木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡养分利用和消化器官发育的影响

本试验研究了小麦型饲粮中添加木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡养分利用及消化器官发育的影响.将240只1日龄爱拔益加肉仔鸡随机分为4个处理,每个处理5个重复,每个重复12只鸡,分别饲喂在含40%小麦的饲粮中添加不同水平木聚糖酶(0、500、1 000和5 000 U/kg)的试验饲粮.试验期21 d.结果表明,木聚糖酶对17～21日龄肉仔鸡粗蛋白质、钙及总磷利用率及粪便含水率无显著影响(P>0.05);趋于提高17～21日龄肉仔鸡干物质利用率(P=0.093)及表观代谢能值(P=0.110);各组肉仔鸡养分表观利用率无显著差异(P>0.05).添加木聚糖酶未显著影响21日龄肉仔鸡小肠、胃、胰腺和脾脏相对重量(P>0.05).1 000 U/kg酶组显著降低了21日龄肉仔鸡回肠相对长度(P<0.05).木聚糖酶对21日龄肉仔鸡胫骨干重、长度、灰分及磷含量无显著影响(P>0.05).本研究表明:含40%小麦的肉仔鸡饲粮中添加不同水平的木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡养分利用及大部分肠道器官发育均未产生显著作用;超量添加对肉仔鸡养分利用无进一步改善作用,也未产生负面影响.     

饮水型复合微生态制剂对肉仔鸡生产性能、血清生化指标及肠道菌群的影响

文章旨在探讨饮水中添加粪链球菌、屎肠球菌复合微生态制剂对AV500肉仔鸡生产性能、血清生化指标及肠道菌群的影响。试验组饮水中加入35 mg/kg肠球菌复合微生态制剂;对照组饮用普通饮水。试验结果表明:1~21日龄、22~42日龄试验组肉仔鸡死淘率比对照组降低53.33%和61.49%(P0.05);21日龄肉仔鸡试验组脾脏指数、胸腺指数、法氏囊指数均显著高于对照组(P0.05),分别提高16.7%、44.4%、28.6%(P0.05);42日龄肉仔鸡试验组脾脏指数高于对照组33.3%(P0.05),胸腺指数、法氏囊指数与对照组差异不显著(P0.05)。试验组肉仔鸡盲肠、回肠肠道内肠球菌的数量均显著高于对照组(P0.05),21日龄和42日龄试验组和对照组肉仔鸡盲肠内大肠杆菌数量差异不显著(P0.05),试验组肉仔鸡回肠内大肠杆菌数量均低于对照组(P0.05);综上所述,饮水中添加肠球菌复合微生态制剂可以促进肉仔鸡的生长发育,改善肠道菌群结构,提高机体免疫力,降低死淘率。     

小麦-豆粕型日粮添加木聚糖酶对艾维茵肉鸡免疫指标、肠道形态和微生物茵群的影响

本试验研究在小麦-豆粕型日粮中添加木聚糖晦对肉鸡免疫功能、肠道形态及微生物菌群的影响.试验选用480只艾维茵肉仔鸡,分为4个组,分别在基础日粮中添加0、1 224、2 449和3 673 IU/kg的木聚糖酶,每组6个重复,每个重复20只肉仔鸡,试验期44 d.结果表明:22日龄小麦-豆粕型日粮中添加木聚糖酶1 224和2 449 IU/kg组脾脏指数和血液E花环显著高于对照组(P<0.05),22日龄添加木聚糖酶1 224和2 449 IU/kg组十二指肠指数显著高于对照组和3 673 IU/kg组(P<0.05),22日龄3 673 IU/kg组十二脂肠和回肠固有层厚度显著高于对照组(P<0.05);44日龄2 449 IU/kg组肉鸡十二指肠的肠绒毛长度显著高于对照组(P<0.05),44日龄3 673 IU/kg组肉鸡的E花环和淋巴细胞转化率显著高于对照组(P<0.05),1 224 IU/kg 组肉鸡回肠乳酸杆菌的数量显著高于其他各组(P<0.05).结果显示,在小麦-豆粕型日粮中添加1 224和2 449 IU/kg水平的木聚糖酶可提高肉鸡免疫指标、改善肠道形态及微生物菌群.     

