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The use of soybean meal in animal feed is crucial for nutrition but has a significant environmental impact, especially related to deforestation and biodiversity loss. With the increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices, it becomes essential to explore alternatives to soybean meal. This study evaluated the effect of a soy-free diet, replaced with fava beans and pea protein, on an Italian slow-growing chicken breed: the Bianca di Saluzzo. The results indicate that the experimental diet did not compromise the growth, final weight or intestinal health of the animals, demonstrating a good tolerance and adaptability of the breed to these alternative ingredients. Furthermore, the analysis of the intestinal microbiota showed a positive impact, with an increase in organic acids such as succinic and citric, which could improve intestinal health and metabolic efficiency. Some changes in liver enzyme levels were observed, such as the increase in glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, an enzyme involved in amino acid metabolism. This increase could indicate a higher efficiency in protein metabolism, suggesting that the diet based on alternative ingredients could support an improvement in liver metabolism. Although this aspect deserves further investigation, it could represent a positive effect of the diet on liver function and overall health of the animals. Further studies are needed to fully understand the long-term implications of these dietary modifications, particularly in relation to the gut microbiota and metabolism. Highlights: Soy-free diet supports sustainable poultry production. No impact on gut health and growth. Slow-growing breeds adapt well to alternative proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of corncob as a source of insoluble fibre and xylanase enzyme on broiler chicken performance, ileal digestibility, intestinal morphology, gastrointestinal pH, and serum biochemical traits. Two hundred fifty six 1-day-old (Ross 308) broiler chicks were randomly given six diets for 24 days: a control diet with 0%, 2.5%, or 5% corncob, with or without xylanase, in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Then, chicks were given the control diet with or without xylanase until they reached 42 days. Adding corncob to diets reduced performance during the grower phase (P ≤ 0.05), but when removed, the performance did not differ from the control (P ≥ 0.05). Corncob reduced ash digestibility and cholesterol levels (P ≤ 0.05) while increasing the relative weight of the heart, gizzard, and duodenum and improving the ileal villus high-to-crypt depth ratio (P ≤ 0.05). The feed conversion ratio increased due to corncob inclusion in diets at the starter and grower phases (P ≤ 0.05) but did not differ from the control at the finisher phase. Xylanase supplementation improved performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal histomorphology, and reduced cecum weight with digestive tract pH (P ≤ 0.05). Therefore, adding corncob with xylanase enzyme to broiler chickens' diet does not negatively impact their performance. On the contrary, it improves the broilers' health and reduces production costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Animal feed production systems have been suffering from a shortage of feedstuffs because of competition for these resources with human food consumption. The use of by-products can increase efficiency and circularity in production chains, reducing this competition. Aims: This study investigated the impacts of Paullinia cupana peel meal (PCPM) on the growth performance, meat quality, and haematological and serum biochemical parameters of slow-growing broilers. Methods: Two hundred and forty slow-growing male Label Rouge broilers were distributed in a completely randomised experimental design. The treatments consisted of five inclusion levels of PCPM (0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10%) in the diets, with four replicates of 12 birds each. Growth performance data, and haematological and serum biochemical parameters were monitored. Twelve broilers per treatment were slaughtered for meat-quality analysis. Key results: In the starter stage, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in feed intake and weight gain with and increasing inclusion level of PCPM in the diet. However, this effect diminished in the final stage. Even with a reduction (P < 0.05) in feed intake during the final stage, the broilers showed an increase (P < 0.05) in weight gain and improvement (P < 0.05) in feed efficiency in the cumulative performance. Broilers fed diet with a higher inclusion level of PCPM had lower (P < 0.05) concentrations of erythrocytes and blood triglycerides, as well as a decreased haematocrit percentage. However, these broilers exhibited higher (P < 0.05) results for mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. Broilers fed diets with a higher inclusion level of PCPM were heavier (P < 0.05) at slaughter, with higher (P < 0.05) carcass yield, greater (P < 0.05) liver, gizzard, and heart weight, increased breast, drumstick, and thigh yields, and higher moisture and lipid contents in the breast. Conclusions: The high inclusion levels of PCPM in diets for slow-growing broilers positively affect growth performance, meat quality, and yields of valuable cuts, although they increase moisture and decrease protein in breast meat, affecting some blood parameters. Implications: This study showed the potential advantages of using PCPM as an alternative food in diets for slow-growing broilers to improve the productivity and health of a sustainable livestock. The challenge of feeding our planet sustainably is more pressing than ever, pushing us to find smarter ways to use available resources. This study looked at using Paullinia cupana peel meal (PCPM) as a new ingredient in the feed of slow-growing broilers. The research found that adding PCPM improved the growth and health of slow-growing broilers, suggesting that it could be a game-changer in sustainable livestock farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raising insects for animal feed and human nutrition offers a valuable solution to many global problems. Recent regulatory developments have made the European food and feed market more receptive to insects. Concerns about prions causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathy previously limited the use of insects in livestock feed. However, the European Food Safety Authority found that the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy transmission from processed animal protein was lower than estimated. Consequently, the feed ban was repealed. Chickens and pigs, significant livestock species, require high protein and essential amino acids for growth. Alternative protein sources, such as insects, can improve production performance and yield economic benefits. Among insect species, black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) is promising and well-tested option. Recent research suggests that black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can partially replace traditional feed protein sources. This review highlights the potential of BSFL for chicken and pig feed, including improvements in growth, meat quality, metabolic and immune function, and overall animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyzed the impacts of two probiotics (Ecobiol® and GutCare®) on growth performance, carcass and cut yields, intestinal morphometry and lesion score, biochemical parameters, and short-chain fatty acid concentration in chickens using a challenge model combining coccidiosis vaccine and Clostridium perfringens. A total of 880 one-day-old male broilers (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned to four treatments with 10 replicates and 22 birds per experimental unit (EU). The treatments consisted of: PC: positive control with the inclusion of 80 g ton-1 of Enramax® (8% enramycin) until 