Dietary vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) and selenium supplementation from different sources: performance, ascites-related variables and antioxidant status in broilers reared at low and optimum temperatures

1. This study compared the effect of dietary supplementation with organic or inorganic selenium (Se) sources plus control amounts or large amounts of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) in broilers raised at control (20 to 24 degrees C) or low (14.5 to 16.8 degrees C) temperatures after 2 weeks of age. 2. The following dietary treatments were used from one day old. Diet 1, the control diet, comprised a commercial diet containing 0.15 mg/kg inorganic Se and 50 mg vitamin E/kg feed. Diet 2 was the same as diet 1, supplemented with 0.15 mg/kg inorganic Se. Diet 3 was the same as diet 2 but was supplemented with 200 mg/kg vitamin E. Diet 4 was the same as diet 1, but inorganic Se was replaced with 0.30 mg/kg organic Se. Diet 5 was the same as diet 4, supplemented with 200 mg/kg vitamin E. 3. Low temperature reduced the growth rate of broilers; however, at 6 weeks, there were no differences in the body weights of birds fed on organic Se supplemented diets housed at low or control temperature. The feed conversion ratio was significantly affected by low temperature but not by diet. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio was higher in chicks after one week in the cold, indicating mild stress. Blood triiodothyronine levels were significantly higher in birds after 1 and 4 weeks in the cold but thyroxin was not affected. 4. Organic Se supplementation increased relative lung weight at the control temperature, which might lead to greater respiratory capacity. Relative spleen weight significantly decreased in broilers fed diets supplemented with inorganic Se under cold conditions, a possible indication of chronic oxidative stress. 5. At the low temperature, supplementation with organic Se alone, or with inorganic Se and vitamin E increased glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and glutathione (GSH) concentration in the liver of broilers, which may indicate increased activity of birds' antioxidant defence against suboptimal environments.     

Effect of vitamin A on the oxidative stability of broiler meat during storage: Lack of interactions with vitamin E

1. An experiment was carried out with male broiler chicks to evaluate the combined effect of two concentrations of vitamin A (1.032 and 10.32 mg retinyl acetate/kg diet) and two concentrations of vitamin E (0 and 150 mg a‐tocopheryl acetate/kg diet) on the oxidative stability of the drumstick meat of broiler chickens. The experimental diets were fed from 1 to 42 d of age. The oxidative stability, evaluated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values, was determined after 125 d of storage at — 18°C.

2. TBARS values were very low and not significantly affected by dietary vitamins A and E or their combinations. However, the TBARS values in the meat of birds fed on the vitamin E‐free diets, but not on the vitamin E‐supplemented diets, were markedly increased after using an accelerated test of oxidation of the meat lipids by incubation. This resulted in a significant (P< 0.001) difference from vitamin E supplementation. Vitamin A, alone or in combination with vitamin E, did not affect TBARS values found after incubation.

3. It is concluded that vitamin A at the concentrations used had no effect on the oxidative stability of the meat, in contrast to the protective effect of vitamin E, and that there is no interaction between the effect of these two vitamins on meat stability.     

Effects of saturated and unsaturated fats with vitamin E supplementation on the antioxidant status of broiler chicken tissues

The influence of fish oil (highly unsaturated) and beef tallow (highly saturated) with vitamin E (100 IU/kg) supplementation on the antioxidant status of broiler chicken cockerels was investigated. Chicks were fed a control diet with no added fat, 40 g/kg each of fish oil and beef tallow diets, respectively, from 11 to 42 days of age. Tocopherol concentration and the rate of lipid peroxidation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in liver, fatty acid composition of the liver lipids, blood serum total antioxidant status (TAS), and reduced glutathione (GSH) content were determined. Vitamin E supplementation of the diet increased liver alpha-tocopherol content in chicks regardless of the type of dietary fat. Fish oil diet resulted in higher liver TBARS value while beef tallow diet showed lower values compared to the control diet. Vitamin E supplementation reduced liver TBARS as well as serum GSH, and raised serum TAS for all diets. Serum GSH was the same for vitamin E supplemented diets regardless of the fat supplement. Fish oil diets resulted in a significant increase in hepatic lipid n-3 PUFA content. A significant positive correlation was found between liver TBARS and n-3 PUFA content. No relationships were established, however, between liver TBARS and n-6 PUFA or saturated fatty acids. The results suggest that feeding oils rich in n-3 PUFA increases tissue concentration of these fatty acids, consequently increasing tissue lipid peroxidation and reducing the antioxidative status of broiler chickens. Supplementing high levels of vitamin E with such oils may increase tissue oxidative stability. Serum TAS or GSH may be used as a measure of antioxidative status in chickens.     

