In last decade, the uncontrolled use of antibiotics as growth promoter for livestock has led to the appearance of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and increased risk of infectious diseases. This situation has triggered intensive research efforts to find safe alternative strategies. Certainly, the plants and vegetables and their derivatives as natural safe substances could be good candidates in this respect. There is huge information on the immunostimulatory properties of herbal plans in human, and may contribute considerably to the improvement of the health and immune response and prevention of certain diseases in animals including poultry. Garlic (Allium sativum) is an herbal plant that has traditionally been used for the healing a number of human diseases and has in recent years been revealed to have immunostimulatory, anticardiovascular disease, antitumour, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The scientific evidences suggest that allicin and other active components of garlic have also some positive effects for livestock, including hypocholesterolemic, growth promoting, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. تفاصيل المقالة

Since 1994 till today a few up to date have been made on the NRC (1994) recommendations for trace mineral requirements of broilers. The high prevalence of skeletal disorders in modern broilers could be a consequence of the uncoordinated growth rate and mineral nutrition. The commercial companies of broiler production often use a huge safety margin of trace minerals in feed formulation, which will result in trace mineral excretion into the environment. There are differences in the commercially recommended levels of dietary trace element between commercial strains of broilers and all of them are different from NRC (1994) recommendations. تفاصيل المقالة

Change in sex ratios for broiler chickens, has many economic benefits of the poultry industry. The gonads in chick embryo at an early stage have the potential to convert to both sexes (male and female). Sexual differentiation is due to aromatase expression in the left gonad in 5-6 days of the embryonic period and the production of estrogen from testosterone. Administration of aromatase inhibitors prevents the synthesis of estrogen in genetically female birds and produce males with female genotype. In this study, the effects of in ovo injection of 0.1 mg mushroom extract, nettle extract and fadrozole hydrochloride as aromatase inhibitors on the fifth day of incubation period on hatchability, embryo mortality and performance of hatching chicks were examined. The results of this experiment showed that there were no significant differences in hatchability, embryo mortality during incubation and the weight of hatching chicks. Daily feed intake and body weight gain in chickens hatched from mushroom extract and fadrozole hydrochloride groups were higher than the two other groups (p <0.05). Also, in ovo injection of a mushroom extract, nettle extract or fadrozole hydrochloride had no effect on the dressing percentage and internal organ weights. تفاصيل المقالة

Chicken has been used as a suitable model for lipid metabolism studies, because dietary modifications especially dietary fat type can change chicken body composition. Fats act as a condense source of energy and certain fatty acids such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are required for both animal and human health. The n-3 PUFAs, especially, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are well known for their favourable effects on human health. The n-3 PUFAs act as feed originated modulators of fatty acid oxidation and are feedback inhibitors of new fatty acid synthesis. This regulatory mechanism not only decreases overall liver lipid content and VLDL secretion, but also removes excessive very long-chain PUFA from cell membranes that may cause oxidant stress or damage membrane integrity. This paper reviews in brief the most important metabolic effects of PUFA in chickens. تفاصيل المقالة