35 d of age; NC: negative control without the inclusion of growth-promoting probiotic; BA: NC with the inclusion of 1000 g ton-1 of Ecobiol® (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens - CECT 5940); BS: NC with the inclusion of 500 g ton-1 of GutCare® (Bacillus subtilis - DSM 32315). Diets used maize-soybean meal in a threephase plan. Broiler chickens on the BA and BS diets had higher feed consumption, body weight gain, and improved feed conversion efficiency at 28 and 42 d when compared to the birds in the negative control. Broiler chickens fed PC, BA, and BS diets had a higher villus height and absorption area in the jejunum at 28 d, compared to the birds in the negative control. There was more butyric acid production by the intestinal microbiota at 28 d of age in broilers on the BA diet. Supplementing with 1000 g/ton of BA and 500 g/ton of BS effectively substituted the 8% enramycin antibiotic, enhancing broiler growth during an induced intestinal challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of herbs and natural medicines have shown to have no negative side effects, with high effectiveness to improve productivity. Usage of medicinal plants can increase gut function, improve hepatic function, inhibition of prooxidant enzymes, enhance antioxidant content, improve shelf life, enhance sensorial value, better nutritive value, improve both health and consumers preference, enhance calcium and other minerals, increase vitamin B and folate, and enhance immunity. The most important medicinal plants with antiparasitic activities are green tea, guar bean, pine bark, grape seed, barberry root bark, Rangoon creeper, olive tree, and wormwood. Some other important medicinal plants in poultry industry are black pepper, nettle, shrubby sophora, Aleppo oak, garlic, red cedar, ginger, mint, tobacco, turmeric, aloe vera, etc. The application of herbal medicines can be considered as an important alternative to treating parasitic infections. In organic broiler production with application of medicinal plants, decreasing hormones, growth promoters and antibiotics should be considered as well as paying more attention to selection of appropriate organic feed management with considering higher production. This article aims to survey on the importance of application of natural products and medicinal plants in poultry industry by considering secondary metabolites such as triterpenoids, coumarins, alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids due to their anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and astringent properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its valuable nutritional qualities and unique capacity to withstand heat and drought, the cowpea (CWP; Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is an important legume crop that is grown extensively throughout the globe and in increasing quantities also in semi-arid areas in Romania. Moreover, a drought-tolerant crop like CWP can provide several benefits to poultry in regions affected by water scarcity or drought conditions. Compared to other legumes, such as peas or soybeans, CWP has been the least researched and are the least used in poultry nutrition. The seed's mean protein content is 25.5%, which is comparable to soybeans, winged beans, and gram. In addition, carbohydrates, fibers, minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals are abundant in CWP seeds. The amino acid composition is characterized by a balanced profile, making it a valuable source of essential and non-essential amino acids. Additionally, CWP seeds are very rich in nutraceuticals like polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The major PUFAs were linoleic (20.8–40.3%) and linolenic acids (9.6–32.1%). It also contains anti-nutritional factors like enzyme inhibitors that reduce nutrient absorption. However, various processing methods are employed to diminish or eliminate the negative effects of anti-nutritional components. CWP in their raw unprocessed form can be used as replacement for soybean meal in poultry diets, at inclusion levels up to 200 g/kg. However, the optimal inclusion rate of CWP in poultry feed will depend on different factors such as age and the processing method used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: In poultry diets, copper is an essential nutrient that is critical for various physiological functions. Although copper sulfate is commonly used due to its cost-effectiveness, organic copper sources are gaining popularity because of their superior production outcomes and environmental benefits. Nevertheless, understanding the distinct bioaccessibility of inorganic and organic copper in diverse dietary setting remains limited. This study investigated the bioaccessibility of copper sulfate, copper amino acid chelate, and copper proteinate in the intestine via in vitro digestion and in situ dialysis. The results showed significant differences in the molecular size distribution of compounds formed by different copper salts within the intestinal environment, thereby leading to varying bioaccessibility. Copper sulfate has a bioaccessibility of 47 % ± 4%, which is significantly lower than copper amino acid chelate and copper proteinate (63% ± 5%, and 60% ± 4%, respectively) in purified diet systems. Similarly, in whey protein systems, sulfate records 54% ± 10% bioaccessibility compared to 78% ± 9% and 76% ± 5% for copper amino acid chelate and copper proteinate. Coexisting feed ingredients have a significant impact on copper bioaccessibility. Copper sulfate forms precipitates, reducing its bioaccessibility to 34% ± 1% in sodium nitrate solution. The addition of digestive enzyme increases the bioaccessibility of copper sulfate to 81% ± 2% by providing organic ligands. Digestive enzyme also enhanced the bioaccessibility of copper proteinate from 36% ± 4% to 81% ± 4% by degrading its ligands. However, feed ingredients may decrease copper bioaccessibility by forming macromolecular complexes with copper, as all the organic ligands can competitively bind with copper in the intestine. These findings emphasize the importance of considering copper salt types and diet composition in animal nutrition practices.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rosehip leaves (RL) supplementation on the production performances and egg quality of laying hens during the first stage of laying. For that, 90 Lohmann Brown Classic hens, aged 26 wk, were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments as follows: a control diet (RL0), an experimental diet containing 0.5% rosehip leaves (RL0.5), and an experimental diet containing 1% rosehip leaves (RL1). The laying hens were accommodated in an experimental hall with identical pens (3.96 m2), and controlled microclimate conditions. The dietary treatments were administered for a 6-wk experimental period (26–32 d of age). During this time, production performance of hens was recorded. To assess the impact of RL on egg weight and its components evolution, egg yolk and albumen color, and primary chemical composition of egg constituents were determined every 2 wk. The effect on egg yolk fatty acids profile was determined only at the end of the trial. The results showed that RL0.5 and RL1 dietary treatments significantly improved laying rate, feed conversion ratio and egg mass compared with RL0 group. A significant effect on egg weight and its components was observed only over time, showing that RL has no effect on these parameters. Significant changes in egg yolk coloration were observed over time, with significant increases in L*, a* and b* chromomeric parameters in both RL0.5 and RL1 compared to RL0. Significant alterations were obtained from the sum of egg yolk fatty acids. The RL1 egg yolk presented significantly higher n-3, and significantly lower n-6 fatty acids, compared with both RL0 and RL0.5. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects of rosehip leaf supplementation on laying hens performance and egg quality.

