Sajjan Sihag

Nutrigenomic evaluation of garlic (Allium sativum) and holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) leaf powder supplementation on growth performance and immune characteristics in broilers

AIM In this study, a planned research work was conducted to investigate the nutrigenomic aspects of supplementation of Allium sativum (garlic) and Ocimum sanctum (holy basil) leaf powder on the growth performance and immune characteristics of broilers. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 6 weeks feeding trial was conducted with 280-day-old Ven Cobb broilers, distributed randomly into seven experimental groups. Each treatment had 4 replicates with 10 birds each. The birds of the control group (T1) were fed a basal diet formulated as per BIS standards. The broilers of treatment groups T2 and T3 were fed basal diet supplemented with the commercially available garlic powder (GP) at levels of 0.5% and 1.0% of the feed, respectively, while broilers in T4 and T5 were fed basal diet supplemented with commercial grade holy basil leaf powder (HBLP) at levels 0.5% and 1.0% of the feed, respectively. Birds in the T6 were fed with 0.5% GP and 0.5% HBLP, whereas T7 was fed with 1.0% GP and 1.0% HBLP. At the end of the feeding trial (6th week), blood samples were collected and analyzed for relative mRNA expression of toll-like receptors (TLR) 2, TLR 4 and TLR 7 using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The mean body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were improved (p<0.05) in broilers fed the GP and HBLP incorporated diets compared with the control group. The relative mRNA expression levels of TLR 2, TLR 4 and TLR 7 in the peripheral blood of the broilers were found to be increased (p<0.05) in the birds supplemented with graded levels of the GP and HBLP as compared to the untreated group. CONCLUSION The present work concludes that the inclusion of GP and HBLP could enhance the production performance and immune status of birds by augmenting the T-cell mediated immune response and thereby protects them from disease without decreasing growth traits as a possible substitution to conventional antimicrobials.

Effect of Supplementing Spirulina and Thyme on Nutrient Digestibility and FCR in New Zealand White Rabbits

An experiment was conducted on 48 New Zealand White rabbits of either sex for evaluating the effect of supplementing spirulina and thyme on nutrient digestibility and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Rabbits were randomly assigned to four treatments in three tier cages, divided into two compartments, housing six rabbits in each compartment, in controlled environmental conditions during the feeding trial of 56 days. The experiment consisted of four dietary treatments. Treatment group T1 was fed with control diet as per ICAR (2008) guidelines with concentrate mixture formulated using maize, soybean meal, ground nut cake, gram, mineral mixture and common salt. In treatment groups T2, T3 and T4, concentrate mixture as used in control group was supplemented with 5% spirulina, 3% thyme and 5% spirulina plus 3% thyme, respectively. At the end of experiment a digestibility trial was conducted for 7 days and the results revealed that digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and NFE of rabbits fed with supplementation of 5% spirulina and 3% thyme in combination was significantly higher than rabbits fed control diet. The EE and ash digestibility of rabbits under different treatments remain statistically similar. The results of the study also revealed that mean values of FCR of rabbits fed with thyme or combination of thyme with spirulina supplementation was higher than rabbits of control group or supplemented with spirulina alone.

Mineral Composition of Green and Dry Roughage in Gurgaon District of Haryana

A survey was conducted to study the mineral composition of green and dry roughage in Gurgaon district of Haryana state. From each of the four blocks, three villages were randomly selected. To have a systematic and planned study, all the blocks were included in the survey. From each block, three villages were randomly selected to have a fairly representative sample. From each village, four categories of farmers i.e. landless, small (having up to five acres of irrigated land), medium (five to ten acres of irrigated land) and large (more than ten acres of irrigated land) and having dairy animals were purposefully selected. In each village, five families under each category were interrogated on the prescribed Performa for this study, thus, making a total of 240 families. Sorghum and wheat straw were the main green and dry fodder crops adopted in the area during Kharif season. Among the concentrate feeds, wheat dalia and cottonseed cake were found to be most popular. Results showed that Ca and P concentrations of sorghum are above than critical level i.e., 0.30% and 0.25% respectively. In sorghum Zn was highly deficient in all samples as its level was below than critical level (30 ppm). In case of Cu considering 8ppm as critical limit, none of the samples were deficient in the district. The average Fe content of sorghum in district was 179.09 ppm. Considering 50 ppm as critical limit, none of the samples were deficient in the district. Mn content of some samples of sorghum was below critical value (40 ppm). Few samples of straw in Ca content were below critical limit (0.30%). The P concentration of straw was below critical limit (0.25%). Samples of straw were highly deficient of P. Considering 8ppm as critical limit; half of the samples of straw were deficient in Cu. Samples were deficient of Zn as its level was below critical limit (30 ppm). None of the samples of straw were deficient in Fe in the district. The average Mn concentration of straw ranged from 43.58 ppm (Sohna) to 44.01 ppm (Farrukhnagar). Some samples were below critical value (40 ppm). Thus we can conclude from this study that Ca, P, Cu, Fe are above critical level, Zn highly deficient and Cu moderately deficient in sorghum. Whereas straw was deficient in Ca, P and Zn, moderately deficient in Cu and Mn and no deficiency was found in Fe content. K e y w o r d s

