Sheikh Adil

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Organic Acids on Performance, Intestinal Histomorphology, and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chicken

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of organic acids on the performance, intestinal histomorphology, and blood biochemistry of broiler chicken. The birds in the control (T1) group were fed the basal diet whereas in other treatment groups basal diet was supplemented with 2% butyric acid (T2), 3% butyric acid (T4), 2% fumaric acid (T4), 3% fumaric acid (T5), 2% lactic acid (T6), and 3% lactic acid (T7). Broiler chicken fed diets supplemented with organic acids had significantly (P < .05) improved body weight gains and feed conversion ratio. No effect (P < .05) on cumulative feed consumption was observed. The addition of organic increased villus height in the small intestines but the differences were not significant (P < .05) in case of the ileum. Serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations were increased (P < .05) but no effect (P < .05) on the concentration of serum glucose and cholesterol, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and serum glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) was observed. The results indicated that the organic acid supplementation, irrespective of type and level of acid used, had a beneficial effect on the performance of broiler chicken.

RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKEN TO DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF ORGANIC ACIDS

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of organic acids on the performance, gut health and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken. Results indicated that the birds fed diets supplemented with organic acids showed significantly (p 0.05) among all the treatment groups. Addition of organic acids in broiler diets increased the villus height in all the segments of small intestines but the differences were non-significant (p>0.05) in case of ileum. No effect (p>0.05) on carcass characteristics was observed among all treatments except for length and weight of small intestines which were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the groups fed supplemental organic acids.

Species-specific identification of adulteration in cooked mutton Rista (a Kashmiri Wazwan cuisine product) with beef and buffalo meat through multiplex polymerase chain reaction

Aim: Meat adulteration is a serious problem in the meat industry and needs to be tackled to ensure the authenticity of meat products and protect the consumers from being the victims. In view of such likely problem in indigenous meat products of Kashmiri cuisine (Wazwan), the present work was performed to study the detection of beef and buffalo meat in cooked mutton Rista by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) based multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method under laboratory conditions. Materials and Methods: Three experimental trials were conducted wherein the products were prepared from pure mutton, beef and buffalo meat, and their admixtures in the ratios of 60:20:20, 80:10:10, 90:05:05 and 98:01:01, respectively. Results: The primers used in the study amplified the cyt b gene fragments of sizes 124 bp, 472 bp and 585 bp for buffalo, cattle and sheep, respectively. It was possible to detect cattle and buffalo meat at the level of 1% in the mixed meat cooked Rista. The multiplex PCR successfully amplified cyt b gene fragments of mtDNA of the target species and thus produced characteristic band pattern for each species. The band intensities of cattle and buffalo in the mixed meat Rista progressively decreased corresponding to their decreasing level from 20% to 1%. Processing, cooking (moist heating) and non-meat formulation ingredients had no effect on detection of meat species adulteration. Conclusion: The multiplex PCR procedure standardized and developed in this study is simple, efficient, sensitive, reliable and highly specific for detecting falsification of cooked mutton product with beef and buffalo meat up to 1% level.

Histomorphological studies of broiler chicken fed diets supplemented with either raw or enzyme treated dandelion leaves and fenugreek seeds

Aim: Herbal plants and their derived products are extensively used particularly in many Asian, African, and other countries of the world as they are considered as ideal feed additives because of their non-residual effect and ability to influence the ecosystem of gastrointestinal microbiota in a positive way. Further, the enzymatic treatment of these herbs helps in their efficient utilization by the host. Dandelion leaves and fenugreek seeds have been reported to have positive effect in terms of improving the performance of broiler chicken, but not much literature is available regarding their effect on gut histomorphology; therefore, the present study was conducted to explore the effect of these herbs either alone or in combination with or without enzyme treatment on histomorphology of liver and small intestine of broiler chicken. Materials and Methods: To achieve the envisaged objective, 273-day-old commercial broiler chicks were procured from a reputed source and reared together until 7 days of age. On the 7th day, the chicks were individually weighed, distributed randomly into 7 groups of 3 replicates with 13 chicks each. Birds in the control group were fed diets without additives (T1). The other six treatment groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% dandelion leaves (T2), 1% fenugreek seeds (T3), combination of 0.5% dandelion leaves and 1% fenugreek seeds (T4), enzyme treated dandelion leaves 0.5% (T5), enzyme treated fenugreek seeds 1% (T6), and combination of enzyme treated dandelion leaves (0.5%) and (1%) fenugreek seeds (T7). The histomorphological study of liver and small intestines was conducted among different treatment groups. Results: The results revealed the hepato-protective nature of both dandelion leaves and fenugreek seeds either alone or in combination with or without enzyme treatment when compared with the control group. Moreover, the histomorphological findings of jejunum revealed the beneficial effect of dandelion leaves, fenugreek seeds and enzymes on the intestinal mucosa in terms of cellular infiltration, architecture of villi, villus height/crypt depth ratio, thereby improving the intestinal health. Conclusion: The dandelion leaves and fenugreek seeds have hepato-protective nature and beneficial effect on the intestinal morphology particularly when included along with enzymes in the diet of broiler chicken.

