Ibrahim A. Alhidary

The activity and use of zinc in poultry diets

Zinc (Zn) is an important nutrient in poultry and its deficiency has been linked with various disorders, in addition to depressed growth and performance. It is now recognised that Zn has a major role in antioxidation, growth and development, production, immunity and stress related issues. Supplementation of Zn can improve growth, augment immunity, enhance antioxidant capacity, increase endocrine secretion and interact with other minerals in the gut. In this review, some of the basic information regarding the importance and activity of Zn within the body and the addition of Zn in poultry diets is discussed.

Effect of different levels of alpha tocopherol on performance traits, serum antioxidant enzymes, and trace elements in Japanese quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ) under low ambient temperature

This study was designed to find the effect of vitamin E supplementation on growth, serum antioxidant enzymes, and some trace elements in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) under low ambient temperature. A total of 180 day-old Japanese quails were randomly divided into four groups and provided with 0 (group A), 50 (group B), 100 (group C), and 150 IU/kg (group D) vitamin E (dl-α-tocopherol acetate) under an average temperature of 9±0.5 °C for an experimental period of 42 days. The result showed that feed intake per day, body weight, weight gain per day, and feed conversion ratio did not differ significantly between the groups. Serum concentrations of superoxide and glutathione peroxidase were significantly high in birds supplemented with 150 mg/kg of vitamin E. The concentration of aspartate aminotransferase was not significantly affected between the control and treated groups; however, alanine transaminase concentration significantly reduced in group D. Zinc concentration in the blood increased significantly in group D, with no significant effect on copper and manganese between the control and treated groups. Vitamin E at the level of 150 IU/kg of feed improves the blood antioxidant status and zinc concentration, with no effect on the performance traits of quail reared under low ambient temperature.

Antioxidant status and immune responses of growing camels supplemented a long-acting multi-trace minerals rumen bolus

Abstract The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a long-acting trance mineral rumen bolus supplementation on enzymatic and haematological profiles, antioxidant status and immune responses of growing camels under natural grazing conditions. Fifteen 6-month-old growing male camels were used in a 150-day trial. Animals were individually housed in a shaded pen and randomly assigned to receive 0 (CON), one (TMB1) or two (TMB2) long-acting trance mineral rumen bolus. Blood samples were collected from all camels on days 1, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 to measure enzymatic concentrations in serum, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma and haematological variables in whole blood. Camels were injected intradermally with 0.25 mg phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) on days 90 and 140, and then the cell-mediated immune response to this antigen was measured at 0 and 24 h after injection. Animals were immunised intravenously on days 90 and 105 with 2 ml suspension of sheep red blood cells to measure total antibody titres in serum. Using TMB supplement (1 or 2 boluses) resulted in an increase in the plasma concentration of TAC (p < 0.04) and improvement in immune responses in terms of increased skinfold thickness after 24 h of PHA injection (p < 0.01) and total primary serum antibody titres (p < 0.04). Different levels, sources, and synergistic combinations of trace minerals can be used in further studies to elucidate the most advantageous regarding productive variables, availability and cost for camel industry.

Characteristics of rumen in Naemi lamb: Morphological changes in response to altered feeding regimen

This study sought to chart the ontogenesis of rumen in Naemi lambs through histomorphometeric evaluation subjected to alfalfa hay in total mixed rations (TMR). A total of 40 growing healthy Naemi male lambs (28.85±1.09kg), at weaning (90±3days) was randomly distributed into four groups. One group was fed on TMR (control) only, while others were supplemented with restricted amount of alfalfa hay at the rate of 100g per day (T1), 200g once per two days (T2) and 300g once per three days (T3) in addition to ad libitum TMR. The results indicated that body weight and dry matter intake increased significantly in treated groups. Significantly higher (P<0.05) pH was recorded in all the treated groups after 8h of feeding. Similarly, the brightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness ((b*) of rumen was significantly higher (P<0.05) in treated groups. The papillary length, width and surface area of rumen were significantly (P<0.05) high in alfalfa supplemented groups. Iron (Fe) concentration in rumen tissue decreased significantly (P<0.05) in treated groups. We concluded that a dietary plan based on ad libitum TMR with the addition of alfalfa at the rate of aforementioned protocol not only enhanced feed intake and growth rate of the growing Naemi lambs but also improved the structural characteristics of the rumen.

Anti-aflatoxin activities of milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ) in broiler

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites of structurally diverse groups occurring worldwide as contaminants of cereals such as wheat, corn, maize, peanut, and barley, which comprise the main ingredients of poultry diets. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has wide range of beneficial properties, including data showing its positive effects in protecting the liver of birds exposed to aflatoxins. Trials have shown that in broilers affected by aflatoxicosis, which adversely affected feed intake, weight gain, feed efficiency, serum biochemistry and immune status, supplementation of diets with silymarin reduced the detrimental effects, thereby improving the productivity and health. Although promising results have been reported, established doses and further research on the standardisation of this herb will increase its uses as alternative to synthetic drugs. The following review discusses several important aspects of the beneficial properties of milk thistle on poultry growth performance in experimentally induced aflatoxicosis.

Dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and their symbiotic effect on serum biochemical parameters in broilers challenged with Clostridium perfringens

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of an antimicrobial growth promoter (AGP), probiotic, prebiotic and their combination (symbiotic effect) on blood biochemistry of broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens. Two hundred and forty, 1-d-old Ross 308 broilers were distributed into six groups – the negative control (basal diet), positive control (C. perfringens infection), AGP + challenge, probiotic + challenge, prebiotic + challenge and synbiotic + challenge. The results showed significant differences in total protein, albumin, globulin and glucose in AGP with no significant difference between negative and positive control. Triglyceride and total cholesterol decreased significantly among all groups compared with positive control. Heterophils and heterophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (H/L) were significantly (P < .001) lower, and lymphocytes were significantly (P < .001) higher in all groups compared with positive control. It can be concluded from this study that the synergistic effect of Bacillus subtilis and Technomos was superior to that of the AGP in improving the blood biochemical profile of broiler challenged with C. perfringens.

The activity and use of zinc in poultry diets - ERRATUM

The publisher would like to announce that the following authors name was missing from the above publication (Naz et al.) ZIA-UR-RAHMAN. The correct author list is S. NAZ, M. IDRIS, M.A. KHALIQUE, ZIA-UR-RAHMAN, I. A. ALHIDARY, M.M. ABDELRAHMAN, R.U. KHAN, N. CHAND, U. FAROOQ and S. AHMAD, and has been corrected in the original article. The publisher apologizes to the authors and readers for this omission.