Protective effects of dietary betaine on intestinal barrier function and cecal microbial community in indigenous broiler chickens exposed to high temperature environment.

High temperature environment causes reduction in productivity in broilers by disrupting the intestinal barrier function. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of dietary betaine on intestinal barrier function and cecal microbial community in indigenous broilers (Huaixiang chickens) exposed to high temperature environment. A total of 144 5-week-old male broilers (average initial body weight of 401.62 ± 9.51 g) were randomly allocated to three treatments for 10 weeks feeding trial; each treatment contained six replicates with eight birds per replicate. The three treatments included normal temperature control group (NT, fed basal diet, 26 ± 1 °C), high temperature control group (HT, fed basal diet, 32 ± 1 °C for 8 h/day), and HT group supplemented 1000 mg/kg betaine (HTB). The results showed that high temperature environment reduced the Occludin, Claudin-4, and ZO-1 expressions in duodenal mucosa (P < 0.05). Dietary betaine improved the Claudin-4 and ZO-1 expressions of duodenal mucosa (P < 0.05). In jejunal mucosa, HT group had lower Occludin, Claudin-1, Claudin-4, and ZO-1 expressions than NT group (P < 0.05). Compared with HT group, HTB group had higher Occludin and ZO-1 expression (P < 0.05). In ileal mucosa, the relative mRNA expression of ZO-1 in HT group was lower than those in NT group (P < 0.01), and dietary betaine (HTB group) improved ZO-1 expression compared with HT group (P < 0.05). Based on the results of 16S rRNA sequencing, the enriched and dominant microbials in NT group are Epsilonbacteraeota, Bacteroidetes, and Gammaproteobacterial, the enriched and dominant microbial in HT group is Muribaculaceae, and Firmicutes is the enriched and dominant microbial in HTB group. Taken together, the findings revealed that dietary betaine improved the intestinal barrier function and cecal microbial community in indigenous broilers under high ambient temperature.

Sodium butyrate as an effective feed additive to improve performance, liver function, and meat quality in broilers under hot climatic conditions.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary sodium butyrate (SB) supplementation on growth performance, liver function, antioxidant capacity, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in broilers under hot climatic conditions. A total of 288 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments as follow: CON, control diet without SB; T1, control diet with 300 mg/kg SB; T2, control diet with 600 mg/kg SB; and T3, control diet with 1,200 mg/kg SB. Each treatment had 6 replication pens and 12 broilers per pen. The results indicated that the BW on day 35; ADG from day 1 to 21, day 22 to 35, and day 1 to 35; and ADFI from day 22 to 35 linearly (P < 0.05) increased with SB supplementation. Interestingly, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase content in serum were linearly (P < 0.05) decreased by SB supplementation. There was linear (P < 0.05) improvement in activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the liver, whereas the content of malondialdehyde was linearly (P < 0.05) decreased with the inclusion of SB. Increasing SB level linearly (P < 0.05) increased CP composition and decreased drip loss percentage on day 1 and 3 of breast muscle. Furthermore, there was linear (P < 0.05) improvement in activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase, whereas the content of malondialdehyde showed decreasing trend (P < 0.10) with the inclusion of SB in breast muscle. In conclusion, SB can be used as an effective feed additive to improve growth performance, liver function, and meat quality of broilers under hot climatic conditions.

Dietary curcumin supplementation effects on blood immunological profile and liver enzymatic activity of laying hens after exposure to high temperature conditions.

Various environmental factors affect livestock production but heat stress is a major challenge in the poultry farming. Poultry exposes to high temperature alters blood immunological parameters and liver enzymatic function which in turn, suppress the immunity and disease resistance of chickens. Thus, the purpose of present study was to explore the effect of dietary curcumin supplementation on blood immunological biomarker and liver enzymatic activity of laying hens under heat stress conditions. Experimental groups contained two control groups (normal temperature control (NC) and heat stress control (HC) and 3 heat stress curcumin treatment groups (HT100, HT200 and HT300). Hens in HC group with basal diet and heat stress curcumin treatment groups were exposed 6 h/day heat stress (32 ± 1 °C) from 10:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m. for 9 week. The results of present study showed that heat stressed curcumin treatment group had improved liver weight, WBC values and immunoglobulin level as compared to untreated HC and NC groups. The available results also indicated that laying hens supplemented with curcumin under high temperature conditions had reduced H/L ratio, serum corticosterone levels, inflammatory cytokines response and liver enzymatic activity (ALT) which enhanced the immunity of laying hens under hot climatic conditions. Therefore, it is concluded that curcumin has ability to combat harsh environmental conditions which can be used as anti-inflammatory and immune booster feed additive in the poultry nutrition.