The poultry industry relies heavily on soybean meal to feed egg-laying chickens, but its high cost and price instability necessitate the exploration of more affordable and reliable alternatives. Fish bone meal, a nutritious byproduct from fish processing, offers high-quality protein and essential minerals, making it a promising addition to poultry diets. In this study, 240 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (31 weeks old, average weight 1.90 ± 0.1 kg, egg laying 11 weeks) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments for 12 weeks: one group received a regular diet, while the other was fed a diet containing 3% fish bone meal. Each treatment included 12 replicates with 10 hens per replicate, and all birds were maintained under identical environmental conditions using a completely randomized experimental design. The results showed that hens fed the fish bone meal diet produced more eggs (p < 0.05) and had heavier yolks (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Furthermore, intestinal health indicators, including villus height and crypt depth, were significantly improved (p < 0.05), along with enhanced immune markers (p < 0.05) in the fish bone meal group. However, no significant differences were observed in other egg quality parameters or feed conversion efficiency between the two groups (p > 0.05). These findings demonstrate that fish bone meal can improve egg production, yolk quality, intestinal health, and immune function in laying hens.

The impact of 15% dietary inclusion of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) in broiler chickens was explored, focusing on blood cellular components, systemic metabolites and hepatic lipid and mineral composition. From days 14 to 35 of age, 120 broiler chickens were divided and allocated into four dietary treatments: a standard corn and soybean meal-based diet (control), a 15% Spirulina diet, a 15% extruded Spirulina diet, and a 15% Spirulina diet super-dosed with an enzyme blend (0.20% porcine pancreatin plus 0.01% lysozyme). The haematological analysis revealed no significant deviations (p  >  0.05) in blood cell counts across treatments, suggesting that high Spirulina inclusion maintains haematological balance. The systemic metabolic assessment indicated an enhanced antioxidant capacity in birds on Spirulina diets (p  <  0.001), pointing toward a potential reduction in oxidative stress. However, the study noted a detrimental impact on growth performance metrics, such as final body weight and feed conversion ratio (both p  <  0.001), in the Spirulina-fed treatments, with the super-dosed enzyme blend supplementation failing to alleviate these effects but with extrusion mitigating them. Regarding hepatic composition, birds on extruded Spirulina and enzyme-supplemented diets showed a notable increase in n-3 fatty acids (EPA, DPA, DHA) (p  <  0.001), leading to an improved n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (p  <  0.001). Despite this positive shift, a reduction in total hepatic lipids (p  =  0.003) was observed without a significant change in cholesterol levels. Our findings underscore the need for further exploration into the optimal inclusion levels, processing methods and potential enzymatic enhancements of Spirulina in broiler diets. Ultimately, this research aims to strike a balance between promoting health benefits and maintaining optimal growth performance in poultry nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of oregano extract (OE) supplementation on the growth and meat quality of Muscovy ducks, aiming to optimize meat quality and explore sustainable dietary interventions in poultry production. Twenty-five male Muscovy ducks were meticulously allocated to five treatment groups, each comprising five replications, employing a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Ducks were exposed to varying levels of oregano extract supplementation with five dietary treatments: T0 (control), T1 (25% OE), T2 (50% OE), T3 (75% OE), and T4 (100% OE). Throughout the 4-week trial period, individual ducks were accommodated in designated pens to facilitate precise monitoring. The investigation examined several growth parameters, including feed intake (FI, the amount of feed consumed by each duck), feed cost (FC, the expense associated with feeding each duck), weight gain (WG, the increase in body weight of each duck over the specified time period), and feed conversion ratio (FCR, the ratio of feed consumed to weight gained), assessed at weekly intervals. Results showed that OE supplementation did not significantly affect feed intake or weight gain, except for weeks 1 and 2 where T3, supplemented with 75% OE, exhibited the highest weight gain. However, OE supplementation significantly improved FCR, with T3 showing the lowest FCR, indicating enhanced nutrient utilization. Additionally, T3 displayed the highest fasted live weight, dressed weight, and dressing percentage, suggesting improved meat production and quality. Sensory analysis revealed that T3 consistently exhibited favorable meat quality attributes. Overall, T3 demonstrated the highest general acceptability among consumers, based on criteria such as taste, texture, and overall satisfaction. The study highlights the potential of OE supplementation to optimize feed efficiency and enhance meat quality in Muscovy ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored feeding recycled food waste-based diets for gut health, nutrient digestibility, bone morphology, and bone mineral level in laying hens. Hy-Line Brown laying hens (n = 150) were randomly allocated to three experimental treatments consisting of a commercial control diet, a recycled food waste-based diet, and a 50:50 blend of the control and food waste-based diets, with 50 replicates of a single bird per cage per treatment from 24 to 63 weeks of age. Egg production was recorded daily and feed intake was measured weekly. The gut pH, jejunal and ileal morphology, nutrient digestibility, bone morphology, and mineral composition were measured at 63 weeks of age. Hens on the food waste-based treatment had similar egg production but lower feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.948 vs. 2.172 kg feed/kg egg, p < 0.001) and higher ileal pH (p < 0.001) and bone ash content (p < 0.001) compared to birds on the control treatment. Moreover, hens fed the food waste-based diets had higher ileal digestible energy (p < 0.001); ileal energy digestibility (p < 0.01); tibia S, Fe, Mn, and Zn levels (p < 0.05); and Mg, K, S, Mn, and Mo digestibility (p < 0.05) compared to hens fed the control diets. Hens offered the 50:50 blend diets had higher tibia P, Mg, and Mo levels (p < 0.05) and higher Ca digestibility (p < 0.05) compared to those fed the control diets. Thus, feeding recycled food waste-based diets is effective to improve laying performance, nutrient digestibility, and bone mineralization in laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laying hen nutrient requirements change throughout the day, due to the cyclic nature of egg formation. Generally, more energy and protein are required in the morning when the albumen is deposited around the yolk, and more calcium is required in the evening when the eggshell is formed. The aim of this study was to determine if feeding laying hens diets tailored to their specific nutritional and physiological requirements throughout the day, by feeding higher levels of protein and energy in the morning and higher levels of calcium in the evening, is more beneficial than feeding one diet all day. Hy-Line Brown laying hens (n = 360) were housed in free-range floor pens (18 pens with 20 hens/pen) from 34 to 53 weeks of age (WOA). Half of the birds (n = 180, nine replicate pens) were fed a conventional layer hen diet all day (control) and the remaining birds (n = 180, nine replicate pens) were fed an AM diet from 08:00 h to 16:00 h and PM diet from 16:00 h to 08:00 h (AM/PM). From 39 WOA, hens were given access to an outdoor range from 09:00 h to 18:00 h via pop holes. Egg weight and hen-day egg production were measured daily, and feed consumption and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly. Hen weight and egg size uniformity were determined at 43 and 53 WOA, and egg quality was measured at 53 WOA. A total of 72 hens (4 hens/pen, 36 hens/treatment) were euthanised at 53 WOA to determine ileal apparent energy and nitrogen digestibility. A cost–benefit analysis for the study period, based on feed costs and egg mass, was calculated. Overall, the results showed that the AM/PM treatment increased egg mass by 2.15% (60.4 vs. 59.1 g/hen/day, p = 0.086) and improved feed efficiency by 8.34% (2.231 vs. 2.436 kg feed/kg egg, p = 0.030) compared with the control. A higher yolk colour score was observed in eggs from hens on the AM/PM treatment (p = 0.002), but no other significant effects of the treatments on egg quality were observed. Ileal digestible energy and digestible nitrogen coefficient were lower in hens on the AM/PM treatment compared with the control treatment (both p < 0.001). However, the AM/PM treatment was attributed to a lower feed cost to egg mass compared with the control treatment (p < 0.001). In conclusion, using an AM/PM feeding strategy was found to be economically beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of 15% dietary inclusion of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) in broiler chickens was explored, focusing on blood cellular components, systemic metabolites and hepatic lipid and mineral composition. From days 14 to 35 of age, 120 broiler chickens were divided and allocated into four dietary treatments: a standard corn and soybean meal-based diet (control), a 15% Spirulina diet, a 15% extruded Spirulina diet, and a 15% Spirulina diet super-dosed with an enzyme blend (0.20% porcine pancreatin plus 0.01% lysozyme). The haematological analysis revealed no significant deviations (p > 0.05) in blood cell counts across treatments, suggesting that high Spirulina inclusion maintains haematological balance. The systemic metabolic assessment indicated an enhanced antioxidant capacity in birds on Spirulina diets (p

