Effects of the Melatonin and Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate) as Antioxidants on Biochemical Blood Parameters, Lipid Profile, and Muscle Vitamin E Concentration in Awassi Lambs Fed a High-Energy Diet and Normal Diet.

Health specialists currently suggest low-cholesterol diets, suggesting that cholesterol in the form of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) reduces the risk of chronic atherosclerosis. The large volume of literature describes the biological roles of vitamin E and its application to preventing disease and improving the health and productive performances of farm animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E (Alpha-tocopherol acetate) supplementation and melatonin implants on biochemical blood, lipid profile and muscle vitamin E content of Awassi male lambs fed by a high and normal diet in Iraq. The lambs were divided into teen groups as control normal energy diet T1 (NED) T2 (HED) concentrated lamb fattening feed. Two levels of melatonin (18 and 36 mg implant) were applied to T3, T4, T5, and T6 treatment and 2 levels of Vitamin E (Alpha-tocopherol acetate) diet 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg to T7. T8. T9 and T10, respectively. Results from the present study indicate that Vitamin E 200, 400 mg/lamb/day and melatonin implantation 18 mg, 36 mg/lamb/day significantly (P<0.05) increased total protein in serum while decreasing globulin level, glucose concentration in serum, melatonin implantation 36 mg/lamb and vitamin E 400 mg/lamb/day recorded significantly (P<0.05). The same effect on decreasing cholesterol concentration in serum 42.6mg\dl, 40.5 mg\dl, respectively, compared to non-treated groups. Vitamin E 200 mg/kg/lamb recorded the lowest AST level in serum, 43.3. Lambs implanted with Melatonin 36 mg/lamb and fed a high-energy diet (T8) resulted in a significant decrease of serum ALT activity (P<0.05) in comparison to other treated groups 12.7 U/L was achieved. Lambs fed a normal energy diet with vitamin E 200 mg/kg/lamb (T4) exceeded other treated groups, decreasing ALT serum levels by 9.35 U/L. Interestingly, muscle vitamin E concentrations for lambs received 200, 400 mg/lamb/day on the 2nd, 7th and 14th days of the storage period, and fed high energy diet (T10) or normal energy diet (T5) were significantly higher compared to control group (T1, T6).

Dietary essential oils improve feed efficiency and hepatic antioxidant content of broiler chickens.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of an improved growth, dietary nutrient availability and overall health of broiler chickens reared on recycled litter when fed a standardised combination of essential oils (EO; carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and capsicum oleoresin). To assess the effect of dietary treatments, feed intake, weight gain, feed efficiency, availability of dietary nutrients and energy, villus morphometry, excreta sialic acid concentration, hepatic antioxidants and serum amyloid A (SAA) when fed to broiler chickens were evaluated. Counts of Eimeria spp. oocysts were also determined in excreta samples. Four experimental diets were offered, including two basal control diets based on either wheat or maize that contained 215 g CP/kg and 12.13 MJ/kg metabolisable energy and another two diets using the basal control diets supplemented with the EO combination at 100 mg/kg diet. Each diet was fed to eight floor pens, containing two birds each, following randomisation. Birds fed the EO-supplemented diets had an improved (P0.05) were observed in villus morphometry, sialic acid secretion, number of oocysts and SAA. Feeding the EO improved (P<0.05) the retention of dietary Ca and Na. Compared with maize, feeding wheat-based diets improved the retention coefficients for Ca, P and Na (P<0.05). Feeding dietary EO improved (P<0.05) the concentrations of the hepatic antioxidants, including carotene, coenzyme Q10 and total vitamin E. The hepatic concentration of carotene of the maize-fed birds was 55.6% greater (P<0.05) compared with the wheat-fed birds. These results demonstrated that the addition of a standardised combination of EO in wheat- and maize-based diets provided benefits in terms of feed efficiency, mineral retention and antioxidant status of the birds when reared on recycled litter.

Feeding dihydroquercetin to broiler chickens.

