Organic Trace Mineral Levels in the First 96-H Post-Hatch Impact Growth Performance and Intestinal Gene Expression in Broiler Chicks

Alterations in nutrient intake in the avian neonatal post-hatch period can impact development, performance, and metabolism in adulthood. Very little is known about how mineral levels during the post-hatch period affect or “program” gene expression patterns later in life. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of post-hatch (0 to 96 h) dietary mineral supplementation on performance, tissue mineral content, and intestinal gene expression profiles in 21-day-old broiler chicks. One-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups consisting of N (organic Zn, Cu, and Mn provided at 100 % of recommendations (National Research Council 1994)) and/or L (organic Zn, Cu, and Mn provided at 20 % of recommendations (National Research Council 1994)) diets fed in two intervals (days 1–4, days 5–21) as follows: (1) N–L or (2) L–L. Performance parameters did not differ between treatments except that body weight gain was greater (P?< 0.05) in L–L birds than N–L birds over the experimental period. Bone mineral content was similar for both treatments at day 21. Intestinal gene expression profiling was examined using the Affymetrix GeneChip Chicken genome array. Ingenuity pathway analysis revealed differences in gene expression profiles between N and L treatments at day 5. At day 21, profiles were unique between N–L and L–L, suggesting that the diet fed until day 4 had an impact on gene expression patterns at day 21 even when birds were fed the same diets day 5–day 21. In this study, we demonstrated that diets fed for the 96 h post-hatch had long-term effects on gene expression, providing unique information as to why post-hatch diets are so important for the long-term bird health and productivity.     

Role of Opioid Receptors on Food Choice and Macronutrient Selection in Meat-Type Chick

The present study was designed to examine the role of opioid receptors on food choice and macronutrient selection in neonatal chicks. In this study, 13 experiments designed, experiments 1–3 for effect of specific opioid receptors on appetite and experiments 4–13 on effect of opioid receptors on food choice and macronutrient selection in meat-type chick. In experiment 1, chicken intracerebroventricular (ICV) injected with 125, 250 and 500 pmol of DAMGO (µ-opioid receptor agonist). Experiment 2 was conducted to investigate the effect of DPDPE (δ-opioid receptor agonist) at doses of 20, 40 and 80 nmol. In experiment 3 ICV injection of the U-50488H (κ-opioid receptor agonist, of 10, 20 and 40 nmol) was done. In experiment 4, birds injected with saline and different diets: standard diet without fat, diet containing nutrient energy 20 % higher than standard, diet containing nutrient energy 20 % lower than standard and standard diet containing fat were offered to them to investigate desire of chicken to diets. Experiments 5–7 were similar to experiment 4, except, birds ICV injected with 125, 250 and 500 pmol of DAMGO. In experiments 8–10 chicken received ICV injection of DPDPE (20, 40 and 80 nmol). The experiments 11–13 was similar to previous experiments which birds injected with different doses of U-50488H (10, 20 and 40 nmol), respectively. Then the cumulative food intake measured until 180-min post injection. According to the results, ICV injection of DAMGO diminished food intake while DPDPE and U-50488H increased appetite (P < 0.05). Despite anorexigenic effect, ICV injection of DAMGO increased birds desire to eat fat containing standard diet compared to the standard diet without fat (P < 0.05). These findings suggest endogenous opioids governing preferences for fat rich foods.     

