Growth performance, plasma metabolites, meat quality, and meat and lipid health indices of New Zealand White rabbits as affected by dietary dried tomato pomace powder supplementation during the summer season.

One hundred and twenty New Zealand White rabbits (NZW) (5-week-old; 735.27 ± 27.23 g) were kept in an open-sided house during the summer season. The experiment aims to evaluate the impacts of dried tomato pomace powder (DTPP) supplementation on rabbits' performance, blood metabolites, carcass traits, meat quality, and lipid and health indices of NZW rabbits during 5-13 weeks of age. The four treatments were a standard rabbit feed (control) and the control diet supplemented with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% DTPP, respectively. Rabbits fed a diet containing 1.5% DTPP showed the highest growth rate through weeks 9-13 of age despite having the lowest feed intake spanning 5-13 weeks. The best feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded in rabbits fed with 1.5% DTPP-supplemented diet for 5-13 weeks. Diets supplemented with 0.5 or 1.0% DTPP enhanced markedly dressing %, total edible flesh, saturated (SFAs), monounsaturated (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) contents, as well as the ∑n - 6/∑n - 3 ratio and the total n - 6 of meat. Dietary supplementation with DTPP decreased kidney, abdominal, and back fat. Diets supplemented with DTTP decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein (vLDL) concentrations. The greatest levels of linoleic acid, arachidonic and water-holding capacity in meat were observed in rabbits fed 1.5% DTPP-supplemented diets. Diets containing 1 and 1.5% DTPP improved meats' atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, meat lipid quality desired fatty acids/undesired fatty acids ratio, and meat health index. Conclusively, DTPP up to 1.5% maintained the growth performance of rabbits, boosted meat quality through increasing vitamin E, reduced fat deposition, modified fatty acid composition, and improved atherogenic, thrombogenic, and hypocholesterolemic indices of rabbit meat.

Alternative to antibiotic growth promoters: beneficial effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and/or Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation on the growth performance and sustainability of broilers' production.

Although antibiotics growth promoters (AGPs), including zinc-bacitracin (ZnB), can threaten human health due to developing antimicrobial resistance, as well as drug residue in animal and poultry products, ZnB is still widely used, particularly in developing countries, for the sustainability of poultry farming. The present investigation aims to assess the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus acidophilus, with or without a prebiotic (mannooligosaccharide, MOS), as alternatives to ZnB. For this reason, 150 one-day-old chicks were grouped into six groups, designated negative control, LA, SC, ZnB, SA + MOS, and LA + MOS (5 replicates of 5 chicks for each group). Chicks kept in the control group were fed the basal diet. Chickens kept in LA and SC groups received L. acidophilus, S. cerevisiae at a 1 g/kg diet and 2 g/Kg, respectively. Chickens kept in ZnB received ZnB at 0.5 g/kg. Chicks kept in the SC + MOS and LA + MOS were fed a basal diet containing 2 g S. cerevisiae + 1 g MOS/kg or 1 g L. acidophilus + 1 g MOS /kg, respectively. The efficacy was assessed based on the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemistry composition during the entire trial 1-36 days of age. Results showed that chicks kept in the SC group had greater BW than the control (p < 0.05). Chicks kept in the SC, LA, SC + MOS, and LA + MOS consumed less feed than the control and Zn-B groups (p < 0.05). Supplementation with S. cerevisiae resulted in a better (p < 0.05) feed conversion rate (FCR) than the control group. Supplementation with L. acidophilus + MOS significantly increased (p < 0.05) the relative liver weight compared to those supplemented with ZnB, S. cerevisiae, and L. acidophilus. In addition, supplementation with ZnB-induced spleen hypertrophy compared to S. cerevisiae and L. acidophilus-supplemented groups (p < 0.05). Plasma, meat, and liver cholesterol, as well as the cholesterol-to-lipid ratio of meat and liver, were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in both SC and LA groups compared to the control group. Our research indicates that adding 2 g/kg of S. cerevisiae to broiler feed can effectively replace ZnB and enhance productive performance and economic profits, making it a viable and sustainable option for broiler farming.

On effect of poultry manure treatment with Effective Microorganisms with or without zeolite.

