Growth, immunity, relative gene expression, carcass traits and economic efficiency of two rabbit breeds fed prebiotic supplemented diets.

The current study designed to evaluate the effect of oligosaccharide supplemented diets on growth performance, histomorphometric changes, economic efficiency and genetic expression of some growth and immunity-relative genes. One hundred and twenty weaned male rabbits, six weeks of age of two breeds (NZW and APPRI) were randomly allocated into six equal groups; the first supplemented with 0.3% Mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), the second supplemented with 0.05% Isomalto-oligosaccharide (IMO) and the third considered a control group. Each group contained ten equal replicates. The highest Final body weight and feed consumption were recorded in MOS and IMO groups compared with control. Fortified feed diet with IMO significantly increased duodenal villi area and length than MOS and control groups. At the same time, Spleen white bulb area and length were significantly higher in MOS and IMO than control. Supplementation of MOS and IMO significantly improved carcass traits, economic efficiency and induced certain modifications in some major key genes involved in the regulation of nutrients metabolism, immunity and growth in different tissues. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of MOS and IMO had a desirable positive impact on productive and economic efficiency in the rabbit.

Effect of supplemental glycerol monolaurate and oregano essential oil blend on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, and amino acid digestibility of broiler chickens.

BACKGROUND: This experiment tested the impact of the combined supplementation of glycerol monolaurate (GLM) and oregano essential oil (EO) to broiler diets. Growth performance, metabolic response, immune status, apparent ileal digestibility coefficient (AID%), and intestinal histomorphology were assessed. Three-day-old Ross-308 broilers (76.62 g ± 0.50, n = 240) were randomly allocated into 4 experimental groups (6 replicates/group and 10 chicks/replicate). Birds were fed corn-soybean meal basal diets supplemented with four levels of GLM and oregano EO blend: 0, 0.15, 0.45, and 0.75% for 35 days. RESULTS: During the starter period, dietary GLM and oregano EO did not show significant (P > 0.05) changes in growth performance. During the grower period, GLM and oregano EO supplemented groups showed a linear and quadratic decline in FCR. During the finisher and overall performance, a linear increase in the body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), the protein efficiency ratio (PER), and relative growth rate (RGR), and a linear decrease in the FCR at 0.75% dietary level of GLM and oregano EO compared to the control. The broken-line regression model showed that the optimum dietary level of GLM and oregano EO blend was 0.58% based on final BW and FCR. The 0.45% or 0.15% dietary level of supplemented additives lowered (P < 0.05) the AID% of threonine and arginine, respectively, with no change in the AID% of other assessed amino acids at all dietary levels. Muscle thickness in jejunum and ileum in all dietary supplemented groups was increased (P < 0.05); however, such increase (P < 0.05) in the duodenum was shown at 0.45 and 0.75% dietary levels. All GLM and oregano EO supplemented groups showed increased (P < 0.05) duodenal, jejunal, and ileal villus height. The 0.15 and/or 0.75% dietary levels of supplemented additives increased (P < 0.05) the ileal and duodenal crypt depth, respectively, with a decreased (P < 0.05) duodenal crypt depth at 0.15% dietary level. The goblet cell count in ileum decreased (P < 0.05) in all GLM and oregano EO supplemented groups, but this decreased count (P < 0.05) was detected in jejunum at 0.45 and 0.75% dietary levels. The GLM and oregano EO supplemented groups did not show significant (P > 0.05) changes in the assessed metabolic and immune status parameters. Economically, the total return and performance index was increased at 0.75% dietary level. CONCLUSION: Better growth performance was achieved at a 0.75 % dietary level of GLM and oregano EO by improving most intestinal morphometric measures. The optimum dietary level detected was 0.58%. The lack of influence of supplemented additives on chickens' immune and metabolic responses could indicate a lack of synergy between GLM and oregano EO.

