Henny Akit

Effects of dietary oil sources, calcium and phosphorus levels on growth performance, carcass characteristics and bone quality of broiler chickens

ABSTRACT The study investigated the effects of varying dietary calcium (Ca) level and oil sources on the growth performance and carcass quality of broiler chickens. A total of 378, 1-day-old birds (Cobb 500) were fed either 6% palm oil, soybean oil (SO) or linseed oil (LO) in combination with three dietary levels of calcium (1.00%, 1.25% and 1.50%) for 6 weeks. Birds fed SO had higher body weight (BW) compared with those fed LO (p < .05). However, feed efficiency, carcass and bone quality were similar among the oil treatments. Regardless of the oil source, chicken fed diets containing 1.50% of Ca had lower BW compared with those fed 1.00% and 1.25% of Ca. In contrast, birds fed 1.25% of Ca had significantly higher (p < .05) bone quality than those fed 1% of Ca. It can be concluded that increasing the level of calcium up to 1.25% improved bone quality regardless of the type of oil.

Influence of postbiotic RG14 and inulin combination on cecal microbiota, organic acid concentration, and cytokine expression in broiler chickens

&NA; This study examined the effects of different combinations of inulin and postbiotics RG14 on growth performance, cecal microbiota, volatile fatty acids (VFA), and ileal cytokine expression in broiler chickens. Two‐hundred‐and sixteen, one‐day‐old chicks were allocated into 6 treatment groups, namely, a basal diet (negative control, NC), basal diet + neomycin and oxytetracycline (positive control, PC), T1 = basal diet + 0.15% postbiotic RG14 + 1.0% inulin, T2 = basal diet + 0.3% postbiotic RG14 + 1.0% inulin, T3 = basal diet + 0.45% postbiotic RG14 + 1.0% inulin, and T4 = basal diet + 0.6% postbiotic RG14 + 1.0% inulin, and fed for 6 weeks. The results showed that birds fed T1 and T3 diets had higher (P < 0.05) final body weight and total weight gain than NC and PC birds. A lower (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio was observed in birds fed T1 and T2 compared with those fed the NC diet. Birds fed PC, T1, T2, and T3 had higher (P < 0.05) cecum total bacteria and Bifidobacteria compared to the NC birds. Diet had no effect on cecum Lactobacilli, Enterococcus and Salmonella. The NC birds had higher (P < 0.05) Enterobacteria and E. coli than other treatments. Concentration of acetic acid was higher in birds fed PC, T1, and T4 compared to the NC birds. However, the concentration of butyric acid, propionic acid, and total VFA did not differ (P > 0.05) among diets. The NC birds had higher (P < 0.05) expression of interferon (IFN) and Lipopolysaccharide‐induced tumor necrosis factor‐alpha factor (LITAF) gene compared with those fed other diets. The mRNA expression of interluken‐6 (IL‐6) was up‐regulated in birds fed T3 and T4 compared to the NC birds. However, the expression of interluken‐8 (IL‐8) gene was not influenced by diet. Postbiotic and inulin combinations are potential replacements for antibiotic growth promoters in the poultry industry.

Effect of using insect larvae meal as a complete protein source on quality and productivity characteristics of laying hens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as a source of protein in layer diets on product performance, egg quality, hatchability, fertility, and sensory characteristics of eggs. The BSFL contained a high percentage of protein (559.9 g kg−1), metabolizable energy (696.3 kcal kg−1), crude fat (18.6 g kg−1), and dry matter (178 g kg−1) and a good balance of amino acids. A total of 54 Arabic strain hens at nine months of age were mixed with nine cocks at 12 months old; all were divided into three treatments. The diets were formulated based on three levels of energy-to-protein ratio: 155, 140, and 170. The BSFL meal was added at 0, 50, and 10 g kg−1 respectively. The results showed that feed intake, weight gain, Haugh unit, and hatchability were not affected by dietary treatments with BSFL. However, there was significant improvement in hen day egg production and hen house egg production due to dietary treatments of BSFL. Also, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, shell thickness, shell weight, egg yolk color, fertility, and egg mass were affected by dietary treatments. In addition, a significant improvement was observed in appearance, texture, taste, and acceptance of eggs of hens fed BSFL at 50 g kg−1. The odor was not affected by dietary treatments. Black soldier fly larvae can be a good source of protein in layer diets.