Assessment of Effects of Prebiotics Supplementation on Feed Intake, Egg and Serum Cholesterol Levels in White Leghorn Layers

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of supplementation of graded levels of prebiotics on feed intake, egg yolk cholesterol, serum cholesterol levels and internal egg quality parameters in White Leghorn layers. An experiment trial was run for a period of 16 weeks with eighty White Leghorn layers in the age group of 22–23 weeks of age were allotted randomly to four dietary treatments having 4 replications with 5 birds each. The control diet (T1) was formulated as per the BIS (2007) meeting the requirements for laying phase of the hens in the age group of 22–38 weeks. In addition, the birds in treatments T2, T3 and T4 were supplemented with prebiotics (containing mannonoligosacchrides of the Saccharomyces cell wall-47 g, formic acid (85%)-32 g, HSCAS upto 1 kg) @ 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg of feed, respectively. Laying hens receiving prebiotics exhibited improvement in feed conversion ratio of 3.83 and 7.34% in treatment groups T3 and T4, respectively compared to control. The prebiotics supplementation showed positive effect on internal egg quality parameters viz. albumen index, yolk index and Haugh unit in layers supplemented with graded levels of the prebiotics as compared to the control group. Maximum increase of 1.92% in albumen index and 2.06% in Haugh unit was observed in treatment T4 as compared to T1. However, no significant effect was observed for yolk index. Also, a significant (P<0.05) reduction was observed in the serum as well as egg yolk cholesterol and low density lipoproteins (LDL) concentrations while egg yolk high density lipoproteins (HDL) concentrations were not affected. Thus, the present study showed that administration of prebiotics had positive effect on serum and egg cholesterol levels without any changes in HDL levels.

Effect of Linseed Oil Supplementation on Hen Day Egg Production, Body Weight, Egg Shape Index, Economics and Egg Quality in Layers

Indian poultry industry is one of the fastest growing segment of the agricultural sector today in India. As the production of agricultural crops has been rising at a rate of 1.5 to 2% per annum while the production of eggs and broilers has been rising at a rate of 8 to 10% per annum today India is world’s fifth largest egg producer and the eighteenth largest producer of broiler. Driving this kind of expansion the contributing factors are International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 11 (2017) pp. 2005-2016 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Efficacy of Dried Distiller's Grains with Solubles as a Replacement for Soybean Meal in the Rations of Growing Goats

The effect of replacement of soybean meal (SBM) by dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) at different levels in the concentrate mixture on growth performance and nutrient utilization in goats kids was studied. Twenty four crossbred weaned female crossbred kids (4–5 mon.) with an average body weight 10.63±0.67 kg were divided into four groups of six animals each. All the kids were fed gram straw ad lib. and weighed quantity of concentrate mixture as per their nutrient requirements. The concentrate mixture (% parts: maize 50, barley 19, soybean meal 28, mineral mixture 2 and common salt 1) was fed to control group (T1) while SBM of control group was replaced with DDGS @ 50, 75, and 100% (CP basis) in the concentrate mixture of groups T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The experiment lasted for 120 days. A digestion trial of 6 d duration was conducted at the end of the study. Average DM intake (DMI) during the feeding trial was 458, 456, 455 and 457 g/d in groups T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively and DMI as percent of body weight was 2.93, 2.85, 2.94 and 2.94 in the respective groups revealing that DMI was not affected by different levels of DDGS. Average daily gain (ADG) was 58.7, 59.7, 57.6 and 56.0 g in groups T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The daily weight gain and total weight gain by the goat kids were also not affected up to 75% replacement level but decreased (P<0.05) at 100% replacement level. The digestibility of DM, OM, EE, CF and NFE was similar in all the groups, however, digestibility of CP and CF decreased (P<0.05) in group T4. The DCP and TDN intake and nutritive value of ration was not influenced by replacing soybean meal with DDGS at 75% level in concentrate mixture. Feed conversion efficiency was also similar in all the groups. There was net saving of ` 8.9 and 9.6 per kg weight gain on replacing soybean meal with DDGS at 50 and 75% levels, respectively. It was concluded that DDGS can be used as a protein source to replace 75% soybean meal in diets of growing goats to economize rations.

Substitution of Soybean Meal with Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles and Its Effect on Physical Parameters of Broiler Diets

Effect of replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) along with supplementation of the lysine on the physical parameters of the broiler diets was determined. DDGS was added at 15, 30 and 45% along with lysine at the level of 0, 0.50, 0.75 and 1% to each DDGS based diet. The bulk density of diets with 45% replacement of SBM with DDGS was higher (P<0.05) than other diets. Reduction in the particle size and an increase in surface area and number of particles/g in the starter as well as finisher diets was significant (P<0.05) with increased DDGS level. At same DDGS level, the values of particle size, surface area and number of particles/g of the diets were similar with increased lysine level. The relative proportion of coarse and medium sized particles decreased while that of fine particles increased linearly (P<0.05) with increased DDGS and lysine levels both in starter and finisher rations. A decrease (P<0.05) in modulus of fineness was observed with increasing DDGS level while increasing lysine level did not affect modulus of fineness.

