65 research outputs found
Yucca schidigera Extract Mitigates the Oxidative Damages, Inflammation, and Neurochemical Impairments in the Brains of Quails Exposed to Lead
No full textThe present study explored the neurotoxic impacts of lead (Pb) and the potential alleviating effect of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) in Japanese quails. About 360 adult Japanese quails (8 weeks old) were used. Quails were randomly distributed to six groups with 4 replicates each: the control group (fed basal diet, BD), the BD + YSE1 and BD + YSE2 groups (BD + 100 and 200 mg/kg diet of YSE, respectively), the Pb group (BD + 100 mg/kg Pb), and the Pb + YSE1 and Pb + YSE2 groups (BD + Pb + 100 and 200 mg/kg YSE, respectively). This feeding trial lasted for 8 weeks. The exposure to Pb in the diet induced oxidative damage stress in the brain of exposed quails reflected by the significant increase in the oxidative markers including malonaldehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) and the significant reduction in the activities of antioxidants including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the reduced glutathione (GSH). Brain neurochemistry and enzyme activities were also altered following Pb exposure. Pb significantly reduced serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA, Ach, and Na + /K + -ATPase activities. Pb dietary intoxication markedly increased brain inflammatory biomarkers, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), myeloperoxidase, and nitric oxide. Peripherally, Pb toxicity decreased the amino acid neurotransmitters (glutamic acid, glycine, and aspartic acid) in the serum of birds. At the transcriptomic level, Pb exposure upregulated the transcription patterns of CASP3, TNF-alpha, HSP70, and IL-1 beta. The single effect of YSE maintained that all the assessed parameters were not changed compared to the control. Interestingly, the YSE co-supplementation with Pb alleviated the Pb-induced neuro-oxidative damages by lowering the lipid, protein, and DNA damage, and the inflammatory biomarkers
Assessment of bacterial phytase and citric acid concentrations on economic traits, nutrients’ digestibility and protein metabolites of broiler chickens fed diets containing marginal level of nutrients
No full textThe aim of the experiment was to study the influence of different concentrations of bacterial phytase and citric acid on growth performance, digestibility, carcase traits, meat quality and blood plasma metabolites of broiler chickens fed diets containing suboptimal level of nutrients (−100 kcal ME/kg diet, −1% CP, −0.1% Ca and −0.1% Avi. phosphorus) during 1–36 days of age in comparison of the Hubbard broiler management guide (2016). A total of 288, one-day-old Hubbard broiler chicks were wing banded and randomly distributed keeping equal initial BW in a straight run experimental design among 8 treatment groups, each containing six replicates of 6 chicks. The treatments were 8: standard diet (positive control, PC), low nutrient density diet (negative control, NC), NC + Escherichia coli phytase-6 (Phyzyme®) supplemented at 500 or 1000 U/Kg diet, NC + citric acid at 2 or 4%, NC + 500 U of phytase + 2 or 4% citric acid. In conclusion, production traits such as growth and feed conversion ratio and production index were significantly improved due to supplementation of 500 U phytase and 2% citric acid and to low nutrient density diet to the level or even better than the standard-density diet (positive control). This suggested that 500 U bacterial phytase plus 2% citric acid could allow a decrease of 0.1% in Ca and avi. P, 100 kcal/kg ME and 1% CP, respectively
Use of black pepper oil in growing-quail diets and its impact on growth, carcass measurements, intestinal microbiota, and blood chemistry
No full text<jats:p>Abstract. Supplements derived from plants are utilized to maintain and promote the growth efficiency of animals. The use of black pepper oil (BPO) has recently generated significant scientific interest, primarily because of its potential beneficial effects on both humans and animals. The goal of the current study was to determine how dietary BPO supplementation affected growth performance, characteristics of growing quails' immunity, antioxidant status, and carcass yield. A total of 240 growing quails (1 week old) were divided into five equal groups, each with 36 birds (four replicates of 12 each). A basal diet containing no BPO (0 g kg−1) was given to the first group, and the second, third, and fourth groups were given a diet that was supplemented with BPO (0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 g kg−1, respectively). In comparison to a control group, quails' diets that were supplemented with 0.8 g BPO kg−1 showed improvements in final live body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio of 10.68 %, 12.6 %, and 18.2 %, respectively. During the whole study period (1 to 5 weeks), quails fed diets with 0.8 g BPO consumed less feed than the other groups and control. Due to BPO treatment, there were no statistically significant changes in any of the carcass parameters. BPO-supplemented groups had significantly elevated plasma levels of albumin and globulin than control groups (P &lt; 0.05), but the albumin/globulin ratio was reported to be significantly decreased (P &lt; 0.05) in birds supplemented with diets containing BPO compared to the control group. When compared to the control, the liver enzyme activity (aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT)) in blood plasma was reported to be significantly increased in the quails given 0.4 and 0.8 g BPO kg−1. Glutathione and catalase activities were significantly higher in the group given diets supplemented with BPO (1.2 g kg−1) than they were in the control group. In comparison to the control, the supplementation of BPO in the diets of quail significantly enhanced (P &lt; 0.05) the lipid profile in the plasma, moreover decreasing the caecal content pH (P &lt; 0.05). In comparison to the control, the populations of lactobacilli, coliform, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli in the caecum significantly decreased in the BPO-supplemented groups (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, dietary BPO supplementation in Japanese quails' diet can boost growth performance and antioxidant indices, enhance lipid profile and carcass traits, and reduce intestinal infections.
