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.

Effects of prenatal dichromatic light exposure on hatching results and post-hatch performance of Japanese quail.

Present study evaluated the effect of lighted incubation on pre- and post-hatch performance of Japanese quail. In a completely randomized design, 1200 eggs were evenly divided into 4 treatments groups having six replicates (each tray was considered as replicate), 50 eggs each. Different dichromatic lights (Green + Red; GR, Green + Blue; GB, and Blue + Red; BR) of 250 lux were provided during incubation for 12 h daily and effects of these lights very evaluated on hatching results and post-hatch growth. After hatch, 600 quail chicks were divided into 4 treatments, 6 replicates, and 25 birds each. Regarding hatching traits, better hatchability was found in the GR group compared to GB, BR, and dark group; while early embryonic mortality was lower in BR, GB, and dark group than GR; mid embryonic mortality was lower in dark group and late embryonic mortality was noted in the GR group than those of other treatment groups. In addition, moisture loss during incubation was minimum in BR and dark groups; however, chick spread was better in the GR group. In terms of growth performance, weight gain was better in the GR group; feed intake in dark, feed conversion ratio in BR, and livability were better in BR and GR group. In morphometrics, keel and shank length were higher in all the colored groups (GB, BR, and GR) whereas body length, wing spread, shank circumference, drumstick length, and circumference were higher in the GR group. Regarding serum chemistry, glucose, albumin, and globulin levels were higher in the GR group. It was concluded that under the experimental conditions, GR light at the prenatal stage to Japanese quail eggs positively influenced hatching performance and post-hatch growth.

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.

Effects of dietary organic acids on performance, cecal microbiota, and gut morphology in broilers.

Organic acids have exhibited great potential as an antibiotic replacement and as an additive work tremendously for health maintenance of broiler chicken. To explore more about organic acids, a total of 900 day-old broiler chicks (Cobb-500) were procured from a local hatchery and distributed into 9 treatment groups having 5 replicates of 20 birds each; duration of the biological trial was of 35 days. Group T1 served as control group without any dietary supplementation. Other groups T2 and T3 were boosted with different levels (125 g/ton and 250 g/ton) of enramycin (antibiotic), T4, T5, and T6 were supplemented with different levels (2 kg/ton, 3 kg/ton, and 4 kg/ton) of ammonium formate and ammonium propionate, and T7, T8, and T9 were fed with different levels (2 kg/ton, 3 kg/ton, and 4 kg/ton) of calcium formate and calcium propionate. The findings declared significant improvement (P < 0.05) in body weight gain and FCR in groups T3, T5, and T9 while feed intake was not affected. Carcass evaluation depicted significantly better (P < 0.05) dressed and eviscerated weight along with carcass yield (T5, T7, T8, T9). Broilers fed organic acid supplemented diet had significantly lower (P < 0.05) total bacterial count (T3, T5, T8, T9) and positively improved (P < 0.05) villi length (T5, T6, T9) as compared with control group. However, total protein, globulin, HDL, and LDL levels were determined to be non-significant (P > 0.05) among different organic acids treatments. Hence, organic acids can be utilized as a better replacement for antibiotics. Supplementation of organic acids at a dose rate of 3 kg/ton and 4 kg/ton is recommended for efficient performance of broilers.

Optimization of an ultrasound-assisted extraction method to obtain gallic acid-rich extracts from mango seed kernels.