Effect of Supplementing Lysine in Distillers Dry Grain with Solubles Based Diets on Weight Gain, Feed Intake and Feed Conversion Ratio in Broiler Chicken

An experiment was conducted to determine effect of replacement of soybean meal with distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) along with supplementation of lysine on growth performance of broiler chicken. Five hundred and twenty, day-old broiler chicks, were randomly divided into 13 treatment groups each having 4 replicates of 10 birds each. Soybean meal was replaced with DDGS at 0, 15, 30 and 45% DDGS. Lysine was supplemented in DDGS based diets at 0, 0.50, 0.75 and 1% level. Up to 15% replacement of soybean meal with DDGS with or without lysine supplementation had no negative effect on body weight gain, feed intake and FCR at any growth stage. At 30% replacement level, group having 1% lysine supplementation showed similar weight gain and feed intake compared to control group. At 45% replacement level, during initial 2 weeks of age, weight gain was lower (P<0.05) than control group. After initial growth phase, group with 45% DDGS along with 1% lysine showed growth performance similar to that in control group. Groups having lysine supplementation less than 1% had significantly lower body weight gain (P<0.05). During initial growth phase of 2 weeks, groups with 30% DDGS and less than 1% lysine showed higher (P<0.05) body weight gain from the group with 45% DDGS and less than 1% lysine. At 30 and 45% replacement levels, feed intake was higher (P<0.05) when diets were supplemented with less than 1% lysine. FCR at 45% replacement with 1% lysine was similar to that in control.

Effect of Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) Supplementation on Carcass Characteristics and Proximate Composition of Broiler Chicken Meat

A total of 240 one day-old chicks were randomly allotted to 4 treatment groups with 4 replicates having 15 broiler chicks in each replication to study the effect of aloe vera supplementation in diet on carcass characteristics and proximate composition of broiler chicken meat. The chicks were fed with standard basal diets in three different growth phases i.e. pre-starter (0-7d), starter (8-21d) and finisher (22–42 d). The control group T1 was fed a basal diet. The birds in group T2 were fed control diet + aloe vera powder @ 0.5%; in group T3: control diet + aloe vera gel in feed @ 2% and in group T4: control diet+ fresh aloe vera juice in drinking water @ 2%. Ready to cook percentage and eviscerated percentages were higher (P<0.05) in group receiving fresh aloe vera juice in drinking water. Giblets percentage was higher (P<0.05) in group receiving feed supplemented with aloe vera powder. Total as well as leg meat: bone ratio were significantly (P<0.05) higher in all the aloe vera supplemented groups in comparison to control group. Leg and breast meat fat percentage was low in all the treatment groups (P<0.05) while protein percentage in leg meat was higher (P<0.05) in the group receiving fresh aloe vera juice in drinking water. It could be concluded that aloe vera supplementation resulted in higher meat production and lower fat percentage in broiler chicken.

Effect of Linseed Oil Feeding on Serum Lipids and Fatty Acid Profile of Breast and Thigh Muscle in Broiler Chicken

Three hundred, day-old, commercial broiler chicks were randomly distributed into 5 treatment groups with 6 replicates of 10 chicks in each replicate for a period of 6 weeks. The birds in control group (T1) were offered maize and soybean meal based diet having sunflower oil @ 4% and 5% in starter and finisher diet, respectively. While in treatments T2, T3, T4 and T 5 sunflower oil of basal diet was replaced with linseed oil @ 25, 50, 75 and 100%, respectively. The contents of palmitic acid and stearic acids in thigh muscle decreased (P<0.05) in treatment T4 and T5 as compared to control while SFA concentration of breast muscle decreased (P<0.05) in treatments having different levels of linseed oil. The linoleic acid and arachidonic acid content in both breast and thigh muscles decreased in treatments T3, T4 and T 5 than the control group. The n-3 PUFA linolenic acid content increased (P<0.05) in treatments T2, T3, T4 and T 5 as compared to control group. A significant increase (P<0.05) in n-3 PUFA and a decrease in n-6: n-3 ratio was noticed in breast and thigh muscle due to incorporation of linseed oil in the diets, the effect being more pronounced in treatment T5. Serum triglycerides level and cholesterol level was lower (P<0.05) in treatment T5 than control. There was no significant difference in serum HDL among the treatments while LDL level decreased (P<0.05) in T2, T3, T4 and T5 groups compared to control group. Thus, the inclusion of linseed oil in place of sunflower in broiler chcken diets enhanced beneficial long-chain n-3 PUFA and decreased ratio of n-6: n-3 FA in chicken breast and thigh muscle which could be advantageous for obtaining healthy chicken products.