically, broilers given 1.5 to 2.5 ml/l of the extract displayed markedly higher antibody titers against various diseases compared to those receiving lower concentrations. Supplementation of shrimp liquid extract in water for broiler chickens at concentrations of 2 and 2.5 ml/l positively impacted performance metrics, organ weights, serum biochemistry parameters, and antibody response against various diseases.

CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND ORGAN WEIGHT OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIET SUPPLEMENTED WITH BIONIC PREBIOTIC (HILYSES) AND HARDCORE YEAST CELL WALL

The discovery that the use of antibiotic in food animals is fueling the increasing problem of transmitting resistance bacteria from food animals to man has led to the search for an alternative to the use of antibiotics. To this end, the supplementation of broiler chickens' straight diet with Bionic Prebiotic (Hilyses) and Hardcore Yeast Cell Wall (Immuno Wall) on carcass characteristics and organ weight was investigated. The experiment utilized a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 120 unsexed day-old chicks randomly allocated into four treatment groups (T1, T2, T3, and T4), each consisted of 30 chicks and replicated three times. Carcass and organ weight was measured and determined at the 8th week. The carcass results obtained indicate significant (p < 0.05) differences among the treatment groups for live weight, dressed weight, dressing percentage, thigh, and back cuts. In particular, the live weight of birds that were fed diet 4 (2680.85g) was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) higher compared to birds fed diet 3 (2525.55g). On the other hand, birds fed diet 1 (2407.65g) and diet 2 (2450.10g) exhibited the lower live weight values. It is noteworthy that the live weight increased significantly across the dietary treatments as the levels of prebiotic and yeast inclusion in the diets increased. In the context of the poultry industry, a paramount objective is to maximize yield percentage, obtain saleable products, and subsequently enhance the edible portions of the birds. Typically, the incorporation of feed additives has the potential to augment metabolic rates, leading to favourable changes in the size of several internal organs, as evidenced in this study. These findings highlight the potential for enhanced broiler chicken performance and overall health when incorporating these dietary additives.

Assessment of dietary supplementation of green iron oxide nanoparticles: impact on growth performance, ammonia emissions, carcass criteria, tissue iron content, and meat quality in broiler chickens under hot climate conditions.

The potential significance and importance of green iron nanoparticles (Nano-Fe) in poultry production lie in their capability to effectively tackle iron deficiency in poultry. Iron, an indispensable mineral for numerous physiological functions in birds, such as oxygen transport, energy metabolism, and immune response, underscores the critical need for adequate iron levels. Nevertheless, conventional iron supplementation methods frequently face hurdles like limited bioavailability rates in poultry. To enhance performance, and promote sustainable broiler productivity, Nano-Fe showed promise as an efficient feed supplement for broiler chickens. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of green Nano-Fe inclusions in diets on growth, ammonia excretion, carcass criteria, and meat quality in broiler chickens. A total of 192 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks, were assigned to three treatment diets including Nano-Fe oxide at 0, 20, or 40 mg/kg, respectively, for 42 days. Each treatment comprised eight replicates, each with eight broiler chicks. Two phases comprised the 42-day study (0 to 21 days for the starter and 21 to 42 days for the finisher). In comparison to the control group, the Nano-Fe oxide groups 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg linearly improved (p < 0.05) body weight (R 2 = 0.574) and body weight gain (R 2 = 0.367) under hot climatic conditions at 42 days of age. Furthermore, Nano-Fe oxide to broiler diets, improved (linear, p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (R 2 = 0.424) throughout whole periods. The feed intake did not show any significant difference (p > 0.05) among groups during the experimental periods under hot climatic conditions. The ammonia content of excreta (R 2 = 0.454) was linearly decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing Nano-Fe oxide levels in broiler diets compared to control at 21 and 42 days of age under hot climatic conditions. Nano-Fe oxide positively influences cook loss, water-holding capacity, and iron content in various tissues. Moreover, it contributes to a healthier carcass yield and reduced abdominal fat. In conclusion, broiler chickens fed diets containing Nano-Fe oxide at 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg demonstrated enhanced growth performance, improved meat quality, increased iron content in tissues, higher dressing percentage, and reduced abdominal fat deposition. Future research should explore the impact of green Nano-Fe oxide on additional factors such as the microbiome and gene expression related to immunity and heat stress.

