Effect of vitamin and trace mineral withdrawal from finisher diets on growth performance and immunocompetence of broiler chickens

The present study was carried out to examine the effect of vitamin (V) or trace mineral (TM) mix removal from finisher diet (42-56 d of age) on performance and immunocompetence of broilers. The dietary treatments were: (1) the basal diet with no supplemental V or TM; (2) the basal diet fortified with V mix only; (3) the basal diet fortified with TM mix only; and (4) the basal diet fortified with V and TM mix. At 47 d, four birds from each replicate (20/treatment) were injected with Newcastle disease (ND) antigen and blood samples were collected just before and 9 d after immunisation. The results showed that V and TM mix withdrawal from finisher diet did not impair either weight gain or feed conversion efficiency from d 42 to 56. Feed intake was significantly increased when both mixes were omitted from the diet. Dietary treatments had no effect on carcase yield or proportion of breast and thigh meat and abdominal fat deposition. Packed cell volume (PCV) significantly decreased as a consequence of removal of V, TM and V+TM. Neither heterophil:lymphocyte ratio (H:L ratio), haemagglutination inhibition (HI) nor total antibody titre measured by ELISA were influenced by removal of V or TM supplements. In conclusion, the results from this study suggest that 14-d withdrawal of V or TM mix did not influence the immunocompetence of broilers.     

Effects of vitamin and mineral premix withdrawal from diets on carcass and meat quality of feedlot steers

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The primary objective of the present study was to assess the effects of vitamin and mineral premix (VMP) withdrawal from the diets 30 and 60 days...     

Composition of vitamin supplements in Spanish poultry diets

1. The composition of 106 vitamin supplements used in about 85% of the Spanish poultry production diets were studied. Vitamin supplements were grouped by production classes and, for broilers and pullets, also by feeding periods. 2. Four vitamins (niacin, alpha-tocopherol, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin) comprised over 87% of the vitamin supplements by weight (choline excluded), whereas alpha-tocopherol and retinol represented from 51% to 60% of the total vitamin cost. 3. The highest and lowest vitamin supplementation rates were for broilers in the starter and withdrawal periods (106 and 44 mg/kg, respectively) and the mean values for breeders, pullets and layers were 104, 58, and 48 mg/kg, respectively. 4. Supplements with higher vitamin contents showed less variability in their composition. Retinol, cholecalciferol, riboflavin and pantothenic acid showed the lowest variability within supplements (6% to 36% CV), whereas alpha-tocopherol, menadione, thiamin and biotin showed the highest (40% to 224% CV). 5. Vitamin supplementation rates were compared with requirements, taking into account the dietary contribution. In general, vitamin fortification exceeded the NRC recommendations, using a high safety margin for some vitamins such as vitamin A (from 2.6 to 7.8) and for some poultry classes such as breeders (3.2).     

The effects on egg production and egg composition of adding supplements of amino acids and/or urea or dried auto‐claved poultry manure to a low‐protein layer diet

Thirty‐five laying hens of a medium‐weight hybrid strain, aged 10 months, were given a basal diet containing 11.5% protein or the same diet supplemented with 1.54% essential amino acids and/or with two sources of nitrogen for the synthesis of non‐essential amino acids (1.15% urea or 9.7% dried autoclaved poultry manure) for an 8‐week period.

Egg production, food intake, food conversion efficiency, the gross efficiency of nitrogen conversion and the ability of hens to maintain body weight were improved by supplementation with essential amino acids (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Supplementation with dried autoclaved poultry manure raised food intake, total egg mass and mean egg weight (P < 0.05), but supplementation with urea alone did not result in significantly higher egg production, perhaps because it failed to increase food intake. Supplementation with essential amino acids and urea to give the equivalent of 16% protein did not result in significantly higher egg production than that obtained with urea alone. The smallest eggs were produced by hens fed on the diet supplemented with urea, and the largest by those fed on the diet supplemented with dried manure (P < 0.001).

The gross composition of eggs was not influenced significantly by dietary treatment but albumen quality was significantly lower on the basal diet and higher on the supplemented diets (P < 0.001). It was highest in eggs from hens fed on the diet supplemented with urea alone.     

