POULTRY SCIENCE JOURNAL
Year:2016 | Volume:4 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:10

This study evaluated the effect of the intermittent light program on serum and brain melatonin concentrations, antioxidant enzyme activities, and homocysteine concentration in broiler chickens. A total of 60 one-day-old broiler chickens (Cobb 500) were distributed in three light-proof controlled rooms (20 chicks per room). All birds were reared in continuous light until 3 days of age. Then, chicks were treated as follows: 1) intermittent lighting program (1L: 3D cycles), 2) continuous lighting program (24L), and 3) nonintermittent restricted lighting program (8L: 16D). At day 42 of age, sera and brains were collected from all chicks of each group (at the end of the dark phase for groups 1 and 3). Serum and brain melatonin concentrations were not affected by the different photoperiod schedules. Serum glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activity as well as homocysteine concentration were also similar between different treatment groups. In conclusion, intermittent lighting program during the rearing period does not affect serum and brain melatonin levels as well as antioxidant status at the end of the dark phase in broilers.

The aim of this study was to recognize the effects of dietary hempseed and hempseed oil on performance, egg quality and blood parameters of laying hens. A total of 320 Hy-line 55-weeks (post-peak egg production) laying hens were randomly allotted to eight dietary treatments; each with five replicates (8 birds each). The experimental treatments were four levels of hempseed (5, 10, 15, 20%) or three levels of hempseed oil (2, 4, 6%) added to the basic diet, as well as a control group (no hempseed or hempseed oil added to the diet). The experiment lasted 12 weeks (three 4-week periods) and began at the hen’s age of 55 wk. Eggs were collected daily and weighed. Birds fed 6% hempseed oil had the highest egg production and egg mass as well as the lowest feed intake and feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). Increasing hempseed oil levels from 4 to 6% increased the Haugh unit in the third period (P<0.05). The egg yolk color index decreased when either hempseed or hempseed oil were added to the diet though hempseed decreased yolk index to a greater degree. The treatments did not influence total protein level in plasma. The highest level of hempseed oil (6%) significantly decreased blood plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and aspartate aminotransferase compared to the highest level of hempseed (20%) (P<0.05). Blood HDL-C level was higher in hens fed the 6% HO diet compared to those fed 20% HS. In conclusion, the two lower levels of hempseed (5 and 10%) had suitable effects on the performance of laying hen post-peak, and the addition of hempseed oil to diets was more effective on egg quality than hempseed addition. Therefore, we suggest that hempseed oil is a usable oilseed in laying hen diet.

The objective of the study was to compare the effects of antibiotic virginiamycin, probiotic Protexin® and Plantago major L. (plantain) on performance, serum metabolites, immune response, and the ileal microbial population of broilers. The experiment was carried out with a total of 200 day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens in a completely randomized design. Chickens were allocated to five groups consisting of T1: control diet (Con), T2: Con+0.02% virginiamycin, T3: Con+0.01% Protexin, T4: Con+0.5% plantain and T5: Con+1% plantain. Each group was divided into four replicates consisting of ten chicks each. In comparison with the control group, body weight gain increased in chickens fed Protexin and 0.5% plantain groups in the starter period, as well as by antibiotic in grower and finisher periods and by 1% plantain in all periods (P < 0.01). Supplementation of plantain and virginiamycin increased (P<0.01) feed intake in the starter and finisher periods, respectively. Feed conversion ratio improved (P<0.05) in finisher period only by virginiamycin. All treated birds showed an elevated relative weight of carcass and bursa, and plantain increased relative weight of the spleen (P<0.01). All treatments demonstrated a hypocholesterolemic effect (P<0.01) and higher level of plantain (1%) decreased (P < 0.05) serum glucose, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol as well. The inclusion of Protexin and plantain enhanced immune system with increased white and red blood cells as well as second anti-SRBC immune response and reduced heterophil/lymphocyte ratio in SRBC injected birds (P<0.05). Virginiamycin decreased ileal microbial population of Lactobacillus while Protexin and plantain increased it (P<0.01). Meanwhile, 1% plantain suppressed ileal E. coli counts. In conclusion, 1% Plantago major L. performed the best in this study because it led to increased body and carcass weight, lowered serum cholesterol and triglyceride, reduced heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, improved immune response, and ileal microflora.