Effects of Palm (Elaeis Guineensis) Oil on Performance, Thermotolerance, and Welfare of Broiler Chickens in Heat Stress Condition

Heat stress negatively affects the broiler chickens’ productivity and well-being. This study was carried out to assess the effect of dietary palm oil inclusion on the growth performance, thermotolerance, biochemical parameters, and welfare of broiler chickens raised in tropical climates. A total of 500 broiler chickens aged 15 days were divided into four treatments, each consisting of five replicates with 25 chickens per replicate in a randomized design. The control group was fed a standard diet without palm oil (T), and the remaining diets contained palm oil at the inclusion levels of 1% (P1), 2% (P2), and 3% (P3). During the 4 weeks of experimentation, daily temperature and relative humidity in the poultry house were measured by thermo-hygrometers, and growth performance was weekly recorded. At 45 days old, six broiler chickens were slaughtered with measurements taken for carcass compositions and intestinal length. At 42 days of age, blood samples were collected for the Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4) hormones, biochemical profiles, and Heterophil: lymphocyte (H/L) ratio assessment at the Regional Center of Excellence on Avian Sciences. Gait abnormality and litter quality were assessed at 38 days of age. The results indicated that the incorporation of 1% palm oil improved the growth performance of chickens compared to other groups. Similarly, the concentrations of T4 and T3 were higher in the 1% palm oil group. Triglycerides and total protein concentrations were higher in the broiler chickens of the control group, compared to other treatment groups. The dropping weight and gait score decreased with the increasing rate of palm oil. The results suggest that palm oil can be a beneficial dietary supplement for broiler chickens, particularly under heat-stress conditions. The incorporation of 1% palm oil contributes to the improvement of growth performance and the well-being of broiler chickens in tropical climates. However, it is crucial to consider the appropriate level of palm oil inclusion, as higher levels may have adverse effects, such as increased mortality. Keywords: Energy, Feeding strategies, Heat stress, Palm oil, Welfare

Utilization of Black Soldier Fly larvae juice as a probiotic supplement for broiler chickens: Effect on performance, immunity, haematology, and economic feasibility

Utilization of <i>Black Soldier Fly</i> larvae juice as a probiotic supplement for broiler chickens: Effect on performance, immunity, haematology, and economic feasibility

Turmeric essential oil improves intestinal integrity, immunological parameters, and performance of broiler chickens under cyclic heat stress.

This study aimed to examine whether dietary supplementation of broiler chickens with turmeric essential could mitigate the effects of cyclic heat stress conditions. Intestinal and immunological parameters and gene expression were evaluated during the grower phase. A total of 320 21-day-old male Cobb 500 broilers were distributed according to a completely randomized design with a 4 (diet) × 2 (environment) factorial arrangement and eight replications of five birds each. Dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet without essential oil (EO, negative control) and three diets containing low (100 mg kg-1), intermediate (200 mg kg-1), or high (300 mg kg-1) levels of turmeric EO. In the heat stress group, dietary supplementation with turmeric EO at 100 and 200 mg kg-1 improved body weight, feed conversion, breast yield, and relative liver weight. These supplementation levels reduced villus width, increased villus/crypt ratio, reduced the H/L ratio, and improved hepatic (HSP70 and SREBP1) and intestinal (OCLN) gene expression in birds under heat stress. These findings support the hypothesis that turmeric EO can be used to improve or restore intestinal integrity, modulate inflammation parameters, and, consequently, enhance the performance of broilers challenged by cyclic heat stress.

