Effects of Supplementation of Zinc, Manganese, or Copper and Different Phytase Levels in Serum and Bone Acid and Alkaline Phosphatases of Broiler Chicks

The knowledge of biological trace minerals and phytase requirements for modern broiler genotypes is not established and the pressure to reduce their usage in animal feeding due to environmental issues is increasing. Here, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) of the tibia and serum of broilers fed with diets containing various levels of phytase and reduced levels of zinc, manganese, and copper was evaluated. The experiment was performed using 1,200 male Cobb broilers raised according to standard commercial husbandry techniques. Data were analyzed as a 4×3 factorial arrangement with four concentrations of zinc (0.34, 0.49, 0.64, and 0.79 ppm), manganese (0.18, 0.43, 0.68, and 0.93 ppm), or copper (0.09, 0.12, 0.15, and 0.18 ppm) and three concentrations of phytase (0, 500, and 1,000 FTU/kg) for age periods of 1-21 and 36-42 days. While the dietary supplementation with copper did not induce a significant effect in bone tissue biochemical markers, serum TRAP activity of 42-day old broilers increased with higher copper levels. Increasing dietary zinc levels linearly increased ALP activity in tibia growth, suggesting that zinc is essential for longitudinal bone growth. Phytase significantly promoted the increase of TRAP and ALP activities, suggesting that manganese increased growth plate activity, accelerated calcification, and remodeled the newly formed tissue into trabecular bone. Although not every enzymatic activity was affected by the treatments, the phytase use, along with trace minerals, improved the animal response to the rapid growth required nowadays and provided the nutrients for adequate bone metabolism.(AU)

Potential of Soy Gum Emulsification in Starter Diets for Broiler Chickens

This study evaluated the viability of using soy gum (residue from soy processing to obtain degummed oil) as an emulsifier in starter diets for broilers (1 to 21 days). For this, 600 1-day-old male broilers (Cobb® 500) were randomly assigned in a factorial arrangement (3 x 4), with three levels of gum inclusion (0, 1.25, and 2.5%) and four levels of soybean oil (0,1.3, 2.6, and 3.9%), with 5 replicates of 10 birds each. At 7, 14, and 21 days of age, we analyzed the performance parameters, pancreatic lipase activity and digestibility coefficients. Inclusion of soy gum improved (p<0.05) the performance and the digestibility coefficient of the ether extract, increased (p<0.05) the levels of AME and AMEn. The higher inclusion of gum (2.5%) as an emulsifier resulted in improved performance, showing the best values of feed conversion, with increased ether extract digestibility, increased AME content of the diets, and a lower requirement for pancreatic lipase in micelle formation.(AU)

In vitro ovicidal and larvicidal activity of Psidium cattleianum Sabine leaves against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep / Atividade ovicida e larvicida in vitro das folhas de Psidium cattleianum Sabine contra nematódeos gastrintestinais de ovinos

Gastrointestinal nematodes can affect sheep productivity via severe weight loss, anemia and death. Infection control is generally performed with synthetic anthelmintic compounds; however, indiscriminate use of these drugs can stimulate the emergence of resistant nematodes. Thus, alternatives to the use of synthetic anthelmintic compounds have been proposed, such as the inclusion of medicinal plants in animal feed. The objective of this study was evaluate the anthelmintic activity of the leaves of the medicinal plant Psidium cattleianum Sabine (Araçá) through its hydroalcoholic extract, and using in vitro assays with the eggs and larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes obtained from naturally infected donor sheep. The extract exhibited good in vitro ovicidal and larvicidal activity, with IC50 values of 0.55 mg mL-1 for egg hatching inhibition, 0.20 mg mL-1 for larval development inhibition and an efficiency greater than 80% in the inhibition of larval migration at all concentrations evaluated (IC50 < 0.19 mg/mL). Phytochemical analysis detected higher concentrations of saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones and tannins in the extract. Our results demonstrated that the Psidium cattleianum Sabine’s leaves exhibit in vitro anthelmintic activity, which suggests that in addition to its other medicinal properties, this plant can help control gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. Future in vivo assays should be performed to confirm antiparasitic efficacy.

