The effects of benzoic acid supplementation on the performance of broiler chickens

To determine the efficiency of benzoic acid, a feeding experiment was carried out with 240 one‐day old ROSS 308 cockerels. Birds were divided into three dietary treatments: I (C) – no additives, II (B1) – 0.1% inclusion of benzoic acid, III (B2) – the inclusion of 0.2% benzoic acid. The performance results were similar in birds fed the control diet and the diet with 0.1% of benzoic acid. The dietary inclusion of benzoic acid at 0.2% depressed the growth of broiler chickens (p < 0.05). The dry matter of the digesta increased in the crop and caeca after benzoic acid supplementation. The pH of the caecal contents decreased following benzoic acid supplementation and was the lowest in the B2 group. No differences were found in the pH of the crop, ileal, gizzard digesta and rectum content. Lactic acid bacteria populations were the lowest in the caeca of the B1 group (p < 0.05). Coliform bacteria decreased in the caeca contents following increased benzoic acid supplementation.     

低蛋白、低钙磷日粮添加苯甲酸对生长肥猪生长性能及钙磷代谢的影响

文章旨在研究日粮降低粗蛋白质、钙和磷水平,同时添加苯甲酸对仔猪生长性能、钙磷代谢的影响。试验采用2×2多因素试验设计,选择平均体重接近12 kg的保育猪500头,分为4组,每组5个重复,每个重复25头猪。试验日粮共4个,即低水平日粮(低蛋白、低钙磷)组,高水平日粮组(高蛋白、高钙磷),低水平日粮+15 g/kg苯甲酸组,高水平日粮+15 g/kg苯甲酸组。低水平日粮组较高水平日粮组显著降低了仔猪的生长速度(P <0.05),使25 kg阶段仔猪的采食量显著降低了13%(P <0.05)。低水平日粮添加苯甲酸较较高水平日粮组显著降低了25和40 kg猪尿液pH(P <0.05)。低水平组显著降低了钙、磷摄入量及粪中钙磷含量(P <0.05)。日粮添加苯甲酸可以显著降低尿钙排泄量和提高尿磷排泄量(P <0.05)。低水平日粮显著提高了血清钙水平及碱性磷酸酶活性(P <0.05)。低水平日粮组显著降低了血清磷水平(P <0.05),而高水平日粮+苯甲酸组较高水平日粮组显著提高了血清碱性磷酸酶活力和血清磷水平(P <0.05)。日粮添加苯甲酸可以影响磷的消化率,提供仔猪生长早期血清碱性磷酸酶活力,对生长后期猪的骨矿化无显著影响。     

A blend of benzoic acid and essential oil compounds as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler diets

The discussions about the possibility of bacterial resistance resulting from the use of antimicrobial growth promoters in broiler feed. The limitations of international market have forced the exporting countries to search for alternatives to ensure the animal growth without affecting the quality of the final product. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of in-feed CRINA® Poultry Plus (CPP, a mixture of benzoic acid and essential oils) in enhancing broiler growth performance and reducing coccidial lesions, as a non-antibiotic growth promoter. Effect of CPP on litter moisture content was also assessed. The treatments were: NC, a basal diet without growth promoters; PC, a basal diet with 10 ppm of Avilamycin (AVI); CPPD, a basal diet with 300 ppm of CPP from 1 to 42 d; AVI_(1–21d)/CPP_(22–42d), a basal diet with 10 ppm of AVI from 1 to 21 d and 300 ppm of CPP from 22 to 42 d; and AVI + CPP (1–42 d), a basal diet with 10 ppm of AVI and 300 ppm of CPP from 1 to 42 d. The 5 treatments were applied in a completely randomized arrangement and 10 replicate with 31 birds per pen. The diets with CPP increased body weight gain and feed conversion rates in the 1 to 42 d period and European productive efficiency index compared to birds fed with negative control diet (NC). Furthermore, lesion scores induced by E. acervulina were highest in the NC. The results suggest that CRINA® Poultry Plus can be used as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler diets without losses in productive performance.     