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Chamomile essential oil improves the growth, immunity, and antioxidant status of Nile tilapia exposed to nanosized alumina
No full textDue to their peculiar physicochemical properties, nanoparticles (NPs) have the potential to have a detrimental impact on molecular (proteins and nucleic acids), subcellular, cellular, tissue, and organism levels. However, available works on the harmful effects of the water-borne ionizable NPs, such as aluminum oxide nanoparticles (ALNPs) on fish are scarce. Therefore, the toxic impacts of ALNPs on hematological, biochemical, and immunological responses in Nile Tilapia fish were investigated in this work. Additionally, the possible benefits of the promising chamomile essential oil (CEO) as dietary supplement in alleviating such impacts were also targeted. For this, four fish groups were used. The control group received only the basic diet, CEO group (basic diet + 2 mg CEO/kg diet), ALNP group (basic diet with exposure to5.08 mg ALNPs/L water, and ALNPs/CEO group (basal diet + 2 mg CEO/kg diet + 5.08 mg ALNPs/L). Fish exposed to ALNPs showed declines in the growth performance and fish survivability in addition to changes seen in the hematological and protein profiles and stress variables. Along with decreased resistance to the Aeromonas hydrophila challenge, there were also substantial decreases in all humoral immune indicators. In addition to increased mRNA expressions of immune genes in the hepatic tissues. CEO significantly modulated the toxic effects of ALNPs suggesting its utilization as a valuable dietary supplement for fish
Effect of dietary microalgae on growth performance and health in meat-type quails
No full textThe purpose of this work was to ascertain the impact of dietary inclusion of Dunaliella salina (Ds) and Arthrospira platensis (Ap) mixture as growth promoters on growth performance, carcass traits, liver and renal function, lipid profile, immunology and economics in quail chicks. 240 Un -sexed seven-day quail chicks were separated into four treatment groups with six replicates of ten chicks per group. The treatment groups are: control: basal diet; DsAp0.5: basal diet + 0.25 g Ds+ 0.25 g Ap/kg diet; DsAp1: basal diet + 0.50 g Ds+ 0.50 g Ap/kg diet; and DsAp2: basal diet + 1.00 g Ds+ 1.00 g Ap/kg diet. The outcomes of dietary inclusion of Ds plus Ap revealed a significant difference in live body weight at 5 week and body weight gain from (1-5wk) (P=0.049) and the group DsAp1 recorded the best results (191.19g, 5.69g). The mixture of Ds plus Ap did not significantly (P>0.05) change the feed intake during the experiment. The DsAp0.5 group significantly (P=0.019) presented the best feed conversion ratio during (1-5 wk of age) compared to the control and other groups. The finding showed a non-significant difference in carcass traits (P>0.05). Liver and kidney function markers were affected by the supplements, and DsAp2 group recorded the highest levels of total protein and albumin. The DsAp1 group significantly (P=0.003) presented the lowest level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the DsAp2 group significantly (P<0.001) presented the lowest levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and urea. Dietary supplementation of Ds plus Ap affected the lipid profiles of the quail. Dietary supplementation of Ds plus Ap mixture reduced the concentration of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) when compared to control (P<0.001). Furthermore, the immune parameters, complement 3 (C3) and lysozyme showed a non-significant variation with Ds plus Ap supplementation. The net revenue and economic efficiency of treated quails was significantly increased during the experiment (1-5 wks of age); the best values were observed in DsAp0.5 group. In conclusion, the use of Ds plus Ap mixture as growth promoters in quail diets improves the growth performance, liver functions and lipid profile
