Estimation of the digestible energy value of fat obtained from black soldier fly larvae () for growing pigs.

An experiment was conducted to determine the digestible energy (DE) of insect fat (IF) from black soldier fly larvae (BSLF) for growing pigs. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were the dominant group of fatty acids in the IF, with lauric acid (C12:0) and palmitic acid (C16:0) comprising the greatest concentrations in this group. Linoleic acids (C18:2) and oleic acids (C18:1) were the main unsaturated fatty acids.

Dietary stinging nettle () improves carotenoids content in laying hen egg yolk.

1. This study assessed the addition of dried stinging nettle (SN) leaves at 0%, 2.5% and 5.

Investigations into the chemical composition and nutritional value of different batches of rapeseed meals for turkey poults.

A study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition and feeding value of rapeseed meal (RSM) batches produced at the same plant when fed to turkey poults. In total, seven RSM samples were obtained from a single manufacturer within a period of 90 days. Although the manufacturer followed the same procedures during oil extraction and RSM production, different batches of rapeseed were used.

Refining dietary metabolisable energy and crude protein levels in relation to duck performance and behaviour.

1. The study evaluated the effect of dietary metabolisable energy (ME) content and crude protein (CP) level on the growth performance and behaviour of ducks.2.

Feeding Black Pepper () or Exogenous Xylanase Improves the Blood Lipid Profile of Broiler Chickens Fed Wheat-Based Diets.

This study aimed to determine the impact of dietary black peppercorn (BP) and xylanase (XYL) alone or in combination on growth performance, dietary energy, nutrient digestibility and blood lipid profile when fed to male Ross 308 broiler chickens from the ages of 7 to 21 d. A wheat-soy-based basal feed that was formulated to be 0.42 MJ lower in metabolizable energy (ME) was mixed.

Sunflower and rapeseed meal as alternative feed materials to soybean meal for sustainable egg production, using aged laying hens.

1. This study assessed the impact of replacing two thirds of a soybean meal (SBM) based diet with an alternative protein (AP) based diet (sunflower and rapeseed meal), when fed to end of production Hy-Line Brown laying hens.2.

The effect of different wheat varieties and exogenous xylanase on bird performance and utilization of energy and nutrients.

The aims of the present study were to first, determine the xylan fractions of 10 different wheat cultivar samples and their response to treatment by the same commercial xylanase enzyme preparation. Second, use information obtained to select 5 of the wheats for use within a feeding experiment to determine whether the rate of xylan release can be used to predict the feeding value of the wheats when diets have been supplemented with xylanase. Treatment of 10 different wheat varieties by the same enzyme resulted in varying levels of hydrolysis.

Refining the metabolisable energy value of field beans for turkeys.

1. This study examined the feeding value of ten UK grown field bean ( L. var.

Feeding dihydroquercetin in wheat-based diets to laying hens: impact on egg production and quality of fresh and stored eggs.

1. This study assessed the impact of dietary dihydroquercetin (DHQ) in wheat-based diets on egg production, composition and quality when fed to laying hens. A total of 80 Hy-Line Brown hens were allocated to 20 enriched layer cages, over two tiers, in groups of four birds.

Stevia () Improves Carotenoid Content in Eggs When Fed to Laying Hens.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a shrub with leaves that have a high concentration of carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Egg yolks are a bioavailable source of lutein and zeaxanthin. The consumption of these carotenoids has been linked with improved human health.

Feeding guanidinoacetic acid to broiler chickens can compensate for low dietary metabolisable energy formulation.

1. This study compared the responses of broilers to diets supplemented with the same level of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) but formulated to have different N-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn) contents. The study involved 1280, one-day-old Ross 308 broilers, in 64 pens comprising 32 pens of males and 32 pens females, (20 birds in each) aged from 0 to 42 d.

Antioxidant status and growth performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing graded levels of supplementary dihydroquercetin.

Dihydroquercetin (DHQ), also known as taxifolin, is a natural antioxidant that can be commercially obtained by extraction from Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica). Four wheat-soy based diets, formulated to contain 0, 0.5, 1.

Feeding dry stevia leaf (Stevia rebaudiana) or xylanase improves the hepatic antioxidative status of broiler chickens.

