Dietary L-carnitine supplementation enhances the lipopolysaccharide-induced acute phase protein response in broiler chickens

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on acute phase protein response upon a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge of male broiler chickens receiving a commercial broiler diet supplemented with 15 or 100 mg L-carnitine/kg or an unsupplemented (control) diet from 14 days of age onwards. At 28 days of age, eight chickens per dietary treatment were weighed and subcutaneously injected with 300 microg LPS from E. coli (100 microg LPS/ml saline) or 3 ml saline (unsupplemented group only). During the next 10 days, blood samples were taken repeatedly and analysed for their hemopexin (HX) and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels. Extra dietary L-carnitine did not affect broiler performance. At day 1 postinjection, plasma HX and AGP levels were significantly increased in all treatment groups. However, the elevations in circulating HX and AGP levels were more pronounced in the L-carnitine supplemented chickens, especially in the 100mg L-carnitine group. It is concluded that extra L-carnitine in the diet of broiler chickens enhances or advances the acute phase protein response. The exact mode of action needs to be elucidated but seems to be consistent with a glucocorticoid mimicking effect.     

红景天提取物对高原缺氧条件下肉鸡法氏囊疫苗免疫作用的影响

试验旨在研究红景天提取物对高原缺氧条件下肉鸡接种法氏囊疫苗和绵羊红细胞后产生的特异性抗体水平的影响。随机选取100只1日龄健康AA肉仔鸡,随机分为5组。其中,对照组只饲喂基础日粮,其余4组分别在基础日粮中添加0.10%、0.15%、0.20%和0.40%红景天水提物干粉。每个组取半数鸡只于13日龄腹腔注射接种绵羊红细胞,另一半鸡只于20日龄口服接种法氏囊疫苗。研究发现,免疫接种法氏囊疫苗后2 d和19 d,相比于对照组,0.20%和0.40%红景天处理组显著提高了法氏囊疫苗抗体水平(P<0.05)。在腹腔注射绵羊红细胞后5 d、8 d和12 d时,相比对照组,0.20%和0.40%红景天处理组显著提高了绵羊红细胞抗体水平(P<0.05)。该试验表明红景天提取物可以提高高海拔缺氧条件下肉鸡特异性抗体水平,因此其可能作为高海拔缺氧条件下肉鸡日粮的一种免疫调节性添加剂。     

Effect of cellulase supplementation in low-crude protein diets on performance, nitrogen excretion, fat deposition, hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzyme activity in broilers

1. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary enzyme supplementation of a low-protein diet on performance, nitrogen excretion, fat deposition, hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzyme activity in 7-21- (Experiment 1) and 21-42-d-old (Experiment 2) male broiler chicks. 2. Chicks were given diets containing 210 g (Experiment 1) or 170 g (Experiment 2) crude protein (CP)/kg (Control), amino acid-fortified diets 190 g (Experiment 1) and 150 g (Experiment 2) CP/kg (Low-protein), and a low-protein diet supplemented with 1000 U/kg of cellulase. 3. In Experiment 1, growth performance and abdominal fat deposition were not affected by dietary treatments, and birds given low-protein diets excreted less nitrogen. The activities of hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzymes were not different among the three dietary groups. 4. In Experiment 2, the dietary treatment did not affect growth performance or abdominal fat weight. Nitrogen excretion was significantly lower in chicks given the 150 g/kg CP diet than those on the 170 g/kg CP diet; however, nitrogen retention was no different among the treatments. Dietary CP and enzyme supplementation did not significantly affect hepatic enzyme activities. 5. These results suggest that CP content in the broiler diet can be reduced by 20 g/kg without lowering performance by the supplementation of crystalline amino acids, and can reduce nitrogen excretion by about 25%. Cellulase supplementation of a low-CP diet slightly lowered abdominal fat deposition; however, it did not significantly affect hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzyme activity.     