QUERCETIN, VANILLIN AND UMBELLIFERON QUANTIFICATION IN THE TISSUE OF BROILER CHICKENS DIETARY SUPPLEMENTED WITH THESE COMPOUNDS

Relevance. Plant-derived compounds are attractive alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in livestock and poultry production. In our previous study, dietary supplementation of broiler chickens with the flavonoid quercetin, the phenolic aldehyde vanillin, and the o-hydroxycinnamic acid lactone umbelliferon (7-hydroxycoumarin) modulated the ceca microbiome, reduced systemic inflammation, and increased production efficiency, as meas-ured by the EPEF index. Objectives. To evaluate the content of free and conjugated (glucuronidated) quercetin, vanillin and umbelliferon in the muscles and liver of broiler chickens fed a 35-day basic diet supplemented with these compounds. Material and methods. Quercetin, vanillin and umbelliferon were extracted with acetonitrile and formic acid, evaporated and re-dissolved in deion-ized water, and then purified using HLB cartridges. To release the conjugated compounds, hydrolysis with glucuronidase/arylsulfatase was additionally performed. The resulting samples were analyzed by HPLC-MS using a LCMS-8050 gas chromatograph - mass spectrometer (Shimadzu Corporation, Ja-pan) with LabSolutions software installed. Results. Tissue samples from broiler chickens fed quercetin did not contain this compound in a detectable concentration range, which may be a con-sequence of the effective quercetin metabolism by intestinal microflora and xenobiotic inactivation systems. Surprisingly, quantification of vanillin showed its presence in all analyzed samples, regardless of presence or absence in supplements. This result cannot be interpreted unequivocally and is currently speculated to be due to vanillin or similar cross-reacting substances in the basic diet. Umbelliferon concentrations of 17 ng/g (free) and 125 ng/g (sum of free and conjugated forms) were detected in only one liver sample of broiler chickens that received this compound at the maximum dosage (3.0 mg per 1 kg of feed). Conclusion. The absence or low accumulation of free and glucuronidated quercetin, vanillin and umbelliferon in the muscles and liver of diet-supplemented broiler chickens has been shown. This result indicates the safety of these plant-derived molecules in poultry production without possible migration through food chains.

Dietary Orange Pulp and Organic Selenium Effects on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Fatty Acid Profile, and Oxidative Stability Parameters of Broiler Chickens

In this study, orange pulp (OP) and/or organic Se were fed to broilers in order to investigate their effects on the performance, behavior, breast meat quality, and oxidative stability. A total of 240 chicks were allocated to four groups: a control group; an OP group, fed with OP at 50 g/kg of diet; a Se group, fed with organic Se at 0.15 ppm; and an OP + Se group, fed with OP and organic Se at 50 g/kg and 0.15 ppm, respectively. The selenium and OP + Se groups showed improved meat oxidative stability during frozen storage from 90 to 210 days (p &lt; 0.05), whereas the performance and meat quality were unaffected by the dietary treatments (p &gt; 0.05), apart from a reduction in the meat pH and the dressing percentage in the OP-supplemented groups (p &lt; 0.05). A synergistic action between OP and Se was observed for the meat oxidative stability. The polyunsaturated fatty acid (FA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) contents in the breast meat lipid fractions were increased in the OP groups (p &lt; 0.05). Dietary intervention did not affect the feeding or drinking behaviors of the broilers (p &gt; 0.05). The dietary supplementation of broiler chickens with the citrus industry byproduct orange pulp at 50 g/kg, along with organic Se at 0.15 ppm, beneficially improves the meat oxidative stability and the meat nutritional value, with no negative side effects on the performance or the meat quality.

The functions of Cinnamomum burmannii as an antioxidant feed additive for broiler chickens: A review