The effect of vitamin E on cellulitis in broiler chickens experiencing scratches in a challenge model

Two experiments are described; each experiment contained five treatments with each treatment consisting of a specific diet and vitamin E at 8.82 mg, 41.89 mg, 74.96 mg, 108.03 mg, or 141.10 mg vitamin E per kilogram of feed. Birds were raised with continuous feed containing the various levels of vitamin E available throughout the experiment. At 4 wk of age, the birds were scratched on the breast and placed onto avian cellulitis Escherichia coli-seeded litter. One week later, the birds were euthanatized and lesion presence was noted. There appeared to be a positive correlation between vitamin E and the inhibition of cellulitis formation when the birds were fed a diet containing 74.96 mg vitamin E/kg feed. Conflicting results were seen in the two experiments when the birds were fed 41.89 and 108.03 mg vitamin E/kg feed. Both experiments had a high incidence of cellulitis in birds whose diets consisted of 141.10 mg vitamin E/kg feed.     

Effect of Vitamin C on pulmonary hypertension and muscularisation of pulmonary arterioles in broilers

1. Three hundred and eighty 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were divided into control (A) and experimental (B, C, D, and E) groups. 2. After 14 d of age the experimental groups were subjected to a cool temperature challenge by lowering the temperature 1 to 2°C per day down to 12°C, and maintaining this temperature until 7 weeks of age. 3. At the same time, l.5 mg/kg 3,3,5-triiodothyronine (T 3 ) was added to the diet of groups D and E, and 500mg/kg ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to the diet of groups C and E. 4. The incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS), body weight gain and feed intake were measured weekly. Lung and blood samples were collected weekly from 10 birds per group beginning on d 14, and the percentage of thick-walled peripheral lung vessels (%TWPV) and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined. 5. The lower ambient temperature and diets supplemented with T 3 increased PHS incidence and % TWPV and decreased body weight gain. 6. There was an increase in PCV after 5 weeks of age under lower ambient temperature 3 and the PCV values 14 were also significantly increased by T 3 . 7. Vitamin C supplementation reduced PHS incidence and % TWPV but did not change packed cell volume, body, weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion. 8. It is concluded that vitamin C reduced PHS and the associated muscularisation of pulmonary arterioles induced by exposing broilers to cool environmental temperatures and feeding them with T 3 .     

Replacement effect of vitamin E with grape polyphenols on antioxidant status,immune, and organs histopathological responses in broilers from 1- to 35-d age

A study was carried out to investigate the replacement effect of vitamin E with grape polyphenols (GPP) on antioxidant status, immune response, and organs histopathology in broilers from 1- to 35-d age. One-day-old Hubbard broiler chicks (n = 280) were randomly divided into 28 study units of 10 chicks each. A starter control diet was formulated having 22.5% CP, 3,200 kcal/kg ME, and 100 ppm vitamin E50 [50 IU DL-α-tocopheryl acetate (CON)]. Other dietary treatments were obtained by replacing vitamin E on wt:wt ratio, with 25 [low GPP (LGPP)], 50 [medium GPP (MGPP)], and 75 ppm [high GPP (HGPP)] GPP. Likewise, a control finisher diet (20% CP and 3,200 kcal/kg ME) and LGPP, MGPP, and HGPP diets were formulated having the same proportions of GPP and vitamin E as in the respective starter diets. Each dietary treatment was randomly assigned to 7 replicate pens. As a result of this study, by increasing GPP level in place of vitamin E, total phenolic contents in breast and leg muscles increased linearly (P< 0.05) whereas thiobarbituric acid reactive substances decreased quadratically with MGPP showing the lowest value (P< 0.05). Antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus were higher (P< 0.05) in broilers fed the LGPP and HGPP diets than in those fed the control diet. Antibody titers against infectious bursal disease virus were higher (P< 0.05) in broilers fed the HGPP diet than in all of the remaining dietary treatment groups. Histopathological examination of kidney and liver tissues showed no changes in birds fed LGPP and MGPP diets; however, mild effects were observed in some birds fed HGPP diet. Replacement of vitamin E with GPP resulted in lower cost per kg broiler feed. In conclusion, replacement of 75 ppm vitamin E with GPP improved antioxidant status and immune response of broilers at lower feed cost without any significant effect on histopathology of organs.     