饲粮菊糖添加水平对肉仔鸡盲肠、直肠菌群结构及主要菌群数量的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮菊糖添加水平对肉仔鸡盲肠和直肠菌群结构和主要菌群数量的影响。采用单因素完全随机化设计,选用300只1日龄爱拔益加肉仔鸡,随机分成5组,每组6个重复,每个重复10只。5组肉仔鸡分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加0(对照组)、0.5、1.5、2.5和5.0 g/kg菊糖的试验饲粮。试验期为6周。采用PCR-变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)和定量PCR(q PCR)技术对42日龄肉仔鸡盲肠和直肠菌群结构及主要菌群数量进行测定。结果表明:1)饲粮菊糖添加水平对肉仔鸡盲肠和直肠菌群丰富度、盲肠菌群香农指数以及直肠菌群均匀度均无显著影响(P0.05),但显著降低了盲肠菌群均匀度和直肠菌群香农指数(P0.05)。PCRDGGE图谱上部分优势条带序列分析表明,饲粮添加菊糖促进了肉仔鸡盲肠和直肠厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)中产粪甾醇真细菌(Eubacterium coprostanoligenes)、肠单胞球菌(Intestinimonas sp.)和盲肠肠球菌(Enterococcus cecorum)等细菌的增殖。2)饲粮菊糖添加水平显著影响了肉仔鸡盲肠、直肠总细菌和大肠杆菌数量(P0.05)。二次曲线分析显示,当菊糖添加水平分别为2.71和2.66 g/kg时,盲肠总细菌和大肠杆菌数量最少;与对照组相比,饲粮添加1.5、2.5、5.0 g/kg菊糖显著降低了盲肠乳酸菌数量(P0.05),饲粮添加0.5 g/kg菊糖显著增加了直肠乳酸菌数量(P0.05);饲粮添加5.0 g/kg菊糖时肉仔鸡盲肠、直肠双歧杆菌数量及直肠产气荚膜梭菌数量均为最高,且与对照组差异显著(P0.05)。综上,在本试验条件下,有利于改善肉仔鸡肠道菌群结构和促进有益菌增殖的菊糖添加水平为2.5~5.0 g/kg。     

β-葡聚糖对肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫功能和肠道微环境的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加β-葡聚糖对肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫功能和肠道微环境的影响。选取1日龄爱拔益加(AA)肉仔鸡672只,随机分为4个组,每组14个重复,每个重复12只鸡。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组分别饲喂在基础饲粮上添加100、150和200 g/tβ-葡聚糖的试验饲粮。试验期为42 d。结果表明:1)150 g/t剂量组1~21日龄肉仔鸡体增重显著高于对照组(P0.05)。2)150 g/t剂量组肉仔鸡血清免疫球蛋白含量高于对照组(P0.05)。3)21日龄时,150 g/t剂量组肉仔鸡盲肠内乳酸菌数量显著高于对照组(P0.05),空肠和回肠内沙门氏菌数量显著低于对照组(P0.05);42日龄时,150和200 g/t剂量组肉仔鸡盲肠内沙门氏菌数量显著低于对照组和100 g/t剂量组(P0.05)。4)饲粮添加β-葡聚糖对42日龄肉仔鸡空肠绒毛高度与隐窝深度比值影响显著(P0.05)。由此可见,饲粮中添加适量的β-葡聚糖可提高肉仔鸡出栏重,改善肉仔鸡生长性能,增加盲肠内乳酸菌数量,减少空肠、回肠和盲肠内沙门氏菌数量。     

