Comparative evaluation of different moulting methods on productive performance, egg quality, and antibody response of leghorn hens.

The aim of the study was to compare three moulting procedures and their effect on productive performance, egg quality, and antibody response of leghorn hens. For this, a total of 324 laying hens were distributed into three treatment groups having 12 replicates of 9 birds each according to completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of three moulting procedures based on feed and light restriction. The targeted weight at the end of moulting was 1450-1470 g. As soon as the moulting procedure is complete, the comparative analysis of post-moult productive performance (feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed per dozen eggs, feed per kg egg mass, livability), egg quality characteristics (egg weight, egg length and width, shape index, surface area, volume, albumen height, weight, Haugh unit score, yolk width, height, index, egg shell pore number, shell weight, thickness, breaking strength), and antibody response against Newcastle disease and avian influenza (H-9) were evaluated. Birds subjected to moulting procedure 3 (8 days fasting and gradual decrease in light) showed improvement in productive performance, egg geometry and quality traits, and antibody response against Newcastle disease virus. Birds experienced moulting procedure 1 (11 days fasting) had improved feed intake, egg production, and livability. However, birds moulted with procedure 2 (6 days fasting) revealed intermediate result in all the studied parameters. In conclusion, moulting through feed and light restriction with 8 days fasting and gradual reduction in light has potential to improve performance of leghorn hens.

Impact of different light intensities to Japanese quail eggs on hatching results and post-hatch performance.

The study aims to evaluate dichromatic light with different intensities during incubation on pre- and post-hatch performance of Japanese quail. In completely randomized design, 600 quail hatching eggs were evenly divided into 4 treatments, 3 replicates, and 50 eggs in each. These eggs were provided with lighted incubation [dichromatic light; green-red (GR) with three different intensities 150, 250, and 350 lx] with lighting schedule (12L: 12D), and one treatment was the complete dark period during incubation and considered as control group. After hatch, 300 quail chicks were equally divided into four treatments (3 replicates and 25 chicks in each). Effects of GR light with different intensities during incubation were evaluated on hatching traits and post-hatch performance of Japanese quails. Regarding hatching traits, hatchability was better in all the treated groups (150, 250, and 350 lx of GR light during incubation) compared to complete dark. In terms of embryonic mortality, early embryonic mortality was lower in the 250 lx group, mid embryonic mortality in dark, and late embryonic mortality in the 150 lx group. Furthermore, an ideal chick spread and growth performance (weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and liveability) was reported in 250 lx group compared to other treated groups. Serum chemistry values were higher in dark group compared to 150, 250, and 350 lx groups. Pre-slaughter weight was higher in 250 and 350 lx group than 150 lx and dark group, whereas carcass weight was better in 350 lx group compared to dark. In conclusion, stimulation of dichromatic light (green + red) at 250 lx to Japanese quail eggs positively influenced hatching traits and post-hatch growth performance of Japanese quail.

Interactive effect of amino acids balanced at ideal lysine ratio and exogenous protease supplemented to low CP diet on growth performance, carcass traits, gut morphology, and serum metabolites in broiler chicken.

This study evaluated the effect of amino acids balanced at a specific lysine ratio with exogenous protease supplementation and reduced CP levels in the broiler diet. In total, 480 straight-run broiler chicks (Ross-308) were used for the study. A completely randomized design in the factorial arrangement was applied, with 4 treatments of 6 replicates with 20 birds each. Treatments consisted of 2 lysine ratios (100% and 110%; factor 1) without or with exogenous protease supplementation (200 g/ton; factor 2). Twenty percent reduction of CP from standard requirements of Ross-308 (18.4% vs 23% in starter and 17.2% vs 21.5% in grower phase) was made in all the treatment diets. Growth performance (feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, livability), carcass traits (live and carcass weight, carcass yield, heart, liver, gizzard, leg quarter, breast weight, and abdominal fat percentage), gut morphology (villus height, crypt depth, and villus height and crypt depth ratio), and serum metabolites (total protein, albumin, and uric acid) were evaluated. A significant interaction (p ≤ 0.05) for lysine ratio and protease was noted in body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass traits, and gut morphology throughout the experimental period yet a non-significant (p > 0.05) influence was observed on serum metabolites. It was concluded that the broiler diet with a net reduction of 20% CP from Ross-308 standards, balanced for amino acids at lysine ratio 110% and supplemented with exogenous protease, could be used to improve growth performance, intestinal health, and carcass traits.

Effects of mirror and coloured balls as environmental enrichment tools on performance, welfare and meat quality traits of commercial broiler.

This study evaluated the effect of environmental enrichment on the performance, behaviour and welfare aspects; blood biochemistry; carcass and meat quality traits of broiler chickens. A total of 450 straight run broiler chicks (Ross-308) were divided into 5 treatment groups having 6 replicates of 15 birds each under a completely randomised design. Treatments were environmental enrichment (EE) tools and consisted of C = control group; R = red ball for EE; G = green ball for EE; B = blue ball for EE and M = mirror for EE. These environmental enrichment tools were provided throughout the experimental period (0 to 35 days). Mean feed intake per bird was higher in all treatment groups except the blue balls group; weight gain and feed conversion ratio were better in the green and blue ball groups. Broiler chickens reared under different environmental enrichment were more active and they exhibited maintenance behaviour (preening, dust bathing and wing stretching, or scratching) more frequently. Regarding welfare traits, lower incidence of toe damage, footpad dermatitis and hock burn was observed in birds having different environmental enrichment tools as compared to the control group. The birds reared with red balls as environmental enrichment showed the lowest values for glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin and globulin amongst all the treatment groups. Birds reared with green balls had the highest body weight at slaughter, dressed weight, carcass yield and liver weight. Breast meat of environmentally enriched treated groups was lighter and had lower ultimate pH. It was concluded that the addition of environmental enrichment tools (visual, structural and plastic) motivates the birds for physical activities and improves the performance of broiler chickens.

Insect Larvae as an Alternate Protein Source in Poultry Feed Improve the Performance and Meat Quality of Broilers.

The primary challenge facing the global animal industry is the scarcity of protein feed resources. Various insects are gaining prominence as innovative feed sources due to their economic, environmentally friendly, and nutritious attributes. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of a partial replacement of soybean meal with fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) on the growth performances, blood parameters, gut histology, and meat quality of broilers. A total of 350 1-day-old (40 ± 0.15 g) male chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to seven experimental meals. Each treatment was repeated five times with 50 birds per dietary treatment. The seven dietary treatments included 4, 8, and 12% replacements of SBM with larvae of S. frugiperda and H. illucens. SBM was the basal diet considered the control. The data showed that broilers fed 12% S. frugiperda or H. illucens exhibited a significantly higher (p < 0.05) live weight, average daily weight gain, and improved the feed conversion ratio. Meals with 12% S. frugiperda or H. illucens significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) haematological and gut histological parameters, including villus height, crypt depth, villus width, and villus height/crypt depth ratios. The meat of broilers fed the 12% S. frugiperda diet showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) lightness and yellowness. Replacing soybean meal up to 12% with either S. frugiperda or H. illucens larvae improves the growth performance, blood haematology, gut morphometry, and meat quality traits of broilers.