The decomposition process of poultry manure is generally mediated by microorganisms, whose degradation activity has beneficial effects on soil fertility but, on the other hand, leads to the generation of malodour gas. Indeed, a relevant problem of poultry farms is represented by the release of bad smells, which are mainly a consequence of decomposition process of chicken feces, chicken bedding, plumes, dropped feed, and dust. Furthermore, the unpleasant odour, associated with poultry manure degradation, not only limits its use in agriculture but also negatively affects the housing communities located near the farms. This study aimed at evaluating the effects in vitro of different doses of Effective Microorganisms (EM), mainly consisting of live communities of lactic acid bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, and yeasts, on poultry manure alone or with zeolite, a porous mineral with absorbent and ion-exchange properties, belonging to the family of aluminosilicates. The obtained results demonstrated that these treatments were able to reduce the poultry manure malodours, associated mainly with a decrease in the ammonia (NH3) levels with respect to controls. The pH tended to increase, the nitrogen to go down, and the phosphorus to go up. Thus, all the effects described above were evident, testifying to a slower degradation of proteins, both with EM alone or in combination with zeolite. The presence of a pool of pesticides (65 components) was evaluated, and no variation was observed in the different experimental conditions versus control, as well as for REEs and metals. In conclusion, these preliminary results demonstrated that the use of EM with or without the addition of zeolite is a valid tool to eliminate the bad smell of manure and to make it a useful product as a fertilizer.

The use of Astragalus membranaceus as an eco-friendly alternative for antibiotics in diets of Japanese quail breeders.

Mature Japanese quails (n. 180), aged 8 wk, were divided into 6 groups to evaluate the influence of dietary Astragalus membranaceus powder on laying and reproductive performances, quality of egg, and blood metabolites. A completely randomized design experiment was performed including 6 groups. The first group of quails was served as control (basal diet). While, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th group of quails fed a basal diet supplemented with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 g of AM powder/kg diet, respectively. Egg number (EN), weight (EW), and mass (EM) were not significantly influenced by dietary Astragalus membranaceus at all tested levels. The hatchability percentage was quadratically improved by dietary supplementation of A. membranaceus. Dietary supplementation of A. membranaceus positively affects (linear and quadratic) liver and kidney functions. Plasma total cholesterol (TC; P < 0.001) and Triglyceride (TG; P < 0.001) were linearly and quadratically decreased by dietary A. membranaceus increasing level. Blood urea level decreased with increasing A. membranaceus levels in the quail diet. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) were higher than the control at all A. membranaceus levels. In conclusion, feeding quail breeders with Astragalus membranaceus at 1 g/kg diet has beneficial effects on feed conversion ratio; on production at 2 g/kg diet; on hatchability and immunity at 5 g/kg diet; and on total cholesterol at 3 g/kg diet and on shell quality at 4 g/kg diet. A. membranaceus products are expected to be novel valuable dietary supplements for poultry production, depending on the target trait.

Rice Bran as an Alternative Feedstuff in Broiler Nutrition and Impact of Liposorb® and Vitamin E-Se on Sustainability of Performance, Carcass Traits, Blood Biochemistry, and Antioxidant Indices.

The impact of dietary rice bran with or without feed additives on the performance, carcasses, and blood profiles of chickens was examined. A total of 245 unsexed one-week-old broiler chicks were divided into seven groups, with seven replications of five chicks each. The treatments were: (1) control, (2) 5% rice bran, (3) 5% rice bran + 0.5 g/kg of Liposorb®, (4) 5% rice bran + 1 g/kg of vitamin E-Se, (5) 10% rice bran, (6) 10% rice bran + 0.5 g/kg Liposorb®, and (7) 10% rice bran + 1 g/kg of vitamin E-selenium. Considering the entire experimental period, it did not affect the in vivo performance of the broilers. However, all the experimental diets decreased dressing % compared with the control (p < 0.01) and the worst values were obtained for the 10% RB groups (75.7, 75.9, and 75.8%, respectively, for 10%RB, 10%RB + Liposorb, and 10%RB + Vit. E-Se groups). All the experimental diets decreased (p < 0.01) the albumin/globulin ratio due to an increased level of serum globulins. Differences in lipid profiles, antioxidants, and immunity parameters in plasma were not related to dietary treatments. In conclusion, the use of rice bran up to 10% in diets had no harmful effect on the overall growth performance of the broilers from 1 to 5 weeks of age. Still, carcass characteristics were negatively affected, except for heart percentage. In addition, the supplementation of Liposorb® or vitamin E-Se to rice bran diets did not recover these harmful effects. Thus, rice bran could be utilized at 10% in broiler diets when growth performance was considered; further research is required.

