Selenium content of livers from sex-linked dwarf and normal broiler breeders

Plasma concentrations of cGH, T₃, and T₄ were not different between dwarf and normal broiler breeders. Normal hens had a liver selenium content of 710±35 ng/g, and dwarf hens 656 ±nine ng/g (n=8). Following injections into a wing vein of different doses (1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 24 μg/kg) of the hypothalamic hormone TRH, GH was increased after 15 min. This effect seemed to last longer in dwarf chickens. Plasma concentrations of T₃ increased significantly 1 h after TRH in normal hens, but TRH was ineffective in raising T₃ levels in dwarf animals. The selenium content of livers obtained following decapitation after 2 h was also increased in normal hens up to 902±42 ng/g using the highest dose of TRH (24 μg/kg). This seemed not to be the case for dwarf animals. A much smaller. number of hepatic cGH receptors was also found in dwarf hens, whereas the affinity of the hepatic GH receptor was not influenced by the genotype. It is concluded that the sex-linked dwarf hens are unable to increase their hepatic T₄ into T₃ conversion following a TRH challenge probably because of a deficiency in hepatic GH receptors. The lower content of selenium in dwarfs and their inability to increase its uptake after TRH seem therefore to support the hypothesis that selenium has a direct role in the activity of the 5′-deiodinase complex.     

蛋氨酸羟基类似物对肉鸡骨骼性能和基因表达的影响

本文以雄性罗斯肉鸡为材料,探讨饲粮添加不同蛋氨酸源:蛋氨酸(DLM)、蛋氨酸羟基类似物(HMTBA)和蛋氨酸羟基类似物钙盐(HMTB-Ca)对肉鸡骨骼性能和基因表达的影响。结果表明,HMTBA和HMTB-Ca能提高肉鸡终体重、日增重、血液GSH/GSSG比值、抗氧化酶(CAT)水平、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、骨骼长度、重量、骨骼指数(p<0.05)。不同蛋氨酸源对肉仔鸡采食量、料重比和灰分含量影响不显著(p>0.05),HMTBA组骨生长分化因子-5(GDF-5)表达量显著上升(p<0.05)。HMTB-Ca显著提高骨骼强度、钙磷含量,下调金属基质蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)、金属基质蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)的表达水平(p<0.05)。由此可知,采食蛋氨酸羟基类似物及其钙盐饲粮,可提高肉鸡体增重,改善血液氧化还原状态,改善骨骼生长发育,其中HMTB-Ca对骨骼作用更显著。     

凝结芽胞杆菌BC01对白羽肉鸡生产性能、免疫器官指数及肠道大肠埃希菌的影响

为研究在饲料中添加凝结芽胞杆菌BC01对白羽肉鸡生产性能、免疫器官指数及肠道大肠埃希菌的影响,将240只白羽肉鸡随机分为4组,试验组1、试验组2、试验组3在饲料中添加凝结芽胞杆菌BC01的终浓度分别为1×10~8、2×10~8、3×10~8 cfu/kg,对照组日粮中不添加任何微生态制剂,饲养6周。结果显示,日粮中添加凝结芽胞杆菌BC01可显著提高肉鸡平均日增重(P0.05),显著降低料重比(P0.05),降低死淘率(P0.05),胸腺指数、法氏囊指数均显著高于对照组(P0.05),降低肠道中的大肠埃希菌数量。结果表明,日粮中添加凝结芽胞杆菌BC01,对肉鸡的生长性能有一定的促进作用,提高饲料转化率,提升肉鸡的免疫力,提高肉鸡饲养的经济价值。凝结芽胞杆菌BC01的最佳添加浓度为每公斤饲料添加2×10~8 cfu/kg。     

An optimal dietary non-phytate phosphorus level of broilers fed a conventional corn–soybean meal diet from 4 to 6 weeks of age