Simple Summary: Annually, various corn hybrids are introduced to the market for cultivation. Companies engaged in developing these technologies aim to enhance genetic traits, with a focus on creating productive hybrids capable of addressing the challenges of agriculture. The global corn market predominantly concerns livestock feed production, particularly for poultry farming, which seeks nutrient-rich raw materials with high digestibility for broilers. Nevertheless, when comparing the diverse transgenic technologies of corn, even when cultivated under the same conditions, significant differences were observed. Surprisingly, in the present study, the most productive corn transgenic technology in the field exhibited increased contamination by mycotoxins and a lower content of some important nutrients for poultry. This outcome highlights the critical need for a comprehensive assessment of the implications of transgenic technologies for nutritional composition and agricultural product safety, especially when intended for animal feed. Consequently, we concluded that the integration of nutritional considerations into the genetic improvement of transgenic corn, along with detailed information about resistance to Fusarium, holds great significance and may yield positive outcomes in the future. This approach ensures the production of nutritionally balanced, mycotoxin-safe, and economically viable livestock feed. Corn is one of the most produced cereals in the world and plays a major role in poultry nutrition. As there is limited scientific information regarding the impact of transgenic technology on the quality and nutrient composition of the grains, this study investigated the effect of three major transgenic corn varieties—VT PRO3®, PowerCore® ULTRA, and Agrisure® Viptera 3—on the field traits, nutrient composition, and mycotoxin contamination of corn grains cultivated in southern Brazil during three consecutive harvests. VT PRO3®, while demonstrating superior crop yield, showed susceptibility to mycotoxins, particularly fumonisins. In contrast, PowerCore® ULTRA, with the lowest yield, consistently exhibited lower levels of fumonisins. VT PRO3® had higher AMEn than the other varieties, while PowerCore® ULTRA had the highest total and digestible amino acid contents over the three years. The study's comprehensive analysis reveals the distinct impact of transgenic corn technologies on both productivity and nutritional levels. Balancing the crops yield, mycotoxin resistance, and nutritional content of corn is crucial to meet the demands of the poultry feed industry. Such insights are essential for decision-making, ensuring sustainability and efficiency in agricultural production as well as meeting the demands of the poultry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding multienzymes to poultry feed rations is recognized as a nutritional strategy aimed at improving poultry performance and health status. Nonetheless, some literatures present an ongoing debate about the extent of multienzymes beneficial impact on poultry growth performance. This study aimed to explore the impacts of dietary multienzyme supplementation on broilers, focusing specifically on growth performance, carcass characteristics, apparent nutrient digestibility, excreta noxious gas emission, and intestinal nutrient transporter gene expression. A total of 3,200 broilers were randomly assigned to five groups (eight replicates per treatment group) and treated with the following: normal control (CON), CON + 100 g/t multienzyme (ME100), CON + 150 g/t multienzyme (ME150), CON + 200 g/t multienzyme (ME200), and CON + 250 g/t multienzyme (ME250). Supplementing with multienzymes significantly influenced the feed conversion rate (linear, P  = 0.007; quadratic, P  = 0.024) and the European broiler index (linear, P  = 0.004; quadratic, P  = 0.016) in broilers. Dietary multienzymes significantly influenced apparent metabolizable energy (quadratic, P  = 0.015) and neutral detergent fiber (quadratic, P  < 0.001). Moreover, multienzyme supplementation in the diet also decreased the emission of ammonia (linear, P  = 0.001; quadratic, P  = 0.006) and hydrogen sulfide (quadratic, P  = 0.006) in the excreta. In addition, dietary multi-enzyme notably elevated (P  < 0.05) the mRNA expression of nutrient transporter genes, including peptide transporter 1 (PePT1), Na-dependent neutral amino acid transporter (B 0 AT), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), and fatty acid binding protein1 (FABP1). These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with multienzymes can improve the efficiency of feed utilization, and the digestion and absorption of nutrients and reduce excreta gas emission. Furthermore, this study provides a theoretical basis for advancing the use of multienzymes in broiler production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This review looks at how microalgae can be used as a new and environmentally friendly way to feed chickens. Usually, chickens are given minerals like calcium and iron from sources that can harm the environment and be costly. Microalgae offer a better solution as they are rich in these important minerals and can be grown sustainably, using less land and water. We studied different kinds of microalgae to see which ones have the best nutrients for chickens and how easily these nutrients can be absorbed. We also explored the costs and challenges of using microalgae in chicken feed on a large scale. Our review shows that while microalgae are a promising alternative, there are still economic and safety issues to solve before they can be widely used. The use of microalgae in chicken feed could lead to healthier chickens and a smaller environmental footprint, making this a valuable approach for sustainable farming and food production. This review explores the potential of microalgae as a sustainable and nutritionally rich alternative for mineral supplementation in poultry diets, addressing both the opportunities and challenges in this emerging field. Poultry nutrition, pivotal to the health and productivity of birds, traditionally relies on inorganic and organic mineral sources which, while effective, raise environmental and economic concerns. Microalgae offer a promising solution with their high contents of essential minerals, proteins, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. This review delves into the nutritional profiles of various microalgae, highlighting their rich contents of minerals which are crucial for physiological processes in poultry. It examines the bioavailability of these minerals and their impact on poultry health and productivity. Furthermore, it evaluates the environmental sustainability of microalgae cultivation and acknowledges the challenges in using microalgae in poultry diets, particularly in terms of the economic viability of large-scale production and the consistency of nutrient composition. It discusses the importance of rigorous safety assessments and regulatory compliance, given the potential risks of toxins and heavy metals. Overall, this analysis aims to provide a clear understanding of the role microalgae could play in poultry nutrition and address sustainability challenges in animal agriculture while also considering future perspectives and advancements needed in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of feed intake of humic substances (HS) on the cellulolytic and amylolytic activities, and the digestibility of dry matter (DM) in the chymus of the intestine and ileum of broiler chickens (Cobb 500). Four groups of birds (A, B, C, negative control; n = 120) were fed with mash diets (starter HYD1 230.20, grower HYD2 222.20, finisher HYD3 209.40 g crude protein (CP) per kg of DM) with the added HS from day 1 to 37 days as follows: A ‒ 0.7 % Humac nature; B ‒ 0.7 % Humac nature monogastric (HNM); C ‒ 0.5 % HNM (Humac Ltd., Slovakia). The cellulolytic activities were increased in the intestine in B/C by 2.50 (P < 0.01)/1.65 (P < 0.05) on day 3 and 1.02 (P < 0.001)/0.3 (P < 0.05) µmol.l−1.min−1.g−1 on day 24. There were observed higher values of digestibility coefficient of DM in the intestine (P < 0.05) in C by 15.14 % and 14.85 %, and in B by 20.73 % on days 17, 24 and 31, respectively. The enhancement of ileal digestibility of DM was observed in B by 7.38 % (P < 0.05) and CP in A and B by 3.7% and 6.1% (P < 0.05). The feed intake of HS favourably influenced the cellulolytic activities and increased the DM digestibility in the intestine and the ileum, as well as the CP digestibility in the ileum.