Effect of Raw and Enzyme-Treated Dandelion Leaves and Fenugreek Seed Supplemented Diet on Gut Microflora of Broiler Chicken

Present study was aimed to assess the effects of diet supplemented with or without enzyme treated 0.5% dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaves (DL) or/and 1% fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) seeds (FS), fed for 42 days on gut microflora of broiler chicken. Cobb chicks (273) were randomly distributed into 7 groups with 13 chicks in each replicate treatment. Birds in control were fed with only basal diet. The study revealed that caecal total viable and coliform counts were significantly (p<0.05) low in birds fed with supplemented diets as compared to control with least population of 7.05±0.03 and 4.07±0.05 cfu g−1, respectively, in chicken fed with enzyme treated 0.5% DL + 1% FS basal diet. The pH and moisture content of chicken litter showed no significant variation amongst the treatments. Both DL and FS showed beneficial health effects in terms of reducing the harmful gut bacteria.

Effect of post-hatch delay in feeding on performance and blood biochemistry of Chabro chicken

In Kashmir, a large number of 1-day old chicks are procured from neighbouring states which puts birds to early life stress during transportation and affects their growth performance. The present study was aimed to evaluate the role of different durations of post-hatch delay in feeding in Chabro chicken. Four hundred 1-day old Chabro chicks were randomly divided into 5 groups with 4 replicates of 20 birds each and subjected to different durations of delay in post-hatch delay feeding for 6 weeks. Control chicks were offered feed at hatchery while in other groups feeding was started after delay of 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. As the post-hatch feeding was delayed at the start of experiment, it caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in chick body weight with lower weight observed in groups subjected to 24, 48 and 72 h delay in feeding as compared to control. Thereafter, the body weights decreased steadily with increase in post-hatch delayed feeding with highest decrease in group subjected to 72 h feeding delay. The average weekly feed consumption showed a steady increasing trend with increase in post-hatch feeding delay. FCR of birds worsened with increase in post-hatch feeding delay. There was no significant change in various blood biochemical parameters, except for SGPT. Higher feed cost per kg live weight gain was observed in groups subjected to longer durations of delay in feeding. To circumvent negative effects of delayed feeding, early feeding strategies need may be adopted which include proper hatchery feeding and feeding during transportation of birds.

Stress Levels, Mortality, Intestinal Morphometry and Histomorphology of Chabro Broiler Birds Subjected to Varying Degrees of Post Hatch Delay in Feeding

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Kashmir is a part of Jammu and Kashmir State of India where a large chunk of day old chicks are procured from outside the state and these chicks are transported across a distance of hundreds of kilometers over a period of several days. The long distance transport without any access to feed not only subjects the birds to early life stress but also affects their gut morphological development. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the effect of delayed feeding on stress levels, mortality, intestinal morphometry and histomorphology of chabro broiler chicken. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 400 day old chabro chicks were randomly divided into 5 groups, each group comprising of four replicates of 20 birds. Chicks allotted to group-1 (G 1) were offered feed at hatchery itself whereas feeding in groups G 2, G 3, G 4 and G 5 were initiated at the farm after the delay of 12, 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. RESULTS The results revealed that the heterophil count showed a steady increase from G 1-G 5 and significantly (p<0.05) higher count was found in G 3, G 4 and G 5 compared to G 1. However, the lymphocyte count showed a steady decrease as delay in feeding increased. H:L ratio followed a regular increase from G 1-G 5 and was significantly (p<0.05) higher in G 3, G 4 and G 5 compared to G 1. An overall mortality of 13% was recorded during the trial and all of it occurred during first 2 weeks. The highest overall mortality of 22.50±3.23% was recorded in group G 5 followed by 17.50±6.61% in G 4. The villus height of duodenum and jejunum was significantly (p<0.05) higher in G 2, G 3, G 4 and G 5 as compared to G 1. Crypt depth and muscular is thickness of duodenum was significantly (p>0.05) lower in G 4 and G 5 compared to G 1. CONCLUSION The duration of post hatch feeding delay gradually increased the stress level and mortality of birds and also decreased the length of different segments of small intestine in birds. No adverse effect on histomorphology was observed at the end of trial. Feeding at hatchery itself or feeding during transportation of birds would be a viable strategy to overcome the negative effects of delayed feeding in chicken.