Effect of dietary supplementation of astaxanthin from Phaffia rhodozyma on lipopolysaccharide‐induced early inflammatory responses in male broiler chickens (Gallus gallus) fed a corn‐enriched diet

Effect of dietary supplementation of astaxanthin (Ax) from Phaffia rhodozyma on lipopolysaccharide‐induced inflammatory responses was investigated in male broiler chickens fed a corn‐based diet. Birds (1 week of age) were fed a corn‐enriched diet containing either 0 or 100 ppm Ax for 2 weeks and were intraperitoneally injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg body weight). Inflammatory responses were evaluated by determining changes in expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) in cytokines and mediators related to inflammatory responses (interleukin (IL)‐1 beta and ‐6, inducible nitrite synthase (iNOS), interferon (IFN)‐ γ and cyclooxygenase (Cox)‐2 in the liver and spleen after 2 h of LPS injection and plasma ceruloplasmin concentration as an acute phase protein. Birds fed Ax showed significantly higher iNOS mRNA expression in the liver and spleen compared to that of control birds. Ax‐fed birds also showed greater increase in mRNA expression in the liver of IL‐1, IL‐6 and IFN‐γ compared to that of control birds. The enhancing effect of Ax was further progressed when LPS was injected. No difference was found in plasma ceruloplasmin concentration between the Ax‐fed group and control group. The results suggest that feeding supplementation of Ax (100 ppm) to a corn‐enriched diet possibly does not have anti‐inflammatory effect in male broiler chickens.     

Impact of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide and its effects on coccidia challenge in broiler chickens

ABSTRACT

1. Two experiments were conducted, the first to determine the optimum inclusion of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) in broiler diets to support growth performance, digestive functions, intestinal morphology, and immune organs. The second experiment evaluated the immune-protective properties of COS on broiler chickens during coccidia challenge (CC).

2. Experiment 1 investigated the effect of graded dietary concentration of COS in the diets of broiler chickens using eight cage replicates for each of the six diets. A corn-soybean meal-based diet was used as the basal diet and supplemented with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 g of COS/kg feed to form the six treatments.

3. The diet supplemented with 1.0 g COS/kg of feed provided the optimal inclusion level for broiler chickens regarding body weight (BW) gain, jejunal villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio, and ileal energy digestibility at d 22 of age.

4. Experiment 2 investigated the immune-protective properties of COS in broiler chickens during CC. A total of 224 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to eight replicate cages in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with two COS concentrations (0 or 1 g of COS/kg of diet), with or without CC.

5. On d 18 of age, birds in the CC group received twice the recommended coccidia vaccine dose of 30 doses/kg BW.

6. Coccidia challenge reduced (P < 0.05) and dietary COS increased (P < 0.05) BW gain, and feed intake. Dietary COS mitigated (P < 0.05) the CC-induced effects on gain:feed. Dietary COS supplementation attenuated the CC-induced effects (P < 0.05) on the expression of occludin genes.

7. In conclusion, dietary COS improved performance, and the immune-related beneficial impact of COS supplementation was associated with reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes.     

Sodium butyrate maintains growth performance by regulating the immune response in broiler chickens

1. The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary sodium butyrate on the growth performance and immune response of broiler chickens. In experiment 1, 240 1-d-old chickens were allocated into 4 dietary groups (0, 0·25, 0·50 or 1·00 g sodium butyrate/kg) with 6 replicates each. In experiment 2, 120 1-d-old chickens were fed a control diet (without sodium butyrate) or 1·00 g sodium butyrate/kg diet. Half of the chickens fed on each diet were injected intra-peritoneally with 0·5 g/kg body weight of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 16, 18 and 20 d of age. 2. There was no effect of dietary sodium butyrate on growth performance. On d 21, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were decreased in chickens given 1·00 g sodium butyrate/kg, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities were significantly increased, and malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased by dietary sodium butyrate at 0·50 or 1·00 g/kg. On d 42, serum IL-6 was markedly decreased by dietary sodium butyrate, while 1·00 g sodium butyrate/kg greatly reduced MDA and increased catalase. 3. LPS challenge significantly reduced the growth performance of chickens. Serum IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, corticosterone, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) were increased in LPS-challenged chickens. Dietary sodium butyrate supplementation maintained the body weight gain and feed intake. Sodium butyrate supplementation inhibited the increase in IL-6 and AGP in serum at 16 d of age and TNF-α, corticosterone, AGP and PGE(2) at 20 d of age. Similar inhibitory effects of sodium butyrate in serum glucose and total protein concentrations were also found at 20 d of age. 4. The results indicated that dietary sodium butyrate supplementation can improve the growth performance in chickens under stress and that this may be used to moderate the immune response and reduce tissue damage.     

