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In this study, oxidative stability of liver and breast meat, and immune response were evaluated in broiler chickens fed supplemental phytogenic feed additive (PFA) alone or in combination with Bacillus licheniformis. Three experimental groups – control, PFA (60 mg kg−1), and PFA (60 mg kg−1) + 0.5 mg kg−1 B. licheniformis (1.6 × 1012 cfu g−1), each consisting of 5 replicates – were established with 20 one-day-old chickens per replicate (300 birds in total). Growth performance, carcass yield and characteristics, and meat quality remained unaffected. However, supplemental PFA and PFA + B. licheniformis improved the serum biochemistry and jejunal histomorphometry of broiler chickens (P<0.05). PFA and PFA + B. licheniformis groups had lower thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) in liver, and freeze–thaw breast meat after 30, 60, and 90 d of storage (P<0.05). PFA and PFA + B. licheniformis supplementation lowered the carbonyl group in fresh and stored breast meat (P<0.05). Antibody titer against infectious bursal disease virus was higher in the PFA + B. licheniformis group than the control group (P<0.05). It can be concluded that PFA or PFA + B. licheniformis in broiler diets improves the health, oxidative stability of liver and breast meat, and immune response of broiler chickens.

A 49-day trial was conducted to determine the impact of dietary amino acid (AA) density and stocking density (SD) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and white striping (WS) occurrence in broiler chickens. Two hundred eighty-eight Ross 308 male broilers consisting of 6 replicate cages with 8 broilers per replicate were used. Treatments were arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial and consisted of 3 AA densities (normal, 10, or 20% lower than normal) and 2 different SD (high 35 kg/m2 or low 26 kg/m2). Breasts were classified as normal, moderate, and severe for WS. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design using the GLM procedure. Decreasing AA density decreased overall growth performance, carcass, breast yields, and fillet dimensions linearly, while leg and rib cage yields increased linearly (P < 0.01). High SD decreased hot carcass, breast, wings, and rib cage weights in birds fed normal AA diets (P < 0.05). High SD increased the length of breast fillet (P < 0.05). Cooking loss, breast lightness (L∗), and redness (a∗) at 48 h postmortem increased linearly with decreasing AA density, while ultimate breast pH (pHu) and nitrogen content decreased linearly (P < 0.05). The occurrence of normal, moderate, and severe WS fillets was 45.3, 49.1, and 5.6%, respectively. As the dietary AA density decreased, the occurrence of no WS breast fillets increased linearly, whereas the occurrence of moderate WS fillets and mean WS score decreased linearly (P < 0.05). SD did not affect the occurrence of WS. Severe WS fillets were heavier and had higher cranial thickness, pHu, and fat content and lower yellowness (P < 0.05), but water-holding capacity, nitrogen content, L∗, and a∗ value did not differ among different WS scores. Taken together, WS occurrence and severity increased with higher growth rate. Growth depression created by lowering dietary AA density regardless of SD resulted in a decrease in mean WS score, but it also compromised the growth and meat quality. © 2020 Istanbul Üniversitesi: TSA-2018-30357 Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu This study was funded by Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University−Cerrahpasa . Project number TSA-2018-30357. The authors gratefully appreciate Istanbul University−Cerrahpasa for providing the aforementioned grant. The authors are also grateful to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) for awarding the doctoral fellowship to U.A. in BİDEB-2215 scholarship program for international students.

Bu çalışma damızlık bıldırcın rasyonlarında nano selenyum (Se) kullanılmasının verim, canlı ağırlık artışı, yumurta kalite özellikleri, sperm kalitesi, kuluçka parametreleri ve karaciğer üzerine etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada 20 erkek ve 60 dişi olmak üzere toplam 80 adet 10 haftalık yaşta bıldırcın (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) kullanılmıştır. Hayvanlar kontrol (K - inorganik sodyum selenit) ve deneme (D - nano sodyum selenit) olmak üzere iki gruba ayrılmış, her grup altında da her biri bir (1) erkek üç (3) dişi içeren 10 adet alt grup oluşturulmuştur. Nano Se kullanılması verim, canlı ağırlık ve yem tüketimi üzerine herhangi bir önemli etki oluşturmamıştır. Ancak yumurta ağırlığı (P