Diets of Kauai’s invasive rose-ringed parakeet (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Psittacula krameri</Emphasis>): evidence of seed predation and dispersal in a human-altered landscape

Rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri) are the world’s most successful introduced parrots, and > 2000 individuals reside on Kauai, Hawaii. These birds destroy crops, but impacts to other native and non-native species are largely unknown. Our study objectives on Kauai were to determine: (1) diets of rose-ringed parakeets at five sites (n = 9–25 per site), by sex, through crop and gizzard analysis and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis, and (2) whether birds are dispersing or depredating seeds. We found 100% of birds (n = 64) were eating plant material and 80% of their diet was seed; males had more food in their crops and gizzards than did females. Corn (Zea mays) was eaten by 67% of birds and averaged 31% of mass in crops and gizzards. Invasive yellow guava (Psidium guajava) was eaten by 97% of birds and averaged 30% of their diet. Parakeets are potentially dispersing yellow guava seeds, as 66% of birds had intact guava seeds, and each bird had an average of three intact seeds. Diets differed statistically among sites. Parakeets from Lihue Airport did not have any corn, and isotopic carbon values also supported low feeding on corn by birds at Lihue Airport. No seeds of native plants were identified in rose-ringed parakeet diets. Our findings of a diverse plant diet, frequent seed predation, and potential to disperse invasive species’ seeds implies that land managers in agricultural, urban, and natural areas should be concerned with the current expansion of these invasive birds on Kauai and elsewhere.     

Studies on the intestine section to be sampled in broiler studies on precaecal amino acid digestibility

Abstract

Measurements of precaecal amino acid digestibility with digesta sampled from slaughtered animals may be affected by the chosen length of the sampled section. The length needs standardization, therefore, when digestibility is understood to be a measure of feedstuff potential. It was our objective to study the change in the net disappearance of amino acids from the lower small intestine of broiler chicken. The section between Meckel's diverticulum and 2 cm anterior of the ileo-caeco-colonic junction was cut into three subsections of equal length: proximal, medial, and terminal. The contents of each subsection were pooled within the birds of each pen (12 in Experiment 1 and 10 in Experiment 2). TiO₂ was used as an indigestible marker. Prior to digesta sampling, broilers had been fed the experimental diets for seven days. In Experiment 1, two diets with either soybean meal or a mix of soybean meal and peas as the main protein sources were used. Each diet was allocated to eight pens and feeding commenced on day 14 of age. Net disappearance was significantly affected by diet only in regard to aspartic acid and methionine. No significant interaction between diet and subsection occurred. Net disappearance was significantly affected by subsection for all amino acids. It ranged from 74 – 92% for individual amino acids without significant differences in the medial and terminal subsections. Net disappearance was, however, between 3% and 9% lower in the proximal subsection. In Experiment 2, diets contained soybean meal as the main protein source and were given to 18 pens from day 22 of age. Again, the effect of subsection on net disappearance was significant for all amino acids. Net disappearance was significantly lower in the proximal than in the middle subsection, and differences ranged from 5 – 10%. Significant differences in the net disappearance were also found for most of the amino acids between the middle and the terminal subsection ranging from 2 – 4%. In conclusion, when precaecal amino acid digestibility should be used as a measure for a protein source's potential, digesta sampling should not consider the proximal third of the section between Meckel's diverticulum and the end of the ileum.     

Nutritional value of raw and micronised field beans (Vicia faba L. var. minor) with and without enzyme supplementation containing tannase for growing chickens

An experiment examined the effects of two field bean cultivar samples with different tannin contents, the effect of heat treatment (micronising) and the effect of dietary supplementation of a proprietary enzyme preparation containing tannase, pectinase, and xylanase activities on metabolisable energy (ME), total tract dry matter digestibility (DMD) and ether extract digestibility (EED), nitrogen retention (NR), tannin degradability, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, and endogenous mucin losses excretion in broiler chickens. The Control diet contained per kg 221 g crude protein and 12.83 MJ ME. Four additional diets contained 300 g/kg of each of the two untreated or micronised experimental field bean cultivar samples. Each diet was then split into two batches and one of them was supplemented with 3400 units tannase per kg diet resulting in 10 diets in total. Each diet was fed to seven pens with two randomly selected male broilers each. Birds fed the high tannin bean sample had a lower weight gain (p < 0.001), and a lower determined apparent ME (p < 0.05), and DMD (p < 0.001) but a higher tannin degradability (p < 0.001). Compared to the Control diet, feeding field beans increased (p < 0.001) the weights of the proventriculus and gizzard of the birds, and also increased endogenous mucin losses (p < 0.05). Supplementing diets with the tannase-containing enzyme preparation improved dietary ME (p < 0.001), DMD (p < 0.001), NR (p < 0.001) and DEE (p < 0.05), but did not change tannin degradability. Heat treatment of the beans reduced the degradability of condensed tannins and increased endogenous mucin losses (p < 0.05). The differences in the feeding value of the different field bean samples were not improved by heat treatment, but enzyme supplementation improved the feeding value of all diets regardless of the bean samples or heat treatment. Further research is warranted to study the effectiveness of tannase supplementation in poultry diet formulations by dose response trials with purified tannase preparations.     

