Search

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of probiotic (Pro), curcumin (Cur), and sodium bentonite (SB) to alleviate the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on performance, egg quality, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, and hepatic gene expression in laying Japanese quails. A total of 420 37-day-old laying quails were randomly allocated into 7 treatment groups, with 6 replicates, each of 10 quails for 7 weeks. The treatments were: 1) Control, 2) Control + AFB1 (100 μg/kg), 3) Control + AFB1 + Pro (0.5 g/kg), 4) Control + AFB1 + Cur (100 mg/kg), 5) Control + AFB1 + SB (3 g/kg), 6) Control + AFB1 + Pro (0.5 g/kg) + Cur (100 mg/kg), 7) Control + AFB1 + Pro (0.5 g/kg) + SB (3 g/kg). The addition of dietary supplements, especially the combination of Pro + Cur or SB, ameliorated the adverse effects of AFB1-contaminated diets on egg production, egg weight, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The dietary inclusion of supplements resulted in higher shell thickness and shell weight compared to the control + AFB1 group (P < 0.05). Villus height, villus height: crypt depth and villus surface area of the jejunum were increased by dietary inclusion of Pro, Cur, and SB in contaminated diets. However, the effects on these parameters were more pronounced in birds that received a combined of Pro + Cur (P < 0.05). The combined supplementation of Pro + Cur or SB in AFB1-contaminated diets synergistically increased the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the ileum and reduced the coliform and C. perfringens counts in the ileum and cecum, respectively (P < 0.05). Serum hepatic indices were improved by Pro, Cur, and SB, but a further increase in antioxidant enzymes and reduction in AST and MDA were observed by combination of Pro + Cur (P < 0.05). Increased expression of AHR1 and CYP1A1 genes due to AFB1 was alleviated by supplements. However, there was a synergistic effect of Pro + Cur in the down-regulation of these genes. Overall, these results showed that although dietary Pro, Cur, and SB may ameliorate the toxicity of AFB1, the synergistic effects of Pro + Cur or SB may further mitigate the AFB1-induced toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feed form (FF) and dietary supplements on performance, immune system, cecal microflora, and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens. A total of 960 one-day-old Ross 308 mixedsex chickens were distributed to 8 treatments consisting of 6 replicates (20 birds/pen). The experimental design was a 2×4 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating two feed forms (mash or pellet) and dietary supplements [without a supplement, Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), Bacillus subtilus (B. subtilus), and Avilamycin (an antibiotic)]. Considering the main effects, dietary supplements and pellet diets significantly improved growth performance parameters (FI, BWG, and FCR) compared to the other treatments. Birds fed with a pellet diet had a reduced relative weight of the gizzard and pancreas, increased villus height, and gained the relative weight of the liver and small intestinal. Regardless of the FF, B. subtilis supplementation tended to greater villus height, lower crypt depth, and higher villus height to crypt depth ratio compared to other groups. Birds fed with mash diets supplemented with L. acidophilus and B. subtilis and a pelleted diet supplemented B. subtilis had higher villus height, goblet cell, and Lactobacillus population in the gut compared to the other treatments. Probiotics supplementation reduced the percentage of heterophils compared to other diets. The significant interaction between FF and dietary supplements showed that L. acidophilus in the mash diet tended to enhance the percentage of lymphocytes and reduce the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio compared to the pelleted diet. The main factors had no significant effect on anti-SRBC antibody titer. The results from this study indicated that the probiotic L. acidophilus and B. subtilis used in the mash diet may serve as alternatives to an antibiotic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of hydroalcoholic extract from Withania somnifera (WS) leaf and fish oil on performance, mineral retention, bone morphological and mechanical characteristics, and Calbindin-D 28K (CALB1) gene expression in broiler chickens. Treatments were arranged in a CRD with a 2 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement consisted of two dietary Ca levels (low: 30% less than normal Ca level, and adequate: normal Ca level), three concentrations of WS (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg diet) and two concentrations of fish oil (0 and 2 %). A total of 600 one-day-old Ross 308 male broilers were divided into 12 treatments with 5 replicates and 10 chickens in each. At 24 d of age, one bird per replicate was randomly killed, and tibiae were removed. Results showed that dietary supplementation of WS significantly improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P < 0.05). Birds fed diets supplemented with WS had significantly higher Ca content in the tibia (P < 0.05). Dietary inclusion of fish oil significantly increased the width of the bone proliferative zone (P < 0.05). In biomechanical properties, dietary supplementation of WS and fish oil significantly increased the shear force (P < 0.05). Synergistic effects of WS and fish oil showed that the addition of WS at 200 mg/kg in birds fed diets containing fish oil led to a significant increase in tibial stiffness (P < 0.05). Low-Ca diet up-regulated duodenal CALB1 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Supplementation of WS also resulted in a significant up-regulation in the gene expression of CALB1in both duodenum and jejunum (P < 0.001). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of WS may have beneficial effects on bone calcification and strength by increasing the CALB1 gene expression and Ca retention. Also, synergistic effects of WS and fish oil may improve the mechanical properties of the tibia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Withania somnifera (WS) and α-tocopherol acetate (α-Toc) in the diets containing oxidised oil on the growth performance, immune response, and oxidative status in the broiler chickens. A 3-way factorial design (2 × 3 × 2) was applied consisting of the oxidised oil (0 and 2%), WS (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg diet), and α-Toc (0 and 200 mg/kg). In total, 600 one-day-old male broilers were randomly subjected to 12 treatments with 5 replicates (10 birds/replicate). Broilers were provided with feed and water ad libitum during the 42-day experimental period. On day 42, one bird per each replicate was killed to measure the lymphoid organ weights, intestinal morphometric parameters, and MDA content in the thigh meat. Dietary oxidised oil reduced the FI, and BWG (p <.05). In contrast, dietary WS at a concentration of 200 mg/kg alleviated the negative effects of the oxidised oil on the BWG. Birds fed with the dietary oxidised oil revealed lower titres of antibody against the SRBC (p <.05). Antibody titres were significantly increased by the supplementary WS (p <.05), except for IgG, and IgM during primary and secondary responses, respectively. Dietary supplementation of WS at the concentrations of 100 or 200 mg/kg resulted in a higher CBH response after 12 h (p <.01). Birds fed with the diet supplemented with WS exhibited significantly higher spleen weight than those fed with the non-WS-supplemented diets (p <.01). Dietary oxidised oil significantly increased the MDA content in thigh meat, and inversely reduced the activity of serum antioxidant enzymes (p <.05). Birds fed with the WS-supplemented diets showed significantly lower levels of MDA content in thigh meat, and conversely higher values of serum GPx and SOD activities (p <.05). The GPx activity values were significantly higher for the birds fed with the dietary α-Toc compared to those fed with the non- α-Toc-supplemented diets (p <.05). Our findings showed that the presence of WS in the broilers diets as an alternative to α-Toc could be a good approach to improve the performance, immune response, and meat oxidative stability under oxidative stress conditions. Dietary oxidised oil reduced the FI, and BWG, and the diets supplemented with WS leaf extract alleviated the deleterious effects of the oxidised oil on the BWG. Dietary WS revealed the immunostimulatory effects. The birds fed with the WS-supplemented diets showed a higher antibody titre against the SRBC. Dietary inclusion of WS in the broilers diets negated the negative effects of the oxidised oil by reducing the MDA content in thigh meat and increasing the activity of the antioxidant enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of dietary α-tocopherol (α-Toc), pomegranate peel extract (PPE), and pomegranate peel (PP) on phenolic content and breast meat quality of broilers during 11 days of storage with the addition of α-Toc, PPE, and PP. Broilers were fed eight dietary treatments, including: control diet, α-Toc diet (200 mg/kg), PPE diets (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg), and PP diets (1, 2, and 3 g/kg) during 0–42 days. The extents of lipid oxidation in samples were assessed by measuring thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and the 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activities were determined. The feed efficiency was improved significantly in chickens fed diet containing 0.2 g/kg PPE, and the growth performance of chickens was impaired in chickens fed with PP diet. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 were increased in breast muscles of broilers fed α-Toc and high levels of PPE diets (P < .05). Total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity in the breast meat were improved significantly when chickens fed diets containing α-Toc and PPE (P < .05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 200 and 300 mg/kg PPE may improve the antioxidant potential and quality indices of broilers breast meat. The antioxidant potential of PPE was equal to that of α-Toc in refrigerated meat. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]