We investigated the effect of in-feed and/or in-litter supplemental humate against footpad dermatitis (FPD) in broilers fed diets based on barley. Three hundred and sixty 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly distributed to 24 floor pens (4 treatments, each consisting of 6 replicate pens; 15 chickens per pen) as a completely randomized design with 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of two levels of supplemental humate in feed (0 and 1 g/kg feed) and litter (0 and 5 g/kg litter). Growth performance, intestinal viscosity, litter quality, and incidence and severity of FPD in broilers were measured. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were determined in blood and footpad tissues of broilers with different FPD scores. The results revealed that there was no interaction between humate supplementation to feed and litter. Neither dietary nor litter supplementation of humate had a significant effect on growth performance, intestinal viscosity, litter quality, and occurrence of FPD. And also, MDA and SOD levels in serum and footpad tissue did not affect by either dietary or litter supplementation of humate. The presence of FPD (score 1) had no effect on MDA and SOD levels in serum, however, increased the MDA and SOD levels (P

Effects of nano-selenium (nano-Se) and stocking density (SD) on growth performance, carcass yield, meat quality, and feathering score of broilers were investigated in this study. One-day-old 480 broiler chickens (45.32.4 g body weight) (Ross 308) were randomly divided into 4 treatments each comprising of 8 replicates. In the experiment, treatments consisted of a 2  2 factorial arrangement of dietary Se form (inorganic or nano) and SD (low = 12 birds/m2; LSD, and high = 18 birds/m2; HSD). No interaction was noted between Se form and SD for any trait. Nano-Se had no effect on growth performance, however, HSD decreased the body weight gain (BWG) (P0.05) and feed intake (FI) (P0.001) while feed conversion ratio (FCR) was unaffected. Neither nano-Se nor HSD had any effect on the relative carcass, breast, and thigh yields. Nano-Se improved the water-holding capacity (WHC) of breast meat 72-hpost-mortem (P0.05). However, pH, colour, and cooking loss of meat remained unaffected by Se form or SD. There were no differences between nano- or inorganic Se and LSD or HSD regarding feathering scores for back and wing. In conclusion, dietary nano-Se improved the WHC and had no significant effect on other parameters. In addition, HSD may negatively affect the growth performance.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of dietary boric acid supplementation on the development of incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis (FPD) in broiler chickens subjected to normal or high stocking densities (NSD or HSD). A total of 576 1-day-old ROSS 308 broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 4 treatments (8 replicate pens per treatment) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of dietary boric acid (0 and 60 mg/kg) and stocking density (NSD 14 birds/m(2) and HSD 22 birds/m(2)). Basal diets were formulated for starter, grower, and finisher phases. Growth performance, litter quality (litter pH, moisture, temperature, and NH3 volatilization), serum and litter boron levels, and incidence and severity of FPD were recorded. The HSD affected the body weight gain and feed intake of broiler chickens during all phases and 0 to 42 (P < 0.05), whereas feed conversion ratio (FCR) was poor at 0 to 21 days only. Dietary boric acid had no effect on the growth performance of broiler chickens. Litter pH, moisture, and NH3 volatilization were higher in broiler chickens subjected to HSD (P < 0.05). Thus, the incidence and severity of FPD increased in response to HSD (P < 0.05). Dietary boric acid reduced the litter pH and NH3 volatilization on day 42 of experiment (P < 0.05). However, dietary boric acid supplementation had no effect on the incidence and severity of FPD. Boric acid supplementation in broiler diets increased the serum and litter boron levels at day 42 in broiler chickens subjected to NSD or HSD (P < 0.05). In conclusion, HSD resulted in poor growth performance, litter quality, and greater incidence and severity of FPD in broiler chickens. Dietary boric acid was ineffective against FPD in broiler chickens although it improved the litter quality by lowering the litter pH and NH3 volatilization.

