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The poultry farms need a safe and effective alternative for antibiotics that can counteract the negative impacts of necrotic enteritis (NE), which causes severe mortalities and economic losses. The current study was aimed to examine the influence of antibiotic (Flagymox) and the microbial‐based administration on carcass traits in Clostridium(C.)perfringens‐infected Cobb and Arbor Acres broilers. A total number of 360 Cobb and Arbor Acres broiler chicks (180 numbers per breed) were allocated to four groups; negative control group (without any treatments); positive control group (administration of C. perfringens at the rate of 1 × 109cfu/bird via crop gavage twice daily from day 16 to 18 post‐hatch); C. perfringens challenge plus antibiotic (Flagymox®) group, and Clostridiumperfringens challenge plus microbial‐based treatment (Big‐lactoα®) group. The results indicated that the Flagymox and Big‐lactoα treated Cobb breed group achieved a significant increase in their body weight (BW) than the positive control group at the third week post‐infection. Also, the Arbor Acres breed gained significantly higher weight compared to the Cobb breed at the third week. Total weight gain (TWG) from 0 to the fifth week in the Cobb and Arbor Acres breeds were higher in the groups treated with Flagymox and Big‐lactoα compared to the birds challenged with C. perfringens without any treatment, thus, increasing the total return (TR) in the treated groups. Economic efficiency showed no significant differences (p <.05) between the treatment groups of both the breeds. Although the treatment cost of Flagymox is higher than the microbial‐based treatment (0.86 versus 0.35 LE), there were no mortalities reported in the microbial‐based groups in both the breeds resulting in significantly low losses compared to the Flagymox treated groups. The groups treated with the microbial‐based products in both breeds were superior in dressing percentage (75.16 and 77.06% for Cobb and Arbor Acres, respectively) compared to that of the other groups. In conclusion, microbial‐based therapy improved the growth rate, carcass traits, survival rate, and economic efficiency in necrotic enteritis induced in Cobb and Arbor Acres broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to explore the effects of some factors affecting the productive and economic efficiency of Hy-Line layer breed in El-Menofia governorate. Data was collected from accurate records present in the farms and from structural questionnaire method during period from 2000 to 2018 on 29 cycles. The aim of this study is to determine and highlight the most important factors affecting the productive efficiency of Hy-Line breed and their profitability under Egyptian conditions. The study revealed that forced molting had a significant effect (P<0.05) on productive efficiency parameters. Highest values of all productive and economic efficiency parameters as feed amount, total egg number, total return and net profit were in molting cycles (75.71, 530.29, 368.88and 69.81 LE, respectively) compared to non-molting cycles (46.56, 351.07, 284.95 and 48.31 LE, respectively). Regarding to year effect, year non significantly affected total feed amount and total egg production, lowest value of total feed amount and total egg production obtained in year after 2016. Mortality percent significantly differ among different years; highest value of mortality percent was 35.73 % in years between 2000 to 2008. While, all parameters of economics including different costs and return showed a significant difference (P<0.05) increase gradually with increasing years showed lowest value in 2000 to 2008 and highest value after 2016. So we concluded that prices of different inputs and output was increased in last few years and molting is economic factor for improvement productive and economic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Coccidiosis, one of the most contagious diseases among domestic rabbits, negatively affects production and results in massive economic losses. This study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of treatment with aqueous neem leaf extract and ethanolic pomegranate peel extract (PPE) individually and in combination on the intestinal coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. in New Zealand white and V-line (VL) rabbits. Rabbits from two breeds were divided into ten equal groups (five groups each for NZ and VL). All rabbits were inoculated with Eimeria spp. oocysts except for the rabbits in the first group (G1) (negative control). The remaining groups were: G2, positive control, G3, treated with neem leaf extract, G4, treated with pomegranate peel extract (PPE), and G5, treated with a combination of neem leaf extract and PPE. Our results showed that the use of neem leaf and/or pomegranate peel extract for both breeds resulted in improved growth performance, a significant reduction in mean oocyst count, no mortalities, an anticoccidial index > 120, and significantly improved economic efficiency measures when compared to the positive control group. Healthy, weaned, coccidial-free male rabbits from two breeds (New Zealand white (NZ) and V-line (VL)) were divided into 10 equal groups (5 groups each for NZ and VL) (3 replicates/group, 6 rabbits/replicate, 18 rabbits/group). All rabbits were inoculated with 5 × 104 Eimeria spp. oocysts (E. intestinalis (67%), E. magna (22%), and E. media (11%)) except for the rabbits in the first group (G1), which were inoculated with a sterile solution and served as a negative control. The remaining four groups were treated as follows: G2, no treatment/positive control, G3, treated with neem leaf extract, G4, treated with pomegranate peel extract (PPE), and G5, treated with a combination of neem leaf extract and PPE. For both breeds, our results showed that the use of neem leaf and/or pomegranate peel extract resulted in improved growth performance, with a significant improvement in relative feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the positive control groups, which recorded the worst values, as well as a significant (p ≤ 0.05) reduction in mean oocyst count compared to the positive control groups. We also observed downregulation of mRNA levels of IL-1βα, IL6, and TNF-α in the herbal treatment groups compared with the mRNA levels of these genes in the positive control groups. Herbal treatment with neem leaf and/or pomegranate peel extracts had positive effects on the NZ and VL rabbits experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria species, as evidenced by their healthy appearance, good appetite, no mortalities, an anticoccidial index > 120, and a significantly higher total return and net profit when compared to the positive control groups of both breeds. In NZ rabbits, the treatment with neem leaf extract alone (G3) or in combination with PPE (G5) recorded the most efficient economic anticoccidial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poultry industry's goal is to find alternatives to conventional protein feed resources to maximize the poultry venture's profit. One of these alternatives is mulberry (Morus Alba) leaf powder (MLP). In this study, we determined the effect of MLP inclusion in quail diet on growth performance, economic efficiency, bacterial count, oxidative stress and immunity. A total of 288 seven-day-old chicks of Japanese quails (white and brown strains) were obtained from local Egyptian hatcheries, were accommodated for one week, and fed on a basal diet. On the 14th day, chicks were weighted, wing banded, housed in cages, and distributed randomly into three iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets (triplicate/group, 16 bird/replicate, 48 bird/ group). Diets formulated to contain MLP at levels of 0 (control), 4, and 8%, respectively, for each strain from 14 to 42 days of age. Our results showed that the inclusion of MLP up to 8% resulted in a non-significant change on growth performance parameters (final body weight, cumulative body weight gain, and dressing percentage), economic efficiency (total return, gross margin, and benefit-cost ratio), and relative economic efficiency parameters comparing with 0% MLP diet. Additionally, inclusion of MLP up to 4% in both Japanese quail strains showed a non-significant decrease in the cost of each kg body weight gain from the feed. Increasing MLP levels up to 8% in the diet resulted in a non-significant effect on immunoglobulin G in both strain and a significant increase in interleukin 2 & 6 in brown Japanese quail. Superoxide Dismutase activity and catalase enzyme activity showed a non-significant decrease in groups of white strain-fed diets with 4 & 8% MLP than those fed diets with 0% MLP. Inclusion of MLP 8% recorded a significant decrease in the total aerobic bacterial count, E.coli and clostridia count, with a non-significant effect on lactobacillus count in both quail strains and antibody titer against Newcastle virus vaccine. We concluded that MLP can be included in the diet up to 8% without adverse effect on growth parameters, economic measures, no oxidative stress and no alteration in bird immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]