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Coccidiosis stands as one of the most prevalent enteric parasitic diseases in broilers. While antibiotics have traditionally been used for the control of coccidiosis, concerns related to drug residues and the emergence of resistance in chickens have prompted consumer apprehensions. In this study, 600 Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly divided into five groups: a control group without specific treatments (NC), broilers deliberately exposed to Eimeria tenella (positive control), broilers challenged with E. tenella but dosed with antibiotics (AT), and two groups experimentally exposed to E. tenella while simultaneously receiving pomegranate peel powder (PPE) at dosages of 3 g/kg (3PPP) and 6 g/kg (6PPP). The results revealed that all Eimeria -treated birds exhibited significantly worse growth performance compared to the NC. Notably, a marked improvement was observed in birds infected with E. tenella when supplemented with 6PPP. Both 3PPP and 6PPP supplementation significantly reduced lesion scores, mortality, and oocysts per gram (OPG). Furthermore, histological examination of the cecum indicated that the villus dimensions were restored by PPP supplementation in infected birds. In conclusion, Eimeria -infected birds supplemented with 6PPP experienced an enhanced growth rate, lowered lesion scores, alleviated oocyst shedding, and improved intestinal histological dimensions.

To date, no study has reported the anticoccidial effect of lemon peel powder in broilers. Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria species, is the prevalent enteric parasitic disease in poultry. Although certain chemical drugs have been used for their control, concerns regarding drug residues and the development of resistance in chickens have arisen among consumers. In this study, a total of 300 Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated into five groups (five equal replicates of 12 animals). The first group served as the control and did not receive any specific treatment (NC). The second group, referred to as the positive control (PC) group, was deliberately exposed to Eimeria tenella . The third group was challenged with E. tenella and also received treatment with amprolium (1 g/kg) and was designated as AT. The fourth and fifth groups were challenged with E. tenella and simultaneously supplemented with lemon peel powder at a dosage of 3 g/kg (LPP3) and 6 g/kg (LPP6). Sporulated E. tenella oocysts (5 × 10 4 /mL bird) on day 22 of the experiment were administered to the infected broiler chickens. The results indicated that in comparison with the NC, all Eimeria -treated birds exhibited significantly ( p < 0.05) lower growth performance. However, a notable improvement was observed when infected birds also received a supplement of LPP3 and LPP6 in their feed. Both LPP3 and LPP6 supplementation significantly ( p < 0.05) reduced mortality, lesion scores, and oocyst per gram (OPG) of feces compared with the PC group. Additionally, the histological features of the cecum revealed that villus height, villus width, and crypt depth were partially restored under supplementation with LPP3 and LPP6 in the infected birds. Overall, the results demonstrate that Eimeria -infected birds supplemented with LPP3 and LPP6 exhibited improved growth performance, reduced OPG, lowered intestinal coccidiosis lesion scores, and enhanced intestinal histological features.

The purpose of this work was to study the effects of glutamine (Gln) on the growth performance, oxidative stress, Nrf2, and p38 MAPK pathway in the livers of heat-stressed broilers. In total, 300 broilers were divided into five groups, including a normal temperature (NT, without dietary Gln) group and four cyclic high temperature groups (HT, GHT1, GHT2, and GHT3) fed with 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% Gln, respectively. High temperature conditions increased ( p < 0.05) liver malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration, but decreased ( p < 0.05), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione (GSH) levels in broilers. Nrf2 and p38 MAPK protein and mRNA expression levels were lower ( p < 0.05) in the NT group than that in the HT group. However, dietary 1.5% Gln decreased ( p < 0.05) liver MDA concentration, but increased ( p < 0.05) BWG, FI, liver SOD, T-AOC, GSH-Px, GST, and GSH levels in heat-stressed broilers. Nrf2 and p38 MAPK protein and mRNA expression levels were higher ( p < 0.05) in the GHT3 group than that in the HT group. In summary, Gln improved oxidative damage through the activation of Nrf2 and p38 MAPK expression in the livers of heat-stressed broilers.

In this trial, a 3 × 2 factorial design with different dietary crude protein levels (CP, 17, 19 and 21%) and two levels of exogenous protease (0 and 30,000 IU/kg) was used. A total of 540 two-week old broilers (Ross-308) was randomly allocated to experimental diets over 15-28 days of age. The interaction between dietary protein levels and enzyme supplementation showed that body weight gain was significantly ( p < 0.05) higher in birds fed CP-19 (1114.7 g) and CP-21 (1108.8 g) with enzymes supplementation. Feed intake was higher ( p < 0.05) in broilers fed with CP-17 than CP-19 with supplementation of the protease enzyme. Results also revealed that the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly ( p < 0.05) improved in birds fed with CP-19 and CP-21 and protease supplementation. Total tract N retention was lower ( p < 0.05) in birds fed CP-17 with no enzyme than the other dietary groups. Similarly, the gross energy (GE) was significantly ( p < 0.05) lower in birds fed CP-17 with or without the protease enzyme. Abdominal fat was higher ( p < 0.05) in CP-17 (0.96%) without the protease enzyme. It was concluded that a diet at 19% CP with the protease enzyme improved the performance and nutrient digestibility in broilers over 15-28 days.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of malic acid and 20% palm kernel meal (PKM) on ruminal characteristics. A total of 32 growing lambs were randomly distributed into control (barley and alfalfa ha), total mixed ration (T1), TMR + 20% PKM (T2), TMR + PKC 20% + 4 mL/day malic acids (T3). Lambs were fed these diets ad libitum for 84 days. The results showed that propionic acid in the rumen fluid increased significantly ( p < 0.05) in T1 and T3. Lactic acid concentration of rumen fluid increased significantly ( p < 0.05) in T2 while the pH increased significantly. The coloration of rumen and reticulum was improved in T3. In addition, most of the histomorphological features were higher in T3 and T2. We concluded that the addition of malic acid supplementation to lambs fed PKC caused a significant improvement in the rumen pH and decreased lactic acid concentration in growing Naemi lambs.