Aliiglaciecola coringensis sp. nov., isolated from a water sample collected from mangrove forest in Coringa,Andhra Pradesh,India

A Gram-negative, rod shaped, motile, aerobic bacterium, designated as strain AK49^T was isolated from a water sample from a mangrove forest in Coringa village, Andhra Pradesh, India. Strain AK49^T was observed to form yellow coloured, smooth, circular, convex colonies on marine agar, with entire margins. Cells of strain AK49^T are 0.5–1.0 µm wide and 1.5–3.5 µm long. Growth was observed at 25–37 °C (optimum 30 °C), 2–6 % NaCl (optimum 2 %) and pH 6–8 (optimum 7). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain AK49^T is closely related to two species recently reclassified as members of the genus Aliiglaciecola: Aliiglaciecola lipolytica JCM 15139^T (sequence similarity 95.43 %) and Aliiglaciecola litoralis JCM 15896^T (sequence similarity 96.91 %). The major cellular fatty acids of strain AK49^T were found to include C_16:0, C_18:1ω7c and summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c/C_15:0 iso-2-OH). The polar lipid content of cell membrane was found to include phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified lipid and an unidentified glycolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain AK49^T was determined to be 41.9 mol%. Based on the taxonomic methods, including chemotaxonomic, phenotypic and phylogenetic approaches, strain AK49^T is described here as a novel species belonging to the genus Aliiglaciecola, for which the name Aliiglaciecola coringensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Aliiglaciecola coringensis sp. nov. is AK49^T (=MTCC 12003^T = JCM19197^T).     

Effects of glyceryl polyethylene glycol ricinoleate on nutrient utilisation and performance of broiler chickens

A completely randomised design study with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement was conducted to observe effects of an emulsifier (glyceryl polyethylene glycol ricinoleate (GPR)) on nutrient utilisation and performance of broiler chickens. A total of 384 male broiler chickens were used to determine the influence of GPR (without addition or added at 0.04% of diet) and two levels of apparent metabolisable energy (AME_N) (according to standard requirements (Diets SE) or energy reduced by 0.4 MJ/kg diet (Diets LE)) on birds’ performance and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD). ATTD of ether extract (EE) and AME_N were measured on d 14 and 35, and ATTD of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was measured on d 35. All diets were based on wheat–maize–soybean meal with rapeseed oil and lard (blend of 50:50) as fat sources. During the grower period and the whole trial, birds fed Diets supplemented with GPR were characterised by higher body weight gain (BWG) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to chicken receiving diets without GPR (p < 0.05). At the end of experiment, birds fed Diet LE without GPR were characterised by lower BWG and higher FCR (p < 0.05). Supplementation with GPR caused a higher ATTD of EE for diets SE and LE at d 14 and 35 (p < 0.05). Moreover, the GPR addition to Diet LE improved ATTD of NDF at d 35 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the findings suggest that GPR effects the digestion of a blend of animal fat/rapeseed oil positively, even in a practical maize–wheat-based broiler diet with decreased AME_N level.     

