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Summary: As production of cost-effective feed with minimal side effects on the environment is the main challenge in the feed industry, improving the bioavailability of nutrients, particularly phosphorous (P) is one way to approach these goals. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feed pretreatment with commercial exogenous enzymes on P releasing from phytate and assessing the bioavailability of P in feed under in vivo conditions. Three hundred and sixty-one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were kept for 18 D. For pretreating, feeds were supplemented with one of three commercial enzymes and HCl 0.5% and heated at 40°C for 2 h. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, bone indices, and phosphorus bioavailability were assayed. The results indicated that using commercial enzymes for pretreatment of feed had significant effects on feed intake, calcium (Ca), and P percentage of bone (P

Coccidiosis in chickens causes intestinal mucosal lesions and disrupts its integrity leading to a disturbance in absorption of dietary components. The d -xylose absorption test is a sensitive tool of measuring the absorption capacity of the intestine in diseased chickens. In an experiment on broilers, the influence of different anticoccidials on the intestinal absorption capacity of the birds challenged with experimental coccidiosis was evaluated, using the d -xylose absorption test. The experiment had 5 groups of 10 Ross male broiler chickens (24-days-old) as follows: Group 1— negative control received no Eimeria oocystes, Group 2—positive control challenged with mixed Eimeria oocystes, Group 3—positive control dosed with an attenuated oral coccidiosis vaccine, Group 4—positive control dosed with 25 ppm toltrazuril in drinking water and Group 5—positive control received 66 ppm salinomycin sodium, in the diet. The d -xylose absorption test was carried out 5 days after the coccidial infection. Results showed that coccidiosis highly reduced the plasma d -xylose peak level of Group 2 when compared with Group 1 (31 mg/dl at 90 min versus 50 mg/dl at 30–60 min after the d -xylose administration, respectively). The concentration of d -xylose followed cubic (P d -xylose in the infected birds. The plasma d -xylose reached to its peak in Group 3, 4, and 5 (38.9, 50 and 47.0 mg/dl, respectively) at 60–90 min after the d -xylose administration and had quadratic functions with time (r2 = 0.802, 0.883 and 0.860, respectively, P d -xylose absorption test was a sensitive test for evaluating the influence of anticoccidials on the absorption capacity of intestinal mucosae during coccidiosis in broiler chickens.

Dried tomato pomace (DTP), as an alternative for other ingredients in laying hen as well as broiler diets, has shown to produce comparable or even superior performance. However, there is no report on the digestibility coefficients of DTP in poultry. The coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of dry matter, nitrogen and ash as well as metabolisable energy values of DTP alone and with enzyme were determined in laying and broiler cockerels, using the force feeding method. In two consecutive experiments, 15 adult laying-type cockerels (Hy-Line W36, 35-week-old) and 21 meat-type cockerels (Ross 308, 8-week-old) were randomly grouped into three groups of five and seven replicates, respectively. Each bird received glucose solution (30 g/50 ml), DTP alone (30 g) and DTP with Avizyme 1502 (30 g + 20 mg) and the voided excreta were collected quantitatively, for 48 h. Adult laying-type cockerels and broilers were similar in total output of endogenous dry matter, nitrogen, ash and energy. DTP increased (P 0.05). However, the enzyme reduced the loss of dry matter, nitrogen and energy from broiler cockerels fed on DTP by 17%, 16% and 14%, respectively. The added enzyme improved the CTTAD of dry matter and nitrogen as well as the metabolisable energy values of DTP (P

BACKGROUND: Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a type of tectosilicate found in large quantities in Iran. It is possible that this compound can absorb mycotoxins. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of DE on experimental aflatoxicosis in broilers from 1 to 42 days of age. In four treatments of four replicates, 160 one-day-old Hubbard male chicks were subjected to two levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (0 and 1.0 mg kg−1) and DE (0 and 30 mg kg−1) RESULTS: Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and productive efficiency index were adversely affected in the chicks treated with AFB1. Weight of heart was significantly decreased (20.3%) by AFB1 (P < 0.05). Serum total protein, albumin, and the activity of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were decreased by AFB1. DE significantly (P < 0.05) increased body weight gain (9.51%), feed intake (7.44%), and improved feed conversion ratio (2.08%) as well as productive efficiency index (5.48%) in the birds that subjected to AFB1 DE also increased serum albumin (22.6%), and the activity of serum LDH (44.4%). CONCLUSION: DE might be beneficial in reducing toxic effects of AFB1 in broilers. It is possible to include DE as an alternative to other mycotoxin binders at levels of 30 mg kg−1 in the diets on offer to broilers between the ages of 1 and 42 days. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry

An investigation was carried out to assess the possibility of using single dietary sources as alternatives to feed deprivation for the induction of moult in commercial laying hens. The study involved six dietary groups of 29 laying hens: unmoulted, dried tomato pomace, alfalfa meal, rice bran, cumin seed meal and feed withdrawal. The birds received the above diets during the moulting period (11 days), and body weight loss and ovary weight regression were measured. Post-moult production parameters (number of eggs produced per hen per day, egg weight, shell weight, yolk colour and Haugh unit) were measured for 12 weeks. Results showed that all dietary sources were as effective as feed withdrawal in causing ovary weight regression in birds. Birds provided with tomato pomace or alfalfa showed lower weight losses than feed-deprived birds at the end of the moulting period. Hens moulted by tomato pomace or alfalfa exhibited post-moult levels of egg production over a 12 week period that were superior to those of hens moulted by feed withdrawal. Post-moult eggs laid by hens moulted by all dietary sources were of comparable quality to eggs from feed-deprived hens and superior to those from unmoulted hens. As fibrous feeds with low metabolisable energy and an appreciable amount of protein, dried tomato pomace and alfalfa meal may be fed to hens on an ad libitum basis for effective moult induction while reducing the stress of severe starvation and retaining comparable egg quality and production. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dietary tannins hinder the growth performance of broiler chickens by reducing the digestion and/or absorption of dietary ingredients. An experiment was conducted on thirty 28-day-old broiler chickens, in 3 groups of 10 birds, in order to evaluate the influence of tannic acid (TA) alone or with polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the absorption function of intestinal epithelium, using d -xylose absorption test. The experimental groups received d -xylose solution alone (500 mg/kg BW, group 1), with TA (2 g/bird, group 2), or with TA and PEG (2 and 1 g/bird, respectively, group 3) by oral gavage. This was followed by the blood sampling from the birds on 30 min interval basis, for 3 h. The results showed that the level of plasma d -xylose in all three groups showed quadratic correlations with time. The level of plasma d -xylose of group one reached to its peak at 60–90 min after the ingestion of d -xylose solution (P r 2 = 0.89). However, the group of birds that received d -xylose with TA, had lower plasma d -xylose levels, with no apparent peak (P r 2 = 0.79). The group of birds that received TA with PEG had a similar quadratic correlation of plasma d -xylose with group one (P r 2 = 0.91). It was concluded that TA reduces the absorption of d -xylose highly likely by distracting the trans-cellular and/or para-cellular mechanisms responsible for the transport of the pentose sugar across the intestinal wall. However, the ingested PEG, by the formation of effective complexes with TA, enhances the transport of d -xylose across the intestine.

To evaluate the nutritional significance of cumin seed meal (CSM) as a commercial poultry feedstuff on laying hen performance and quality of laid eggs, an experiment was conducted using 144 (48-week-old) laying hens receiving diets containing 0, 25 and 50 g CSM kg−1 with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) and xylanase enzyme (Grindazym™ GP 15000) for 9 weeks. Body weight on the first and last days of the experiment and daily egg production and egg weight and weekly feed intake during the first, fifth and ninth weeks of the experiment were recorded. Shell weight, shell thickness, Haugh unit and yolk colour were measured during the last week of the experiment. The results showed that inclusion of CSM in laying hen diets had no negative influence on the parameters measured compared with the control diet (P > 0.05), but enhanced egg yolk colour (P < 0.05). PEG increased the daily feed intake of birds receiving CSM diets (P < 0.01) and tended to enhance daily egg production and egg weight, although not significantly. Grindazym decreased shell weight and thickness of laid eggs (P < 0.05) and tended to increase hen body weight, but had no influence on other parameters measured. The results demonstrated that CSM can be substituted for wheat bran in layer diets at 25 or 50 g kg−1 dietary inclusion level without any adverse effect on hen performance or egg quality, and might enhance egg yolk colour. In view of the low price of CSM, it could be concluded that inclusion of CSM in the diet might be beneficial to the commercial laying hen industry and reduce the overall cost of egg production. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry

