Effects of essential oils from Liquidambar orientalis Mill. leaves on growth performance, carcass and some organ traits, some blood metabolites and intestinal microbiota in broilers.

1. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of liquidambar essential oils (LEO) isolated from Turkish sweet gum (Liquidambar orientalis Mill.) leaves on growth performance, carcass, edible inner organs (EIO), gastrointestinal traits (gut), some blood metabolites and jejunum microbiota in broilers. 2. A total of 375 one-d-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to 5 treatments with 5 pens with 15 birds. The birds were fed on diets without antibiotics (CONT), with antibiotic (50 mg per kg, AB), with LEOs at 0.0405 (0.04LEO), 0.0811 (0.08LEO) or 0.1622 (0.16LEO) g/kg feed up to 42 d of age. The levels of LEOs included to diets were determined according to in vitro antimicrobial activity. 3. From d 1 to 42, the 0.08LEO treatment had higher live weight gain (LWG) compared to others. The 0.08LEO treatment increased feed intake (FI) compared to the CONT, AB and 0.04LEO. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of these birds was lower than those in the AB and 0.16LEO treatments. From 1 to 42 d of age for LWG, the effects were quadratic and cubic, while those for FI and FCR were cubic and quadratic, respectively. Birds that fed 0.08LEO and AB diets had higher and lower carcass weights (CW) than those that fed other diets. The effect of LEO levels was cubic on the CW. The 0.08LEO and 0.16LEO decreased abdominal fat (AF) weight compared to the AB. The blood cholesterol decreased by the 0.04LEO and 0.08LEO treatments compared to the CONT. For the blood cholesterol, the effects of LEO levels were cubic. The 0.08LEO treatments decreased Escherichia coli counts in jejunum compared to the CONT and 0.16LEO. 4. Feeding a diet with LEO at 0.0811 g/kg might increase the LWG, FI and weights of carcass and AF, whereas it might decrease blood cholesterol and E. coli counts without affecting blood high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, glucose, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase concentrations.

Effect of raw and fermented grape seed on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and cecal microflora in broiler chickens.

Grape seed (GS) is a by-product of the fruit juice and wine industry with the potential to be an alternative to synthetic antioxidants due to its antioxidant activity. Agro-industrial residues can be converted to more effective products by solid-state fermentation. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of GS and fermented grape seed (FGS) on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and cecal microflora in broiler chickens. A total of 128 female broilers were randomly allocated into four treatment groups, each consisting of four replicates of eight birds. Throughout the 42-day feeding period, the birds were fed with soybean-corn based diet (CON), 0.15 g/kg synthetic antioxidant (butylated hydroxyanisole) supplemented diet (AO), 5 g/kg GS supplemented diet (GS), and 5 g/kg FGS supplemented diet (FGS). Dietary GS, FGS, and AO supplementation increased the BW (P < 0.05) and average daily weight gain (ADG, P < 0.05) compared with the CON group in the overall period of 42 days. Dietary FGS also increased the ADG (P < 0.05) in the period of 22-42 days compared with the control group. The pH of the breast meat of the chickens fed GS was higher (P < 0.01) than CON and FGS groups. Dietary FGS and AO decreased the b* value (P < 0.01) of breast meat compared with the CON group. Grape seed had the highest serum glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05) and catalase (CAT, P < 0.01) levels among the treatment groups. The FGS also increased serum CAT level (P < 0.01) compared with the AO group. Moreover, dietary FGS supplementation increased Lactobacillus spp. (P < 0.05) in the cecum compared with the other treatment groups and decreased Staphylococcus aureus (P < 0.05) compared with the CON and AO groups. The present findings indicate that GS and FGS can be used in broiler diets as alternatives to synthetic antioxidants.

Growth, slaughter and gastrointestinal tract traits of three turkey genotypes under barn and free-range housing systems.

1. This study was conducted to assess the impact of genotype and outdoor access (and gender when appropriate) on growth rate and carcass yield. 2. One slow-growing genotype (Bronze; B, n = 129), a commercial fast-growing genotype (Hybrid; H, n = 186) and a medium-growing genotype (crosses; H x B, n = 78) were housed (straight-run) for 21 weeks of age. Each genotype was assigned to 3 pens of 20-23 birds each and raised in indoor floor pens in a curtain-sided house with ventilation fans; the B, H and H x B genotypes were also assigned to 3, 4 and 2 floor pens (2 m(2) approximately) with outdoor access (during daylight hours), respectively. All animals were fed ad libitum a commercial diet and birds were commercially processed. After reaching the commercial live weight at 17 and 21 weeks of age, 4 birds (two females and two males) per replicate were slaughtered to determine the yields of carcass, breast, and thigh, abdominal fat and edible inner organs. Gastrointestinal tract characteristics such as length and weight of whole gut were analysed. 3. No significant interaction between genotype and housing systems was observed. Significant differences were found for all traits among genotypes. The live weight was higher in H and H x B genotypes from 7 to 15 weeks and from 7 to 21 weeks of age compared to B genotype, respectively. The live weight of H genotype was higher than that of H x B genotype from 15 to 21 weeks of age. The carcass weight and yield, and the relative weights of the edible inner organs and whole gut, and the relative length of whole gut were significantly affected by genotype and sex of birds. Differences in growth performance, relative weight of breast meat, wings or thighs between birds raised on barn or free-range were negligible. In conclusion, while the development in growth performances was related to strain, the traits at slaughter were related to both strain and sex, and were unaffected by housing system.