Red osier dogwood extract versus Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Part 1). Effects on the growth performance, blood parameters, gut histomorphometry, and Salmonella excretion of broiler chickens orally challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis.

The poultry industry has not been spared from the prevalent incidence of diseases caused by invasive pathogens, especially Salmonella. Due to the pressing need to identify a suitable antibiotic alternative for use in poultry production, this study investigated the efficacy of red osier dogwood (ROD) extract on the growth, blood parameters, gut morphology, and Salmonella excretion in broiler chickens orally challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). A 4 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted based on 2 main factors, namely dietary treatments, and SE challenge. A total of 404, one-day-old male Ross broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments; 1) Negative control (NC), 2) NC + 0.075 ppm of Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (TMP/SDZ)/kg of diet, 3) NC + 0.3% ROD extract, and 4) NC + 0.5% ROD extract. The absence of SE in the fecal samples obtained from chick delivery boxes was confirmed on d 0. On d 1, half of the birds were orally gavaged with 0.5 mL of phosphate-buffered saline each (noninfected group) and the remaining with 0.5 mL of 3.1 × 105 CFU/mL SE (infected group) in all treatment groups. Dietary treatments were randomly assigned to 8 replicate cages at 6 birds/cage. On 1-, 5-, 12-, and 18-day postinfection (DPI), cloacal fecal samples were collected on the 6 birds/cage to assess SE excretion. Average weight gain (AWG), average feed intake (AFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality were determined weekly. On d 21, 10 chickens/treatment were euthanized to perform hematology, gut histomorphometry, serum immunoglobulins G and M (IgG and IgM), and superoxide dismutase measurements. Both ROD extract levels did not affect (P > 0.05) growth performance; however, the SE-infected birds showed increased (P < 0.05) AFI and FCR throughout the experimental period. Regardless of the SE-infection, both ROD extract levels improved (P < 0.05) duodenal villus height: crypt depth compared to other treatments. 0.5% ROD extract improved (P < 0.05) ileal villus width (VW) of noninfected birds and ileal crypt depth of infected birds, but it decreased (P < 0.05) the ileal VW of infected birds, compared to other treatments. The SE-infected birds showed lower (P < 0.05) lymphocytes (L) but increased (P < 0.05) heterophils (H), H:L, and monocytes (MON). Both ROD extract levels did not affect (P > 0.05) white blood cell differential, while dietary 0.3% ROD extract increased (P < 0.05) MON of the birds, regardless of infection model. Regardless of infection model, both TMP/SDZ and 0.5% ROD extract reduced the concentration of IgM in the serum, compared to the control and 0.3% ROD (P = 0.006). Conclusively, both ROD extract levels improved duodenal histomorphology and body defense against SE infection in broiler chickens; however, the 0.3% ROD extract was better.

Red osier dogwood extract vs. trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Part 2). Pharmacodynamic effects on ileal and cecal microbiota of broiler chickens challenged orally with Salmonella Enteritidis.

With the subsisting restrictions on the use of antibiotics in poultry production, the use of plant extracts has shown some promising antimicrobial capacity similar to antibiotics; however, such capacity is largely dependent on their total polyphenol concentration and profile. Given the emerging antimicrobial potential of red osier dogwood (ROD) extract, the study aimed to investigate the pharmacodynamic effect of ROD extract on the ileal and cecal microbiota of broiler chickens challenged orally with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). A 21 d 4 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted based on 2 main factors, including diets and SE challenge. A total of 384 one-day-old mixed-sex Cobb-500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments; Negative control (NC), NC + 0.075 mg trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (TMP/SDZ)/kg of diet, and NC containing either 0.3 or 0.5% ROD extract. On d 1, half of the birds were orally challenged with 0.5 mL of phosphate-buffered saline (Noninfected group) and the remaining half with 0.5 mL of 3.1 × 105 CFU/mL SE (Infected group). Dietary treatments were randomly assigned to 8 replicate cages at 6 birds/cage. On d 21, 10 birds/treatment were euthanized and eviscerated to collect ileal and cecal digesta for gut microbiota analysis. The ileal and cecal microbiota was dominated by phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota. The SE infection decreased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota in the ileum and ceca, respectively, however, it increased (P < 0.05) Proteobacteria in the ceca. Both 0.3 and 0.5% ROD extracts (P < 0.05) depressed the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota in the ileum but marginally improved (P < 0.05) it in the ceca compared to the TMP/SDZ treatment. Dietary TMP/SDZ increased (P < 0.05) genus Bifidobacterium at the ileal and cecal segments compared to other treatments. Dietary 0.3 and 0.5% marginally improved (P < 0.05) Bifidobacterium in the ceca and depressed (P < 0.05) Weissella and was comparably similar to TMP/SDZ in the ileum. Regardless of the dietary treatments and SE infection, alpha diversity differed (P < 0.05) between ileal and cecal microbiota. Beta diversity was distinct (P < 0.05) in both ileal and cecal digesta along the SE infection model. Conclusively, both ROD extract levels yielded a pharmacodynamic effect similar to antibiotics on ileal and cecal microbiota.

Fruit pomaces-their nutrient and bioactive components, effects on growth and health of poultry species, and possible optimization techniques.