1. A total of 80 male Ross 308 broilers were used in a study to investigate the effect of dietary dihydroquercetin (DHQ) on growth performance variables, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and immune organ development, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and haemoglobin in blood, hepatic vitamin E content, dietary N-corrected metabolisable energy (AMEn) and nutrient retention coefficients when fed to broiler chickens from 7 to 35 d of age. 2. Two treatments were used in this study: control (C) and C + 0.5 g/kg extract of Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica) per kg feed, containing 85% DHQ. The diets were fed over 2 feeding phases, a grower phase from 7 to 28 d of age and a finisher phase from 28 to 35 d of age. The birds were reared under the breeder's recommended conditions. 3. In general, there were no effects of DHQ on growth performance of broiler chickens. However, the results of this experiment showed that there can be changes in the redness colour of the breast meat when DQH is fed. No negative effects of feeding DHQ at 0.5 g/kg diet were observed in this study. 4. Supplementation of poultry diets with DHQ under standard industry-rearing conditions did not improve the performance or any of the studied variables, except an increase of redness index of the breast fillets. Feeding DHQ at different doses and/or under more challenging conditions, e.g. heat stress, may, however, bring positive responses.

The temperature of storage of a batch of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles samples on their nutritive value for broilers.

1. A batch of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was obtained immediately after production and was separated into 5 equal parts and placed in woven polypropylene sacks. The samples were stored under 5 different temperature conditions for 1 year as follows: kept at a constant -20°C; kept at -20°C for 24 h period and after that kept at a constant +4°C; kept at a constant +4°C only; kept at a constant +15°C; stored at ambient temperature (range of weekly mean temperatures was from +4 to +22°C). 2. Each of the 5 wheat DDGS samples was included (200 g/kg) in a nutritionally complete diet and fed to broiler chickens from 7 to 21 d of age. The chemical composition of the DDGS samples was determined at the beginning and at the end of the 1-year storage period. 3. The nitrogen corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn) and the nutrient availability of each sample was measured using a total collection technique. The growth performance of birds was also determined. 4. The DDGS samples kept at a constant -20°C had higher dry matter, lower oxidation value and lower antioxidant contents. The DDGS sample that was stored at ambient temperatures had a higher AMEn than the rest of the DDGS samples. 5. The results of this experiment have shown that there can be changes in the AMEn of wheat DDGS during storage at ambient temperatures. In general, there were no serious effects of storage of DDGS on its feeding value to broiler chickens.

Dietary essential oils improve the hepatic antioxidative status of broiler chickens.

1. A total of 200 male Ross 308 chickens were used to evaluate the effects of a standardised combination of essential oils including 5% carvacrol, 3% cinnamaldehyde and 2% capsicum oleoresin (XT 6930; Pancosma S.A., Geneva, Switzerland) on their performance, hepatic antioxidant concentration and caecal tonsils morphometry. 2. Two diets were offered to broiler chickens from d old to 21 d of age. The control diet (C) was slightly lower in metabolisable energy (12.13 MJ/kg ME) and crude protein (215 g/kg CP) than breeders' recommendation. The second diet, made as XT 6930, was added on the top of the control diet at 100 mg/kg. Each diet was offered ad libitum to birds housed in one of 10 floor pens in a randomised complete block design. The birds were housed in 20 floor pens, 10 birds in each pen, and were allocated to 10 replicates of the two dietary treatments. 3. The concentration of antioxidants in the liver of the birds was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at 21 d of age. Birds fed control diet only had lower weight and converted less efficiently feed to gain compared to birds fed essential oils-supplemented diet. Feed consumption was not affected by dietary treatments. The antioxidant data showed that supplemented essential oils improved the hepatic concentration of carotenoids and coenzyme Q10 when fed to broiler chickens. The morphometry of the caecal tonsils of the birds was not influenced by dietary treatments. 4. It can be concluded that that dietary combination of essential oils, including carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and capsicum oleoresin, improved growth, feed efficiency and the hepatic concentration of carotenoids and coenzyme Q10 when fed to broiler chickens.