In this study, the effects of requirement level (60 mg/kg) of nano zinc supplementation (46 mg/kg) of breeding quail rations on egg production, weight gain, egg quality characteristics, sperm quality, hatching parameters and liver were determined. 10 week old quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) were divided into two groups: control and experiment with 10 replicates were formed under each group that having one male four female in each, a total of 100 (20 male and 80 female) quails were used in the study. At the end of 10 weeks trial period, supplementation of nano zinc does not have any significant effect on weight gain, feed consumption and egg production. In terms of egg quality characteristics, it was seen that the addition of nano zinc had a significantly decrease on egg yolk color (P, Yapılan bu araştırmada, damızlık bıldırcın rasyonlarına gereksinim düzeyini (60 mg/kg) sağlayacak şekilde nano çinko oksit katılmasının (46 mg/kg) yumurta verimi, canlı ağırlık, yumurta kalite özellikleri, sperm kalitesi, kuluçka parametreleri ve karaciğer üzerine olan etkileri incelenmiştir. Çalışmada 20 erkek ve 80 dişi olmak üzere toplam 100 adet bıldırcın (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) kullanılmış, 10 haftalık yaşta olan hayvanlar kontrol ve deneme olmak üzere iki gruba ayrılmış ve her grupta her biri bir erkek dört dişi içeren 10’ar adet alt grup oluşturulmuştur. 10 hafta sürdürülen deneme sonunda, damızlık bıldırcın rasyonlarına nano çinko oksit katılmasının canlı ağırlık, yem tüketimi ve yumurta verimi üzerine herhangi bir etkisinin olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Yumurta kalite özellikleri bakımından ise rasyona nano çinko oksit katılmasının yumurta sarısı rengi üzerinde önemli düzeyde (P

A trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary prebiotics supplementation on growth performance, relative carcass and organ weight, gut microbiome, and blood malondialdehyde (MDA) in broiler chickens subjected to delayed feed and water access post-hatch. A total of 648 one-d-old chicks (Ross 308) were randomly divided into 6 experimental groups, each consisting of 6 replicate pens having 18 chicks in each pen. The study followed a completely randomised design with 3x2 factorial arrangement of three levels of post-hatch restriction time (0, 24, and 48 h) and basal diets with or without mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) prebiotics supplementation (0 and 0.1% for starter and grower or 0 and 0.05% for finisher). The trial lasted for 42 days. The chicks were weighed at the end of restriction periods. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded for days 1 -21, 22-42, and 1-42. Relative carcass and organ weights were recorded on day 42 after slaughter. Gut microbe populations (mesophiles, coliforms, lactobacilli, and Enterobacteriaceae spp.) were enumerated on days 6 and 15 of the experiment. Blood MDA levels were measured at the end of the restriction period on days 15 and 42. There was no interaction between prebiotics and restriction on any mentioned parameters. Prebiotics had no effect on BWG, feed intake, FCR, relative yields of carcass and organs, gut microbial populations, or blood MDA levels. BWG of broilers subjected to 48 h restriction was lower (P < 0.05) for days 1-21 compared to those subjected to 0 and 24 h. Feed and water restriction for 48 h post-hatch increased the feed intake (on days 22-42 and 1-42) and FCR (at days 1 -21, 22-42, and 1-42) in comparison with those restricted for 0 and 24 h post-hatch (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). There was no effect of restriction on relative carcass and organ yields, and blood MDA. On day 6 of the experiment the count of mesophiles was higher in broilers restricted for 48 h (P < 0.001) and coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae spp. counts were higher in broilers subjected to 24 h restriction compared to 0 or 48 h (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, the use of prebiotics in broilers with post-hatch feed and water restriction did not influence growth performance, relative carcass and organ weight, gut microbe populations, and blood MDA level. However, post-hatch feed restriction for 48 h may negatively affect growth performance.