Broiler chickens are livestock poultry that produces meat and are mostly maintained by the community. The increasing demand for broilers causes breeders to try to accelerate and improve the performance of broilers. The increase in broiler chickens must also pay attention to immunity because of the changing seasons which usually causes disease and can cause death in chickens. The addition of feed additives as a supplement for broiler chickens can increase immunity, one example is cinnamon because it contains antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that can counteract or reduce the negative effects of free radicals. We can find natural antioxidants in cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii). Feed additives have now been limited by the government in the feeding additive containing chemicals so the need for innovation of feed additives made from herbal materials that do not harm chickens and humans who consume them. This cinnamon study has a real influence on broiler chickens as a feed additive in their influence on antioxidants and chicken cholesterol. Broiler chicken antioxidants have a noticeable effect on femoral musculus in a combination of 100% kombucha tea with 5% cinnamon with ratio (1:1) (49.7%) and a combination of 100% kombucha tea with 5% cinnamon with ratio (1:3) (69.6%) in musculus pectoralis major. The content of cinnamon phytochemical compounds from the phenylpropanoids class in the form of cinnamic acid (Cinnamaldehyde compound) which belongs to the phenylpropanoid group is a derivative of phenol compounds, where the phenol compound also plays an important role in antioxidant activity. High antioxidants can have a positive effect on broiler chickens that are easily exposed to disease because it has the effect of preventing the formation of free radicals, eliminating radicals before damage appears, repairing oxidative damage, eliminating damaged molecules in broiler chicken cells. While on cholesterol parameters we know that broiler chicken meat has a high cholesterol content of 98.82-104.31 mg/100 g. The results of the study obtained a combination of 100% kombucha tea with 5% cinnamon with ratio (3:1) results of 3.71% femoral musculus and a combination of 100% kombucha tea with 5% cinnamon with ratio (1:1) (4.04%) musculus pectoralis major. The cinnamon content of saponins and tannins managed to lower the cholesterol content in broiler chicken meat.

Effects of lysine biomass supplementation on growth performance and clinical indicators in broiler chickens

Production of crystalline amino acids (AA) through microbial fermentation concomitantly provides an AA-enriched biomass that may serve as a cost-effective supplement for broiler chickens. We investigated the effects of feeding a fermentation biomass product containing approximately 62% Lys on growth performance, organ growth, and clinical outcomes of broilers. Beginning at 2 d post-hatch, a total of 360 Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments provided to 12 replicate cages of 6 birds. Practical corn-soybean meal-based dietary treatments included: negative control (NC; no supplementation of L-Lys, 1.01 and 0.86% standardized ileal digestible Lys in starter and grower phases, respectively), NC + 0.23% L-Lys HCl (positive control; PC), and NC supplemented with 0.30, 0.90, or 1.50% Lys biomass (LB) in both phases. Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the study. Individual bird and feeder weights were recorded on study day 0, 10, 21, and 35. At study conclusion, birds from each treatment were randomly selected to collect blood and tissue samples. The PC and 0.30% LB diets elicited similar overall (day 0–35) body weight gain and birds were heavier (P < 0.001) than the NC and other LB treatments. The PC, 0.30% LB, and 0.90% LB groups had better (P < 0.001) overall feed conversion ratio than NC. Some LB-supplemented treatments elicited increased (P < 0.001) relative spleen and ileum weight compared with NC and PC. Heterophils were increased (P < 0.001) in LB treatments compared with PC and NC. Lymphocytes were decreased (P < 0.001) in LB treatments compared with NC, and 1.50% LB was similar to PC. This resulted in an increased (P < 0.001) heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in some LB treatments, which may have resulted from general AA supplementation or the LB product. Collectively, these results suggest that addition of up to 0.30% LB restored growth performance when added to a Lys-deficient practical diet and elicited results identical to the Lys-adequate PC diet with no negative clinical effects.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Coarse or Extruded Oat Hulls on Growth Performance, Blood Biochemical Parameters, Ceca Microbiota and Short Chain Fatty Acids in Broiler Chickens.

