Yefei Cheng

Effects of threonine supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, oxidative status, intestinal integrity, and barrier function of broilers at the early age

&NA; The aim of this study was to investigate effects of L‐threonine (L‐Thr) supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant status, and intestinal health of broilers at the early age. One hundred and forty‐four 1‐day‐old male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres Plus) were allocated into 3 treatments with 6 replicates of 8 birds each, and fed a basal diet (analyzed Thr content, 7.87 g/kg) supplemented with 0 (control diet), 1 and 3 g/kg L‐Thr for 21 d, respectively. Treatments did not alter growth performance of broilers. Compared with control, 1 g/kg Thr supplementation increased relative weight of spleen (P = 0.013). A higher level of Thr (3 g/kg) increased relative weight of thymus (P = 0.003). The supplementation of 3 g/kg Thr reduced Escherichia coli (P = 0.040) and Salmonella colonies (P = 0.015), whereas increased Lactobacillus colonies (P < 0.001) in the cecal contents. Thr supplementation increased intestinal villus height (P < 0.05), and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (P < 0.001), and the values for these parameters were intermediate with 1 g/kg Thr. Goblet cell density was increased by Thr supplementation (P < 0.001). The jejunal immunoglobulin G content was increased by the inclusion of Thr (P = 0.002). Broilers fed diet supplemented with 1 g/kg Thr exhibited increased concentrations of jejunal immunoglobulin M (P = 0.037) and secretory immunoglobulin A (P = 0.018). Likewise, 3 g/kg Thr inclusion increased ileal secretory immunoglobulin A content (P = 0.023). The jejunal malondialdehyde accumulation was reduced by Thr inclusion (P = 0.012). A higher level of Thr inclusion also reduced malondialdehyde content in the serum (P = 0.029). The high level of Thr inclusion (3 g/kg) upregulated mucin‐2 mRNA expression (P = 0.034), whereas downregulated the mRNA abundances of interferon‐&ggr; (P = 0.036) and interleukin‐1&bgr; (P = 0.031) in the ileum. In conclusion, L‐Thr supplementation can improve immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of broilers at an early age.

An evaluation of zinc bearing palygorskite inclusion on the growth performance, mineral content, meat quality, and antioxidant status of broilers

The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc (Zn) bearing palygorskite (ZnPal) inclusion on the growth performance, mineral content, meat quality, and antioxidant status of broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly allocated into 5 dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 8 chicks. Broilers in the 5 treatments were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg Zn diet in the form of ZnPal for 42 d, respectively. Birds exhibited similar average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed/gain ratio (F:G) among groups during the 42-day study (P>0.05). ZnPal supplementation linearly increased iron (Fe) (P=0.031) and magnesium (Mg) (P=0.002) content in the pectoralis major muscle. Similarly, the inclusion of ZnPal tended to increase Zn content in the thigh (P=0.072) and linearly increase Zn content in the pectoralis major muscle (P=0.055). The concentration of copper (Cu) in the thigh was linearly decreased by ZnPal inclusion (P=0.011). Meanwhile, a quadratic trend for reduced Cu content was observed in the pectoralis major muscle (P=0.074) and thigh (P=0.082), respectively. The supplementation of ZnPal linearly reduced cooking loss in the pectoralis major muscle (P=0.013), and linearly (P=0.029) and quadratically (P=0.034) decreased cooking loss in the thigh. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the thigh was linearly (P=0.020) and quadratically (P=0.017) reduced by ZnPal inclusion. Additionally, ZnPal supplementation tended to linearly enhance total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activity of the pectoralis major muscle (P=0.083). The results obtained in the current study indicated that ZnPal inclusion could alter muscular mineral accumulation, improve meat quality, and enhance the muscular antioxidant capacity of broilers, and Zn supplementation in the form of ZnPal at the dosage of 20 mg/kg would be sufficient in improving meat quality and muscular oxidative status.