抗菌肽和姜黄素对肉仔鸡生长性能、抗氧化功能及肠道微生物的影响

试验旨在研究饲粮中添加抗菌肽和姜黄素对肉仔鸡生长性能、抗氧化功能及肠道微生物的影响。选用1日龄AA肉仔鸡360只,随机分为5组(每组6个重复,每个重复12只鸡)。对照组喂基础饲粮,试验组分别添加35 mg/kg抗生素、200 mg/kg抗菌肽、200 mg/kg姜黄素和200 mg/kg抗菌肽+200 mg/kg姜黄素,试验期42 d。结果表明:1姜黄素和抗菌肽均能显著降低料重比(P0.05),提高肉仔鸡的平均日增重和42日龄体重(P0.05)。2姜黄素和抗菌肽均能极显著降低肉仔鸡血清中丙二醛含量(P0.01),提高总超氧化物歧化酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶的活性(P0.01)。3抗菌肽和姜黄素显著降低肉鸡盲肠中大肠杆菌和沙门菌含量(P0.05);极显著提高乳酸杆菌和双歧杆菌含量(P0.01)。由此可见,饲粮中添加姜黄素和抗菌肽可以替代抗生素,显著提高肉仔鸡生长性能和抗氧化功能,显著增加盲肠内乳酸杆菌和双歧杆菌数量,降低大肠杆菌和沙门菌数量。     

小麦日粮非淀粉多糖和木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡肠道微生物区系的影响

采用传统微生物培养和PCR-DGGE 2种方法，针对肠道内几种微生物的数量和优势菌的多样性进行研究。将90只AA肉仔鸡随机分成3组，分别饲喂玉米-豆粕型，小麦-豆粕型和小麦-豆粕型添加木聚糖酶3种日粮。结果表明，小麦非淀粉多糖有增加肠道内几种微生物数量的趋势，其中显著增加了回肠和盲肠厌氧菌总数以及盲肠粪链球菌数量（P＜0．05），而PCR-DGGE结果表明，小麦NSP改变了肠道内微生物的种群结构，降低了种群的数量（P＜0．05）。添加木聚糖酶对回肠和盲肠的微生物数量以及种群数量有影响，但未表现出显著性差异（P＞0．05）。说明小麦非淀粉多糖作为微生物发酵的底物对肠道厌氧微生物产生了增殖效应，但却抑制了其他微生物的生长，导致肠道内微生物结构发生改变。     

饲喂复合脂肪酸酯及粪肠球菌对改善肉鸡早期肠道健康的影响

试验研究复合有机酸酯(丁酸甘油酯与单月桂酸甘油酯混合物)和粪肠球菌对肉仔鸡生长性能与肠道健康状况的影响。选用840只1日龄爱拔益加(AA)雄性肉仔鸡,随机分为6组。对照组(A组)肉仔鸡饲喂玉米-豆粕型基础饲粮,B、C、D、E和F组在基础饲粮中分别添加复合有机酸酯、金霉素、复合有机酸酯+金霉素、粪肠球菌和粪肠球菌+复合有机酸酯。试验期42 d,分别于21和35日龄时采集样品进行分析。结果表明:添加复合有机酸酯和粪肠球菌这2种添加剂对肉仔鸡的生产性能没有显著影响(P0.05);与A组相比,D组21和35日龄肠道损伤评分显著降低(P0.05);35日龄时,B组盲肠中沙门菌和大肠杆菌含量显著低于A组(P0.05);C、D和E组21日龄时空肠黏膜分泌型免疫球蛋白A(SIg A)含量显著高于A组(P0.05);相比于A和F组,D组21日龄时空肠黏蛋白(MUC)2的mRNA表达量显著提高(P0.05);各组间回肠MUC2表达量没有显著差异(P0.05)。综上所述,饲粮中添加复合有机酸酯和粪肠球菌虽对肉仔鸡的生长性能没有显著影响,但可改善肠道健康,尤其对早期鸡只肠道的健康生长起到促进作用。     