Simple SummaryOat hull (OH) is an excellent source of insoluble fiber, which may improve chickens’ gastrointestinal health by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. Extrusion may modify OH fiber fractions resulting in a differential effect on gut microbiota. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with coarse or extruded OH on growth performance, blood biochemistry and cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and microbiota of broiler chickens. Broiler chickens were assigned four diets: a corn-wheat-soybean-based diet, an antibiotics diet, 3% coarse OH (COH), and 3% extruded OH (EOH) supplemented diets. Birds fed COH and EOH had reduced BWG, but there was no diet effect on FCR. There was a significant increase in relative gizzard weight among birds that were fed COH. Dietary treatments had no effect on blood biochemical parameters and SCFA concentration. Cecal microbial composition of chickens was mostly comprised of Firmicutes and Tenericutes. Seven bacteria species that were differentially abundant among treatments were identifiedThe purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with coarse or extruded oat hulls on growth performance, blood biochemistry, cecal microbiota, and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in broiler chickens. Chickens were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments consisting of a corn-wheat-soybean meal-based diet (Basal), Basal + Bacitracin methylenedisalicylate (BMD), Basal +3% coarse OH (COH), and basal +3% extruded OH (EOH). Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly. On day 36, eight chickens/treatment were euthanized, blood samples were collected, and organ weights were determined. Cecal digesta samples were collected for the determination of SCFA concentration and microbial DNA sequence. Data were subjected to ANOVA using the mixed procedure of SAS. Alpha diversity was estimated with the Shannon index, and the significance of diversity differences was tested with ANOVA. Birds fed COH and EOH had reduced (p < 0.05) BWG, but there was no effect of treatment on FCR. There was a significant increase (p = 0.0050) in relative gizzard empty weight among birds that were fed COH, compared to the other treatments. Dietary treatments had no effect on blood biochemical parameters and SCFA concentration. Cecal microbial composition of chickens was mostly comprised of Firmicutes and Tenericutes. Seven OTUs that were differentially abundant among treatments were identified. In conclusion, supplementation of broiler chickens’ diets with 3% COH or EOH did not affect the FCR, blood biochemical parameters and SCFA concentration, but modified few cecal microbiota at the species level. Dietary supplementation with COH but not EOH significantly increased the relative gizzard weight.

Effects of Allium hookerion gut microbiome related to growth performance in young broiler chickens.

Healthy food promotes beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome. A few prebiotics act as food supplements to increase fermentation by beneficial bacteria, which enhance the host immune system and health. Allium hookeri is a healthy food with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. A. hookeri is used as a feed supplement for broiler chickens to improve growth performance. Although the underlying mechanism is unknown, A. hookeri may alter the gut microbiome. In the current study, 16S rRNA sequencing has been carried out using samples obtained from the cecum of broiler chickens exposed to diets comprising different tissue types (leaf and root) and varying amounts (0.3% and 0.5%) of A. hookeri to investigate their impact on gut microbiome. The microbiome composition in the groups supplemented with A. hookeri leaf varied from that of the control group. Especially, exposure to 0.5% amounts of leaf resulted in differences in the abundance of genera compared with diets comprising 0.3% leaf. Exposure to a diet containing 0.5% A. hookeri leaf decreased the abundance of the following bacteria: Eubacterium nodatum, Marvinbryantia, Oscillospira, and Gelria. The modulation of gut microbiome by leaf supplement correlated with growth traits including body weight, bone strength, and infectious bursal disease antibody. The results demonstrate that A. hookeri may improve the health benefits of broiler chickens by altering the gut microbiome.

Nisin as a Novel Feed Additive: The Effects on Gut Microbial Modulation and Activity, Histological Parameters, and Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens.

Simple SummaryIn an era with an increasing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains, there is a need to find a novel and efficient alternative to the antibiotics commonly used in animal nutrition. As natural proteins synthesized by most known bacteria, bacteriocins are considered future candidates. To date, nisin (E234), the best-known bacteriocin, is used as a preservative against food-borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes in the food industry. However, there are scarce data about the application of nisin in the diet of livestock, including poultry. In this study, we evaluated the effect of nisin in broiler chicken diets on selected microbial populations, the activities of which are related to gastrointestinal health, growth performance, and gut histomorphology. We found that nisin application positively affects the feed conversion ratio and exerts a similar effect as the ionophore coccidiostat monensin in the case of microbiota modulation. Additionally, nisin supplementation decreased microbial fermentation in the jejunum. No changes in ileal histomorphology or internal organ weights were noted. We conclude that nisin may be considered a natural and safe antimicrobial agent and growth promoter in broiler chicken nutrition.Two independent experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of nisin alone or with monensin on gut microbiota, gut microbial activities, and histomorphology (exp 1) and the effect of nisin application in a dose‒response manner on the growth performance of broiler chickens (exp 2). A total of 900 one-day-old female Ross 308 chicks (400, exp 1; 500, exp 2) were randomly distributed to four groups (exp 1; 10 replicate pens per treatment with 10 birds each), i.e., NA, no additives; MON, monensin (100 ppm); NIS, nisin (2700 IU/kg diet); and MON + NIS, a mixture of monensin (100 ppm) and nisin (2700 IU/kg diet); or 5 treatments (exp 2), NA, no additives; NIS100, nisin (100 IU/kg diet); NIS200, nisin (200 IU/kg diet); NIS400, nisin (400 IU/kg diet); and NIS800, nisin (800 IU/kg diet). Nisin supplementation positively affected the microbiota of the gut by reducing potentially pathogenic bacterial populations in the jejunum and ceca. The bacterial fermentation in the jejunum was significantly lowered by nisin addition. The addition of nisin from 100 IU to 800 IU decreased the FCR value over the entire experimental period. According to the results, nisin can be considered a natural dietary supplement for broiler chickens.

