Effects of Artemisia annua supplementation on the performance and gut health of laying hens challenged with mixed Eimeria species.

Background: Coccidiosis outbreaks in susceptible laying hens can significantly decrease egg production and cause substantial economic loss to the egg industry. The supplementation of poultry diets with chemotherapeutic agents is limited due to antimicrobial resistance and residue in poultry meat or processed products. Therefore, alternative strategies to control coccidiosis are needed, and Artemisia annua (AA) might have the potential to be a phytogenic feed additive, an alternative to anticoccidial agents. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the dietary supplementation of powdered AA on the performance and gut health of laying hens infected with coccidiosis by Eimeria spp. Methods: A total of 225 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens at 23 weeks of age were allocated into 5 treatment groups: 1) control (NC), 2) pair-fed (PF) control, 3) challenged control (CC), 4) CC with dietary inclusion of 0.5% AA (0.5AA), and v) CC with dietary inclusion of 1% AA (1AA). The hens in the CC, 0.5AA, and 1AA groups were orally inoculated with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria maxima (12,500), Eimeria tenella (12,500), and Eimeria acervulina (62,500) at week 25. The PF hens received the same amount of feed consumed by the CC hens from 0-14 days post-inoculation (dpi) of Eimeria spp. The performance of the laying hens, including body weight (BW), hen-day egg production (HDEP), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR), was measured weekly. Additionally, markers of intestinal health, including gut permeability, lesion score, intestinal morphometry, and immune responses, were evaluated at 6, 14, and 21 dpi. Results: At 6 and 14 dpi, laying hens challenged with Eimeria spp. had a lower BW than PF and NC hens (p < 0.0001). Supplementation of 1% AA improved the HDEP by 8.1% compared to CC hens; however, it was still 15.4% lower than that of PF hens (p < 0.0001). The inclusion of 1% AA did not have any beneficial effect on FI; however, the FCR was improved by 0.61 (2.46) than that of CC hens (3.07; p < 0.0001). The inclusion of 1% AA reduced the severity of the intestinal lesions and increased the recovery of intestinal villi (p < 0.05). Additionally, gut permeability was significantly different between the challenged and non-challenged hens; however, among the challenged hens, the inclusion of AA reduced the gut permeability by 29% compared to CC hens (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the inclusion of 0.5% AA reduced the inflammatory responses in the infected hens. Conclusion: Dietary inclusion of AA partially restored the performance and gut health of the laying hens and modulated their inflammatory immune response following Eimeria infection; however, further studies are needed to better understand the mode of action and effective dosages to improve the gut health without negative impacts on the performance.

The effect of dietary supplementation of coenzyme Q10 on reproductive variables of cadmium-challenged male Japanese quails (Coturnix Japonica).

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, efforts to produce more efficient poultry products have increased due to its high demand. Meanwhile, some stressors have a negative impact on poultry efficiency and reproduction. Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal with a high potential for inducing reactive oxygen species. On the other hand, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), with antioxidant properties, exerts a free radical-neutralizing effect on biological systems under stressful conditions. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effect of dietary CoQ10 supplementation on reproductive variables of Cd-challenged male quails. METHODS: Two hundred and sixteen 42-day-old Japanese quails with a male-to-female ratio of 1:3 were randomly divided into three experimental groups (n = 72) and fed by experimental diets from 9 to 13 weeks of age (woa). Treatments included a negative control (NC): feeding basal diet; positive control (PC): feeding basal diet and Cd administration (1 mg per 100 g body weight at 10 and 11 woa); and CdQ10: dietary supplementation of CoQ10 (900 mg per kg diet) and Cd administration. At 10 and 13 woa, liver and testis, cloacal gland index, sera concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and testosterone, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), testicular histology, mRNA abundance of Hsp70 and fatty acid profile of testis, as well as hatchability and fertility, were measured. RESULTS: Liver and testis weights, cloacal gland index, serum concentration of testosterone, ALT, MDA, TAC, mRNA abundance of HSP70, hatchability, and fertility were not affected by the treatments. However, Cd administration decreased seminiferous tubule diameter and seminiferous epithelium thickness (SET) in the PC group compared to the NC group (p < 0.05). The proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in testis tissue was increased, and the proportion of PUFA and n-3 to n-6 PUFA ratio was decreased in the PC group compared to the NC group (p < 0.05). In addition, CoQ10 supplementation ameliorated the effect of Cd on decreasing SFA and increasing n-3 to n-6 PUFA ratio proportions. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, Cd exerts several adverse effects on reproductive-associated variables; some, but not all, of them are mitigated by CoQ10 supplementation.

The effect of acidifier supplementation on egg production performance and intestinal histology of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).

