Hypocholesterolemic effect of karaya saponin in Japanese laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The effect of karaya saponin supplementation on the serum and egg yolk cholesterol and fatty acid composition in egg yolk were investigated in Japanese quails. A total of 80 Japanese quails aged 5 weeks were equally divided into four groups of 20. Four levels (0, 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg feed) of karaya saponin were included in the basal diet and experiment was lasted for 6 weeks. The cholesterol fractions in the egg yolk and serum were measured by enzymatic assay, and the fatty acid composition in egg yolk was determined by gas chromatography. The results revealed that the supplementation of 75 mg/kg karaya saponin significantly reduced (p < 0.05) cholesterol and triglycerides concentration in serum and egg yolk. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was increased, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and the atherogenic index were decreased (p < 0.05) by the dietary supplementations. Hepatic cholesterol was reduced (p < 0.05) by the 25 mg/kg karaya saponin. A higher degree of yolk colour was improved (p < 0.05) when 75 mg/kg saponin was supplemented in the diet. The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in egg yolk was increased (p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner in quails fed the supplemented diet than the control diet. The ratio of PUFA to saturated fatty acids in egg yolk was improved (p < 0.05) by 75 mg/kg feed karaya saponin-supplemented diet. Therefore, the dietary supplementation of 75 mg/kg karaya saponin may be a feasible means of producing quail eggs with lower cholesterol and higher PUFA content for health conscious consumers.     

用大豆皮代替麦麸对肉猪生长性能影响的试验研究

试验选择100～110 d体重在63.5～70 kg的杜长大三元杂交生长肥育猪40头,按一定的公母比例随机分为对照组、试验组Ⅰ、试验组Ⅱ,其中试验组Ⅰ、Ⅱ各设一组重复,每组各8头猪。对照组饲喂原猪场配方(原配方麦麸的用量为8%),试验组Ⅰ用40%的豆皮代替40%的麦麸(豆皮占配方比例为3.2%),试验组Ⅱ用70%的豆皮代替70%的麦麸(豆皮占配方比例为5.6%),其它日粮组成与原配方完全一致。试验结果表明,日粮配方中使用3.2%、5.6%大豆皮代替麦麸饲喂生长育肥猪,各组增重差异不显著(P>0.05),各组料重比也基本一致,对照组为3.08:1、试验组Ⅰ为3.08:1、试验组Ⅱ为3.02:1。试验表明日粮中添加一定比例的大豆皮不会影响猪的生长发育,并且可降低饲料成本,开拓饲料资源。     

不同形态的铜对猪生长性能及血清GH、血浆NPY水平的影响

将75头体质量约20kg的“军牧1号”白猪，分成A、B、C、D、E组。A组为对照组，饲以基础日粮，B、C2组分别饲以添加122．5、250mg／kg铜(硫酸铜)的日粮；D、E2组分别饲以添加122．5、250mg／kg蛋氨酸铜的日粮，观测不同形态的铜对仔猪生长性能以及血液GH、血浆NPY水平的影响。结果显示：日粮中添加2种铜均能促进仔猪的生长，提高饲料利用率，升高血液中GH和血浆NPY水平，但对采食量没有显著影响，2种铜源在相同浓度下对猪的促生长性能无差异。     

Response of barrows to space allocation and ractopamine

An experiment using 264 crossbred barrows was conducted to examine the interaction between space allocation and dietary ractopamine addition on pig performance and carcass characteristics using a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments were 0.55 (19 pigs per pen) or 0.74 (14 pigs per pen) m2/pig from start (29.7 +/- 0.1 kg BW) to slaughter (108 kg BW) in a fully slatted facility and 0 or 10 ppm (as-fed basis) ractopamine for 28 d before slaughter. There were few treatment interactions. Pigs given 0.55 m2/pig had a lower ADG (P = 0.010), ADFI (P = 0.088), 10th-rib backfat depth on d 86 (P = 0.010), and carcass loin muscle depth (P = 0.011) than pigs given 0.74 m2/pig. There was no difference in feed conversion (P = 0.210) as a result of space allocation. Pigs fed diets containing 10 ppm ractopamine had decreased (P = 0.004) ADFI and improved (P = 0.001) feed conversion efficiencies for the 28-d feeding period, along with greater loin depth (P = 0.005) and carcass lean percent (P = 0.001). The improvements in 28-d carcass lean growth associated with feeding 10 ppm ractopamine resulted in an improvement in overall daily fat-free lean gain (P = 0.046). Under these experimental conditions, the response to dietary ractopamine was similar for crowded and uncrowded pigs.     