Influence of Dietary Supplementation of Propolis and Bee Pollen on Liver Pathology in Broiler Chickens.

Simple SummaryToday, there are increased demands for consumers to use natural products as alternative additives in broiler feeding. In this study, we evaluated the effects of propolis and bee pollen as potential new additives on liver pathology in broilers. The results of this study showed that supplementation of broilers with propolis and/or bee pollen has a strong protective effect on liver pathology. Thus, these natural agents can be used as alternative additives in modern broiler production. Such an approach will enable the production of chicken meat enriched with bioactive substances from propolis and/or bee pollen, such as flavonoids, that have been proven beneficial for human health.One of the major problems in intensive breeding of chickens is liver damage. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of dietary supplementation with propolis and bee pollen on liver pathology in broiler chickens. The study was conducted on 200 Ross 308 chickens equally distributed by sex that were divided into five groups. Throughout the whole study, the control group of chickens was fed with a basal diet, while the experimental groups of chickens were fed with the same diet further supplemented with propolis and bee pollen, each supplement given separately or in combination in a certain proportion. The study showed that the clusters of lymphocytes in the hepatocytes, the vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of the liver parenchyma, the bile ductule hyperplasia, and the various forms of pathological changes in the liver arteries and veins were more frequent in liver tissue samples of the control group compared to liver tissue samples of all the experimental groups (p < 0.001). The study further showed that all the previously mentioned histopathological lesions of liver tissue were always more extensive in the liver tissue samples of the control group than in the liver tissue samples of all the experimental groups (p < 0.001). The supplementation of broiler chickens with propolis and/or bee pollen has a strong protective effect on liver pathology in broiler chickens.

Mate as Dietary Supplement for Broiler Chickens: Effect on the Metabolic Profile and Redox Chemistry of Meat

Moderate supplementation with extract of mate to a standard broiler diet in feeding experiment with 5 treatment groups was found to increase production of endogenous antioxidants in muscles, improving meat quality and storage stability. For addition of 250 or 500 mg extract per kg feed, pre-cooked meatballs made from the breast muscles had a significant lower level of secondary lipid oxidation products during one week of chill storage. Addition of 750 or 1000 mg extract per kg feed had an increasing prooxidative effect during storage of the meatballs. For the moderate levels of plant phenols in feed, a metabolic study based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of meat extracts showed that mate extract added to the feed increased the muscle level of antioxidative peptides like anserine, while indication of toxic effects was noted for the higher levels of feed additives. Rate of formation of radicals as detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was found to correlate with the oxidative damage and a kinetic analysis demonstrated that the antioxidative effect of mate supplemented to the feed could be assigned to radical scavengers present in the meat. These findings for the monogastric animals are different from results previously obtained for ruminants, where plant phenols rather seem to affect the microflora of the digestive tract.

Effect of hop β-acids as dietary supplement for broiler chickens on meat composition and redox stability

Addition of β-acids extracted from hop at different levels (0, 30mgkg−1, 60mgkg−1, 240mgkg−1) to the diet of broiler chickens demonstrated significant effects on the average concentration of polar metabolites and fatty acids of relevance for meat quality. The largest metabolic differences between control group and chicken fed different levels of β-acids were achieved using 30mgkg−1 of supplement. As determined by EPR spin-trapping, increased redox stability was also obtained for meat from chicken fed 30mgkg−1 of β-acids which also had highest level of endogenous antioxidants, especially anserine, carnosine, NADH and PUFAs. Diet and storage period were found to affect protein oxidation and myosin and actin were recognized as the main targets of protein oxidation. Myofibrillar proteins from chicken fed hop β-acids showed to be less susceptible to oxidation. A moderated level of hop β-acids as dietary supplement accordingly improve the overall redox stability, protecting myofibrillar proteins and fatty acids against oxidation and improve the nutritional properties of meat from broiler chickens.

