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The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementing clay minerals and organic chromium in feed on broiler chicken under heat stress (HS). A total of 90 one-day-old broiler chicken (Arbor Acres) with an initial body weight of 45.0 ± 0.2 g were assigned to five treatment groups (six replications, three birds each cage): 1) NC group, basal diet under room temperature environment; 2) PC group, basal diet under high temperature (HT) environment; 3) ILT group, basal diet + 1% illite + HT; 4) ZLT group, basal diet + 1% zeolite + HT; 5) OC group, basal diet + 400 ppb/kg organic chromium + HT. The ILT and ZLT groups had significantly higher body weight than the PC group in 4 weeks. Apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy was increased in the ILT, ZLT, and OC groups compared to the PC group. The NC group had lower foot-pad dermatitis score than other groups. Escherichia coli population in the cecum and feces was decreased in the ZLT group than in the PC group. Lactobacillus in cecum and feces was significantly increased in the ZLT group than in the PC group. Regarding blood profiles, blood cortisol was decreased in the NC and ILT groups compared to the PC group. Water holding capacity and pH were increased in the ZLT group than the PC group. In conclusion, according to the results of growth performance, nutrients digestibility, bacteria counts, and meat characteristics, supplementation of the ZLT in broiler diet can alleviate HS.

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to estimate the effects of exogenous protease on performance, economic evaluation, nutrient digestibility, fecal score, intestinal morphology, blood profile, carcass traits, and meat quality in broilers fed normal diets and diets considered with matrix value. A total of 90, one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments with 6 replicates and each replicate of 5 broiler chickens. Treatments were as follows: 1) Basal diet (positive control, PC), 2) Basal diet formulated with full ProAct 360 matrix at 50 g/MT without addition of ProAct 360 (negative control, NC), 3) NC + 50 g/MT ProAct 360 (PA). Supplementation of exogenous protease to nutrient deficient NC diet by matrix values (PA) tended to increase growth performance and significantly improved intestinal morphology compared with the NC group. The PA group had significantly lower fecal score, and higher ATTD of crude protein and amino acids than those of the NC group. Furthermore, supplementation of exogenous protease to NC diet decreased feed cost, resulting in improved profit margin. However, there was no significant difference on carcass yield and relative organ weight. In conclusion, supplementation of exogenous protease using matrix value could be used as economic additive to improve growth, profit margin, digestibility, and gut health in broiler chickens.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of stimbiotic (STB), a xylanase and xylo-oligosaccharide complex. A total of 36 male weaned pigs with initial body weights of 8.49 ± 0.10 kg were used in a 3-week experiment. The experiment was conducted in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (six replicates/treatment) of treatments consisting of two levels of challenge (challenge and non-challenge) and three levels of STB (0, 0.5, and 1 g/kg diet). Supplementations STB 0.5 g/kg (STB5) and STB 1 g/kg (STB10) improved the G:F (p = 0.04) in piglets challenged with STEC. STB supplementation, which also decreased (p < 0.05) the white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6. Supplementations STB5 and STB10 improved (p < 0.01) the lymphocytes and neutrophils in piglets challenged with STEC on 14 dpi. Additionally, supplementations STB5 and STB10 improved (p < 0.01) the tumor necrosis factor-alpha in piglets challenged with STEC on 3 dpi. Supplementations STB5 and STB10 also improved the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (p < 0.01) in piglets challenged with STEC. Supplementation with STB reduced (p < 0.05) the expression levels of calprotectin. In conclusion, STB could alleviate a decrease of the performance, immune response, and inflammatory response induced by the STEC challenge.

Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium infections in pigs are major source associated with enteric disease such as post-weaning diarrhea. Lactic acid bacteria, one of the most essential probiotics, can colonize the digestive tract and increase nutritional digestion and maintain the stability of the intestinal flora. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus in weaned piglets challenged with pathogen bacteria. In exp.1, 90 weaned piglets with initial body weights of 8.53 ± 0. 34 kg were assigned to 15 treatments for 2 weeks. The experiments were conducted two trials in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of two levels of challenge (challenge and non-challenge) with E.coli and Salmonella typhimurium, respectively and five levels of probiotics (Control, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus SMFM2016-WK1, Pediococcus acidilactici K, Lactobacillus reuteri PF30). In exp.2 a total of 30 weaned pigs (initial body weight of 9.84 ± 0. 85kg) were used in 4 weeks experiment. Pigs were allocated to 5 groups in a randomized complete way with 2 pens per group and 3 pigs per pen. Supplementation of Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus SMFM2016-WK1 improved (P < 0.05) growth performance, intestinal pathogen bacteria counts compared with control group in exp.1. Also, Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus SMFM2016-WK1 improved (P < 0.05) fecal noxious odor, diarrhea incidence and digestibility of crude protein and gross energy compared with control group in exp.2. In conclusion, supplementation of 38W strains isolated from white kimchi can act as probiotics by inhibiting E.coli and Salmonella typhimurium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of protease supplementation and different nutrient density of diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, gas emissions, and fecal microflora in growing-finishing pigs. Crossbred growing pigs (n = 180; [Landrace × Yorkshire] x Duroc) with an initial body weight (BW; 18.74 ± 3.46 kg) were used for 15 weeks. Pigs were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 3 pigs per pen in a 3 x 2 factorial through the following arrangement: Three groups of protease (1, Basal diets; 2, Protease A: 125 mg/kg protease derived from Streptomyces spp; 3, Protease B: 100 mg/kg protease derived from Bacillus licheniformis) at two different nutrient density diets (1; Basal requirement 2; 0.94-0.98% greater than requirement in dietary protein and 50 kcal/kg in energy). Supplementation of protease significantly increased (P < 0.05) BW at weeks 4 and 6. Also, supplementation of protease increased (P < 0.05) ADG at grower periods and weeks 13 to 15. In addition, improvement (P < 0.05) of ADG was observed in pigs fed a high nutrient density diet (HN) compared with basal nutrient density diet (BN) at grower periods and weeks 13 to 15. In apparent total track digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP), there was increased (P < 0.05) in supplementation of protease at weeks 6 and 13. The HN showed increased (P < .0001) ATTD of CP at 6 weeks. BN increased (P < 0.01) ATTD of CP at week 13. Also, there was interaction (P < 0.05) between nutrient density of diets and supplementation of protease. In ATTD of gross energy, supplementation of protease showed increased (P < 0.05) at week 13. The supplementation of protease in diets decreased (P < 0.05) the concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) at week 13. The supplementation of protease in diets decreased (P < 0.05) the emission of NH3 at weeks 6 and 13. Also, H2S was decreased (P < 0.05) due to supplementation of Protease A in diets. At weeks 6 to 9, average daily feed intake showed a tendency to increase (P < 0.10) when the BN diets were fed. Also, during the entire period, feed conversion ratio tended to increase (P < 0.10) when the BN diets were fed. In conclusion, supplementation of protease reduces NH3 in feces and BUN in whole blood by increasing the digestibility of CP and improved growth performance. Also, diets with high nutrient density improved growth performance and nutrient digestibility in grower periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium is an essential trace element that has several important biological roles in humans, including regulation of the antioxidant defense system, improving immunity, and maintaining body homeostasis. However, in countries with densely populated populations around the world, selenium intake is less than the recommended daily intake due to a lack of selenium in the soil. So, we hypothesized that the addition of organic selenium and clay minerals to broiler feed would increase selenium concentration in the meat as well as antioxidant capacity and immune response. Therefore, this study analyzed the effects of clay minerals and organotaselenium on growth performance, digestibility, intestinal morphology, blood characteristics, fecal microbiome, foot-pad dermatitis and meat quality characteristics of broilers. A total of 168 1-d old broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) were randomly assigned to 3 groups based on the initial body weight (37.33 ± 0.24 g) with 7 replicate per 8 birds (mixed sex). The experiments period was 28 d. Dietary treatments were: basal diets based on corn-soybean meal (Control group), basal diet supplemented with 1000 ppm zeolite and 0.2 ppm seleno-methionine (Treatment 1), and basal diet supplemented with 1000 ppm zeolite and 0.4 ppm seleno-methionine (Treatment 2). Supplementation of zeolite and seleno-methionine did not affect (P > 0.05) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, footpad dermatitis. However, increasing level of selenometionine showed linear increase (P < 0.05) in villus height/crypt depth ratio of duodenum and selenium concentration in breast meat. Also, increasing level of seleno-methionine showed linear decrease (P < 0.05) in blood uric acid. Total genomic DNA was used to assess the fecal microbiota diversity and composition using the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. There were differences in alpha diversity and beta diversity in fecal microbiomes among treatments (P < 0.05). Taxonomic analysis at phylum level revealed that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes of Treatment 1 and Treatment 2 were significantly less than control group. In genus level, the relative abundance of fecal Lactobacillus and Enterococcus of Treatment groups were greater than control group. In short, 1000 ppm zeolite and 0.4 ppm seleno-methionine supplementation to broiler diet supported positive gut microbime change, and enhanced antioxidant capacity, and concentration of selenium in muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]