木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡生产性能的影响

768羽1日龄AA肉仔鸡,随机分为6个处理,每个处理分8个重复,每个重复16羽肉仔鸡(公母各半)。6个处理分别为玉米-豆粕型日粮添加木聚糖酶0和1000IU/kg处理组,小麦-玉米-豆粕型日粮添加木聚糖酶0,500,1000和1500IU/kg处理组。试验采用4层立体网上养殖(使用上面3层),饲养周期为1～6周龄(前期和中期)。研究玉米和小麦基础日粮中单独使用木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡生产性能的影响。结果表明:玉米-豆粕型日粮中添加1000IU/kg的木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡前期和后期的生长性能无显著影响(P>0.05),但有改善的趋势;小麦-玉米-豆粕型日粮中添加木聚糖酶提高了肉仔鸡的采食量,改善了肉仔鸡的饲料转化效率(P<0.05);小麦-玉米-豆粕型日粮中3个木聚糖酶添加水平之间对肉仔鸡生产性能无显著影响,同样对肠道食糜黏度无影响,提示在本研究条件下500IU/kg木聚糖酶能满足分解木聚糖的需要;尽管小麦-玉米-豆粕型添加木聚糖酶改善了动物生产性能,但仍显著低于玉米-豆粕型日粮,提示在生产实践中单独添加一种酶的作用是有限的。     

预消化处理肉鸡加酶日粮中非淀粉多糖酶解效果的研究

文章旨在研究4种单体NSP酶制剂(木聚糖酶、β-葡聚糖酶、纤维素酶和甘露聚糖酶),经过预消化处理工艺后,对肉鸡日粮中的非淀粉多糖的酶解情况,为进一步研究NSP酶制剂在肉鸡日粮中的合理利用提供参考依据。结果显示,不同的NSP酶添加量对肉鸡日粮的预消化处理效果有着显著的相关关系,木聚糖酶、β-葡聚糖酶、纤维素酶、甘露聚糖酶的最佳添加水平分别为250、350、300、200 mg/kg;初步确定的预消化处理参数是:温度45℃、时间60 min、水分35%。本试验条件下,结合相关的数据分析,试验日粮中最佳酶制剂组合是:木聚糖酶186 mg/kg、β-葡聚糖酶440 mg/kg、纤维素酶337 mg/kg、甘露聚糖酶200 mg/kg(P<0.01)。研究表明,加酶日粮经过预消化处理后,可以有效地降解其中日粮的非淀粉多糖,提高日粮的营养利用率。     

复合非淀粉多糖酶制剂对肉鸡生长性能及肠道酶活性的影响

将200只21日龄罗斯肉鸡分成5个处理组:处理1组(正对照组)、处理2组(负对照组),处理3～5组在负对照组日粮基础上各添加一种商业复合非淀粉多糖酶制剂产品。测定肉鸡生长性能及42日龄肠道消化酶活性。结果显示:处理3组肉鸡的料肉比显著优于(P≤0.05)处理1、2和5组;末体重指标,处理3和4组间无显著差异(P>0.05),但显著高于处理2和5组。处理3组肉鸡十二指肠的淀粉酶以及十二指肠内容物的蛋白酶活性显著高于(P≤0.05)处理1和2组。处理4和5组肉鸡的十二指肠淀粉酶和蛋白酶活性差异不显著,但显著低于处理3组。处理3组肉鸡空肠内容物的淀粉酶、蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性显著高于其它4个处理组。以上结果说明,选用复合NSP酶制剂应实测产品的酶种类和酶活性,以合理有效使用。     

Evaluation of a thermotolerant xylanase on broiler growth performance and dietary ileal digestible energy value