Iran produces about 7000 metric tons of cumin seed meal (CSM) as a by-product of cumin oil extraction factories, annually. To evaluate the nutritional significance of cumin seed meal as a broiler feedstuff, an experiment was conducted using 288 male broiler chicks (14 days old) receiving diets containing 0, 25 and 50 g kg−1 of CSM with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG) and enzyme (Grindazyme™ GP 15000) for 28 days. Total body weight (BW), body weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight of carcass and percentage of legs, breast and edible parts of carcass were measured. The results showed that, inclusion of CSM in broiler diets had no negative influence on parameters evaluated compared to the control diet containing wheat bran (P > 0.05). PEG and enzyme had no influence on the bird performance (P > 0.05). There was an increase in relative weight of gizzard when the amount of CSM in the diet was increased (P < 0.01). An increase in relative weight of gizzard in birds that received the CSM diet was likely to be due to the increase in fibre content of CSM diets. In respect of the low price of CSM, it could be concluded that inclusion of CSM at levels used in this experiment has no negative effect on broiler performance and reduces the overall cost of broiler production. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry

Triglyceride (TG) secretion from liver and its storage in abdominal cavity of the broiler affects the net meat yield. So agents that affect the hepatic TG secretion may be important for poultry breeders. At present study, we have shown short term effects of insulin on the chicken liver TG secretion at the first, third, fifth and seventh weeks of breeding. For this purpose, 10 , 10 and 10 M insulin were added to the liver -10 -8 -6 slices of roosters and TG secretion and content followed after 4h and 8h incubation. Results showed, while 4h incubation had no effect on TG secretion from the liver slices at the first, third and fifth weeks, in the seventh week 10 and 10 M insulin drastically decreased TG secretion 32% and 35% below the basal -10 -8 levels and 10 M insulin increased it 31% above the basal levels. In 8h incubation, while 10 M insulin at the -6 -6 first, third and fifth weeks decreased TG secretion below the basal levels (58%, 54%, and 39%), it showed 29%, 121%, and 128% increase in the seventh week when compared to the basal level, 10 and 10 M -10 -8 insulin, respectively. At the first and seventh weeks TG content did not show response to insulin but in the third and fifth weeks showed a dose dependent increase. Insulin mainly decreases TG secretion from the chicken liver yet increases TG content as an age dependent manner.

Modirsanei, M., Khosravi, A.R., Kiaei, S.M.M., Bozorgmehri Fard, M.H., Gharagozloo, M.J. and Khazraeinia, P. 2004. Efficacy of dietary natural zeolite and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in counteracting aflatoxicosis in broiler chicks. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 39–44. Six hundred male day-old broiler chicks were assigned to a completely randomized design arrangement of treatments to evaluate the efficacy of Saccharomyces crervisiae (SC) or a natural zeolite (NZ) at the level of 0.5 and 0.75per cent, respectively, to reduce toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFBB1) at the level of 1.0 mg/kg of diet in broiler chicks in a 35d experiment. Feeding diets containing AFB1 significantly and adversely affected body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, total serum protein, prothrombin tune and weight of thymus but not that of bursa of Fabricius, liver or spleen and caused histopathological changes in liver, bursa of Fabricius and thymus. Addition of 0.75 per cent NZ to diet did not reduce any of the adverse eff...

Four experiments were conducted, in two stages, to evaluate protein and limiting amino acids' (lysine and methionine + cystine) levels in pre-starter diets on broilers’ performance. In each experiment of Stage 1, 640 new-born male Ross 308 cockerels were randomly allocated to eight dietary treatments with a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. In experiment 1-1, two levels of crude protein (CP: 21% and 23.2%) and four levels of Lys (1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5%) and in experiment 1-2, two levels of CP (21 and 23.2%) and four levels of Met + Cys (0.85, 0.90, 0.95, and 1.00%) were used. In Stage 2, the optimum levels of Lys and Met + Cys obtained from Stage 1 (1.3 and 1.5% Lys, 0.90 and 1.00% Met + Cys in experiment 1-1 and 1-2, resp.) with two levels of CP (21 and 23.2%) were used in two separate simultaneous experiments with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement for male and female birds. The levels of CP significantly influenced BWG and FCR in experiment 1-1. Dietary levels of Lys affect BWG (experiment 1-1) and FI (experiments 1-1 and 2-1) significantly. In experiments 1-2 and 2-2, the different levels of Met + Cys did not affect BWG, FI, and FCR of male or female broilers. The results of these experiments indicated that the optimal level of dietary protein and Lys were 23.2% and 1.5%, respectively. Diets with 1% Met + Cys caused optimal performance.

