Use of Corn Silk Meal in Broiler Diet: Effect on Growth Performance, Blood Biochemistry, Immunological Responses, and Growth-Related Gene Expression

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of diets supplemented with corn silk meal (CSM) and non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) enzyme on growth performance, blood biochemistry, immunological response, and growth-related gene expression in broiler chickens. A total of 270 broiler chickens were divided into six experimental groups: (1) basal diets (BD) as control; (2) BD supplemented with 0.5 g/kg feed NSP enzyme; the other four groups are CSM diets as following; (3) and (4) fed diet contain 40 and 80 kg/ton of CSM; (5) and (6) fed diet contain 40 and 80 kg/ton CSM and supplemented with 0.5 g/kg NSP enzyme. Body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein retention and fiber digestibility were synergistically improved (p < 0.05) when fed CSM supplemented with NSP enzyme. Moreover, a synergistic decrease (p < 0.05) in the serum glucose and total cholesterol were found. Immune organ weights and Newcastle disease virus titers were increased with CSM diets. Interestingly, the relative mRNAs of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin growth factor (IGF) were increased (p < 0.05) with the CSM and NSP enzyme: the relative mRNA expressions of cholecystokinin (CCK) and leptin were decreased by feeding CSM diets with the NSP enzyme. It could be concluded that the dietary inclusion of CSM with the NSP enzyme might improve growth performance, modify plasma lipids, and enhance immune response in broilers.

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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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Combination of Bacillus licheniformis and Salinomycin: Effect on the Growth Performance and GIT Microbial Populations of Broiler Chickens

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10050889 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 889 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jacek Trela ◽

Bartosz Kierończyk ◽

Veerle Hautekiet ◽

Damian Józefiak

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Bacillus Licheniformis ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Ph Values ◽

Combined Use ◽

Dietary Treatments

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Bacillus licheniformis and salinomycin supplementation in broiler diets as individual factors or in combination on the growth performance, GIT morphometry, and microbiota populations. Four hundred one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly distributed to four dietary treatments (10 replicates, 10 birds each). The following treatments were applied: NC—no additives; NC + SAL—salinomycin addition (60 mg/kg diet), NC + PRO—B. licheniformis DSM 28710 preparation (1.6 × 109 CFU/kg; 500 mg/kg diet), and NC + SAL + PRO—combination of salinomycin and B. licheniformis. Probiotic administration resulted in improvement (p < 0.05) of the performance parameters, including body weight gain (1–10 d, and 11–22 d) and feed conversion ratio (11–22 d, 1–36 d). An interaction (p < 0.05) between experimental factors was observed in terms of lower pH values in the crop (tendency, p = 0.053) and ceca. Both factors lowered the alpha diversity and Enterobacteriaceae and promoted Bacillaceae communities in the jejunum (p < 0.05). Interactions were also observed in terms of reducing Clostridiaceae in the ceca. In conclusion, the combined use of B. licheniformis and salinomycin in broilers’ diets had beneficial effects.

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Effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin E, zinc, and chromium supplementation on growth performance and hematological characteristics of broiler chickens

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-3293 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Nazim Ali ◽

Mohammad Akram ◽

Ahmad Fahim ◽

Balvir Singh ◽

Mohammad Imran

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Vitamin E ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

White Blood Cells ◽

The Body ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Wood Shavings

The study investigated the effect of supplementation of Vitamin E, Zn and Cr on growth performance and hematological characteristics of broiler chickens. The 240 day old Cobb 400 chicks were randomly distributed in eight groups consisting of 30 chicks in each. These chicks were kept on deep litter houses comprising of wood shavings. The supplementation of Vitamin E, zinc and chromium either individually or in combination improved the feed conversion ratio and body weight gain in broiler chicks. The body weight of broiler chickens at different age from day old to the 6th week were significantly different among treatments. The highest body weight was recorded in T8 groups. Heamoglobin, red blood corpuscles and white blood cells levels increased whereas heterophil: lymphocyte ratio statistically decreased with vitamin E, zinc or chromium supplemented groups either individually or in combinations.