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of a thermotolerant xylanase on male broiler performance and dietary ileal digestible energy (IDE). The first experiment consisted of 3 treatment groups with 12 replications per treatment each containing 35 Cobb 500 males for a total of 1,260 broilers placed in floor pens for a 42 d grow-out. The experiment treatments included a corn/soy diet with DDGS control formulated at a low energy level, and the control supplemented with one of 2 concentrations of xylanase (20,000 XU/kg [XYL20] and 40,000 XU/kg [XYL40]). No significant differences in body weight were observed with the inclusion of xylanase when compared to the control diet throughout the experiment. At d 28, the inclusion of XYL20 improved (P < 0.05) mortality corrected feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control diet. Feed conversion ratio was also improved (P < 0.01) at d 42 for birds fed XYL20 when compared to the control. At d 42, inclusion of XYL20 and XYL40 significantly (P < 0.05) increased IDE compared to the control. Experiment 2 consisted of 4 treatment groups with 10 replications per treatment each containing 44 Cobb 500 males for a total of 1,760 broilers placed in floor pens for a 41 d grow-out. The dietary treatments included a positive control (PC) based on a corn/soy diet containing DDGS and phytase, a negative control (NC) diet (PC -150 kcal/kg in AME), NC + xylanase at 10,000 XU/kg (XYL10), and NC + xylanase at 20,000 XU/kg (XYL20). A significant increase (P < 0.05) in BW was observed in broilers fed the inclusion of XYL20 in the NC diet increased (P < 0.05) on d 14. A significant increase in cumulative body weight gain was observed on d 27 and d 41 with xylanase (XYL20) inclusion compared to the NC. These data demonstrate that xylanase inclusion increased energy utilization through improvements in IDE, which improved broiler performance.     

The effect of dietary lysozyme with EDTA on growth performance and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens in each period of the growth cycle

Lysozyme is a potential replacement for antibiotics in the poultry industry. Two trials were conducted using new or used litter to determine the effect of 100 ppm lysozyme in feed on growth performance and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens in each period of the growth cycle. The new litter trial and used litter trial were each analyzed as a one-way analysis of variance with length of time in which 100 ppm lysozyme was fed to the birds as the main factor (no lysozyme d zero to 35; positive lysozyme d zero to 4; positive lysozyme d 5 to 14; positive lysozyme d 15 to 24; positive lysozyme d 25 to 35; positive lysozyme d zero to 35; positive virginiamycin d zero to 35). Effects of lysozyme were not detected under clean conditions (P > 0.05). When used litter was provided, growth performance was not improved by lysozyme (P > 0.05). However, feeding lysozyme to birds from d 5 to 14 and throughout the trial reduced the number of E. coli in the ileum compared with feeding virginiamycin (positive lysozyme d 5 to 14 and zero to 35, and virginiamycin d zero to 35: 1.7 × 10⁴ cfu g⁻¹, 1.9 × 10⁴ cfu g⁻¹ and 9.3 × 10⁴ cfu g⁻¹, respectively) to birds (P < 0.05). Dietary lysozyme at 100 ppm can change intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens.     

玉米-豆粕型日粮中添加木聚糖酶对肉鸡生产性能和内源酶活性的影响

试验选用270羽1日龄艾维茵健康肉仔鸡,随机分成3组,研究了玉米-豆粕型日粮条件下添加不同水平的木聚糖酶对肉鸡生产性能和内源酶活性的影响。结果表明,添加25g/t和50g/t的木聚糖酶可提高肉鸡的日增重,降低料重比;提高胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、胰淀粉酶和胰脂肪酶酶活力,同时亦显著提高了肉鸡的生产效益。     

复合短链脂肪酸对肉仔鸡生产性能的影响及相关作用机制的探讨

试验旨在研究复合SCFAs对肉仔鸡生产性能的影响及其相关的作用机制。120只AA肉仔鸡随机分成2组(复合SCFAs添加组和对照组),每组6个重复,每个重复10只鸡。结果表明,与对照组相比,添加复合SCFAs组的肉仔鸡的体增重、耗料量、胰腺相对重量分别提高了4.4%、5.6%、16%(P<0.05),小肠淀粉酶和胰蛋白酶的活性分别提高了48.5%和37.3%(P<0.05),降低了十二指肠中大肠杆菌的数量(P<0.05)以及血清中葡萄糖和胰岛素的含量(P<0.05)。日粮中使用复合SCFAs可以提高肉仔鸡小肠消化酶活性,减少消化道中大肠杆菌的数量,改善肉仔鸡的生产性能。     

