Immune modulation, growth performance, and nutrient retention in broiler chickens fed a blend of phytogenic feed additives.

This study aimed to assess the effect of a commercial blend of phytogenic feed additives (PA), comprising 5% carvacrol, 3% cinnamaldehyde, and 2% capsicum oleoresin on the modulation of immune biomarkers of broiler chickens, their growth performance, dietary energy, and nutrient retention. Four-hundred day-old birds were assigned to one of four dietary treatments. Two control diets based on either wheat (WC) or maize (MC) were each given with and without PA at 100 g/t.

Pancreatic PYY but not PPY expression is responsive to short-term nutritional state and the pancreas constitutes the major site of PYY mRNA expression in chickens.

PP-fold peptides such as peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PPY) are known to play key roles in vertebrate energy homeostasis. Until recently, no gene sequence was available for avian PYY and therefore a gap in knowledge of regulation of its expression exists in avian species. Here we further evidence the mRNA sequence for chicken PYY and show that the pancreas is the major site of its mRNA expression, with a secondary peak of expression around the distal jejunum, in contrast to mammals where the large intestine is the major site of PYY expression.

Growth performance and endogenous losses of broilers fed wheat-based diets with and without essential oils and xylanase supplementation.

An experiment was conducted to compare the effect of a supplementary mixture of essential oils, with and without exogenous xylanase, on performance, carcass composition, dietary nitrogen (N)-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), dry matter retention (DMR), N retention (NR), fat digestibility (FD) coefficients, and endogenous mucin losses (measured as sialic acid, SA) when fed to broiler chickens. Three hundred male Ross 308 broilers in total were reared in floor pens from 0 to 21 d of age. Birds were fed 1 of 3 wheat-based diets: basal diet (215 g/kg CP, 12.

Apparent and standardised ileal amino acid digestibility of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles with or without exogenous protease in broilers and turkeys.

The apparent (AIAAD) and standardised ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (wheat-DDGS) was determined for broilers and turkeys at 28 d using two experiments. A total of 84 male Ross 308 broiler chicks (Experiment 1) or 84 male BUT 10 turkey poults (Experiment 2) were offered a nutrient-adequate diet from d 1 to 23. On d 23, birds in each experiment were allocated to 4 treatments consisting of a nitrogen-free diet (NFD) (with or without protease) and an assay diet containing wheat-DDGS as the only source of amino acids (with or without protease) in a randomised complete block design.

The interplay of dietary nutrient level and varying calcium to phosphorus ratios on efficacy of a bacterial phytase: 2. Ileal and total tract nutrient utilization.

A 14-d broiler experiment was conducted to assess the effects of 2 dietary variables on efficacy of a bacterial 6-phytase from Citobacter braakii on nutrient and phytate P (PP) utilization. Diets were formulated with or without nutrient matrix values (matrix) for phytase as negative control (NC) or positive control (PC), respectively, and with 2 Ca:total P (tP) levels (2:1 or 2.5:1).

The interplay of dietary nutrient specification and varying calcium to total phosphorus ratio on efficacy of a bacterial phytase: 1. Growth performance and tibia mineralization.

A 14-d experiment was conducted to study the effects of 2 dietary variables on efficacy of a 6-phytase from Citrobacter braakii on broiler growth performance and tibia mineralization. Diets were formulated with or without nutrient matrix values for phytase as negative or positive control (NC or PC, respectively) and with 2 Ca:total P (tP; 2:1 or 2.5:1).

Modification of digesta pH and intestinal morphology with the use of benzoic acid or phytobiotics and the effects on broiler chicken growth performance and energy and nutrient utilization.

Two experiments, each consisting of 2 trials, were conducted to investigate the effect of feeding benzoic acid (BA) and turmeric meal (TM) individually or in combination (Exp. 1) or garlic meal (GM) and TM individually or in combination (Exp. 2) on growth performance, digesta pH, gut morphology, and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens.

Avian reflex and electroencephalogram responses in different states of consciousness.