玉米脱水酒精糟及其可溶物和维生素 Ｅ水平对肥育猪生长性能、胴体和肉品质的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中玉米脱水酒精糟及其可溶物（ＤＤＧＳ）和维生素 Ｅ（ＶＥ）水平对肥育猪生长性能、胴体和肉品质的影响。采用 ３×２两因子完全随机试验设计,设 ３个玉米ＤＤＧＳ水平（０、１５％、３０％）和 ２个维生素 Ｅ水平（１０、２１０ｍｇ／ｋｇ）。选取平均体重为（６０±２）ｋｇ的“杜 ×长 ×大”三元杂交肥育猪 ４８头（公母各占 １／２）,按性别、体重随机分为 ６个组,每个组 ８个重复,每个重复 １头猪。试验期为 ４２ｄ。结果表明：１）玉米 ＤＤＧＳ水平对肥育猪平均日增重和料重比无显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）,对平均日采食量影响极显著（Ｐ＝０．００６）,维生素 Ｅ水平及玉米 ＤＤＧＳ和维生素 Ｅ的互作对生长性能无显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）;２）玉米 ＤＤＧＳ和维生素Ｅ水平及其互作对胴体重、屠宰率、胴体斜长、背膘厚度、板油率和眼肌面积等胴体品质评定指标影响均不显著（Ｐ＞０．０５）,胴体脂肪碘值随饲粮中玉米 ＤＤＧＳ水平的提高而极显著升高（Ｐ＝０．００１）;３）玉米 ＤＤＧＳ水平对肌肉 ｐＨ、肉色、剪切力、滴水损失和大理石评分影响均不显著（Ｐ＞０．０５）,饲粮中添加 ２１０ｍｇ／ｋｇ维生素 Ｅ可显著降低肌肉剪切力和滴水损失（Ｐ＜０．０５）。可见,在肥育猪基础饲粮中添加 １５％ ～３０％玉米 ＤＤＧＳ和 ２１０ｍｇ／ｋｇ维生素 Ｅ对其生长性能、胴体和肉品质无显著负影响。     

Weaning pig performance and faecal microbiota with and without in-feed addition of rare earth elements

Two 6-week feeding trials were conducted on a total of 112 newly weaned piglets to examine the recently reported growth promoting effects of dietary rare earth elements (REE) in European pig production. Rare earth element-diets were supplemented with a REE-citrate premix of lanthanum and the light lanthanoides cerium, praseodymium and neodymium at 200 mg/kg for 6 weeks after weaning. Overall for both trials, growth performance of REE-citrate and control fed piglets did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). An early enhancive tendency for REE-citrate in trial 1 (feed conversion ratio, FCR -3%, p = 0.15) proved irreproducible in trial 2. In the late period of trial 1, in-feed addition of REE-citrate significantly impaired piglet performance (FCR + 8%, p = 0.01). A cultivation-independent molecular approach, polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was further applied to assess REE induced alterations in the predominant faecal microbiota from weaning pigs. Calculation of various ecological characteristics does not indicate (p > 0.05) an often discussed selective effect on local microbial composition of dietary REE.     

Effects of dietary quillaja saponin and curcumin on the performance and immune status of weaned piglets

The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary quillaja saponin and curcumin (extract of turmeric) can modify piglet immune status and performance immediately after weaning. Piglets (n = 192) were weaned at 29 +/- 0.1 d and allocated to treatment (six replicates of eight pig per treatment) accounting for weight, litter, and gender, using a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Factors were diets with or without (as-fed basis) quillaja saponin (750 mg/kg during wk 1, 300 mg/kg during wk 2 to 3) and with or without dietary curcumin (200 mg/kg). Diets were fed ad libitum for 20 d after weaning. Feed intake was measured daily. Piglets were weighed at weaning, d 7, 14, and 20 after weaning. On each of d 6 and 20 after weaning, eight pigs per treatment were sacrificed for blood and tissue collection. Treatment had no effect on piglet growth. The ADFI and G:F were similar for all treatments between d 0 and 14 of the trial. Between d 15 and 20, ADFI and G:F were lower in quillaja-supplemented piglets (ADFI = 621 vs. 572 g/d; G:F = 0.75 vs. 0.85; P < 0.05). Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, interferon-gamma, and C-reactive protein (CRP) did not differ among treatments on d 6 after weaning. On d 20, IgG and CRP were greater (P < 0.05) in saponin-supplemented pigs (IgG = 17.5 vs. 11.4 mg/mL; CRP = 26.98 vs. 12.5 mg/mL). Small intestine villus and crypt measurements did not differ among treatments on either d 6 or 20. Saponin supplementation during the postweaning period seemed to potentiate an immune response in the weaned piglet but had a detrimental effect on the utilization of feed. Dietary curcumin had no influence on any measured aspect of pig performance or immune status.     

