Weight Of Bursa Research Articles

Comparative evaluation of growth performance, gut morphology, micro-flora, haematology and immune response of broilers fed with Sodium butyrate and Saccharomycescerevisiae supplemented diets

The effects of dietary sodium butyrate (SB) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) on some bodily parameters of chickens were evaluated. One hundred and twentyday-old broilers (CHI, Ajanla Farms,Ibadan, Nigeria) were randomly divided into four treatments A, B, C and D, consisting three replicate pens of 10 chickens. They were fed as follows: A-diet withoutsupplement (control); B-(200mg/kg SB); C-(200mg/kg SB+1.0g/kg SC), and D-(1.0g/kg SC). Growth performance, organ weights, carcass quality, and lipid profile were determined. Intestinal villus height(VH), villus width (VW), villus surface area (VSA), crypt depth (CD), villus height to crypts depth ratio (VH: CD) were assessed. Some selected bacteria population, haematology, serum biochemistry and humoral immune responses against NDV and SRBCs antigens were evaluated. Supplementation increased growth performance, bursa and thymus weights. There was significantly (p<0.05) higher dressing percentage and lower cholesterol in groups B and C. High density lipoprotein and triglyceride were reduced significantly in B. Triglyceride and abdominal fat were significantly higher inD. The CD was higher (p<0.05) in duodenum of the control. In supplemented groups, VSA and VH: CD in the threeintestinal segments, VH in duodenum and jejunum were enhanced. Supplementation lowered gut microflora, increased WBC, lymphocyte counts and immune performance. DietC stimulated more positive influence on productive parameters and could be an alternative growth promoter in broilers.

Effects of dietary fumaric acid on the growth performance, immune response, relative weight and antioxidant status of immune organs in broilers exposed to chronic heat stress

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary fumaric acid (FA) on growth performance, immune responses, immune organ index and antioxidant status in broilers under chronic heat stress (HS). A total of 200 21-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two diets (basal diet or 10 g/kg FA diet) and two temperatures (thermoneutral or HS) for 21 days. On day 42, growth performance, immune organ index, immune function and antioxidative ability were determined. HS resulted in a significant reduction in final body weight (FBW), average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), antibody titres against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and Newcastle disease virus, IgM, IgG, relative weights of spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius, but a significant increase in the feed conversion ratio (FCR), activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the bursa, contents of malondialdehyde and total carbonyl (TC) in thymus and bursa (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of FA increased FBW, ADFI, ADG, antibody titres against SRBC, IgG, relative weights of spleen and bursa, activity of GPx in thymus and bursa, whereas it decreased the FCR and TC of thymus and bursa. These results suggest that dietary 10 g/kg FA had positive effects on growth performance and immune function through improving the antioxidative capacity of immune organs.

Effects of polysaccharides from Yingshan Yunwu tea on meat quality, immune status and intestinal microflora in chickens

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of the addition of Yingshan Yunwu green tea polysaccharide conjugates (GTPC) on meat quality, immune response and gut microflora in chickens. A total of 200 chickens with average initial body weight were randomly allotted to 4 groups. Intestinal samples were collected at the end of experiment for bacterial culture and microbial community analysis by 16S rDNA gene sequencing using Illumina MiSeq. Chicken breast muscle and serum were also sampled for analysis of meat quality and immune function. The results showed that dietary GTPC addition increased (P < 0.05) chicken breast muscle pH and redness-greenness (a*) value and decreased (P < 0.05) the values of lightness (L*), yellowness-blueness (b*), hardness, toughness and adhesiveness. In addition, dietary supplementation of GTPC increased (P < 0.05) the weight of thymus and bursa and serum concentrations of IgA and IgG. Furthermore, of the 10 bacterial phyla, the predominant taxa across all sampling time-points were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Deferribacteres, representing >97% of all sequences. GTPC increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Lactobacillus, and decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria. These findings provided some references of the application of GTPC in the poultry industry.