Performance,rumen fermentation,blood minerals,leukocyte and antioxidant capacity of young Holstein calves receiving high-surface ZnO instead of common ZnO

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to assess the effect of feeding high-surface ZnO instead of common ZnO on the performance, rumen fermentation, blood minerals, leukocytes and antioxidant capacity of pre- and post-weaning calves. Thirty male suckling Holstein calves were allotted to one of three experimental groups (10 replicates) in a completely randomised design. Calves received: (1) a low Zn diet without Zn supplementation (control diet), (2) a high Zn diet containing 50 mg supplementary Zn/kg dry matter (DM) as common ZnO or (3) a high Zn diet containing 50 mg supplementary Zn/kg DM as high-surface ZnO (nano-ZnO). The control diet contained a native Zn content of 35.5, 34.7 or 33.7 mg/kg DM for the age periods of 7 to 30, 31 to 70 and 71 to 100 d, respectively. Supplementation of the diet with Zn did not change the dry matter intake (DMI) of calves during d 7 to 30 but increased the ADG in this period (p < 0.05). During age periods of 31 to 70 and 71 to 100 d, DMI and ADG of the Zn supplemented calves were higher (p < 0.05) than the control animals. The nutrient digestibility and the concentration of rumen volatile fatty acids were positively affected (p < 0.05) and the rumen ammonia-N concentration decreased (p < 0.05) by dietary Zn supplementation. Furthermore, the incidence of diarrhoea and pneumonia was lower in calves receiving the Zn supplemented diets. Irrespective of ZnO source, the blood total antioxidant capacity, leukocyte and haematocrit levels significantly increased (p < 0.05) with the ZnO supplemented diets. The post-weaning DMI, nutrient digestibility and blood haematocrit levels were higher in calves receiving high-surface ZnO, compared to those supplemented with common ZnO. With inclusion of the Zn sources in pre- and post-weaning diets, the blood Zn concentration increased (p < 0.05), but the blood Cu, Fe, Ca, P and Mg levels remained unchanged. Regardless of source, dietary supplementation of young calves with ZnO improved the performance and decreased rumen ammonia-N and the incidence of diseases. Moreover, high-surface ZnO had advantages over common ZnO in increasing the post-weaning feed intake, digestibility and blood Zn concentration.     

Experiments on feeding and growth of the amphipod Gammarus pulex (L.) related to its distribution in the River Duddon

Individuals of Gammarus pulex were kept at 15°C for periods of 23–70 days on diets comprised of elm or oak leaves, Tricladium and Clavariopsis (Hyphomycete fungi), Molinia (grass), Zygogonium (alga), Nardia (liverwort). Both the mean interval between moults (m_i), and daily increments in body wet weight, were related to diet. The lowest value for m_i was 14·6 days on a diet of naturally decaying elm and oak leaves. The largest weight gains also occurred on this diet; the average daily gain in weight (D_w) = 130·8 μg/day, the mean specific gain in weight (G_w) = 1·69 μg %/day. On green Molinia and fungi diets D_w ranged from nil to 60·7 μg/day, and m_i= 17·4–18·4 days was significantly (P<0·01) longer than m_i on leaf diets. Survival and growth were poor on brown Molinia. Nardia did not support growth or survival. A mixed diet of Tricladium, Zygogonium, Nardia and decaying grasses was not sufficient to promote an increase in body weight, and m_i= 21·8 days. This diet represents the commonly available food materials in Mosedale Beck, an acid stream in the upper Duddon catchment. Survival and growth of G. pulex on fungi and leaf diets in media containing low concentrations of potassium ions are also described and discussed briefly in relation to the distribution of G. pulex in the upper catchment of the R. Duddon.     

The role of floods in the lives of fish-eating birds: predator loss or benefit?