维生素E对免疫抑制产蛋鸡生产性能和蛋品质的调控效应

试验探讨维生素E对免疫抑制蛋鸡生产性能和蛋品质的调控效应,选取健康的尼克褐产蛋鸡270只,随机等分为5组,每组3个重复,每重复18只。第Ⅰ组为对照组,第Ⅱ~Ⅴ组为免疫抑制组,对第Ⅱ~Ⅴ组鸡在试验第5、6、7 d进行腿部肌肉注射80 mg/kgBW环磷酰胺(CTX),第Ⅰ组注射等量生理盐水。Ⅰ、Ⅱ组饲喂基础日粮(维生素E含量44.59 mg/kg),Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组在基础日粮中分别添加50、100、200 mg/kg维生素E。结果显示:①免疫抑制产蛋鸡的产蛋率、平均蛋重和平均日采食量显著降低(P<0.05),破蛋率显著升高(P<0.05)。基础日粮中添加50 mg/kg维生素E显著提高免疫抑制产蛋鸡的产蛋率、平均蛋重和平均日采食量(P<0.05),但仍低于对照组Ⅰ(P<0.05);显著降低料蛋比和破蛋率(P<0.05)。②免疫抑制产蛋鸡的蛋壳厚度、蛋壳强度和哈氏单位显著降低(P<0.05),蛋形指数和蛋黄颜色无显著改变(P>0.05);50 mg/kg维生素E添加量显著提高免疫抑制产蛋鸡的蛋壳厚度、蛋壳强度和哈氏单位(P<0.05),与对照组Ⅰ无显著差异(P>0.05)。因此,免疫抑制显著降低产蛋鸡的生产性能和蛋品质;基础日粮中添加维生素E对免疫抑制蛋鸡的生产性能和蛋品质具有明显的调控效应,且以50 mg/kg添加量效果较好。     

Effects of periodical application of bioactive peptides derived from cottonseed on performance,immunity, total antioxidant activity of serum and intestinal development of broilers

This experiment aimed to examine the effect of periodical application of bioactive peptides derived from cottonseed (BPC) in comparison with using sub-therapeutic doses of lincomycin and the excessive inclusion of vitamin E on performance, immunity, total antioxidant capacity of serum and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-d-old male broiler chicks with similar initial weight (Ross strain) were randomly assigned to 6 groups (8 chicks/pen): non-treated group (basal diet), basal diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg lincomycin, basal diet supplemented with 50 IU vitamin E, basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg in starter period, basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg in starter and grower periods and basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg throughout the whole experiment. The highest final body weight was obtained in the group supplemented with BPC in starter and grower periods. In the finisher phase, broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the starter period and in the whole trial had significantly (P < 0.05) better feed conversion ratios (FCR). Jejunal villus height was significantly elevated in broilers supplemented with antibiotic (P < 0.001), furthermore it tended to be greater in broilers fed BPC in the starter period. The jejunal villus height-to-crypt depth ratio was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in broilers fed the diet containing antibiotic in comparison to other groups. Humoral immune response against Newcastle disease vaccine tended to be elevated in broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the whole trial (P > 0.05). Broilers supplemented with BPC in starter and grower, and in the whole trial had significantly (P < 0.05) higher antibody titers against sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The highest total antioxidant capacity was obtained in broilers supplemented with the excessive level of vitamin E, furthermore it tended to improve in broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the whole trial. In summary, the results of the study indicated that addition of BPC in broiler diets in the whole trial could improve FCR, immune responses and total antioxidant activity of serum, and BPC could be used in broiler diets as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics.     

