Response of Fattening Rabbits with Acorns (Quercus pubescens Willd.) Combined in the Diet: First Acquaintances on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Perirenal Fatty Acid Profile

The request for functional and healthy meat presents a challenge to modern animal nutritionists and rabbit meat consumption appears to increase alongside the aging population. Novel functional feeds for food-producing animals gather the interest of the scientific community and acorns appear frequently accounted among non-competitive-with-human feeding sources, above all in slow food production systems. This investigation aimed to assess the response to acorns combined in the diet of 40 fattening rabbits, in respect of growth performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acids composition in perirenal fat. A same commercial fattening diet combined or not with shredded acorns (control, CON = 0 vs. acorn combined diet, ACD = 200 g/kg feed as fed weight, respectively) was administered for six weeks to two groups of Separator rabbits, consisting of 20 animals each. No differences in feed conversion, carcass weight at slaughter and carcass yields (24 h) were found between groups at the end of the experimental feeding. Perirenal fat profile of rabbits from the ACD group pointed to significant differences in ΣPUFA content (25.1 vs. 31.6, as a percentage of total lipids, respectively, p < 0.001) and in the Σ n − 6/n − 3 ratio (5.95 vs. 2.41). In conclusion, acorns can be used as an energy source in mixed feeds for rabbits, especially in slow production systems.

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Growth performance and meat composition of rabbits fed diets supplemented with silkworm pupae meal

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5424/sjar/2019173-14882 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. e0607

Author(s):

Andrzej Gugołek ◽

Janusz Strychalski ◽

Dorota Kowalska

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Control Group ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Complete Replacement ◽

Silkworm Pupae ◽

Carcass Parameters ◽

Rabbit Meat ◽

Experimental Group

Aim of study: To determine the effect of different dietary levels of silkworm pupae meal (SWPM) on the growth performance of broiler rabbits and the chemical composition of their meat.Area of study: Southern Poland, Europe.Material and methods: Ninety Termond White rabbits were divided into three feeding groups. Control group rabbits were fed a diet containing 10% soybean meal (SBM). In the first experimental group, rabbits received a diet containing 5% SBM and 5% SWPM. The diet administered to the second experimental group was supplemented with 10% SWPM.Main results: Both partial and complete replacement of SBM with SWPM in diets contributed to a decrease in the final body weights of rabbits (2416.50 and 2390.78 vs. 2616.78 g), average daily gains (30.23 and 30.52 vs. 33.12 g) and feed intake (5.61 and 5.15 vs. 6.51 kg), but it improved the feed conversion ratio (3.28 and 3.05 vs. 3.41 kg/kg). Rabbits fed diets supplemented with SWPM were characterized by lower values of selected carcass parameters such as carcass weight and dressing percentage. Experimental diets had no significant effect on the proximate chemical composition of meat, but they increased the levels of fatty acids C18:3, C22:5 and C22:6.Research highlights: The results of this study can be put into practice to replace conventional protein and fat sources in rabbit diets with insect meals (SWPM) in the production of rabbit meat for human consumption. Our findings can also contribute to the recycling of sericultural waste.

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Evaluation of three fast- and slow-growing chicken strains reared in two production environments

South African Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4314/sajas.v50i3.4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 50 (3) ◽

pp. 378-388

Author(s):

A. Ghayas ◽

J. Hussain ◽

A. Mahmud ◽

M.H. Jaspal

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Rhode Island ◽

Body Surface ◽

Physiological Response ◽

Production Systems ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Fast Growing ◽

Free Range ◽

Slow Growing ◽

Intensive System

The present study evaluated performance, physiological response and economics of commercial fast growing (CFG), commercial slow growing (CSG), and Rhode Island Red (RIR) chickens under intensive and free-range rearing environments. After 21 days of rearing under the same intensive environment 240 birds from each strain were subjected to free-range and intensive rearing until they were 56 days old. Each treatment was replicated six times with 20 birds in each replicate. Body surface and cloacal temperatures, respiration and heart rates, feed intake, bodyweight and weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, growth efficiency, and liveability were recorded. Significant differences among strains were detected in physiological response and growth performance (except liveability). Rearing environment also caused significant differences in physiological parameters (except body surface temperature) and growth performance (except liveability). Significant interactions of the strains and production systems were detected. The CFG strain grew most rapidly under the intensive system with differences between strains being reduced in the free-range system. The RSG and CSG strains had similar respiration rates under the two production systems but differed significantly from each other. However, the CFG strain had a significantly elevated respiration rate in the free-range system. Total input cost of rearing CFG under the intensive system was highest ($3.54) among the treatments, whereas CSG under a free-range environment generated the highest profit ($0.37 per bird). In conclusion, rearing CSG under free range was the most economic farming strategy in today’s scenario.Keywords: economics, fast-growing, free range, growth, intensive system, physiology, slow-growing rural chickens