The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of different levels of dietary phytogenic feed additive (PFA) on growth performance, caecal microbiota, and intestinal morphology of broilers. A total of 480 Ross-308 one-day-old male broilers chicks (body weight 43±3 g) were randomly assigned to 32 replicate pens of four experimental groups, each experimental group consisting of 8 replicates (each replicate pen consisting of 15 chicks). A basal diet was formulated based on corn and soybean meal that was fed to the control group. Other dietary treatments received a commercial PFA at 100 mg/kg (PFA100), 125 mg/kg (PFA125), and 150 mg/kg (PFA150). Body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion rate of broilers were recorded on 1-21, 22-42, and 1-42 days of age. One bird was slaughtered on the 21st and 42nd days and caecal contents were aseptically collected. Jejunal tissue samples were also collected on the same days. Total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and lactobacilli were counted in the caecal contents. Villus height, villus diameter, crypt depth, muscular thickness, and goblet cell number per villus were recorded. There was no difference among the dietary treatments for growth performance and caecal microbe populations at any phase. However, the dietary PFA supplementation increased the villus height, villus width, muscularis thickness, and reduced the crypt depth and goblet cell number per villus in broilers compared to those fed control diets. In conclusion, this study suggests that dietary supplementation of a PFA consisting of blend of different spices and essential oils did not improve growth performance and caecal microbial populations despite a positive improvement in the jejunal morphometry of broilers.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary tannic acid and barley supplementation on growth performance, intestinal viscosity, litter quality, and footpad dermatitis (FPD) in broiler chickens. Five hundred forty-four 1-d-old male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to dietary treatments with 8 replicated pens per treatment and 17 broiler chickens pen as a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of 2 diets (a corn-soybean meal diet or a diet with 30% barley) and tannic acid (0 and 2 g/kg) in a completely randomized design. Growth performance, intestinal viscosity, litter quality, and FPD incidence and severity were recorded. The results showed that there was no interaction between diets and tannic acid levels. Barley-based diets reduced (P < 0.05) the body weight (SW) gain at 0-42 d, and feed intake at 21-42 d and 0-42 d. At 28 d of experiment, the viscosity of intestinal contents of anterior and posterior segments was greater (P < 0.05) in broiler chickens fed diets with barley. Similarly, the viscosity of intestinal contents of posterior segment was greater (P < 0.05) at 42 d, in broiler chickens fed barley-based diets. Litter pH, moisture, and NH, volatilization were increased (P < 0.05) in response to barley-based diets. Barley-based diets increased (P < 0.05) the incidence and severity of FPD lesions in broiler thickens at 14, 28, and 42 d of experiment. Although dietary tannic acid had no effect on performance, intestinal viscosity, and litter quality compared to those fed diets without tannic acid (P > 0.05), it tended to reduce body weight gain (P = 0.05) and increase feed conversion ratio (FCR; P = 0.09) at 0-21 d and NH3 volatilization on 28 (P = 0.08) and 42 d (P = 0.07). Dietary tannic acid supplementation prevented the FPD lesion development and reduced (P < 0.05) the total FPD lesions at d 42. Moreover, the severe lesions decreased (P = 0.08) on d 42 in broiler chickens fed tannic acid. In conclusion, barley-based diets may worsen the growth performance and litter quality, and increase the intestinal viscosity that increases the incidence and severity of FPD in broiler chickens. Dietary tannic acid supplementation may not affect the growth performance, intestinal viscosity, and litter quality. However, it may reduce the incidence and severity of FPD in broiler thickens.

A trial was conducted to investigate the effects of a dietary organic acid blend for a period of 35 days on the growth performance, intestinal histomorphology and microflora of male broiler chicks with delayed access to feed. One hundred and ninety two one day old broiler chicks (ROSS 308) were randomly distributed into 4 groups housed in four replicate pens with 12 birds in each. A 2 × 2 factorial design was implemented. Four experimental groups were formed by two levels of dietary organic acid blend supplementation (Control and Fysal Dry ® ) and two periods of delayed feed access (0 and 36 h). At 36 h after hatching body weight and body weight change of chicks were significantly (P < 0.001) lower than groups fed immediately after hatching. Delayed feed access had an adverse impact (P < 0.001) on the body weight and feed consumption of broiler chickens on days 14 and 28. Between the days 28 and 35 of the feeding period, these differences disappeared. The relative weight of gizzard (P < 0.05), pancreas (P < 0.01) on day 6 and intestine (P < 0.05) on day 10, and gizzard (P < 0.01) on day 10 were reduced in birds subjected to delayed feed access. Dietary organic acid blend inclusion increased villus length (P < 0.001), whereas delayed feed access decreased villus length (P < 0.05) and increased the incidence of epithelial degeneration and basal membrane separation of the propria mucosa of villus in the jejenum. A significant decrease in Enterobacteriaceae count (P < 0.01) was noted in organic acid blend supplemented groups on day 25. Pectoral muscle malondialdehyde levels were decreased (P < 0.01) with dietary organic acid blend supplementation at

