The effect of dietary lysozyme with EDTA on growth performance and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens in each period of the growth cycle

Lysozyme is a potential replacement for antibiotics in the poultry industry. Two trials were conducted using new or used litter to determine the effect of 100 ppm lysozyme in feed on growth performance and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens in each period of the growth cycle. The new litter trial and used litter trial were each analyzed as a one-way analysis of variance with length of time in which 100 ppm lysozyme was fed to the birds as the main factor (no lysozyme d zero to 35; positive lysozyme d zero to 4; positive lysozyme d 5 to 14; positive lysozyme d 15 to 24; positive lysozyme d 25 to 35; positive lysozyme d zero to 35; positive virginiamycin d zero to 35). Effects of lysozyme were not detected under clean conditions (P > 0.05). When used litter was provided, growth performance was not improved by lysozyme (P > 0.05). However, feeding lysozyme to birds from d 5 to 14 and throughout the trial reduced the number of E. coli in the ileum compared with feeding virginiamycin (positive lysozyme d 5 to 14 and zero to 35, and virginiamycin d zero to 35: 1.7 × 10⁴ cfu g⁻¹, 1.9 × 10⁴ cfu g⁻¹ and 9.3 × 10⁴ cfu g⁻¹, respectively) to birds (P < 0.05). Dietary lysozyme at 100 ppm can change intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens.     

Effect of dietary inclusion of spray‐dried porcine plasma on performance,some physiological and immunological response of broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella sofia

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of spray‐dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in broiler chickens under Salmonella sofia disease challenge. The experiment comprised five starter diets: positive control (no supplement), diet supplemented with in‐feed antibiotics (IFA; salinomycin 0.05% + zinc bacitracin 0.033%) and diets supplemented with SDPP at 10 or 20 g/kg diet. All four of these groups were challenged with S. sofia, while a fifth group was unchallenged and used as the negative control. The experimental diets were fed to 14 days; then, the birds were switched to commercial‐type grower and finisher diets. Oral inoculation of the challenged groups with S. sofia occurred on day 8, 10 and 12. Body weight was significantly higher in the birds fed diets containing IFA and SDPP than in the challenged control group, but it was only significant in starter and grower phases. In general, there was an improvement in the weights of the immune‐related organs, but it was only significant for the weight of the bursa of SDPP‐fed birds at 13 days. At day 13, blood potassium content was lower and the concentrations of IgG and IgM tended to be lower in the birds fed on low‐SDPP starter diets than those of the other groups. There were significant differences in the concentration of lactic acid in the ileum and acetic acid, formic acid, butyric acid and propionic acid in the caeca. Inclusion of SDPP to the starter diets of broiler chicks had positive effects on broiler performance, immunity and gut health during exposure to highly pathogenic conditions.     

饲粮中添加黄芩提取物对肉鸡生长性能、营养物质消化率和肉质的影响

文章旨在研究饲粮中添加黄芩提取物对肉鸡生长性能、营养物质消化率和肉质的影响。试验选取平均体重接近的1日龄AA肉鸡100只,称重后随机分为4组,试验1、2、3组在对照组基础饲粮基础上分别添加0.02%、0.04%、0.06%的黄芩提取物,处理42 d。试验结果:与对照组相比,试验2、3组肉鸡21日龄体重分别显著提高10.5%、9.3%(P<0.05),试验1、2、3组肉鸡42日龄体重分别显著提高8.7%、11.9%、10.4%(P<0.05)。1~21日龄,试验2、3组肉鸡ADG分别显著提高11.2%、10.0%(P<0.05);22~42日龄,试验1、2、3组肉鸡ADG分别显著提高9.5%、12.5%、10.9%(P<0.05),试验2、3组FCR分别显著降低12.7%、8.2%(P<0.05);1~42日龄,试验1、2、3组肉鸡ADG分别显著提高8.8%、12.2%、10.7%(P<0.05),试验2、3组FCR分别显著降低11.0%、7.8%(P<0.05)。试验1、2、3组肉鸡对饲粮中氮的消化率较对照组分别显著提高8.2%、9.8%、7.5%(P<0.05),试验2、3组肉鸡对GE的消化率分别显著提高8.5%、7.3%(P<0.05),试验2组肉鸡对饲粮中DM的消化率提高8.0%(P<0.05)。试验1、2、3组肌肉第5天的滴水损失较对照组分别显著降低14.9%、15.7%、15.2%(P<0.05)。表明,黄芩提取物可以促进肉鸡生长,改善养分消化率和肉质,添加量为0.06%时效果最好。     