Low inclusion levels of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal in laying Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica, Gould, 1837) diet improve the intestinal morphometry, enzymatic activity and caecal short chain fatty acids profile.

One hundred twenty, 12 weeks old laying Japanese quails (JQ) were equally divided into 4 groups (6 replicates of 5 birds/group). The control group (CON) fed a corn-soybean diet; TML1.4, TML2.8, and TML5.6 groups fed a diet where a Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TML) was included at 1.4, 2.8, and 5.6%, respectively. The trial lasted 54 days. The villi height (VH) and the crypt depth (CD) linearly decreased from the control to the TML5.6 group (P < 0.01) in the duodenum, while an opposite trend was observed for the Ab+ mucous cells count (P < 0.01). The highest VH/CD ratio was found in the TML1.4 group (P < 0.01). In the jejunum a lower VH was observed in the TML1.4 compared to the CON group; the Ab+ mucous cells increased (P < 0.01) according to the increase of the TM inclusion in the diet, while the highest VH/CD ratio (P < 0.01) was recorded in the TML2.8 group. In the duodenum only the L-ANP has been affected by TML (P < 0.001), with a quadratic and linear effect. The L-ANP is affected by the dietary treatment in the jejunum (P < 0.05), where showed a quadratic effect with the highest value in TML2.8. The % of butyric acid is maximized (P < 0.05) with the TML1.4 diet and that of the isobutyrate and valeric acids increased (P < 0.01) from TML1.4 to TML5.6. The use of TML at 1.4% in laying quail diets can be considered as a way to improve the intestinal health of the birds.

In vivo performances, ileal digestibility, and physicochemical characterization of raw and boiled eggs as affected by Tenebrio molitor larvae meal at low inclusion rate in laying quail (Coturnix japonica) diet.

A total of 120, twelve wk old female Japanese quails were divided into 4 groups (6 replicates of 5 birds each). The control group (CON) fed a corn-soybean diet; in the other 3 groups, Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TML) replaced 5, 10, and 20% of the soybean protein (T5, T10, and T20). The laying performance and egg quality were studied for 54 d. The data were processed by a one-way ANOVA; the orthogonal contrast analysis was performed to test the linear, quadratic and cubic effects among the means. The laying rate and egg mass linearly decreased (P < 0.01) as the TML inclusion level in the diet increased. The egg weight and feed conversion ratio linearly increased from the control to T20 diet (P < 0.01) while the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein linearly decreased (P < 0.05). The albumen and yolk weight showed a linear increase (P < 0.01) due to dietary TML inclusion, while the eggshell weight showed the opposite (P < 0.05). The estimated activity of Δ9-desaturase (C16:0), Δ5+Δ6-desaturase on both polyunsaturated fatty acid n-6 and n-3 linearly increased (P < 0.05) as affected by dietary TML. The boiled yolk lightness (L*) showed higher values in T5 and T10 groups (quadratic contrast, P < 0.01). The yolk redness index (a*) showed lower values in T5 and T20 than control and T10 groups (cubic contrast, P < 0.01). The albumen L*, a*, and b* indexes showed a significant effect of the quadratic contrast (P < 0.05). In addition, the albumen b* index showed a significant effect of the cubic contrast (P < 0.01). The total lipids showed the highest values (cubic contrast, P < 0.05) in the T10 and T20 groups. The total monounsaturated fatty acids linearly increased (P < 0.05) according to the increase of dietary TML. The best inclusion level of defatted TML meal for laying quails seems to be 1.4% of diet, corresponding to the T5 diet.