Effect of dietary electrolyte balance and arginine to lysine ratio on hematological, antioxidant and immunological traits in dual-purpose breeding hens under cyclic heat stress condition
No full textA total of 245 hens and 35 cocks (32 weeks age) were assigned to seven treatment groups (five replicates with seven hens and one cock) to investigate the effect of dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) and arginine to lysine ratio (Arg/Lys) on birds’ physiological and biochemical traits under cyclic heat stress (CHS) condition. Birds were housed in an environmentally controlled facility having four sectors. The first group (positive control, PC) was kept under thermoneutral conditions and fed diet with DEB of 180 mEq and Arg/Lys of 1.25, whereas the other six treatments were kept in the second sector under CHS and fed diet with DEB and Arg/Lys equal to: 180 mEq and 1.25 (negative control, NC); 250 mEq and 1.25; 320 mEq and 1.25; 180 mEq and 1.37; 250 mEq and 1.37; 320 mEq and 1.37, respectively. Hens on NC group had significantly decreased red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and its fractions. The groups fed different DEB and Arg/Lys in diet significantly enhanced the blood parameters and plasma lipid profile compared NC group. Hens under CHS fed on 250 and 320 DEB with 1.37 Arg/Lys recorded the lowest concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compared with the other groups. Triiodothyronine (T3) activity was not differed among groups, while T4 activity in layer exposed to CHS (NC group) recorded the highest activity compared to PC. From findings, it can be concluded that laying hens fed a diet having DEB 250 mEq with 1.37 Arg/Lys could be successfully applied to counteract the adverse effect of CHS and to improve blood hematological and biochemical traits, antioxidants, and immunity response
Effect of dietary microalgae on growth performance and health in meat-type quails
No full textThe purpose of this work was to ascertain the impact of dietary inclusion of Dunaliella salina
(Ds) and Arthrospira platensis (Ap) mixture as growth promoters on growth performance,
carcass traits, liver and renal function, lipid profile, immunology and economics in quail
chicks. 240 Un -sexed seven-day quail chicks were separated into four treatment groups with
six replicates of ten chicks per group. The treatment groups are: control: basal diet; DsAp0.5:
basal diet + 0.25 g Ds+ 0.25 g Ap/kg diet; DsAp1: basal diet + 0.50 g Ds+ 0.50 g Ap/kg diet;
and DsAp2: basal diet + 1.00 g Ds+ 1.00 g Ap/kg diet. The outcomes of dietary inclusion of
Ds plus Ap revealed a significant difference in live body weight at 5 week and body weight
gain from (1-5wk) (P=0.049) and the group DsAp1 recorded the best results (191.19g, 5.69g).
The mixture of Ds plus Ap did not significantly (P>0.05) change the feed intake during the
experiment. The DsAp0.5 group significantly (P=0.019) presented the best feed conversion
ratio during (1-5 wk of age) compared to the control and other groups. The finding showed a
non-significant difference in carcass traits (P>0.05). Liver and kidney function markers were
affected by the supplements, and DsAp2 group recorded the highest levels of total protein and
albumin. The DsAp1 group significantly (P=0.003) presented the lowest level of alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) and the DsAp2 group significantly (P<0.001) presented the lowest
levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and urea. Dietary supplementation of Ds plus Ap
affected the lipid profiles of the quail. Dietary supplementation of Ds plus Ap mixture
reduced the concentration of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL),
triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) when compared to control (P<0.001).