Effect of corn supplementation on purine derivatives and rumen fermentation in sheep fed PKC and urea-treated rice straw

This study investigated the effect of different levels of corn supplementation as energy source into palm kernel cake–urea-treated rice straw basal diet on urinary excretion of purine derivatives, nitrogen utilization, rumen fermentation, and rumen microorganism populations. Twenty-seven Dorper lambs were randomly assigned to three treatment groups and kept in individual pens for a 120-day period. The animals were subjected to the dietary treatments as follows: T1: 75.3% PKC + 0% corn, T2: 70.3% PKC + 5% corn, and T3: 65.3% PKC + 10% corn. Hypoxanthine and uric acid excretion level were recorded similarly in lambs supplemented with corn. The microbial N yield and butyrate level was higher in corn-supplemented group, but fecal N excretion, T3 has the lowest level than other groups. Lambs fed T3 had a greater rumen protozoa population while the number of R. flavefaciens was recorded highest in T2. No significant differences were observed for total bacteria, F. succinogenes, R. albus, and methanogen population among all treatment. Based on these results, T3 could be fed to lambs without deleterious effect on the VFA and N balance.

Influence of different sources of oil on performance, meat quality, gut morphology, ileal digestibility and serum lipid profile in broilers

ABSTRACT This study examined the effect of palm oil (PO), sunflower oil (SO) and their combinations on the growth performance, meat quality, intestinal morphology, ileal digestibility and blood plasma lipid profile of broilers. A total of 144-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb-500) were randomly assigned to basal diets supplemented with either T1, 6% PO (control); T2, 4% PO + 2% SO; T3, 2% PO + 4% SO or T4, 6% SO fed for six weeks. Birds fed SO and the combination of SO and PO had greater (p < .05) body weight gain and feed efficiency compared to control (PO) birds at 1–21 days, and no differences were found among T2–T4 treatments. Fat type had no significant effect on birds’ performance at 22–42 days and meat quality. Birds fed SO and the combination of SO and PO had greater (p < .05) duodenum and ilium length as well as higher fat digestibility than the control birds. The control diet raised blood plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein than other treatments. It is concluded that feeding a combination of saturated (PO) and unsaturated (SO) oil sources altered the blood lipid profile, and increased nutrient digestibility and performance without conceding the meat quality in broilers.

Effect of the Dietary Fat Sources on Performance, Liver Fatty Acid Composition and Meat Cholesterol Content in Broiler

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding diet containing palm oil (PO) and sunflower oil (SO) and their combination on bird performance, liver fatty acid profile and meat cholesterol content of broiler. A total of 144 day-old broiler chicks (Cobb) randomly assigned into four dietary treatments and fed for six weeks. The dietary treatments were T1, 6% PO (control); T2, 4% PO + 2% SO; T3, 2% PO + 4% SO; and T4, 6% SO. The body weight gain increased and feed conversion ratio (FCR) reduced with the increasing level of unsaturated fatty acid sources oil (SO) compared to control group (PO). Significantly higher (P<0.05) overall daily body weight gain and lower FCR were found in broilers fed dietary treatments T3 compared to other treatments. However, no differences (P<0.05) were found in daily body weight gain and FCR among the two combination of oil and SO alone. Dietary treatments influence the fatty acid composition of liver and increasing the dietary SO decreased the level of C16:0, C18:0, C18:1n-9, SFA and MUFA and increased the C18:2n-6, UFA: PUFA, UFA: SFA and PUFA: SFA. Birds fed PO had higher cholesterol concentration in meat which was decreased by supplementation of SO in broiler diet. However, cholesterol concentration was not differed in meat among the dietary SO and combination of SO and PO. It could be concluded that supplementation of a combination of PO and SO in broiler diet increased performance, altered the fatty acid composition of liver tissue and decreased cholesterol content of meat which may have a favorable impact on consumer’s health.