Protein supply in organic broiler diets

Abstract

Organic feed legislation, long-rearing periods and high requirements of sulphur-rich amino acids (AAs) complicate the composition of a well-balanced organic diet for broilers. To evaluate the effect of protein and AA composition, three different diets were fed to 180 Ross broilers, divided over 45 pens. The diets comprised a low crude protein (CP) and AA diet, a high CP diet aiming at AA levels used in conventional production and a low protein diet supplemented with lysine, methionine and threonine up to levels of the high protein diet. Chickens were immunologically challenged with an inactivated infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine; antibody titres, heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratios, lymphoid organ weights and digestibility coefficients were recorded. In general, bird performance improved with increasing dietary CP and AA levels. Dietary treatments did not significantly affect any of the measured immune or stress-related parameters.     

The interaction between maternal and post‐hatch n‐3 fatty acid supplementation in broiler diets

This study investigated whether offspring from n‐3‐supplemented breeders have an enhanced performance and immune organ weight when fed a post‐hatch n‐3‐enriched diet in comparison with their control‐fed counterparts and the importance of timing of omega‐3 supplementation. Therefore, 480 Ross‐308 broiler breeder hens were fed one of four different diets (120/treatment). The control diet (CON) was a basal diet, rich in n‐6 fatty acids (FA). The three other diets were enriched in n‐3 FA, formulated to obtain a different EPA/DHA ratio of 1/1 (EPA = DHA), 1/2 (DHA) or 2/1 (EPA). At 33 weeks of age, eggs were incubated to obtain 1440 offspring. They were set up according to their maternal diet and sex in 48 pens of 30 chicks each (12 pens per maternal treatment: six male and six female). Half of the offspring were given a post‐hatch control diet, whereas to other half received an n‐3‐supplemented diet. Zootechnical performance was followed for starter, grower and finisher phase, and at the end of each phase two, chicks per pen were sacrificed to determine the weight of the immune organs. No interaction was found between maternal and post‐hatch n‐3 treatment for zootechnical performance. An interaction arose between the maternal and post‐hatch n‐3 supplementation for proportional bursa weight at day 1 and day 14 and proportional liver weight at day 14, but effects on immune organ weight were rather limited. Offspring post‐hatch n‐3 supplementation did not enhance maternal n‐3 supplementation.     

Increased iron level in phytase-supplemented diets reduces performance and nutrient utilisation in broiler chickens

1. The effect of different levels of dietary iron on phytase activity and its subsequent effect on broiler performance were investigated in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. A total of 360 day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were distributed to 6 experimental diets, formulated with three levels of Fe (60, 80 and 100 mg/kg) and two levels of phytase (0 and 500 FTU/kg).

2. Phytase supplemented to mid-Fe diets increased feed consumption more than the non-supplemented diet at d 24. From hatch to d 35, Fe × phytase interaction significantly influenced the feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The high-Fe diet supplemented with phytase significantly reduced FI and BWG of broilers than those supplemented with low- or mid-Fe diets. The overall FCR was significantly better in birds fed on the mid-Fe diets with phytase supplementation.

3. A significant improvement in ileal digestibility of N, P, Mg and Fe was observed in birds feed diets containing 60 mg Fe/kg, with significant interaction between Fe and phytase.

4. Phytase improved the bone breaking strength when supplemented to low- or mid-Fe diets, compared to the non-supplemented diets. There was a significant Fe × phytase interaction effect. Tibia Fe content was higher in birds fed on phytase-free diets with high Fe but the reverse was the case when phytase was added and their interaction was significant. High dietary Fe significantly increased the accumulation of Fe in liver.

5. Phytase improved Ca-Mg-ATPase, Ca-ATPase and Mg-ATPase activities in jejunum when supplemented to the diet containing 80 mg Fe/kg.

6. This study indicates that high (100 mg/kg) dietary Fe inhibited phytase efficacy and subsequently reduced the overall performance and nutrient utilisation of broilers.     

Organic acid blend in diets of broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a blend of organic acids (OAs) in diets with or without antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) in chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens. Day-old male broiler chicks were used in a trial with 4 treatments and 6 replicates of 50 birds per pen, for 43 days, in a completely randomized design. The treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement consisted of the presence or absence of enramycin (AGP) and of a blend of OA in the feed. All birds were inoculated at 7 days of age with an anticoccidial vaccine in the drinking water; on days 14, 15, and 16, they were inoculated with C. perfringens in the feed. OA improved weight gain, body weight, and feed intake in the periods 1–7 days and 1–21 days in chicks without antibiotic supplementation. The AGP had the main effect of increasing weight gain and body weight at 35 d; the OA increased weight gain, body weight, and feed intake at 43 days of age. The birds supplemented with OA without AGP had a higher number of CD3+ cells in the ileum mucosa and lower crypt depth than birds supplemented with both OA and antibiotic at 7 days. At 21 days of age, birds fed OA without AGP had higher villus height and a larger villus/crypt ratio; however, there were no differences in the CD3+ cells in the ileal mucosa. The use of OA was beneficial for weight gain and AGP for feed conversion, and the combination of OA and AGP brings complementary advantages in production.     