连翘提取物对肉仔鸡热应激下生长性能和抗氧化活性的影响

选用1日龄健康的爱拔益加肉公雏196只,平均体重为(38.8±1.3)g,研究连翘提取物(FSE)对热应激(32±1)℃环境下肉鸡生长性能和抗氧化能力的影响。将肉仔鸡随机分为3个处理,每个处理14个重复,每个重复6只鸡。日粮处理组,分别为空白对照组(NC),维生素C组(PC):基础日粮+维生素C200mg/kg;连翘提取物组(FSE):基础日粮+FSE100mg/kg。结果表明:试验前期各处理间生长性能没有显著性差异。试验后期FSE组与NC组相比日增重显著提高(P<0.05),并且饲料转化率提高。FSE组比NC组血液总抗氧化能力(TAOC)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量显著提高(P<0.05),而丙二醛(MDA)水平下降。从试验全期看FSE组比NC组肝脏SOD含量显著提高(P<0.05)。说明FSE通过清除自由基途径,缓解活性氧对肠黏膜的损伤,改善营养物质消化率和生长性能,FSE有望成为高效天然抗氧化剂。     

Response of naked neck (Nana) and normal (nana) broiler chickens to dietary energy levels in a subtropical climate

1. The comparative response of naked neck (Nana) broiler chickens and their normally feathered (nana) full sibs to varied dietary energy levels was assessed under natural ambient conditions in a subtropical climate in two separate trials, one in winter (19.0 to 26.0 degrees C) and the other in summer (28.1 to 37.4 degrees C). 2. The chickens were fed on diets with 10.9, 11.5 or 12.1 MJ ME/kg and with a constant protein content of 200 g/kg from 1 to 42 d of age. 3. Both genotypes showed similar body weight, food intake and food conversion efficiency at 42 d of age. Body weight and food conversion efficiency improved on the diet with the highest energy content. 4. Apparent retention (AR) of crude protein (CP) was higher in nana chickens than in their Nana sibs in the winter trial, while no differences were observed for AR of dry matter (DM), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE) or calcium. In the summer trial, no difference in nutrient retention was seen between the genotypes. Increasing dietary energy had a positive influence on AR of DM, CP and EE. 5. The relative weights of feathers and skin were lower in Nana chickens than in their normal counterparts. Ready-to-cook yields were greater at the high dietary energy content, while abdominal fat increased with increasing energy content. Nana chickens had more skin protein and less fat in breast muscle and skin than their normal sibs in the summer trial. 6. It was concluded that the Nana broiler chickens showed similar performance and did not differ in dietary energy requirements in comparison to their nana sibs under natural ambient conditions in a subtropical climate.     

Heterophil functional responses to dietary immunomodulators vary in genetically distinct chicken lines

The effect of dietary supplementation of immunomodulators on in vitro chicken heterophil function was investigated using three diverse genetic lines of chickens (broiler, Fayoumi, and Leghorn). Dietary supplementation with β-glucan, ascorbic acid, and corticosterone was fed from 8 to 11 weeks of age. Heterophil function was evaluated weekly during supplementation using phagocytosis, bacterial killing, and heterophil extracellular traps (HETs)-DNA release. Fayoumis fed the basal diet had significantly higher HETs-DNA release (P=0.002) than Leghorns and broilers. Both genetic line and immunomodulator diet supplementation had significant effects on bacterial killing (line and diet effect: P<0.001) and HETs-DNA release (line: P<0.001; diet: P=0.043). Dietary supplementation with immunomodulators, therefore, shows potential to affect and augment heterophil function in chickens. The current results also suggest the important role of genetics in innate immune responses.     

芦荟乙酰化甘露聚糖对肉仔鸡cAMP/cGMP与免疫功能的影响

本试验研究了肉仔鸡日粮中添加芦荟乙酰化甘露聚糖对环核苷酸含量与免疫功能的影响。结果表明:芦荟凝胶、多糖和乙酰化甘露聚糖均能显著(P<0.05)增加肉鸡体重和肝脏重量,提高血浆和肝脏的cAMP和血浆、肝脏的cGMP水平,以及血浆和肝脏的cAMP/cGMP比值。注射绵羊红细胞,一免后,7 d抗体总量和IgG含量达到峰值。与对照组相比,一免后,7,11,14 d肉仔鸡的抗体总量和IgG值较高,差异显著(P<0.05);二免后,4 d抗体总量和IgG含量达到峰值,并长时间内维持高水平。二免后乙酰化甘露聚糖显著(P<0.05)提高了肉仔鸡对新城疫疫苗(NDV)的抗体水平,同时还增强了肉仔鸡对NDV的免疫应答。本研究表明乙酰化甘露聚糖能提高肉仔鸡的体液免疫功能。     

