Combination of carbohydrases and essential oils improve dietary performance of feedlot steers on a high-energy diet

Essential oils and enzymes are alternatives to feed additives for ruminants that aim to replace the use of ionophores and improve animal performance, but their mechanisms of action are different. Therefore, the present study aimed to verify if there is a synergistic effect in the combined use of enzymes carbohydrates and essential oils on the performance, ingestive behavior and carcass traits of steers fed a high-energy diet. During the finishing period of 78 days, 40 steers were assigned to four treatments: CON- control; ENZ- enzymatic complex; EO- essential oil blend; ENZ+EO - enzymatic complex combined with essential oil blend. Regardless of the feedlot periods, the ENZ+EO treatment caused a reduction in the dry matter intake (12.48%) compared to the control. The ENZ+EO treatment resulted in the lowest mean fecal output and, consequently, the highest dry matter digestibility (DMD) and starch digestibility (SD), compared to the other treatments. Animals that received EO and ENZ+EO in the diet spent more time in feeding. As for the number of times animals visited the feeding trough, the highest values were presented by the animals in the EO, ENZ and ENZ+EO treatments. For the carcass parameters, only the subcutaneous fat thickness on the rib was significantly different between treatments, with the highest values obtained by adding EO and ENZ+EO (8.80 and 8.10 mm respectively). Thus, the combination of carbohydrate enzymes and essential oils proved to be synergistically beneficial in relation to better use of nutrients and productive performance of feedlot steers.

Anthelmintic usage on the performance of the Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) reared intensively in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

Anthelmintic drugs have been used strategically in livestock reared in the tropics. These drugs have been used in the treatment of endoparasitism which have resulted in an increase in the animals’ performance. The agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) is a neo-tropical rodent with the potential for domestication and has been farmed intensively in Trinidad. However, the objective of this research was to investigate the effect of anthelmintic use of the growth performance of the agouti. In searching the literature, it was found that this type of study on the agouti has not been done. In this experiment fourteen weaned agoutis weighing 1kg were divided into two groups randomly. The first group (T1) was not given any anthelmintic treatment but the second group (T2) was treated with Endovet Ces® subcutaneously every three months. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two groups in the carcass weight, weight gain, dressing percentage (hot and cold), heart, lungs, skin, head and feet. However, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was seen between groups in the weight of liver and pluck. To the authors knowledge this is the first time that carcass parameters has been presented in literature. The live weight of the animals at the end of the experiment ranged from 2.4 kg to 2.6 kg and animals had a dressing percentage of 57% to 55%. The results are suggestive that the use of anthelmintic drugs in agoutis reared intensively had no significant effect on weight gain and dressing percentage.

Effects of Herbal Adaptogen Feed-Additive on Growth Performance, Carcass Parameters, and Muscle Amino Acid Profile in Heat-Stressed Modern Broilers

Heat stress has strong adverse effects on poultry production and, thereby, threats its sustainability, which energized scientists to search for innovative and effective solutions. Here, we undertook this study to evaluate the effects of in-feed herbal adaptogen (stress response modifier) supplementation on growth performances, meat quality, and breast amino acid profile in chronic cyclic heat-stressed broilers. Day-old male Cobb 500 chicks (n = 720) were randomly assigned, in environmental chambers (n = 12, 24 pens), to three diet-treatments: a three-phase corn-soybean based diet fed as such (Control, C), or supplemented with the herbal adaptogen at 500 g/1000 kg control diet (NR-PHY-500) or at 1 kg/1000 kg control diet (NR-PHY-1000). From d29 to d42, birds from 9 chambers were exposed to cyclic heat stress (HS, 35°C from 9:30 am-5:30 pm), however, the rest of the chamber were maintained at thermoneutral conditions (24°C, TN), which creates 4 experimental groups: C-TN, C-HS, NR-PHY-500HS, and NR-PHY-1000HS (6 pens/group, 168 birds/group). HS altered growth performance via depression of feed intake and body weight. Adaptogen supplementation stimulated feed intake and averaged 65.95 and 83.25 g better body weight and 5 and 10 points better FCR at low and high dose, respectively, compared to heat-stressed birds. This increase in body weight was mirrored in enhanced weights of body parts (breast, tender, wings, and legs). Adaptogen supplementation modulated also breast amino acid profile, pH, color, and quality. Together, these data suggested that adaptogen supplementation could be a promising solution to alleviate heat stress, however further in-depth investigation for its mode of action and its underlying mechanisms are warranted.