Effects of methionine and guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on performance and energy metabolites in breast muscle of male broiler chickens fed corn-soybean diets

ABSTRACT

1. Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the single endogenous precursor of creatine, which plays a critical role in energy homeostasis of cells. Since GAA is endogenously converted to creatine by methylation, it was hypothesised that the effects of dietary GAA supplementation might determine the methionine (Met) availability in corn-soybean based diets.

2. A total of 540, one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were allocated to nine dietary treatments with six replicates (10 birds each) in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with three graded levels of supplementary Met (+0.4 g/kg per level), whilst cystine was equal across groups, resulting in a low, medium and high level of total sulphur amino acids, and with three levels of GAA (0, 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg). Birds were fed for 42 days.

3. Increasing levels of supplemental Met enhanced performance indices in all rearing periods, although there was no effect on feed conversion ratio in the grower or feed intake in the finisher periods. Final body weight was 8.8% and 14.6% higher in the birds fed medium and high Met diets, respectively, compared to the low Met level. Relative breast weight and protein content in muscle on d 25 linearly increased with higher levels of Met. At low and high Met levels, growth in the finisher phase was negatively affected by supplementing GAA at 1.2 g/kg. It was suggested that disturbances in methylation homeostasis and/or changes in Arg metabolism might explain these findings. At the end of the grower phase, muscle creatine content was higher when feeding GAA at 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg (4464 and 4472, respectively, vs. 4054 mg/kg fresh muscle in the control group).

4. The effects of dietary GAA supplementation were influenced by the dietary Met level only in the finisher period, which indicates the need for proper sulphur amino acid formulation in diets when feeding GAA.     

Benzoic acid beneficially affects growth performance of weaned pigs which was associated with changes in gut bacterial populations,morphology indices and growth factor gene expression

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of benzoic acid (BA) on growth performance, intestinal development and intestinal barrier function in weaned pigs. Ninety weaned pigs were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: a basal diet (CON), the basal diet supplemented with 2000 mg/kg benzoic acid (BA1) and 5000 mg/kg benzoic acid (BA2). At the end of days 14 and 42, six pigs per treatment were randomly selected to collect plasma and intestinal samples. Results showed that BA supplementation not only improved final body weight, daily growth and feed conversion ratio from days 15 to 42 and days 1 to 42, but also decreased the activity of plasma diamine oxidase (day 42) and the pH values of jejunal contents (day 14) (p < 0.05). Ileal Bacillus populations (day 14) were increased by BA, while Escherichia coli counts in the ileum and caecum (day 42) were decreased (p < 0.05). Higher Lactobacillus counts occurred in the ileum (day 14, 42) of BA1‐fed piglets as compared to CON and BA2‐fed piglets (p < 0.05). In addition, BA supplementation increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (day 14, 42) and decreased the crypt depth (day 14) (p < 0.05). Growth‐stimulating factors (insulin‐like growth factor‐1, day 42; insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor, day 14, 42) and tight junction protein (occludin, day 14, 42; zonula occludens‐1, day 42)‐related gene mRNA levels were upregulated in the jejunum of piglets fed BA diets (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence that BA has beneficial effects on intestinal development and intestinal barrier function of weaned pigs, which can partly explain why growth performance of pigs was improved by dietary BA supplementation.     

苯甲酸和精油对肉鸡生长性能、抗氧化状态和肠道微生物群的影响

本研究开展了3个饲养试验,旨在探讨苯甲酸和精油单独或联合使用对肉鸡生长性能、肠道微生物含量及肝脏抗氧化性能的影响.试验1和2均选择1日龄肉鸡450只,分为3组,每组5个重复,每个重复30只.对照组均饲喂相同的基础日粮,试验1处理组肉鸡分别饲喂基础日粮添加1.5和3?g/kg苯甲酸,试验2处理组肉鸡分别饲喂日粮添加2和4...     