It is imperative to evaluate precise nutrient requirements of animals in order to optimize productivity and minimize feed cost and nutrient excretions. The current non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) recommendation for broilers is based on the papers published 30 years ago. However, today’s commercial birds are quite different from those before 30 years. Therefore, the present experiment was conducted with growing male broiler chickens to evaluate an optimal dietary NPP level of broiler chickens fed a conventional corn–soybean meal diet from 4 to 6 weeks of age. The 1-day-old chicks were fed corn–soybean meal diet containing 0.39% NPP from 1 to 3 weeks of age. At 22 days of age, 360 birds were selected and randomly allotted by BW to one of 10 dietary treatments with six replicate cages of six birds per cage for each treatment. Birds were fed the P-unsupplemented corn–soybean meal basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with inorganic P as CaHPO₄·H₂O ranging from 0.00% to 0.45% with 0.05% increment from 4 to 6 weeks of age. The dietary NPP levels were 0.09%, 0.14%, 0.20%, 0.24%, 0.30%, 0.34%, 0.38%, 0.45%, 0.49% and 0.54%, respectively, and the dietary Ca level was fixed at 0.90% for all treatments. The results showed that average daily gain, serum inorganic P concentration, tibia bone strength, tibia ash percentage and P percentage, tibia bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD), middle toe ash percentage and P percentage, middle toe BMC, total body BMC and BMD were affected (P<0.0001) by dietary NPP level, and increased linearly (P<0.0001) and quadratically (P<0.003) as dietary NPP levels increased. Optimal dietary NPP levels estimated based on fitted broken-line models (P<0.0001) of the above indices are 0.21%, 0.29%, 0.29%, 0.29%, 0.29%, 0.31%, 0.29%, 0.30%, 0.27%, 0.29% and 0.28%, respectively. It is suggested that the total body BMC and BMD, and middle toe ash P and BMC might be new, sensitive and non-invasive criteria to evaluate the dietary NPP requirements of broilers. The optimal dietary NPP level would be 0.31% for broiler chickens fed a conventional corn–soybean meal diet from 4 to 6 weeks of age.     

Digestibility and energy value of cereal-based diets in relation to digesta viscosity and retention time in turkeys and chickens at different ages estimated with different markers

Digesta viscosity, ileal transit time of digesta, apparent ileal protein digestibility and apparent metabolisable energy (AME_N) of diets based on wheat and dehulled barley (WB), oats (O) or a mixture of these (WBO) fed as such or with enzyme supplementation in three- and six-week old turkeys and broilers were investigated. In addition, differences between ileal digestibility and AME_N calculated by using titanium dioxide (TiO₂), chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃) or acid insoluble ash (AIA) as indigestible markers were compared. Digesta viscosities were generally moderate reaching from 2.5 mPa · s to 7.3 mPa · s. The highest viscosities were observed in WBO diets. Viscosities were reduced with age in broilers, and were generally higher in turkeys than in broilers, especially at six weeks of age. Digesta retention time in ileum was elongated with age of the birds, pronouncedly in broilers. Oat inclusion to the diets decreased retention time especially in broilers at six weeks of age. Apparent ileal digestibility of protein ranged from 0.64–0.83, was lower at six weeks of age than at three weeks of age and generally lowest in O diets, especially in turkeys. AME_N of the diets ranged from 11.2–13.4 MJ/kg being higher at six weeks of age than at three weeks of age. AME_N of Diets O was the lowest but AME_N of WBO diets was higher than that of WB diets indicating a synergistic interaction of cereals, this trend being more pronounced in broilers. Enzyme supplementation decreased viscosity and improved AME_N in most diets, but did not affect ileal protein digestibility. Differences between ileal digestibility estimates obtained with TiO₂ or Cr₂O₃ were small and mainly not significantly different from 0. AME_N estimates were generally higher when calculated with Cr₂O₃ than with TiO₂. AIA gave remarkably lower AME_N values than TiO₂ (the significant differences ranging from 0.24–0.94 MJ/kg). In addition, effects of markers on AME_N estimates interacted with age of the birds and dietary treatments.     

Influence of an aqueous extract of Ligustrum lucidum and an ethanol extract of Schisandra chinensis on parameters of antioxidative metabolism and spleen lymphocyte proliferation of broilers

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with different levels of two extracts, an aqueous extract of Ligustrum lucidum (AELL), and an ethanol extract of Schisandra chinensis (EESC) on growth performance, parameters of antioxidative status and spleen lymphocyte proliferation of broilers, respectively. The results showed that neither AELL nor EESC had significant effects on growth performance of broilers. However, malondialdehyde concentration in heart and liver of the broilers were significantly decreased by feeding AELL or EESC. Superoxide dismutase activity in heart, liver, and kidney of broilers were improved by feeding different dosages of AELL or EESC. In contrast, glutathione reductase activity in serum, heart and kidney of broilers was not affected by experimental treatment. In addition, spleen lymphocyte proliferation of broilers was significantly enhanced by feeding different dosages of AELL or EESC. In conclusion, the results suggested that either AELL or EESC may improve antioxidant status and immune function of broilers.     

Effect of extrusion on the nutritional value of peas for broiler chickens

The study was conducted to investigate the nutritional value of five samples of raw and extruded pea seeds (Pisum sativum L., Tarachalska cv.) from different experimental fields. The study included 150 male 1-day-old Ross 308 chickens, which were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (50 replications each) and kept in individual cages. From days 1 to 16, all birds received only the basal diets. From days 17 to 21, the control group received still the basal diet, but for the two other groups, 20% of basal diet was replaced by raw or extruded peas. Furthermore, the groups receiving raw or extruded peas were divided into five subgroups of 10 animals each, where the diets contained one of the five pea samples of the same cultivar grown at different locations, respectively. On days 19 and 20, excreta were individually collected, and then all chickens were sacrificed and ileal digesta were sampled for determination of ileal digestibility, which was calculated by the difference method. Extrusion of pea seeds decreased the contents of crude fibre, acid and neutral detergent fibre, trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA), phytic P and resistant starch (RS) (p ≤ 0.05), but increased the contents of apparent metabolisable energy (AME_N) by approximately 2.25 MJ/kg dry matter (DM). Furthermore, extrusion improved the DM and crude protein digestibility significantly by about 21.3% and 11.6%, respectively. Similar results were observed for the digestibility of all analysed amino acids. In conclusion, extrusion markedly influenced the chemical composition of peas, reduced their contents of phytic P, TIA and RS and consequently had a positive impact on nutrient digestibility and AME_N values.     