Effects of different feeding regimens with protease supplementation on growth, amino acid digestibility, economic efficiency, blood biochemical parameters, and intestinal histology in broiler chickens.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to estimate the impacts of using varied feeding regimens with or without protease supplementation on the growth performance, apparent amino acid ileal digestibility (AID%), economic efficiency, intestinal histology, and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Three hundred one-day-old chicks (Ross 308 broiler) were randomly allotted to a 3 × 2 factorial design. The experimental design consisted of three feeding regimens; FR1: a recommended protein SBM diet, FR2: a low-protein SBM diet, and FR3: a low-protein diet with the inclusion of 5% DDGS and 5% SFM, with or without protease supplementation (250 mg/kg). RESULTS: Increased feed intake and feed conversion ratio were observed in the FR3 treatment during the starter stage and decreased body weight and body weight gain during the grower stage. However, there was no significant effect of the different feeding regimens, protease supplementation, or interaction on the overall performance. The economic value of diets also remained unaffected by the different feeding regimens, protease supplementation, or interaction. Protease supplementation resulted in lowering the AID% of tryptophan and leucine. Reduced AID% of methionine was evident in the FR2 + VE and FR3 - VE treatments. Histological findings substantiated the FR3 treatment mediated a decrease in the duodenal and jejunal villous height (VH), jejunal villous width (VW), and ileal VW, whereas, increase in the ileal crypt depth (CD). The FR2 + VE treatment reduced the VH:CD ratio in the duodenum. The duodenal CD and the jejunal goblet cell count were reduced as a consequence of protease supplementation. The FR3 + VE treatment documented a rise in duodenal CD, while an increase in the jejunal goblet cell count was observed in the FR3 - VE treatment. The FR3 treatment enhanced the IgM serum levels compared to the FR1 and FR2 treatments. IgM serum levels were also elevated following protease supplementation. FR3 + VE treatment increased IgM serum levels. The highest serum ALP was found in the FR3 treatment, whereas the lowest level was obtained in the FR2 treatment. CONCLUSION: Low-protein SBM-based diets could be used without affecting the birds' growth. Altered morphometric measures of the intestine and increased IgM and ALP levels indicated the low-protein SBM/DDGS-SFM diet-induced damage of the intestinal histoarchitecture and immune system of birds. These different diets and protease supplementation failed to affect economic efficiency positively.

Combined Supplementation of Nano-Zinc Oxide and Thyme Oil Improves the Nutrient Digestibility and Reproductive Fertility in the Male Californian Rabbits.

The present study aimed to determine the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), thyme oil (THO), or their combination on the nutrient digestibility coefficients, reproductive parameters, and some blood metabolites of male Californian rabbits. One hundred rabbits, 29-weeks of age (initial body weight 3.48 ± 0.08 kg) were randomly distributed into four groups, 25 rabbits each. Treatment groups were fed a control diet, a control diet supplemented with ZnO-NPs (100 mg/kg), THO (500 mg/kg), or combination of ZnO-NPs (100 mg/kg) and THO (500 mg/kg). The feeding trial lasted for 35 days. Results showed improvements in dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and crude fiber in ZnO-NPs, THO, and their combination treated groups compared to those of control. Furthermore, semen volume, sperm motility, vitality, and morphology were significantly improved (p < 0.01) in ZnO-NPs and THO groups rather than the control. Both ZnO-NPs and THO, as either individual or combined treatments significantly improved the serum alanine amino-transferase (ALT), aspartate amino-transferase (AST), urea, and creatinine compared to the control. Moreover, serum concentrations of testosterone were significantly increased in rabbits supplemented with ZnO-NPs, THO, or their combination compared to those of control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ZnO-NPs, THO, or their combination improved the digestibility of nutrients, liver/ kidney functions, semen characteristics, and testosterone concentration in male rabbits.