Context. The need for the storage of fertile eggs is a reality in the poultry industry. At the same time, prolonged storage periods decrease the quality of egg components that are essential for embryo development, and can compromise hatchability and chick quality; thus, the high content of unsaturated fatty acids in embryo tissues increase the susceptibility to peroxidation. Aims. The objective of this study was to evaluate the addition of ris-9, trans-11, trans-10 and ris-12 isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to the broiler-breeder diet and the storage time on the internal egg quality, composition and lipid oxidation. Methods. In total, 22 000 Cobb female broiler breeders of 58 weeks of age were fed with diets containing 0 or 0.024% CLA and fertile eggs were stored 3, 6 or 9 days prior to incubation. In total, 6912 hatching eggs were used in a completely randomised experimental design in a 2 X 3 factorial arrangement (CLA inclusion X egg storage time). At the end of each storage period, 30 eggs per dietary treatment were sampled to analyse yolk and albumen height, percentage and pH, yolk:albumen ratio, yolk diameter and index, Haugh unit (HU), yolk lipid oxidation, acidity and fatty acid profile. Key results. The progression of storage negatively affected the internal quality of the eggs; however, inclusion of CLA minimised these effects up to Day 6, especially for yolk diameter, HU, height and albumen pH. The total lipid content was not affected by the dietary treatments; however, CLA inclusion resulted in a higher proportion of stearic acid and a lower concentration of linoleic acid in yolks. Conclusions. The changes observed in fatty acid profile of the eggs may have favoured the reduction of lipid oxidation, as shown by the decrease in the acidity index and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) values at shorter storage periods. Implications. The dietary addition of CLA to broiler breeders may be used to preserve the egg internal quality during a short-term storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The article deals with the impact of different feed particle sizes in diets on the morphology and morphometry of the gastrointestinal tract and the viscosity of digesta as an indicator of the health status of the gastrointestinal tract and the whole organism. The health of the intestine is given considerable attention in human nutrition due to various autoimmune and other diseases. Our goal was to focus attention on this issue in animals as well. This study looks at how physical structure affects the health of broilers. This article also evaluates selected blood biochemical parameters. The performance, consumption, and conversion of feed were monitored as additional parameters, i.e., basic monitored parameters in feeding trials. The use of coarse feed particle size in the diet had a positive effect on the gizzard weight and small intestinal villi height and crypt depth, which increased the surface area intended for digesting nutrients. The use of finely ground particles in the feed increased the level of gamma-glutamyl transferase and at the same time, decreased the level of urea, which could indicate adverse changes in the liver. The performance parameters, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were not affected by using different feed particle sizes. The study is focused on how the physical structure of the feed affects the health status of broiler chickens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of feed particle size in broiler diets on gastrointestinal tract morphology, digesta viscosity, and blood biochemical parameters. A total of 90 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly divided into three different experimental groups (with five replicates per pen), with 6 birds per cage. The first experimental group (Coarse) was fed with the coarsest particle size, with feed with a geometric mean diameter (GMD) of 1111.26 µm, the next group (Medium) was fed with a less coarse feed size of GMD 959.89 µm, and the last group (Fine) was fed a diet with a fine feed particle size of GMD 730.48 µm. The use of coarse feed particle size in the diet had a positive effect on the gizzard weight and small intestinal villi height and crypt depth, which increased the surface area intended for digesting nutrients. The use of finely ground particles in the feed increased the level of gamma-glutamyl transferase and at the same time, decreased the level of urea, which could indicate adverse changes in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been multiple types of research focusing on the relationship between feed ingredients and metal content in the egg white due to their role in human nutrition. The aim of the present study is to determine the metal concentration in hens' eggs and, in particular, to compare the metal concentration in egg albumen originating from industrial poultry farms with that of backyard and free-range hens. All samples were collected in Romania from five separate counties and 10 different farms, over a period of two weeks and, as a result, a total of 50 were collected, 10 from each housing system (batteries/cages, litter/soil, freerange, organic and backyard). The measurements of the metals were taken by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), with a wide range of elements reported. For the essential elements, we measured Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn; Al, Cd, Ni and Pb for the heavy metals and, in addition, we measured B, Ba, Sr, Ca and Mg. The present study revealed that the metals in eggs from free-range hens are richer in essential elements with mean concentrations as follows: 1.528 mg/kg for Fe, 3.278 mg/kg for Zn, 0.058 mg/kg for Mn and 1.362 mg/kg for Cu. We concluded that the egg quality is closely connected with the housing system and nutrition. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that eggs from backyard housing are no better than those from free-range hens in terms of essential metal composition. The heavy and non-essential metal contents, present in the albumen of all the examined eggs, were much lower than the maximum allowed concentration and, therefore, egg consumption does not pose any risk to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigated the phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of poplar buds (Populus nigra L.), turmeric (Curcuma longa) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) extracts. Proximate composition, total polyphenols, ß-carotene, vitamin E, minerals and antioxidant capacity were tested for all selected plants. The proximate analysis of selected plants showed that poplar buds had a higher content of crude protein, fat and fiber than turmeric and ginger. The extract of poplar buds had a significantly higher content of total polyphenols (87.20 mg of gallic acid/g) and vitamin E (210.53 μg/g) than in the extract of turmeric and ginger. The polyphenol content was found to be in the order: poplar buds>turmeric> ginger. The beta carotene content was significantly higher in poplar buds (2.99 μg/g) than in turmeric (1.67 μg/g). Regarding mineral content, turmeric showed the highest content in iron and copper; ginger showed the highest content in manganese and poplar buds had the highest content in zinc. Moreover, poplar buds possessed the highest antioxidant capacity both on vitamin C and E calibration curve, evidencing the rich content in such antioxidants. Therefore, based on the valuable nutritional composition confirmed through this study, poplar buds, turmeric and ginger can be recommended as phytogenic feed additives for poultry nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, interest has grown among poultry nutritionists in using alternative protein sources, such as insect meal, to meet the protein requirements of poultry due to sustainability concerns surrounding traditional protein sources such as soybean and fish meal. Insect meal can be produced from different insects, including black soldier fly, mealworms, and house crickets, and its nutrient composition varies depending on the insect species, the substrate they are reared on, and the production method. This review article provides an updated overview of insect meal as a new form of protein concentrate in poultry diets, including its nutritional value, advantages, challenges, and future prospects. Insect meal has been shown to be a rich source of protein, amino acids (lysine, methionine), and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, zinc), with a high digestibility rate, making it a valuable feed ingredient for poultry production. Additionally, using insect meal in poultry feed could reduce the cost of production and the environmental impact on the industry. Furthermore, the use of insect meal has the potential to improve the growth performance and meat quality of poultry species. However, several challenges related to large-scale insect production, legal regulatory frameworks, and consumer acceptance need to be addressed. Future research and development could help overcome these challenges and increase the adoption of insects as a potential source of protein in poultry feed. This review provides an updated and comprehensive overview of insects as a potential source of protein for poultry nutrition and highlights the possible perspectives of insect meal to contribute to a more sustainable and efficient poultry production system. While challenges remain, the utilization of insect meal in poultry feed has the capability to enhance the sustainability and efficiency in the poultry industry. Hence, insect meal emerges as a highly encouraging protein alternative, offering sustainable prospects for its utilization within the poultry sector. However, advancements in insect production technology and efficiency have the potential to raise the production scale while lowering prices, making insect meals more affordable compared to conventional protein sources. Based on the comprehensive analysis, it is recommended to further explore the practical implementation of insect meal as a reliable and efficient means of supplying protein in poultry nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laying hen nutrient requirements change throughout the day, due to the cyclic nature of egg formation. Generally, more energy and protein are required in the morning when the albumen is deposited around the yolk, and more calcium is required in the evening when the eggshell is formed. The aim of this study was to determine if feeding laying hens diets tailored to their specific nutritional and physiological requirements throughout the day, by feeding higher levels of protein and energy in the morning and higher levels of calcium in the evening, is more beneficial than feeding one diet all day. Hy-Line Brown laying hens (n = 360) were housed in free-range floor pens (18 pens with 20 hens/pen) from 34 to 53 weeks of age (WOA). Half of the birds (n = 180, nine replicate pens) were fed a conventional layer hen diet all day (control) and the remaining birds (n = 180, nine replicate pens) were fed an AM diet from 08:00 h to 16:00 h and PM diet from 16:00 h to 08:00 h (AM/PM). From 39 WOA, hens were given access to an outdoor range from 09:00 h to 18:00 h via pop holes. Egg weight and hen-day egg production were measured daily, and feed consumption and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly. Hen weight and egg size uniformity were determined at 43 and 53 WOA, and egg quality was measured at 53 WOA. A total of 72 hens (4 hens/pen, 36 hens/treatment) were euthanised at 53 WOA to determine ileal apparent energy and nitrogen digestibility. A cost–benefit analysis for the study period, based on feed costs and egg mass, was calculated. Overall, the results showed that the AM/PM treatment increased egg mass by 2.15% (60.4 vs. 59.1 g/hen/day, p = 0.086) and improved feed efficiency by 8.34% (2.231 vs. 2.436 kg feed/kg egg, p = 0.030) compared with the control. A higher yolk colour score was observed in eggs from hens on the AM/PM treatment (p = 0.002), but no other significant effects of the treatments on egg quality were observed. Ileal digestible energy and digestible nitrogen coefficient were lower in hens on the AM/PM treatment compared with the control treatment (both p < 0.001). However, the AM/PM treatment was attributed to a lower feed cost to egg mass compared with the control treatment (p < 0.001). In conclusion, using an AM/PM feeding strategy was found to be economically beneficial.

This study explored feeding recycled food waste-based diets for gut health, nutrient digestibility, bone morphology, and bone mineral level in laying hens. Hy-Line Brown laying hens (n = 150) were randomly allocated to three experimental treatments consisting of a commercial control diet, a recycled food waste-based diet, and a 50:50 blend of the control and food waste-based diets, with 50 replicates of a single bird per cage per treatment from 24 to 63 weeks of age. Egg production was recorded daily and feed intake was measured weekly. The gut pH, jejunal and ileal morphology, nutrient digestibility, bone morphology, and mineral composition were measured at 63 weeks of age. Hens on the food waste-based treatment had similar egg production but lower feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.948 vs. 2.172 kg feed/kg egg, p < 0.001) and higher ileal pH (p < 0.001) and bone ash content (p < 0.001) compared to birds on the control treatment. Moreover, hens fed the food waste-based diets had higher ileal digestible energy (p < 0.001); ileal energy digestibility (p < 0.01); tibia S, Fe, Mn, and Zn levels (p < 0.05); and Mg, K, S, Mn, and Mo digestibility (p < 0.05) compared to hens fed the control diets. Hens offered the 50:50 blend diets had higher tibia P, Mg, and Mo levels (p < 0.05) and higher Ca digestibility (p < 0.05) compared to those fed the control diets. Thus, feeding recycled food waste-based diets is effective to improve laying performance, nutrient digestibility, and bone mineralization in laying hens.