Growth and humoral immune effects of dietary Original XPC in layer pullets challenged with Mycoplasma gallisepticum

Effects of dietary Original XPC (XPC) in commercial layer pullets challenged with the virulent, low passage R strain of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Rlow MG) were investigated. Hy-Line W-36 pullets sourced from MG-clean breeders were fed a basal diet with or without (CON) XPC (1.25 kg/metric ton) from hatch until 12 wk of age (woa). At 8 and 10 woa, half of the birds in each dietary treatment were challenged with Rlow MG. Body weight was recorded at 3, 8, and 12 woa, and ovary, ceca, and bursa weights were recorded at 3 and 12 woa. Blood samples were taken immediately before the initial Rlow MG challenge at 8 woa and again at 12 woa to test for IgM and IgG antibody production against MG. All birds were evaluated for MG lesion scores at 12 woa. Regardless of challenge, inclusion of XPC in the diet did not significantly alter BW at 3 or 8 woa or relative organ weights at 3 or 12 woa. However, at 12 woa, BW of XPC-fed birds, regardless of challenge was significantly (P = 0.0038) heavier than CON by 25.7 g. All birds tested negative for MG antibodies before the 8 woa challenge. Respective percentage serum plate agglutination and ELISA positive birds at 12 woa were 0 and 0% (CON, nonchallenged), 1.4 and 0% (XPC, nonchallenged), 100 and 47.2% (CON, challenged), and 100 and 50.0% (XPC, challenged). Diet did not significantly affect ELISA titers, but they were significantly (P < 0.0001) increased due to challenge. Furthermore, lesion scores were significantly higher for Rlow MG-challenged birds (P = 0.0012), and dietary treatment with XPC in challenged birds numerically reduced MG lesion scores from 0.278 to 0.194. In conclusion, although dietary XPC did not significantly alter the humoral immune response, antibody titer levels, or severity of MG lesions in layer pullets that were or were not challenged with Rlow MG, it led to an increase in their rate of growth through 12 woa.

Effects of vitamin A supplementation in the diet of breeding geese on offspring intestinal tissue morphology and immune performance.

ObjectiveThe effects of maternal and offspring dietary vitamin A (VA) supplementation on early body weight, digestive tract function and immune function in goslings were studied.MethodsYangzhou geese (180 d old) were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups of 15 females and 3 males (the males were kept until slaughter). Eggs were collected for hatching during the peak laying period. A total of 96 goslings were selected from each treatment group (each fed a basic diet supplemented with 0, 4,000, 8,000, 12,000 or 16,000 IU/kg VA) and randomly divided into 2 groups, with 6 replicates in each group and 8 goslings in each replicate. The gosling diet was supplemented with 0 or 9,000 IU/kg VA.Resultsi) Villus length, villus width and the muscle thickness of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were increased and the crypt depth was reduced after adding 12,000 IU/kg VA to the goslings’ diet (p<0.05). Adding 9,000 IU/kg VA to the offspring diet increased the length of the duodenal villi and width of the ileum and decreased the crypt depth of the ileum (p<0.05). ii) Supplementing the maternal diet with 12,000 IU/kg VA increased immune organ weight, the immune organ index and immunoglobulin content in goslings (p<0.05). The bursa weight and immunoglobulin G content of offspring were higher in the 9,000 IU/kg VA supplementation group than in the group with no supplementation (p<0.05).ConclusionOffspring growth and development were affected by the amount of VA added into maternal diet. The negative effect of maternal VA deficiency on offspring can be compensated by adding VA to the offspring diet. Continued VA supplementation in the offspring diet after excessive VA supplementation in the maternal diet is unfavorable for gosling growth and development.

The Effect of Camellia oleifera Cake Polysaccharides on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Meat Quality, Blood Profile, and Caecum Microorganisms in Yellow Broilers.