Effects of dietary vitamin K levels on bone quality in broilers.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin K (menadione) on bone quality in cage-raised broilers. Three hundred and sixty male broilers were randomly allotted to one of six treatments, with six replicate pens per treatment and 10 chicks per pen. Broilers were fed one of six diets including a control diet or the control diet plus graded levels of vitamin K (0.5 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg, 32 mg/kg and 128 mg/kg). Water and feed were provided ad libitum during the 7-week experimental period. Results indicated that vitamin K supplementation of broilers diets significantly effected bone quality and feed efficiency. The treatment containing vitamin K at 8 mg/kg improved growth performance (during weeks 6-7) and bone quality (during weeks 0-3). In our study, hydroxyapatite binding capacity of serum osteocalcin (during weeks 0-3), bone breaking strength, bone flexibility, bone ash weight increased linearly (P < 0.05) and bone mineral density, bone mineral content increased quadratically (P < 0.05) with increasing supplementation of vitamin K. In conclusion, to gain optimum bone quality and broiler performance, our studies suggest that the concentration of vitamin K in broilers diets should be 8 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, and 2 mg/kg, for the starter, grower and finisher phases, respectively. Furthermore, it was shown that the starter period is an important phase for improving bone quality. In addition, this study validated the mechanism of vitamin K effects on bone quality. Vitamin K boosts the carboxylation of osteocalcin and decreases the concentration of serum under-carboxylated osteocalcin enhancing hydroxyapatite binding capacity of serum osteocalcin and improving bone quality.     

Effects of Source of Inorganic Phosphorus and Phytase Supplementation on Performance, Physiological Parameters and Bone Mineralization in Broilers

The objective of this study was to eval- uate the effects of inorganic phosphorus source and phytase addition on performance, nutrient digestibility and bone mineralization in broiler chickens. In Exp. 1,150 two-day old, male broiler chicks were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with phos- phorus provided by dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate or defluorinated rock phosphate. Five cages containing 10 birds were allotted to each of the three treatments. In Exp. 2,120 three-day old, male broiler chicks were fed the basal diet from Exp. 1 supplemen- ted with 0,250,500 ,or 1,000 P-＇rU phytase per kg of diet. Six cages containing five chicks were allotted to each of the four treatments. In Exp. 1, there was no difference in weight gain, feed intake or feed conver- sion as a result of feeding the different sources of in- organic phosphorus. The digestibility of phosphorus was significantly lower （P =0.01 ） for chicks fed di- ets supplemented with tricalcium phosphate than for chicks fed the other two diets. However, despite the lower digestibility, serum phosphorus levels did not differ among the three treatments. For Exp. 2, feedconversion showed a linear improvement （P = 0.03 ） with increasing levels of phytase inclusion （ days 0 to 33 ）. Phytase supplementation resulted in linear increa- ses in the digestibility of dry matter （P = 0.02 ）, crude protein （ P --- 0.04 ） and energy （ P 〈 0.01 ）. Chicks fed 1,000 FTU/kg phytase had significantly higher bone calcium （ P = 0.05 ） and bone breaking strength （P = 0.04 ） than chicks fed the basal diet on day 33. In conclusion, the results of the current study indicated that the performance of birds fed diets sup- plemented with dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phos- phate or defluorinated phosphate was similar and therefore production costs could be lowered by choo- sing the cheapest inorganic phosphorus source when formulating diets for poultry. When diets were formu- lated to meet dietary phosphorus requirements, the growth of broilers was not enhanced with phytase sup- plementation. However, increases in feed conversion and bone breaking strength and its potential to impact culling and mortality in broiler operations may be suf- ficient justification for the routine inclusion of phytase in diets fed to broilers.     

Influence of dietary rapeseed oil, vitamin E, and copper on the performance and the antioxidative and oxidative status of pigs.