Photoperiodic lighting (16 hours of light:8 hours of dark) programs during incubation: 1. Effects on growth and circadian physiological traits of embryos and early stress response of broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a 16L:8D photoperiod during incubation, either during the whole incubation period (Inc(0-21d)) or the last week of incubation (Inc(14-21d)), on embryo growth, incubation performance, and light:dark rhythm of plasma melatonin and corticosterone in relation to early stress responses of newly hatched chicks to the posthatching environment. A dark incubation condition (Inc(Dark)) served as control. Three batches of eggs (n = 1,080, 1,320, 720) from Ross 308 broiler breeders were used in the experiment. Embryos from Inc(0-21d) presented a daily rhythm of melatonin at internal pipping and hatching, but Inc(Dark) embryos did not. The Inc(14-21d) group had rhythmic plasma melatonin at hatching only. A L:D rhythm of corticosterone was apparent at hatching. A significant incubation × sampling time interaction suggested that a lower increment in blood corticosterone level in Inc(0-21d) at 8 h posthatching (light period), as compared with hatching (dark period) values, might be associated with probable changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in Inc(0-21d) through incubation lighting. This finding may also suggest improved adaptation to the posthatching environment. Incubation lighting did not consistently affect brain malondialdehyde concentration; the only difference between groups was higher concentrations at hatching in Inc(14-21d), whereas incubation groups at the internal pipping stage had similar values. Mean relative asymmetry (RA) did not differ with incubation lighting. The malondialdehyde and RA results indicate that neither lighting nor darkness during the overall incubation exacerbated embryo oxidative and developmental stress. An increased breast muscle weight was observed at hatching only in Inc(14-21d). The Inc(0-21d) group had increased embryo weights relative to egg weight and decreased residual yolk but had no effect on chick weight, relative heart and liver (% of embryo weight), hatchability, embryo mortality, incubation time, oxidative stress, or mean RA. In conclusion, these results provide further evidence that photoperiodic lighting during incubation (Inc(0-21d)) may improve adaptation of chicks to a novel environment at hatching, possibly giving birds a better start for early posthatching development.

Photoperiodic lighting (16 hours of light:8 hours of dark) programs during incubation: 2. Effects on early posthatching growth, blood physiology, and production performance in broiler chickens in relation to posthatching lighting programs.

Photoperiodic incubation lighting might improve bird adaptation to a novel environment at hatching for a better start in early posthatching development. We evaluated the effect of 16L:8D lighting for either the whole incubation period (Inc(0-21d)) or the last week of incubation (Inc(14-21d)) on early posthatching growth, blood melatonin, and corticosterone at 6 d as well as malondialdehyde levels in brain tissue, relative asymmetry, and overall broiler performance as an interaction with the posthatching lighting programs. Dark incubation conditions (Inc(Dark)) served as control. There were 3 incubation batches in the experiment. Chicks from 2 of 3 batches were reared either at 16L:8D or under continuous lighting (24 h) through 6 d posthatching. Batch 3 chicks were reared to 35 d under either 16L:8D or 23L:1D. The main finding was a significant incubation × posthatching lighting interaction for 35-d BW in broilers. Although groups had similar BW under continuous lighting, Inc(0-21d) and Inc(14-21d) broilers were respectively 94 and 78 g heavier than Inc(Dark) birds under 16L:8D at 35 d. Lighted incubation groups increased 0 to 6 d of gain and had higher d-6 breast muscle weights with no effect on other traits measured. Posthatching 16L:8D reduced the gain and d-6 breast muscle. Significant incubation × posthatching lighting and posthatching lighting × sampling time interactions for blood melatonin may indicate that Inc(0-21d) affects melatonin diurnal rhythms even at 6 d under continuous light. Lower blood corticosterone levels on d 6 in Inc(0-21d) chicks reared under 16L:8D posthatching may support our hypothesis that incubation lighting can modify the bird stress response, probably affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during ontogeny, and may improve adaptation to a similar environment posthatching. The lower malondialdehyde concentration in brain tissue of Inc(0-21d) birds on d 6 may indicate lower lipid peroxidation and thus lower oxidative stress compared with Inc(Dark). These results provide further evidence that Inc(0-21d) may improve both bird adaptation to a similar photoperiodic environment and growth, probably through early entrainment of circadian physiology.