The effect of dietary supplementation with globin and spray-dried porcine plasma on performance,digestibility and histomorphological traits in broiler chickens

This study evaluated the effects of globin and spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on growth performance, digestibility, nitrogen retention, energy retention efficiency (ERE) and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 336-day-old male broiler chickens were reared from 1 to 40 days of age and fed 3 diets (8 replicates/diet, 14 birds/replicate) during 3 feeding phases: starter (1–12 days), grower (12–25 days) and finisher (25–40 days). Isonitrogenous diets were formulated by replacing gluten protein isolate contained in the control diet (C diet) with 2% (starter) or 1% (grower and finisher) spray-dried porcine plasma in the plasma diet (SDPP diet). The globin diet (G diet) was obtained by adding globin on the top of C diet at a dose of 0.08% for the whole rearing period. Total tract apparent digestibility (aD), nitrogen retention and ERE were assessed during the three growing phases. At 12  and 40 days of age, one bird per pen was slaughtered to sample gut, liver, spleen and bursa of Fabricius for histomorphological investigations. The SDPP diet increased body weights of chickens at 12 (+60 g; p < .001), 25 (+101 g; p < .001) and 40 days (+130 g; p = .018) of age compared to C and G diets. Also SDPP improved crude protein aD (+9.7%) and ERE (+12.3%) during the starter phase (p < .001). Dietary globin and SDPP inclusion did not affect either the gut morphology or the histopathological findings in birds at 12 and 40 days of age, despite a numerical (+6.90% and +7.40% respectively) villus height improvement in the SDPP group. Overall, these results confirm that dietary supplementation with SDPP and, to a lesser extent, with globin can improve growth performance and dietary protein and energy utilization in broiler chickens without effect on gut functionality.     

Effects of peach palm oil on performance, serum lipoproteins and haemostasis in broilers

1. An experiment was conducted to study the comparative effects of peach palm oil (PPO, Bactris gasipaes H.B.K), crude palm oil (CPO, Elaeis guinenesis), maize oil (MO) and beef tallow (BT) on serum total and lipoprotein cholesterol levels and haemostatic factors in broiler chickens. 2. Four experimental diets were formulated to be isocaloric (14·2 MJ AME(N)/kg) and isonitrogenous (230 g CP/kg). PPO was extracted from the whole dry fruit with hexane. Each fat was added to the diet in an amount equivalent to 25% of total dietary calories. Six replicate groups of eight male broiler chicks were assigned randomly to each dietary treatment. Diets were fed on ad libitum basis. The experiment lasted 42 d. 3. At 42 d, birds were fasted overnight and three chickens/dietary treatment were utilised to draw blood for lipoprotein separation. Various haemostatic factors were determined in thrombocyte-poor plasma. Thrombocyte aggregation was assayed in whole blood. 4. No significant differences were detected in body-weight gain or feed efficiency between the chickens fed on the PPO diet and those receiving the CPO, MO or BT diets. Total serum cholesterol (TC), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL(C)) were not significantly affected after consuming the PPO, CPO and MO diets. Serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL(C)) was reduced only by the MO diet. Birds fed on the PPO diet had a significantly lower [corrected] LDLC/HDLC ratio compared with other dietary treatments 5. Thrombocyte count and thrombin time were not significantly affected by the experimental diets. Dietary oils significantly affected prothrombin time, fibrinogen concentration and thrombocyte aggregation. PPO and MO diets elicited the lowest fibrinogen levels compared to the CPO and BT diets. Thrombocyte aggregation in broilers fed on the PPO diet was similar to that of the CPO, MO and BT diets. 6. The results suggest that PPO might efficiently provide up to 25% of dietary energy in broiler diets. Additionally, PPO elicited a more favourable LDL(C)/HDL(C) ratio and haemostatic pattern in broiler chickens. These findings may be of general interest to the food industry.     