We investigated the effects of dietary copper and vitamin E in diets containing 6% rapeseed oil on the performance and the antioxidative and oxidative status of growing pigs. The 10 dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (9 mg of vitamin E/kg feed, 15 mg of Cu/kg feed), the basal diet + 6% rapeseed oil (Diet 1; 18 mg of vitamin E/kg feed, 15 mg of Cu/kg feed), and Diet 1 plus supplements of vitamin E (0, 100, and 200 mg of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg feed) and copper (0, 35, and 175 mg of Cu/ kg feed) in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Eight or nine pigs were given ad libitum access to each diet from 25 to 100 kg of live weight. The inclusion of rapeseed oil tended (P < .10) to improve ADG and feed utilization. Compared with the addition of 35 mg of Cu/kg, the addition of 175 mg/kg improved growth rate and increased feed intake early in the experiment, but, over the total experiment, neither 35 nor 175 mg of Cu/kg affected performance. Compared with the addition of 100 mg of vitamin E/kg or no addition, the addition of 200 mg/kg reduced ADG over the total experiment (P = .05). The antioxidative and oxidative status of the pigs was evaluated in terms of blood and liver concentrations of antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase), prooxidants (Cu), concentrations of lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol), fatty acid composition, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and clinical chemical (creatine kinase and glutamate-oxaloacetate-transaminase) and hematological variables that indicate the level of oxidative stress. There were no vitamin E deficiency signs or increased oxidative stress in pigs fed low dietary vitamin E levels, and no prooxidative effect of Cu was found. Increasing dietary levels of vitamin E increased the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in plasma and liver. Supplementation with Cu increased liver concentrations of Cu and alphatocopherol. The progression in liver TBARS was reduced by the addition of vitamin E and Cu. The addition of rapeseed oil changed the fatty acid composition of liver, increased alpha-tocopherol concentration in plasma and Cu concentration in liver, and reduced the rate of lipid oxidation in liver. In conclusion, even though the effects were minor, vitamin E, Cu, and rapeseed oil improved the antioxidative status of the live pigs.     

Influence of wheat-based diets supplemented with xylanase, bile acid and antibiotics on performance, digestive tract measurements and gut morphology of broilers compared with a maize-based diet

1. The aim of the present study was to compare wheat-based diets supplemented with arabinoxylanase, bile acid and virginiamycin with a maize-based diet in their effects on the performance of broilers. 2. The diets were fed to 5 groups of broilers. Group A received a maize-based diet (control), and groups B, C, D and E were fed on wheat-based diets. Diets C, D and E were supplemented with arabinoxylanase (150 mg/kg), bile acid (500 mg/kg) and virginiamycin (200 mg/kg), respectively. 3. A total of 450 1-d-old Ross 385 chicks were randomly divided into 5 groups, each with three pens as replicates (30 birds per pen). The experimental diets were given for 18 d. On d 18, three chickens from each group were slaughtered by cervical dislocation and the liver weight, and duodenal, jejunal and ileal lengths were measured for length and width of the villi and the height of crypts. 4. Arabinoxylanase, bile acid and virginiamycin supplementation significantly increased feed intake and daily gain but had no significant effect on feed conversion ratio. The liver weight was significantly greater in virginiamycin supplemented chicks as compared with those on the diet containing bile acid. 5. Virginiamycin inclusion increased full and empty caeca weight significantly compared with groups A and D. Group A had the lightest caeca. Significant effects of diets were observed on duodenal, ileal and intestinal length, but jejunal length was not affected by diet. The heights of duodenal and ileal, but not jejunal, villi were significantly affected by the treatments. The lengths of villi in groups B and E were significantly higher than other groups. The mean height of ileal villi in group A was significantly higher than in groups receiving the wheat-based diets. The mean width of duodenal and ileal villi was significantly affected by the ration. The height of crypts in group B was significantly higher than in group E. 6. It could be concluded that supplementation of the wheat-based broiler ration with virginiamycin had significant positive effects on gastrointestinal tract characteristics for absorption. Supplementation with bile acid reduced the weight of liver and caeca and the length of duodenum, jejunum, ileum and in small intestine and the height and width of villi.     