Simple SummaryPlant originated polysaccharides used as feed additives have gradually become popular for the health and nutrition of broilers. In the present study, polysaccharides from Camellia oleifera cake (CCP) were added to the daily diet of yellow broilers. Our results indicated that the immunity of the broilers was boosted due to the increasing weight or index of gizzard, spleen, and the thymus. CCP treatment improved the juiciness and changed the meat color of broilers by increasing the cooking loss and the yellowness. Additionally, the structure of intestinal flora altered as a response to the CCP supplementation, which favored the health of broilers. Results have revealed that CCP has potential and development value as a new type of feed additive for broilers.The study was carried out to evaluate the influence of polysaccharides from Camellia oleifera cake (CCP) in Lingnan yellow broilers diet from 1 to 50 days. Growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, blood profile, and caecum microorganisms were characterized by three different levels of 0, 200 and 800 mg/kg CCP supplementation. Dietary treatment did not affect the productive trait from 1 to 50 days of age, except that average daily feed intake decreased at 42 days of age (p < 0.05). Additionally, the effects of CCP on various organs were different. The weight (p < 0.01) and index (p < 0.05) of bursa of Fabricius gradually decreased with the higher CCP supplementation at 21 days of the broilers diet. The gizzard weights were all higher when the broilers were fed with higher CCP concentration at 21, 42, and 50 days, respectively (p < 0.05). The weight and index of the spleen increased most with low CCP concentration (200 mg/kg) at 42 and 50 days. Moreover, CCP addition had no significant effect on meat quality except cooking loss (P < 0.05) and yellowness of meat color (p < 0.05). In the study of blood metabolism at 50 days of broilers, the concentration of calcium (p < 0.01), total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and uric acid (p < 0.01) decreased with higher CCP supplementation. CCP increased the albumin concentration (p < 0.001) that was highest at 200 mg/kg CCP supplementation. The addition of CCP increased the number of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus faecalis (p < 0.01) in the caecum of broilers, and had the potential to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli (p = 0.11). Results showed that CCP played a role in improving intestinal flora and the immunity of yellow broilers.

Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on broilers' performance and health status.

The current study investigated the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZONPs) and oxytetracycline (OTC) supplementation on broilers' behavior, performance, carcass quality, biochemical parameters, and intestinal microbial populations and birds' response to Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine. A total of 336 seven-day-old IR broiler chicks were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments containing 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40ppm ZONPs or 50ppm OTC. Each diet was fed to 7 replicates (8 birds/pen). The results clarified that 10ppm ZONPs significantly improved the body weight gain and feed conversion in comparison to the control. No changes in behavior were recorded. The 10ppm and 30ppm ZONPs and OTC significantly reduced the gizzard weight in comparison to the control. While, 10ppm ZONPs significantly increased the spleen weight, and all ZONPs doses increased bursa weight in comparison to the control and OTC groups. 20ppm ZONPs increased the eviscerated yield and edible yield in comparison to the control and OTC groups. 40ppm ZONPs increased pH, reduced meat color and overall acceptability in comparison to the control. In addition, results revealed that the 20ppm ZONPs increased Calcium (Ca), High density low cholesterol (HDL-C), reduced urea (UA) and triglyceride (TG). Also, 40ppm ZONPs and OTC increased creatinine (Cr) and reduced ND-HI titer in comparison to the control. For microbial population, OTC group was significantly lower than ZONPs groups in the total anaerobic, aerobic and lactobacilli count. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of ZONPs can be applied as antibiotic growth promoter substitutions in broilers' diet. However, further investigations are still needed.

Assessment of biosecurity measures in broiler's farms in the Suez Canal area - Egypt using a seasonal prevalence of Salmonellosis.