Four diets, formulated with and without stevia and with and without exogenous xylanase, following a 2 × 2 factorial design, were prepared. Each diet was fed ad libitum to birds in eight pens (three birds in each pen) in a randomised block design. It was found that birds fed xylanase grew faster, used the feed more efficiently and had an increased concentration of hepatic α-tocopherol and vitamin E concentrations (P < 0.

The effect of selenium source on the oxidative status and performance of broilers reared at standard and high ambient temperatures.

1. This study investigated the oxidative status of broilers fed diets containing selenium (Se) from 14 to 35 d of age and reared at two different constant temperatures. Measurements of oxidative status included blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and plasma total antioxidant status (TAS).

Feeding dihydroquercetin and vitamin E to broiler chickens reared at standard and high ambient temperatures.

The use of natural antioxidants, in particular polyphenols such as dihydroquercetin (DHQ), in animal nutrition has recently increased in popularity. This may partly be due to the risk of increased incidences of heat stress associated with raising livestock in warmer ambient temperatures, facilitated by global warming, reducing antioxidant capacity. The current research demonstrates the effect of dietary DHQ, vitaminEand standard or high ambient temperatures on growth performance, energy and nutrient metabolism, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, jejunal villus morphometry and antioxidant status in broiler chickens.

The effect of feeding different sources and levels of selenium on growth performance and antioxidant status of broilers raised at two different temperatures.

1. This study examined the effects of different dietary sources and levels of selenium (Se) on growth performance, hepatic and breast meat Se content, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and total antioxidant status (TAS) in blood, when fed to broilers from 14 to 35 d of age and reared at two different temperatures (20°C and 35°C). 2.

Effect of feeding different sources of selenium on growth performance and antioxidant status of broilers.

1. This study was conducted to determine the effect of different sources of selenium (Se) on breast and liver tissue deposition, apparent metabolisable energy (AME), growth performance and antioxidant status of broilers, measured as Se content in liver and breast tissues and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in blood, when used in 0-35 d broiler chicken diets. 2.

Nutrient content and digestibility of different batches of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles for laying hens.

1. Four batches of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) produced by a single production plant were used to investigate variation in digestible energy (DE) and nutrient digestibility for laying hens. 2.

Effect of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles and exogenous xylanase on laying hen performance and egg quality.

Despite the rapid increase in the use of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) within the poultry sector, little information is available on how the long-term feeding of this by-product will affect the performance of laying hens. This experiment examined the effect of wheat DDGS, with and without exogenous xylanase on dietary apparent metabolizable energy (AME), total tract dry matter retention (DMR), nitrogen retention (NR), fat digestibility (FD) coefficients, feed intake (FI), bodyweight gain (BWG), eggs laid, mean egg weight, egg mass output, and egg quality characteristics including albumin height (AH), Haugh units (HU), yolk color, eggshell strength, and thickness. A total of 320 Hy-Line brown laying hens were randomly allocated to 80 enriched layer colonies (groups of 4).

Nutrient availability of different batches of wheat distiller's dried grains with solubles for turkeys.

Effects of five different batches of wheat distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were used to investigate bioavailability of energy and nutrients for turkeys. The laboratory analysis of the DDGS showed the largest variations for soluble non-starch polysaccharides, oil and ash. In total, 96 birds were fed one of six mash diets.

The temperature of storage of a batch of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles samples on their nutritive value for broilers.

1. A batch of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was obtained immediately after production and was separated into 5 equal parts and placed in woven polypropylene sacks. The samples were stored under 5 different temperature conditions for 1 year as follows: kept at a constant -20°C; kept at -20°C for 24 h period and after that kept at a constant +4°C; kept at a constant +4°C only; kept at a constant +15°C; stored at ambient temperature (range of weekly mean temperatures was from +4 to +22°C).

Nutrient availability of different batches of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles with and without exogenous enzymes for broiler chickens.

Wheat distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are being used increasingly in the poultry feed industry but their nutritional value is variable. The aim of this experiment was to examine the effect of batch to batch variation of wheat DDGS produced by the same manufacturer on the growth performance, dietary N corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), energy conversion ratio (ECR), total tract dry matter retention (DMR), nitrogen retention (NR) and fat digestibility (FD) coefficients when fed to broilers in complete diets with and without enzyme supplementation. Six UK wheat DDGS samples, produced by a single manufacturer, were used in a broiler experiment.