SUMMARY A study was conducted to determine the effects of a dietary probiotic (a commonly used feed additive) and a posthatch holding time (0, 12, 24, and 36 h posthatching) on the growth performance, blood parameters, and intestinal microflora of male broiler chicks. The study used a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments. Eight experimental groups were formed by 2 levels of dietary probiotic supplementation [control and a dietary probiotic (Protexin), 0.5 kg/ ton] and 4 posthatch holding times (0, 12, 24, and 36 h). There were 4 replications for each treatment group, with each replication consisting of 20 birds. Depending on the time interval between arrival at the experimental site and feeding, holding chicks before free access to water and feed had a negative effect (P 0.05). A significant decrease in d 10 intestinal pH (P < 0.05) was noted in groups with probiotic supplementation (6.59 vs. 6.42). The number of lactobacilli in control chicks was significantly higher (7.96 vs. 7.13 and 7.28) than that in groups with a posthatch holding time before feeding on d 10 (P < 0.01). In brief, exposure to delayed feed access impaired early growth performance and microbiological measures in the gastrointestinal tract of fast-growing broiler chicks, and supplementing broiler chicks with a dietary probiotic was not an effective tool for ameliorating these negative effects.

SUMMARY The physicochemical properties of dietary nonstarch polysaccharides in barley and soybean meals have been correlated with increases in excreta viscosity and adherence, and hence footpad dermatitis (FPD), in broiler chickens. Moreover, high litter moisture has been identified as a possible causative agent of FPD. A total of 448 birds were raised in floor pens in a design involving a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of barley (0 or 25% of diet), feed enzyme mixture (supplementation with 0 or 0.1% of Farmazyme BR-M), and litter moisture (with or without added water) and a 3-stage feeding program (8 treatments; 32 replicates; 4 replicate pens per treatment combination, with 14 birds per pen). In addition to measuring live performance, the feet were scored on all birds at 14, 28, and 42 d of age, and the severity of FPD lesions was recorded as none, mild, or severe. A subsample of birds was processed at the end of the experiment to evaluate carcass yields. Pooled litter samples were collected for moisture determination (d 5 and 42) and pH (d 42). The incidence and severity of FPD on d 14 and 28 were due only to litter moisture. No effects on litter moisture or pH were due to barley, although growth performance was adversely affected at 25% dietary inclusion. Carcass yields did not differ between treatments (P > 0.05). Performance of birds was significantly improved by supplementing the feed enzyme mixture, irrespective of the addition of barley or the wetting treatment. Hence, management factors play a significant role in the etiology of FPD in broilers.

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary probiotic supplementation and stocking density on the performance, relative carcass yield, gut microflora, and stress markers of broilers. One-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chickens (n = 480) were allocated to 4 experimental groups for 42 d. Each treatment had 8 replicates of 15 chicks each. Two groups were subjected to a high stocking density (HSD) of 20 birds/m(2) and the other 2 groups were kept at low stocking density (LSD) of 10 birds/m(2). A basal diet supplemented with probiotic 1 and 0.5 g/kg of diet (in starter and finisher diets, respectively) was fed to 2 treatments, one with HSD and the other with LSD, thereby making a 2x2 factorial arrangement. There was no interaction between stocking density (LSD and HSD) and dietary probiotic (supplemented and unsupplemented) for all the variables. Feed intake and weight gain were significantly low and feed conversion ratio was poor in broilers at HSD. Dietary probiotic significantly enhanced the feed intake and weight gain in starter phase only. Dietary probiotic supplementation had no effect (P > 0.05) on total aerobs, Salmonella sp., and Lactobacilli populations in the intestines of broilers. However, HSD reduced the Lactobacilli population only (P < 0.05). Relative breast yields were significantly higher in broilers reared at LSD than HSD. Thigh meat yield was higher in broilers in HSD group compared to LSD. Dietary probiotic did not affect the relative carcass yield and weight of lymphoid organs. Serum malondialdehyde, corticosterone, nitric oxide, and plasma heterophil: lymphocyte ratio were not affected either by stocking density or dietary probiotic supplementation. In conclusion, HSD negatively affected the performance and intestinal Lactobacilli population of broilers only, whereas probiotic supplementation enhanced the performance of broilers during the starter phase only. Total aerobes, Salmonella, Lactobacilli carcass yield, and stress indicators of broilers were not affected by the dietary supplementation of probiotic under the conditions of the present study.