发酵玉米蛋白粉对肉仔鸡生长性能、肠道微生物数量和抗氧化能力的影响

本试验旨在研究复合微生物发酵玉米蛋白粉对肉仔鸡生长性能、肠道微生物数量和抗氧化能力的影响。选取7日龄黄羽肉仔鸡150只,随机分为3组,每组10个重复,每个重复5只鸡。对照组饲喂不添加发酵玉米蛋白粉的基础饲粮,试验组分别饲喂添加5%和10%发酵玉米蛋白粉的试验饲粮。试验期49 d。结果表明,与对照组相比:1)饲粮添加5%和10%的发酵玉米蛋白粉能够显著提高肉仔鸡的平均日采食量和平均日增重(P0.05),并且饲粮添加10%的发酵玉米蛋白粉能够显著降低料重比(P0.05);2)饲粮添加10%的发酵玉米蛋白粉能够显著或极显著提高28日龄的肝脏指数、肾脏指数以及56日龄的肾脏指数、胸腺指数(P0.05或P0.01);3)饲粮添加10%的发酵玉米蛋白粉能够极显著降低28日龄盲肠大肠杆菌数量(P0.01),饲粮添加5%和10%的发酵玉米蛋白粉能够极显著增加28和56日龄盲肠乳酸杆菌的数量(P0.05);4)饲粮添加5%和10%的发酵玉米蛋白粉能够极显著提高血清抗超氧阴离子自由基和抑制羟自由基能力(P0.01),并极显著降低28日龄血清丙二醛含量(P0.01)。由此可见,饲粮添加发酵玉米蛋白粉能够有效促进肉仔鸡生长,优化肠道菌群结构,提高抗氧化能力。     

饲粮添加新产玉米对肉仔鸡生长性能及肠道微生物区系的影响

试验旨在研究饲粮添加新产玉米对肉仔鸡生长性能及肠道微生物区系的影响。试验采用单因素完全随机设计,选取288只1日龄健康科宝肉仔鸡公雏,随机分为4组,每个处理组设6个重复,每个重复12只鸡,分别饲喂占饲粮总比例60%旧玉米(对照组)、占饲粮总比例40%旧玉米+占饲粮总比例20%新产玉米(处理Ⅰ组)、占饲粮总比例20%旧玉米+占饲粮总比例40%新产玉米(处理Ⅱ组)、占饲粮总比例60%新产玉米(处理Ⅲ组)4种饲粮。试验期为42 d,分前期(0～21 d)和后期(22～42 d)两个阶段进行。21、42日龄末测定各试验组试鸡生长性能,42日龄末采集对照组和处理Ⅲ组肉仔鸡回肠、盲肠食糜测定肠道微生物丰度。试验结果显示:(1)处理Ⅲ组显著降低了前期和后期肉仔鸡平均日增重(P0.05),增加了前期和后期肉仔鸡料重比(P0.05)。(2)对照组和处理Ⅲ组样本中盲肠和回肠相对丰度较高的菌门为Firmicutes和Proteobacteria;回肠相对丰度较高优势菌属为Lactobacillus、Romboutsia和Candidatus_Arthromitus;盲肠相对丰度较高优势菌属为Escherichia-Shigella、Faecalibacterium和Lachnoclostridium。(3)与对照组相比,处理Ⅲ组回肠中Proteobacteria、Actinobacteria和Lactobacillus显著增加,盲肠中Firmicute、Lactobacillus和Faecalibacterium显著增加(P0.05)。综上所述,随着饲粮中新产玉米添加比例的提高,肉仔鸡生长性能有所下降,而且对肉仔鸡肠道微生物区系发育产生了负面影响。     

The effects of xylanase supplementation on growth, digestion, circulating hormone and metabolite levels, immunity and gut microflora in cockerels fed on wheat-based diets