This study was conducted to determine the metabolizable energy (ME) requirement for quails (Cortunix cortunix cortunix) from 28 to 42 days of age. Four hundred and twenty quails were distributed in a completely randomized design, with 5 treatments (2950, 3000, 3050, 3100 and 3150 kcal of ME/kg of feed), 7 replicates and 12 birds per experimental unit. Performance, relative weights of organs and viscera, carcass characteristics, meat quality, body composition and blood parameters of the birds were evaluated. There was a reduction in feed intake (ADFI) with the use of 3150 kcal ME/kg (p < 0.01), with a quadratic effect on feed efficiency (p < 0.01), estimating the energy requirement in the 3009.4 kcal ME/kg. The breast yield (BY) and the colour b* had an effect (p < 0.01), with better results for 2950 kcal ME/kg, while the meat texture reduced when the birds were fed with 3150 kcal ME/kg. HDL and LDL showed the quadratic effect (p < 0.01) when ME increased to 3111.6 and 3157.4 kcal/kg respectively. Very low density lipoprotein increased linearly (p < 0.01) in birds that received diets with 3000 kcal ME/kg. We conclude that the use of 3009.4 kcal of ME/kg for European quail meets the nutritional needs and provides an improvement in feed efficiency, without affecting the carcass parameters of the birds. Information regarding the nutritional requirements for European quails is still recent; therefore, it is essential to know the adequate levels of metabolizable energy, an important nutritional component for the maximum productive performance of birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn is one of the most produced cereals in the world and plays a major role in poultry nutrition. As there is limited scientific information regarding the impact of transgenic technology on the quality and nutrient composition of the grains, this study investigated the effect of three major transgenic corn varieties—VT PRO3®, PowerCore® ULTRA, and Agrisure® Viptera 3—on the field traits, nutrient composition, and mycotoxin contamination of corn grains cultivated in southern Brazil during three consecutive harvests. VT PRO3®, while demonstrating superior crop yield, showed susceptibility to mycotoxins, particularly fumonisins. In contrast, PowerCore® ULTRA, with the lowest yield, consistently exhibited lower levels of fumonisins. VT PRO3® had higher AMEn than the other varieties, while PowerCore® ULTRA had the highest total and digestible amino acid contents over the three years. The study’s comprehensive analysis reveals the distinct impact of transgenic corn technologies on both productivity and nutritional levels. Balancing the crops yield, mycotoxin resistance, and nutritional content of corn is crucial to meet the demands of the poultry feed industry. Such insights are essential for decision-making, ensuring sustainability and efficiency in agricultural production as well as meeting the demands of the poultry industry.

This review explores the potential of microalgae as a sustainable and nutritionally rich alternative for mineral supplementation in poultry diets, addressing both the opportunities and challenges in this emerging field. Poultry nutrition, pivotal to the health and productivity of birds, traditionally relies on inorganic and organic mineral sources which, while effective, raise environmental and economic concerns. Microalgae offer a promising solution with their high contents of essential minerals, proteins, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. This review delves into the nutritional profiles of various microalgae, highlighting their rich contents of minerals which are crucial for physiological processes in poultry. It examines the bioavailability of these minerals and their impact on poultry health and productivity. Furthermore, it evaluates the environmental sustainability of microalgae cultivation and acknowledges the challenges in using microalgae in poultry diets, particularly in terms of the economic viability of large-scale production and the consistency of nutrient composition. It discusses the importance of rigorous safety assessments and regulatory compliance, given the potential risks of toxins and heavy metals. Overall, this analysis aims to provide a clear understanding of the role microalgae could play in poultry nutrition and address sustainability challenges in animal agriculture while also considering future perspectives and advancements needed in this field.

Insoluble fiber degradation by supplemented enzymes was previously shown to improve fermentation in poultry, and has been further postulated to disrupt the cereal cell wall matrix, thus improving nutrient digestion. Here, we characterized insoluble feed-derived polysaccharides and lignin in digesta from broilers fed wheat-soybean and maize-soybean diets without or with xylanase/glucanase supplementation. Enzyme supplementation in wheat-soybean diet increased the yield of water-extractable arabinoxylan (AX) in the ileum. Still, most AX (> 73 %) remained insoluble across wheat-soybean and maize-soybean diets. Analysis of so-far largely ignored lignin demonstrated that a lignin-rich fiber fraction accumulated in the gizzard, while both insoluble AX and lignin reaching the ileum appeared to be excreted unfermented. More than 20 % of water-insoluble AX was extracted by 1 M NaOH and 11–20 % was sequentially extracted by 4 M NaOH, alongside other hemicelluloses, from ileal digesta and excreta across all diets. These findings showed that enzyme-supplementation did not impact AX extractability by alkali, under the current experimental conditions. It is, therefore, suggested that the degradation of insoluble AX by dietary xylanase in vivo mainly results in arabinoxylo-oligosaccharide release, which is not accompanied by a more loose cell wall architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood meal as an animal feed supplement promotes agricultural sustainability. Blood meal which is high in proteins, lacks certain nutrients hence is expected to give impact on the chicken behaviour and welfare. This study was carried out to determine the impact of blood meal supplement on chicken behaviour. The study involved 100 chickens which were bred in semi-opened poultry house for 6 weeks. At 6th week, chickens provided with fish meal (FM) only had a higher body weight compared to that of the group provided with FM and blood meal supplement (FBM). Normal behaviour such as walking, standing, feeding, drinking, dust bathing and lying down were not significantly affected by the changes in the meal (p>0.05). However, based on a single assessor assessment, FBM group displayed higher score in explore and escape characteristics, than the FM group. On the other hand, FM group displayed a slightly higher score for fear behaviour than the FBM. Findings in this study leads to the conclusion that blood meal supplement has influence on the welfare in chickens farming in terms of their exploration, fear, and escape behaviours. Therefore, amount of blood meal as animal feed supplement in poultry production should be determined carefully to avoid any potential detrimental effect on poultry welfare.

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels and sources of Cu and Mn (sulfate or hydroxychloride - H) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat and skin quality, footpad dermatitis severity, litter quality, liver and plasma mineral content, and ileal mineral absorption. A total of 1,920 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were assigned randomly to one of 2 × 3+2 factorially arranged treatments: CuH (15 and 150 ppm) × MnH (40, 80, 120 ppm) + 15 ppm Cu Sulfate with 80 ppm Mn Sulfate (control 1) or 150 ppm Cu Sulfate with 120 ppm Mn sulfate (control 2) for 42 d. Each treatment consisted of 8 replicates of 30 birds. At 42-day-old were slaughtered for carcass yield and meat quality analyses. At 43-day-old, it was determined the apparent ileal absorption of minerals and the concentration of Cu and Mn in the liver and plasma. The resistance and elasticity of the skin, and footpad dermatitis severity were also evaluated. The level 150 ppm CuH improved the FCR compared to the 15 ppm CuH and 15 ppm Cu Sulfate level. Broilers fed diets containing 150 ppm CuH showed higher breast yield compared to those fed diets containing 15 ppm. Breast yield was positively influenced by the inclusion of 40 ppm MnH. There was an interaction between the CuH and the MnH for skin elasticity, and the highest elasticity was found when the supplementation levels were 150 ppm CuH and 40 ppm MnH. High levels of copper decreased the incidence of footpad dermatitis. The hydroxychloride source determined a higher mineral concentration in the liver and plasma and greater apparent ileal absorption of Cu and Mn. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 150 ppm CuH and 40 or 80 ppm MnH enhance breast yield and improves skin resistance. The inclusion of 150 ppm CuH has the possibility to improve the FCR and decrease leg injuries. Furthermore, the hydroxychloride source seems to be more bioavailable than the sulfate source.

