Synergistic effect of probiotic, chicory root powder and coriander seed powder on growth performance, antioxidant activity and gut health of broiler chickens.

Gut health plays an important role on production and performance of broilers. This trial was undertaken with an aim to evaluate the synergistic effect of probiotic, chicory root powder and coriander seed powder on the performance and gut health of broiler chicken. For this purpose, a total of 240 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments with 8 replicates of 5 birds in each. Treatment groups included T1 as control i.e., basal diet (BD) without any growth promoter and T2-BD + antibiotic (BMD 0.05%). In the remaining experimental diets, T3-probiotic (@ 0.01%) + chicory root powder (@ 1.0%), T4-probiotic (@ 0.01%) + coriander seed powder (@ 1.5%), T5-chicory root powder (@ 1.0%) + coriander seed powder (@ 1.5%) and T6-probiotic (@ 0.01%) + chicory root powder (@ 1.0%) + coriander seed powder (@ 1.5%). The results indicated that supplementation of probiotic + chicory (T3), probiotic + coriander (T4), chicory + coriander (T5) and probiotic + chicory + coriander (T6) in combination resulted in significantly (P<0.05) higher weight gain and better FCR compared to control and antibiotic groups at 42 d of age. Supplementation of different dietary groups did not show any significant (P>0.05) effect on feed intake of broilers. Supplementation of all the test diets (T3 to T6) significantly (P<0.05) increased the glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione reductase (GSHRx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity when compared to control and antibiotic groups at 42 d of age. Supplementation of all the test diets (T3 to T6) significantly (P<0.05) lowered the pH in the gut, increased Lactobacillus counts, and reduced E. coli and Salmonella counts in the ileum compared to control and antibiotic groups. Supplementation of all the test diets (T3 to T6) significantly (P<0.05) increased the villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), VH:CD ratio and villus width (VW) in the duodenum and only VH and CD in the ileum compared to control and antibiotic groups. Significantly (P<0.05) higher jejunal VH and VW and increased the goblet cell number in duodenum, jejunum and ileum was recorded in all test diets (T3 to T6) compared to control and antibiotic groups. Therefore, combinations of probiotic (0.01%), chicory root powder (1.0%) and coriander seed powder (1.5%) can be used as feed additive for improving performance and gut health of broiler chicken.

Effect of feeding diet with alternate protein sources and quality protein maize on performance and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens.

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of feeding diets with quality protein maize (QPM) along with cottonseed meal (CSM) and guar meal (GM) on nutrient utilization, body weight (BW) gain (BWG), feed efficiency, and antioxidant status in broiler chickens. The biological trial was conducted on day-old broiler chicks (n = 240), which were randomly distributed into 6 dietary groups having 8 replicates with 5 chicks. Six experimental diets were formulated to contain maize (diet I), QPM (diet II), maize+CSM80 g/kg + GM40 g/kg (diet III), maize + CSM120 g/kg + GM60 g/kg (diet IV), QPM+CSM80 g/kg + GM40 g/kg (diet V), and QPM+CSM120 g/kg + GM60g/kg (diet VI). The BWG and feed intake were recorded at weekly intervals. Supplementation of CSM and GM along with QPM or maize depressed (P < 0.05) BWG, feed conversion ratio, and slaughter variables in commercial broilers. Improvement of BWG and breast weight was recorded among the groups supplemented 80 g/kg CSM and 40 g/kg GM with a QPM-based diet compared with those groups fed 120 g/kg CSM and 60 g/kg GM with maize or QPM. The energy and protein utilization decreased among the groups supplemented CSM and GM. However, protein and energy utilization was increased (P < 0.05) among the groups fed QPM-based diets compared with those groups fed CSM and GM with maize or QPM. Therefore, it has been concluded that the performance and other parameters did not differ between the groups fed maize- and QPM-based diets in the present experiment. However, QPM with CSM and GM improved the performance, slaughter parameters, and nutrient utilization over CSM and GM with maize.

Effect of supplementation of multiple enzymes to the diets containing variable protein sources on performance and nutrient utilization in commercial broilers.

The effect of supplementation of multiple enzymes at 0, 1X, and 2X concentration to the diet containing variable protein sources (replacement of soybean meal with 10% guar meal (GM), 10% rapeseed meal (RSM), and 10% cottonseed meal (CSM)) was studied in a factorial manner on performance, carcass yield, protein, and energy utilization in commercial broiler males. For this purpose, 600-day-old commercial male broiler chicks (Ross) were randomly divided into 12 treatment groups with 10 replications of 5 birds each and reared in battery brooders up to 42 days of age. Treatment groups are as follows: T1 control and T2 and T3 corn-soya diet with enzymes at 1X and 2X concentrations, respectively. From T4 to T12 treatments, corn-soya meal was replaced by 10% GM, RSM, and CSM without, with 1X and 2X concentration of enzyme supplementation, respectively. The cumulative body weight gain was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in control and birds fed with GM diet in pre-starter and starter as well as during overall period. Supplementation of multiple enzymes at 1X and 2X did not influence body weight, feed intake, and FCR (P > 0.05) during 0-42 days of age. During experimental period, birds fed with the control diet and 10% GM diet showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher cumulative feed intake and better FCR compared to birds fed with 10% RSM diet and 10% cottonseed meal (CSM). Supplementation of multiple enzymes did not influence the mortality and slaughter variables and protein utilization in broilers.

A green recyclable SO(3)H-carbon catalyst derived from glycerol for the production of biodiesel from FFA-containing karanja (Pongamia glabra) oil in a single step.

Simultaneous esterification and transesterification method is employed for the preparation of biodiesel from 7.5% free fatty acid (FFA) containing karanja (Pongamia glabra) oil using water resistant and reusable carbon-based solid acid catalyst derived from glycerol in a single step. The optimum reaction parameters for obtaining biodiesel in >99% yield by simultaneous esterification and transesterification are: methanol (1:45 mole ratio of oil), catalyst 20wt.% of oil, temperature 160°C and reaction time of 4h. After the reaction, the catalyst was easily recovered by filtration and reused for five times with out any deactivation under optimized conditions. This single-step process could be a potential route for biodiesel production from high FFA containing oils by simplifying the procedure and reducing costs and effluent generation.

Antibacterial properties of leucas cephalotes (roth) spreng. Leaf.

Leucas cephalotes a common ethanomedicinal plant, is used by folklore of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh for fevers and urinary tract infections. In the present study leaves of L. cephalotes were shade dried, powerdered and extracts were made by Soxhlet Extractor using different organic solvents like hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and ethylacetate. The antimicrobial activity of these organic extracts was evaluated against pathogenic organisms of staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Klebsiella pneumoniae. These isolates were obtained from clinical specimens like urine, blood and pus of Sri Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati. The zone of inhibition was determined for these pathogenic microorganism by using specific standards and respective controls for determining Minimum inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Among these tested organic extracts, hexane and methanolic extracts showed prominent antibacterial activity index for each tested extract has been calculated.