Floods accompanied by high flow and high water turbidity are usually believed to cause problems to fish-eating birds and mammals searching visually for their prey. In the present study the diets of breeding kingfishers were studied during the normal river situation and during a long-lasting flood event with respect to diet composition, size of fish prey and food diversity index. During the normal situation (flow 1.75 m³ s^?1, Secchi disc depth 0.5–1 m), the diet of a kingfisher was dominated by benthic fish species (52.9% by numbers, 63.9% by weight), the average size of fish taken was 6.5 cm L _T and 3.0 g and the food diversity index reached its lowest value (1.57). In contrast, during the long-lasting flood event (flow 5–28 m³ s^?1, Secchi disc depth 0.03–0.4 m) the diet of the kingfisher was dominated by sub-surface fish species (72.4% by numbers, 76.1% by weight) and both the average size of fish taken (7.4 cm L _T and 3.7 g) and the food diversity index (1.83) increased significantly. The birds provided their nestlings with lower numbers of fish of larger sizes, which resulted in very similar weights of the young birds prior to fledging when the flood and normal situations were compared. This study provides evidence that in different foraging conditions the kingfishers adopt different foraging strategies to maintain their high breeding success.     

Age-dependent changes in feeding preference and effects of commercial semi-synthetic diets on development of the legume pod borer,Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Mass rearing of the legume podborer Maruca vitrata (Fablicius) can be a very labor-intensive process. To improve the labor-saving method for larval raising, rearing experiments were conducted using 14 diet regimens, with and without diet-switching between the earlier and latter larval stages. Six different semi-synthetic diets were used, including four crude commercial diets. Larvae showed the highest performance in survival rate, developmental duration and pupal weight when reared on the following diet regimen: (1) 1st to 2nd instars—Insecta F-II (a commercial semi-synthetic diet for herbivorous insects, containing no mulberry leaf powder) mixed with 50 % azuki bean powder; (2) 3rd to 5th instars—switch to a crude commercial diet, either Insecta LFS (a semi-synthetic diet for herbivorous insects, containing mulberry leaf powder) or Insecta F-II mixed with 10 % azuki bean powder. In the feeding experiments, larvae in the earlier stages tended to prefer diets containing azuki bean or mulberry leaf powder, whereas larvae in the latter stages were non-selective in their feeding preference. The exception was Insecta F-II mixed with 50 % azuki bean powder, for which the larvae showed a significantly high preference between 24 and 96 h following release.     

Ochrovirga pacifica gen. nov., sp. nov., A Novel Agar-Lytic Marine Bacterium of the Family Flavobacteriaceae Isolated From A Seaweed

A strain designated as S85^T was isolated from a seaweed collected from coastal area of Chuuk State in Micronesia. The strain was gram-negative, rod-shaped, and non-motile and formed yellow colonies on the SWY agar (0.2 % yeast extract and 1.5 % agar in seawater) and Marine agar 2216. The strain grew at pH 5–9 (optimum, pH 8), at 15–40 °C (optimum, 25–28 °C), and with 1–9 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3 %). The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain S85^T was related to Lutibacter litoralis CL-TF09^T and Maritimimonas rapanae A31^T with 91.4 % and with 90.5 % similarity, respectively. The dominant fatty acids were iso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0 3-OH and iso-C_17:0 3-OH, C_16:0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH). The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C content of the type strain was 34.6 mol %. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown glycolipid and two unknown polar lipids. Based on this polyphasic taxonomic data, strain S85^T stands for a novel species of a new genus, and we propose the name Ochrovirga pacifica gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of O. pacifica is S85^T (=KCCM 90106 =JCM 18327^T).     

