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Background: Using natural zeolites as a food additive in poultry diets offers an intriguing perspective. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of zeolite addition and particle size on broiler performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, moisture of excreta and litter, and intestinal measurements during 35 days. Methods: A total of 560 1-day-old female Ross-308 broilers were divided into five treatment levels (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 g zeolite/kg diet) (n = 16 replicates/treatment, n = 8 replicates /particle size of each treatment). Performance was calculated weekly. Carcass characteristics, meat quality, small intestine (SI) measurements, litter pH, and moisture content were determined on day 35. Results: Litter pH, breast redness, cooking loss, chewiness, total weight, and SI length were all affected by zeolite treatments (p < 0.05). Particle size had an impact on the gastric pH and texture analysis. Their interaction had an effect on color redness, litter pH, and cooking loss. Performance was unaffected by either the main or interaction effects. Conclusion: Zeolite as a feed additive may be useful in broiler diets, particularly large particles. The performance and production efficiency factor improved numerically (p > 0.05) with increasing zeolite doses up to 10 g zeolite/kg diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Sprouted barley has been proposed as one of the solutions to the feed challenge faced by livestock producers. The current hypothesis is that replacing traditional feed for growing lambs with sprouted barley could develop the rumen ecosystem by improving nutrient digestibility, fermentation through change in volatile fatty acid, and some bacteria. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of feeding sprouted barely on the performance, digestibility, rumen fermentation profile, bacterial quantification, and rumen morphology of lambs. Sprouted barley improved digestibility and rumen histomorphometric and increased the concentration of some volatile fatty acids and rumen bacteria, but decreased dry and organic matter intake, negatively affecting the weight gain of lambs fed 100% with sprouted barley. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of sprouted barley inclusion level on the growth performance, digestibility, volatile fatty acids, bacterial quantification, and rumen morphology of growing lambs. Five dietary treatments with sprouted barley (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) and nine replicates per dietary treatment were performed on forty-five Awassi lambs (90 days old). The average weight gain, intake, and digestibility of dry and organic matter were recorded. The pH, color, volatile fatty acids, bacterial quantification, and rumen histomorphometry were also determined. The results showed that the average dry and organic matter intake in T2 to T4 and the average weight gain in T4 decreased linearly. In contrast, the digestibility of dry and organic matter by sprouted barley (T2 to T4) was higher. The pH values and rumen color were not affected. Concentrations of formic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid were increased, while lactic acid and total volatile fatty acids were lower in all levels of sprouted barley. In addition, lambs fed T4 had a higher quantification of Anaerovibrio Lipolytica, Butyrivibrio Fibrisolvens, and Streptococcus Bovis quantification. Selenomonas Ruminantium was higher in T1, T2, and T4, whereas Megashpaera Elsdenii was lower in T1 to T3. The rumen histomorphometric was improved by sprouted barley (T2 and T3). Sprouted barley improved digestibility and rumen histomorphometry and increased the concentration of some volatile fatty acids and rumen bacteria but resulted in a decrease in average dry and organic matter intake, which negatively affected weight gain in lambs fed 100 % sprouted barley. Further studies are required to determine the potential effects on growing lambs fed sprouted barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of inclusion of wild cumin seeds (WCS) on performance, nutrient digestibility and blood profile in broilers during the finisher phase. For this purpose, 360, 14 days old chicks were randomly divided into four groups designated as CONT (control), 0.5WCS, 1.0WCS and 1.5WCS with 5 replicates, which were supplemented with WCS at the rate of 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5% respectively. On the overall, feed intake was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the CONT compared to the 1.0WCS. At the end of the finisher phase, and overall basis, body weight and feed conversion ratio were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in 0.5WCS. Crude protein apparent digestibility in the ileum was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in 0.5WCS compared to the CONT, while crude fat digestibility was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in 0.5WCS and 1.5WCS compared to the control. Similarly, serum triglyceride was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in 0.5WC but high density lipoprotein was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the same group. It was concluded that wild Cumin at the rate of 0.5% was superior compared to the other treatments in the diet to improve the performance, nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites in broiler during the finisher phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm kernel meal (PKM) is a byproduct produced after oil extraction from palm kernels. It is a valuable source of fiber, energy and protein which can reduce the cost of total mixed ration (TMR). This study was conducted to assess the growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs fed TMR pellet with PKM. A total of 32, three-month-old male lambs were randomly distributed into two diets (PTMR1= 0; PTMR2= 200 kg PKM/ton TMR). Results of the study showed that the production performance and the characteristics, composition and fat content of carcasses, as well as meat quality traits were not affected by PTMR2. The relative weight of the loin and tail and cohesiveness were lower while the index of myofibril fragmentation was higher when compared to PTMR1. The pH and color of the carcass and meat components were not significantly different except for hindquarter color (Lightness) and the ultimate meat pH in PTMR2. The pH value and tissue color (Redness) of rumen were higher when the lambs were fed with PTMR2 compared to PTMR1. The study indicates that 20% PKM addition to TMR may be a safe strategy for lamb feeding with no negative impact on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]