Exogenous dietary lysozyme improves the growth performance and gut microbiota in broiler chickens targeting the antioxidant and non-specific immunity mRNA expression.

Supplementation of exogenous enzymes in chickens has been widely practiced, yet mechanisms responsible are not fully delineated. To investigate the effects of the dietary lysozyme on the growth performance and immunity of broiler chickens, a total of 120 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly allocated into four groups, each having three replicates (30 birds/group). The chicks were fed the starter (1–21 d) and grower (22–35 d) diets supplemented with 0 (control), 70 (LYZ70), 90 (LYZ90) and 120 (LYZ120) g of lysozyme 10%® per ton of basal diet for five weeks. The results revealed significant improvement in the growth performance and gut environment. There were significant decreases (P < 0.05 or 0.01) in the harmful fecal Coliform and Clostridia and an increase (P ˂ 0.05) in the beneficial Lactobacillus in the lysozyme-supplemented groups, especially in LYZ90. Moreover, the mRNA expressions of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were upregulated in response to lysozyme supplementation. In comparison to control, LYZ90 fed birds had a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the GSH-Px gene expression that enhances the antioxidant status of the gut. Expression of the biomarkers involved in the gut non-specific immunity indicated significant increases in the mRNA expression of INF-γ (P < 0.001), IL-10 (P < 0.001), and IL-18 (P < 0.05) in LYZ90 group. Also, serum globulin levels were significantly elevated (P ˂ 0.05) in lysozyme-supplemented groups. Histologically, the intestinal villi length and crypts depth were also enhanced (P ˂ 0.05) by dietary lysozyme supplementation. In conclusion, supplementation of broiler chickens with exogenous lysozyme, especially at 90 g of lysozyme per ton of basal diet dose rate, improved the growth performance, gut antioxidant status, and nonspecific immunity of broiler chickens.

Influence of oregano added to diets on performance, selected organs as well as morphometric traits and pH of digestive tract of broiler chickens

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of dried oregano from different regions of the world to diets on the production results, selected organs, as well as the morphometric characteristics and pH of the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens. The research feedstuff was dried oregano from Poland, Turkey and Egypt and diets containing these herbs. The oregano from Poland, Turkey and Egypt was added to a wheat-corn-soybean diet in an amount of 2%. The experiment was carried out on 168 broilers Ross 308, 84 males and 84 females, randomly divided into 4 groups of 42 birds each. In this experiment, four diets for the starter period (from 1 to 21 days of age) and four for the grower period (from 22 to 42 days of age) were prepared. The control group (K) were fed a wheat-corn-soybean diet without oregano, whereas chickens from the experimental groups were fed diets with oregano from Poland (OP group), Turkey (OT group) or Egypt (OE group). During the experiment, the body weight at 1, 2, and 42 days of age, feed consumption and mortality were recorded. At 42 days of age, after 14 hours of fasting, the birds were killed and from the body of 32 chickens (8 chickens from each group) the digestive tract, heart, liver, pancreas and spleen were prepared and weighed. The gastrointestinal tract was divided into sections, and their weight and length were measured. Then, in particular segments of the gastrointestinal tract, pH values were determined. The body weight of chickens determined at 21 and 42 days of age were not significantly different between the groups. Significant differences between the groups were noted in feed efficiency during the grower period. The diet containing oregano from Turkey was utilized significantly better than the control diet. Significant differences in the pH of the glandular stomach and caecum were found. Compared with pH in the control group, pH in the glandular stomachs of chickens fed diets containing dried oregano from Egypt was significantly decreased, whereas pH in the caecum of chickens from the OT group was increased. In comparison with the control group, chickens from the groups fed diets containing oregano (except the OP group) had a significantly shorter ileum and larger intestines, and chickens fed a diet with oregano from Turkey had a smaller spleen and gizzard. The results obtained show that the chemical composition of dried oregano from different regions was differential. The addition of 2% of dried oregano to the wheat-corn-soybean diet had no significant influence on the body weight of chickens, but decreased their mortality. Oregano from Turkey added to the wheat-corn-soybean diet improved the feed efficiency in the second period of rearing. These results show that oregano may be a potentially effective supplement for broiler chickens, and the most effective was the oregano from Turkey....