A combination of corn gluten and soybean meal as a substitute for fishmeal in diets of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus Linnaeus, 1758) in brackish water

This study was conducted to test the replacement of fishmeal (FM) with a combination of corn gluten meal (CGM)‐soybean meal (SBM) (at a ratio of 58 : 42, respectively) fortified with lysine, taurine and monocalcium phosphate (MCP) in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) diets. FM as the main protein source in the control diet (FM100) was replaced in 15% decrements while increasing the combination of replacement material: 85% FM (FM85), 70% FM (FM70), 55% FM (FM55) and 40% FM (FM40). The diets were fed to triplicate groups (n = 25 per group) for 9 weeks (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and salinity of 18.59 ± 0.06°C, 7.32 ± 0.02 mg L^?1, 7.73 ± 0.01 and 8.46 ± 0.04 g L^?1, respectively). Initial weight of fish was 286.1 ± 0.1 g. At the end of the experiment, growth, feed and nutrient utilization performance of fish fed FM85 and FM70 were similar to FM100, but a further increase in plant protein led to a significant reduction of these parameters. Whole body, fillet, viscera and liver nutrient compositions were not affected significantly; however, whole body lipid levels were significantly lower in fish on FM55 and FM40 than those on FM100. The fish in–fish out ratio in the diets decreased from 2.12 in FM100 to 1.00 in FM40. The results suggest that the FM level could be reduced by 30% with a combined use of CGM‐SBM supplemented with lysine, taurine and MCP.     

Evidence of endoplasmic reticulum stress and liver inflammation in the American mink Neovison vison with benign hepatic steatosis

We investigated the presence of inflammatory signs in the progression of fatty liver disease induced by fasting. Sixty standard black American mink (Neovison vison) were fasted for 0, 1, 3, 5, or 7 days and one group for 7 days followed by re-feeding for 28 days. Liver sections were evaluated histologically and liver mRNA levels indicating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, adipogenic transformation, and inflammation were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. After 3 days of fasting, the mink had developed moderate liver steatosis. Increased hyaluronan reactivity in lymphocytic foci but no Mallory–Denk bodies were seen in livers of the mink fasted for 5–7 days. Up-regulation of glucose-regulated protein, 78 kDa was observed on day 7 indicating ER stress, especially in the females. Liver lipoprotein lipase and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 mRNA levels increased in response to 5–7 days of food deprivation, while tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was the highest in the mink fasted for 5 days. The expression of the genes of interest, except for TNF-α, correlated with each other and with the liver fat content. The mRNA levels were found to change more rapidly below n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio threshold of 0.15. Following re-feeding, hepatocyte morphology and mRNA abundance returned to pre-fasting levels. Within the studied timeframe, evidence for ER stress, adipogenic transformation, and liver inflammation suggested incipient transition from steatosis to steatohepatitis with potential for development of more severe liver disease. This may present a possibility to influence disease progression before histologically observable steatohepatitis.     

Dietary Supplementation of Selenium-Enriched Probiotics Enhances Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gallus gallus domesticus</Emphasis>) Raised Under High Ambient Temperature

We investigated the effects of selenium-enriched probiotics (SP) on broiler meat quality under high ambient temperature and explore their underlying mechanisms. A total of 200 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to four treatment groups, each with five replicates, in groups of ten birds. These birds were fed a corn-soybean basal diet (C), a basal diet plus probiotics supplementation (P), a basal diet plus Se supplementation in the form of sodium selenite (SS, 0.30 mg Se/kg), and a basal diet with the addition of selenium-enriched probiotics (SP, 0.30 mg Se/kg). The experiment lasted for 42 days. The birds were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and the breast muscles were removed for further process. Our results showed that SP diet significantly increased (p < 0.05) the physical (pH, colors, water holding capacity, drip loss, shear force) and sensory characteristics of breast meat. All P, SS, and SP supplementation enhanced the antioxidant system by increasing (p < 0.05) the Se concentrations, glutathione (GSH) levels, activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) whereas decreasing (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, with SP being higher than P and SS. Moreover, SP diet significantly upregulated (p < 0.05) the mRNA levels of glutathione peroxidase genes (GPx1, GPx4) while it downregulated heat stress biomarkers such as heat shock protein (HSP) 70 as compared to C, P, and SS diets. In conclusion, our findings suggest that SP may function as beneficial nutritive supplement that is capable of improving meat quality during the summer season.     

