Effects of a laminarin-rich algal extract on caecal microbiota composition, leukocyte counts, parasite specific immune responses and growth rate during Eimeria tenella infection of broiler chickens.

Coccidiosis, infection with protozoan parasites of genus Eimeria, is a major problem in poultry husbandry world-wide. The disease is currently managed by coccidiostats and live vaccines, but these approaches are not sustainable. Hence, it is important to identify new means to control the infection and/or ameliorate its detrimental effects on gut health.

Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings.

Breeder nutrition is an important factor for chick quality since the chick embryo relies on nutrients available in the egg for growth and development. In addition, the egg is providing the chick with important antibodies that are vital during the first weeks of life. Brown algae contains several bioactive compounds, and dietary supplementation with algal extracts have shown improved gut health and immune responses in both pigs and poultry.

Effects of access to feed, water, and a competitive exclusion product in the hatcher on some immune traits and gut development in broiler chickens.

1. This study evaluated the effect of access to feed, water, and the competitive exclusion (CE) product Broilact®, administered in the hatcher, on broiler performance, caecal microbiota development, organ development, intestinal morphology, serum levels of IgY and vaccine-induced antibody responses.2.

Integument, mortality, and skeletal strength in extended production cycles for laying hens - effects of genotype and dietary zinc source.

1. This study on long-life layers, covering the period 20-100 weeks of age, investigated longitudinal effects on mortality, layer integument, and skeletal properties in Bovans White (BoW) and Lohmann Selected Leghorn Classic (LSL), with or without supplementation with dietary organic zinc (Zn).2.

Effect of hatching time on time to first feed intake, organ development, enzymatic activity and growth in broiler chicks hatched on-farm.

The conventional commercial hatcheries used today do not allow the newly hatched chicks to consume feed or water. Combined with natural variation in hatching time, this can lead to early hatched chicks being feed-deprived for up to 72 h before being unloaded at the rearing site. This study investigated the effects of hatching time on time to first feed intake and development of organs, digestive enzymes and productivity in terms of growth and feed conversion ratio in chicks hatched on-farm.