Background and Aim:Biosecurity practices are a must in broiler farms to reduce the risk of infectious agents. This study aimed to evaluate biosecurity measures in nine broiler farms in the Suez Canal area – Egypt with measuring the seasonal prevalence of salmonellosis.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected nine broiler farms of different housing systems based on the ventilation methods from March 2018 to April 2019. A total of 12,600 samples (6480 environmental, 4320 non-environmental, 1080 sera, and 720 live birds) were collected during four successive seasons.Results:Highly significant increases (p<0.01) were recorded in body weight gains in opened and closed-houses during summer; in food conversion ratios in opened-houses during winter and in closed-houses during winter and fall; in performance indices in opened-houses during summer and closed-houses during winter; and in live body weights, carcasses weights, liver, spleen, and bursa’s weights in opened-houses during spring and in closed-houses during fall. Highly significant increases (p<0.01) were recorded in total bacterial, Enterobacteriaceae, and Salmonella counts in opened-houses during spring and in closed-houses during summer, in Salmonella Typhi O and H, and Salmonella Paratyphi A and B sera titer in opened-houses during summer and closed-houses during fall. Biosecurity measures scored 34 out of 43 with an average salmonellosis prevalence of 6.0% in closed-house and 24 out of 43 with an average salmonellosis prevalence of 24.67% in opened-house broiler farms.Conclusion:Weak biosecurity measures in broiler houses (opened and closed) were not sufficient to prevent the entrance and multiplication of Salmonella spp. Disciplines, commitment, and regulations of biosecurity need to be enforced in broiler houses to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases.

Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Serum Biochemical and Hematological Parameters in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) Fed Supplemental L-Arginine

This experiment was conducted to examine the effects of dietary L-arginine (Arg) supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, serum biochemical and hematological parameters in meat-type quails. A total of one hundred and sixty 7-d-old male quail chicks were weighed and allocated to four treatment groups of four replicates, with 10 chicks/replicate. Four groups of quail chicks were fed basal diet containing 12.44 g lysine (Lys)/kg of diet (control), basal diet supplemented with 0.4, 1.21 and 1.84 g Arg/kg of diet (for Arg to Lys ratios of 100, 103, 109 and 114) for 28 days. The birds were fed diets from 7 to 38 d of age. Final body weight and feed:gain tended to improve by increasing Arg:Lys ratio to 109. Relative weight of spleen and bursa were significantly (p<0.05) increased by the addition of 0.4 g Arg/kg of diet. Morphometric parameters of jejunum were not affected by the dietary treatments. The uric acid, and triglyceride concentration of the serum significantly (p<0.05) decreased by increasing the Arg:Lys ratio to 114. Serum HDL-cholesterol concentration were significantly (p<0.05) increased by increasing the Arg:Lys ratio to 114. Monocytes were decreased by increasing the Arg:Lys ratio to 114. In conclusion, our results indicated that Arg supplementation in the quail diets did not appear to have any significant positive effects on performance criteria and although increasing Arg:Lys ratio to 114 could improve serum biochemical parameters.

Interactive effects of threonine levels and protein source on growth performance and carcass traits, gut morphology, ileal digestibility of protein and amino acids, and immunity in broilers

An experiment was executed to test the hypothesis that supplementation of dietary threonine (d-Thr), above NRC recommendation to diets containing poorly digestible protein source (PS) may compensate its detrimental effects on overall performance of broilers. In total, nine hundred 1-day-old mixed sex broilers (Ross-308) were randomly distributed over 6 (2 × 3) experimental diets comprising 5 replicates of 30 broilers each for 35 d. The experimental diets contain either soybean meal (SBM) or canola meal (CM) with 3 levels (100, 110, and 120% of NRC recommendation) of d-Thr. During the course of the trial (0 to 35 D), interactions (P < 0.05) between PS and d-Thr were observed for feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass, and gut health parameters. The broilers fed recommended level (100%) of d-Thr had 7 and 5% poorer FCR compared with those fed diets with 110 and 120% d-Thr, respectively. For villus height (VH), an interaction (P = 0.007) was found between PS and d-Thr level. Broilers consuming SBM diets had 22% longer villi, 10% deeper crypts, and 30% greater VH to crypt depth ratio (VCR) compared to those fed CM. The broilers fed 110% d-Thr diets had 9% lower crypt depth (CD) and 15% greater VCR compared with those fed diets containing NRC recommended levels. CM resulted in 9% lower protein digestibility with lower (P < 0.05) of some AA, whereas it was improved by 7% in broilers fed 120% d-Thr supplemented diets. The bursa and spleen weights were positively affected (P < 0.001) by PS. Threonine supplementation (10%) resulted in 25% greater thymus, 18% heavier bursa, and 30% greater infectious bursal disease titer. In conclusion, supplementation of d-Thr, above NRC recommendation, resulted in a better growth performance and carcass traits, improved ileal digestibility of protein and amino acids, better gut health, and immunity in broilers.

Effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan on immune function in growing Huoyan geese

This present experiment was performed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan (CS) on immune function in growing Huoyan geese. A total of 320 28-day-old healthy growing Huoyan geese (sex balance) with similar body weight were randomly allotted into control, CS100, CS200, and CS400 groups. Each group includes 4 replicates with 20 geese per replicate, and the feeding trial lasted for 4 wk. The 4 diets contained 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg CS per kg feed, respectively. The results showed that compared with the control group, the relative weight of thymus, serum concentrations of IGF-I, INS, GH, T3, T4, IgM, IgG, IgA, complement C3, and IL-2 in CS200 group were significantly higher at both 42 and 56 D of age, respectively (P < 0.05). In addition, relative weight of bursa of fabricius (BF), spleen, serum complement C4, and TNF-a concentrations in CS200 group were higher at 56 D of age (P < 0.05), no differences were observed at 42 D of age (P > 0.05). These results indicated that addition of 200 mg/kg CS enhanced immune organs weight, serum concentrations of immunoglobulins, complements, hormone, as well as cytokines, and improved immune function of growing Huoyan geese.

PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKEN FED DIFFERENT LEVELS THYME, ADIANTUM, ROSEMARY AND THEIR COMBINATION

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of medical plants (thymus vulgaris, Adiantum capillus-veneris L, Rosemarinus officinalis and their combination) supplemented in the diet on Physiological and Growth performance traits of broiler chicken. T1 Control (no supplemented), T2 Thyme powder 5 g/kg, T3 Thyme powder 10 g/kg, T4 Adiantum powder 3 g/kg, T5 Adiantum powder 5 g/kg, T6 Rosemary powder 5 g/kg, T7 Rosemary powder 10 g/kg and T8 Mixture (Thyme , Adiantum and Rosemary) with 7.5 g/kg +4 g/kg and 7.5 g/kg, respectively. A Total of 288 unsexed broiler chicks, were randomly distributed to eight treatments with three replicate. Medical plants at different levels added to basal diets at 7th days old. Live body weight and mortality rates were measured weekly. At the end of the experiment the following traits were measured: carcass traits, hematology, blood biochemical, hormonal responses, and serum enzymes parameters. There is a significant effect of medicinal plants on live body weight, feed intake and dressing percentage. Mortality rate in T2 and T7 was significant highest. While, feed conservation was not influenced by medicinal plants. There was a significant effect of treatments on abdominal fat and liver weights. Adiantum powder at different levels has significant effect on bursa and spleen weights compared to other groups. There was a significant effect of treatments on albumin, globulin, cholesterol and glucose concentration. Medicinal plants significantly affect hormonal response. The combination of plants (T8) investigated high concentration of T3 and T4 hormones. Also, addition of rosemary observed higher concentration of TSH and GH hormones. There was significant effect of medical plants on AST and ALT enzymes. There is none significant effect of medical plants on meat color among treatment.

Pullets had higher bursal and thymic weight indices and more antibody response to La Sota vaccination than broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