An investigation was carried out to assess the possibility of using single dietary sources as alternatives to feed deprivation for the induction of moult in commercial laying hens. The study involved six dietary groups of 29 laying hens: unmoulted, dried tomato pomace, alfalfa meal, rice bran, cumin seed meal and feed withdrawal. The birds received the above diets during the moulting period (11 days), and body weight loss and ovary weight regression were measured. Post-moult production parameters (number of eggs produced per hen per day, egg weight, shell weight, yolk colour and Haugh unit) were measured for 12 weeks. Results showed that all dietary sources were as effective as feed withdrawal in causing ovary weight regression in birds. Birds provided with tomato pomace or alfalfa showed lower weight losses than feed-deprived birds at the end of the moulting period. Hens moulted by tomato pomace or alfalfa exhibited post-moult levels of egg production over a 12 week period that were superior to those of hens moulted by feed withdrawal. Post-moult eggs laid by hens moulted by all dietary sources were of comparable quality to eggs from feed-deprived hens and superior to those from unmoulted hens. As fibrous feeds with low metabolisable energy and an appreciable amount of protein, dried tomato pomace and alfalfa meal may be fed to hens on an ad libitum basis for effective moult induction while reducing the stress of severe starvation and retaining comparable egg quality and production. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.

In an experiment with 2x2 factorial design, the influence of dietary phytase on the intestinal lesions as well as the absorption capacity of intestine for D-xylose in broiler chickens provided with a diet low in calcium (Ca) and available phosphorus (aP) and challenged with Eimeria oocysts, was evaluated. Four groups of 20 1-day-old male broiler were provided with diets low in total Ca and aP (8 and 3g/kg instead of 10 and 5g/kg of Ca and aP in the diet, respectively). On day 10, 10 chicks from each group were randomly kept in individual raised floor wire cages to adopt environmental conditions. The experimental groups were as follows, Group 1: received no Eimeria oocysts (negative control), Group 2: received oocysts of mixed Eimeria species on day 15 to create an experimental coccidiosis (positive control), Group 3: negative control received phytase enzyme in their diet, from the first day of life, and Group 4: positive control received phytase enzyme in the diet. On day 20, after 12h fasting, the D-xylose absorption test was performed and immediately after that, the intestinal lesion scoring was carried out. The results showed that coccidiosis in Groups 2 and 4 produced progressive lesions in intestinal tract and reduced the concentration of plasma D-xylose in Group 2 when compared to Groups 1 and 3. Dietary phytase had no influence on the concentration of plasma D-xylose in un-infected birds. The enzyme had no influence on the intestinal lesions caused by coccidiosis as well. However, it increased the plasma D-xylose concentration of Group 4 to the level that it was comparable with Groups 1 and 3, at 45 and 90min post-ingestion of the solution. It was concluded that the addition of phytase enzyme to the low Ca and aP diet, increased indirectly the absorption capacity of intestine for D-xylose in infected chickens most probably through the improvement of mechanisms involved in the absorption and transport of D-xylose.

1. In an experiment on broiler cockerels, the influence of tannic acid (TA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight of intestine and liver, the activities of serum enzymes LDH, AST, ALT and intestinal absorption function were investigated. 2. Broiler cockerels were given either a commercial diet alone (control group) or a commercial diet with TA (20 g/kg), PEG (10 g/kg) or TA plus PEG (20 + 10 g/kg), for 10 d. 3. On the last day of the experiment, all birds and remaining feed were weighed individually and a sample of blood was taken to measure the serum activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The capacity of intestinal cells for the absorption of D-xylose was measured. Finally all birds were killed humanely and the intestine and liver were weighed. 4. The results showed that TA significantly reduced BWG and FCR, as well as the activity of LDH, AST and ALT. 5. TA also increased the relative weight of the intestine. Adding PEG alone had no effect on any of the measured parameters. 6. However, PEG improved significantly BWG, FCR and the activity of LDH and AST of TA-fed birds. 7. The plasma D-xylose concentration of experimental birds was similar for all dietary treatments most likely because of temporal separation between feeding the dietary TA and administering the D-xylose. 8. It was concluded that the presence of tannins in the GI lumen of the bird was necessary to affect the processes involved in the absorption of simple sugars such as D-xylose, at the level of intestinal absorptive cells.