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Effect of Dietary Modulation of Selenium Form and Level on Performance, Tissue Retention, Quality of Frozen Stored Meat and Gene Expression of Antioxidant Status in Ross Broiler Chickens

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9060342 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 342 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Doaa Ibrahim ◽

Asmaa T.Y. Kishawy ◽

Safaa I. Khater ◽

Ahmed Hamed Arisha ◽

Haiam A. Mohammed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Frozen Storage ◽

Storage Period ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Fresh State

This study compares between different selenium forms (sodium selenite; SeS, selenomethionine; Met-Se or nano-Se) and levels on growth performance, Se retention, antioxidative potential of fresh and frozen meat, and genes related to oxidative stress in Ross broilers. Birds (n = 450) were randomly divided into nine experimental groups with five replicates in each and were fed diets supplemented with 0.3, 0.45, and 0.6 mg Se/kg as (SeS, Met-Se), or nano-Se. For overall growth performance, dietary inclusion of Met-Se or nano-Se significantly increased (p < 0.05) body weight gain and improved the feed conversion ratio of Ross broiler chicks at the level of 0.45 and 0.6 mg/kg when compared with the group fed the same level of SeS. Se sources and levels significantly affected (p < 0.05) its concentrations in breast muscle, liver, and serum. Moreover, Se retention in muscle was higher (p < 0.05) after feeding of broiler chicks on a diet supplemented with Met-Se or nano-Se compared to the SeS group, especially at 0.6 mg/kg. Additionally, higher dietary levels from Met-Se or nano-Se significantly reduced oxidative changes in breast and thigh meat in the fresh state and after a four-week storage period and increased muscular pH after 24 h of slaughter. Also, broiler’s meat in the Met-Se and nano-Se groups showed cooking loss and lower drip compared to the SeS group (p < 0.05). In the liver, the mRNA expression levels of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were elevated by increasing dietary Se levels from Met-Se and nano-Se groups up to 0.6 mg/kg when compared with SeS. Therefore, dietary supplementation with 0.6 mg/kg Met-Se and nano-Se improved growth performance and were more efficiently retained than with SeS. Both sources of selenium (Met-Se and nano-Se) downregulated the oxidation processes of meat during the first four weeks of frozen storage, especially in thigh meat, compared with an inorganic source. Finally, dietary supplementation of Met-Se and nano-Se produced acceptable Se levels in chicken meat offered for consumers.

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Effect of Dietary Lead on Intestinal Nutrient Transporters mRNA Expression in Broiler Chickens

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/149745 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Roohollah Ebrahimi ◽

Mohammad Faseleh Jahromi ◽

Juan Boo Liang ◽

Abdoreza Soleimani Farjam ◽

Parisa Shokryazdan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Gene Expression ◽

Antioxidant Enzymes ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Nutrient Transporters

Lead- (Pb-) induced oxidative stress is known to suppress growth performance and feed efficiency in broiler chickens. In an attempt to describe the specific underlying mechanisms of such phenomenon we carried out the current study. Ninety-six one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatment groups of 6 pen replicates, namely, (i) basal diet containing no lead supplement (control) and (ii) basal diet containing 200 mg lead acetate/kg of diet. Following 3 weeks of experimental period, jejunum samples were collected to examine the changes in gene expression of several nutrient transporters, antioxidant enzymes, and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) using quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that addition of lead significantly decreased feed intake, body weight gain, and feed efficiency. Moreover, with the exception of GLUT5, the expression of all sugar, peptide, and amino acid transporters was significantly downregulated in the birds under Pb induced oxidative stress. Exposure to Pb also upregulated the antioxidant enzymes gene expression together with the downregulation of glutathione S-transferase and Hsp70. In conclusion, it appears that Pb-induced oxidative stress adversely suppresses feed efficiency and growth performance in chicken and the possible underlying mechanism for such phenomenon is downregulation of major nutrient transporter genes in small intestine.