Effects of Source of Inorganic Phosphorus and Phytase Supplementation on Performance, Physiological Parameters and Bone Mineralization in Broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of inorganic phosphorus source and phytase addition on performance, nutrient digestibility and bone mineralization in broiler chickens. In Exp. 1, 150 two-day old, male broiler chicks were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with phosphorus provided by dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate or defluorinated rock phosphate. Five cages containing 10 birds were allotted to each of the three treatments. In Exp. 2, 120 three-day old, male broiler chicks were fed the basal diet from Exp. 1 supplemented with 0, 250, 500, or 1,000 FTU phytase per kg of diet. Six cages containing five chicks were allotted to each of the four treatments. In Exp. 1, there was no difference in weight gain, feed intake or feed conversion as a result of feeding the different sources of inorganic phosphorus. The digestibility of phosphorus was significantly lower (P = 0.01) for chicks fed diets supplemented with tricalcium phosphate than for chicks fed the other two diets.  However, despite the lower digestibility, serum phosphorus levels did not differ among the three treatments. For Exp. 2, feed conversion showed a linear improvement (P = 0.03) with increasing levels of phytase inclusion (days 0 to 33).  Phytase supplementation resulted in linear increases in the digestibility of dry matter (P = 0.02), crude protein (P = 0.04) and energy (P < 0.01).  Chicks fed 1,000 FTU/kg phytase had significantly higher bone calcium (P = 0.05) and bone breaking strength (P = 0.04) than chicks fed the basal diet on day 33. In conclusion, the results of the current study indicated that the performance of birds fed diets supplemented with dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate or defluorinated phosphate was similar and therefore production costs could be lowered by choosing the cheapest inorganic phosphorus source when formulating diets for poultry. When diets were formulated to meet dietary phosphorus requirements, the growth of broilers was not enhanced with phytase supplementation.  However, increases in feed conversion and bone breaking strength and its potential to impact culling and mortality in broiler operations may be sufficient justification for the routine inclusion of phytase in diets fed to broilers.     

Moderate excess of dietary vitamin E does not exacerbate cholecalciferol deficiency in young broiler chicks

1. The combined effect of moderate excess dietary vitamin E and marginal amounts of dietary cholecalciferol on the performance and tibia bone ash of young male broiler chicks was evaluated. Vitamin E (α‐tocopheryl acetate) and cholecalciferol were added to a commercial diet not already supplemented with these vitamins, at concentrations of 0 and 150 mg/kg, and 1.875, 5 and 25 μg/kg, respectively, and fed to chicks for 23 d.

2. Vitamin E concentration and its combinations with cholecalciferol did not significantly (P> 0.05) affect food intake, weight gain, food efficiency and bone ash. These variables were significantly (P< 0.001) lower in chicks fed on the diets supplemented with 1.875 μg cholecalciferol/kg compared with the values observed with the 2 other concentrations of this vitamin. There were no differences in the effects of 5 and 25 μg cholecalciferol/kg diet on the above variables.

3. It was concluded that vitamin E, at a concentration of 150 mg/kg diet, did not aggravate a mild cholecalciferol deficiency.     

Effects of continuous supplementations of ascorbic acid, aspirin, vitamin E and selenium on some haematological parameters and serum superoxide dismutase level in broiler chickens

1. This study was conducted using male broiler chickens to determine the effects of ascorbic acid, aspirin, ascorbic acid+aspirin, vitamin E+selenium and ascorbic acid+aspirin+vitamin E+selenium supplementations on haematological parameters and serum superoxide dismutase concentration. 2. One hundred and twenty day-old male Hubbunt broiler chicks were randomly divided into 6 experimental groups of 20 chicks each and placed in different pens. Groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were given a diet supplemented with ascorbic acid, aspirin (in water), ascorbic acid+aspirin, vitamin E+selenium and ascorbic acid+aspirin+vitamin E+selenium, respectively for 45 d while group 1 was given a commercial broiler diet. 3. There was no significant effect of ascorbic acid, aspirin, ascorbic acid+aspirin, vitamin E+selenium supplementations on any of the haematological parameters (red blood cell, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin) in broilers but ascorbic acid+aspirin+vitamin E+selenium supplementation significantly decreased the white blood cell counts. 4. In addition to this, ascorbic acid, aspirin, ascorbic acid+aspirin and ascorbic acid+aspirin+vitamin E+selenium supplementations had no significant effect on the serum superoxide dismutase level, but vitamin E+selenium supplementation increased the serum superoxide dismutase level.     