Performance, nutrients digestibility and economics of production of finisher broiler fed diets containing Euphorbia heterophylla leaf meal

The high cost of feed has become a great challenge in poultry production. Good quality and cheap feed is therefore crucial for optimal growth performance of poultry chickens. In this study the effect of Euphorbia heterophylla Leaf Meal (EHLM) on the performance, carcass characteristics, nutrients digestibility and economics were evaluated. Broiler chicks numbering one hundred and eighty (180) of Ross 308 strain were fed for 4 weeks. The birds were randomly allotted to six experimental diets with three replications of 10 birds each. The diets were formulated with the inclusion of EHLMat 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% levels, for T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 which replaces soyabean meal respectively and data collected were subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. Results obtained indicated that the experimental diets significantly (P<0.05) affected the average feed intake and average daily protein intake, while the average daily weight gain, average feed conversion ratio, average daily protein efficiency ratio and average final live weight were not affected (P>0.05); mortality was not affected (P>0.05) by the diet. Carcass parameters, carcass cut and internal organs such as fasted liveweight, plucked weight, dressed weight, breast weight, thigh, drum stick, neck, shank and wings, heart, empty gizzard, lungs, spleen, pancreas, small intestine and esophagus weights showed no significant (P>0.05) difference while back, head, liver, proventriculus, kidney, abdominal fat, large intestine and caeca weight were significantly (P<0.05) different. The GIT length was affected (P<0.05) by the diet except the caeca length. The nutrient digestibility of CP and NFE did not showed significant (P>0.05) effect, but CF, EE and Ash were affected (P<0.05) by the dietary treatments. The nutrient digestibility of 5%, 10%, 15% and 25% were higher than the control diet(0%) for the five nutrients evaluated. The economics of production showed that feed cost (N/kg weight gain), total income (birds sold) and total profit (net gain) were not significantly (P>0.05) different while the feed cost (N/chicken), cost saving due to EHLM inclusion, total cost of production (N/chicken) and feed cost as percentage of total cost were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the test diets. The result showed that birds fed diet containing 15% have better economic advantage for optimum benefit. Therefore 15% EHLM replacement of soya bean is recommended for adoption for optimum growth performance, carcass yield, nutrient digestibility and economics of production in finisher broiler chicken. Le coût élevé des aliments pour animaux est devenu un grand défi dans la production avicole.Une alimentation de bonne qualité et bon marché est donc cruciale pour des performances de croissance optimales des poulets de volaille. Dans cette étude, l'effet de la farine de feuilles d'Euphorbia heterophylla (EHLM) sur la performance, les caractéristiques de la carcasse, la digestibilité des nutriments et l'économie ont été évalués. Des poussins de chair au nombre de cent quatre-vingts (180) de souche Ross 308 ont été nourris pendant 4 semaines. Les oiseaux ont été répartis au hasard dans six régimes expérimentaux avec trois répétitions de 10 oiseaux chacune. Les régimes ont été formulés avec l'inclusion d'EHLM à 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 et 25%, pour T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 et T6 qui remplace respectivement le tourteau de soja et les données collectées ont été soumises à une analyse de variance. dans une conception complètement aléatoire. Les résultats obtenus ont indiqué que les régimes expérimentaux affectaient significativement (P<0,05) la consommation alimentaire moyenne et la consommation quotidienne moyenne de protéines, tandis que le gain de poids quotidien moyen, le rapport de conversion alimentaire moyen, le rapport d'efficacité protéique moye quotidien et le poids vif final moyen n'étaient pas affectés ( P>0,05) ; la mortalité n'a pas été affectée (P>0,05) par le régime alimentaire. Les paramètres de la carcasse, la coupe de la carcasse et les organes internes tels que le poids vif à jeun, le poids plumé, le poids paré, le poids de la poitrine, le poids de la cuisse, de la baguette, du cou, du jarret et des ailes, le poids du cœur, du gésier vide, des poumons, de la rate, du pancréas, de l'intestin grêle et de l'œsophage ont été montrés aucune différence significative (P> 0,05) alors que le poids du dos, de la tête, du foie, du proventricule, des reins, de la graisse abdominale, du gros intestin et des caeca étaient significativement différents (P< 0,05). La longueur GIT a été affectée (P < 0,05) par le régime, à l'exception de la longueur des caeca. La digestibilité des nutriments du CP et du NFE n'a pas montré d'effet significatif (P>0,05), mais CF, EE et Ash ont été affectés (P<0,05) par les traitements diététiques. La digestibilité des nutriments de 5 %, 10 %, 15 % et 25 % était supérieure à celle du régime témoin (0 %) pour les cinq nutriments évalués. L'économie de la production a montré que le coût de l'alimentation (N/kg de gain de poids), le revenu total (oiseaux vendus) et le bénéfice total (gain net) n'étaient pas significativement différents (P>0,05) alors que le coût de l'alimentation (N/poulet), la réduction des coûts en raison de l'inclusion de l'EHLM, le coût total de production (N/poulet) et le coût des aliments en pourcentage du coût total ont été significativement (P<0,05) affectés par les régimes d'essai. Le résultat a montré que les oiseaux nourris avec un régime contenant 15 % ont un meilleur avantage économique pour un bénéfice optimal. Par conséquent, il est recommandé d'adopter un remplacement EHLM de 15 % du soja pour des performances de croissance optimales, un rendement en carcasse, une digestibilité des éléments nutritifs et des économies de production dans le poulet de chair de finition.