ABSTRACT An experiment was carried out to study the effect of different eubiotics on productive characteristics, intestinal integrity, as well as the content of enterobacteria in the cecum of broiler chickens. A completely randomized design with five treatments and 8 replicates of 25 birds each was used. In total 1000 mixed broiler chickens from Ross308 strain, one day old were obtained from a commercial hatchery. The birds were housed on concrete floors in a conventional house. A sorghum+soybean meal control diet was used, to which the additives under study were added. The treatments were distributed as follows: T1 = Control diet without antibiotic or eubiotic; T2 = T1 + bacteriophages; T3 = T1 + antibiotic; T4 = T1 + probiotic; T5 = T1 + symbiotic. The results obtained at 49 days of age for weight gain and feed conversion rate improved (p

Azolla (Azolla pinnata) is a heterosporous aquatic fern distributed all around the world. Azolla looks like other typical ferns that are green in colour however it looks more like duckweed or mosses, freely floating on the water surface. It can be used in animal and poultry feed as a protein source. Azolla has several pharmacological effects and can be used as antioxidant, immune-stimulating, hepato-protective, phytoremediation, bioremediation and also as nutritious material. Azolla contains vitamins (B12, beta carotene, vitamin A), biopolymers, minerals and amino acids. Azolla is rich in trace minerals and carotene. It looks to be potentially hepatoprotective drug against hepatotoxic substances. Its decoction (concentrated liquor of plant) has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic characteristics, making it an attractive preventive and therapeutic drug against super hepatotoxicity. Moreover, laying geese fed Azolla-based diets enhanced their FCR, overall performance, performance index, egg weight, egg production, egg shape index, and yolk colour. Thus, the goal of this explorative study was to learn more about the health advantages of Azolla, as well as to Azolla pinnata's potential should be made known to scientists, veterinarians, and poultry nutritionists in order to boost chicken productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective A trial was conducted to investigate the effects of supplemental levels of Mn provided by organic and inorganic trace mineral supplements on growth, tissue mineralization, mineral balance, and antioxidant status of growing broiler chicks. Methods A total of 500 male chicks (8-d-old) were used in 10-day feeding trial, with 10 treatments and 10 replicates of 5 chicks per treatment. A 2×5 factorial design was used where supplemental Mn levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg Mn/kg diet) were provided as MnSO4·H2O or MnPro. When Mn was supplied as MnPro, supplements of zinc, copper, iron, and selenium were supplied as organic minerals, whereas in MnSO4·H2O supplemented diets, inorganic salts were used as sources of other trace minerals. Performance data were fitted to a linear-broken line regression model to estimate the optimal supplemental Mn levels. Results Manganese supplementation improved body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with chicks fed diets not supplemented with Mn. Manganese in liver, breast muscle, and tibia were greatest at 50, 75, and 100 mg supplemental Mn/kg diet, respectively. Higher activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (total-SOD) were found in both liver and breast muscle of chicks fed diets supplemented with inorganic minerals. In chicks fed MnSO4·H2O, ADG, FCR, Mn balance, and concentration in liver were optimized at 59.8, 74.3, 20.6, and 43.1 mg supplemental Mn/kg diet, respectively. In MnPro fed chicks, ADG, FCR, Mn balance, and concentration in liver and breast were optimized at 20.6, 38.0, 16.6, 33.5, and 62.3 mg supplemental Mn/kg, respectively. Conclusion Lower levels of organic Mn were required by growing chicks for performance optimization compared to inorganic Mn. Based on the FCR, the ideal supplemental levels of organic and inorganic Mn in chick feeds were 38.0 and 74.3 mg Mn/kg diet, respectively.

In the available literature, there are limited data about the energetic value of insect-derived products. In particular, insect fat cannot be used in practical broiler nutrition due to the lack of precise apparent metabolisable energy (AME) value. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the AME and apparent metabolisable energy corrected to zero nitrogen balance (AMEN) levels of Hermetia illucens larvae fat for broiler chickens of various ages. A total of 400 1-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary groups (10 replicate pens per treatment; 10 birds per pen). The following treatments were applied: HI0 – basal diet without dietary fat inclusion, HI03 – basal diet enriched with 30 g/kg H. illucens larvae fat, HI06 – basal diet enriched with 60 g/kg H. illucens larvae fat, and HI09 – basal diet enriched with 90 g/kg H. illucens larvae fat. Broilers had ad libitum access to mash form feed and water. Excreta samples were collected on d 14, d 28, and d 35. To determine the AME and AMEN values of H. illucens larvae fat, the simple linear regression method was used. The results show that the AME and AMEN values of H. illucens larvae fat for broiler chickens are 9 049 kcal/kg (37.86 MJ/kg) and 9 019 kcal/kg (37.74 MJ/kg), respectively. Additionally, because the birds’ age significantly (P

Abstract A trial was conducted to evaluate phosphorus release capacity in different commercial phytases throught performance and bone characteristics of broilers. A total of 2,400-day-old male Cobb 500® chicks were assigned in a completely randomized design with 12 dietary treatments ((1 to 5: with increasing levels of non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) (0.20; 0.25; 0.30; 0.35 and 0.40%) without phytase); and 6 to 12: with 0.20% supplemented with different commercial phytases), 8 replicates and 25 birds per pen. There was a linear increase (P

Modern poultry production systems face numerous economic, environmental, and social sustainability challenges that threaten their viability and acceptability as a major source of animal protein. As scientists and producers scramble to find cost-effective and socially acceptable solutions to these challenges, the dietary use of marine macroalgae (seaweeds) could be an ingenious option. Indeed, the incredible array of nutritive and bioactive compounds present in these macroscopic marine organisms can be exploited as part of sustainable poultry production systems of the future. Incorporating seaweeds in poultry diets could enhance feed utilization efficiency, growth performance, bird health, meat stability and quality, and consumer and environmental health. Theoretically, these benefits are mediated through the putative antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antithrombotic, neuroprotective, hypocholesterolemic, and hypoglycemic properties of seaweed bioactive compounds. Despite this huge potential, exploitation of seaweed for poultry production appears to be constrained by a variety of factors such as high fibre, phenolics, and ash content. In addition, conflicting findings are often reported when seaweeds or their extracts are used in poultry feeding trials. Therefore, the purpose of this review paper is to collate information on the production, phytochemical components, and nutritive value of different seaweed species. It provides an overview of in vivo effects of dietary seaweeds as measured by nutrient utilization efficiency, growth performance, and product quality and stability in poultry. The utility of dietary seaweeds in sustainable poultry production systems is explored, while gaps that require further research are highlighted. Finally, opportunities that exist for enhancing the utility of seaweeds as a vehicle for sustainable production of functional poultry products for better global food and nutrition security are presented.

The egg production model (EPM) described here is a mechanistic and stochastic model that simulates the amino acid and energy requirements of laying hens. It takes into account their potential rate of laying, and egg weight over time, and the composition of the feed provided. The model predicts feed intake based on the assumption that hens will consume enough feed to reach their genetic potential. The environment is assumed to be non-limiting, although feed intake may be constrained by bulk capacity when bulky feeds are offered. The simulation model integrates a least-cost feed formulator, which enables the prediction of a feeding program that maximizes economic returns. A series of simulations were conducted to demonstrate the model behavior, external evaluation, and the economic optimization routine. The model behavior showed that as the energy content in the feed decreased, the simulated feed intake increased to compensate. Consequently, feeds with lower energy concentrations led to an overconsumption of nutrients, resulting in increased egg component weights (yolk and albumen). However, when the balanced protein was reduced while maintaining a constant energy-to-protein ratio, there was no change in egg components, consistent with published literature. The external evaluation indicated that feed intake, egg production, and egg weight were estimated with low error, and there was a similar trend observed between the estimated and observed data. This demonstrates the reliability of the model. Additionally, the paper provides a demonstration of how to use and interpret the results from the egg production model, including the economic optimization routine. The study found that a feed containing 7.8 g/kg of digestible lysine maximized economic returns. This optimization tool can be valuable in making nutritional decisions to optimize economic returns in an egg production system.