An Evaluation of the Use of Cottonseed Cake in the Diet of Growing Pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of including cottonseed cake in rations for weaned growing pigs. Thirty-two Landrace x Large White pigs, weighing 20-24 kg, were included in four blocks formed on the basis of initial weight within sex in an otherwise completely randomized block design. The pigs were killed when they reached a live weight of 75.0 +/- 2.0 kg and the half carcases were analysed into cuts and the weights of the organs were recorded. An estimate of the productivity of the pigs on each diet was calculated. Cottonseed cake reduced the voluntary feed intake (p < 0.001) and live weight gains p < 0.001) and increased the heart, kidney and liver weights (p < 0.01). The pigs on the soya bean-based control diet took the shortest time to reach slaughter weight. The result was probably in part due to lysine deficiency and in part to the effect of free gossypol. It was found that it is at present cost-effective to include cottonseed cake in pig weaner-grower diets up to 300 g/kg in Cameroon.     

杜洛克母猪生长、肥育阶段补充维生素E和维生素C的效果

在生长猪日粮(含添加剂VE 7 IU/kg)中添加VE 50IU/kg和VC 100 mg/kg，对杜洛克生长母猪的生产性能无明显影响，肥育猪日粮(含添加剂VE 4.9 IU/kg)中添加VE 25 IU/kg和VC 50 mg/kg，可提高日增重8.6％，单位增重的饲料消耗下降11. 7％。表明杜洛克母猪肥育日粮的VE和VC水平可能应高于生长阶段。     

The effects of dietary energy concentration and weaning site on weanling pig performance

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary energy density and weaning environment on pig performance. Treatment diets were formulated to vary in DE concentration by changing the relative proportions of low (barley) and high (wheat, oat groats, and canola oil) energy ingredients. In Exp. 1, 84 pigs in each of 3 replications, providing a total of 252 pigs, were weaned at 17 x 2 d of age and randomly assigned to either an on-site or an off-site nursery and to 1 of 3 dietary DE concentrations (3.35, 3.50, or 3.65 Mcal/kg). Each site consisted of a nursery containing 6 pens; 3 pens housed 7 barrows and 3 housed 7 gilts. All pigs received nontreatment diets in phase I (17 to 19 d of age) and phase II (20 to 25 d of age), respectively. Dietary treatments were fed from 25 to 56 d of age. Off-site pigs were heavier at 56 d of age (23.4 vs. 21.3 kg; P < 0.05) and had greater ADFI (0.77 vs. 0.69 kg/d; P < 0.01) than on-site pigs. There was a linear decrease in ADG (P < 0.01) and ADFI (P < 0.001) with increasing DE concentration. Efficiency of gain improved (P < 0.01) with increasing DE concentration. There was no interaction between weaning site and diet DE concentration, indicating that on-site and off-site pigs responded similarly to changes in diet DE concentration. In Exp. 2, nutrient digestibility of the treatment diets used in Exp. 1 was determined using 36 pigs with either ad libitum or feed intake restricted to 5.5% of BW. Energy and N digestibility increased (P < 0.001) with increasing DE concentration. Nitrogen retention and daily DE intake increased with DE concentration in pigs fed the restricted amount of feed (P < 0.05). These results indicate that weaning off-site improves pig weight gain. The weanling pig was able to compensate for reduced dietary DE concentration through increased feed intake. Growth limitation in the weanling pig may not be overcome simply by increasing dietary DE concentration.     