Gallic acid is a widely recognized bioactive compound that falls under the category of secondary polyphenolic metabolites and is fairly found in mango fruit waste, specifically in mango seed kernel (MSK). This study aimed to adopt a green extraction approach to extract this valuable compound via ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) without using organic solvents but only water to obtain hazard-free extracts, and the cost of extraction can be minimal. pH (2-8), solvent ratio (20-60 mL/g), temperature (30-60°C) and time (30-60 min) of extraction were the independent variables used for extraction optimization. Single-factor experiments to obtain working ranges for selected extraction variables were carried out. A central composite design using response surface methodology was used to determine the optimum condition to obtain the maximum yield of gallic acid from MSK. The optimized extraction conditions were 3.9 pH, 36.25 mL/g solvent ratio, and 39.4°C of extraction temperature for 21.3 min. As a result, the optimized yield was 5.76 ± 0.41 mg/g, which was comparably equal to and/or better than the other solvent extraction systems. The results showed that gallic acid could efficiently be extracted via UAE under these optimal conditions. It is safer than extraction systems involving hazardous solvents that can be feasibly used for its nutraceutical and therapeutic applications.

Poultry consumption and perceptions in Tehsil Shakargarh, Punjab, Pakistan: Implications for public health during COVID-19.

This study investigated the habits and attitudes of individuals towards poultry consumption, utilizing primary data collected through a survey of 5 households from 285 localities in Tehsil Shakargarh, Punjab, Pakistan (n = 1425). Household selection was randomized, and personal visits were conducted for data collection via formal interviews employing a structured questionnaire. Coordinates for each site were obtained using a Garmin eTrex device, in conjunction with meteorological data, to determine global positioning system (GPS) coordinates. A notable portion of respondents (38.8 %) possessed basic knowledge, while the majority (61.2 %) demonstrated intermediate knowledge regarding commercial broilers (chickens raised for meat production). A significant proportion (70.3 %) harbored misconceptions about the inclusion of hormones/antibiotics in poultry feed, with a minority (0.2 %) misinformed about broiler chickens' leg weakness. Some respondents (17.3 %) held both misconceptions, while others (12.2 %) had none. The majority (97.6 %) favored egg consumption, with 51.7 % preferring commercial chicken eggs and 48.3 % opting for domestic chicken eggs. Preference for white-colored eggs (51.5 %) slightly outweighed that for brown-colored eggs (48.5 %). A minority (1.3 %) speculated that poultry consumption could be a potential cause of COVID-19, while the majority (65.7 %) disagreed, and a portion (33.0 %) remained uncertain. Nearly all respondents (99.9 %) believed in the immunity-boosting properties of protein intake, with 65 % associating such benefits with poultry meat and eggs. Similarly, 99.7 % did not encounter difficulties in accessing poultry products during lockdowns. Approximately half (46.3 %) of respondents believed that consuming well-cooked and safely handled poultry meat was safe during outbreaks. Poultry meat and eggs emerged as potentially efficient sources of nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for protein-deficient populations like Pakistan. Therefore, initiatives should focus on enhancing commercial poultry production and educating the populace about its advantages.

Profiling of phenolic compounds, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and hemolytic activity of mango seed kernel using different optimized extraction systems.

Mango seed kernels (MSKs) have been reported to show antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study explores the influence of different optimized extraction systems on the extraction of MSK. The effects on gallic acid (GA) content, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant, antimicrobial, and hemolytic activity of MSK extracts from different extraction systems (65.45% ethanol-ultrasound assisted extraction [UAE], 62% ethanol-incubator shaker, 19.4% ethanol-UAE, and 100% water-UAE) were assessed. Based on the results, a nonsignificant difference in phenolic (p = 0.222), flavonoids (p = 0.058), antioxidant (p = 0.165), and antimicrobial activity (p = 0.193) against Staphylococcus aureus whereas a significant difference (p < 0.0001) in hemolytic, GA content, and antimicrobial activity against Clostridium perfringens was observed. Among different extraction systems, aqueous extraction showed significantly lower hemolytic (1.09%) and higher GA content (4.72 mg/g) and comparable results in all other experiments; yield (32.40%), TPC (58.79 mg/g), TFC (2.16 mg/g), and antioxidant (73.19%). Hence, it has been concluded that aqueous extraction system could be considered a sustainable extraction system for practical applications. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Aqueous extraction system could be a sustainable option for extraction of mango seed kernel for practical applications as it is readily available, cheap, nonflammable, and nontoxic.