Body composition and heat expenditure in broiler chickens fed diets with or without trans fatty acids

The effect of a diet containing trans fatty acids (TFA) on the fatty acid composition and fat accumulation was investigated in broiler chickens. Female broilers were fed a control or a TFA-containing diet. The difference between the diets was that a part of cis 18:1 in the control diet was replaced by the TFA. Body composition, energy balance and the fatty acid composition were examined. Over the time-period studied (15 days), the body fat content and the protein content did not differ significantly between the TFA-fed group and the control. In energy balance studies, total energy intake, energy loss in excreta, energy expenditure and energy storage did not differ between the treatments. Compared to the control diet, the TFA diet resulted in significantly higher amounts of 14:0 and 18:1n-7 and lower amounts of 18:1n-9 and 20:4n-6 in the body. In conclusion, the data suggest that feeding TFA for 15 days to female broilers had no effect on energy retention, energy expenditure and energy loss in excreta or in body composition in terms of fat and protein. Only the fatty acid composition in the body was affected by the treatment with TFA. In addition, 50% of ingested TFA was incorporated into the body fat. This may have a negative effect on the dietetic value of chicken meat.     

Performance and physiological responses of broiler chickens to supplemental guanidinoacetic acid in arginine-deficient diets

1. The present experiment was designed to examine arginine (Arg)-sparing effects of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on production performance, intestinal morphology and certain blood parameters in broiler chickens.

2. A total of 300 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatments in a completely randomised design during 1–15 and 15–35 d rearing periods. Experimental treatments consisted of a basal diet with a reduction in Arg content (CON?; starter: 12.1 g/kg and grower: 11.3 g/kg Arg), a CON? diet supplemented with synthetic Arg equal to the required Arg level (CON+; starter: 13.80 g/kg; grower: 12.37 g/kg) and CON? diet supplemented with three levels of GAA (GAA0.6; GAA1.2; and GAA1.8; g/kg).

3. Supplemental GAA at 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg reduced the adverse effects of the CON? diet on weight gain and feed conversion ratio in the starter period, equal to the effect of CON+ diet. During the entire rearing period, such an effect was only seen for broilers fed CON? diet supplemented with 1.2 and 1.8 g/kg GAA (P < 0.05). Proportional weights of liver and abdominal fat were decreased in birds fed diets containing supplemental Arg and 1.8 g/kg GAA compared to the CON? broilers (P < 0.05). Jejunal villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio were increased in broilers receiving the CON? diet (P < 0.05). Serum concentration of nitric oxide increased when the CON? diet was supplemented with either Arg or 1.8 g/kg GAA (P < 0.05).

4. Dietary inclusion of GAA had an Arg-sparing effect, whereby 1.2 and 1.8 g/kg of supplemental GAA resulted in greater growth performance during the starter and entire rearing periods, respectively. Supplementation with 1.8 g/kg GAA had significant effects on some carcass and physiological parameters.     

Guanidinoacetic acid supplementation in broiler chickens fed on corn-soybean diets affects performance in the finisher period and energy metabolites in breast muscle independent of diet nutrient density

(1) Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the single immediate endogenous precursor of creatine (Cr). It was hypothesised that dietary GAA would have different effects on performance and energy metabolites in breast muscle depending on the nutrient density (ND) of corn-soybean-based diets.

(2) A total of 540 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were allocated to 9 dietary treatments with 6 replicates (10 birds each) in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with three levels of ND (low, 2800; medium, 2950 and high, 3100 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg; and with the other nutrients being constant relative to ME) and supplemented with three levels of GAA (0, 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg) in a 42-d feeding trial.

(3) In the starter and grower periods, increasing levels of ND improved body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), with the exception of ADFI in the starter period. GAA supplementation did not affect performance characteristics. All performance indicators responded markedly to increasing ND in the finisher period, whereas the highest GAA level reduced ADFI compared to the unsupplemented control (156 vs. 162 g/d) and concomitantly FCR (1.81 vs. 1.93). No interactive effects were noted for any performance trait. The high ND diet resulted in more breast meat yield on d42, associated with higher fat content and darker colour compared to the other ND levels. The GAA supplementation did not affect carcass and breast traits. At the end of the experiment, Cr was elevated when feeding GAA at 1.2 g/kg (5455 vs. 4338 mg/kg fresh muscle).

(4) To conclude, ND had a substantial effect on performance and carcass traits, whereas any effect of GAA was limited to FCR in the finisher period and independent of diet ND level.     