Furthermore, the immune parameters, complement 3 (C3) and lysozyme showed a nonsignificant
variation with Ds plus Ap supplementation. The net revenue and economic
efficiency of treated quails was significantly increased during the experiment (1-5 wks of
age); the best values were observed in DsAp0.5 group. In conclusion, the use of Ds plus Ap
mixture as growth promoters in quail diets improves the growth performance, liver functions
and lipid profile
Feed form and probiotic supplementation improve egg production and reduce environmental impact in laying hens
No full textContext. Laying hens are influenced by various factors, including diet, which can have a significant impact on egg production and quality, as well as overall animal health. Aims. This study aimed to evaluate egg production and quality, environmental impact, reproductive organs and plasma mineral profiles of laying hens fed diverse forms of feed supplemented or not with a probiotic mixture. Methods. Ninety-six-week old laying hens were randomly distributed among four groups. The hens were housed in 32 cages (three hens/cage, eight replicates per treatment) during 112–127 weeks of age. The first group was fed a mash diet; and the second group was fed a pelleted diet with a diameter of 3 mm. The third and fourth groups were fed the same diets as for Groups 1 and 2 respectively, but supplemented with a mixture of probiotics (PM) Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis. Key results. The pelleted diet significantly increased egg weight and mass, and feed intake compared with the mash diet. PM supplementation significantly decreased the number of broken eggs and yolk index compared with the unsupplemented control. Fresh eggs showed a significantly higher egg grade, Haugh unit score, yolk color, and percentage albumen weight than did the stored eggs, but the yolk index and percentage were lower. Pelleting the feed significantly decreased excreta dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and nitrogen (N) outputs. Excreta crude fiber was significantly decreased by PM supplementation compared with the unsupplemented control. The PM supplementation increased the true protein in the mash feed while decreasing it in the pelleted feed. Percentage heart and gizzard were significantly decreased because of feeding pelleted feeds compared with mash one to which PM was integrated. Pelleting significantly increased serum calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and alkaline phosphatase concentrations compared with the mash feed, but decreased serum phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn). Conclusions. Pelleting laying hen diets improved economic traits and yielded stronger effects than did PM supplementation, decreased excreta dry matter, organic matter, and N pollution, and increased serum Ca and Fe concentrations. Implications. These results suggest that pelleted diets could be a more effective strategy to improve production efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of poultry
Effects of Early Feed Restriction during Delayed Placement on the Performance and Gut Health of Broilers
No full textNewly hatched chicks may experience long periods of fasting prior to placement in commercial hatcheries. Three trials were conducted to investigate the effects of early feed restriction and various supplements on the performance and gut health of broiler chicks brooded either in battery cages or floor pens. The trials lasted for 14, 21, and, 22 days respectively. In trial 1, chicks were subjected to 3 periods of fasting after hatch (36, 24, or 12 h). A short period of fasting (12 h) was associated with a lower feed:gain ratio compared to the longer periods (36 and 24 h). In trial 2, chicks were fed 4 dietary treatments (corn-SBM, corn-SBM + Tylan®, corn-SBM + Bio-Mos®, or corn-SBM + NuPro® ), subjected to 2 feeding programs (fed immediately or 12 h delay post-hatch), and brooded in 2 housing systems (cages or floor pens), in a split-plot experiment. Early feeding led to increased feed intake and body weight of chicks. Brooding chicks in cages resulted in an improved body weight, increased feed intake, and increased feed:gain ratio. Dietary treatments had no effects on broiler performance at all time periods measured. In trial 3, chicks were fasted for 24 h, placed immediately, fed a hatching supplement for 48 h, or fed a hatching supplement for 24 h post-hatch. Chicks placed immediately had markedly improved body weight. Feeding the hatching supplement numerically improved body weight at the end of the trial compared to early fasting. In summary, early feeding is an important factor affecting subsequent performance of chicks. Lactobacillus and Salmonella, as an index of gut health, were not influenced by early feed restriction. Lactobacillus is hypothesized to promote the health of the gut while Salmonella is considered a pathogen. The impact of early feed restriction on the colonization of these bacteria needs further research
Egg Quality, Sensory Attributes, and Protein Metabolites of Laying Hens Fed Whole Flaxseed, Fish Oil, and Different Sources of Trace Elements
No full textThis study evaluated the effects of whole flaxseed (WFS), fish oil (FO), and different sources of Se, Zn, and Fe (inorganic, organic, and nano-source) on egg production, quality, sensory attributes, and serum protein metabolites in laying hens. A total of 144 hens were divided into six groups with six replicates of four hens each. Hens were fed six diets as follows: 1) control diet; 2) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO; 3) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg vitamin E (VE); 4) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg VE + inorganic sources of Se, Zn, and Fe (ISeZnFe); 5) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg VE + organic sources of Se, Zn, and Fe (OSeZnFe); 6) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg VE + nano-source of Se, Zn, and Fe (NSeZnFe) from 40–50 weeks of age. Laying hens fed 7.5% WFS, 1.5% FO, and different sources of trace elements in their diets had no negative effects on laying rate, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, body weight change, or survival rate compared to that of hens fed the control diet. Dietary treatments did not negatively affect the external and internal egg characteristics or egg sensory attributes. Feeding 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+VE+ISeZnFe positively influenced yolk color in fresh eggs. Dietary treatments had a significant impact on egg nutritional composition, with the highest levels of macronutrients found in eggs from hens fed the 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+VE+NSeZnFe treatment. The highest plasma globulin concentrations were observed in hens fed organic and nano-source trace elements. The same diets reduced plasma uric acid levels. Based on these findings, the inclusion of organic or nano-source trace minerals in diets containing WFS and FO positively affected egg quality and hen protein metabolites
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