Multiple Amino Acid Supplementations to Low-Protein Diets: Effect on Performance, Carcass Yield, Meat Quality and Nitrogen Excretion of Finishing Broilers under Hot Climate Conditions.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-protein diets with amino acid supplementation on growth performance, carcass yield, meat quality and nitrogen excretion of broilers raised under hot climate conditions during the finisher period. In trial 1, broilers from 28 to 49 days of age were fed 18% crude protein (CP) as a positive control or 15% CP supplemented with (1) DL-methionine (Met) + L-lysine (Lys), (2) Met + Lys + L-Arginine (Arg), or (3) Met + Lys + L-Valine (Val). In trial 2, broilers from 30 to 45 days of age, were fed an 18% CP diet as a positive control or 15% CP supplemented with Met, Lys, Arg, Val, L-Isoleucine (Ile) or combination with glycine (Gly) and/or urea as nitrogen sources: (1) Met + Lys, (2) Met + Lys + Arg, (3) Met + Lys + Val, (4) Met + Lys + Ile, (5) Met + Lys + Arg +Val + Ile + Gly, and (6) Met+ Lys + Arg + Val + Ile + Gly + urea. Protein use was improved by feeding low-protein amino acid-supplemented diets as compared to the high-protein diet. Feeding 15% crude protein diet supplemented with only methionine and lysine had no negative effects on carcass yield, CP, total lipids and moisture% of breast meat while decreasing nitrogen excretion by 21%.

Effects of Phytase Supplementation to Diets with or without Zinc Addition on Growth Performance and Zinc Utilization of White Pekin Ducks.

The effect of phytase and inorganic Zn supplementation was studied in 180 male White Pekin ducks (WPD) from 1 to 56 days of age. The birds were divided into four groups fed the same basal diet (containing 26 ppm of Zn from raw materials): the control group did not receive Zn supplementation; the second group was supplemented with 30 ppm of Zn oxide; and the third and fourth groups were fed the control and the 30 ppm diets, respectively, both supplemented with 500 U of E. coli phytase. Each group contained five replicates of nine ducks. The body weight and feed intake were recorded at 1, 28 and 56 days of age. At 56 days of age, five birds/group were used to measure feed digestibility and five other birds/group were slaughtered. Zn at 30 ppm increased the body weight gain (BWG, p < 0.01) and feed intake (p < 0.05) and improved the feed conversion (FCR, p < 0.05) of the growing ducks. The Zn retention and Zn level in the excreta increased (p < 0.01) due to Zn supplementation. The addition of phytase improved BWG (p < 0.01) and FCR (p < 0.05) of growing ducks. The use of phytase reduced (p < 0.01) the level of Zn in duck excreta. Phytase supplementation to the basal diet at 30 ppm seems to be adequate to meet Zn requirements for ducks without further Zn additions.

Evaluation of the carryover effect of antibiotic, bee pollen and propolis on growth performance, carcass traits and splenic and hepatic histology of growing rabbits.

Sixty-four nulliparous female rabbits were distributed among eight groups (eight animals/group). Group one was the unsupplemented control group; the other seven groups were supplemented with zinc bacitracin (ZnB) at 100 mg, or bee pollen (BP) and/or propolis (Pro) at 150 and 300 mg in a capsulated form, three times a week, day after day, continuously all over the experimental period. The experiment was run for eight parties; at each parity, 28 kids of each doe group (a total of 224 rabbits) were divided into two subgroups weaned, respectively, at 24 and 30 days of age. Thus, for each parity, there were 16 groups (eight does treatments × two weaning age, 14 rabbits per group). The growing rabbits fed the standard diets without supplements. The growth performance, the carcass traits, the liver and the spleen histology of rabbits were checked up to 90 days of age to find possible carryover effects of the supplements. The supplements had no significant effect on most of the growth performance at 90 days of age, but BP150 and BP+Pro300 increased the growth rate in comparison with ZnB group. The liver weight in the control, BP300 and Pro300 groups was higher than the ZnB one. The spleen weight was higher in the groups ZnB, BP150, Pro300 and BP+Pro300, followed by the control, BP300 and BP+Pro150 and thus Pro150. The heart % in the BP150 and Pro300 groups was higher than ZnB and BP+Pro150 groups. A lymphoid hyperplasia of splenic white pulp was observed in the BP+Pro groups, while propolis alone showed a mild activation of lymphobiosis. The Pro and BP groups showed the same picture of the control group exhibiting a hydropic degeneration of mostly hepatic cells, while the ZnB group exhibited adverse effect on the bile ducts featuring portal periductal inflammatory cells infiltration with epithelial hyperplasia reflecting chronic cholangitis.