New insights into the role of dietary marine-derived polysaccharides on productive performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and jejunal morphology in late-phase laying hens.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary marine-derived polysaccharides (MDP) from seaweed Enteromorpha on productive performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and jejunal morphology in late-phase laying hens. A total of 240 Lohmann white laying hens (62 wk of age) were assigned to 4 dietary treatments that included MDP at concentrations of 0, 1,000, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg for 6 wk. Each treatment had 6 replicates with 5 cages (2 birds/cage). The results showed that dietary MDP quadratically improved egg production (P < 0.05) during 5 to 6 wk and 1 to 6 wk. There was a linear reduction in cracked egg rate (P < 0.05) with dietary MDP levels increased during 3 to 4 wk and 1 to 6 wk. After 4 wk of feeding trial, the egg shell thickness, yolk color, and Haugh unit showed a linear increase (P < 0.05) in response to increasing dietary MDP levels. Besides, the egg shell breaking strength, egg shell thickness, yolk color, and Haugh unit were improved linearly (P < 0.05) by dietary MDP at the end of the experiment. Moreover, dietary MDP showed a linear and quadratic reduction in serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content (P < 0.05) at the end of third week. At the end of experiment, the activity of total superoxide dismutase in serum was increased quadratically (P < 0.05) by dietary MDP, and dietary MDP quadratically improved the liver catalase (CAT) activity (P < 0.05) and linearly enhanced jejunal CAT activity (P < 0.05), whereas linearly decreased jejunal MDA concentration (P < 0.05). Furthermore, supplemental MDP linearly improved the villus height (P < 0.05) and quadratically increased villus height/crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05) of jejunum. However, dietary MDP had no effect on jejunal trypsin, amylase, and protease activity (P > 0.10). Taken together, these findings provided new insights into the role of MDP in improving the productive performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and jejunal morphology of late-phase laying hens.

Effect of dietary curcumin on the antioxidant status of laying hens under high- temperature condition.

Heat stress induces oxidative stress, and reduces antioxidant defenses of birds, which may affect poultry-production performance. Dietary antioxidants may protect against heat stress. We evaluated the effect of increasing concentrations of dietary curcumin on antioxidant parameters of hens under high-temperature conditions for nine weeks. Roman laying hens (n = 336, 22 weeks old, 1420 g weight) were divided into three treatment groups. The first group served as a thermo-neutral control (kept at 25 ±â€¯1 °C). The second group was exposed to high temperatures (32 ±â€¯1 °C, 6 h/day), and fed a basal diet. The third group was further divided into five groups, and all were exposed to high temperatures (32 ±â€¯1 °C, 6 h/day) and provided a basal diet supplemented with 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 mg/kg curcumin (H1, H2, H3, H4, H5). All treatments included four replicates of 12 hens. Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in H2 and H3 groups, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was higher in H2, H3, and H5 groups. Catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were significantly higher in the H3 group. Malondialdehyde concentrations were lower in curcumin supplemented hens compared to control groups hens. Hens in all curcumin treatment groups had slightly (but non-significantly) higher activities of CAT, SOD, GSH-Px, and T-AOC in liver, heart, and lung tissues, compared to heat stressed control group. It is concluded that dietary curcumin given to laying hens under heat stress may enhance their antioxidant status, and ameliorate stressful environmental conditions.

Effect of curcumin supplementation on TLR4 mediated non-specific immune responses in liver of laying hens under high-temperature conditions.

The liver performs a significant role in innate and adaptive immunity. Heat stress causes oxidative stress in liver tissues and reduces the immune responses of laying hens which can cause several diseases affecting poultry-production performance. Hepatic inflammation is a common trigger of liver disease, which is reflected by hepatic tissue damage leading to fibrogenesis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Dietary manipulation of curcumin has been proposed to ameliorate the immune status of chickens under heat stress. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin supplementation on TLR4 mediated non-specific immune response in liver of laying hens under high-temperature conditions. Experimental groups contained two controls groups (high temperature and thermo-neutral control (HC and NC) fed basal diet) and three high-temperature curcumin treatments groups (HT100, HT200 and HT300). Laying hens in HC and HT groups exposed 6 h/day heat stress (32 ±â€¯1 °C). The results of present study showed that heat stress curcumin treatment group had reduced inflammatory responses (IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α) as compared to HC and NC group. Pathological lesions and DNA damage of immune tissues were decreased in heat stress curcumin supplementation as compared to HC and NC group. Furthermore, PCNA, TLR4 and its downstream gene expression as well as protein expression (TLR4, NF-κB and PCNA) were significantly down regulated in heat stress curcumin supplemented group as compared to HC and NC group. Therefore, it is concluded that heat stressed hens supplemented with dietary curcumin enhance the immunity of laying hens and combat stressful environmental conditions.

The effect of ginger powder and Chinese herbal medicine on production performance, serum metabolites and antioxidant status of laying hens under heat-stress condition.

This study was done to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and ginger powder on layers-production performance, serum metabolites and antioxidant status under heat stress condition. Two hundred and fifty Lohmann layers were randomly divided into 5 different, including two controls and three experimental groups (H1, H2, and H3). Control groups were fed the basic diet without supplementation, while, the feed of three experimental groups was supplemented with 3.32 g CHM, 10 g ginger powder, and 10 g ginger powder+ 3.32 g CHM per kg of diet, respectively. Results showed that feed consumption and production rate were decreased in the HC group, while, feed intake and production significantly improved when birds were given supplemented diet. The production rate and feed intake of the H3 group were even significantly higher than the NC group. The birds that received supplemented diet had higher glucose level compared to HC. Triglycerides and serum cholesterol had significantly decreased level in supplemented groups compared to HC. Fungal catalase (CAT) level was significantly improved in H2 and H3 groups. Nitric oxide (NO), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and Total Protein (T-AOC) level were significantly improved in supplemented groups. Findings showed that ginger powder and CHM could be a viable alternative to the synthetic antibiotic in poultry feed.