理想氨基酸水平对肉仔鸡生产性能和屠体性状的影响

试验选用1日龄爱拔益加商品代肉仔鸡600只(公母各半),随机分为3个组,每组8个重复,每个重复25只鸡。分别饲喂高、中、低理想氨基酸水平的日粮,研究理想氨基酸水平对肉仔鸡生产性能和屠体性状的影响。结果表明,0~44日龄中氨基酸水平组和高氨酸水平组的出栏重显著高于低氨酸水平组(P<0.05)。高氨基酸水平组腹脂率显著低于低氨基酸水平组41.63%(P<0.05);高氨基酸水平组大腿肉率和净腿肉率均显著高于中和低氨基酸水平组(P<0.05)。     

高淀粉水平日粮补充棕榈酸对奶牛生长性能、乳成分及代谢参数的影响

文章旨在评估高淀粉水平日粮补充不同类型的脂肪酸对泌乳期奶牛生长性能、乳成分及血清代谢参数的影响.试验将泌乳量一致的24头荷斯坦奶牛随机分为3组,每组4个重复,每个重复2头.各组日粮设计如下:T1为26.5％淀粉水平+1.5％硬脂酸,T2为26.5％淀粉水平+1.5％棕榈酸,T3为正常淀粉水平组(21％淀粉不添加脂肪酸)...     

Improving the nutritional quality and shelf life of broiler meat by feeding diets supplemented with fermented pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) by-products

1. Four experimental diets containing 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% fermented pomegranate by-products (FPB) were supplied to 320d-old broilers to evaluate the effects of FPB on growth performance, nutritional composition, fatty acid profile and oxidative stability of meat.

2. Dietary supplementation of FPB linearly increased the weight gain and feed intake of broilers with linear reduction in feed conversion ratio.

3. The crude protein, iron, magnesium, and sodium content were linearly higher, whereas cholesterol was linearly lower in the breast meat of FPB-supplemented broilers. In thigh meat, linearly lower ether extract and cholesterol with higher moisture was noted in response to increasing levels of FPB.

4. The proportion of saturated fatty acids was both linearly and quadratically lower in breast and thigh meat, whereas those of monounsaturated fatty acids of breast (linear and quadratic) and n-3 fatty acids of breast and thigh (linear) meat was higher in the FPB-supplemented broilers. The n-6/n-3 ratio of breast meat was linearly lower in response to FPB supplementation. The hypocholesterolaemic to hypercholesterolaemic ratio of thigh meat was higher in the FPB-supplemented groups.

5. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and pH value were lower in the breast and thigh meat of FPB-supplemented broilers.

6. Thus, additive supplementation of the diet with up to 2% FPB improved the nutritional quality, fatty acid profile and shelf life of broiler meat.     

Tall oil fatty acid inclusion in the diet improves performance and increases ileal density of lactobacilli in broiler chickens

1. Studies were conducted with tall oil fatty acids (TOFA) to determine their effect on broiler chicken performance and ileal microbiota. TOFA, a product originating from coniferous trees and recovered by fractional distillation of side-streams from pulp production, mainly comprises free long-chain fatty acids (~90%) and resin acids (~8%). Conjugated linolenic acids and pinolenic acid are characteristic fatty acid components of TOFA.

2. TOFA products at 750 mg/kg feed were tested in two 35-day broiler chicken trials, each using a wheat soya-based diet and with 12 replicate pens per treatment. In both trials, TOFA improved body weight gain at all time points (P < 0.001) and feed conversion efficiency during the first 21 days (P < 0.01). Two different dry TOFA formulations (silica carrier and palm oil coating) were tested and showed performance effects similar to liquid TOFA.

3. Ileal digesta of the broiler chickens was analysed for total eubacteria, Lactobacillus spp., Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens on days 14 and 35. TOFA significantly increased total eubacteria and lactobacilli density on day 14 (P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between these bacterial groups and broiler body weight on day 14 (P < 0.01).

4. A numerical reduction in C. perfringens was observed. In vitro growth inhibition studies showed that C. perfringens was strongly inhibited by 10 mg/l TOFA (P < 0.001), while common lactobacilli were resistant to >250 mg/l. The in vitro results were thus in line with in vivo observations.

5. The mechanisms behind the bacterial shifts and their role in performance improvement are unknown. Further purification of TOFA components is needed to identify the effective agents.