BACKGROUND: Acidifier are substances with antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, performance and health benefits that are frequently employed in feed acidification, especially in poultry diet. Meanwhile, the most important factor for acidifier efficiency is the proportion of different acids in the final product. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of a commercial acidifier on egg production and histology of the small intestine in laying Japanese quail. METHODS: One-hundred and sixty female quails at 15 weeks of age were divided into four groups and fed basal diet supplemented with different levels of acidifier (0, 1, 2 and 3 gr acidifier/kg of basal diet) for 8 weeks. Egg production, egg quality attributes and body weight (BW) were measured every 2 weeks. Histology of the small intestine and bacterial population of cecum as well as pH of crop, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and cecum contents were also investigated at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: Feed conversion ratio (FCR), yolk height, shell thickness, pH of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum; duodenum, villus width (VW), villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD); jejunum VH, VW and ileum VH to CD ratio (VCR) were linearly improved by the increasing levels of acidifier supplementation (P < 0.05). Duodenum VH increased in a linear and quadratic manner in response to increasing levels of acidifier. Egg weight, yolk diameter, jejunum CD, ileum CD, ileum VW, duodenum CD and jejunum VCR quadratically improved by grading levels of acidifier (P < 0.01). BW, albumen height, Haugh unit, ileum VH and ileum VCR were cubically enhanced (P < 0.05). Acidifier supplementation enhanced egg production, FCR, jejunum, ileum and cecum pH and VH, CD and VW of duodenum and jejunum, compared to the control group (P < 0.05); however, dietary acidifier did not affect egg mass, gizzard pH, ileum VH and bacterial count of the cecum (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, as calculated, the supplementation of 1 and 2.6 g acidifier per kg of diet was associated with beneficial effects on egg production and quality, gastrointestinal tract pH and histology of the small intestine in laying quails.

Effects of dietary supplementation of different sources and levels of selenium on the semen quality and reproductive performance in aged broiler breeder roosters.

Fertility has a great impact on economic outcome in poultry sector. However, several physiological stressors such as aging adversely affected fertilization capacity and hatching quantity and quality. This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of different sources and levels of inorganic and organic selenium on the semen quality and reproductive performance of aged broiler breeder roosters. A total of thirty-six 50-wk-old Ross 308 roosters were randomly allocated to 6 groups and fed with different levels of organic and inorganic selenium. Treatments were included in the basal diet (control: CG), dietary supplementation of 0.15 (SeY0.15), 0.30 (SeY0.30), and 0.45 (SeY0.45) mg/kg selenium-enriched yeast (SeY), dietary supplementation of 0.30 mg/kg commercial organic selenium (Selemax), and dietary supplementation of 0.30 mg/kg sodium selenite (SS) as an inorganic source during 12 consecutive weeks. Ejaculated volume, semen quality attributes of the collected semen samples were evaluated every week. To assess fertility, hatchability and the hatched chick quality, the semen samples collected during last 2 wk of the trial were used to artificial insemination of hens. In order to measure seminiferous tube diameter and seminiferous epithelium thickness, testicular histology was also performed at the end of the experiment. Sperm motility, plasma membrane functionality and integrity, and ejaculation volume were higher in the SeY0.45 group compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Fertility and hatchability rate as well as seminiferous epithelium thickness and seminiferous tube diameter were improved in the SeY0.45 compared with CG, SeY0.15 and SS groups (P < 0.05). Also hatchelling quality from roosters with SeY0.45 was higher than CG and SS groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences were noted in embryonic mortality between groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 0.45 mg SeY improved sperm quality and reproductive performance of aged broiler breeder roosters.

Effects of coenzyme Q10 on reproductive performance of laying Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) under cadmium challenge.

Japanese quail is an increasingly important bird of economic importance for commercial egg and meat production, particularly in developing countries. There is a need for research aimed at improving efficiency of these birds during stressful challenges, such as oxidative stress. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a highly functional antioxidant, protects cells against oxidative stress. This study was conducted to determine the effects of CoQ10 on reproductive performance of Japanese quail under cadmium (Cd) challenge. A total of 216 six-wk-old Japanese quail were randomly allocated into 3 groups for an 8 wk experimental trial. The treatments include a negative control (NC): feeding basal diet; a positive control (PC): feeding basal diet and cadmium administration (1 mg/100 g BW, at 10 and 11 wk of age), and (CdQ10): feeding CoQ10 supplemented (900 mg/kg diet) basal diet and Cd administration. At 11 and 13 wk of age, egg production, body weight, mortality, oviduct, and ovarian biometry, were recorded. Histology and histopathology of isthmus and magnum, fertility, hatchability, hatchling quality, and HSP70 mRNA transcript abundance in the utero-vaginal junction (UVJ) were evaluated. Positive control and CdQ10 group had no significant effect on live body weight, stroma weight, follicle size, hatchability, and fertility; however, Cd administration increased (P < 0.01) mortality rate in the PC group compared to the NC and CdQ10 groups. CdQ10 quail produced more eggs and had a higher hatchling quality compared to the PC group (P < 0.01). The thickness and height of isthmus and magnum folds in the CdQ10 group was increased compared to the PC group (P < 0.01) and overall oviduct weight was increased with CoQ10 supplementation (P < 0.01). Compared to PC, the CdQ10 group had a reduction in infiltration of inflammatory cells. Relative abundance of HSP70 mRNA in UVJ was influenced by interactive effect of treatment × time (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of CoQ10 showed beneficial effects on some reproduction characteristics of female Japanese quail under Cd-induced oxidative stress.