In recent years, interest has grown among poultry nutritionists in using alternative protein sources, such as insect meal, to meet the protein requirements of poultry due to sustainability concerns surrounding traditional protein sources such as soybean and fish meal. Insect meal can be produced from different insects, including black soldier fly, mealworms, and house crickets, and its nutrient composition varies depending on the insect species, the substrate they are reared on, and the production method. This review article provides an updated overview of insect meal as a new form of protein concentrate in poultry diets, including its nutritional value, advantages, challenges, and future prospects. Insect meal has been shown to be a rich source of protein, amino acids (lysine, methionine), and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, zinc), with a high digestibility rate, making it a valuable feed ingredient for poultry production. Additionally, using insect meal in poultry feed could reduce the cost of production and the environmental impact on the industry. Furthermore, the use of insect meal has the potential to improve the growth performance and meat quality of poultry species. However, several challenges related to large-scale insect production, legal regulatory frameworks, and consumer acceptance need to be addressed. Future research and development could help overcome these challenges and increase the adoption of insects as a potential source of protein in poultry feed. This review provides an updated and comprehensive overview of insects as a potential source of protein for poultry nutrition and highlights the possible perspectives of insect meal to contribute to a more sustainable and efficient poultry production system. While challenges remain, the utilization of insect meal in poultry feed has the capability to enhance the sustainability and efficiency in the poultry industry. Hence, insect meal emerges as a highly encouraging protein alternative, offering sustainable prospects for its utilization within the poultry sector. However, advancements in insect production technology and efficiency have the potential to raise the production scale while lowering prices, making insect meals more affordable compared to conventional protein sources. Based on the comprehensive analysis, it is recommended to further explore the practical implementation of insect meal as a reliable and efficient means of supplying protein in poultry nutrition.

Medicinal plants exhibit colossal impact on poultry industries by improving its performance and productivity. However, some of these plants show adverse influence too by decreasing egg production percentage, egg mass, and microbiota counts. Green tea, nettle, pennyroyal, yarrow, and alfalfa in the form of seed, powder, and extract had vast potentiality to improve immunity, reduce the growth of pathogenic microbes, and improve the viable counts of lactic acid bacteria. Lavender, Alfalfa, and Nettle powder were able to improve egg yolk color. Furthermore, ginger reduced fat content in meat and increased color intensity. Flax seed increased alpha linolenic acid content in tissue, and increased n-3 fatty acid content in breast as well as thigh tissue. Physiological assessment showed that green tea, lavender, nettle, pennyroyal, and yarrow improved poultry immunity. Lavender and nettle improved internal organ traits. Interestingly, the use of flaxseed improved quail egg hatchability. Plants metabolites, particularly carvacrol and thymol showed its pivotal role as natural growth promoters by affecting growth performances, nutrient bioavailability, and immunity of broiler chickens. Additionally, in recent years, micro-encapsulation or nano-encapsulation of plant extracts and its metabolites improved growth performances of broiler chickens, thereby suggested wide utilization of this technique as a potential alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in future. This review sheds a light on beneficial as well as no adverse effects of some of the direct-fed important medicinal plants and its metabolites in poultry nutrition in order to suggest its key role in future poultry enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within a given free-range flock, some hens prefer to spend the majority of their time in the shed (stayers), while others frequently access the range (rangers). Laying performance has been associated not only with the development of these sub-populations but also with different body weights (BW). The purpose of this study was to determine if range usage, BW or a combination of both is associated with energy metabolism and as such contribute to improved hen performance. Forty-eight Lohmann Brown hens at 74 wk of age were selected from a commercial free-range farm based on their BW and range usage over a 56-week period. Using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, hens were either classified as heavy (mean ± SEM; 2.01 ± 0.02 kg, n = 24) or light (1.68 ± 0.01 kg, n = 24), and also classified as rangers (accessed the range for 84.1% of available days, 242 ± 3.75 d; n = 24) or stayers (accessed the range for 7.17% of available days; 23.4 ± 6.08 d, n = 24). Stayers had significantly higher metabolizable energy (ME) intake per metabolic BW per d (0.852 vs. 0.798 MJ/kg BW0.75 per d; P = 0.025), higher heat production (0.637 vs. 0.607 MJ/kg BW0.75 per d; P = 0.005), higher heat increment (0.267 vs. 0.237 MJ/kg BW0.75 per d; P = 0.005) and retained more nitrogen (1.59 vs. 1.46 g/hen per d; P = 0.023) compared to the rangers. Light hens had significantly higher metabolic energy intake per metabolic BW (0.854 vs. 0.796 MJ/kg BW0.75 per d; P = 0.018), net energy (NE) intake (0.595 vs. 0.551 MJ/kg BW0.75 per d; P = 0.032), and retained energy (0.225 vs. 0.181 MJ/kg BW0.75 per d; P = 0.032), as well as lower heat production (0.936 vs. 1.003 MJ/hen per d; P = 0.002) compared to heavier hens. An interaction was observed across levels of analysis i.e. between light stayers and light rangers. The light rangers had significantly higher NE intake compared to the light stayers (9.77 vs. 9.27 MJ/kg BW0.75 per d; P = 0.024). In conclusion, light hens were more energy efficient compared to heavy hens. Moreover, light rangers had a more efficient feed utilisation compared to the light stayers.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an infection of the gastrointestinal tract and is estimated to cost the global poultry industry billions of dollars annually. A study was conducted to examine whether reducing the crude protein might offset the severity of NE in broilers experimentally challenged with Eimeria spp. on day 9 and Clostridium perfringens on days 14 and 15. Furthermore, increasing the dietary amino acid (AA) density of the diet was also examined owing to identified benefits of improving performance compromised from low protein (LP) diets or NE. A 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments at 6 replicates per treatment was used with 972 Ross 308 cockerels fed wheat-sorghum-soy-based diets to 35 D. Factors were NE challenge: no or yes; protein: standard (SP) or LP; and AA density: 100% AA, 115% with only essential AA (115% EAA) increased, and 115% AA with both essential and nonessential AA (115% AA) increased. The performance was measured in grower (days 7–21), finisher (days 21–35), and overall (day 7–35) periods. In addition, on day 16, intestinal lesion score and cecal short-chain fatty acids were measured. Only in nonchallenged birds fed LP diets, 115% AA increased grower feed intake (P

Inorganic selenium supplementation in poultry diet has been controversial. It has been linked that the excess and deficiency of this mineral can lead to health problems in these animals. However, this fact is not so evident in quails. In this research 120 female quails (220.6 ± 8.2 g) at 10 weeks of age were allocated to five treatment groups with six replicates of four quails in each. Experimental diets were formed by adding 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 or 1.00 mg/kg of inorganic selenium (sodium-selenite) to the diet containing 0.12 mg/kg of selenium. We observed that performance parameters, mortality, egg external, and internal quality of quails were not affected by the supplementation of inorganic selenium to the diet Serum glucose (P = 0.0020) and creatinine (P = 0.0333) levels were affected by inorganic selenium supplementation, but no differences were found for other parameters among those treatments. The addition of 0.50 mg/kg of inorganic selenium to the diet increased serum glucose levels of laying quails compared with the control group. While serum creatinine level was maximized with the addition of 0.25 mg/kg inorganic selenium to the diet, and it was minimized with the addition of 0.50 mg/kg inorganic selenium. Supplementation with inorganic selenium (0 to 1.00 mg/kg) in laying quail diets did not have any adverse effect on performance, mortality, and egg quality during the study. No abnormalities were found in the serum parameters that would lead to the suspicion of metabolic disease in the quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine choline chloride replacement effects by a vegetable choline source, compost by Trachyspermum amni, Citrullus colocynthis, Achyranthus aspera, and Azadirachta indica in broiler feed. These compounds are fonts of phosphatidylcholine, a high-disponible molecule for intestinal absorption and choline supply. A total of 640 animals were randomly allocated in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and eight repetitions (n = 20), and zootechnical performance (body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and productive efficiency index), carcass yield, cuts yield, and organs (heart, liver, proventriculus, gizzard, and small intestine) relative weights were evaluated. Were evaluated two choline chloride levels (600 and 800 mg kg-1) and two vegetable choline levels (100 and 200 mg kg-1), added in a corn-soybean meal basal diet, during 42 days of raising. Results revealed better feed conversion ratio (p < 0.001) and production efficiency index (p < 0.001) in broilers fed vegetable choline, with no differences on body weight (p = 0.372) and weight gain (p = 0.427) among broilers. Carcass, cuts yield, and organ relative weights do not alter (p > 0.05) due to different group of supplementations. Findings in this trial concludes vegetable choline can adequately replace choline chloride in broiler feed, with improvement on performance and no compromising carcass, cuts or organ development.