Bee pollen and propolis as dietary supplements for rabbit: Effect on reproductive performance of does and on immunological response of does and their offspring.

To evaluate the effect of bee pollen (BP) and/or propolis (Pro) supplementation on rabbit does, 64 nulliparous NZW rabbits does were distributed among eight groups (eight animals/group). One unsupplemented group was the control; the other seven groups were supplemented, respectively, with zinc bacitracin (ZnB) at 100 mg, BP at 150 and 300 mg, Pro at 150 and 300 mg, BP+Pro at 150 and 300 mg of each three times/week, day after day continuously along eight parities. The BP300, Pro300 and BP+Pro150 groups had higher body weight of litter at birth and number of kids born alive. The BP supplementation at 150 mg increased plasma total protein and albumin than the control group. The BP or Pro at 150 mg decreased plasma T3 than the other groups except for BP+Pro150. The ZnB group had significantly greater T3 /T4 ratio compared to BP, Pro and BP+Pro at 150 mg. The BP+Pro150 group had less ALT than the control; BP300 and Pro 300 mg resulted in lower plasma AST than the groups Pro150 with or without BP and the control group. The plasma alkaline phosphatase of BP at 150 or 300 mg and BP+Pro150 was significantly greater than that of the Pro150 group. The BP+Pro300 group had higher WBCs than the other groups. In contrast, the lymphocytes were greater in the Pro and BP+Pro300 groups than in BP, Pro and BP+Pro at 150 mg. The groups supplemented with BP and BP+Pro at 150 and 300 mg had significantly greater SRBCs of doe rabbits and their offspring compared to the control and the ZnB group. The BP at 300 mg increased the serum albumin and α1 -globulin than the control group. The Pro300 group had greater serum α2 -globulin and ß-globulin than the control group. The total globulin was significantly greater for the 300 mg propolis-supplemented groups than the control.

Effect of the housing system (free-range vs. open air cages) on growth performance, carcass and meat quality and antioxidant capacity of rabbits.

Growth performances and meat quality of free-range or cage raised rabbits were compared in 36 male animals. Rabbits were raised in free-range areas (2000 cm2/head) or in open-air cages (800 cm2/head) from weaning to 99 days old. Daily weight gain and final live weight were higher (P < 0.05) for the rabbits raised in cages which presented a more favourable feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) than in the free-range group. The average feed intake, liver and empty gastro-intestinal tract weights were higher (P < 0.05) in the free-range group, while the interscapular fat percentage was higher (P < 0.05) in the caged rabbits. Loins of free-range rabbits had higher amount of PUFA n-6 in neutral lipids (P < 0.05) whereas their polar lipids were richer in PUFA n-6 and n-3 than in those of the cage group. Muscular fat of free-raised rabbits was found to be less susceptible to be oxidized, having a higher antioxidant capacity than the caged group.

Productive and reproductive performance and egg quality of laying hens fed diets containing different levels of date pits with enzyme supplementations.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of phytase and/or multienzymes (protease, amyloglucoidase, xylanase, B-glucanase, cellulose, and hemicellulase) on improving the utilization of date pit (DP) in laying hens. In the first one, DP completely replaced corn in four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets: (1) DP50 without additives, (2) DP50 + 500 FTU phytase/kg, (3) DP50 + 0.1 % multienzymes, and (4) DP50 + 500 FTU phytase/kg + 0.1 % multienzymes, in addition to the diet without DP. In the second experiment, DP was included at 0 %, 15 %, and 30 % in isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets. Meanwhile, diets containing 15 % and 30 % DP (DP15 and DP30) were fed without or with 500 FTU phytase/kg diet and/or 0.1 % multienzymes. In both experiments, each diet was fed to six groups of five hens housed individually (520 cm(2) per hen) during 30-42 and 28-42 weeks in the first and second experiment, respectively. In the first experiment, productive performance and shell quality of laying hens significantly decreased due to complete substitution of corn, but fertility and hatchability were not affected. Phytase, multienzymes supplementation did not restore laying performance to the control level. The results of experiment 2 indicated that DP could be included in laying hens diets up to 30 % when supplemented with multienzymes.