Evaluation of xylanase in low-energy broiler diets

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of feeding a thermo-tolerant xylanase in low-energy broiler diets on performance and processing parameters. Evaluation criteria included average broiler BW, FCR, livability, carcass yield, and fat pad yields. The experimental design consisted of 3 nutrient profiles: positive control, negative control 1 (−66 kcal/kg), and negative control 2 (−132 kcal/kg). Two xylanase inclusion programs were included in the negative control 1 and 2 diets; 60 g/t was included in the starter and grower diets with either 60 or 100 g/t in the finisher and withdrawal diets, yielding a total of 7 treatment groups with 8 replicate pens per treatment each containing 42-d-old straight-run chicks per treatment (2,352 total broilers). Broilers were reared in floor pens through 45 d of age. The dietary program consisted of 5 dietary phases: starter (1–15 d), grower 1 (16–23 d), grower 2 (24–31 d), finisher (32–38 d), and withdrawal (39–45 d). Body weights and feed consumption were determined on days of dietary changes, including d 15, 23, 31, 38, and 45. On d 45, 4 male and 4 female broilers per replicate (448 total) were subjected to an 8-h feed withdrawal period and processed to obtain carcass and fat pad weights. Reducing the dietary energy level increased FCR and decreased the fat pad weight of broilers in the negative control 2 treatment compared with the positive control. Inclusion of xylanase during the starter phase increased d 15 BW and reduced FCR. The inclusion of xylanase continued to reduce FCR throughout the trial, as compared with diets without xylanase inclusion. Within this study, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of xylanase inclusion in reduced-energy diets (−66 and −132 kcal/kg) to improve FCR of broilers to that of broilers fed energy-adequate diets.     

Effects of dietary inclusion levels of palm oil on growth performance,antioxidative status and serum cytokines of broiler chickens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary palm oil inclusion levels on growth performance, serum antioxidative status and cytokines in Sanhuang broiler chickens. A total of 208 one‐day‐old female Sanhuang chickens were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with four replicates per group and of 13 birds each for a 42‐day feeding trial. Dietary treatments were basal diet without palm oil (control) and diets containing 2%, 4% or 6% palm oil. During days 22 to 42 and the overall experimental period, chickens fed diets supplemented with 4% and 6% palm oil had a lower average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p = 0.019) and feed to gain ratio (F/G) (p = 0.031). Average daily gain (ADG) tended to be higher (p = 0.089) for palm oil inclusion treatments compared with the control treatment from days 1 to 42. Dietary 2% and 4% palm oil treatments significantly lowed serum malondialdehyde concentration on day 21 when compared to the control and 6% palm oil treatments (p = 0.027). Dietary 6% palm oil treatment significantly reduced the catalase (CAT) activity (p = 0.018) and total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) (p = 0.027) in serum in comparison with the control treatment on day 21. No significant differences were observed in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activities in serum among dietary treatments on day 21. There were no significant differences in T‐AOC, CAT, SOD and GSH‐Px activities among dietary treatments on day 42. Dietary inclusion of 4% and 6% palm oil significantly increased (p = 0.01) serum interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) content, but improved transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) content in serum on both days 21 and 42 (p = 0.032 and 0.022 respectively) as well as IL‐10 content on day 42 (p = 0.022) when compared with the control treatment. Furthermore, dietary inclusion of 6% palm oil significantly reduced tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) content on days 21 and 42 (p = 0.021 and 0.001 respectively) compared with the control treatment. These results suggest that dietary inclusion of 4% and 6% palm oil could improve the growth performance, modulate the balance between pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines, and show limited effect on antioxidative status in Sanhuang broiler chickens.     