Environmental responsibilities of livestock feeding using trace mineral supplements

Trace elements are essential dietary components for livestock species. However, they also exhibit a strong toxic potential. Therefore, their fluxes through the animal organism are tightly regulated by a complex molecular machinery that controls the rate of absorption from the gut lumen as well as the amount of excretion via faeces, urine and products(e.g., milk) in order to maintain an internal equilibrium. When supplemented in doses above the gross requirement trace elements accumulate in urine and faeces and, hence, manure. Thereby, trace element emissions represent a potential threat to the environment. This fact is of particular importance in regard to the widely distributed feeding practice of pharmacological zinc and copper doses for the purpose of performance enhancement. Adverse environmental effects have been described, like impairment of plant production, accumulation in edible animal products and the water supply chain as well as the correlation between increased trace element loads and antimicrobial resistance. In the light of discussions about reducing the allowed upper limits for trace element loads in feed and manure from livestock production in the European Union excessive dosing needs to be critically reconsidered. Moreover, the precision in trace element feeding has to be increased in order to avoid unnecessary supplementation and, thereby, heavy metal emissions from livestock production.     

The effects of a protein deficiency on egg composition

Eggs were collected from groups of pullets receiving 9, 14 or 20 per cent dietary protein and the component parts were separated and weighed. The reduction in egg weight associated with protein deficiency was found to be due to reductions in all components, but yolk and shell weight changed proportionately less than total weight and albumen weight proportionately more. The resulting increase in percentage yolk was found to be of similar magnitude to that expected from a consideration of the relationship between egg size and yolk size in birds receiving adequate protein. In a similar way the increased proportion of shell apparently reflected only the relationship between egg size and surface area in eggs collected when the birds were 52 weeks of age but at 67 weeks a real increase in shell thickness on the deficient diet was also indicated.     

The effects of boron supplementation of layer diets varying in calcium and phosphorus concentrations on performance,egg quality,bone strength and mineral constituents of serum,bone and faeces

1. A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to investigate the effects of dietary calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and supplemental boron (B) (0, 75, and 150 mg/kg) on the performance, egg quality, bone strength, and mineral constituents in bone, serum and faeces.

2. A reduction by 18% in the dietary Ca-P concentration from the recommended levels for the hen strain reduced (P < 0.01) faecal excretion of ash, Ca and P concentrations, and shear force with stress of the tibia in association with decreased feed intake, whereas improved albumen height and Haugh unit values in the egg.

3. Supplemental B significantly decreased the feed consumption, egg weight and final body weight in hens, as well as the albumen height, but had no effect on either the biomechanical characteristics of bones or the mineral profile of the bones and serum. However, there was a significant increase in the egg production rate and a reduction in the damaged and shell-less egg ratio, and in the feed conversion rate in hens fed adequate Ca-P with 150 mg/kg B compared to those of the unsupplemented controls.

4. The amount of B that accumulated in the bones and serum was correlated with the amount of B consumed. B increased the faecal excretion of ash, Ca and B. In general, dietary variables had no effect on mineral composition of serum and tibia.

5. The magnitude of the response to dietary B was much more pronounced in hens fed a diet deficient in Ca-P with 75 mg/kg B; these hens exhibited a production performance and an egg quality comparable to those given adequate Ca-P with no added B.

6. The data presented in this study describing the measured bone properties did not corroborate the hypothesis that B is a trace element playing an important role in mineral metabolism and bone strength through an interaction with Ca, P and Mg.     

Effect of corn- vs molasses-based supplements on trace mineral status in beef heifers