Calcium Montmorillonite-Based Dietary Supplement Attenuates Necrotic Enteritis Induced by Eimeria maxima and Clostridium perfringens in Broilers.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a poultry disease caused by Clostridium perfringens and characterized by severe intestinal necrosis. The incidence of avian NE has been progressively increasing following the removal of antibiotics from poultry feed. We evaluated the effect of diets supplemented with the thermally-processed clays, calcium montmorillonite (CaMM) on clinical signs, immunopathology, and cytokine responses in broiler chickens using an experimental model of NE consisting of co-infection with Eimeria maxima and C. perfringens. In Trial 1, Ross/Ross chickens were fed from hatch with a normal basal diet or a CaMM-supplemented diet with or without a fermentable fiber, an organic acid, and/or a plant extract, and co-infected with E. maxima and C. perfringens under conditions simulating clinical infection in the field. Chickens fed a diet supplemented with CaMM plus a fermentable fiber and an organic acid had increased body weight gain, reduced gut lesions, and increased serum antibody levels to C. perfringens α-toxin and NetB toxin compared with chickens fed the basal diet alone. Levels of transcripts for interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and tumor necrosis factor-α superfamily-15 were significantly altered in the intestine and spleen of CaMM-supplemented chickens compared with unsupplemented controls (p<0.05). In Trial 2, Cobb/Cobb chickens were fed an unsupplemented diet or a diet supplemented with CaMM or Varium®, each with a fermentable fiber and an organic acid, and co-infected with E. maxima and C. perfringens under subclinical infection conditions. Compared with unsupplemented controls, broilers fed with CaMM plus a fermentable fiber and an organic acid had increased body weight gain, and reduced feed conversion ratio, mortality, and intestinal lesions, compared with chickens fed an unsupplemented diet (p<0.05). Dietary supplementation of broiler chickens with CaMM plus a fermentable fiber and an organic acid might be useful to control avian NE in the field.

Immune modulation by Bacillus subtilis-based direct-fed microbials in commercial broiler chickens

Direct-fed microbials (DFMs), also known as probiotics, have been successfully used to improve the balance of gut microbiota. Spores of Bacillus subtilis, have been used as DFMs for food animals and humans and our previous studies showed that dietary supplementation of broiler chickens with a B. subtilis DFM from hatch enhanced innate immunity and improved protection against avian coccidiosis. In two experiments, we investigated the effects of dietary B. subtilis-based DFM on growth performance and host humoral immune response to Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens, and evaluated B. subtilis-induced global gene expression changes in broiler chickens. Day-old broiler chickens were fed diets with or without DFMs for 28 days starting from hatch. At 14 and 28 days post-hatch, broiler chickens fed the DFM-enriched diet gained significantly more weight (P<0.05) compared with the control diet-fed chickens. Broiler chickens fed diet containing DFM exhibited a significant decrease (P=0.033) in Eimeria- and C. perfringens necrotic enteritis B-like (NetB) toxin-specific serum antibodies compared with those fed a control diet at day 28. The levels of transcripts encoding interleukin (IL) 1β, IL12 and interferon-γ were greater (P=0.004) in the DFM-fed chickens compared with the control chickens. In order to better understand B. subtilis-induced molecular changes associated with improved innate immunity, mRNA was isolated from mid-intestine of DFM-fed chickens for global microarray analysis. Dietary DFMs induced considerable changes in transcriptional expression in intestine, and biofunctional analysis identified 37 genes related with “Inflammatory Response”. These results indicate that dietary B. subtilis DFM is an effective growth-promoting dietary supplement to increase growth and augment innate immune response in broiler chickens. Further study is needed to investigate the mechanism mediated by dietary DFMs to enhance protective innate immunity in a disease model (i.e., necrotic enteritis) which causes considerable economic impact in the poultry industry worldwide.