Historical mutation rates predict susceptibility to radiation in Chernobyl birds.

Extreme environmental perturbations are rare, but may have important evolutionary consequences. Responses to current perturbations may provide important information about the ability of living organisms to cope with similar conditions in the evolutionary past. Radioactive contamination from Chernobyl constitutes one such extreme perturbation, with significant but highly variable impact on local population density and mutation rates of different species of animals and plants. We explicitly tested the hypothesis that species with strong impacts of radiation on abundance were those with high rates of historical mutation accumulation as reflected by cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA base-pair substitution rates during past environmental perturbations. Using a dataset of 32 species of birds, we show higher historical mitochondrial substitution rates in species with the strongest negative impact of local levels of radiation on local population density. These effects were robust to different estimates of impact of radiation on abundance, weighting of estimates of abundance by sample size, statistical control for similarity in the response among species because of common phylogenetic descent, and effects of population size and longevity. Therefore, species that respond strongly to the impact of radiation from Chernobyl are also the species that in the past have been most susceptible to factors that have caused high substitution rates in mitochondrial DNA.

The effect on performance, energy metabolism and hepatic carotenoid content when phytase supplemented diets were fed to broiler chickens.

Two basal diets containing an adequate and a low supply of available P (4.7 vs 2.5 g/kg diet) and three others containing a low available P but supplemented with 250, 500 and 12,500 units of phytase (FTU) per kg diet, respectively, were prepared. Each diet was fed ad libitum to birds in six metabolism cages (five birds in each cage) in a randomised block design. It was found that birds fed a high (12,500 FTU) dosage of phytase grew faster (P<0.001) and retained proportionally more carotenoids in the liver (P<0.05) compared to birds fed unsupplemented diet. The results suggest that dietary phytase may improve the anti-oxidative status of birds fed low P diets through enhancing dietary carotenoid availability.

Effects of different dietary phytase activities on the concentration of antioxidants in the liver of growing broilers.

One-hundred and fifty male chickens were used to evaluate the effects of different activities (0, 250, 500, 12 500 FTU/kg) of phytase on their performance and antioxidant concentration in the liver. The chicks were housed in 30 cages and were allocated to six replicates of five dietary treatments. All diets were formulated to be adequate in energy and protein (12.90 MJ/kg metabolizable energy, 214 g/kg crude protein), however, the negative control (NC) was lower in available P compared with the positive control (PC) (2.5 vs. 4.5 g/kg diet). The other three diets were the NC supplemented with phytase at 250, 500 and 12 500 FTU/kg (NC + 250, NC + 500 and NC + 12 500 FTU respectively). The concentration of antioxidants in the liver of the birds was determined using HPLC at 21 days of age. Low P diets (NC) reduced weight gain, however, supplementation with phytase improved weight gain to the extent that it was better than the PC at the 12 500 FTU treatment (p < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio was also improved by the high level of phytase supplement more than other treatments (p < 0.05). Feed consumption was not affected either by dietary phosphorus concentration or by different phytase supplementation. The antioxidant data showed that the unsupplemented diet with low phosphorus (NC) decreased the concentration of coenzyme Q(10) and retinol-linoleate in the liver compared with that of birds on the adequate phosphorus treatment (PC). Phytase supplementation, especially at the higher doses (500 and 12 500 FTU) increased the level of coenzyme Q(10) to the same level as the PC treatment. In addition, the highest dose (12 500 FTU) of phytase increased retinol concentration in the liver of chickens compared with those on the NC treatment. The highest inclusion level of phytase increased the alpha-tocopherol level in the liver compared with the lower levels of phytase (NC + 250 and NC + 500 FTU).

The selenium levels of mothers and their neonates using hair, breast milk, meconium, and maternal and umbilical cord blood in Van Basin.