Two studies were conducted to compare the availability of trace minerals offered to Brahman-crossbred heifers in either grain- or molasses-based supplements. Heifers were randomly assigned to bahiagrass pastures of equal size (n = 3 and 2 heifers/ pasture with 6 and 4 pastures/treatment for Experiment 1 and 2, respectively). Two supplements were formulated using corn and cottonseed meal (DRY) or molasses and cottonseed meal (LIQ). In Experiment 2, a third treatment consisted of the DRY supplement with additional S to equal the amount naturally supplied by the LIQ treatment (DRY+S). Supplements were formulated to provide, on average, 1.5 kg of TDN and 0.3 kg of CP/heifer daily and were fed three times weekly. Supplements also were fortified to provide 140, 76, and 63 mg of Cu, Mn, and Zn per heifer daily. Individual heifer weights were collected at the start and conclusion of the study, following a 12-h shrink. Plasma ceruloplasmin and liver Cu, Mn, Mo, Fe, and Zn concentrations were determined on d 0, 29, 56, and 84 in Experiment 1, and d 0, 32, 57, and 90 in Experiment 2. No differences were detected in heifer BW change (-9.3 and -7.3 kg for DRY and LIQ in Experiment 1, and 51.7, 46.3, and 46.7 kg for DRY, DRY+S, and LIQ in Experiment 2, respectively). In both experiments, liver Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations were not affected by supplement treatment. Molybdenum tended (P = 0.06 and 0.10 for Experiments 1 and 2, respectively) to accumulate in the liver of heifers fed molasses-based supplements. In Experiment 1, Cu accumulation was less (P < 0.001) in heifers fed the liquid supplements (271 vs 224, 286 vs 202, and 330 vs 218 ppm, for DRY and LIQ supplements on d 29, 56, and 84, respectively). In Experiment 2, heifers receiving Cu from DRY supplements had a 155-ppm increase in liver Cu concentration, which was greater (P = 0.03) than DRY+S (87 ppm increase) and LIQ (P < 0.001; 13 ppm increase). Although lower than heifers receiving DRY, heifers receiving DRY+S had greater (P = 0.02) liver Cu concentrations than heifers receiving LIQ by the end of the study. In both experiments, plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations were highest (P < 0.04) in heifers receiving DRY supplement. The results of these studies suggest that components in molasses-based supplements decrease the accumulation of Cu in the liver of beef heifers. The S and Mo components of molasses may be responsible, at least in part, for this antagonism.     

The effect of supplementing layer diets with shark cartilage or chitosan on egg components and yolk lipids

1. An experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of the addition of shark cartilage (SC) or chitosan (CH) to layer diets on egg component weights, yolk lipids and hen plasma lipids. 2. Hy-Line laying hens (80) were used during a 56 d feeding trial. Treatments were: basal diet (BD), BD + 20 g/kg SC, BD + 30 g/kg SC, BD + 20 g/kg CH and BD + 30 g/kg CH. Eggs were analysed on d 14, 28, 42 and 56. 3. Egg weight and egg component weights were not affected by these treatments throughout the experimental period. 4. After 14d of experimental feeding, cholesterol levels were higher in eggs from birds given BD + 20 g/kg CH and BD + 30 g/kg CH than in those from birds given BD. 5. Furthermore, eggs from hens given BD + 20 g/kg SC or BD + 20 g/kg CH were higher in palmitic and stearic acids and lower in oleic acid than those from birds fed on BD. After 56 d feeding, however, palmitic and stearic acid contents in eggs from hens given any of the supplemented diets were lower than in those from hens given BD, and oleic acid in eggs from hens given BD + 20 g/kg SC, BD + 30 g/kg SC and BD + 30 g/kg CH was higher than in those from birds fed on BD. 6. Plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels were not significantly affected by dietary treatment. 7. Shark cartilage or chitosan at up to 30 g/kg in layer diets did not affect egg component weights (yolk, white and shell) and total lipid contents. During the period from 42 to 56d of experimental feeding, diets containing up to 30 g/kg chitosan reduced egg yolk contents of cholesterol, palmitic and stearic acids and increased the content of oleic acid.     

The effects of carotenoids in quail breeder diets on egg yolk pigmentation and breeder performance

The effects of supplementation of 10?mg/kg (i) apoester, (ii) canthaxanthin, (iii) 3% clover extract, (iv) paprika oleoresin and (v) aztec marigold extract pigments to a wheat-based non-pigmented feed on hatchery performance and egg yolk pigmentation in quail breeders were investigated. At six weeks of age a total of 432 Japanese quail breeders were randomly divided into 6 treatments, each of which was replicated 3 times, with 24 birds (18 female:6 male) per replicate. Hatchability was significantly better in the apoester treatment compared to the control, canthaxanthin, clover extract and paprika oleoresin treatments (p?p?>?.05). Total carotenoids concentration, YCF score, yellowness (b*) and redness (a*) of egg yolk were significantly higher in pigment-supplemented treatments compared to the control treatment (p?a*) were highly correlated in all treatments (0.94; p?相似文献   