Effects of synbiotic supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and muscular antioxidant capacity and mineral contents in broilers

BACKGROUND The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary synbiotic supplementation on growth performance, carcass composition, meat quality and muscular antioxidant capacity, and mineral contents in broilers. Accordingly, 96 day-old male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres Plus; Aviagen, Huntsville, AL, USA) were randomly allocated to two groups, and each group consisted of six replicates with eight chicks each. Birds were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with either 0 or 1.5 g kg-1 synbiotic, consisting of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Clostridium butyricum) and prebiotics (yeast cell wall and xylooligosaccharide) from 1 to 42 days of age. RESULTS Compared with the control group, supplementation with a synbiotic increased average daily gain (P < 0.05) but reduced feed/gain ratio (P < 0.01) in broilers from 1 to 42 days of age. Similalrly, dietary synbiotic inclusion increased breast yield (P < 0.05) but decreased abdominal fat (P < 0.01) in broilers. The breast muscle pH value at 24 h postmortem in broilers was elevated with the incorporation of synbiotic (P < 0.05). By contrast, synbiotic supplementation lowered the cooking loss during heat treatment in a water bath, malondialdehyde content, and total Cr content in the thigh muscle in broilers (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Dietary synbiotic supplementation into the diet of broilers may be an effective method for improving growth performance and carcass compositions, resulting in the production of meat with a favorable quality and oxidative stability.

Effects of Dietary Zinc Bearing Palygorskite Supplementation on the Carcass Traits, Chemical Composition of Muscle, and Muscular Lead and Chromium Contents of Broilers

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of zinc (Zn) bearing palygorskite (ZnPal) inclusion on the carcass traits, chemical composition of muscle, and muscular lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) contents of broilers. A total of 240 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into 5 dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 8 chicks each. Broilers in the 5 treatments were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control group), 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg Zn in the form of ZnPal for 42 days, respectively. There were no differences in the carcass yield, abdominal fat yield, subcutaneous fat thickness, and intramuscular fat width among treatments (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the eviscerated yield (P=0.010) and thigh muscle yield (P=0.046) were quadratically increased by the supplementation of ZnPal (P<0.05). Similarly, the breast muscle yield was linearly (P=0.024) and quadratically (P=0.011) increased by ZnPal inclusion. The addition of ZnPal to diets of broilers also linearly (P=0.002) increased fat content in the thigh. Moreover, the supplementation of ZnPal linearly and quadratically reduced the content of muscular Pb and the content of Cr in the thigh muscle (P<0.05). It was concluded that ZnPal inclusion could improve carcass traits, increase fat content in the thigh, and reduce the accumulations of Pb and Cr in the muscles, and this effect was more pronounced when extra Zn dosage in the form of ZnPal was 40 mg/kg.

Effects of zinc bearing palygorskite supplementation on the growth performance, hepatic mineral content, and antioxidant status of broilers at early age

Objective This study was conducted to investigate effects of zinc (Zn) bearing palygorskite (ZnPal) supplementation on growth performance, hepatic mineral content, and antioxidant status of broilers at early age. Methods A total of 240 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were allocated into 5 treatments with 6 replicates of 8 chicks each. Birds in 5 treatments were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control group; Analyzed Zn content: 81 mg/kg), 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg Zn as ZnPal for 21 days, respectively. Blood, liver and intestinal mucosa were collected at 21 days of age. Results Treatments did not affect growth performance of broilers during the 21-day study (p> 0.05). The contents of hepatic Zn and magnesium (Mg) were linearly increased (p<0.001) by ZnPal supplementation. ZnPal inclusion linearly (p = 0.007) reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in serum. The activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in liver increased linearly (p = 0.001) with concentration of ZnPal in diet. ZnPal inclusion linearly (p = 0.036) and quadratically (p = 0.005) increased T-SOD activity, and linearly (p = 0.012) increased copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) activity in jejunal mucosa. The maximum responses of hepatic and jejunal antioxidant enzymes activities (T-SOD and Cu/Zn SOD) were found when supplementing the basal diet with 60 mg/kg Zn as ZnPal. Furthermore, ZnPal supplementation quadratically (p = 0.001) increased Cu/Zn SOD activity in ileal mucosa, and its maximum activity was observed in the diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg Zn as ZnPal. Conclusion ZnPal supplementation did not alter growth performance of broilers. Dietary ZnPal inclusion could increase concentrations of hepatic trace minerals (Zn and Mg) and inhibit lipid peroxidation by reducing serum MDA accumulation, with the optimal dosage of Zn from ZnPal being 80 mg/kg diet (analyzed Zn content in the diet: 165 mg/kg), and 60 mg/kg Zn as ZnPal (analyzed Zn content in the diet: 148 mg/kg) was the optimum dosage for broilers to achieve maximum antioxidant enzyme activities.