Defining states of clinical consciousness in animals is important in veterinary anaesthesia and in studies of euthanasia and welfare assessment at slaughter. The aim of this study was to validate readily observable reflex responses in relation to different conscious states, as confirmed by EEG analysis, in two species of birds under laboratory conditions (35-week-old layer hens (n=12) and 11-week-old turkeys (n=10)). We evaluated clinical reflexes and characterised electroencephalograph (EEG) activity (as a measure of brain function) using spectral analyses in four different clinical states of consciousness: conscious (fully awake), semi-conscious (sedated), unconscious-optimal (general anaesthesia), unconscious-sub optimal (deep hypnotic state), as well as assessment immediately following euthanasia.

The effect of dietary alterations during rearing on feather condition in broiler breeder females.

In commercial production, broiler breeders are severely feed restricted to maintain healthy BW. This restriction can induce stereotypic behavior, including feather pecking, which has negative welfare implications for both the victim and performer. It has been suggested that the problem may be symptomatic of chronic hunger or the frustration of feeding motivation.

Effects of natural blend of essential oil on growth performance, blood biochemistry, cecal morphology, and carcass quality of broiler chickens.

The study evaluated the effect of a novel commercial preparation of natural blend of essential oils from basil, caraway, laurel, lemon, oregano, sage, tea, and thyme (Tecnaroma Herbal Mix PL) on growth performance, blood biochemistry, cecal morphology, and carcass quality of broilers. Six nutritionally adequate wheat and soybean-based diets were generated by the addition of Tecnaroma Herbal Mix PL at 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 g/t of feed. The diets were fed as crumbs in the starter phase (d 0-10) and as pellets during the grower (d 10-24) and finisher (d 24-42) phases.

Rearing conditions influence nutrient availability of plant extracts supplemented diets when fed to broiler chickens.

The effects of a standardised mixture of essential oils, including 5% carvacrol, 3% cinnamaldehyde and 2% capsicum (XT 6930; Pancosma S.A), on dietary apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen retention (AMEn), nutrient digestibility and mucin secretions, measured as sialic acid (SA) were investigated in broilers fed on the same diet but reared under different conditions, that is, cages and floor pens littered with wood shavings used in previous broiler study. The use of XT reduced (p < 0.

Assessment of a bacterial 6-phytase in the diets of broiler chickens.

Two 21-d broiler experiments were conducted to assess the efficacy of a bacterial 6-phytase expressed in Aspergillus oryzae on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and intestinal molecular markers. Two hundred forty birds in 5 treatments (experiment 1) or 256 birds in 4 treatments (experiment 2) were used. The treatments included a negative control diet that was marginally deficient in P (NC) or NC plus tricalcium phosphate, 500, 1,000, or 2,000 phytase units/kg (experiment 1), and NC or NC plus monocalcium phosphate, 500 or 1,000 phytase units/kg (experiment 2).

Energy utilisation and growth performance of chicken fed diets containing graded levels of supplementary bacterial phytase.

A total of 364 female Ross 308 chicks (1 d old) were used in the present study conducted in floor pens to investigate the effects of graded levels of supplementary bacterial phytase on dietary energy utilisation and growth performance. For this purpose, four maize-soyabean-based diets were offered to the birds from 0 to 21 d of age. These included a suboptimal P negative control (NC, 3.

The effects of supplementary bacterial phytase on dietary energy and total tract amino acid digestibility when fed to young chickens.

1. Four diets were offered to broiler chickens from 7 to 17 d of age; these included a phosphorus-adequate positive control (PC) (4·7 g/kg available P), a sub-optimal P negative control (NC, 2·5 g/kg available P) with (500 and 12500 FTU/kg) and without phytase. Dietary apparent metabolisable energy (AME), dietary net energy for production (NEp), the efficiency of AME retention (Kre), heat production and total tract amino acid digestibility coefficients were determined.

Herbs, thyme essential oil and condensed tannin extracts as dietary supplements for broilers, and their effects on performance, digestibility, volatile fatty acids and organoleptic properties.