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Effect of Production System and Age on the Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)

Annals of Animal Science ◽

10.2478/aoas-2019-0050 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 219-229

Author(s):

Umut Sami Yamak ◽

Musa Sarica ◽

Mehmet Akif Boz ◽

Ahmet Ucar

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Production System ◽

Production Systems ◽

Carcass Traits ◽

Feed Consumption ◽

Phasianus Colchicus ◽

Average Weight ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Free Range ◽

Slaughter Age

AbstractA total of 211 pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were reared using two different production systems (free range and intensive) to determine the effect of production system and slaughter age on growth performance and carcass traits. Birds were slaughtered at 14, 16, and 18 weeks of age. Production system did not significantly affect body weight until 18 weeks; at this age, pheasants reared in free range exhibited a higher average weight (1149 g vs. 1012 g). Total feed consumption and feed conversion ratios did not differ among production systems. The most in-demand portions of the carcass (breast and leg) were not affected by differences in production system. The leg and breast proportions which were the most edible parts of the carcass were around 26% and 35%, respectively, in both free-range and intensive systems.

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Supplementation with Fish Oil Improves Meat Fatty Acid Profile although Impairs Growth Performance of Early Weaned Rabbits

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9070437 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 437 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

María Rodríguez ◽

María Dolores Carro ◽

Víctor Valiente ◽

Nora Formoso-Rafferty ◽

Pilar G. Rebollar

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Fish Oil ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Fatty Acid Profile ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Productive Performance ◽

Rabbit Meat ◽

Daily Gain ◽

Lower Morbidity ◽

Perirenal Fat

Our objective was to analyze the influence of replacing lard (control) with fish oil (FO) rich in long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet of rabbits weaned at 25 days of age on their growth performance, meat quality, cecal fermentation, and ileal morphology. Twenty-four litters (12 control and 12 FO) of nine kits each were fed the experimental diets from weaning (25 days) until slaughter at 60 days of age. Half of the litters (six per diet) were used to monitor productive performance, carcass characteristics, and ileal morphology, and cecal fermentation was assessed in the rest of litters. Diet had no influence on feed intake, meat color, and pH or cecal fermentation, but FO-fed rabbits had lower (p ≤ 0.049) average daily gain, chilled carcass weight, and perirenal fat than control rabbits. Fish oil inclusion in the diet resulted in lower morbidity (5.56% vs. 20.4%; p = 0.019) and a healthier fatty acid profile with lower (p < 0.001) n-6/n-3 ratios in both muscle and perirenal fat. In summary, the inclusion of FO in the diet of early weaned rabbits improved the fatty acid profile of rabbit meat and fat and decreased the morbidity, but growth performance was slightly reduced.

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Effects of feeding Isomaltooligosaccharides on the growth performance, carcass traits and immune response of broiler chickens

JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN AGRICULTURE ◽

10.24297/jaa.v3i2.4256 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 150-157

Author(s):

Khalid M. Gaafar

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Carcass Traits ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Control Group ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Flu Vaccine ◽

Lipids Profile

The research was conducted to study the effect of feeding broiler chickens on diets containing isomaltooligosaccharides on the growth performance, carcass traits and immune response. 90-one day old broiler chicks were used according to completely randomized two treatment groups and one control, 30 birds each. Birds fed ad-libitum on basal starter and grower-finisher diets for 35 day. Diets of treatment`s groups contained 0.5 g/Kg and 1 g/Kg of Isomaltooligosaccharides, while the control group fed on the basal diets without Isomaltooligosaccharides supplementation. Dietary supplementation of broiler chickens with Isomaltooligosaccharides improved body weight, feed conversion, carcass traits, two lymphoid organs weight and log antibody titer against avian flu vaccine. Most of the highest values were for birds fed low levels of Isomaltooligosaccharides. Feed intake decreases as Isomaltooligosaccharides level increases. Dietary supplementation with Isomaltooligosaccharides did not affect the lipids profile (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL), however the blood VLDL levels decreased with increased levels of Malondialdehyde and Glutathione reductase. Collectively, Dietary supplementation of broiler chickens with 0.5 g/Kg diet of Isomaltooligosaccharides improved growth performance, carcass traits and immune status.

