The Effects of a Natural Antibiotic Alternative and a Natural Growth Promoter Feed Additive on Broiler Performance and Carcass Quality

The use of subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics in poultry feed improves performance and morbidity in broiler chickens. However, consumer pressure related to the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has resulted in the development of nonantibiotic feed additives that may also improve broiler performance. Essential oils, organic acids, and phytogenic compounds enhance production of gastric secretions, stimulate blood circulation, and reduce levels of pathogenic bacteria. The objective of the current study was to assess the use of Biostrong 505+ and Biostrong 510 as natural growth promoters in broiler chickens. Assessment was based on the performance and carcass quality of broilers fed either a maximum-yield or a least-cost commercial broiler diet. The maximum-yield diet improved broiler performance and carcass quality. Biostrong 505+ can be used to improve feed conversion and breast yield when incorporated into diets devoid of antibiotics. This improvement in feed conversion and breast yield was accentuated when Biostrong 505+ was used in conjunction with a maximum-yield diet. Biostrong 510 improved feed conversion when used in poultry diets containing antibiotics.     

Essential oil and aromatic plants as feed additives in non-ruminant nutrition:a review

This paper summarizes the current knowledge regarding the possible modes of action and nutritional factors involved in the use of essential oils(EOs) for swine and poultry.EOs have recently attracted increased interest as feed additives to be fed to swine and poultry,possibly replacing the use of antibiotic growth promoters which have been prohibited in the European Union since 2006.In general,EOs enhance the production of digestive secretions and nutrient absorption,reduce pathogenic stress in the gut,exert antioxidant properties and reinforce the animal's immune status,which help to explain the enhanced performance observed in swine and poultry.However,the mechanisms involved in causing this growth promotion are far from being elucidated,since data on the complex gut ecosystem,gut function,in vivo oxidative status and immune system are still lacking.In addition,limited information is available regarding the interaction between EOs and feed ingredients or other feed additives(especially pro- or prebiotics and organic acids).This knowledge may help feed formulators to better utilize EOs when they formulate diets for poultry and swine.     

Essential oil and aromatic plants as feed additives in non-ruminant nutrition: a review

This paper summarizes the current knowledge regarding the possible modes of action and nutritional factors involved in the use of essential oils (EOs) for swine and poultry. EOs have recently attracted increased interest as feed additives to be fed to swine and poultry, possibly replacing the use of antibiotic growth promoters which have been prohibited in the European Union since 2006. In general, EOs enhance the production of digestive secretions and nutrient absorption, reduce pathogenic stress in the gut, exert antioxidant properties and reinforce the animal’s immune status, which help to explain the enhanced performance observed in swine and poultry. However, the mechanisms involved in causing this growth promotion are far from being elucidated, since data on the complex gut ecosystem, gut function, in vivo oxidative status and immune system are still lacking. In addition, limited information is available regarding the interaction between EOs and feed ingredients or other feed additives (especially pro- or prebiotics and organic acids). This knowledge may help feed formulators to better utilize EOs when they formulate diets for poultry and swine.     

黄粉虫的营养特性及其在畜禽饲粮中的应用效果

蛋白质是动物饲粮的第二大成分,然而中国饲料蛋白质原料资源日益短缺,严重制约了畜牧业的健康可持续发展。黄粉虫（Tenebrio molitor L.）食性广、繁殖快、产出高,属于可再生的生物资源,其干物质中粗蛋白质、甲壳素、不饱和脂肪酸、维生素等含量较丰富,能够提取具有抗菌、抑炎、免疫调节等功能的生物活性物质,如抗菌肽、凝集素,且具有生长快、易规模饲养、占用土地少等优点,有望成为一种新型蛋白质饲料资源,进而缓解当前饲料蛋白质原料不足的现状。有研究表明,黄粉虫可以部分替代饲粮中的常规蛋白质饲料原料,提高畜禽生长或生产性能,改善产品品质,以及提高畜禽机体健康水平。作者阐述了黄粉虫的营养成分、畜禽对黄粉虫营养物质的消化率,在参考国内外最新研究成果的基础上综述了黄粉虫部分替代常规蛋白质饲料原料,改善畜禽生长或生产性能,提高肉禽屠宰性能,改善家禽产品品质,调节畜禽机体物质代谢,增强机体免疫和抗氧化功能以及改善肠道健康的作用,并对其在畜禽生产中的应用前景进行展望,以期为推广黄粉虫在畜牧业中的应用提供参考。     