1. Herbs, thyme essential oil (EO) and condensed tannin (CT) extracts were compared for their effects, as dietary supplements, on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles in the gut. Cooked meat from the birds fed on diets with 4 herbs and an EO extract was compared by a taste panel against those fed on the control treatment, for organoleptic properties in the meat.

Effect of dietary xylanase on energy, amino acid and mineral metabolism, and egg production and quality in laying hens.

1. The aim was to examine the effect of dietary xylanase on the availability of nutrients for laying hens when fed on wheat-rye-soy-based diets. The basal diet was formulated to contain 11.

Use of liquid carbon dioxide for whole-house gassing of poultry and implications for the welfare of the birds.

The use of liquid carbon dioxide (CO(2)) was evaluated as a means of culling a flock of five-week-old pullets in situ. It took five minutes and 20 seconds for sufficient liquid CO(2) to be injected (3.24 tonnes) to achieve the target concentration of 45 per cent CO(2).

Influence of tannic acid and polyethylene glycol on the excretion and digestibility of amino acids in gelatin-fed broilers.

1. A precision feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of tannic acid (TA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the excretion of amino acids, and the apparent and true digestibility of gelatin protein in broilers. 2.

Diets containing Escherichia coli-derived phytase on young chickens and turkeys: effects on performance, metabolizable energy, endogenous secretions, and intestinal morphology.

The aim of this experiment was to compare the responses of young broiler chickens directly with the responses of turkeys to different dietary phytase concentrations. Nine hundred sixty birds (480 female Ross 308 broilers, and 480 female BUT6 turkeys) were reared in 64 floor pens from 0 to 21 d of age. Each species was fed a nutritionally complete (12.

Metabolic fates of yolk lipid and individual fatty acids during embryonic development of the coot and moorhen.

There is currently little information regarding the metabolic fates of yolk lipid and individual fatty acids during embryonic development of free-living avian species. Here we report the pattern of lipid utilization during embryonic development of the coot (Fulica atra) and the moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), two related species producing precocial offspring from eggs with a distinctive fatty acid composition and with an incubation period similar to that of the chicken. By the time of hatching, the proportions of the initial yolk lipid that had been transferred to the embryo were 88.

Bone breaking strength and apparent metabolisability of calcium and phosphorus in selected and unselected broiler chicken genotypes.

1. The present study examined the bone strength and apparent mineral metabolisability of a selected broiler chicken compared with those of a relatively unselected genotype. 2.

Circadian variation in heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and EEG of immature broiler breeder chickens in restricted-fed and ad libitum-fed states.

1. Heart rate, intra-aortic blood pressure, deep body temperature and telencephalic EEG were monitored by radiotelemetry in 6 freely moving immature broiler breeders (three in each of two years), during routine food restriction and then ad libitum feeding, over two 24-h periods in each feeding state.2.

Maternal organo-selenium compounds and polyunsaturated fatty acids affect progeny performance and levels of selenium and docosahexaenoic acid in the chick tissues.

The effects of supplementing broiler breeder diets with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and organo-Se compounds on the levels of Se and PUFA in chick tissues and on chick performance were assessed. Prepeak (23 wk) and peak (27 wk) production broiler breeders were fed 1 of 4 diets: a wheat-based commercial diet with soybean oil or fish oil but no added Se, and each diet with added Se as Sel-Plex (soybean oil + Se, fish oil + Se; Alltech Inc, Nicholasville, KY). The diets were designed to contain less than 0.

Effects of supplementing broiler breeder diets with organoselenium compounds and polyunsaturated fatty acids on hatchability.

The effects of supplementing broiler breeder diets with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and organoselenium compounds on fertility, hatchability, and the weight of 1-d-old chicks was assessed. Prepeak (23 wk) and peak (27 wk) production breeders were fed 1 of 4 diets: a wheat-based commercial breeder diet with 55 g/kg of either soybean oil (SO) or fish oil (FO), but no added Se (only that originating from feed ingredients), and each diet with added Se as Sel-Plex (SO + Se, FO + Se). The diets were designed to contain <0.