In this experiment, the effects of fennel and thyme extracts with and without flaxseed were investigated on performance and egg quality of Leghorn-type laying hens (Hy-Line W-36). 200 laying hens from 26 to 38 weeks of age were assigned to five dietary treatments with five replications. The treatment groups were: 1) Control (a diet without any additives); 2) control diet plus fennel (40 mg/kg feed); 3) control diet plus thyme (40 mg/kg feed); 4) a diet containing flaxseed and fennel; and 5) a diet containing flaxseed plus thyme. There were significant differences in feed intake and egg weight between the treatments (P<0.05). The egg yolk color index in hens that received thyme extract and flaxseed treatment was significantly higher than other treatments (P<0.05). Hens fed control diet had lower Haugh unit compared to other treatments that contained herbal extracts. The eggshell strength was significantly higher in hens that received thyme extract and flaxseed treatments than control (P<0.05). The eggshell weight in treatments containing flaxseed was significantly higher compared to the other treatments (P<0.05). The lowest egg yolk cholesterol concentration was found in hens fed thyme and flaxseed treatment. The hens fed plant extracts and flaxseed diets had eggs with low palmitic and stearic acids and high α-linolenic acid. It is concluded that thyme and fennel extracts, as well as flaxseed, improved the performance and egg quality of laying hens. The use of flaxseed and thyme extract improved egg yolk omega-3 fatty acids and decreased yolk cholesterol content.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary garlic on the growth performance, intestinal mucosa morphology, and pulmonary hypertensive response in broiler chickens with pulmonary hypertension induced by 3, 5, 3′-l triiodothyronine. Chicks were reared for 42 days and treated with triiodothyronine (1.5 mg/kg diet) and 0 (control), 0.2, 0.6 or 1% garlic powder. Intestinal segments (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) were dissected to assess villus variables. The proportion of chickens with RV/TV ≥ 0.29 was lower in all garlic treatments than control (P<0.05). Body weight of chickens fed 0.2 and 0.6% garlic increased compared to control (P<0.05). The duodenal and jejunal villus length, width (at 42 days), and surface area (at 28 and 42 days) were significantly higher in most garlic-fed groups than control (P<0.05). Ileal villus length, surface area (in 0.6% garlic group), and width (in 0.6 and 1% garlic groups) also increased in chickens fed garlic supplement at 42 days compared to control (P<0.05). It is concluded that supplementation of garlic (especially concentrations of 0.6 and 1%) in broiler chickens with developmental pulmonary hypertension could modulate pulmonary hypertensive response and improve intestinal mucosa morphology.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of oak acorn (Quercus castaneifolia) on performance, small intestine morphology, ileal digestibility of nutrients, carcass characteristics and some blood parameters in broiler chickens. A total of 504 1-d-old male chickens (Ross 308 strain) were divided into seven treatments with four replicates each. Experimental diets were: corn-soybean meal diet (control), raw oak acorn (10% and 20%), soaked oak acorn (10% and 20% oak acorn soaked in water for 24 hrs), and 10% and 20% oak acorn soaked in water for 48 hrs with twice water substitution. Chicks were fed with experimental diets from 1 to 42 days of age. Results showed that body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, ileal dry matter, protein digestibility, and small intestine morphology was significantly (P<0.05) deteriorated with the inclusion of raw oak acorn in the diet. Findings showed that watersoaking of oak acorn had significant positive effects in reducing negative impacts of raw seed inclusion in diets (P<0.05), although birds still had significantly deleterious performance criterion compared to the control group. The birds fed raw or water-soaked acorn seed had higher relative weight of pancreas and proventriclus compared to the control. At the end of the experiment (42 d) birds fed with raw and processed oak acorn in diet had lower (P<0.05) villus height and villus: crypt depth and higher (P<0.05) crypt depth and goblet cells in duodenum compared to the control diet. In conclusion, using high levels of oak acorn (up to 20%) in broiler diets has severe adverse effects on broiler performance and gut morphology; however, water-soaking treatment of oak acorn seed has a potential to reduce its negative consequences.