Strategies to modulate the intestinal microbiota and their effects on nutrient utilization,performance, and health of poultry

Poultry is widely produced and consumed meat global y. Its demand is expected to continue increasing to meet the animal protein requirement for ever-increasing human population. Thus, the chal enge that poultry scientists and industry face are to produce sufficient amount of poultry meat in the most efficient way. In the past, using antibiotics to promote the growth of poultry and manage gut microbiota was a norm. However, due to concerns over potential fatalistic impacts on food animals and indirectly to humans, their use as feed additives are banned or regulated in several jurisdictions. In this changed context, several alternative strategies have been proposed with some success that mimics the functions of antibiotics as growth promoters and modulate gut microbiota for their beneficial roles. These include the use of probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, and exogenous enzyme, among others. Gut microbiota and their metabolic products improve nutrient digestion, absorption, metabolism, and overal health and growth performance of poultry. This paper reviews the available information on the effect of feed additives used to modulate intestinal microbiota of poultry and their effects on overal health and growth performance. Understanding these functions and interactions wil help to develop new dietary and managerial strategies that wil ultimately lead to enhanced feed utilization and improved growth performance of poultry. This review wil help future researchers and industry to identify alternative feed ingredients having properties like prebiotics, probiotics, organic acids, and exogenous enzymes.     

Formulation challenges of organic poultry diets with readily available ingredients and limited synthetic methionine

Organic agriculture has increased greatly over the past several years as consumer demand for these products has risen. Organic meat production, including poultry, has grown especially quickly, resulting in increasingly stringent guidelines being put in place to ensure safe, uniform, and ideal products for these consumers. Feed formulation and manufacturing for organic poultry in the United States are strictly regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program. Currently, no synthetic amino acids are allowed to be used in organic poultry diets in the United States except for limited quantities of synthetic methionine since it is typically considered the first or second limiting amino acid in corn and soybean meal based poultry diets and it is a critical nutrient for maintaining bird growth and productive performance, especially regarding egg size in laying hens. The aim of the review herein is to discuss the impacts that current organic regulations on synthetic methionine have on diet formulation when using readily available ingredients. High levels of crude protein must be used to meet bird methionine requirements with this restriction in place, which both increases feed costs and can have negative impacts on bird health and on air quality and the surrounding environment due to increased ammonia emissions. Atypical feed formulation strategies have been explored to address this issue, including such methods as feeding alternative ingredients and providing forage materials. Another possibility would be to use an average lifetime maximum inclusion rate for synthetic methionine, which may allow for better flexibility to provide sufficient methionine throughout various phases of growth and production since the requirements of the bird change with age.     

Poultry litter ash as a replacement for dicalcium phosphate in broiler diets

An experiment was designed to evaluate the nutritional value of poultry litter ash (PLA) under commercial-type conditions. Diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of the broiler utilizing PLA at combinations of 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% in starter, grower, and finisher diets as a replacement for dicalcium phosphate (DP). No significant effects were observed on BW, feed consumption, FCR, or mortality when broilers were fed PLA to 100% replacement for DP to 41 d of age. Processing performance, as measured by carcass and meat yield, of broilers at 42 d of age was also unaffected (P > 0.05). The complete substitution of DP with PLA failed to compromise growth and processing performance in market age broilers and the PLA produced via the combustion of poultry litter can be used as a phosphorus source in poultry diets.     

Current experimental models,assessment and dietary modulations of intestinal permeability in broiler chickens