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Effect of Nanosilica and Bentonite as Mycotoxins Adsorbent Agent in Broiler Chickens’ Diet on Growth Performance and Hepatic Histopathology

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11072129 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 2129

Author(s):

Abdallah A. Ghazalah ◽

Mamduh O. Abd-Elsamee ◽

Kout Elkloub M. E. Moustafa ◽

Mohamed Abdelrazik Khattab ◽

Abd-Elrahim A. A. Rehan

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Control Diet ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Four Levels ◽

Hepatic Histopathology

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by different strains of fungi, such as aspergillus, fusarium, and penicillium that can contaminate feed ingredients or the entire feed of poultry and animals. Mycotoxins can cause many serious complications to both humans and animals due to carcinogenic, mutagenic, and immunosuppressive disorders. Therefore, the present experiment aims to investigate the effect of broiler chickens’ diets supplemented with different levels of nanosilica (NS) as an adsorbent agent of mycotoxins on their growth performance and hepatic histopathology. Detectable levels of toxins were present in the feed before feeding, and all levels of mycotoxins were above the normal limit. A total of 180 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chickens were allocated randomly to six treatment groups with three replicates per group, including ten chickens per replicate. The experiment lasted for five weeks, and dietary treatments included control diet and diets with four levels of nanosilica as 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15%, and 0.20% as well as 0.50% bentonite (fixfin® Dry) diet. Bodyweight, body weight gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were measured weekly. At the end of the fifth week, six chickens per treatment were sacrificed to investigate the effects of NS and bentonite on carcass characteristics and hepatic histopathology. The results showed that providing broiler chickens’ diets with an adsorbent agent, such as NS or bentonite, can reduce the side effects of mycotoxins and enhance their growth performance. The best record was achieved with NS at 0.20%, compared with the control group and other dietary treatment groups. Accordingly, 0.20% of NS could be used in broiler chickens’ diets to minimize the harmful effects of mycotoxins.

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Influence of β-glucanase supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and meat quality in broilers fed wheat–barley–soybean diet

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1139/cjas-2018-0088 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 99 (2) ◽

pp. 384-391

Author(s):

Hao Yang Sun ◽

Santosh Laxman Ingale ◽

Piyush Rathi ◽

In Ho Kim

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Linear Increase ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Gross Energy

A total of 600 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens with an average body weight of 43.00 ± 0.42 g were used in a 35 d growth assay to investigate the supplemental effects of three levels (600, 1200, and 1800 β-glucanase units kg−1) of β-glucanase on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and meat quality in wheat–barley–soybean-meal-based broiler diet. During days 19–35 and overall period, chickens’ body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P < 0.05) improved linearly following the levels of β-glucanase supplementation. The digestibility of crude protein and gross energy were significantly (P < 0.05) increased linearly with the levels of β-glucanase supplementation. Significant linear increase (P < 0.05) due to increasing β-glucanase supplementation was observed for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration. Increasing β-glucanase supplementation did not influence (P > 0.05) the meat quality. In conclusion, broiler diets supplementation with increasing β-glucanase could improve the growth performance, enhance the digestibility, and modulate the concentrations of BUN linearly. Meat quality was not influenced.

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Pulmonary hypertensive response of broiler chickens to arginine and guanidinoacetic acid under high-altitude hypoxia

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica ◽

10.1556/004.2018.011 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 116-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Behnam Ahmadipour ◽

Mohammadreza Sharifi ◽

Fariborz Khajali

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Weight Ratio ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

S Wave ◽

Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome ◽

Inos Gene ◽

Guanidinoacetic Acid ◽

Inos Gene Expression

This study assessed the preventive effects of arginine (ARG) and guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on the incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) in broiler chickens. Four isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets were prepared, including: (i) the control, (ii) the control supplemented with 1 g/kg ARG, (iii) the control supplemented with 1 g/kg GAA, and (iv) the control supplemented with 1.5 g/kg GAA. These diets were fed to broilers (Ross 308) from day 1 to 42 post-hatch. Criteria evaluated in the experiment were growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum and blood variables, lead-II electrocardiogram, and ET-1 and iNOS gene expression in heart and lungs. Mortality from PHS was recorded daily. The results showed that ARG and GAA supplements improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control (P < 0.05). Supplementation of ARG and GAA significantly (P < 0.05) increased serum nitric oxide (NO) concentration. ARG and GAA supplementation significantly reduced the haematocrit value and the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in the blood. A significant (P < 0.05) decline in S-wave amplitude of the lead-II electrocardiogram, right to total ventricular weight ratio (RV:TV) and ascites mortality was observed by supplementing ARG or 1.5 g/kg GAA. Addition of ARG and GAA supplements did not significantly change ET-1 and iNOS gene expression in the heart and lung relative to the control. In conclusion, GAA supplementation at 1.5 g/kg had a potential to improve growth performance and could prevent PHS.