Feeding diets supplemented with zinc and vitamin A in laying hens: effects on histopathological findings and tissue mineral contents

The effects of different dietary levels of zinc and vitamin A on tissue mineral accumulation and histopathological alterations were examined in laying hens. For this purpose, 130 Hisex brown laying hens aged 56 weeks were divided into two main groups. Each group of hens were fed on diets supplemented with two different levels of vitamin A (0-10,000 IU kg(-1)). Then, laying hens in both of the main groups were subdivided into five treatment groups given different levels of zinc (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg kg(-1)) for 12 weeks. Dietary additions of zinc and/or vitamin A did not significantly affect the zinc concentrations of the pancreas, liver, gizzard, thyroid, and copper concentrations of the pancreas, gizzard, and thyroid. The group fed the highest zinc (200 mg kg(-1)) in the diet had twofold iron concentration in their thyroid tissue compared to the concentration of the control group receiving no extra zinc. Histopathologically, there was slight oedema, degranulation, and vacuolation in exocrine cells and some fibrotic areas in the pancreas and reduced follicular size. Follicular cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia occurred in the thyroids, and gizzard erosions were seen in some cases.     

家禽维生素和微量元素需要的进展（续完）

2.3烟酸肉鸡对烟酸的需要量有些不确定。目前NRC（1994）需要量为35 mg/kg,但是此前有一篇综述（Whitehead和Portsmouth,1989）支持更高的需要量（70 mg/kg）。     

不同剂量维生素A对蛋鸡生产性能及蛋品质的影响

<正>1试验材料与方法1.1试验动物与试验设计试验选用192只45周龄产蛋量相近,产蛋率在85%左右的海兰褐商品蛋鸡,根据维生素A不同添加水平,采用单因子随机区组设计,随机分成4个处理,Ⅰ组为基础日粮(日粮组成见表1),Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组分别在Ⅰ组的基础上添加4000、12000、28000IU/kg维生素A乙酸酯,每个处理6个重复,每个重复8只鸡。     

Effect of trace minerals on the stability of vitamin E in swine grower diets

The stability of alpha-tocopheryl acetate and inherent tocopherols in swine grower diets containing high levels of trace minerals was studied in a 12-wk experiment. Corn-soybean meal diets with either 0 or 1% crude soybean oil and without trace minerals added (NOTM) were supplemented with a standard trace mineral mix (TM), TM + 250 ppm of Cu, TM + 1,000 ppm of Fe, TM + 1,000 ppm of Zn, or TM + 100 ppm of Mn. Alpha-tocopheryl acetate decreased linearly (P less than .0001) during 12 wk of storage in diets containing NOTM, TM, Zn, or Mn at a rate of .015 mg/d. Addition of Fe (P less than .005) or Cu (P less than .05) increased the rate of alpha-tocopheryl acetate loss. The addition of soybean oil had no effect (P greater than .1) on the rate of alpha-tocopheryl acetate loss. The alpha-tocopherol levels of the NOTM diet decreased (P less than .01) by approximately 50% during the 12-wk storage period. Addition of TM alone in diets that did not contain soybean oil had no effect P greater than .1) on the rate of alpha-tocopherol loss. The addition of Cu, Fe, Zn, or Mn (P less than .05) to diets that did not contain soybean oil increased the rate of alpha-tocopherol loss in comparison with NOTM and TM diets. Addition of Cu decreased alpha-tocopherol below 10% of initial levels in approximately 10 d. The addition of soybean oil to the diets containing TM, Fe, Zn (P less than .005), or Mn (P less than .05) further increased the rate of alpha-tocopherol loss.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Strategies of inorganic and organic trace mineral supplementation in gestating hyperprolific sow diets: effects on the offspring performance and fetal programming