Food consumption and retention time in captive whooping cranes (Grus americana)

Food consumption, digesta retention time, and food preference were measured for captive whooping cranes fed pelleted diets. The basal commercial diet was compared to four mixtures containing 70% basal and 30% of one of four important winter foods for the whooping crane: blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), wolfberry fruit (Lycium carolinianum), live oak acorn (Quercus virginiana), or common Rangia clam (Rangia cuneata). Because captive birds would not eat whole foods, we were prevented from direct food preference tests. Food passed through the gut rapidly, with almost complete elimination within 7 hr. There was some indication that retention time was shorter for the low fiber and high ash and calcium clam diet. Cranes ate less wolfberry feed (g/day) than the other feeds, and all birds ate less wolfberry feed on the day it was first fed, compared to basal diet the previous day. Birds ate more low energy feed than high energy feed. Due to combined effects of low energy content, lower metabolizable energy coefficients, and reduced feed consumption, less energy was assimilated for study diets than basal diet. Apparent shorter retention times for some diets containing whooping crane foods may partly explain lower digestibilities and metabolizable energy of winter whooping crane foods compared to commercial crane diet. Zoo Biol 16:519–531, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Copper Sulfate or Tribasic Copper Chloride on the Growth Performance, Liver Copper Concentrations of Broilers Fed in Floor Pens, and Stabilities of Vitamin E and Phytase in Feeds

An experiment was conducted using a total of 840, 1-day-old, Arbor Acres commercial male broilers to compare copper (Cu) sulfate and tribasic Cu chloride (TBCC, Cu₂(OH)₃Cl) as sources of supplemental Cu for broilers fed in floor pens. Chicks were randomly allotted to one of seven treatments for six replicate pens of 20 birds each, and were fed a basal corn–soybean meal diet (10.20 mg/kg Cu) supplemented with 0, 100, 150, or 200 mg/kg Cu from either Cu sulfate or TBCC for 21 days. Chicks fed 200 mg/kg Cu as TBCC had a higher (P?<?0.05) average daily gain (ADG) than those consuming other diets. Liver Cu contents of broilers fed diets supplemented with TBCC were numerically lower (P?>?0.05) than those of broilers fed diets supplemented with Cu sulfate. The vitamin E contents and the phytase activities in the feed fortified with TBCC were higher (P?<?0.01) and numerically higher (P?>?0.05) compared with those in the feeds fortified with Cu sulfate stored at room temperature, respectively. The vitamin E contents in liver and plasma of broilers fed diets supplemented with TBCC were higher (P?<?0.05) than those of birds fed diets supplemented with Cu sulfate. This result indicates that TBCC is more effective than Cu sulfate in improving the growth of broilers fed in floor pens, and it is chemically less active than Cu sulfate in promoting the undesirable oxidation of vitamin E in feeds.     

Comparative study of mycelia growth and sporophore yield of Auricularia polytricha (Mont.) Sacc on selected palm oil wastes as fruiting substrate

The potential for using agricultural and industrial by-products as substrate for the production of the edible mushroom, Auricularia polytricha, was evaluated using several formulations of selected palm oil wastes mixed with sawdust and further supplemented with selected nitrogen sources. The best substrate formulations were sawdust (SD) mixed with oil palm frond (OPF; 90:10) added with 15 % spent grain (SG) and sawdust mixed with empty fruit bunch (EFB; 50:50) added with 10 % spent grain (SG) with mycelia growth rate of 8 mm/day and 7 mm/day respectively. These two substrate formulations were then subjected to different moisture content levels (65 %, 75 % and 85 %). Highest total fresh sporophore yield at 0.43 % was obtained on SD?+?OPF (90:10)?+?15 % SG at 85 % moisture content, followed closely by SD?+?EFB (50:50)?+?10 % SG with 0.40 % total yield, also at 85 % moisture content. Each of the substrate formulations at 85 % moisture content gave the highest biological efficiency (BE) at 288.9 % and 260.7 %, respectively. Both yield and biological efficiency of A. polytricha on these two formulations were almost three times higher when compared to sawdust substrate alone, thus proving the potential of these formulations to improve yield of this mushroom.     