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Effect of processed doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) pulp meal on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and haematological indices of broilers

Journal of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.31248/jasvm2021.292 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 182-187

Author(s):

Ibe Emmanuel Agwor ◽

◽

Kudu Yahaya Salihu ◽

Bisi Alex Ayanwale ◽

Malik Abdulganiyu Ayodele ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Carcass Parameters ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

Haematological Indices

The increase in human population, particularly in the developing countries like Nigeria and the demand for animal protein intake has necessitated different approaches of solving protein shortage. A 28-day study was carried out to determine the performance of finishers fed on different hourly soaked doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) pulp meal (DPPM) diets. Two hundred and sixteen (216) finishers (4 week-old) were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments. Each treatment consisted of 36 birds with three replicates (12 birds per replicate) in a completely randomized design (CRD). Six experimental diets were formulated and designed as follows: T1 (Control) contained 0% DPPM while T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 contained 12.5% each of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 hours soaked DPPM as substitute for maize, respectively. Feeds and water were provided ad libitum for all treatment groups. The average body weight gain (40.44- 42.71 g/b/d), average feed intake (87.52-96.73 g/b/d) and feed conversion ratio (2.14-2.34) were non-significant (p>0.05) regardless of the dietary treatments. Statistical differences (p<0.05) were observed in some carcass parameters such as thigh (13.40-14.98%), neck (5.32-6.55%), shank (3.81-5.2 %), wing (9.80-11.41%), head (2.43-3.74%) and two haematological indices; white blood cell (160.67-189.53 X 103/mm3) and eosinophils (0.33-2.00%) across the treatment groups. The processed DPPM could serve as a rich energy source in broiler feeds with the raw doum palm pulp containing 2987.45 kcal/kg. Also, soaking the pulp for 2 to 10 hours before been included in broiler diet improved the nutritional content, acceptability, palatability and utilization of the feed by the broilers. Thus, up to 12.5% processed DPPM can be included in the diets of broiler chickens without adverse effect on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and haematological indices of chickens.

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Comparison of growth performance and immune responses of broiler chicks reared under heat stress, cold stress and thermoneutral conditions

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5424/sjar/2018162-12753 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0505 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Ali Olfati ◽

Ali Mojtahedin ◽

Tayebeh Sadeghi ◽

Mohsen Akbari ◽

Felipe Martínez-Pastor

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Cold Stress ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Humoral Immune

This study was conducted to compare the effects of thermal stress on growth performance and some immunity variables of broiler chickens. Birds were randomly assigned to one of three thermal treatments as follows: cold stress (CS, 12±1°C), (b) heat stress (HS, 33±3 °C) and (c) thermoneutral (TN, 24±2 °C). Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), water intake (WI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded. In order to evaluate the primary and secondary humoral immune responses, two birds per replicate were intravenously administrated with a suspension of 7% sheep red blood cell (SRBC) at 28 and 35 days. The heat-stressed broiler chickens had lower FI (-14.90%), BWG (-25.71%) and higher FCR (+13.06%) in comparison to broiler chickens reared under TN condition (p<0.001) from 1 to 42 days of age. The cold-stressed broiler chickens showed lower FI (-22.05%), BWG (-38.32%) and higher FCR (+22.47%) in comparison to birds reared under TN conditions (p<0.001). Stressed birds (CS and HS) showed decreased antibody titer against SRBC, lymphocyte count and the relative weights of lymphoid organs and increased heterophil count, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and the serum concentration of corticosterone, in comparison to birds in TN group (p<0.001). In conclusion, HS and CS conditions have similar negative effects on performance and immunity of broiler chickens.

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