This study investigated the effects of dietary aspirin on growth performance, antioxidant status and mortality in the broilers subjected to cold-induced ascites. A total of 600 1-d old male broilers (Ross, 308) were randomly allotted to four treatment groups, with five replicate pens per treatment and 30 birds each. The experimental groups were kept in a cold chamber to induce ascites and were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 20, 40 or 80 mg of aspirin/kg diet. Aspirin had a significant effect (P<0.05) on broiler performance since birds fed 80 mg of aspirin/kg diet had greater body weight gain and lower feed conversion ratio. Compared to other groups, 20 mg of aspirin significantly reduced malondialdehyde concentration and increased total antioxidant capacity with higher glutathione peroxidase activity in plasma (P<0.05). Glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations in plasma, as well as mortality due to ascites and right ventricular: total ventricular weight ratio (RV/TV) index decreased while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and white blood cells increased (P<0.05) by dietary aspirin supplementation. Other parameters were not significantly affected by treatments. These results indicate that the beneficial effect of aspirin are probably related to aspirin’s ability to maintain near-tonormal levels of free radical scavenging enzymes and glutathione peroxidase bioactivity, thereby protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage via decreased lipid peroxidation.

This study aims to compare anatomies of Madagascar chickens (indigenous race and Starbro strain). With 8,262 individuals of either indigenous races or Starbro strain chickens raised in a suburban environment, the weights of different pieces of cut as well as the live weights before slaughter were determined. Results showed that breast development presents a positive linear relationship with thigh development for Starbro strain chickens (fast growing broiler) while the relationship between the two traits is negative for the indigenous races (slow growing chicken). Giblet proportions are similar between these two types of chicken. We found that slaughtering at 1,750g live weight (age 120 to 185 days) is profitable for indigenous race chickens (meat yield = 40.16%, breast yield = 18.10%, thigh yield = 20.15% and abdominal fat yield = 1.90%). For the Starbro strain, ideal weight at slaughter is 1,300-1,450 g, corresponding to 49 to 61 days of age (meat yield = 39.63%, breast yield = 17.85%, thigh yield = 20.27% and abdominal fat yield = 1.51%). The physical features of the cuts are similar between indigenous races and Starbro strain chickens

This experiment was conducted to compare the effects of multi-strain probiotic at various inclusion levels on performance, intestinal morphology, gut microflora and hematology in broiler chickens infected with Salmonella Typhimurium (ST). A total of 120 1-day old Ross 308 broiler chickens were distributed into 20 floor pens and reared for 10 days under 5 experimental treatments including a cornsoy basal diet with no probiotic (Control), or 0.5 g (0.05%), 1 g (0.1%), 1.5 g (0.15%) and 2 g (0.2%) probiotic/kg diet. Chickens were infected orally with ST at the second day of the experiment. Broilers under 0.15% of probiotic had higher body weight gain compared to other treatments. Probiotic supplementation, except at 0.05%, significantly improved feed conversion ratio. The use of 0.1 and 0.15% probiotic reduced the population of Salmonella in the ileum. The lowest heterophil: lymphocyte ratio was observed in 0.15% of probiotic, although 0.1 and 0.2% of probiotic significantly reduced this ratio compared to control group as well. Adding 0.15% of probiotic to the basal diet increased (P<0.05) the ileal villus height to crypt depth ratio as well as villus height in the ileum, jejunum and duodenum. According to the present results, especially for body weight gain and salmonella counts in the ileum, adding 0.15% of probiotic in broiler chickens diet can be used for effective control of ST infection.

The aim of this study was to investigate blood parameters of 4-month old blue-neck male ostriches (Struthio camelus) after feeding a diet containing 3% sunflower oil for two months. Blood samples were collected from the wing vein of the ostriches at the beginning and end of the study. The plasma was harvested and analyzed to measure cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total protein, albumin, total immunoglobulin, and the activities of aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase enzymes. From days 0 to 60, concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased (P<0.05) while very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride increased significantly (P<0.05). Other blood parameters did not change significantly. The results of this study showed that in ostrich, with increasing age from four to six months of age, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations increased whereas other factors did not.