木薯型日粮添加复合酶对肉鸡生长性能、组织器官重量及养分消化的影响

文章旨在评估日粮用木薯粉替代玉米同时补充外源复合酶对肉鸡生长性能、组织器官重量及养分表观消化率的影响。试验选择平均初始体重（44.15±0.76）g的肉鸡576只,随机分为4组,每组4个重复,每个重复36只。试验日粮采用2×2因子设计,即2种原料（玉米和木薯）和酶添加量（0和100?mg/kg复合酶）,其中T1组和T2组分别饲喂玉米、木薯型日粮,T3和T4组分别在T1和T2基础日粮中添加100?mg/kg复合酶,试验为期3周。结果：玉米型日粮组肉鸡末重较木薯型日粮组显著提高6.65%（P＜0.05）,但料重比显著降低2.10%（P＜0.05）。无论日粮类型如何,添加复合酶较未添加组肉鸡料重比显著降低2.10%（P＜0.05）。日粮类型及复合酶对肉鸡平均日增重和料重比的影响具有显著交互作用（P＜0.05）。与T2组相比,T3组肉鸡脾脏相对重量显著提高50%（P＜0.05）。无论日粮是玉米型还是木薯型,补充100?mg/kg复合酶较未补充组淀粉表观消化系数显著提高5.59%（P＜0.05）。结论：在本研究条件下,日粮中添加50%木薯粉完全替代玉米同时补充100?mg/kg复合酶可以改善肉鸡饲料效率,提高淀粉表观消化率。 [关键词]木薯|复合酶|肉鸡|生长性能|养分消化     

饲粮添加共轭亚油酸对肉仔鸡肠道黏膜免疫反应的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮添加共轭亚油酸(conjugated linoleic acid,CLA)对肉仔鸡肠道黏膜免疫反应的影响。试验选用72只1日龄健康、体重相近的爱拔益加(AA)雄性肉仔鸡,随机分配到对照组和CLA组,分别饲喂基础饲粮和在基础饲粮中添加1%CLA的饲粮,每组6个重复,每个重复6只鸡。21日龄屠宰取样。结果表明:CLA组肉仔鸡空肠食糜分泌型免疫球蛋白A(secretory immunoglobulin A,SIgA)含量(P<0.01)和空肠SIgA基因mRNA表达水平(P<0.01)均高于对照组;饲粮添加CLA显著提高肉仔鸡空肠过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ(PPARγ)基因mRNA表达水平(P<0.01),但转化生长因子β4(transforming growth factor-β4,TGFβ4)基因mRNA表达水平在2组之间没有显著差异(P>0.05);CLA组肉仔鸡Peyer氏结CD8+T细胞亚群百分数(P<0.01)和淋巴细胞转化率(P<0.05)均显著高于对照组。由此可见,饲粮添加1%CLA提高了21日龄肉仔鸡空肠SIgA水平,激活PPARγ可能是CLA调节SIgA表达的途径之一。饲粮添加1%CLA影响21日龄肉仔鸡空肠黏膜细胞免疫功能。     

地塞米松和饲粮能量水平对肉仔鸡能量采食及神经肽Y基因表达的影响

本试验旨在探讨注射地塞米松(DEX)模拟应激状态下,应激和饲粮能量水平对肉仔鸡能量采食的影响。选取体重相近的180只23日龄的雄性爱拔益加(AA)肉鸡随机分成6组,每组3个重复,每个重复10只鸡。试验采用2×3析因设计,因素为DEX[处理(注射DEX2 mg/kg)、未处理(注射等剂量生理盐水)]和饲粮能量水平[高能(HE)、低能(LE)以及高能、低能自由采食(H-LE)]。预试期5 d,正试期7 d。结果表明:1)DEX处理极显著降低了肉仔鸡的采食量和体增重(P<0.01),极显著提高了耗料增重比、耗能增重比、腹脂率以及血浆葡萄糖、甘油三酯和尿酸的浓度(P<0.01),显著提高了肠道指数(P<0.05)。2)采用LE饲粮体增重(P<0.05)、腹脂率(P<0.01)显著低于其他2种饲粮,耗料增重比显著低于HE饲粮(P<0.05);采用HE饲粮耗能增重比极显著高于其他2种饲粮(P<0.01);采用H-LE饲粮神经肽Y(NPY)基因表达量显著高于LE饲粮(P<0.05)。3)DEX、饲粮能量水平对耗料增重比(P<0.05)和耗能增重比(P<0.01)的影响存在显著的互作效应。结果提示,DEX应激可使肉仔鸡血浆中葡萄糖、尿酸和甘油三酯的浓度升高;DEX应激和HE饲粮均能增加脂肪在腹部沉积,提高耗料增重比和耗能增重比;H-LE饲粮能上调肉仔鸡下丘脑NPY基因表达。     