Effects of different levels of choline and garlic powder on performance, liver health and immune response in broiler chickens were evaluated in this study. A factorial experiment with 2 dietary choline levels (the recommended level in Ross 308 broiler guidelines and 25 % less than the recommendation) and 3 dietary garlic powder levels (0, 5 or 10 g/kg diet) was conducted using Ross 308 broiler chickens. Four hundred eighty 1-d-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly divided into 6 dietary treatments, each containing 4 replicate pens, with 20 birds each. During the finisher phase (d 25 to 42), dietary supplementation with 5 and 10 g/kg of garlic powder increased feed intake. At finisher phase and the whole experimental period, dietary supplementation with 10 g/kg of garlic powder improved the daily weight gain. During the finisher phase and the whole experimental period, the daily weight gain of birds fed low choline diets was less than that of birds fed recommended choline level. During the finisher phase and the whole experimental period, dietary choline deficiency increased feed conversion ratio. Choline deficiency decreased serum IgM level, and IgM concentration was higher in chicks fed diet with 5 g/kg garlic powder. However, dietary garlic powder at 10 g/kg level increased the total white blood cells and reduced the heterophyles numbers. Diets deficient in choline and also 10 g/kg dietary garlic powder increased the liver fat deposits. The liver Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) enzyme levels in the serum of chicks fed the choline-deficient diets were higher compared to birds fed the diets with recommended choline level. Consumption of garlic powder at 10 g/kg level, lowered serum CPK enzyme levels compared with the diets containing zero or 5 g/kg garlic powder. Choline deficiency and also dietary garlic regardless of its dosage were reduced the levels of serum triglycerides and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). However, serum HDL were decreased in chickens fed 5 g/kg garlic powder compared with those fed garlic free diets. The findings of this study suggest that the effect of garlic powder in addressing the adverse effects caused by deficiency of choline are not through lipid metabolism improvement and more likely are due to the beneficial effects of garlic on increased feed intake , which increased choline intake and improved immune system function. تفاصيل المقالة

Any deficiency in trace element content of commercial poultry diets will decrease their performance. To prevent this situation it is necessary to supplement trace minerals in poultry diets to allow the modern birds to reach their genetic potential. The NRC publication as the most famous reference for livestock and poultry nutrients requirement has no recommendation for some less needed trace mineral such as arsenic, vanadium, cobalt and strontium. This deficiency is seen in commercial mineral supplements too which in some situations could result in a reduction in animals productivity. This review has summarized the new finding on the important role of arsenic, vanadium and cobalt in poultry. تفاصيل المقالة

Two experiments were conducted to determine the chemical composition, metabolizable energy content and effect of grape pomace (GP) with or without tannase enzyme treatment on growth performance of broiler chickens. In experiment 1, the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) of GP were determined as 2642.19 and 2641.08 kcal/kg, respectively. Supplementation of tannase enzyme at 0.05 and 0.1 percent of experimental diets significantly (P≤0.01) affected the metabolizable energy content of the diets and the highest improvement was observed with diets containing 0.01 percent tannase enzyme (P≤0.01). True metabolizable energy (TME) and true metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (TMEn) were determined based on Sibbald’s procedure. The TME and TMEn of grape pomace were 1844.14 and 1839.83 kcal/kg, respectively. In experiment 2, four dietary treatments (50 birds/treatment) were conducted to study the effect of inclusion of 10% GP with or without tannase enzyme supplementation on growth performance in broiler chicks (0 to 42 days of age). At 10 d of age, the body weight (BW) of the control groups was higher (P<0.05) compared with other experimental groups. Furthermore, broilers fed the control diet had higher (P<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) in the starter (days 0-10) experimental periods. Addition of GP in the chicken diets did not impair growth performance (BW, ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed-to-gain ratio (F:G)) of birds fed the grower (days 11-24), finisher (25-42) and the overall (days 0-42) experimental periods compared with other treatments. Among diets supplemented with GP, feed intake and body weight of broilers feeding diet containing 0.1% tannase were higher and the addition of tannase enzyme, improve the metabolizable energy content of GP. تفاصيل المقالة

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of in ovo injection of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the hatchability, production performance and immune responses of broilers. A total of 192 fertile eggs obtained from a Ross 308 broiler breeder flock were used. The eggs were divided into 4 experimental groups including a positive control group with normal saline injection, and injection of 50, 75 and 100 ppm nano-ZnO on the first day of incubation period in the air cell and were placed in the incubator. The hatched chicks were allocated to a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 4 replicates for a 42-day experiment. In ovo injection of nano-ZnO increased hatchability of eggs compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The daily feed intake during the starter phase significantly increased in the birds in 50 and 75 ppm nano-ZnO groups (p < 0.05). At the grower phase in rearing period the growth rate and feed intake of all the nano-ZnO injected groups were higher than the control group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the feed conversion ratio between different treatment groups (P>0.05). The results of antibody titer against the influenza virus at 10 days of age did not differ between the experimental treatments (P>0.05). The heterophil, lymphocytes, monocytes and hematocrit number in the blood of broiler chickens at 10 days of age did not show any significant difference (P>0.05). The results of the present study suggest that in ovo injection of nano ZnO particles had positive effects on early embryo mortality rate, total white blood cells, however the performance traits of the hatched chicks were not significantly affected through in ovo injection of nano ZnO particles. تفاصيل المقالة