Effect of high concentrations of dietary vitamin E during various age periods on performance, plasma vitamin E and meat stability of broiler chicks at 7 weeks of age.

1. The effect of high concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopheryl acetate) fed during various age periods on the performance and the oxidative stability (thiobarbituric acid [TBA] values) of the drumstick meat of 7-week-old broiler chicks was determined. The basal diets (for the age periods 0 to 3, 3 to 6 and 6 to 7 weeks) contained 60 g soyabean oil and 24 mg vitamin E/kg. The following five treatments were evaluated: (1) the basal diets from 0 to 7 weeks of age (control); (2) vitamin E, 100 mg/kg diet from 0 to 7 weeks of age; (3) vitamin E, 150 mg/kg diet from 0 to 3 weeks of age; (4) vitamin E, 150 mg/kg diet from 0 to 3 weeks of age and 100 mg/kg diet from 6 to 7 weeks of age; (5) vitamin E, 100 mg/kg diet from 5 to 7 weeks of age. 2. Food intake, weight gain and food efficiency were not significantly (P greater than 0.05) affected by the vitamin E treatments. 3. Plasma alpha-tocopherol (AT) concentrations in treatments 2, 4 and 5 were similar, and markedly higher than those in treatments 1 and 3, while those of treatment 3 were significantly (P less than 0.001) higher than those of treatment 1. Plasma retinol concentrations were not significantly (P greater than 0.05) affected by the vitamin E treatments. 4. TBA values of the meat were very low and not significantly affected by the vitamin E treatments. However, after incubation the TBA values were highly significantly (P less than 0.01) negatively correlated with the amount of vitamin E consumed during the experiment. The stability of meat of birds fed the various combinations of vitamin E (treatments 3, 4 and 5) was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than that of birds which did not receive additional vitamin E (treatment 1), but it was significantly (P less than 0.001) lower than that of birds which received vitamin E continuously (treatment 2). 5. It is concluded that a high concentration of vitamin E fed during 0 to 3 weeks of age may significantly improve AT status of the broiler chick up to 7 weeks of age.     

25-羟基维生素D_3和复合酶制剂对肉鸡生长性能和屠宰性能的影响

试验选用1日龄正大艾维茵肉鸡480只,随机分成4个处理组,每个处理6个重复,每个重复20只鸡(公母各半)。参照肉鸡饲养标准,按照1～3周龄、4～5周龄和6周龄阶段配置基础饲粮。处理1饲喂基础日粮(对照组),处理2在基础日粮的基础上添加69mg/t的25-羟基维生素D_3,处理3在基础日粮的基础上添加750U/kg的复合酶制剂,处理4在基础日粮的基础上同时添加69mg/t的25-羟基维生素D_3和750U/kg的复合酶制剂。试验结果表明:①单独添加复合酶制剂,降低了4～5周龄时的日采食量和6周龄时的料重比(P>0.05);在其他方面与对照组相比差异均不显著(P>0.05)。②单独添加25-羟基维生素D_3,在生产性能、屠宰指标方面虽然有部分高于对照组,但差异均不显著(P>0.05)。③同时添加69mg/t的25-羟基维生素D_3和750U/kg的复合酶制剂,生产性能方面与对照组相比差异均不显著,但表现出提高的趋势(P>0.05);屠宰性能方面,使屠宰率和腹脂率显著降低(P<0.05),但使全净膛率显著提高(P<0.05)。     

Effects of supplemental ascorbic acid on performance, organ weight and plasma cholesterol concentration in broilers treated with propylthiouracil

1. Four experiments were conducted to determine if dietary ascorbic acid (AA) affects body weight gain, food intake, organ weights, plasma cholesterol concentration, and ascorbic acid concentration in the plasma and liver of growing male broilers treated with an antithyroidal agent, propylthiouracil (PTU). 2. In the first experiment, 15 mg AA was administered daily into the crop of chicks fed on a diet supplemented with or without PTU (500 mg/kg). Administration of AA reduced plasma cholesterol concentrations in the PTU-treated chicks. 3. In the other three experiments, chicks were given the basal diet or an AA-containing (3 g/kg) diet supplemented with or without PTU (250 mg or 500 mg/kg). Feeding AA partly prevented the decreases in body weight gain, gain:food ratio and weights of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus in chicks fed on the 250 mg/kg PTU diet, and also prevented the increase in plasma cholesterol concentrations in chicks fed on the PTU diet. 4. These results suggest that AA improves the performance of chicks with experimentally induced hypothyroidism.     

