Performance, immune response, and meat quality in Newcastle-vaccinated quail fed with colored corn in place of yellow maize.

This work investigated the effects of the usage of colored corn as a replacement for 50% and 100% yellow corn in the diet of Japanese quail. Two hundred and forty-day-old Japanese quails were indiscriminately separated into four experimental groups consisting of six replicates each containing 10 quails. Experimental groups designed: the control group (C) (basal diet-0% colored corn, vaccinated), negative control group (NC) (basal diet-0% colored corn, no vaccine), 50% CC group (basal diet-50% colored corn, vaccinated), and 100% CC group (basal diet-100% colored corn, vaccinated). At the end of the 35-day period, the highest body weight and body weight gain (BWG) were recorded in the 50% CC (P < 0.05). The highest feed intake (FI) was recorded in the 100% CC group, the lowest FI in C (P > 0.05), and the best feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the 50% CC group (P < 0.05). While L* was not affected, a* and b* values were significantly affected by feeding colored corn (P < 0.05). Meat pH, cooking loss (CL), and water holding capacity (WHC) values were significantly affected, and the highest pH and CL values were in the C group and the highest WHC value in NC (P < 0.05). Colored corn had no influence on MDA7th concentration of breast meat. The antibody titers against NDV were significantly superior in the vaccinated groups than in the NC (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the use of colored corn in quail had an affirmative effect on meat quality and growth performance but not on the immune response of quail against NDV.

A comparative study on the effects of hemp seed oil versus four different UFA-rich seed oils' dietary supplementation on egg production performance, egg quality, and yolk fatty acids in laying hens.

This study compared the effects of hemp seed oil versus four different UFA-rich seed oils in the diet of laying hens on egg production, egg quality, and fatty acid profile of the yolk. Soybean oil (SBO), sunflower oil (SFO), corn oil (CO), canola oil (CAO), and hemp seed oil (HSO) were included in the hens' diets in equal proportions. A total of one hundred and twenty White Leghorn hens were allocated into five groups with 8 replicates, each with 3 hens. The trial lasted 84 days and data were collected on egg production, quality, and fatty acid profile of the yolk. The results showed that none of the incorporated seed oils affected egg production parameters and eggshell quality. However, hemp seed oil altered yolk colour values similarly to canola oil by increasing the L* value of the yolk whilst decreasing the a* value (P < 0.05). Hemp oil increased the PUFA content in the yolk, similar to soybean, corn, and sunflower oil, but unlike the latter, it also enriched the n-3 fatty acids in the yolk (P < 0.05). In conclusion, hemp seed oil can be safely used in the diet of chickens without negative effects on egg production and egg quality like other seed oils. Furthermore, hemp seed oil can improve the desirable fatty acid content in the yolk and has the potential to produce n-3-enriched eggs.

Effects of Dietary Different Levels of Nano, Organic and Inorganic Zinc Sources on Performance, Eggshell Quality, Bone Mechanical Parameters and Mineral Contents of the Tibia, Liver, Serum and Excreta in Laying Hens.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary zinc (Zn) sources and their levels on the performance, egg quality, tissue mineral concentrations and bone mechanical traits of laying hens. Two hundred seventy, 44-week-old, Super Nick white laying hens were randomly distributed to 15 experimental groups in a 3 (sources of Zn) × 5 (levels of Zn) factorial arrangement, using groups of 18 birds with 6 replicates. The 15 experimental diets consisted of three sources of Zn (zinc-oxide as an inorganic form, zinc-proteinate as an organic form and nano zinc-oxide powder as a nano form) and five different levels of Zn (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg Zn/kg diet). The experiment lasted 12 weeks. Dietary Zn sources, Zn levels and their interactions had no significant effect on the performance parameters between the treatment groups, nor a significant effect on eggshell weight and eggshell breaking strength. Eggshell thickness and eggshell Ca and P contents were significantly affected by the different dietary Zn sources. Dietary Zn sources, Zn levels and their interactions had no significant effect on tibia Ca and P contents, and also had no significant effect on tibia Zn content. Liver Zn content was significantly affected by the dietary Zn sources. Serum Zn content was not affected by the dietary treatments. Dietary Zn sources, Zn levels and their interactions had no significant effect on tibia weight, tibia stress and tibia breaking strength, as tibia mechanical parameters. Excreta Zn content decreased linearly when hens were fed nano Zn compared to organic and inorganic Zn, and excreta Zn content also linearly increased with increasing dietary Zn levels. In conclusion, 20 mg/kg of supplemental Zn is optimal for sustaining performance, good eggshell quality and bone status, while also reducing Zn excretion and soil pollution, with organic (Zn-proteinate) and nano (ZnO) Zn as the preferred forms in laying hen diets.