Os nematódeos gastrintestinais podem afetar a produtividade dos ovinos por meio de perda de peso severa, anemia e morte. O controle de infecção é geralmente realizado com compostos anti-helmínticos sintéticos; entretanto, o uso indiscriminado dessas drogas pode estimular o surgimento de nematódeos resistentes. Assim, alternativas ao uso de compostos anti-helmínticos sintéticos têm sido propostas, como a inclusão de plantas medicinais na alimentação animal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade anti-helmíntica das folhas da planta medicinal Psidium cattleianum Sabine (Araçá) através de seu extrato hidroalcoólico, e utilizar ensaios in vitro com os ovos e larvas de nematódeos obtidos de ovelhas doadoras naturalmente infectadas. O extrato exibiu boa atividade ovicida e larvicida in vitro, com CI50 de 0,55 mg mL-1 para inibição da eclosão de ovos, 0,20 mg mL-1 para inibição do desenvolvimento larval e eficiência superior a 80% na inibição da migração larval em todas as concentrações avaliadas (CI50< 0,19 mg mL-1). A análise fitoquímica detectou maiores concentrações de saponinas, flavonoides, glicosídeos cardíacos, antraquinonas e taninos no extrato. Nossos resultados demonstraram que o extrato das folhas de Psidium cattleianum Sabine exibe atividade anti-helmíntica in vitro, o que sugere que, além de outras propriedades medicinais, esta planta pode ajudar no controle de nematódeos gastrintestinais em ovinos. Futuros ensaios in vivo devem ser realizados para confirmar a eficácia antiparasitária.

Performance and Serum Biochemical Profile of Broiler Chickens Supplemented with Piper Cubeba Ethanolic Extract

Piper cubeba is an Asian pepper used in popular medicine for its known antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and anti-inflammatory actions. The study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of Piper cubeba ethanolic extract (PE) as a replacement for anantibiotic growth promoter (AGP) on the performance and biochemical serum profile of 1- to 21-d-old broilers (Cobb®). Two hundred one-d-old broilers were housed in experimental battery cages and distributed in a completely randomized design. The following treatments were applied: negative control (NC) - basal diet; positive control (PC) - basal diet with addition of AGP; and the basal diet with inclusion of 0.17%, 0.34%, and 0.52% of PE (NCE1, NCE2, and NCE3, respectively). Growth performance, biochemical serum profile and internal organ weights were evaluated. Birds fed the AGP presented higher feed intake compared with the other treatments (p 0.05). The PC, NC, and NCE1 treatments presented higher weight gain compared with those fed NCE2 and NCE3 (p 0.05). The NC, NCE1, and NCE2 diets promoted better feed conversion ratio than the PC and NCE3 (p 0.05). Lower triglyceride serum levels were determined in broilers fed the NC and NCE1 diets. Amylase serum levels were lower in NCE1 and NCE2 treatments compared with the NC (p 0.05), whereas those obtained with the PC and NCE3 diets were not different (p>0.05) from the others. Organ relative weights were not influenced by the treatments. The inclusion of 0.17% of PE did not compromise the growth performance, biochemical serum profile or organ relative weights of 21-d-old broilers.(AU)

In vitro ovicidal and larvicidal activity of Psidium cattleianum Sabine leaves against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep / Atividade ovicida e larvicida in vitro das folhas de Psidium cattleianum Sabine contra nematódeos gastrintestinais de ovinos

Gastrointestinal nematodes can affect sheep productivity via severe weight loss, anemia and death. Infection control is generally performed with synthetic anthelmintic compounds; however, indiscriminate use of these drugs can stimulate the emergence of resistant nematodes. Thus, alternatives to the use of synthetic anthelmintic compounds have been proposed, such as the inclusion of medicinal plants in animal feed. The objective of this study was evaluate the anthelmintic activity of the leaves of the medicinal plant Psidium cattleianum Sabine (Araçá) through its hydroalcoholic extract, and using in vitro assays with the eggs and larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes obtained from naturally infected donor sheep. The extract exhibited good in vitro ovicidal and larvicidal activity, with IC50 values of 0.55 mg mL-1 for egg hatching inhibition, 0.20 mg mL-1 for larval development inhibition and an efficiency greater than 80% in the inhibition of larval migration at all concentrations evaluated (IC50 < 0.19 mg/mL). Phytochemical analysis detected higher concentrations of saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones and tannins in the extract. Our results demonstrated that the Psidium cattleianum Sabines leaves exhibit in vitro anthelmintic activity, which suggests that in addition to its other medicinal properties, this plant can help control gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. Future in vivo assays should be performed to confirm antiparasitic efficacy.(AU)