1. The xylanase product used in this study was derived from a genetically modified isolate of Aspergillus niger. Two trials were conducted to investigate the effects of xylanase supplementation on growth, digestion, circulating hormone and metabolite levels, immune parameters and composition of the gut microflora in cockerels fed on wheat-based diets. 2. The experimental diets consisted of a wheat-based control diet supplemented with 0 or 0.1% enzyme preparation. The diets were fed between 7 and 21 d of age. 3. Enzyme supplementation improved growth and feed conversion efficiency. The addition of enzyme to wheat-based diet increased the apparent total digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein and fat. 4. Enzyme supplementation reduced the relative weight of digestive organs to a certain extent, but there was no significant difference. Enzyme supplementation reduced digesta viscosity in the jejunum. There was no significant difference between the two experimental groups in counts of lactobacillus and coliform bacteria in the caeca. 5. Enzyme supplementation increased the concentration of blood thyroxine (T(4)), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin, reduced the concentrations of blood uric acid, but had no significant effect on the concentrations of blood glucose and triiodothyronine (T(3)). 6. Enzyme supplementation increased the relative weight of spleen of cockerels, serum antibody titres to Newcastle disease virus (NDV), lymphocyte proliferation in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and the natural killer (NK) cell activity. 7. It is concluded that supplementation with an enzyme preparation (xylanase), which hydrolyses non-starch polysaccharides can improve growth in cockerels fed on wheat-based diets. This improvement is achieved through enzyme effects on digestion, absorption, metabolism and immunity of cockerels.     

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.     

Xylanase and xylo- oligosaccharide prebiotic improve the growth performance and concentration of potentially prebiotic oligosaccharides in the ileum of broiler chickens

ABSTRACT

1. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementing broiler diets with xylanase or xylo- oligosaccharide (XOS) on growth performance, the concentration of non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) hydrolysis products in the ileum and concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the caeca of broiler chickens.

2. In total, 500 male Ross 308 broilers were used in this 29-day (d) study. The treatments were organised into a 2 × 2 plus 1 factorial arrangement consisting of two additives (xylanase or XOS) at two levels (low or high) plus a control treatment with no additives. This gave five treatments with 100 birds in each treatment group. The diets were slightly deficient in protein by 20 g/kg and energy by 1 MJ/kg.

3. On d 14 and 28, two birds per pen were euthanised, the caeca content collected and analysed for short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration. On d 29, six birds per pen were euthanised and ileal digesta were collected and analysed for the concentration of NSP fractions.

4. On d 14, caecal acetic acid, iso-butyric acid, iso-valeric acid, n-valeric acid and total SCFA concentrations were significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) when diets were supplemented with XOS compared with xylanase.

5. Ileal concentration of arabinose, galactose and glucuronic acid (GlucA2) were significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the insoluble NSP fraction when diets were supplemented with a high level of xylanase, compared with the control treatment. Ileal concentration of fructose was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the water soluble NSP when a high level of xylanase or low level of XOS were included in the diet compared with the control.

6. It was concluded that xylanase and XOS had similar effects on NSP concentration and SCFA in the caeca, although there was little effect on performance. This observation demonstrated further benefits of xylanase supplementation in wheat-based broiler diets beyond digesta viscosity reduction and the release of extra nutrients.     

Influence of phytase and xylanase, individually or in combination, on performance, apparent metabolisable energy, digestive tract measurements and gut morphology in broilers fed wheat-based diets containing adequate level of phosphorus

1. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of microbial phytase and xylanase, individually or in combination, on performance, apparent metabolisable energy, digesta viscosity, digestive tract measurements and gut morphology in broilers fed on wheat-soy diets containing adequate phosphorus (P). The wheat-soy basal diet was formulated to contain 4.5 g/kg non-phytate P and the experimental diets were formulated by supplementing the basal diet with xylanase (1000 xylanase units/kg diet), phytase (500 phytase units/kg diet) or a combination of phytase and xylanase. 2. Supplemental phytase improved the weight gains and feed efficiency by 17.5 and 2.9%, respectively. Corresponding improvements due to the addition of xylanase were 16.5 and 4.9%, respectively. The combination of phytase and xylanase caused no further improvements in broiler performance. 3. Individual additions of xylanase or phytase resulted in numerical improvements in apparent metabolisable energy (AME), but the differences were not significant. The combination of the two enzymes significantly increased AME. Addition of xylanase and the combination of the two enzymes reduced the viscosity of digesta in all sections of the intestine. Phytase supplementation reduced digesta viscosity in the duodenum and ileum, but not in the jejunum. 4. Enzyme supplementation lowered the relative weight and length of the small intestine. Additions of xylanase and phytase reduced the relative weight of the small intestine by 15.5 and 11.4%, respectively, while the corresponding reductions in the relative length of the small intestine were 16.5 and 14.1%, respectively. The combination of phytase and xylanase had no further effects on the relative weight and length of the small intestine compared with the xylanase group. 5. The addition of phytase increased villus height in the duodenum and decreased the number of goblet cells in the jejunum compared with those on the unsupplemented basal diet. Xylanase supplementation tended to increase goblet cell numbers in the duodenum and decreased crypt depth in thejejunum. The combination of phytase and xylanase increased villus height in the ileum and crypt depth in thejejunum and ileum. 6. In summary, the present results showed that the addition of a microbial phytase, produced by solid state fermentation and containing significant activities of beta-glucanase and xylanase, was as effective as xylanase in improving the performance of broiler chickens fed on wheat-based diets containing adequate levels of P. Improved performance with enzyme supplementation was generally associated with reduced digesta viscosity, increased AME, and reduced relative weight and length of small intestine.     