马齿苋粉对肉鸡生长性能和抗氧化能力的影响

文章旨在研究饲粮中添加马齿苋粉对肉鸡生长性能和抗氧化能力的影响。试验选取平均体重接近的1日龄AA肉鸡160只,称重后随机分为4组,试验1、2、3组在对照组饲粮的基础上分别添加0.30%、0.60%、0.90%的马齿苋粉,共处理42 d。结果发现,与对照组相比,肉鸡21日龄时,试验1、2、3组ADG分别增加5.5%、10.0%、6.8%(P <0.05),试验1、2组F/C分别降低8.2%、6.4%(P <0.05);42日龄时,试验1、2、3组ADG分别增加8.9%、9.6%、8.7%(P <0.05),F/C分别降低8.6%、9.6%、10.1%(P <0.05)。此外,21日龄时,试验1、2、3组肉鸡血清中T-AOC比对照组分别增加12.0%、14.4%、10.1%(P <0.05),T-SOD活性分别增加6.6%、10.5%、9.1%(P <0.05),MDA浓度分别降低6.3%、8.0%、5.6%(P <0.05);42日龄时,试验1、2、3组肉鸡血清中T-AOC比对照组分别提高13.9%、20.3%、13.6%(P <0.05),T-SOD活性分别提高10.5%、14.8%、9.5%(P <0.05),MDA浓度分别降低11.1%、14.9%、9.7%(P <0.05),试验1、2组血清中GSH-Px活性较对照组分别提高10.2%、11.8%(P <0.05)。结果表明,饲粮中添加马齿苋粉显著促进肉鸡生长及增强抗氧化能力。     

木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡后肠道微生物的影响

主要研究了小麦基础口粮添加木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡后肠道微生物的影响.将120只7日龄肉仔鸡分成2组,日粮分别添加0,0.1%木聚糖酶,饲喂至21日龄,研究木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡后肠道菌群数量变化的影响.结果表明,加酶未使同肠和盲肠乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌和大肠杆菌数量发生显著变化.利用变性梯度凝胶电泳技术研究了木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡后肠细菌群体的影响.结果表明,加酶组回肠和盲肠的图谱比对照组条带相对较多,但差异不显著;组内个体间的图谱相似性比组问的相似性相对较大.木聚糖酶影响肉仔鸡后肠微生物数量和种群的作用效果不明显.     

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

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

谷氨酸锌对肉仔鸡生长性能、血清含锌酶活性及免疫器官指数的影响

本试验旨在研究谷氨酸螯合锌(zinc glutamine,Glu-Zn)对肉仔鸡生长性能、血清含锌酶活性、免疫器官指数的影响。选用240只7日龄商品代AA肉用仔鸡,随机分成6个处理。1组为对照组饲喂含80mgZnSO4·H2O形式的Zn的基础日粮,其余5组分别在基础日粮中添加20、40、60、80mg/kg和100mg/kg谷氨酸螯合锌形式的Zn。饲养期为35d。结果表明:试验各周及全期,随着日粮中谷氨酸螯合锌水平的增加,肉仔鸡日增重和饲料转化效率均得到改善,同时,40mg/kg谷氨酸螯合锌组显著提高了试验全期的平均日增重(P0.05);血清碱性磷酸酶活性随着日粮锌水平的增加先上升,而后又下降,在锌添加水平为60mg/kg时取得最大值;谷氨酸螯合锌组在胸腺指数、脾脏指数上,明显优于对照组,且存在显著差异(P0.05),而法氏囊指数并不敏感。从本试验各项指标和经济效益综合分析,建议肉仔鸡饲料中添加60mg/kg的谷氨酸螯合锌。     

饲料级果胶酶对肉仔鸡生长性能的影响

试验旨在研究日粮中添加饲料级果胶酶对肉仔鸡生长性能的影响。选择体重、健康状况基本一致的AA肉仔鸡240只,随机等分为试验组与对照组2个组,每组设3个重复,每重复40只,分成2个处理组,试验组饲喂在基础日粮中添加0.01％含6000U/g 的饲料级果胶酶的日粮,进行为期35d的试验。结果表明,与对照组相比,试验组日增重提高9.51％（P〈0.05）;料重比降低7.06％（P〈0.05）;死淘率降低11.00％（P〈0.05）。说明在日粮中添加饲料级果胶酶可显著提高肉仔鸡的生长性能。     