Maintaining and optimising the intestinal barrier (IB) function in poultry has important implications for the health and performance of the birds. As a key aspect of the IB, intestinal permeability (IP) is mainly controlled by complex junctional proteins called tight junction proteins (TJ) that link enterocytes together. The disruption of TJ is associated with increased gut leakage with possible subsequent implications for bacterial translocation, intestinal inflammation, compromised health and performance of the birds. Despite considerable data being available for other species, research on IP in broiler chickens and in general avian species is still an understudied topic. This paper reviews the available literature with a specific focus on IP in broiler chickens with consideration given to practical factors affecting the IP, current assessment methods, markers and nutritional modulation of IP. Several experimental models to induce gut leakage are discussed including pathogens, rye-based diets, feed deprivation and stress-inducing agents such as exogenous glucocorticoids and heat stress. Although various markers including fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran, expression of TJ and bacterial translocation have been widely utilized to study IP, recent studies have identified a number of excreta biomarkers to evaluate intestinal integrity, in particular non-invasive IP. Although the research on various nutrients and feed additives to potentially modulate IP is still at an early stage, the most promising outcomes are anticipated for probiotics, prebiotics, amino acids and those feed ingredients, nutrients and additives with anti-inflammatory properties. Considerable research gaps are identified for the mechanistic mode of action of various nutrients to influence IP under different experimental models. The modulation of IP through various strategies (i.e. nutritional manipulation of diet) may be regarded as a new frontier for disease prevention and improving the health and performance of poultry particularly in an antibiotic-free production system.     

蝇蛆的营养特性及其在畜禽生产中的应用研究进展

蝇蛆繁殖能力强、生长周期短、养殖成本低,其粗蛋白质、不饱和脂肪酸和矿物质等含量高,必需氨基酸种类较齐全,并可提取几丁质、凝集素和抗菌肽等生物活性物质,是一种优质的昆虫蛋白质饲料。研究表明,蝇蛆及其制品能够部分替代饲粮中常规蛋白质饲料,提高畜禽生长或生产性能、提升产品品质、增强机体抗氧化和免疫功能以及调节肠道菌群结构。本文综述了蝇蛆的营养特性及其应用于畜禽生产中的最新研究成果,以期为其在养殖业中的应用及进一步研究提供参考。     

Lysine requirements of Korean native ducklings for three weeks after hatch

Dietary lysine content in poultry diets is critical to improve feed utilization efficiency, body protein deposition rate, and carcass traits of growing and finishing poultry. The objective of the current study was to estimate the optimum digestible lysine requirements for maximum growth performance, efficient utilization of nitrogen, and carcass traits of male Korean native ducklings for 3 wk after hatch. A total of 720 one-day-old male Korean native ducklings were used in a completely randomized design having 8 dietary treatments to provide a range of digestible lysine content from 0.44 to 1.07%. Ducklings were randomly allotted to 24 floor pens (6 replicates per treatment and 15 ducklings per pen) and were offered the respective diets on an ad libitum basis for the period of study. Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly to calculate feed conversion ratio. At the termination of the experiment, 2 ducklings per pen were euthanized via cervical dislocation to weigh empty body and drumsticks. The digestible lysine requirement was determined by taking a mean value after fitting the data to both linear-plateau and quadratic-plateau models. Digestible lysine requirements for Korean native ducklings for 3 wk after hatch were estimated to be 0.71, 0.74, 0.65 and 1.01% for maximum body weight, daily gain, and daily feed intake, and for minimum feed conversion ratio, respectively.     

Effect of poultry litter biochar diet inclusion on feed manufacture and 4- to 21-d broiler performance

Decreasing diet cost and minimizing environmental impact are current issues that can affect the success of poultry production. In the eastern United States, much concern has been generated surrounding eutrophication of the Chesapeake Bay due to nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from land application of litter. Gasification of poultry litter and feeding the resultant poultry litter biochar (PLB) may be an alternative to traditional land application of litter. In addition, PLB may provide a cost-effective source of essential nutrients for poultry by the partial or complete replacement of rock phosphorus in poultry diets, and may also provide a mechanism for improving feed manufacture variables. The objectives of this study were to assess effects of diet incorporation of PLB on feed manufacture and pellet quality (Study 1) and subsequent feeding effects on broiler performance and tibia ash (Study 2). Seven diets were formulated to compare the replacement of rock phosphorus with PLB. Inclusion of PLB was high, 6.2 or 6.9%, in order to maximize rock phosphorus replacement but also to assess potential detriments. Four diets were chosen to generate replicated feed manufacture and pellet quality data. The addition of PLB to diets was shown to improve pellet quality (P < 0.05). Diets containing PLB decreased live weight gain and FCR; however, a positive yet modest contribution to bone mineralization was demonstrated (P < 0.0001). Therefore, PLB contains available phosphorus and calcium; however, the bioavailability of these minerals relative to rock phosphorus was not equivalent. Furthermore, the particular PLB tested decreased broiler performance.     

