Comparison of the effect of probiotic, prebiotic, salinomycin and vaccine in control of coccidiosis in broiler chickens.

BACKGROUND: Coccidiosis is the most common parasitic disease in poultry, ionophore antibiotics are preferred drugs for controlling this disease. However, prolonged use of ionophores will result in Eimeria deformation and resistance to these drugs. AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of probiotic and prebiotic, that is used to boost digestive system health, with salinomycin and vaccine in controlling coccidiosis. METHODS: A completely randomized design, including 6 treatments, 4 replications and 20 birds in each experimental unit was applied. All experimental groups except negative control were challenged with suspension containing a mixture of three common species in Iran by oral inoculation in the crop at 28 days of age. RESULTS: The results showed that the reduction of oocyst excretion was significant in coccidiostat (salinomycin), vaccine (Livacox® T), and probiotic (Primalac®) compared to the positive control group (P<0.05). Also, in the intestinal tract injuries, there was a significant reduction between the vaccine and salinomycin compared to the positive control group only in the cecum section (P<0.05). The effect of treatments on performance index (PI) was investigated and it was found that the best performance between infected groups was for salinomycin and vaccine groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Finally, it can be concluded that probiotic and prebiotic are not effective in controlling coccidiosis and its complications like vaccine and salinomycin.

Influence of dietary tannic acid and polyethylene glycol on growth and intestinal D-xylose absorption of broiler cockerels and activity of serum enzymes.

1. In an experiment on broiler cockerels, the influence of tannic acid (TA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight of intestine and liver, the activities of serum enzymes LDH, AST, ALT and intestinal absorption function were investigated. 2. Broiler cockerels were given either a commercial diet alone (control group) or a commercial diet with TA (20 g/kg), PEG (10 g/kg) or TA plus PEG (20 + 10 g/kg), for 10 d. 3. On the last day of the experiment, all birds and remaining feed were weighed individually and a sample of blood was taken to measure the serum activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The capacity of intestinal cells for the absorption of D-xylose was measured. Finally all birds were killed humanely and the intestine and liver were weighed. 4. The results showed that TA significantly reduced BWG and FCR, as well as the activity of LDH, AST and ALT. 5. TA also increased the relative weight of the intestine. Adding PEG alone had no effect on any of the measured parameters. 6. However, PEG improved significantly BWG, FCR and the activity of LDH and AST of TA-fed birds. 7. The plasma D-xylose concentration of experimental birds was similar for all dietary treatments most likely because of temporal separation between feeding the dietary TA and administering the D-xylose. 8. It was concluded that the presence of tannins in the GI lumen of the bird was necessary to affect the processes involved in the absorption of simple sugars such as D-xylose, at the level of intestinal absorptive cells.

Effects of glucose injection and feeding oasis on broiler chick's subsequent performance.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of glucose injection and feeding Oasis immediately posthatch on the subsequent performance of broilers. Experiment was carried out using a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement (2 x 2 x 2 x 2). Factors were included egg weight (small eggs weighting between 50 to 60 g and medium eggs weighting between 61 to 70 g), glucose injection (Control with no injection and 0.3 mL glucose injection), feeding in transportation boxes during shipping period (chicks fed Oasis and those hold with no access to feed and water) and house arrival feeding (chicks that receive feed immediately at arrival and those hold for an additional 12 h without feed). Treatments were replicated three times with 25 chicks per each. Live weight and feed intake were measured for each experimental unit at 7, 21 and 42 days of age and then weight gain and feed: gain was calculated. On days 3, 21 and 42, two chicks from each replicate were killed for carcass analysis including yolk sac residue weight (third day), duodenum, jejunum and ileum weight and length and also liver and gizzard weight. Results show an improved Weight Gain (WG) and feed efficiency (p < 0.05) in chicks from medium eggs compared to those from small eggs. A significant interaction (p < 0.05) between glucose injection and egg weight was observed, so that chicks of small eggs with glucose injection show a significant (p < 0.05) depression in WG. Chicks with immediate access to Oasis had greater (p < 0.05) duodenum and jejunum relative weight on day 3 and duodenum on day 42. Oasis fed chicks also had better WG and breast meat yield (p < 0.05) while feeding Oasis did not influence feed efficiency. Feeding Oasis also increased yolk utilization. Chicks with delayed access to feed in the house compensate their initial decreased WG during the later stages. Glucose injection had no beneficial effect, but immediate access to feed in posthatch chicks improved their performance.