Dietary supplementation of phenyllactic acid on growth performance,immune response,cecal microbial population,and meat quality attributes of broiler chickens

A total of 750 one-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly fed 5 dietary treatments with 5 replicate pens per treatment. The 5 dietary treatments fed for 42 d were a corn-soybean meal basal diet without antibiotic (control); a mixture of 10 ppm of avilamycin + 60 ppm of salinomycin as antibiotic growth promoters (AGP); 0.1% phenyllactic acid (PLA); 0.2% PLA; and 0.4% PLA. The BW gain and FE were significantly improved in AGP and PLA groups compared with control group. The white blood cells and heterophil counts were significantly higher in the PLA-supplemented groups compared with AGP and control groups, but the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was lower in the control group than other groups. The plasma IgY concentration was significantly increased in birds fed PLA-supplemented diets, but the plasma IgA and IgM concentrations were not different among the treatment groups. In addition, the antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus was significantly higher in PLA-treated compared with control and AGP-treated groups. Neither PLA nor AGP treatments affected the cecal aerobes andSalmonella content; however, cecalLactobacillus population increased in chickens fed 0.1% PLA, and total coliform bacteria population significantly decreased in chickens fed various levels of PLA and AGP. Dietary supplementation of PLA did not affect the pH, lightness, and redness of breast meat, but the water-holding capacity and shear force value increased and the yellowness decreased significantly when birds were fed PLA. It was concluded that dietary supplementation of 0.1 and 0.2% PLA improves BW gain and FE of broiler chickens. In addition, PLA supplementation increases the immune characteristics and the number of lactic acid bacteria, decreases the number of coliform bacteria, and improves the meat quality attributes of broiler chickens. Thus, dietary PLA could be a viable alternative to antibiotics in broiler diets.     

饲粮添加万寿菊提取物对肉鸡血清生化指标、抗氧化能力和免疫性能的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮添加万寿菊提取物对肉鸡血清生化指标、抗氧化能力和免疫性能的影响。选取1日龄爱拔益加(AA)肉鸡192只,随机分为3组,每组8个重复,每个重复8只鸡。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组在基础饲粮中分别添加0.15%和0.60%的万寿菊提取物,即有效成分叶黄素含量分别为30和120 mg/kg,试验期42 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,1)饲粮添加0.60%万寿菊提取物使肉鸡血清甘油三酯和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平显著降低(P0.05),高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平显著升高(P0.05);2)0.15%和0.60%万寿菊提取物添加组肉鸡21和42日龄血清总抗氧化能力和超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶活性显著提高(P0.05);3)0.60%万寿菊提取物添加组肉鸡21日龄胸腺、脾脏和法氏囊指数显著升高(P0.05),饲粮添加万寿菊提取物使肉鸡血清免疫球蛋白M、免疫球蛋白G和白细胞介素2水平显著升高(P0.05),万寿菊提取物未对肉鸡42日龄免疫器官指数造成显著影响(P0.05)。综上,肉鸡饲粮中添加万寿菊提取物可以提高肉鸡机体的抗氧化能力和免疫性能,且对机体脂代谢有调节作用。     