早期数量限饲对肉用仔鸡生产性能、胴体品质的影响

试验研究了早期数量限饲对肉用仔鸡生产性能、胴体品质的影响。以320只1日龄AA+肉用仔鸡为试验动物。设4个处理组,每个处理组4个重复,每个重复20只肉仔鸡。对照组根据AA+商品代肉鸡营养标准配制。各处理肉用仔鸡1～7日龄均为自由采食,8～14日龄对照组、限饲90%组、限饲80%组和限饲70%组分别饲喂自由采食量的100%、90%、80%和70%,15日龄恢复自由采食,以后按常规饲养管理。每周末,以重复为单位全部称重。分别于42、49日龄,每个重复随机抽取4只肉用仔鸡禁食12h、称重、屠宰、测定屠体品质。试验结果表明:在第2周,限饲各组肉仔鸡的体重和日增重分别显著低于对照组(P0.05);在第3周,限饲90%组完成补偿生长,体重与对照组差异不显著(P0.05);在第4周,限饲80%和70%组完成补偿生长,体重与对照组差异不显著(P0.05);5、6、7周及2～6、2～7周各组在体重、日增重、日采食量和饲料转化率等都无显著差异(P0.05)。早期数量限饲对肉仔鸡胴体特性没有显著影响(P0.05),限饲70%～80%,具有改善饲料转化效率、胸肌率、腹脂率的作用。     

木聚糖酶和葡聚糖酶对肉鸡生长性能、屠宰性能、胴体成分及血液指标的影响

文章旨在研究玉米-小麦-豆粕型日粮添加木聚糖酶和葡聚糖酶对1～42 d肉鸡生长性能、屠宰性能、胴体成分及血液指标的影响。试验选择健康、体重一致的1日龄Cobb肉仔鸡800只,随机分为2组,每组5个重复,每个重复80只。对照组饲喂玉米-小麦-豆粕型日粮,试验组饲喂基础日粮添加2000 U/g木聚糖酶+800 U/g葡聚糖酶,试验分为3个阶段,1～14 d,15～28 d和29～42 d。与对照组相比,酶制剂组显著提高了28～42 d肉鸡能量和蛋白质利用率(P <0.05),显著降低了平均日采食量、日增重和料重比(P <0.05)。对于试验全期,酶制剂组显著提高了1～42 d肉鸡能量和粗蛋白质利用率(P <0.05),同时显著降低了平均日采食量、日增重和料重比(P <0.05)。酶制剂组较对照组显著提高了肉鸡的屠宰率和腿肌率(P <0.05)。对照组与酶制剂组对肉鸡胴体干物质、脂肪和灰分含量的影响均无显著差异(P> 0.05)。日粮添加复合酶较对照组显著提高了28和42 d肉鸡血液T3的含量(P <0.05),显著降低了42 d肉鸡血液T4的含量(P <0.05),同时酶制剂组较对照组显著提高了42 d肉鸡血液葡萄糖的浓度(P <0.05)。与对照组相比,酶制剂组显著降低了28和42 d肉鸡血液尿酸含量(P <0.05),显著提高了14和42 d肉鸡血液甘油三酯含量(P <0.05)。综上所述,1～42 d肉鸡日粮添加2000 U/g木聚糖酶和800 U/g葡聚糖酶可以显著改善料肉比,提高屠宰性能,可改变血液中甲状腺激素和部分代谢物的浓度,但对胴体成分影响不大。     

Marginal deficiencies of dietary arginine and methionine could suppress growth performance and immunological responses in broiler chickens