This study investigated the immune responses to La Sota vaccination, used in protection of chickens against Newcastle disease, in light weight type breeds of chickens (pullets) and heavy weight type breeds of chickens (broilers) used in commercial poultry production. Seven‐week‐old 50 White Marshall broilers (Br) and 50 Isa Brown pullets (Pu) were randomly divided into four groups: vaccinated broilers chickens; (VBr), unvaccinated broiler chickens (UBr), and vaccinated pullet chickens (VPu) and unvaccinated pullet chickens (UPu). Chickens in groups VBr and VPu were vaccinated with La Sota vaccine, whereas groups UBr and UPu were not vaccinated. On day 0 post vaccination (PV), six chickens from group Br and Pu, and on day 4 PV, three chickens from each four groups were sacrificed and the bursa weight index (BWI), thymus weight index (TWI) and the splenic weight index (SWI) were obtained. The chickens were observed for clinical signs and lesions. Serum samples were collected from the chickens in all the groups on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 PV and assayed for haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies. The BWI, TWI and SWI were 0.37 ± 0.05, 0.35 ± 0.17, 0.65 ± 0.26 for pullets and 0.11 ± 0.04, 0.13 ± 0.02, 0.36 ± 0.17 for broilers on day 0 PV. On day 4 PV there was no significant difference (p < .05) between the indices of the vaccinated and unvaccinated chickens. The geometrical mean antibody titres (GMT) of the pullets were 2 to 3 times higher than those of the broilers on days 7 to 28 PV. Vaccination did not produce clinical signs or lesions. The above observations show that naturally pullets produce higher antibodies than broilers because of their higher BWI.

PSVI-1 Improvement of gut morphology and meat quality of broiler chickens by encapsulated citral and cinnamaldehyde

Abstract This study investigated the effects of encapsulated citral (CIT) and cinnamaldehyde (CIN) on growth performance, intestinal morphology and meat quality in broilers. A total of 320 0-day-age male broilers (Cobb 500) were allocated 32 pens with 8 pens per treatment. The treatments included: 1) Corn-wheat-SBM basal diet (negative control); 2) basal diet with 30 ppm avilamycin premix (positive control); 3) basal diet with 50 ppm encapsulated CIT and CIN (CCL); 4) basal diet with 100 ppm encapsulated CIT and CIN (CCH). There were no significant differences between treatments in growth performance (P &amp;gt; 0.05) at each feeding stage. Additionally, birds had similar relative organ weights of heart, liver, spleen and bursa (P &amp;gt; 0.05). The higher ratios of villus height to crypt depth (VCR; P ≤ 0.05) were detected in broilers fed either CCL or CCH, with an average being 14.67 and 15.13 in the duodenum, and 15.13 and 13.58 in the jejunum, respectively. Regarding meat quality, a higher pH value (pH = 6.21) in the breast was observed in 24-h post mortem chickens fed CCL (P ≤ 0.05). No significant differences of pH were detected in the breast in 96-h post mortem birds. The breast color (redness, yellowness, and lightness) in either 24-h or 96-h post mortem chickens was not significantly different among treatments (P &amp;gt; 0.05). No change in purge loss (%) was observed in the breast after 48 h. The severity of white striping (WS) or woody meat (WB) was higher in the positive control (WS = 0.58; WB = 0.15) than in other treatments (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, dietary treatment with encapsulated CIT and CIN improved gut morphology and meat quality of broilers by increasing VCR in the small intestine and reducing the severity of WS/WB in the breast, respectively, without affecting growth performance.

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO BEE HONEY APPLICATION IN BROILER CHICKEN DIETS

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Bee Honey (BH) on broiler chicken carcass characteristics, digestive tract length, immune organs weight, villi development and blood plasma parameters. A total number of 120 one-day old Cobb broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, three replicates of 10 chicks each. A basal diet (control group) was supplemented with 3 levels of (BH, T1-3) 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20% respectively. The carcass characteristics were measured, and blood plasma samples were collected for analyses of total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride, AST, ALT, calcium and phosphorus. The length measurements were performed for total digestive tract and small intestine. The weights of bursa, spleen and ileal morphology were also measured. The results showed that there were no significant differences within treatments for carcass %, total edible parts %, total digestive track and small intestine length (cm/ 100 g body weight) and bursa mass %. However, BH affected spleen %, increased villi height, muscle thickness and goblet cell numbers and decreased villi width. Analysis of the blood plasma indicated no influence of BH addition on albumin, cholesterol, calcium and phosphorus concentrations. However, decreased A/G ratio, triglyceride, AST and ALT and increased total protein and globulin levels, were observed in BH-treated groups. In conclusion, BH supplementation to broiler diets had a significantly positive effects on villi development with no negative influence on chicken metabolism and immune response.

PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY ON NANO PARTICLES TO IMPROVE IMMUNE RESPONSE AND PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKEN.

A total of 600 fertile broiler breeder eggs were divided randomly into 6 treatments with four replicates. On the 7th day of incubation, 0.1 ml solution was in ovo injected into the air cell. The first group served as control without any injection ,while the 2nd group was injected with 0.1ml saline solution, the 3th group was injected with 0.1 ml nano organic iron, the 4th group was injected with 0.1 ml nano inorganic iron, the 5th group was injected with 0.1 ml inorganic iron and the 6th group was injected with 0.1 ml organic iron .The injected dose of each iron solution is 0.1ml/egg containing 75 ppb of different iron sources (nano, inorganic and organic). After incubation, chicks were reared up to 6wks of age and productive performance and immune response parameters were measured. Results indicated that, supplemental iron have increased the levels of immunoglobulins( IgG and IgM) and relative weights of spleen, bursa and thymus, and stimulated some histological change in the immune related organs which may result in improvement of chick immunity .

Influence of autolyzed whole yeast and yeast components on broiler chickens challenged with salmonella lipopolysaccharide

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to assess the effect of dietary yeast products on broiler chickens challenged with salmonella lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The chicks were divided into 8 treatments with 6 replicates and 9 birds per replicate. The treatments consisted of a positive control (PC) [without supplementation and not challenged]; negative control (NC) [without supplementation but challenged]; whole yeast and challenged; yeast cell wall and challenged; yeast glucan and challenged; yeast mannan and challenged; zinc bacitracin and challenged; and Salinomycin and challenged. Whole yeast or Yeast cell wall was included at 2.0 g/kg diet. Yeast glucan or mannan was added at 0.20 g/kg diet. Zinc bacitracin (ZNB) and Salinomycin (SAL) was included at 50 and 60 ppm, respectively. Dietary treatments had no effect (P > 0.05) on feed intake (FI) at day 10. Supplementation with yeast and its derivatives improved (P < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) on day 10. On days 24 and 35, LPS challenge declined FI, BWG, FCR, and flock uniformity (day 28) in the NC group compared to the PC group. Yeast products and antibiotics improved (P < 0.05) FI, BWG, FCR, and flock uniformity in LPS-challenged birds. On day 24, spleen weight increased while bursa weight decreased in the NC group relative to the PC group; this effect was reversed (P < 0.05) by feeding all yeasts and antibiotics. On day 24, application of all the dietary treatments ameliorated the changes observed in white blood cell, lymphocyte and monocyte counts as well as albumin and immunoglobulin G of NC birds. On day 35, all yeasts additives, ZNB and SAL improved (P < 0.05) the meat yield of broilers challenged with LPS. In conclusion, supplementation of diets with yeast and its derivatives can ameliorate the negative effects of salmonella LPS challenge on broiler chicks, thus improving the performance, flock uniformity, and meat yield.

Effects of Outdoor Access and Indoor Stocking Density on Behaviour and Stress in Broilers in the Subhumid Tropics.