Effect of dietary fibres on small intestine histomorphology and lipid metabolism in young broiler chickens

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of dietary fibres on small intestine histomorphology and lipid metabolism in broilers from 1 to 21 day of age. In experiment 1, diets containing insoluble [cellulose (CEL); 2% and 4%] or soluble [carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); 2% and 4%] fibre were fed to broilers from day 1 to 21 post‐hatch and ileal tissue was collected at day 21 of age for histological evaluation. In experiment 2, broilers diet was supplemented with 0%, 1% or 2% insoluble fibre (Arbocel) during day 7 to 21 post‐hatch and plasma and liver lipid metabolism were evaluated at day 21. In experiment 1, inclusion of CMC reduced body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with others. Intestinal histomorphology was unaffected by CEL, but CMC led to an increase in crypt depth (CD) and serosa thickness and a decrease in villus height (VH), villus width (VW), VH:CD ratio and villus surface area (VSA), rather than control and CEL groups. Treatment did not affect goblet cell type. Moreover, the CMC‐fed birds had greater total goblet cell count (GCC) as compared with others. In experiment 2, fibre inclusion was associated with increases in BWG from 7 to 14 day of age and an improvement in FCR, whereas FI was not influenced by treatments. Inclusion of fibre in the diet decreased the weight of the abdominal fat and cholesterol concentrations of liver and plasma. No significant effects on fatty acid composition of liver lipid were observed by fibre supplementation. These findings suggest dietary fibre affects performance, intestinal histomorphology and lipid metabolism in young chicks, which may directly affect poultry feeding strategies.     

Effects of dietary inclusion levels of palm oil on growth performance,antioxidative status and serum cytokines of broiler chickens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary palm oil inclusion levels on growth performance, serum antioxidative status and cytokines in Sanhuang broiler chickens. A total of 208 one‐day‐old female Sanhuang chickens were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with four replicates per group and of 13 birds each for a 42‐day feeding trial. Dietary treatments were basal diet without palm oil (control) and diets containing 2%, 4% or 6% palm oil. During days 22 to 42 and the overall experimental period, chickens fed diets supplemented with 4% and 6% palm oil had a lower average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p = 0.019) and feed to gain ratio (F/G) (p = 0.031). Average daily gain (ADG) tended to be higher (p = 0.089) for palm oil inclusion treatments compared with the control treatment from days 1 to 42. Dietary 2% and 4% palm oil treatments significantly lowed serum malondialdehyde concentration on day 21 when compared to the control and 6% palm oil treatments (p = 0.027). Dietary 6% palm oil treatment significantly reduced the catalase (CAT) activity (p = 0.018) and total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) (p = 0.027) in serum in comparison with the control treatment on day 21. No significant differences were observed in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activities in serum among dietary treatments on day 21. There were no significant differences in T‐AOC, CAT, SOD and GSH‐Px activities among dietary treatments on day 42. Dietary inclusion of 4% and 6% palm oil significantly increased (p = 0.01) serum interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) content, but improved transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) content in serum on both days 21 and 42 (p = 0.032 and 0.022 respectively) as well as IL‐10 content on day 42 (p = 0.022) when compared with the control treatment. Furthermore, dietary inclusion of 6% palm oil significantly reduced tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) content on days 21 and 42 (p = 0.021 and 0.001 respectively) compared with the control treatment. These results suggest that dietary inclusion of 4% and 6% palm oil could improve the growth performance, modulate the balance between pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines, and show limited effect on antioxidative status in Sanhuang broiler chickens.     

Yellow mealworm,Tenebrio molitor (Col: Tenebrionidae), larvae powder as dietary protein sources for broiler chickens: Effects on growth performance,carcass traits,selected intestinal microbiota and blood parameters

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM meal) inclusion on the performance, carcass traits, caecum microbiota and blood parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 180-day-old chickens were allocated to three dietary groups with five replicate pens (12 birds/pen). Experimental diets were included a corn-soybean basal diet, and two diets with 2.5% and 5% TM. TM-included diets have been administered for periods of starter (1–10 days) and grower (11–25 days). A regular finisher diet was given to all groups during the 26–42 days of age. Diets containing TM meal did not influence feed intake and mortality percentage. Feed conversion ratio was lower with the 2.5% TM meal diet compared with the control group at starter period (p < .05). Besides, broiler chickens fed TM meal included diet had a higher body weight gain than the control group during 1–10 days of age (p < .05). The carcass characteristics and length and weight of different parts of small and large intestines were not influenced by diets. TM meal inclusion decreased the albumin-to-globulin ratio compared with the control group (p < .05). Additionally, lower total count of aerobic and Escherichia coli bacteria was observed in response to diet inclusion of 5% TM meal. Overall, the inclusion of TM meal in broilers' diet improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in the starting period, decreased albumin-to-globulin ratio and E. coli bacteria content.     