Optimal dietary concentration of vitamin E for alleviating the effect of heat stress on egg production in laying hens.

1. The effects of different dietary concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) were investigated on laying hens exposed to chronic heat stress at 32 degrees C from 26 to 30 weeks of age. 2. Diets containing 5 dietary concentrations of vitamin E (a control diet containing 10 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg or this diet supplemented to contain 125, 250, 375 and 500 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg) were fed to 335 birds. Half of the birds received the supplemented diets for only 4 weeks before the heat stress period (short supplementation duration, SSD) and were fed on the control diet for a further 12 weeks. The remaining birds were fed on the supplemented diets throughout the experiment, 4 weeks before, 4 weeks during and 8 weeks after the heat stress period (long supplementation duration, LSD). 3. Egg production was significantly higher during (80-6 vs 68.9%, P<0.02) and after (75.3 vs 62.7%, P<0.02) the period of stress in the LSD group fed on the diet containing 250 mg vitamin E/kg compared with the group fed on the control diet. LSD birds given 375 and 500 mg vitamin E/kg also had higher egg production than control birds during heat stress but the differences failed to reach significance (74.6 vs 68.9% and 77.1 vs 68.9% respectively). In the SSD groups, mean egg production of the birds given the diets supplemented with 125 mg vitamin E/kg or more was significantly different from the control group after heat stress (70.3 vs 62.7%, P<0.05). Egg weight and food intake were similar in all the groups. 4. Plasma and liver vitamin E concentrations were proportional to the vitamin E intake before the stress period, dropped during heat stress in the SSD groups but were maintained at concentrations closer to those observed before heat stress in the LSD groups. 5. It is concluded that a dietary supplement of 250 mg vitamin E/kg provided before, during and after heat stress is optimum for alleviating, at least in part, the adverse effects of chronic heat stress in laying hens.     

Effect of different non-chloride sodium sources on the performance of heat-stressed broiler chickens

1. One hundred and eighty 1-d-old broiler chicks were used to evaluate the effect upon broiler performance during severely hot summer months of three different sodium salts: sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and sodium sulphate (Na2SO4), in starter and finisher diets having an identical electrolyte balance (DEB) of 250 mEq/kg. 2. The non-chloride sodium salts were added to contribute the same amount of sodium and were substituted at the expense of builder's sand in the basal diets containing common salt (NaCl) as Na and Cl source. 3. Each diet was fed to three experimental units having 15 chicks each until 42 d of age. Severe heat-stress conditions, maintained in the rearing room, were indicated by high average weekly room temperature (minimum 29.3 degrees C; maximum 38.0 degrees C). 4. Diets containing sodium salts gave better body weight gain, feed intake and feed to gain ratio than the control diet. Sodium salts also enhanced water intake as well as water to feed intake ratio. This effect was more pronounced in broilers fed NaHCO3 supplement (with NaCl in the basal diets). 5. The increased water intake resulted in lower body temperature in heat-stressed birds fed NaHCO3 supplemented diet than in birds fed other sodium salts. A lower mortality rate was noted with NaHCO3 (15.15%), Na2CO3 (13.64%) and Na2SO4 (15.15%) supplements than with the control (33.33%) treatment. 6. Better carcase and parts yield were observed in sodium supplemented broilers. Sodium salts reduced the alkalotic pH and enhanced the blood sodium content, which ultimately improved the blood electrolyte balance and overall performance of heat-stressed broilers. 7. Supplementing broiler diets with sodium salts improved the live performance of heat-stressed broilers and better productive performance was noted with NaHCO3 than other sodium supplements.