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Effects of Different Swimming Pool Conditions and Floor Types on Growth Performance and Footpad Dermatitis in Indoor-Reared White Roman Geese

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11061705 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1705

Author(s):

Shih-Chieh Liao ◽

Pei-Xuan Lu ◽

Shih-Yi Shen ◽

Chih-Chang Hsiao ◽

Ching-Yi Lien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Conversion Ratio ◽

Feed Conversion Ratio ◽

Swimming Pool ◽

Poultry Production ◽

Performance Measurements ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Plantar Surface ◽

Rearing Conditions ◽

Foot Disease

Footpad dermatitis (FPD) is a major foot disease in modern poultry production, and it affects both poultry health and animal welfare. It refers to inflammation and necrotizing lesions on the plantar surface of the footpads and toes. We investigated the effects of providing a swimming pool and different floor types on growth performance and FPD score in indoor-reared White Roman geese. Forty-eight male and 48 female White Roman geese were randomly allocated to pens with or without a swimming pool and with either mud or perforated plastic floor and reared from 15 to 84 days of age. Growth performance measurements included feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). FI, WG, and FCR were significantly decreased at various growth periods in geese provided with a pool. Lower WG and bodyweight for the perforated plastic floor group were found at 15–28 and 28 days of age, respectively. The geese reared on the perforated plastic floors without a pool had higher FPD scores at 70 and 84 days of age than those with other rearing conditions. A higher incidence of FPD score 1 was observed in geese raised without a pool. In conclusion, providing a pool can improve footpad health in indoor-reared White Roman geese but may not benefit growth performance.

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Supplementing Garlic Nanohydrogel Optimized Growth, Gastrointestinal Integrity and Economics and Ameliorated Necrotic Enteritis in Broiler Chickens Using a Clostridium perfringens Challenge Model

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11072027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 2027

Author(s):

Doaa Ibrahim ◽

Tamer Ahmed Ismail ◽

Eman Khalifa ◽

Shaimaa A. Abd El-Kader ◽

Dalia Ibrahim Mohamed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Clostridium Perfringens ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Production Costs ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Necrotic Enteritis ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Intestinal Lesion

Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) results in impaired bird growth performance and increased production costs. Nanotechnology application in the poultry industry to control NE outbreaks is still not completely clarified. Therefore, the efficacy of dietary garlic nano-hydrogel (G-NHG) on broilers growth performance, intestinal integrity, economic returns and its potency to alleviate C. perfringens levels using NE challenge model were addressed. A total of 1200 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were assigned into six groups; four supplemented with 100, 200, 300 or 400 mg of G-NHG/kg diet and co-challenged with C. perfringens at 21, 22 and 23 d of age and two control groups fed basal diet with or without C. perfringens challenge. Over the total growing period, the 400 mg/kg G-NHG group had the most improved body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency regardless of challenge. Parallel with these results, the mRNA expression of genes encoding digestive enzymes (alpha 2A amylase (AMY2A), pancreatic lipase (PNLIP) and cholecystokinin (CCK)) and intestinal barriers (junctional adhesion molecule-2 (JAM-2), occludin and mucin-2 (Muc-2)) were increased in groups fed G-NHG at higher levels to be nearly similar to those in the unchallenged group. At 14 d post challenge, real-time PCR results revealed that inclusion of G-NHG led to a dose-dependently decrease in the C. perfringens population, thereby decreasing the birds’ intestinal lesion score and mortality rates. Using 400 mg/kg of G-NHG remarkably ameliorated the adverse effects of NE caused by C. perfringens challenge, which contributed to better growth performance of challenged birds with rational economic benefits.

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A Very Low CP Level Reduced Diarrhoea and Productivity in Weaner Pigs, but No Differences between Post-Weaning Diets Including Soybean Meal or Soy Protein Concentrate Were Found

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11030678 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 678

Author(s):

Julie C. Lynegaard ◽

Niels J. Kjeldsen ◽

Julie K. Bache ◽

Nicolai R. Weber ◽

Christian F. Hansen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Soy Protein ◽