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of feed restriction during the first week of the grower period on the performance, intestinal morphology, and some blood parameters of broilers. Seventy five one-day-old Ross 308 male broilers were used in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments, the control group and groups with feed restriction program at the first week of the grower phase for 6 or 12 hours (6HR or 12HR). In the grower phase, the 12HR program reduced feed intake and daily weight gain. The feed conversion ratio during the grower phase decreased by feed restriction. In the finisher phase and whole the experimental period, no difference was observed in the performance traits. Serum cholesterol levels decreased in the 12HR group compared to the HR group. Serum malondialdehyde levels decreased in both groups with dietary restriction compared with the control group. The aspartate transaminase activity was higher in the 12HR group than in the 6HR group. In the duodenum, a significant decrease in the height of the villi was observed due to feed restriction. The lowest crypt depth at the duodenum was also observed in the 12HR group. The ratio of villi height to crypt depth in the duodenum was lower in the 12HR group than in the other two groups. In the jejunum, the highest villi height was recorded in the 12HR, control, and 6hr groups. In the ileum, like in the jejunum, the highest height of villi was observed in the 12HR group, and the difference with the control group was significant. The diameter of villi in the Ileum was also not affected by feed restrictions. The depth of the crypt increased due to feed restriction. The results of this study suggest that 6 hours of dietary restriction in the first week of the grower period did not affect the production traits of broilers and 12 hours of dietary restriction in the mentioned period, although reduced feed intake and growth in the grower period, at the end of rearing period sufficient compensatory growth occurred. On the other hand, it seems that the 12-hour diet restriction in the first week of growth has positive effects on the morphology of the small intestine by increasing the absorption surface and also has a positive effect on the peroxidative state of the body, which needs further research. تفاصيل المقالة

This study investigated the effect of autoclaving and microwave radiation on the chemical composition, metabolic energy, and nutrient digestibility of wheat screening waste. Autoclave treatment involved heating the waste at 120 °C for 45 minutes, while microwave treatment utilized 1000 watts for 5 minutes. The experimental treatments included untreated waste, autoclaved waste, microwaved waste, and autoclaved followed by microwaved waste. Both heat treatments resulted in a decrease in gross energy, with the microwave treatment exhibiting the most significant effect. Additionally, the microwave treatment and the sequential autoclave followed by microwave treatment led to a slight reduction in dry matter content. Autoclaving improved the metabolisable energy of the waste by 23.4%, while the combined autoclave and microwave treatment improved it by 9.7%. However, microwave processing alone reduced the metabolisable energy by 25.4%. The heat treatments also resulted in notable changes in the waste's chemical composition, including decreased crude protein, gross energy, and sugar content, as well as increased dry matter, crude fiber, acid-insoluble ash, calcium, and phosphorus. تفاصيل المقالة

There were no considerable up to date on the trace element requirements of commercial poultry in recent years in despite of the progress in their performance traits. One of the more prevalent problems in modern broiler production system which could be attributed to the trace mineral inadequacy is skeletal disorders. Zinc, is an essential trace element which acts as a co-factor in several metaloenzymes and plays an important role in different metabolic pathways. Zinc deficiency in poultry affect the protein and carbohydrate metabolism and have negative effects on feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio and also is associated with immunological, reproductive, skeletal and skin disorders. The commercial poultry producers often use a considerablesafety margin for trace minerals including Zn in feed formulation, which will resulted in trace mineral excretion into environment. There are differences in the recommended dietary Zn requirement between commercial strains of broiler chickens and all of them are differ from NRC (1994) recommendations. تفاصيل المقالة