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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, effect of dietary nano-Zn and stocking density on performance, carcass yield, meat quality, and feathering score of broiler chickens was assessed at 42 d of age. Experimental treatments consisted of a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of stocking density (low = 12 broiler/m2 and high = 18 broiler/m2) and dietary Zn form (inorganic or nano). Four hundred eighty 1-d-old male broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 8 pens in each treatment having 15 chickens per pen. Corn-soybean meal diets were formulated for starter, grower, and finisher phases. The high stocking density (HSD) negatively affected body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) of broiler chickens at 24 to 42 and 0 to 42 d of experiment (P

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 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

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary organic acid and phytase supplementation on performance and calcium and phosphorus utilization in laying hens. Two hundred 23- wk-old Brown Nick layers were randomly allocated into 50 cages (42 x 50 cm) each containing 4 birds. Each dietary treatment had 5 replications and each replication comprised two adjacent cages. Corn-soybean meal based rations were used. Five dietary treatments were formed as followed: (1) a basal ration with no supplemental P (negative control, NC) (2750 kcal ME/kg, 17% CP, 0.34% total P, 3.8% Ca), (2) basal ration supplemented with dicalcium phosphate (1.4%) (positive control, PC), (3) basal ration supplemented with 0.035% phytase (ZY Phytase II-5, NC+P), (4) basal ration supplemented with 1.0% organic acid (Salstop SD, NC+OA) and (5) basal ration supplemented with both 0.035% phytase and 1.0% organic acid (NC+POA). Water and feed were provided for ad libitum consumption and a lighting program of 16 h light : 8 h dark was applied throughout the study. NC treatment resulted in body weights that were lower (p

Effects of dietary carnitine supplementation (0 and 150 mg/kg L-carnitine) on performance and egg quality parameters of layers in late laying period (from 62 to 72 weeks) fed maize-soyabean meal based diets with different methionine levels (0.26 vs 0.40%) were investigated. A RCBD with 2×2 factorial arrangement was applied. Eight replicates of the four dietary treatments (3 layers in each cage, a total of 32 cages) were randomly distributed into blocks. The study period was 10 weeks and ninety six 62-week-old Nick Chick white layers were used. In the study, dietary carnitine supplementation did not affect egg production, feed consumption and feed efficiency. However, dietary methionine below requirement level either numerically (the first 5 week from 62 to 67th weeks and overall 10-week period) or statistically (P

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.

The dry-matter (DM) intake and growth rate in male lambs were predicted from rumen degradability characteristics, rumen DM losses at different times, neutral- or acid-detergent fibre (NDF or ADF) contents and DM apparent digestibility of roughages. Four different straws consisting of wheat, barley, oat and rice were each offered ad libitum to 24 Merino male lambs with 200 glday concentrate for 4 weeks to determine DM intake and growth rate. Apparent digestibilities of the straws were measured with three Merino male sheep. Measurements were made during the last 10 days of each 20-day period. The degradation characteristics of the straws were measured by incubating samples in nylon bags for 8, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in the rumens of three Merino male sheep fitted with rumen cannulae. The exponential model p = a + b(l - er^) was fitted to the data. Potential degradabilities of DM (defined as a + b) and apparent digestibilities of DM ranged from 530 to 679 and 440 to 560 g/kg, respectively. The mean DM intake of the straws varied from 543 to 745 glday, the digestible DM intake from 236 to 417 glday and growth rate from 17 to 95 glday. Using the degradation characteristics A, B and c in a multiple regression analysis, the correlation coefficients with DM intake and growth rate were 0·79 and 0·70, respectively. NDF and ADF were related to DM intake (i = 0·65; r = 0·64) and growth rate (r = 0·55; r = 0·56). The correlation coefficient between DM apparent digestibility and DM intake was 0·76. It is concluded that the rumen degradation characteristics have potential for predicting intake of straws and growth rate in sheep.

1. The apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and the true metabolisable energy (TME) contents of some feedingstuffs were determined with cockerels. The test materials consisted of feed-grade lentil, lentil bran and wild vetch seed. 2. The average values of nitrogen lost, endogenous energy losses (EEL) and endogenous energy losses corrected to zero-nitrogen balance (EELN) were found to be 1.18 g, 62.13 kJ and 21.51 kJ/bird/48h, respectively, from adult cockerels given an energy supply as 50 g glucose during starvation. 3. The nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AME(N)) values for feed-grade lentil, lentil bran and wild vetch seed, respectively, were 6.84, 3.05 and 14.31 kJ/g dry matter. The nitrogen-corrected true metabolisable energy (TMEN) values for the respective feedingstuffs were 7.44, 3.65 and 14.90 kJ/g dry matter.