Inclusion of Buckwheat in Organic Broiler Diets

Many smaller farms in the United States are switching to organic crop production to remain competitive in an era of industrial agriculture. In doing so, they are cultivating crops not traditionally grown in the area. In the US Midwest, a popular organic crop is buckwheat. As organic corn continues to increase in price, many organic poultry farms are using alternative grains in their poultry diets, including buckwheat. Although buckwheat has been used as a livestock and poultry feed for many years, there are very few published data available on its use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of buckwheat as the main ingredient in organic broiler diets. Four experimental diets were used, with varying levels of buckwheat: 0, 20, 40, and 60%. The results indicated that up to 60% buckwheat can be included in broiler diets with no significant effect on BW gain. With the 60% inclusion level, however, there was a significant decline in feed efficiency. As the price of organic corn continues to increase, the lower price for buckwheat may make it an economical substitute in organic broiler diets.     

Evaluation of growth performance of broiler birds fed with diet containing different levels of velvet bean meal as an alternative protein ingredient

The effect of replacement of soybean meal (SBM) by the velvet bean meal (VBM) as an alternative protein ingredient on the growth performance of broiler birds was investigated. The seed materials of velvet bean (VB) [Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. utilis (Wall. ex Wight) Baker ex Burck], an under-utilized food legume collected from South India, was found to contain appreciable levels of proteins (265 g/kg DM); lipid (65.1 g/kg DM); Neutral Detergent Fiber (84.3 g/kg DM) and ash content (49.2 g/kg DM). Soaking in sodium-bi-carbonate solution + autoclaving treatment was found to cause substantial reduction on the levels of antinutritional compounds such as tannins (75%), L-Dopa (81%), phytic acid (70%), raffinose (92%), stachyose (89%), verbascose (71%), haemagglutinating activity (75%), trypsin inhibitor activity (78%) and α-amylase inhibitor activity (77%) without affecting the nutritional quality of VB seeds. Such processed VBM was incorporated as an alternative protein source by replacing the SBM protein at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% levels in the commercial type broiler diets. Replacement of SBM up to 40% level with VBM as an alternative protein ingredient in the poultry diet, which corresponds to the inclusion of VBM up to 15.7% in the starter feed and 11% in the finisher phase poultry feed, exhibited better growth performance of the broiler birds without any adverse effects.     

净能体系在肉鸡应用中的研究进展

能量是肉鸡各种生命活动的基础,也是肉鸡饲料中价格占比最高的元素,主要源于日粮中碳水化合物、脂肪和蛋白质的化学能。准确评估肉鸡能量需要量和日粮成分能量水平在肉鸡营养和生产中具有重要的科研和经济价值。代谢能（ME）体系是目前用于家禽饲料原料能值评定的成熟体系,在家禽营养和配方中被广泛使用。但和净能（NE）体系相比,代谢能体系忽略了饲料中不同原料成分摄食和消化过程中的热增耗（HI）差异对原料能值评价的影响,降低了原料能值评定的准确性。因此,作者结合国内外肉鸡净能相关研究进展,重点就肉鸡净能测定方法、肉鸡原料净能预测方程和影响肉鸡净能体系应用因素等方面进行综述讨论,以期为净能体系在肉鸡生产中的应用提供参考。     

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.     

Effects of Rice Bran Inclusion on Performance and Bone Mineralization in Broiler Chicks

Rice bran, a by-product of the rice industry, is available for animal feeds. However, it has not been a common part of poultry rations in Argentina. Hydrolytic and oxidative rancidity development, phytate content, enzyme inhibitor, and high fiber content are the most important antinutritive factors cited as limiting factors for its use. An experiment utilizing 1-d-old male broiler chicks was conducted to determine the responses of zootechnical and bone mineralization parameters to diets with different concentrations of rice bran. The feed conversion and tibia ash were more sensitive than weight gain to detect antinutritive factors in rice bran. High concentrations of rice bran (in excess of 20%) produced a significant reduction in body weight. Furthermore, feed conversion and bone mineralization variables were impaired by feeding 10% rice bran diets. The adverse effects of rice bran on weight gain, feed conversion, and mineralization in the current studies suggest that rice bran should be included in broiler diets at a level between 10 and 20% if strategies are not used to decrease the antinutritive activity.     