Comparison of carcass and non-carcass characteristics of Local and Pekin ducks

The purpose of this study was to evaluate carcass and non-carcass characteristics of local ducks. The research material was carcasses of five local male ducks aged 24 weeks (relative weight of about 1220 g) and five male Pekin ducks of 9 weeks of age (relative weight of about 1440 g) which were kept in the duck cage at the laboratory of Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Animal Science, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia using intensive housing systems and commercial feed. The research method was all ducks were fasted and rested for 8 hours, slaughtered, carcasses, and parameters analyzed. Parameters measured were weight and percentage of carcass traits (wings, dorsal, thighs, breast, and neck), weight and percentage of non-carcass traits (head, shank, kidney, heart, trachea, esophagus, gizzard, liver, intestine, feathers), three types of weight (live weight, slaughter weight, and carcass weight), percentage of the total carcass, and meat bone ratio (thigh and breast). The results showed that there were no significant differences in all carcass and non-carcass parameters between local ducks and Pekin ducks except for non-carcass parameters, namely head, gizzard, shank, intestine, heart, and trachea. At different ages, Pekin ducks and local ducks showed similar carcass characteristics. These results show that the growth rate of Pekin ducks is faster than that of local ducks. These results become one of the bases and references that local ducks still need a breeding program for improving carcass growth to reach optimum carcass characteristics.

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

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.

Effects of potato peels inclusion with exogenous enzymes in broiler diet on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and carcass characteristics

The purpose of the research was to investigate the effects of including potato peels (PP) in broilers diet with exogenous enzymes supplementation on feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), nutrient digestibility and carcass parameters. For this purpose, five iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous rations were formulated with different levels of PP (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%). Experimental diets were supplemented with a blend of exogenous enzymes (Xylanase, Mannanase, Protease, Cellulase). A total of four hundred male broiler chicks (day old) of 38 ± 3 gram were randomly distributed into 5 experimental groups in such a way that each group had 8 replicates and each replicate had 10 birds. Results revealed that the inclusion of PP @ 5% with exogenous enzymes had similar FI, BWG and nutrients digestibility with control. However, the inclusion of P @ of 10, 15, and 20% with exogenous enzymes in the broiler diet adversely affected the BWG, feed conversion ratio and nutrient digestibility ( p < 0.05). Results of carcass parameters were not affected ( p > 0.05) by dietary treatments. Based on findings, it is concluded that 5% addition of PP with exogenous enzymes could be practiced in broiler diet without any adverse effect on the performance of commercial broilers.