中草药白头翁对断奶仔猪生产性能的影响

试验选用120头平均体重为(7.64±0.13) kg的杜×长×大三元杂交断奶仔猪,采用单因素试验设计。研究饲料中添加中草药白头翁散剂(150、300 mg/kg)和白头翁皂苷(12.5、25 mg/kg),对断奶仔猪生产性能的影响,且寻求最佳添加量。试验共分6个处理,每个处理4个重复,每个重复5头猪。试验期共为28 d,分为前期(1~14 d)和后期(15~28 d)2个阶段。试验结果表明,日粮中添加中草药白头翁散剂和白头翁皂苷对断奶仔猪的日增重、料重比、平均采食量及腹泻率均有显著影响(P<0.05)。     

Effect of dietary linoleic acid concentration and vitamin E supplementation on cell desquamation and susceptibility to oxidative damage of pig jejunal mucosa

Sixty Large White × Great York pigs weighing approximately 60 kg were individually fed on six experimental diets. The experiment was organized in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement design with three different fat sources and a basal or supplemented (200 mg/kg diet) level of α-tocopheryl acetate. All diets contained the same concentration of saturated fatty acids (15 ± 0.2 g/kg dry matter) but differed in the concentration of C18 : 2 (14 ± 0.5, 18 ± 0.4 and 21 ± 0.6 g/kg) and monounsaturated fatty acids (19 ± 0.2, 15 ± 1.2 and 10 ± 1.3 g/kg). No effect of dietary treatment was observed on weight gain and feed consumption. A histological study of the jejunal mucosa showed lower cell desquamation in groups containing a supplemental level of α-tocopheryl acetate (p=0.080). A higher cell desquamation was found in the groups fed diets containing the higher concentration of C18 : 2 (p=0.087). We also observed an interaction effect (p < 0.001) of dietary fat source and vitamin E supplementation on jejunal cell desquamation in which the effect of dietary vitamin E was lower when diets with a low concentration of C18 : 2 were administered. In vitro- induced oxidation of jejunal mucosa homogenates was lower in pigs fed diets supplemented with α-tocopheryl acetate (p < 0.002). The dietary concentration of C18 : 2 significantly affected oxidation of pig jejunal mucosa (p < 0.002).     

Influence of dietary protein level, amino acid supplementation, and dietary energy levels on growing-finishing pig performance and carcass composition

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding reduced-CP, AA-supplemented diets at two ambient temperatures (Exp. 1) or three levels of dietary NE (Exp. 2) on pig performance and carcass composition. In Exp. 1, 240 mixed-sex pigs were used to test whether projected differences in heat increment associated with diet composition affect pig performance. There were 10 replications of each treatment with four pigs per pen. For the 28-d trial, average initial and final BW were 28.7 kg and 47.5 kg, respectively. Pigs were maintained in a thermoneutral (23 degrees C) or heat-stressed (33 degrees C) environment and fed a 16% CP diet, a 12% CP diet, or a 12% CP diet supplemented with crystalline Lys, Trp, and Thr (on an as-fed basis). Pigs gained at similar rates when fed the 16% CP diet or the 12% CP diet supplemented with Lys, Trp, and Thr (P > 0.10). Pigs fed the 12% CP, AA-supplemented diet had a gain:feed similar to pigs fed the 16% CP diet when housed in the 23 degrees C environment but had a lower gain:feed in the 33 degrees C environment (diet x temperature, P < 0.01). In Exp. 2, 702 gilts were allotted to six treatments with nine replicates per treatment. Average initial and final BW were 25.3 and 109.7 kg, respectively. Gilts were fed two levels of CP (high CP with minimal crystalline AA supplementation or low CP with supplementation of Lys, Trp, Thr, and Met) and three levels of NE (high, medium, or low) in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. A four-phase feeding program was used, with diets containing apparent digestible Lys levels of 0.96, 0.75, 0.60, and 0.48% switched at a pig BW of 41.0, 58.8, and 82.3 kg, respectively. Pigs fed the low-CP, AA-supplemented diets had rates of growth and feed intake similar to pigs fed the high-CP diets. Dietary NE interacted with CP level for gain:feed (P < 0.06). A decrease in dietary NE from the highest NE level decreased gain:feed in pigs fed the high-CP diet; however, gain:feed declined in pigs fed the low-CP, AA-supplemented diet only when dietary NE was decreased to the lowest level. There was a slight reduction in longissimus area in pigs fed the low-CP diets (P < 0.08), but other estimates of carcass muscle did not differ (P > 0.10). These data suggest that pigs fed low-CP, AA-supplemented diets have performance and carcass characteristics similar to pigs fed higher levels of CP and that alterations in dietary NE do not have a discernible effect on pig performance or carcass composition.     