生理盐水实验性干预对肉鸡盲肠微生物区系和短链脂肪酸含量的影响

目的研究生理盐水实验性干预对肉鸡盲肠微生物区系和短链脂肪酸含量的影响,以期为早期菌群干预实验的研究提供一定的理论依据。方法选取80只初出壳的小鸡,随机分为2组,分别为对照组(C组)和生理盐水组(S组)。出壳后前2 d,连续每天给S组小鸡灌服0.5 mL灭菌的生理盐水,C组不做处理。第3天,第7天于两组分别随机挑选8只鸡,测定其体重后屠宰取其盲肠内容物,采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术对盲肠内容物菌群结构进行测定,并用气相色谱法测定盲肠内容物中短链脂肪酸的含量。结果生理盐水实验性干预对肉鸡早期阶段的平均日增重无显著影响(P>0.05)。在门的水平上,两组肉鸡盲肠菌群占比基本相似,厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)为早期肉鸡肠道内的优势菌门。在属的水平,3日龄时S组肉鸡盲肠中拟杆菌属(Bacteroides)和蓝细菌属(Cyanobacteria_norank)的相对丰度较C组分别提高了160%和143%(P<0.05);7日龄时,两组间盲肠菌属的相对丰度无显著差异。此外,生理盐水实验性干预可极显著降低3日龄肉鸡盲肠内容物中乙酸、丁酸和异戊酸的含量(P<0.01),但7日龄时两组肉鸡盲肠内容物中短链脂肪酸的含量无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论生理盐水实验性干预会对3日龄肉鸡盲肠菌群结构及短链脂肪酸含量产生一定的影响,但这种影响不具有持续性,随着日龄的增加会逐渐消失。     

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.     

Effect of different levels of rapeseed meal and sunflower meal and enzyme combination on the performance,digesta viscosity and carcass traits of broiler chickens fed wheat-based diets

The aim of the present experiment was to examine the effect of different levels of rapeseed meal (RSM) and sunflower meal (SFM) and enzyme combination (endoxylanase and β-glucanase) on the production performance, carcass quality, gizzard development and digesta viscosity of broiler chickens. The experimental design was a 3×2 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating three diet types containing different levels of RSM and SFM (low (L), medium (M) and high (H)) and two levels of enzyme inclusion (0 or 100 g/tonne diet to provide 1220 U xylanase and 152 U β-glucanase per kg diet). Broiler starter and grower/finisher diets were formulated, based on wheat and soya bean meal and containing 50, 50 and 80 g/kg RSM and 0, 50 and 60 g/kg SFM for L, M and H treatments, respectively, during starter period and 80, 80 and 120 g/kg RSM and 0, 80 and 100 g/kg SFM for L, M and H, respectively, during grower/finisher period, and each diet was fed ad libitum to eight pens of 20 male broilers each. During the starter period (1 to 21 days), birds fed the H treatment had lower (P<0.05) BW gain (BWG) compared with those fed the L and M treatments. Diet type also influenced (P<0.05) feed intake (FI). Feeding the H treatment reduced (P<0.05) FI compared with the M treatment. Diet type and enzyme supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed conversion ratio (FCR). During the grower/finisher phase (22 to 42 day) and over the entire period (1 to 42 day) birds fed the H treatment had lower (P<0.05) BWG and higher (P<0.05) FCR compared with those fed the L and M diets. Enzyme supplementation improved (P<0.05) FCR compared with the unsupplemented diets. No interactions (P>0.05) between RSM and SFM inclusion level and enzyme supplementation were observed for any of the measured parameters at any period. Diet type and enzyme supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on carcass traits, abdominal fat pad, breast meat yield and jejunal digesta viscosity. Diet type influenced (P=0.05) relative empty gizzard weight, where the H treatment had higher relative empty gizzard weight compared with the L treatment. Enzyme supplementation tended (P=0.10) to increase relative empty gizzard weight. The present data suggest that high inclusion of SFM and RSM negatively influenced broiler performance. Enzyme supplementation improved FCR at all levels of RSM and SFM included in this study, but did not recover the reduction in weight gain caused by high inclusion of RSM and SFM.