Effect of dietary lignocellulose on ileal and total tract digestibility of fat and fatty acids in broiler chickens

The study was conducted to determine the effect of a lignocellulose supplemented diet on apparent ileal and total tract digestibility of fat and fatty acids (FA) in broiler chickens. A total of 48 21‐day‐old male Ross 308 chickens were divided into four treatment groups (n = 12) with six replicates per treatment. From 21 to 42 days of age, the broilers were fed experimental diets varied in the amount of lignocellulose: 0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1%. Total excreta were gathered during the last 3 days of the feeding trial and digesta was collected from the ileum at 42 days of the bird age. Digestibility was determined by the indicator method. The ether extract content in diet/digesta/excreta was determined by the gravimetric method, and fatty acid methyl esters were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Fat digestibility measured to the end of the small intestine and in the whole gastrointestinal tract in birds was high and exceeded 90% and 87% respectively. Addition of lignocellulose (1%) increased (p < 0.05) ileal fat digestibility but had no significant effect on total tract fat digestion. Absorption of total fatty acids (TFA) as well as myristic (C14:0), palmitoleic (C16:1) and α‐linolenic (C18:3n?3) acids, estimated by both methods, was significantly higher in birds fed the diets supplemented with lignocellulose, especially at a dose of 1%. Total tract absorption of some dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (C20:2, C20:4n?6) was significantly lower from diet supplemented with 0.5% and 0.25% lignocellulose. There was observed a decrease in apparent digestibility of fat and most examined fatty acids, when measured between terminal ileum and total gastrointestinal tract. The results suggest that lignocellulose can affect digestion and FA absorption in broilers but, as the effect of lignocellulose was not studied previously, further investigations are necessary to confirm the results of the present experiment.     

The effect of protease and Bacillus licheniformis on nutritional value of pea,faba bean,yellow lupin and narrow-leaved lupin in broiler chicken diets

ABSTRACT

1. This study investigated the nutritional value (digestibility of ileal crude protein and amino acids (AAs)) and the AME_N value of legumes (pea, faba bean, yellow lupin, and narrow-leaved lupin) with or without protease.

2. Two hundred, one-day-old, male Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly allocated to ten groups. Each group received one of five different protein raw materials – either peas, faba beans, yellow lupins or narrow-leaved lupins, with or without protease produced from Bacillus licheniformis. The birds were kept in individual cages. Nutrient digestibility was calculated using the difference method. The total duration of the study was 23 d, and the study involved two phases – accommodation phase (d 1–18) and experimental phase (d 18–23).

3. The effect of protease on response traits was not consistent between the legumes. The enzyme increased the digestibility of some AAs in the pea (arginine, leucine, phenylalanine, histidine, tyrosine, alanine, and proline), faba bean (lysine, arginine, glycine, and asparagine), and yellow lupin diets (lysine, valine, and serine), but this effect was not observed in the narrow-leaved lupin diet. The change in AME_N values due to protease addition was only statistically significant for the pea diet (P < 0.05), whereas in the case of other legume species, the difference was insignificant (P > 0.05).

4. Exogenous protease increased the digestibility of AAs present in pea, faba bean, and yellow lupin seeds but not in narrow-leaved lupin diets. The AME_N value of peas increased with protease supplementation, but no effect of protease was found for the AME_N values of faba bean and both the lupin diets.     

Evaluation of dietary stevioside supplementation on anti-human serum albumin immunoglobulin G, Alpha-1-glycoprotein, body weight and thyroid hormones in broiler chickens

Sixty male broiler chickens fed a diet supplemented with 130 mg/kg stevioside (S group) or an unsupplemented diet (C group) from day 1 of age onwards. On day 21 of age, ten birds from either the S (SH) or C (CH) group were injected subcutaneously with 100 μg human serum albumin (HSA) and ten others from either S (SP) or C (CP) group injected with 100 μl phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in the same way. There were no significant effect of supplementation nor interaction with age on average body weights, T(3) and T(4) concentrations of non-injected chickens. After the primary immunization, α(1) -glycoprotein concentrations increased in all treatment groups except the CP group, and were significantly higher in the CH group in relation to the other groups. Fourteen and 18 days after the primary immunization, HSA injected chickens of both dietary treatments had significantly higher anti-HSA immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels than their PBS injected controls. No effect of stevioside supplementation was observed for IgG level. In conclusion, dietary stevioside inclusion can attenuate the pro-inflammatory response after stimulation of the innate immune response in broiler chickens.     