高铜日粮对生长猪胃底腺Ghrelin分泌的影响

选用军牧1号断乳仔猪45头,随机分为3组,每组5个重复,每个重复3头,采用完全随机化设计进行生长试验,研究了不同来源(硫酸铜和蛋氨酸铜)和不同添加水平(5、125 mg/kg)的高铜日粮对猪胃底腺Ghrelin分泌的影响。结果表明:与对照组相比,日粮中添加125 mg/kg硫酸铜和125 mg/kg蛋氨酸铜组平均日增重、绝对增重、平均采食量均显著提高(P<0.05),而不同铜源间差异不显著(P>0.05);试验组胃底腺Ghrelin mRNA水平显著提高(P<0.05);血液胃泌素含量显著增加(P<0.01),并且Ghrelin mRNA水平与血液胃泌素含量呈显著正相关关系。提示高铜可促进生长猪胃底腺Ghrelin的分泌,胃泌素的分泌与胃底腺区Ghrelin的基因表达有关。     

Effects of dietary iron level on growth performance,hematological status,and intestinal function in growing-finishing pigs

This study investigated the different addition levels of iron (Fe) in growing-finishing pigs and the effect of different Fe levels on growth performance, hematological status, intestinal barrier function, and intestinal digestion. A total of 1,200 barrows and gilts ([Large White × Landrace] × Duroc) with average initial body weight (BW; 27.74 ± 0.28 kg) were housed in 40 pens of 30 pigs per pen (gilts and barrows in half), blocked by BW and gender, and fed five experimental diets (eight replicate pens per diet). The five experimental diets were control diet (basal diet with no FeSO₄ supplementation), and the basal diet being supplemented with 150, 300, 450, or 600 mg/kg Fe as FeSO₄ diets. The trial lasted for 100 d and was divided into the growing phase (27 to 60 kg of BW) for the first 50 d and the finishing phase (61 to 100 kg of BW) for the last 50 d. The basal diet was formulated with an Fe-free trace mineral premix and contained 203.36 mg/kg total dietary Fe in the growing phase and 216.71 mg/kg in the finishing phase based on ingredient contributions. And at the end of the experiment, eight pigs (four barrows and four gilts) were randomly selected from each treatment (selected one pig per pen) for digesta, blood, and intestinal samples collection. The results showed that the average daily feed intake (P = 0.025), average daily gain (P = 0.020), and BW (P = 0.019) increased linearly in the finishing phase of pigs fed with the diets containing Fe. On the other hand, supplementation with different Fe levels in the diet significantly increased serum iron and transferrin saturation concentrations (P < 0.05), goblet cell numbers of duodenal villous (P < 0.001), and MUC4 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). The apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of amino acids (AA) for pigs in the 450 and 600 mg/kg Fe groups was greater (P < 0.05) than for pigs in the control group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 450 to 600 mg/kg Fe improved the growth performance of pigs by changing hematological status and by enhancing intestinal goblet cell differentiation and AID of AA.     

茶皂素对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质和养分利用率的影响

试验旨在研究饲粮中添加不同水平茶皂素对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质和养分利用率的影响.选取600只40周龄健康的海兰褐商品蛋鸡,随机分为4组,每组6个重复,每个重复25只鸡.对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组在基础饲粮中分别添加100、200、300 mg/kg的茶皂素.预试期7d,正式试验期56 d.结果表明:与对照组相比,100、...     

微生态制剂对猪舍氨气去除效果评价及对猪生长性能影响的研究

旨在探讨微生态制剂对猪舍氨气的去除效果及其对猪生长性能的影响。在选取1栋猪舍(NO.1)开展验证试验的基础上,另选用1栋猪舍(NO.2)的育肥猪作为试验组,猪只基础日粮中添加5‰的益唯康和2.5%的瑞尔康,同时,采用喷洒和泼洒的方式,利用瑞尔加喷洒液对猪只体表和猪舍内各区域进行除臭,试验周期60 d;对照组猪舍(NO.3)中的育肥猪饲喂基础日粮,猪粪及猪舍内区域不用除臭剂进行处理,试验周期60 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,试验第3天试验组猪舍的氨气浓度降至5.6 mg/kg,去除率达到70.05%;试验期间试验组猪只的平均日增重提高了23.79%,日耗料量增加了4.45%,存活率高于对照组2个百分点,但料肉比降低了15.83%。综上提示,饲喂和喷洒微生态制剂能够有效去除猪舍氨气,并能提高猪的生长性能。     