The ever-growing human population, coupled with the exigent need to meet the increasing demand for poultry meat and egg, has put the onus on poultry nutritionists and farmers to identify alternative feed ingredients that could assure the least-cost feed formulation. In addition, the public desire for non-antibiotic-treated poultry products has also necessitated the ultimate search for potent antibiotic alternatives for use in poultry production. While some identified alternatives are promising, their cost implications and technical know-how requirements may discourage their ease of adoption in poultry. The use of plants and/or their by-products, like fruit pomaces, present a pocket-friendly advantage and as a result, are gaining much interest. This is traceable to their rich phytochemical profile, nutritional composition, ready availability, and relatively cheap cost. The fruit juice and wine pressing industries generate a plethora of fruit wastes annually. Interestingly, fruit pomaces contain appreciable dietary fibre, protein, and phenolic compounds, and thus, their adoption could serve the poultry industry in dual capacities including as substitutes to antibiotics and some conventional feedstuff. Thus, there is a possibility to reduce fruit wastes produced and feed-cost in poultry farming from environmental and economical standpoints, respectively. This review seeks to provide reinforcing evidence on the applicability and impact of fruit pomaces in poultry nutrition.

Effect of red osier dogwood extract on growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, and gut functionality of broiler chickens challenged or unchallenged intraperitoneally with Salmonella Enteritidis lipopolysaccharide.

As we advance in the search for antibiotic-alternatives, harnessing plant materials with high total polyphenol concentration (TPC) would be quintessential. Given the high TPC in red osier dogwood (ROD) extract, the current study aimed to determine its efficacy on the growth performance, intestinal health, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant capacity of broiler chickens. A 21-day 4x2 factorial feeding trial was conducted based on two main factors namely, dietary treatments and Salmonella Enteritidis Lipopolysaccharides SE-LPS) challenge. A total of 384 one-day-old mixed-sex Cobb-500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments - Negative control (NC), NC + 0.05% bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD), NC + 0.3%ROD, and NC+0.5% ROD. Each treatment was assigned to eight replicates with six birds/replicate. On d 13 and 20, half of the birds were intraperitoneally injected with 1mL phosphate-buffered-saline /kg BW of birds (Unchallenged-group) and the remaining half with 1mg SE-LPS /kg BW of birds (Challenged-group). Average weight gain (AWG), average feed intake (AFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality were determined weekly. On d 21, ten chickens/treatment were euthanized for measuring blood biochemical parameters, immune organ weights, caecal SCFA, and caeca microbiota. The SE-LPS decreased (P < 0.05) AWG and FCR on d 14 and 21, respectively. On d 14, 21, and overall basis, both ROD extract levels marginally improved (P < 0.05) the AWG of unchallenged birds compared to other treatments in the unchallenged-group. Challenged and unchallenged birds fed ROD extract had deeper (P < 0.05) crypt depth (CD) and higher villus height:CD, respectively, in the ileum. Globulin (GLB) and albumin:GLB were increased and reduced (P < 0.05), respectively, among birds fed 0.3%ROD compared to other treatments. There was no treatment effect on caeca SCFA, relative weight of immune organs, and serum antioxidants. Birds fed ROD extract had a higher (P < 0.05) relative abundance of caecal Lactobacillus and Streptococcus genera compared to the antibiotic treatment. Conclusively, incorporating 0.3% and 0.5%ROD extract into broiler chickens' nutrition improved growth performance and ileal morphology, and modified caecal microbiota of broiler chickens, regardless of the intraperitoneal SE-LPS challenge.

Dietary grape pomace - effects on growth performance, intestinal health, blood parameters, and breast muscle myopathies of broiler chickens.

The search for alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production is still on-going and has been directed towards investigation of the efficacy of different potential alternatives. However, it is important that the sought alternatives are cost-efficient and have no negative impact on meat quality, for ease of adoption and profit maximization. This study aimed at exploiting an agro-industrial waste, grape pomace (GP) as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics and assessing the effects on growth, intestinal morphology, ceca microbiota, ceca short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration, blood biochemical parameters, and breast muscle myopathies of broiler chickens. A total of 576 one-day-old Cobb-500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments - Negative control (NC, a corn-wheat soybean-based diet), NC + 0.05% bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD), and NC + 2.5% GP. Each treatment was assigned to 8 replicate pens with 25 birds per pen. Body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined weekly. On d 36, 2 chickens/pen were euthanized for measuring blood biochemical parameters, ceca SCFA, and ceca microbiota. White striping (WS) and wooden breast (WB) incidence were assessed in 4 chickens/pen on d 42. The GP diet increased (P < 0.05) average FI throughout the feeding phases compared to the other treatments, but overall FCR was similar. Birds in the GP treatment had higher (P < 0.05) villus height (VH) and increased VH:crypt depth ratio in the duodenum and jejunum compared to other treatments. The level of ceca SCFA and the incidence of WS and WB was the same for all treatments. Plasma Ca and P were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed GP and BMD, compared to the NC. Birds in the GP treatment had significantly reduced (P < 0.05) plasma aspartate transaminase than other treatments. Birds receiving GP had a higher (P < 0.05) relative abundance of the phylum Bacteroidetes and reduced (P < 0.05) Firmicutes compared to other treatments. The relative abundance of Bacteroides and Lactobacillus genera were higher (P < 0.05) among birds fed GP compared to other treatments. Inclusion of 2.5% GP in broiler chicken diets improved gut morphology and modified the cecal bacterial community and blood biochemical profiles with no adverse effect on growth performance and meat quality.