Betaine improves the growth performance and muscle growth of partridge shank broiler chickens via altering myogenic gene expression and insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathway

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the effect of betaine on growth performance, carcass characteristics, myogenic gene expression, and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) signaling pathway in partridge shank broiler chickens. A total of 192 one‐day‐old partridge shank broiler chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups with 6 replicates of 8 chickens for a 52‐d feeding trial. Broilers were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 250 (B250), 500 (B500), or 1,000 (B1000) mg/kg betaine. Compared with the control group, the B500 and B1000 groups had higher (P < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG), and the B500 group had a lower (P < 0.05) feed/gain ratio (F:G) during the whole trial period. Moreover, the B1000 group increased (P < 0.05) the breast muscle yield and decreased (P < 0.05) relative abdominal fat weight. The mRNA expression of myocyte enhancer factor 2B (MEF2B) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and mTOR phosporylation were higher (P < 0.05) in both breast and thigh muscles in the B500 and B1000 groups than those in the control group. The higher (P < 0.05) concentration and mRNA expression of IGF‐1 were also observed in breast muscle in the B500 and B1000 groups. Additionally, the B1000 group up‐regulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA level of myogenic differentiation factor 1 (MyoD1) in breast muscle and myogenin (MyoG) in thigh muscle. In conclusion, diets supplemented with 500 or 1,000 mg/kg betaine improved the growth performance of partridge shank broiler chickens during the whole trial period, and the B1000 group significantly improved the breast muscle growth. These improvements might result from increased mRNA expression of MyoD1 and MEF2B in breast muscle and MyoG and MEF2B in thigh muscle, and through alterations in IGF‐1/mTOR signaling pathway.

Dietary mannan oligosaccharide improves growth performance, muscle oxidative status, and meat quality in broilers under cyclic heat stress

This study investigated the effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) supplementation on growth performance, serum corticosterone level, and antioxidant ability, meat quality as well as chemical composition of breast muscle in broilers exposed to cyclic heat stress (HS). 144 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres plus) were randomly allocated to 3 treatments with 6 replicates each. Broilers in the control and HS groups were fed a basal diet, and in the MOS group were given the basal diet supplemented with 1 g/kg MOS for 42 days, respectively. The temperature was maintained 32-33 °C for the first 3 days for all broilers, and it was gradually reduced by 3 °C per week to a final temperature of 20 °C in the control group, whereas it remained unchanged for 8 h and reduced to the same level to the control group for the remaining 16 h daily in the both HS and MOS groups. Compared with the control group, cyclic HS resulted in retarded growth performance and increased serum corticosterone level (P < 0.05). The supplementation of MOS promoted growth performance and reduced serum corticosterone concentration in broilers subjected to cyclic HS (P < 0.05). Cyclic HS increased drip loss48 h, cooking loss, malondialdehyde accumulation, and moisture content, whereas decreased pH24 h value, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and crude protein content in the breast muscle (P < 0.05). In contrast, dietary MOS supplementation reduced drip loss48 h and malondialdehyde concentration, and increased GSH-Px activity in breast muscle compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). The results indicated that dietary MOS supplementation could improve growth performance, and oxidative status and meat quality of breast muscle in broilers under cyclic HS.

Effects of Dietary Synbiotic Supplementation as an Alternative to Antibiotic on the Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, Immunity, and Oxidative Status of Cherry Valley Ducks

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of synbiotic supplementation, a potential alternative to antibiotic, on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, immunity, and oxidative status of Cherry Valley ducks. In total, 540 1-day-old male Cherry Valley ducks were randomly subjected to 3 treatments, and each treatment consisted of 6 replicates with 30 birds each. Birds in the 3 treatments were fed a basal diet devoid of antibiotics (control group) or a basal diet supplemented with either 40 mg/kg zinc bacitracin or 1.5 g/kg synbiotic composed of xylooligosaccharide, Clostridium butyricum, and Bacillus subtilis for 42 days. Compared with the control group, dietary synbiotic and antibiotic supplementation decreased the feed/gain ratio of ducks (P=0.025) to a similar extent (P>0.05). Birds in the antibiotic group exhibited a lower average daily feed intake (P=0.024) whereas such an effect was not observed in the birds of the synbiotic group (P>0.05). Synbiotic and antibiotic supplementation reduced abdominal fat yield (P=0.032) and drip loss of the breast muscle (P<0.001) to similar extents (P>0.05). Additionally, synbiotic and antibiotic supplementation increased the relative weight of the bursa (P=0.005) and total superoxide dismutase activity in the ileal mucosa (P=0.025) to similar extents (P>0.05). Moreover, ileal malondialdehyde accumulation was reduced with the supplementation of synbiotic (P=0.028), but not antibiotic. The results indicated that dietary synbiotic supplementation was beneficial for growth performance, carcass compositions, meat quality, immune function, and antioxidant capacity of Cherry Valley ducks, and it could be used as an alternative to antibiotics in Cherry Valley ducks.