Are the energy matrix values of the different feed additives in broiler chicken diets could be summed?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate whether the energy matrix values of the nonstarch polysaccharide- (NSP-) degrading enzymes, bioemulsifier (LYSOFORTE®), guanidinoacetic acid (CreAMINO®), or their combinations could be summed. The effects of these additives on the growth performance, carcass traits, and economic value of the broiler chicken diets were evaluated. A total of 525-one-day-old Ross chicks with an initial body weight of 42.96 ± 0.87 g were haphazardly allocated into seven groups with five replicates. The seven experimental treatments are as follows: (1) basal diet with no additives (breeder recommendation), which is the control group, (2) basal diet minus 100 kcal/kg supplemented with 0.02% NSP-degrading enzymes (NSP), (3) basal diet minus 50 kcal/kg supplemented with 0.025% emulsifier (LYSOFORTE®), (4) basal diet minus 50 kcal/kg supplemented with 0.06% guanidinoacetic acid (CreAMINO®), (5) basal diet minus 150 kcal/kg supplemented with a mixture of NSP and LYSOFORTE® (NSPL), (6) basal diet minus 100 kcal/kg supplemented with a mixture of NSP and CreAMINO® (NSPC), and (7) basal diet minus 200 kcal/kg supplemented with a mixture of NSP, LYSO, and CreAMINO® (NSPLC). The experiment lasted for 35 days. RESULTS: It was found that the final body weight, body weight gain, and relative growth rate were significantly higher in birds fed diets supplemented with NSPL, NSPC, CreAMINO, and LYSO with the reduced energy matrix value. The overall feed conversion ratio was significantly improved due to the supplementation of NSPC, CreAMINO, NSPL, and LYSO with the reduced energy matrix value compared to the control group. Moreover, no significant effect on the carcass criteria was observed by the different treatments. As a result of the dietary supplementation with NSPL, NSPC, CreAMINO®, and LYSO with the reduced energy matrix value, the net profit, total return, economic efficiency, and performance index were increased and the cost of feed per kg of body weight gain was decreased. CONCLUSION: The energy matrix value of NSPL, NSPC, CreAMINO®, and LYSOFORTE could be established in the diets of broiler chickens to improve the growth performance and economic efficiency.

Effect of dietary supplementation of alpha-galactosidase on the growth performance, ileal digestibility, intestinal morphology, and biochemical parameters in broiler chickens.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to investigate the effect of Alpha-galactosidase (AlphaGal) supplementation with two energy levels on the growth performance, amino acid ileal digestibility coefficient "AID%," economic value, intestinal histology, and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Two-hundred 3-day-old broiler chicks (average body weight 74.34 g ±0.52 Ross 308) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of two energy diets groups: in the first group, the birds were fed on a recommended energy diet (RED) while the second group was reduced 120 kcal/kg diet as a low energy diet (LED) and two levels of AlphaGal (0 or 50 mg/kg diet) for RED and LED for the 35-day feeding period. RESULTS: The interaction effects between the energy level and the AlphaGal supplementations resulted in significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in the body weight, body weight gain, and the relative growth rate. The feed conversion ratio was signficantly increased in LED without supplementation of AlphaGal group during the entire experimental period, this negative effect on the growth performance was corrected by AlphaGal supplementation. The AID% value was increased significantly by AlphaGal supplementation. Blood triglyceride concentrations were significantly decreased (P = 0.02) in the LED group with or without AlphaGal supplementation, while the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly decreased (P = 0.01) in the LED or RED groups supplemented with 50 mg RED AlphaGal. Histologically, the number of intestinal glands and goblet cells increased in both RED and LED groups supplemented with AlphaGal and their secretions were mainly neutral mucopolysaccharides and less acidic mucopolysaccharides. CONCLUSION: AlphaGal supplementation improved the growth performance of broiler chickens fed LED and the growth performance is similar to those fed RED, thereby consequently improving the economic value of these diets. AlphaGal supplementation improves intestinal histology and morphology as well.