Influences of total sulfur amino acids and photoperiod on growth,carcass traits,blood parameters,meat quality and cecal microbial load of broilers

The current study aimed to discuss the impact of total sulfur amino acids (TSAA) %, photoperiod, and their interaction on growth performance, carcass and blood indices of broiler chicks. A total of 300 unsexed IR broiler chicks one-week old were used in a factorial arrangement (2 × 3), including two photoperiod systems (22 L: 2 D and 16 L: 8 D) and three experimental rations having three grades of Met + Cyst (TSAA) (70%, 85% and 100% of digestible lysine in starter and finisher diets). Results revealed that the higher LBW and BWG were noticed in birds given TSAA at grades of 1.1 or 0.90 % under 22L: 2D photoperiod at five weeks of age and the whole experimental period (1–5 weeks of age), respectively. The highest live body weight (LBW (and body weight gain (BWG) were recorded in birds received 1.1% TSAA under the long photoperiod compared to the control and the other groups. Birds fed 1.3% TSAA consumed more feed than the other groups. The opposite was found in birds fed 1.1% TSAA under the short photoperiod (16L: 8D). The best feed conversion (FCR) was detected by birds fed 1.1% and 0.90% TSAA diets during the whole experimental period. All carcass traits studied were significantly influenced by TSAA levels, except for the relative weights of abdominal fat and spleen. The interaction effect on was significant on all carcass traits except spleen %. In conclusion, the addition of TSAA at level 1.1 and 0.9 % to starter and finisher diets under a long photoperiod regime improved broiler’s performance, carcass traits, and blood parameters studied.     

Effects of dietary L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 at different supplemental ages on growth performance and some immune response in ascites-susceptible broilers

Abstract

Effects of dietary L-carnitine and coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) at different supplemental ages on performance and some immune response were investigated in ascites-susceptible broilers. A 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design was used consisting of L-carnitine supplementation (0, 75, and 100 mg/kg), CoQ₁₀ supplementation (0 and 40 mg/kg) and different supplemental ages (from day 1 on and from day 10 on). A total of 480 one-day-old Arbor Acre male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 12 groups, every group had five replicates, each with eight birds. The birds were fed a corn-soybean based diet for six weeks. From day 10 – 21, all the birds were exposed to a low ambient temperature (12 – 15°C) to increase the susceptibility to ascites. No significant effects were observed on growth performance by L-carnitine, CoQ₁₀ supplementation, and different supplemental ages. Packed cell volume was significantly decreased by L-carnitine supplementation alone, and ascites heart index and ascites mortality were decreased by L-carnitine, CoQ₁₀ supplementation alone, and L-carnitine + CoQ₁₀ supplementation together (p < 0.05). Heart index of broilers was significantly improved by L-carnitine, CoQ₁₀ supplementation alone during 0 – 3 week. Serum IgG content was improved by L-carnitine supplementation alone (p < 0.05), but lysozyme activity was increased by L-carnitine + CoQ₁₀ supplementation together (p < 0.05). A significant L-carnitine by supplemental age interaction was observed in lysozyme activity. L-carnitine supplementation alone had no effects on the peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) proliferation in response to concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysaccharide, but supplemental CoQ₁₀ alone and L-carnitine + CoQ₁₀ together decreased the PBL proliferation in response to ConA (p < 0.05). The present study suggested that L-carnitine + CoQ₁₀ supplementation together had positive effects on some immune response of ascites-susceptible broilers, which might benefit for the reduction of broilers' susceptibility to ascites.