Effect of β -glucanase and xylanase supplementation of barley- and rye-based diets on caecal microbiota of broiler chickens

1. The aim was to investigate the effect of grain type (barley or rye) and exogenous enzymes (β-glucanase or xylanase) on the composition of chicken caecal microbiota as examined by classical culturing and molecular techniques (fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH) and terminal-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (T-RFLP)). 2. Plate counting revealed higher total numbers of anaerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in caecal contents of birds fed with rye-based diets than in birds fed with barley-based diets. 3. As assessed by FISH analysis, the most abundant bacterial groups in the broiler caeca were Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale followed by Bacteroides sp., Lactobacillus sp./Enterococcus sp., Bifidobacterium sp. and Enterobacteriaceae. For both cereal types, the enzyme supplementation significantly decreased the relative amount of Enterobacteriaceae. 4. The T-RFLP profiles indicated that the caecal microbiota of birds receiving rye-based diets was more diverse than that of birds fed on barley-based diets. 5. Irrespective of the method applied, the results indicate that the cereal type as well as the exogenous enzyme supplementation influence the microbiota in broiler chicken caeca, and may have the effect of reducing potentially pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae populations.     

The dietary effect of different wheat cultivars for broiler chickens.

1. An experiment was conducted to examine the variability in chemical composition of 16 wheat cultivars and to study how this variability affected the performance of broiler chickens given diets containing 650 or 815 g wheat/kg diet during the first 3 weeks of life. Intestinal viscosity, apparent fat digestibility and apparent metabolisable energy were determined with all diets. Intestinal pH and the relative weight of different parts of the intestine were measured in chickens fed on diets with the high wheat inclusion. 2. The 16 wheat cultivars varied in chemical composition, with protein content ranging from 112 to 127 g/kg dry matter, starch content from 658 to 722 g/kg dry matter and non-starch polysaccharides from 98 to 117 g/kg dry matter. The effect of the different wheat cultivars on the measured parameters was most pronounced in chickens fed on diets with 815 g wheat/kg diet (P<0.001). However, significant (P<0.001) differences between cultivars were still present at the lower wheat content. 3. Milling-quality wheats resulted in better performance (P<0.001) than feeding-quality wheats at the high inclusion, whereas such an effect could not be registered in diets at the lower wheat inclusion. These results indicate that some of the feeding wheats are comparable in quality to milling wheats when included at the concentrations which are more common in practical broiler diets. 4. Decreasing the wheat content in the diets resulted in significantly (P<0.001) better performance and considerably (P<0.001) lower intestinal viscosity (jejunum; 2.4 to 5.9 cps, ileum; 4.6 to 10.9 cps) than in chickens fed on diets with the higher wheat inclusion level (jejunum; 9.1 to 38.4 cps, ileum; 20.8 to 82.0 cps). 5. Diets with 815 g wheat/kg influenced pH in the caeca, but not in the ileum and gizzard. The relative weights of the gizzard and ileum differed significantly (P<0.05) between treatments, whereas those of duodenum, jejunum and caeca were not affected by dietary addition of the different wheat cultivars. 6. The present study demonstrated that the chemical composition and the nutritive value of Danish wheats for broilers vary markedly. The results indicated that the non-starch polysaccharide and especially the arabinoxylan content of wheat are important factors in the discussion of the result obtained. Poor correlations were seen between performance and AMEn and care should be taken when using AMEn values alone to predict the nutritive value of wheat and wheat-based diets.     