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary arginine (Arg) and methionine (Met) on performance, immune responses, and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 540 day‐old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned into the nine experimental diets, consisting five replicates of 12 birds each. Dietary treatments included three different levels (90%, 100%, and 110% of National Research Council [NRC] specifications) of either dietary Arg or Met, which were fed to the birds according to a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments during a 42 days feeding trial. Results showed that supplementation of Arg and Met into the deficient‐diets increased (p < .01) weight gains during all trial periods. Although average daily feed intake (ADFI) was not influenced by dietary treatments, increasing Arg up to 100% of NRC recommendations improved (p < .05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) throughout the trial period. Similarly, supplementation of deficient‐diets with Met improved FCR values. There was a significant (p < .01) Arg × Met interaction for ADFI during the starter period; increasing the dietary Arg level increased ADFI when the diets were deficient in Met, while had an opposite effect in diets containing higher dietary Met levels. On the other hand, dietary Met fortification improved (p = .067) FCR values to a greater extent in 110% Arg‐diets during the entire trial period. Although different levels of Arg and Met had no marked effects on carcass yield and abdominal fat percentage, supplemental Arg up to 100% of NRC values increased (p < .01) the relative weights of spleen and bursa of Fabricius. Furthermore, bursa weight was affected by Arg × Met interaction (p < .01), so that supplemental Arg level of 100% of NRC increased the relative bursa weight in birds that were fed diets containing 90% and 110% of Met. Serum uric acid level was decreased (p < .05) as a result of dietary Arg fortification up to 110% of NRC recommended values. Supplementation of deficient‐diets with Met decreased (p < .05) serum cholesterol level. Although Newcastle antibody titer was not affected by dietary Arg or Met levels, Arg fortification of deficient‐diets increased (p < .001) antibody responses against infectious bronchitis (IBV) and bursal (IBD) disease viruses. Similarly, Met supplementation of deficient‐diets increased IBD antibody titer. There were significant (p < .05) Arg × Met interactions for IBV and IBD titers; Met fortification of 110% Arg‐diets was more effective in increasing antibody titers. An increase in dietary Met level up to 100% of NRC values increased (p < .001) serum concentration of γ‐globulins. The present findings imply that supplemental Arg could affect feed efficiency and antibody responses when the diets were already fortified with a sufficient Met level.     

非淀粉多糖酶对广西三黄鸡生长性能、养分表观消化率及肠道健康的影响

试验探讨非淀粉多糖酶对饲喂小麦-棕榈粕型日粮的广西三黄鸡生长性能、养分表观消化率及肠道健康的影响.选取360羽(公、母各半)9周龄广西三黄鸡随机分3组,每组3个重复,每个重复40羽鸡.对照组三黄鸡饲喂基础日粮,试验Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组分别在基础日粮中添加0.01％木聚糖酶、0.01％木聚糖酶+0.01％β-甘露聚糖酶.结果 显示...     

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.     

In ovo carbohydrate supplementation modulates growth and immunity‐related genes in broiler chickens

A study was undertaken to investigate the role of in ovo administrated carbohydrates on the expression pattern of growth and immune‐related genes. In ovo injections (n = 400) were carried out on the 14th day of incubation into the yolk sac/amnion of the broiler chicken embryos. Expression of growth‐related genes: chicken growth hormone (cGH), insulin‐like growth factor‐I & II (IGF‐I & II) and mucin were studied in hepatic and jejunum tissues of late‐term embryo and early post‐hatch chicks. Expression of candidate immune genes: Interleukin‐2, 6, 10 and 12 (IL‐2, IL‐6, IL‐10 and IL‐12), Tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and Interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) were studied in peripheral blood monocyte cells of in ovo‐injected and control birds following antigenic stimulation with sheep RBC (SRBC) or mitogen concanavalin A (Con‐A). Glucose injection significantly increased the expression of IGF‐II gene during embryonic period and both cGH and IGF‐II in early post‐hatch period, while ribose‐injected chicks had higher expression of IGF‐II gene during embryonic stage. Enhanced mucin gene expression was also observed in fructose‐injected chicks during embryonic age. Glucose‐injected chicks had higher expression of IL‐6 or IL‐10, while those injected with fructose or ribose had higher expression of IL‐2, IL‐12 and IFN gamma. It is concluded that in ovo supplementation of carbohydrates might help in improving the growth of late‐term embryos and chicks. In ovo glucose could modulate humoral‐related immunity, while fructose or ribose might help in improving the cellular immunity in broiler chickens.