The objective of the present study is to calculate linear regressions between a mother and her child with respect to their selenium concentration (ng/g) in the following traits: maternal blood and umbilical cord blood, maternal and child hair, maternal milk and child umbilical cord blood, maternal milk and meconium, maternal blood plasma, and child meconium. The data were collected at Research Hospital of the University of Yüzüncü Yil from 30 pairs of mothers and their newborn baby. The mean maternal serum Se level in 30 mothers was 68.52 +/- 3.57 ng/g and cord plasma level was 119.90 +/- 18.08 ng/g. The Se concentration in maternal and neonatal hair was 330.84 +/- 39.03 and 1,124.76 +/- 186.84 ng/g, respectively. The Se concentration of maternal milk at day 14 after delivery was determined as 68.63 +/- 7.78 ng/g (n = 13) and the concentration of Se was 418.90 +/- 45.49 ng/g (n = 22) for meconium of neonatal. There was no significant difference between maternal blood and milk Se levels. However, hair Se concentration was significantly higher than milk and maternal blood Se level. For each trait comparison, the average absolute difference in log(10)-transformed Se concentration was calculated between a mother and her child. The observed average absolute difference was compared with a test distribution of 1,000 resampled bootstrap averages where the number of samples was maintained but the relationship between a mother and her child was randomized among samples (alpha = 0.05).

Dietary vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) and selenium supplementation from different sources: performance, ascites-related variables and antioxidant status in broilers reared at low and optimum temperatures.

1. This study compared the effect of dietary supplementation with organic or inorganic selenium (Se) sources plus control amounts or large amounts of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) in broilers raised at control (20 to 24 degrees C) or low (14.5 to 16.8 degrees C) temperatures after 2 weeks of age. 2. The following dietary treatments were used from one day old. Diet 1, the control diet, comprised a commercial diet containing 0.15 mg/kg inorganic Se and 50 mg vitamin E/kg feed. Diet 2 was the same as diet 1, supplemented with 0.15 mg/kg inorganic Se. Diet 3 was the same as diet 2 but was supplemented with 200 mg/kg vitamin E. Diet 4 was the same as diet 1, but inorganic Se was replaced with 0.30 mg/kg organic Se. Diet 5 was the same as diet 4, supplemented with 200 mg/kg vitamin E. 3. Low temperature reduced the growth rate of broilers; however, at 6 weeks, there were no differences in the body weights of birds fed on organic Se supplemented diets housed at low or control temperature. The feed conversion ratio was significantly affected by low temperature but not by diet. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio was higher in chicks after one week in the cold, indicating mild stress. Blood triiodothyronine levels were significantly higher in birds after 1 and 4 weeks in the cold but thyroxin was not affected. 4. Organic Se supplementation increased relative lung weight at the control temperature, which might lead to greater respiratory capacity. Relative spleen weight significantly decreased in broilers fed diets supplemented with inorganic Se under cold conditions, a possible indication of chronic oxidative stress. 5. At the low temperature, supplementation with organic Se alone, or with inorganic Se and vitamin E increased glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and glutathione (GSH) concentration in the liver of broilers, which may indicate increased activity of birds' antioxidant defence against suboptimal environments.

Effects of carotenoids from lucerne, marigold and tomato on egg yolk pigmentation and carotenoid composition.