黄芩黄酮对肉仔鸡营养物质消化率和生长性能影响

探讨黄芩黄酮对肉用仔鸡主要营养物质代谢率以及生长性能的影响。选择1日龄AA肉仔鸡500只,随机分为5个处理,每个处理5个重复,每个重复20只,分别在基础饲料中添加0、5、10、15和20 mg/kg黄芩提取物黄芩黄酮,试验期为49 d。测定各组营养物质代谢率和生长性能指标。结果表明,在0-3周龄,黄芩黄酮可提高肉仔鸡干物质和表观代谢率,3-7周龄,肉仔鸡干物质和表观代谢率降低;在3-7周龄,粗蛋白和粗脂肪代谢率最高的是20 mg/kg黄芩黄酮添加组,分别比对照组提高4.47%和2.12%,差异不显著(P>0.05);在0-3周龄,黄芩黄酮对钙的代谢影响显著(P<0.05),效果最好的是10 mg/kg黄芩黄酮添加组,比对照组提高17.32%,对磷的代谢影响不显著。10 mg/kg黄芩黄酮添加组可明显提高肉仔鸡49日龄平均体重、平均日增重、并降低料肉比(P>0.05)。由此可知,饲料中添加适量的黄芩黄酮在一定程度上可以提高肉鸡对营养物质的代谢,增加对钙的吸收,降低料肉比,提高生长性能,其中10 mg/kg添加量效果较好。     

Influence of partial replacement of ground wheat with whole wheat and exogenous enzyme supplementation on growth performance,nutrient digestibility and energy utilization in young broilers

This study investigated the influence of pre‐pelleting inclusion of whole wheat (WW) and exogenous enzyme supplementation on growth performance, coefficient of apparent ileal nutrient digestibility (CAID) and apparent metabolizable energy (AME) in broilers fed wheat‐based pelleted diets. A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments was used with two methods of wheat inclusion [622 g/kg ground wheat (GW) and 250 g/kg WW replaced GW (wt/wt) pre‐pelleting (PWW)] and three enzymes (xylanase, phytase and xylanase plus phytase). A total of 288, one‐day‐old male broilers (Ross 308) were individually weighed and allocated to 36 cages (8 broilers/cage), and the cages were randomly assigned to the six dietary treatments. Birds fed PWW diets gained more (p < 0.05) weight than those fed GW diets. There was no effect (p > 0.05) of WW inclusion on feed intake (FI). Phytase alone increased (p < 0.05) FI compared to xylanase or the combination. Whole wheat inclusion increased (p < 0.05) the gain‐to‐feed ratio (G:F). Feeding xylanase plus phytase and phytase‐added diets resulted in the greatest and lowest G:F, respectively, with xylanase supplemented diets being intermediate. Birds fed PWW diets had greater (p < 0.05) relative gizzard weights than those fed GW diets. There was no effect (p > 0.05) of WW inclusion on the CAID of nitrogen (N), starch and fat. Combination of xylanase and phytase resulted in greater (p < 0.05) digestibility of N, starch and fat than that of individual additions. Feeding PWW diets resulted in greater (p < 0.05) AME values than GW diets. Combination of xylanase and phytase increased (p < 0.05) the AME compared to the diets with individual additions of xylanase or phytase. The current results suggest that the influence of pre‐pelleting WW inclusion and exogenous enzymes on nutrient digestibility and broiler performance is not additive.     

谷氨酸锌对肉仔鸡生长性能、血清含锌酶活性及免疫器官指数的影响

本试验旨在研究谷氨酸螯合锌(zinc glutamine,Glu-Zn)对肉仔鸡生长性能、血清含锌酶活性、免疫器官指数的影响。选用240只7日龄商品代AA肉用仔鸡,随机分成6个处理。1组为对照组饲喂含80mgZnSO4·H2O形式的Zn的基础日粮,其余5组分别在基础日粮中添加20、40、60、80mg/kg和100mg/kg谷氨酸螯合锌形式的Zn。饲养期为35d。结果表明:试验各周及全期,随着日粮中谷氨酸螯合锌水平的增加,肉仔鸡日增重和饲料转化效率均得到改善,同时,40mg/kg谷氨酸螯合锌组显著提高了试验全期的平均日增重(P0.05);血清碱性磷酸酶活性随着日粮锌水平的增加先上升,而后又下降,在锌添加水平为60mg/kg时取得最大值;谷氨酸螯合锌组在胸腺指数、脾脏指数上,明显优于对照组,且存在显著差异(P0.05),而法氏囊指数并不敏感。从本试验各项指标和经济效益综合分析,建议肉仔鸡饲料中添加60mg/kg的谷氨酸螯合锌。     