Simple SummaryThe stressors affecting chickens in farming systems differ from those confronting their wild ancestors; thus, the ability to cope with an outdoor environment may have been modified. There is a growing body of literature that recognises the importance of allowing chickens to express their natural behaviour by providing outdoor access. However, studies investigating the effects of offering outdoor access to housed meat chickens in the tropics are scarce. Therefore, the effects of allowing chickens outdoor access, with two indoor space allowances, on their growth, behaviour and responses to stress were assessed. Some blood parameters indicated that outdoor access reduced stress, but the behavioural effects of providing outdoor access depended on indoor stocking density. Birds at the high stocking density with outdoor access were found standing for longer periods of time and those at the high stocking density and no outdoor access were observed walking less and lying more than the other three groups. It is concluded that there were welfare benefits of outdoor access, principally in terms of increased activity, but slower growth resulted in lighter birds at the end of the study.Studies investigating the welfare of commercial-line broiler chickens raised in houses with outdoor access in the tropics are scarce, and none have investigated whether responses vary according to indoor conditions. Hence, we assessed the effects of providing outdoor access at two indoor stocking densities on broiler chickens’ growth, behaviour, stress responses and immunity in a tropical region of Mexico. One hundred and sixty chickens were assigned to one of four treatments in a factorial design: with or without outdoor access and low or high stocking density indoors. Ad libitum sampling was used to build a purpose-designed ethogram. Scan sampling was used to record the number of birds engaged in each activity of this ethogram, both indoors and outdoors. Heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio and serum corticosterone levels were tested in weeks four and six of age. When the birds were 42 days old, they were slaughtered, and the bursa and spleen harvested and weighed. In an interaction between stocking density and outdoor access, birds at the high stocking density with no outdoor pens spent the least time walking and preening and more time lying (p < 0.05). Birds given outdoor access foraged more, but only at indoor low stocking densities (p < 0.05). Outdoor access reduced heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, indicating reduced stressor response. Birds with low stocking density indoors and outdoor access appeared more responsive to stressors, with elevated corticosterone and reduced spleen and bursa weights (p < 0.05). There were welfare benefits of outdoor access, principally in terms of increased activity, which were reflected in slower growth in the birds with outdoor access.

Dietary supplementation with Withania somnifera root powder ameliorates experimentally induced Infectious Bursal Disease in chicken.

Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) is an economically important, immunosuppressive viral disease of chicken. Withania somnifera, a well-known Indian medicinal plant and functional food, finds extensive ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary use in the subcontinent. Root extracts of Withania somnifera have been shown to inhibit IBD virus (IBDV) in vitro. The effect of dietary supplementation with whole root powder of Withania somnifera was studied in chicken experimentally infected with IBDV. Dietary supplementation with the root powder improved erythrocytic indices, biochemical parameters, bursal weight index, and lymphocyte stimulation indices, and reduced histopathological insult in the infected birds. Viral load decreased to less than one-fourth in the birds receiving dietary supplementation with Withania somnifera root powder. It could be concluded that continued supplementation of IBDV-infected chicken with Withania somnifera root powder alleviated virus-induced stress and histological and immunological alterations and reduced viral persistence in the host.

Influence of supplementation of vitamin E on amelioration of ochratoxicosis in broiler chickens

In the present study, the effect of vitamin E supplementation in ochratoxin A (OTA) contaminated diet in amelioration of ochratoxicosis in broiler chickens was investigated. Day-old broiler chicks (n=240) were divided into six treatment groups (T1-control (basal diet); T2–T1 + 200 ppb OTA; T3–T1 + 100 mg vitamin E; T4–T1 + 200 mg vitamin E; T5–T2 + 100 mg vitamin E and T6–T2 + 200 mg vitamin E). Each diet was fed to 5 replicated groups of 8 birds each from 0 to 42 days of age. During overall growth period (0–6 week of age), the body weight gain (BWG) in ochratoxin contaminated diet (T2) fed group was lower than that of control. The BWG in group T5 was statistically similar to that of T2 fed diet and lower than that of control (T1). However, BWG in group T6 (200 mg vitamin E/kg) was higher than T2 and statistically similar to that of control group. Ochratoxin contamination in diet caused significant reduction in feed consumption, feed efficiency and livability percentage in broiler chickens. Addition of vitamin E (200 mg/kg) to the ochratoxin contaminated diet ameliorated the adverse effects on feed intake, FCR and livability percentage. Supplementation of vitamin E (200 mg/kg) to the ochratoxin contaminated diet also resulted in significant improvement in the relative weight of liver and bursa. It was concluded that experimentally induced ochratoxicosis with 200 ppb ochratoxin resulted in reduced production performance, enlargement of liver and regression of bursa. Addition of vitamin E (200 mg/kg) to the ochratoxin contaminated diet improved the production performance and relative weight of liver and bursa during 0–6 weeks of age of broiler chickens in experimentally induced ochratoxicosis caused by 200 ppb of dietary ochratoxin.