1. The effects of various sources of natural carotenoids (Px alfalfa concentrate, tomato powder and marigold extract) as feed additives in quail diets on egg yolk pigmentation and carotenoid composition were investigated. 2. Adult Japanese quail were fed one of 5 different diets for 23 d: three diets each contained Px alfalfa concentrate (PX) or tomato powder (TP) or marigold extract (MG), one diet contained marigold extract and tomato powder (MG + TP) and a control diet (wheat/barley based) was low in carotenoid. All products were added at a rate of 2%, apart from marigold extract which was added at a rate of 0.2%. 3. Visual assessment of yolk colour (Roche colour fan) showed a stabilised yolk colour of 1.6, 7.7, 8.5, 8.8 and 10.6 for the control, PX, TP, MG and MG + TP treatments, respectively. 4. The total carotenoid concentration of the egg yolks were 2.2, 22.4, 4.1, 39.0 and 37.7 microg/g for the experimental groups fed the following diets: control, PX, TP, MG and MG + TP, respectively. Deposition of retinol, alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol in the egg yolk was unaffected by treatments. 5. Lutein was shown to be the major carotenoid in the egg yolk, comprising 1.65, 17.97, 2.03, 31.14 and 28.57 microg/g in control, PX, TP, MG and MG + TP, respectively. Inclusion of TP in the quail diet resulted in lycopene transfer to the egg. 6. It was concluded that, in comparison with the control group, there was an increase in the yolk concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and beta-carotene in eggs produced by female quail fed diets supplemented with natural carotenoids.

Supplementation of the maternal diet with tomato powder and marigold extract: effects on the antioxidant system of the developing quail.

The effects of natural dietary carotenoid supplementation of the maternal diet (tomato powder and marigold extract) on transfer to the egg yolk and on the development of the antioxidant system of the young quail liver in early postnatal life were investigated. Sixty Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were allocated to four treatment groups, each with three replicates consisting of four females and one male each. The quail were fed on one of four different diets for 23 d, each of them based on a low carotenoid, wheat/barley-based control diet. Tomato powder and marigold extract were added at rates of 20 and 2 g/kg to treatments 2 and 3, respectively. Marigold extract and tomato powder were also used in combination in treatment 4 at 2 g marigold + 20 g tomato powder/kg of diet. At 20 weeks of age, 60 eggs from each treatment were collected and placed in an incubator. After hatching, d-old quail from each group were reared (under standard commercial conditions) up to 14 d of age. They were fed on a low-carotenoid commercial diet. After hatch, at 1, 7 and 14 d, the livers of five young quail from each treatment were assessed for total carotenoid concentration and carotenoid profile. Results indicated that lycopene is transferred from the feed to the egg yolk and further to the liver of the developing embryo. Elevated carotenoid concentration in the egg yolk and correspondingly in the liver of newly hatched quail remains significant during first week posthatch. Lutein and lycopene did not affect vitamin E concentration in the egg yolk or liver of the newly hatched quail. A combination of increased concentrations of lycopene and lutein in the egg yolk results in elevated concentrations of coenzyme Q in the liver of the newly hatched quail.

Effect of organic selenium in quail diet on its accumulation in tissues and transfer to the progeny.

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects on the eggs and hatchlings (up to 2 weeks post-hatch) of feeding a relatively large amount of so-called organic selenium to breeder quail. 2. Two groups of quail (3 families in each group consisting of 4 females and 1 male) were formed at the beginning of their reproductive period. The quail were fed on a commercial maize-based diet containing 0.096 mg/kg feed-derived selenium (Se), supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg selenite (control group) or 0.5 mg/kg organic selenium in the form of Sel-Plex (Alltech Ltd, USA) for 6 months. Eggs were collected at 6 months of age and Se in the egg yolk, egg white and shell was analysed. Five quail at 1, 7 and 14 d post-hatch were killed to provide samples of liver, brain, breast and leg muscles for Se analysis. After egg collection for analysis and incubation, adult quail were killed and liver, kidney, lung, brain, breast and leg muscles were collected for Se analyses. 3. Inclusion of high doses (0.5 mg/kg) of organic Se in the quail diet was associated with a significant increase in Se concentration in all tissues studied of adult quail as well as in egg yolk, egg albumin and eggshell. 4. Increased Se concentration in the quail egg was associated with increased Se concentration in the liver, breast and leg muscles and brain of newly hatched quail. This difference was shown to be significant for 2 weeks post-hatch. Therefore, it has been suggested that the maternal effect of dietary selenium can be seen beyond the hatching time and more emphasis should be given to this effect in future. 5. It was shown that it is possible to produce Se-enriched quail meat and eggs by adding organic selenium to the diet.