Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Rosemary Complex Powder on the Growth Performance of Native Chickens

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with rosemary complex powder on the growth performance of native chickens. In total, 180 one day-old native chicks were assigned to one of three dietary groups (60 birds each). The control group (Group A) received the basal diet. In addition to the basal diet, the two experimental diets (Groups B and C) were supplemented with 0.2% and 0.4% rosemary complex powder, which contained rosemary leaves, sweet basil, pineapple sage and sweet lavender. Over 19 weeks, feed intake was recorded to determine the average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. In weeks 10 and 15, blood samples were taken for serum antibody titer analysis. At the end of the experiment, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were examined. No differences were observed among the groups in terms of the starting weight, weight in week 19, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, or average feed conversion ratio. The addition of rosemary complex powder improved total weight gain by 1.52%. Serum IgA and serum IgG concentrations were significantly lower in the experimental groups in comparison to the control group (p<0.05). Villus height, villus width, crypt depth, and villus height/crypt depth ratio were significantly higher in group B than in group A (p<0.05). In summary, rosemary complex powder improved the intestinal absorption capacity of chickens and significantly reduced their immunoglobulin concentrations.(AU)

Effect of Supplementary Methionine on Feather Growth and Related Indicators of Pigeon Squabs

We assessed the effect of health sand dietary supplementation with methionine (Met) on White King pigeons. Paired pigeons (n = 180) were fed one of five diets; group T1 received no added Met, while T2, T3, T4 and T5 received 30, 60, 90 and 120 g of supplemental DL-Met/kg, respectively. Each treatment was replicated three times with 24 pairs in each replicate. The results showed that supplementary Met had a minor effect on the length of the fourth primary wing feather in 28-day-old squabs (p>0.05), but the length of 14-day-old squabs in T2 was significantly longer (p=0.010). Dietary Met had a minor effect on Wnt-7a and fibroblast growth factor receptors-2 (FGFR-2) mRNA levels in 28-day-old squabs (p>0.05). The IGF-1 concentration in plasma was highest in T4 and lowest in T2 (p=0.012), but there was no difference between T1, T2 and T5 (p>0.05). In the chest muscle, the expression of IGF-1 in T3 and T4 was higher than in T1 (p=0.172 and 0.015, respectively). In the leg muscle, IGF-1 mRNA level was higher in T4 and T3, and lower in T2 (p>0.05). The results indicate that the optimal Met supplement for increasing fourth primary wing feather length was 30 g/kg Met in health sand, and the feathers were the longest in 14-day-old squabs. Adding 90 g/kg Met to health sand can improve the concentration of IGF-1, which is important for growth performance of pigeon squabs.(AU)

Effect of Supplementary Methionine on Feather Growth and Related Indicators of Pigeon Squabs

We assessed the effect of health sand dietary supplementation with methionine (Met) on White King pigeons. Paired pigeons (n = 180) were fed one of five diets; group T1 received no added Met, while T2, T3, T4 and T5 received 30, 60, 90 and 120 g of supplemental DL-Met/kg, respectively. Each treatment was replicated three times with 24 pairs in each replicate. The results showed that supplementary Met had a minor effect on the length of the fourth primary wing feather in 28-day-old squabs (p>0.05), but the length of 14-day-old squabs in T2 was significantly longer (p=0.010). Dietary Met had a minor effect on Wnt-7a and fibroblast growth factor receptors-2 (FGFR-2) mRNA levels in 28-day-old squabs (p>0.05). The IGF-1 concentration in plasma was highest in T4 and lowest in T2 (p=0.012), but there was no difference between T1, T2 and T5 (p>0.05). In the chest muscle, the expression of IGF-1 in T3 and T4 was higher than in T1 (p=0.172 and 0.015, respectively). In the leg muscle, IGF-1 mRNA level was higher in T4 and T3, and lower in T2 (p>0.05). The results indicate that the optimal Met supplement for increasing fourth primary wing feather length was 30 g/kg Met in health sand, and the feathers were the longest in 14-day-old squabs. Adding 90 g/kg Met to health sand can improve the concentration of IGF-1, which is important for growth performance of pigeon squabs.