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of trace mineral nutrition on sow performance, mineral content, and intestinal gene expression of neonate piglets when inorganic mineral sources (ITM) were partially replaced by their organic mineral (OTM) counterparts. At 35 d postmating, under commercial conditions, a total of 240 hyperprolific multiparous sows were allocated into three experimental diets: 1) ITM: with Zn, Cu, and Mn at 80, 15, and 60 mg/kg, respectively; 2) partial replacement trace mineral source (Replace): with a 30 % replacement of ITM by OTM, resulting in ITM + OTM supplementation of Zn (56 + 24 mg/kg), Cu (10.5 + 4.5 mg/kg), and Mn (42 + 18 mg/kg); and 3) Reduce and replace mineral source (R&R): reducing a 50% of the ITM source of Zn (40 + 24 mg/kg), Cu (7.5 + 4.5 mg/kg), and Mn (30 + 18 mg/kg). At farrowing, 40 piglets were selected, based on birth weight (light: <800 g, and average: >1,200 g), for sampling. Since the present study aimed to reflect results under commercial conditions, it was difficult to get an equal parity number between the experimental diets. Overall, no differences between experimental diets on sow reproductive performance were observed. Light piglets had a lower mineral content (P < 0.05) and a downregulation of several genes (P < 0.10) involved in physiological functions compared with their average littermates. Neonate piglets born from Replace sows had an upregulation of genes involved in functions like immunity and gut barrier, compared with those born from ITM sows (P < 0.10), particularly in light piglets. In conclusion, the partial replacement of ITM by their OTM counterparts represents an alternative to the totally inorganic supplementation with improvements on neonate piglet gene expression, particularly in the smallest piglets of the litter. The lower trace mineral storage together with the greater downregulation of gut health genes exposed the immaturity and vulnerability of small piglets.     

Response of egg weight to the inclusion of various fats in layer diets

1. Brown egg layers were fed diets differing in oil content, oil source and linoleic acid concentration and the effect on performance from 22 to 69 weeks of age was studied.

2. The birds responded with an increasing mean egg weight up to a linoleic acid intake of 2.75 g/bird d.

3. Increasing the intake of readily absorbable oil without increasing linoleic acid concentration did not increase mean egg weight.     

水分胁迫对紫花苜蓿产量、品质和微量元素的影响

干旱严重影响牧草生长和生产,是黄土高原地区畜牧业发展的重要限制因素之一,深入理解牧草对水分供应的响应有助于优化管理、提高草地生产力。在温室控水条件下,探究了田间饱和含水量(FWC)的35%、50%、65%和80%,共4个水分水平下紫花苜蓿的生产性能差异,阐明水分胁迫对黄土高原牧草的影响。结果表明:1) 随水分胁迫的增强,紫花苜蓿株高和单株干鲜重均显著降低(P<0.05),但在65%FWC和80%FWC处理间干鲜重差异不显著。2) 50%FWC处理下紫花苜蓿中性洗涤纤维显著低于65%FWC处理(P<0.05),但与其他处理均无显著差异;35%FWC和80%FWC处理下粗蛋白含量显著高于50%FWC和65%FWC处理;可消化干物质、可消化养分总量、可消化干物质摄取量和相对饲喂价值在各水分水平下无显著变化。3) 随水分胁迫的增强,Cu和Fe浓度呈先升后降的趋势,而Mg和Mn则呈相反的趋势,Zn呈升高的趋势。5种微量元素的积累量在各水分水平下均差异不大,仅在80%FWC处理下Mg和Mn显著高于35%FWC和50%FWC处理。因此,轻度水分胁迫有利于紫花苜蓿产量和品质的提高,在50%FWC处理下,紫花苜蓿纤维含量低,营养价值高;在65%FWC处理下,紫花苜蓿产量较高。微量元素Mn、Mg、Cu和Fe在一定程度上可反映紫花苜蓿的品质特征。     

不同日粮条件下添加维生素E对蛋种鸡繁殖性能的影响

本试验选择220日龄健康的伊莎父母代种鸡6000羽,随机分为8组,每组8个重复.Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组为常 规日粮组,分别添加维生素E0、40、180、300 mg/kg;V、Ⅵ、Ⅶ、Ⅷ组为非常规基础日粮,分别添加维生素E0、40、180、300 mg/kg.通过8周饲养试验,测定不同剂量的维生素E对蛋种鸡受精率、死胎率、...