饲料添加剂调节畜禽肠道菌群及其生长性状的研究进展

肠道菌群影响畜禽生长发育以及相关多个重要经济性状。就多种饲料添加剂调节畜禽肠道菌群及其生长性状的研究进展进行综述。从生物学机制出发,介绍了饲料添加剂对畜禽肠道菌群及其生长性状的影响和菌群移植影响宿主生长性状的研究进展,总结了通过饲料添加剂影响畜禽肠道菌群、改善畜禽生长性能的应用实践。     

Effects of catfish meal blend inclusion in broiler feeds on live performance and carcass yield attributes

This study was designed to investigate whether a catfish meal blend, formulated into broiler feed as a protein supplement, would influence broiler growth and meat yield when included in the diet at industry-acceptable levels. A catfish meal blend was fed at an inclusion rate of 7.5% of the diet to broilers raised to 42 d on a 3-feed program. This treatment was compared with broilers raised on a corn-soybean meal control diet (no animal protein products) and a diet with 7.5% poultry by-product meal. Each animal protein product was formulated into the diets based on a nutritional matrix and was not substituted for another ingredient. The broilers were raised with 50 birds per pen (10 replicate pens per treatment). Five males and 5 females per pen were processed and deboned at 42 d to compare carcass and meat yields. Body weights at 21 d were highest for birds fed the catfish meal blend, with the corn-soybean meal control treatment being the lowest and the poultry by-product meal treatment being intermediate. No significant differences were recorded after 21 d, and no differences were seen in period gains from 21 to 35 or 35 to 42 d. Feed conversion at 21 d favored birds in those treatments fed animal protein products; however, no significant differences were seen at 35 or 42 d. No significant differences were noted in mortality during any of the production periods. Chilled carcass, fillet, and tender yields were not significantly affected by feeding either of the animal protein products. In conclusion, the catfish meal blend included in broiler feeds at an industry-acceptable level (7.5%) showed no adverse effects on broilers grown to 42 d. No health effects were recorded and live performance parameters were not reduced in comparison with the other treatments.     

Peel meals as feed ingredients in poultry diets: Chemical composition,dietary recommendations and prospects

The increase demand for poultry products has had direct effect on the supply and price of feed. This has increased research interest into the potential of locally available, less competed and low cost materials as feed ingredients. Several peels from roots/tubers and fruits have been evaluated in poultry diets but recommendations have not been consistent. High fibre, low nutrient density and likely presence of antinutritional factors limit the efficient utilisation of peel meal by poultry. Plant cultivar, age, agronomic practices, method of peel processing, breed and age of poultry all affect the inclusion level of peel meal in poultry diets. The increase interest in breeding crops for low antinutrients, knowledge in processing technologies and availability of several additives such as enzyme products, amino acids and antinutrients binding agents in the feed market could improve the usefulness of peel meal in on‐farm poultry rations. This study reviews the potential of selected root/tuber and fruit peels as feed ingredients for poultry with regards their composition, dietary recommendation and prospects.     

Evaluation of wet-feeding wheat-based diets containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae to broiler chickens

1. This experiment investigated the effects of water and Saccharomyces cerevisiae added to wheat-based diets on gastrointestinal, blood and performance parameters of broiler chickens. 2. A total of 160 one-d-old male broiler chicks were given air-dry or wet diets, with or without S. cerevisiae supplementation (0 and 20 g/kg air-dry feed) ad libitum to 42 d. 3. Feeding broilers with a diet mixed with water in a ratio of 1·2 : 1·0 increased body weight, feed intake, abdominal fat, carcase weight, feed transit time and blood HDL (high density lipoprotein) (without yeast). Supplementation with S. cerevisiae increased DM digestibility but reduced ileal pH, ileal coliform population and abdominal fat content. 4. There was a significant interaction between S. cerevisiae and wet feeding, with S. cerevisiae supplementation inducing a significant increase in body weight and feed intake but a reduction of relative abdominal fat and ileal pH of broilers fed on wet diets. 5. It is concluded that wet feeding improved growth performance by increasing feed intake and that the addition of a culture of S. cerevisiae had a growth stimulating effect, as the inclusion of yeast in wet wheat-based broiler diets generated greater responses than yeast in dry-based diets.