甘氨酸亚铁对断奶仔猪生长性能、铁表观消化率及血清铁相关指标的影响

本试验旨在研究甘氨酸亚铁对断奶仔猪生长性能、铁表观消化率及血清铁相关指标的影响。试验选取12头(28±1)日龄"杜×长×大"断奶仔猪,根据体重、健康状况等均衡分布原则分为2组,每组6个重复,每个重复1头仔猪,单个饲养于消化代谢笼。试验分为2个阶段,第1阶段:2组均饲喂缺铁基础饲粮10 d,使仔猪处于临近贫血状态;第2阶段:对照组在缺铁基础饲粮中额外添加100 mg/kg的硫酸亚铁(以铁计),试验组额外添加100 mg/kg的甘氨酸亚铁(以铁计),试验期10 d。结果表明:与添加硫酸亚铁相比,饲粮添加甘氨酸亚铁有降低仔猪料重比的趋势(P0.10),降低了4.57%,但对仔猪的平均日增重、平均日采食量无显著影响(P0.10);饲粮添加甘氨酸亚铁能显著降低粪中的铁排出量和铁排出总量(P0.05),分别降低了23.11%和22.09%;饲粮添加甘氨酸亚铁能极显著提高铁表观消化率和表观代谢率(P0.01),分别提高了13.34%和22.42%;同时,饲粮添加甘氨酸亚铁能显著提高血清中的铁饱和度和血液中的铁含量(P0.05)。综上,甘氨酸亚铁可提高断奶仔猪的生长性能,提高血液铁含量,改善仔猪铁代谢状况,降低粪便铁排出量,是一种绿色高效的新型补铁剂。     

Effect of dietary saponin rich soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder on growth performance,immunity, serum biochemistry and gut health of broiler chickens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder (SSP), a cheap source of saponins, on growth performance, immunity, serum biochemistry and gut health of broiler chickens. The experimental design was 4×2, employing four saponin levels (0, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg diet), each provided for two time durations (0–42 day and 21–42 day) resulting into eight dietary treatments. Results revealed no significant effect of dietary saponins on body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds. The abdominal fat percentage, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, faecal total plate count, coliform count and E. coli count decreased (p < .05) progressively with increasing saponin levels and lower values were observed at 150 mg and 200 mg saponin levels. Significant improvement of cell‐mediated and humoral immune response was observed in birds fed 150 mg and 200 mg saponin compared to control. The serum glucose concentration was significantly (p < .05) higher in control group compared to other groups. No significant effects of dietary saponin were observed on carcass characteristics, faecal Lactobacillus count, intestinal histomorphometry and cost economics of broiler chicken production. Thus, dietary saponins at 150 mg/kg diet as SSP for three weeks (21–42 days) was optimum for better immunity and welfare of birds without adverse effects on the growth performance.     

Effects of vitamin E and selenium on performance, digestibility of nutrients, and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under heat stress (34 degrees C)

This study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin E (dL-alpha-Tocopheryl acetate) and selenium (Se; Na2-SeO3) on performance, digestibility of nutrients and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under chronic heat stress (34 degrees C). A total of 120 10-day-old Japanese quails were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, three replicates of 10 birds each. The birds with a 2 x 2 factorial design received either two levels of vitamin E (125 and 250 mg/kg of diet) or two levels of Se (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg of diet). A 250-mg vitamin E/kg of diet compared with that of 125 mg/kg of diet and higher dietary Se inclusions (0.1 vs. 0.2 mg/kg) resulted in a better performance (p=0.001). The interaction between vitamin E and Se for feed intake (p=0.03), final body weight change (p=0.03) and feed efficiency (p=0.001) was detected. Carcass yield increased with increasing both dietary vitamin E and Se (p=0.001). The interactions on carcass characteristics were all non-significant (p > 0.06). Digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM, CP and ether extract) was higher with higher dietary vitamin E (p=0.03), and DM digestibility was also higher with higher dietary Se (p=0.05). There were no interactions detected for digestibility of nutrients (p=0.28). From the results of the present study, it was concluded that a combination of 250 mg of vitamin E and 0.2 mg of Se provides the greatest performance in Japanese quails reared under heat stress and this combination can be considered as a protective management practice in Japanese quail diets, reducing the negative effects of heat stress.