小麦型日粮添加木聚糖酶和植酸酶对肉鸡生长性能、回肠氨基酸表观消化率及常量元素沉积的影响

本文旨在研究小麦型日粮中添加木聚糖酶和植酸酶对肉鸡生长性能、回肠氨基酸表观消化率及矿物元素沉积的影响。试验选择1日龄科宝白羽肉仔鸡850只,随机分成5组,每组5个重复,每个重复34只鸡。一共有5种日粮,即低磷日粮、高磷日粮、低磷日粮+2000 IU/kg木聚糖酶、低磷日粮+500 FTU/kg植酸酶,低磷日粮+2000 IU/kg木聚糖酶+500 FTU/kg植酸酶,试验进行21 d。低磷组较高磷组显著降低了肉鸡的日增重、日采食量及趾骨灰分含量(P <0.05),与低磷组相比,木聚糖酶组显著降低了肉鸡的料比(P <0.05),而植酸酶组显著提高了肉鸡日增重、日采食量、趾骨灰分及饲料利用率(P <0.05)。复合酶组显著提高了15种氨基酸回肠表观消化率(P <0.05)。与低磷组相比,木聚糖酶组显著提高了表观消化能和可消化代谢能及回肠氮消化率(P <0.05),而植酸酶显著提高了氮沉积及回肠氮消化率(P <0.05),复合酶组显著提高了代谢能、可消化代谢能及氮沉积量(P <0.05)。植酸酶和复合酶组较高磷组显著提高了磷表观消化率和沉积量(P <0.05),但低磷组较高磷组显著提高了钙的表观消化率(P <0.05),植酸酶酶和复合酶组较其他3组显著提高了钾的沉积量(P <0.05)。结论 :小麦型日粮同时添加植酸酶和木聚糖酶对肉鸡生长和消化的影响要优于单独添加这两种酶。     

Marginal deficiencies of dietary arginine and methionine could suppress growth performance and immunological responses in broiler chickens

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary arginine (Arg) and methionine (Met) on performance, immune responses, and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 540 day‐old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned into the nine experimental diets, consisting five replicates of 12 birds each. Dietary treatments included three different levels (90%, 100%, and 110% of National Research Council [NRC] specifications) of either dietary Arg or Met, which were fed to the birds according to a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments during a 42 days feeding trial. Results showed that supplementation of Arg and Met into the deficient‐diets increased (p < .01) weight gains during all trial periods. Although average daily feed intake (ADFI) was not influenced by dietary treatments, increasing Arg up to 100% of NRC recommendations improved (p < .05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) throughout the trial period. Similarly, supplementation of deficient‐diets with Met improved FCR values. There was a significant (p < .01) Arg × Met interaction for ADFI during the starter period; increasing the dietary Arg level increased ADFI when the diets were deficient in Met, while had an opposite effect in diets containing higher dietary Met levels. On the other hand, dietary Met fortification improved (p = .067) FCR values to a greater extent in 110% Arg‐diets during the entire trial period. Although different levels of Arg and Met had no marked effects on carcass yield and abdominal fat percentage, supplemental Arg up to 100% of NRC values increased (p < .01) the relative weights of spleen and bursa of Fabricius. Furthermore, bursa weight was affected by Arg × Met interaction (p < .01), so that supplemental Arg level of 100% of NRC increased the relative bursa weight in birds that were fed diets containing 90% and 110% of Met. Serum uric acid level was decreased (p < .05) as a result of dietary Arg fortification up to 110% of NRC recommended values. Supplementation of deficient‐diets with Met decreased (p < .05) serum cholesterol level. Although Newcastle antibody titer was not affected by dietary Arg or Met levels, Arg fortification of deficient‐diets increased (p < .001) antibody responses against infectious bronchitis (IBV) and bursal (IBD) disease viruses. Similarly, Met supplementation of deficient‐diets increased IBD antibody titer. There were significant (p < .05) Arg × Met interactions for IBV and IBD titers; Met fortification of 110% Arg‐diets was more effective in increasing antibody titers. An increase in dietary Met level up to 100% of NRC values increased (p < .001) serum concentration of γ‐globulins. The present findings imply that supplemental Arg could affect feed efficiency and antibody responses when the diets were already fortified with a sufficient Met level.