Effects of selenium supplementation on the growth performance, slaughter characteristics, and blood biochemistry of naked neck chicken.

This study examined how selenium-supplemented diets affected the performance of naked neck chickens. The birds were fed both organic and inorganic selenium at 0.30 ppm, while the control diet did not include any additional selenium. A total of 225 one-day-old naked neck chicks were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups, each of which was replicated 5 times (replicates) and contained 15 birds. This was done using a completely randomized design. The data was collected after growth, meat quality, and blood profile parameters were assessed. The findings showed that the birds fed inorganic selenium in the diet displayed increased (P < 0.05) feed intake followed by those administered organic selenium and the control diet. On the other hand, birds fed organic selenium in the diet showed enhanced body weight gain and better feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Similarly, organic selenium supplementation increased (P < 0.05) breast and thigh weight compared to inorganic selenium, but no other metrics, such as dressing percentage, drumstick weight, liver weight, gizzard weight, heart weight, or wing weight, significantly differed between treatments (P > 0.05). When compared to birds fed inorganic Se and control diet, the birds fed organic Se had greater (P < 0.05) blood levels of total protein and globulin. Additionally, it was discovered that organic Se-fed birds had greater (P < 0.05) blood Se concentrations than control and inorganic Se-fed birds. However, no differences between treatments were found in albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, or uric acid (P > 0.05). In conclusion, adding Se-enriched yeast, as an organic selenium source, to diets may enhance the poor growth and slaughter characteristics of naked neck chicks without negatively affecting blood chemistry.

Pathological effects of formalin (37% formaldehyde) feeding in female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

The aim of this study was to determine the pathological effects of formalin on female quails. Seventy-five 1-day-old female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonina) were divided into five equal groups (A-E) and fed formalin daily at dose levels of 20, 10, 5, 2.5 and 0 mL/ kg feed, respectively. All birds were slaughtered at the end of the experiment -- the eighth week. No clinical signs were observed in quails fed 2.5 mL formalin/kg feed. Depression, dullness and anorexia were prominent in quails fed 20 mL formalin/kg feed. Feed intake, body weight, egg production and egg weight together with absolute and relative weight of organs, erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit were decreased at higher doses, i.e., 10 and 20 mL formalin/kg feed. Total serum proteins and globulin significantly increased (P <0.05) in all formalin fed quails compared to control birds. No gross lesions were observed in the 2.5 mL formalin/kg fed group. At higher doses (10 and 20 mL formalin/kg feed) hemorrhages on the thigh muscles, decreased weight and reduction in area and folds of different segments of oviduct were recorded. Reduced size of liver, heart and kidneys was recorded in quails fed 20mL formalin/kg feed compared to controls and other birds. The histopathological changes in oviduct consisted of degeneration of mucosal glands characterized by vacuolation of nuclei of cells. It was concluded from the study that formalin feeding to female quails at 2.5 mL/kg feed is without harmful effects, however, higher doses are not without health risks.