Os nematódeos gastrintestinais podem afetar a produtividade dos ovinos por meio de perda de peso severa, anemia e morte. O controle de infecção é geralmente realizado com compostos anti-helmínticos sintéticos; entretanto, o uso indiscriminado dessas drogas pode estimular o surgimento de nematódeos resistentes. Assim, alternativas ao uso de compostos anti-helmínticos sintéticos têm sido propostas, como a inclusão de plantas medicinais na alimentação animal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade anti-helmíntica das folhas da planta medicinal Psidium cattleianum Sabine (Araçá) através de seu extrato hidroalcoólico, e utilizar ensaios in vitro com os ovos e larvas de nematódeos obtidos de ovelhas doadoras naturalmente infectadas. O extrato exibiu boa atividade ovicida e larvicida in vitro, com CI50 de 0,55 mg mL-1 para inibição da eclosão de ovos, 0,20 mg mL-1 para inibição do desenvolvimento larval e eficiência superior a 80% na inibição da migração larval em todas as concentrações avaliadas (CI50< 0,19 mg mL-1). A análise fitoquímica detectou maiores concentrações de saponinas, flavonoides, glicosídeos cardíacos, antraquinonas e taninos no extrato. Nossos resultados demonstraram que o extrato das folhas de Psidium cattleianum Sabine exibe atividade anti-helmíntica in vitro, o que sugere que, além de outras propriedades medicinais, esta planta pode ajudar no controle de nematódeos gastrintestinais em ovinos. Futuros ensaios in vivo devem ser realizados para confirmar a eficácia antiparasitária.(AU)

Performance and Serum Biochemical Profile of Broiler Chickens Supplemented with Piper Cubeba Ethanolic Extract

Piper cubeba is an Asian pepper used in popular medicine for its known antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and anti-inflammatory actions. The study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of Piper cubeba ethanolic extract (PE) as a replacement for anantibiotic growth promoter (AGP) on the performance and biochemical serum profile of 1- to 21-d-old broilers (Cobb®). Two hundred one-d-old broilers were housed in experimental battery cages and distributed in a completely randomized design. The following treatments were applied: negative control (NC) - basal diet; positive control (PC) - basal diet with addition of AGP; and the basal diet with inclusion of 0.17%, 0.34%, and 0.52% of PE (NCE1, NCE2, and NCE3, respectively). Growth performance, biochemical serum profile and internal organ weights were evaluated. Birds fed the AGP presented higher feed intake compared with the other treatments (p 0.05). The PC, NC, and NCE1 treatments presented higher weight gain compared with those fed NCE2 and NCE3 (p 0.05). The NC, NCE1, and NCE2 diets promoted better feed conversion ratio than the PC and NCE3 (p 0.05). Lower triglyceride serum levels were determined in broilers fed the NC and NCE1 diets. Amylase serum levels were lower in NCE1 and NCE2 treatments compared with the NC (p 0.05), whereas those obtained with the PC and NCE3 diets were not different (p>0.05) from the others. Organ relative weights were not influenced by the treatments. The inclusion of 0.17% of PE did not compromise the growth performance, biochemical serum profile or organ relative weights of 21-d-old broilers.

Performance, carcass traits, and body composition of broilers fed different linseed oil levels between 21 and 56 days of age

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of different linseed oil levels (0.0, 3.3, 6.6, or 9.9%) in iso-energy diets fed during the period of 21 to 56 days of age on the performance, carcass traits, and body composition of broilers. A total of 1,600 broilers were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design consisting of four treatments with eight replicates of 40 birds per experimental unit. In the period of 21-42 days of age, weight gain increased, feed and calorie conversion ratios quadratically improved, and feed and metabolizable energy intakes linearly increased as dietary linseed oil level increased. Considering the entire experimental period, dietary linseed oil linearly increased weight gain and feed and energy intakes, and feed and calorie conversion ratios in a quadratic manner. On days 42 and 56, abdominal fat percentage and carcass yield were quadratically influenced by dietary linseed oil. Total body fat content at 56 days of age was quadratically influenced by dietary linseed levels.

Performance, carcass traits, and body composition of broilers fed different linseed oil levels between 21 and 56 days of age

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of different linseed oil levels (0.0, 3.3, 6.6, or 9.9%) in iso-energy diets fed during the period of 21 to 56 days of age on the performance, carcass traits, and body composition of broilers. A total of 1,600 broilers were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design consisting of four treatments with eight replicates of 40 birds per experimental unit. In the period of 21-42 days of age, weight gain increased, feed and calorie conversion ratios quadratically improved, and feed and metabolizable energy intakes linearly increased as dietary linseed oil level increased. Considering the entire experimental period, dietary linseed oil linearly increased weight gain and feed and energy intakes, and feed and calorie conversion ratios in a quadratic manner. On days 42 and 56, abdominal fat percentage and carcass yield were quadratically influenced by dietary linseed oil. Total body fat content at 56 days of age was quadratically influenced by dietary linseed levels.(AU)