饲养密度和高蛋白质饲粮代谢能水平对公母分饲肉鸡生长性能和腿部健康的影响

本试验旨在研究饲养密度与高蛋白质(前期23%,后期21%)饲粮代谢能水平对公母分饲肉鸡生长性能和腿部健康的影响。试验采用2(性别)×2(饲养密度)×3(饲粮代谢能水平)三因子完全随机设计,选用1日龄罗斯308(Ross 308)肉鸡公雏1 872只和母雏2 160只,随机分成12个组,每组8个重复。试验设高、低2个饲养密度,以出栏体重计,分别为42[高饲养密度(HSD),16公/m2或18母/m2]和26 kg/m2[低饲养密度(LSD),10公/m2或12母/m2]。试验饲粮分前期(1~21日龄)和后期(22~35日龄)2个阶段配制,饲粮代谢能设高、中、低3个水平,其中,高代谢能(HME)水平饲粮前期和后期的代谢能水平分别为12.81和13.23 MJ/kg,中代谢能(MME)水平饲粮前期和后期的代谢能水平分别为12.18和12.60 MJ/kg,低代谢能(HME)水平饲粮前期和后期的代谢能水平分别为11.55和11.97 MJ/kg。结果表明:1)饲养密度与饲粮代谢能水平对肉鸡的平均日增重和料重比有显著交互作用(P0.05)。1~21日龄时,随着饲粮代谢能水平增加,HSD组平均日增重的增加幅度和料重比的降低幅度均小于LSD组;22~35日龄时结果正好相反。性别与饲养密度对肉鸡的平均日采食量有显著交互作用(P0.05)。随着饲养密度增加,公鸡平均日采食量的降低幅度大于母鸡。2)HSD极显著降低肉鸡的胸肌率(P0.01),母鸡的胸肌率和腹脂率显著高于公鸡(P0.05)。饲粮代谢能水平和饲养密度对肉鸡的腿肌率有显著交互作用(P0.05)。随着饲粮代谢能水平增加,LSD组肉鸡的腿肌率降低,而HSD组基本不变。3)高饲粮代谢能水平极显著降低肉鸡的脚垫损伤评分(P0.01),公鸡的步态评分和脚垫损伤评分显著高于母鸡(P0.05),垫料水分含量显著低于母鸡(P0.05)。饲粮代谢能水平与饲养密度对肉鸡的脚垫损伤评分有显著交互作用(P0.05)。随着饲粮代谢能水平增加,HSD组脚垫损伤评分的降低幅度大于LSD组。以上结果表明,高饲养密度降低肉鸡的平均日增重,增加料重比;35日龄前,公鸡比母鸡的空间需求更高;提高高蛋白质饲粮的代谢能水平可以缓解HSD对肉鸡生长性能和脚垫健康的不利影响。     

Impact of dietary crude protein and amino acids status on performance and some excreta characteristics of broiler chicks during 10–28 days of age

A study was conducted in a completely randomised design to evaluate the effects of providing almost all important essential amino acids (EAA) in low‐crude protein (CP) diets equal to that of higher CP diets in broiler chickens. Also the effects of additional mixture of glycine (Gly) and glutamic acid (Glu) or supplementation of excess EAA to low‐CP diets on the live performance and excreta characteristics including pH, moisture, nitrogen, uric acid and ammonia concentration were measured to ascertain the optimum CP concentration for the maximum performance and reduced excreta ammonia concentration. Male, broiler chickens growing from 10 to 28 days of age were fed eight experimental diets. Reducing dietary CP below 19% negatively affected performance. Adding the Gly and Glu mixtures to 17% CP diets improved live performance. Reducing CP to 19% with a normal amino acids status declined N, ammonia, uric acid, moisture and pH of excreta significantly. These findings suggest that diminishing dietary CP from 23% to 19% while maintaining adequate EAA levels during 10–28 days of age results in not only a significant decline in N emission, but also a probable reduction in the NH₃ volatilisation because of reduction in pH and moisture. Contrary to expectations, reduction of dietary CP below the minimum level (19%) resulted in more ammonia. All these factors may improve on litter and air quality within the housing facility and reduce the ventilation rate required to emit the elevated ammonia gas concentrations.     

The effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on the performance, organ weights and circulating hormone and metabolite concentrations of broiler chickens reared under a normal or low temperature schedule.

1. The present study examined the effects of the addition of 100 mg/kg L-carnitine to the basal starter (containing 17.8 mg/kg L-carnitine) and finisher (containing 22.9 mg/kg L-carnitine) diets on performance, organ weights and plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations of male and female broiler chickens. The broiler chickens were reared either in a room with a normal temperature (NT) program or with a low temperature (LT) program (rapid decrease from 28 degrees C to 20 degrees C at 14 d of age). 2. Broiler chickens reared under the LT schedule consumed more food and attained a greater body weight at 42 d of age than their counterparts reared under NT schedule, without any difference in food efficiency or abdominal fat content. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation had no significant effects on any of these production parameters, except for a reduction in the abdominal fat content of female NT chickens. However, the LT schedule and dietary L-carnitine supplementation greatly increased absolute and proportional heart weights. The elevated heart weights were not due to right ventricle hypertrophy. 3. Both the LT program and L-carnitine supplementation increased circulating plasma triiodothyronine concentrations. There were also some transient effects of both experimental variables on plasma growth hormone, glucose and triglyceride concentrations. 4. L-carnitine did not improve broiler performance. However, this result does not mean that L-carnitine supplementation cannot have beneficial effects in other circumstances. In view of the elevated proportional heart weights, it can also be argued that L-carnitine is a potential agent for reducing the incidence of metabolic diseases in broiler chickens.