Soybean Meal ◽

Nutrient Utilization ◽

Positive Control ◽

Negative Control ◽

Soy Protein Concentrate ◽

Protein Concentrate ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

And Performance

Soy protein concentrate improves nutrient utilization and growth performance compared to soybean meal, and diets with a low crude protein (CP) level decreases diarrhoea. The objectives were to (1) test a low CP diet based on different soy products, and (2) to test a very-low CP diet (15.1%) with amino acids (AA) on diarrhoea and productivity. A total of 5,635 weaned pigs (~28 days), were assigned to five dietary treatments; PC (positive control): Standard CP levels (192, 189, 191 g/kg CP) with 2500 ppm ZnO; NC (negative control): Same as PC without ZnO; SP (Soy protein concentrate): Low CP levels (176, 174, 191 g/kg CP); SB (Soybean meal): Low CP levels (177, 176, 191 g/kg CP); and XLA (X-low CP + AA): Very low CP levels (154, 151, 191 g/kg CP) with AA. The PC and XLA diets reduced diarrhoea by 41 and 61%, respectively, compared to the NC group, while no difference between SB and SP were observed. The XLA diet reduced feed intake and daily gain compared with PC and NC, where SP, SB, and XLA had a poorer feed conversion compared with PC. Conclusively, the SP and SB low-protein diets did not reduce diarrhoea or growth performance, whereas the XLA diet decreased both diarrhoea and performance.

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Evolution in Configuration and Productivity of New Zealand Hill Country Sheep and Beef Cattle Systems

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11060531 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 531

Author(s):

Januarius Gobilik ◽

Stephen Todd Morris ◽

Cory Matthew

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Production Systems ◽

Metabolic Energy ◽

Meat Production ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Feed Conversion Efficiency ◽

Hill Country ◽

Cattle Systems

Metabolic energy budgeting (MEB) was used to evaluate evolution over 30 years (1980–1981 to 2010–2011) in New Zealand southern North Island ‘hill country’ sheep and beef cattle systems. MEB calculates energy required by animals for body weight maintenance, weight gain or loss, pregnancy, and lactation to estimate the system feed demand and thereby provide a basis for calculating feed conversion efficiency. Historic production systems were reconstructed and modeled using averaged data from industry surveys and data from owners’ diaries of three case-study farms and reviewed for patterns of change over time. The modeling indicated that pasture productivity was 11% lower and herbage harvested was 14% lower in 2010–2011 than in the early 1980s. This productivity decline is attributable to warmer, drier summer weather in recent years. However, primarily through increased lambing percentage, feed conversion efficiency based on industry data improved over the study period from 25 to 19 kg feed consumed per kg lamb weaned, while meat production rose from 137 to 147 kg per ha per year. Similar improvements were observed for the three case farms. The New Zealand MEB model was found effective for analysis of tropical beef production systems in Sabah, Malaysia.

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Effect of dietary supplementation of seaweed (Ulva lactuca) and Azolla on growth performance, haematological and serum biochemical parameters of Aseel chicken

Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences ◽

10.1186/s43088-020-00087-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Vijayalingam Thavasi Alagan ◽

Rajesh Nakulan Vatsala ◽

Ilavarasan Sagadevan ◽

Vairamuthu Subbiah ◽

Venkataramanan Ragothaman

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Control Diet ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Well Being ◽

Ulva Lactuca ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Serum Biochemical

Abstract Background An effort was made to assess the effectiveness of dietary supplementation of Ulva lactuca (U. lactuca), a seaweed and Azolla individually and in combination on different physiological parameters of Aseel chicken. A total of 40 Aseel chicks of 8 weeks old were allocated into four groups, C1 (control), T1 (Azolla alone), T2 (seaweed alone) and T3 (seaweed plus Azolla). Aseel chicks in C1 were fed with formulated grower feed alone, birds in T1 had control diet with 5% Azolla, birds in T2 had control diet with 3% U. lactuca and birds in T3 had control diet admixtured with 5% of Azolla and 3% of U. lactuca. Parameters were recorded for a continuous period of 2 months in 15 days interval. Results The growth performance was found to be significant (P ≤ 0.05) during 30 days of feed trials and highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) during 45 and 60 days of treatment. Birds in T3 had a higher body weight gain, shank length and feed conversion efficiency followed with T1 and T2 compared to C1. PCV, RBC, WBC and heterophil counts were not influenced (P ≥ 0.05) by dietary treatments. Uric acid, creatinine, AST, glucose, triglycerides and magnesium levels revealed a high significant (P ≤ 0.01) variation, and cholesterol level showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) changes during 30th and 60th day of feed trials between the control and treatment groups. Total protein, globulin, phosphorus and electrolytes like Na, K and Cl levels were not significant (P ≥ 0.05) during 30th day and were highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) during the 60th day of the trial. Conclusions It could be noted that inclusion of U. lactuca and Azolla as feed supplement in grower chicken had a better body weight gain when given in combination (U. lactuca and Azolla) rather than supplemented with the sole entity. Based on the haematological and serum biochemical analysis, the supplementation of U. lactuca and Azolla at the levels included in this trial did not pose any threat to the physiological well-being of Aseel chicken.

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