Apple peel waste as a natural antioxidant for heat-stressed broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of processed apple peel waste (APW), alone or in combination with an enzyme, as a natural antioxidant on broiler chickens under heat stress. A total of 360 unsexed, 28-day-old broilers were assigned to 6 dietary treatments with four replicates (15 broilers per pen). The experiment consisted of a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with three levels of apple peel waste (0, 50 or 100 g/kg of diet) and two levels of enzyme (0 or 500 mg/kg, ZY Multi(®)). Inclusion of 100-g APW/kg of diet decreased broiler weight gain at 42 days of age. Inclusion of 50 and 100-g APW/kg of diet increased gizzard and small intestine weights. Feeding 50 and 100-g APW/kg increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and decreased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and malondialdehyde in blood serum at 49 days of age. At 49 days of age, apparent ileal protein digestibility was reduced when 50 and 100-g APW/kg were used in the diet. This study showed that feeding APW up to 50 g/kg from 28 to 49 days of age increased HDL cholesterol and decreased LDL cholesterol in serum and had no adverse effect on broiler performance.

Effects of different processing methods of flaxseed on ruminal degradability and in vitro post-ruminal nutrient disappearance.

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of different heat-processing methods of flaxseed on the in situ effective dry matter degradability (EDMD) and the in situ effective crude protein degradability (ECPD). The treatments included roasting, steep roasting, rolled roasting, rolled steep roasting, microwave irradiation and extrusion. Three rumen-fistulated sheep were used for in situ incubations. Furthermore, the effects of heat-processing methods on post-ruminal in vitro nutrient disappearance and total tract disappearance were measured by a three-step in vitro technique. The seeds were roasted and extruded at 140°C to 145°C. One lot of roasted seeds was gradually cooled for about 1 h (roasting) and another lot was held in temperature isolated barrels for 45 min (steep roasting). Moreover, roasted and steep roasted flaxseed was rolled in a roller mill. The lowest and highest EDMD was observed for unheated and extruded flaxseed, respectively (p < 0.05). The highest ECPD was observed for extruded flaxseed (p < 0.05). Roasting and microwave irradiation reduced ECPD of flaxseed (p < 0.05). In vitro post-ruminal disappearance of crude nutrients including fibre fractions was highest for rolled-roasted and rolled steep-roasted flaxseed (p < 0.05). The lowest and highest total tract disappearance rates of crude nutrients and fibre fractions were estimated for unheated and extruded flaxseed, respectively (p < 0.05). The post-ruminal disappearance of crude nutrients was also increased by roasting, in which rolling enhanced this effect. In conclusion, all investigated heat treatments had significant effects on in situ and in vitro degradability of nutrients. As well, rolling of roasted flaxseed enhanced the respective effects. Therefore, different methods of heat processing can be used to modify the feed value of flaxseed for specific purposes.

Simultaneous use of thyme essential oil and disodium fumarate can improve in vitro ruminal microbial fermentation characteristics.

Two trials were conducted to investigate the effects of disodium fumarate (DSF; 0.00, 8.00, 10.00 and 12.00 mM) and thyme essential oil (TEO; 0.00, 100.00, 200.00, 300.00 and 400.00 µL L-1) solely and simultaneously (10.00 mM DSF along with 100.00, 200.00, 300.00 and 400 µL L-1 TEO) on in vitro ruminal fermentation of a 50:50 alfalfa hay to concentrate diet. The DSF and TEO did not affect crude protein disappearance, gas production, microbial crude protein synthesis and hydrogen recovery. The DSF addition linearly increased partitioning factor (PF) and molar proportion of propionate and decreased acetate: propionate ratio and methane production. Moreover, 100.00 µL L-1 of TEO decreased ammonia nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids concentration and methane production and increased PF compared to the control. Results of the present study demonstrated that simultaneous use of DSF and TEO can cause a further decrease in methane production and linearly increase in the molar proportion of propionate and efficiency of feed use compared to DSF and TEO solely.