Dietary Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Waste Inhibits Experimentally Induced Eimeria tenella Challenge in Japanese Quails Model.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of dietary 3% oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) waste in enhancing the anticoccidial effects in broilers challenged with Eimeria tenella infection. The experiment involved a total of 600 Japanese quails, raised from one to thirty-five days of age, which were divided into four treatment groups. These included a negative control group that received a basal diet (BD) without any anticoccidial or antibiotic supplementation in the non-challenged birds (negative control, NC); a positive control (PC) group consisting of NC birds challenged with E. tenella; a group that received the BD with an anticoccidial drug (standard); and a group that received the BD supplemented with 3% waste from oyster mushrooms (3% Pleurotus ostreatus). The results showed that the feed intake, body weight gain, and feed efficiency were significantly lower in the PC (p < 0.05). However, the growth traits were similar in the standard and 3% Pleurotus ostreatus-treated groups. Similarly, there was no difference (p < 0.05) in the mortality rate, oocyst count in the feces, and lesion score between the standard and 3% Pleurotus ostreatus groups. Based on intestinal histology evaluation, the villi height and width were significantly higher in the standard and 3% Pleurotus ostreatus-treated groups compared to those of the PC (p < 0.01). In conclusion, it was found that 3% Pleurotus ostreatus effectively mitigated the low growth rate of Japanese quails induced by coccidial infection.

Dietary tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil as alternative to antibiotics alleviates experimentally induced Eimeria tenella challenge in Japanese quails.

Coccidiosis is one of the most common infectious diseases seen in Japanese quails. The current study was conducted to evaluate the impact of tea tree essential oil (TTEO) on growth performance and intestinal health of quails in response to Eimeria tenella challenge. A total of 250 Japanese quails were divided into five treatments: untreated uninfected (negative control); untreated infected (positive control); infected + Amprolium; infected and 1% TTEO; infected and 2% TTEO. Except negative control, all groups were orally dosed with 5 × 104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella. The results revealed that supplementation of 1% TTEO and treatment of amprolium improved feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio in infected quails compared to the positive control. Similarly, lesion score and mortality was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced in quails supplemented with 2% TTEO and amprolium treated birds. Moreover, oocysts counts and histological features of caecum in infected birds were reversed in 1% TTEO and amprolium treatment. The histological findings of amprolium and 1% TTEO supplemented quails showed intact intestinal villi with mild sloughed epithelium. In conclusion, 1% TTEO can be safely used to control coccidiosis in Japanese quails as natural effective compound.

Feeding of Camelina sativa Seeds to Light-Type Gentile di Puglia Lambs: Effect on Productive Performance and Muscle Fatty Acid Composition.

The effect of different amounts of camelina (CAM; Camelina sativa) seeds in lambs of the Gentile di Puglia breed on growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality was investigated. Up to 70 days of age, twenty-four male lambs (13.0 ± 0.35 kg) were randomly assigned to three isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets. Pelleted total mixed rations (TMR) were created to provide: (1) a control diet (CON), (2) an experimental corn-based diet including 5% camelina (CAM5) seeds, and (3) an experimental corn-based diet containing 10% camelina (CAM10) seeds. The presence of CAM in the diet impacted lamb performance (p < 0.05), according to the results of a growth study. Lambs were slaughtered at the conclusion of the feeding period, and none of the carcass characteristics investigated were significantly affected by dietary treatment, with the exception of brisket and rib weight and carcass lean, which were improved (p < 0.05) in lambs fed the CAM diet. The color of lamb flesh from the Longissimus lumborum muscle was affected by CAM diets (p < 0.05), but the chemical content and physical characteristics did not differ across treatments (p > 0.05). The fatty acid composition of lamb meat in muscle was somewhat regulated by the experimental diets, with CAM feeding improving (p < 0.05) the level of linolenic acid and MUFA while reducing SFA and PUFA. As a result of the current data, it can be stated that camelina seed supplementation may be included in the lamb diet because no negative impacts on productivity, as well as an enhancement in meat quality, have been found.

Characteristics of rumen in Naemi lamb: Morphological changes in response to altered feeding regimen.

This study sought to chart the ontogenesis of rumen in Naemi lambs through histomorphometeric evaluation subjected to alfalfa hay in total mixed rations (TMR). A total of 40 growing healthy Naemi male lambs (28.85±1.09kg), at weaning (90±3days) was randomly distributed into four groups. One group was fed on TMR (control) only, while others were supplemented with restricted amount of alfalfa hay at the rate of 100g per day (T1), 200g once per two days (T2) and 300g once per three days (T3) in addition to ad libitum TMR. The results indicated that body weight and dry matter intake increased significantly in treated groups. Significantly higher (P<0.05) pH was recorded in all the treated groups after 8h of feeding. Similarly, the brightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness ((b*) of rumen was significantly higher (P<0.05) in treated groups. The papillary length, width and surface area of rumen were significantly (P<0.05) high in alfalfa supplemented groups. Iron (Fe) concentration in rumen tissue decreased significantly (P<0.05) in treated groups. We concluded that a dietary plan based on ad libitum TMR with the addition of alfalfa at the rate of aforementioned protocol not only enhanced feed intake and growth rate of the growing Naemi lambs but also improved the structural characteristics of the rumen.