Influence of particle size and xylanase supplementation on the performance, energy utilisation, digestive tract parameters and digesta viscosity of broiler starters

1. The aim of the present experiment was to examine the influence of particle size and xylanase supplementation on the performance, energy utilisation, and gross morphological and histological parameters of the digestive tract of broiler starters fed wheat-based diets. The experimental design was a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating two wheat particle sizes (medium and coarse) and two levels of xylanase supplementation (without or with 1000 xylanase units/kg diet). The two particle sizes were achieved by grinding the whole wheat in a hammer mill to pass through 3 and 7 mm screens, respectively. Broiler starter diets, based on wheat and soybean meal, were formulated and each diet was fed ad libitum to 6 pens of 8 male broilers each from d 1 to 21 post-hatch. 2. Wheat particle size had no effect on the performance of broilers. Xylanase supplementation had no effect on weight gain and feed intake. However, a significant particle size x xylanase interaction was observed for feed per unit gain with xylanase lowering feed per gain only in the coarse particle size diet. Xylanase supplementation improved the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy at both particle sizes. 3. Xylanase supplementation decreased the relative weight and relative length of all gut components. Villus height and crypt depth and total extent of the mucosal layer were unaffected by both wheat particle size and xylanase supplementation. 4. The apparent viscosity of intestinal digesta, determined over the physiological range of shear rates, was not influenced by xylanase addition or particle size. 5. The findings of this study suggest that the effectiveness of exogenous xylanase in broiler diets is influenced by wheat particle size.     

木聚糖酶在肉鸡小麦型日粮中的作用机理

小麦作为主要能量作物之一在粮食工业中已得到广泛应用,其在饲料工业上的应用也越来越受到人们重视,但其含有的抗营养因子在一定程度上限制了其在饲料工业中的应用。小麦中主要的抗营养因子是阿拉伯木聚糖,而向小麦型基础日粮中添加木聚糖酶是消除其抗营养特性的有效办法。文中介绍了小麦型基础日粮中木聚糖的抗营养特性及其对肉鸡生产性能的负面影响,木聚糖酶的作用机理及在肉鸡小麦型日粮中添加木聚糖酶的作用效果,以期为小麦合理地应用于肉鸡日粮提供参考。     

Evaluation of an intestinal Lactobacillus reuteri strain expressing rumen fungal xylanase as a probiotic for broiler chickens fed on a wheat-based diet

1. This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using a transformed Lactobacillus reuteri Pg4 strain harbouring a rumen fungal xylanase gene as a probiotic supplement in a wheat-based poultry diet. 2. A total of 400 broiler chicks was allocated to two treatment groups with or without supplementation with 10(6) colony forming units (cfu)/g of transformed L. reuteri Pg4 in a wheat-based regimen to investigate the performance, intestinal microflora populations, digesta viscosity and excreta ammonia concentrations in these broiler chickens. 3. Supplementation of the wheat-based diet with transformed L. reuteri Pg4 decreased intestinal viscosity, caecal coliform population, and increased body weight gain and ileal villus height and crypt depth from 0 to 21 d of age. It also decreased excreta ammonia concentrations, and increased the caecal total volatile fatty acid (VFA) and lactic acid concentrations from 0 to 21 d and 22 to 37 d of age. 4. Further, it was demonstrated that 40% of the Lactobacillus cells randomly isolated from the digesta of the ileum and caecum of the supplemented group possessed xylanase secretion capability. 5. It appears reasonable to assume, therefore, that the derived benefit is a result of the organism surviving, and the associated performance of some function in the intestinal tract which benefits gut health.