The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the adverse effects of high dietary rice bran (RB) inclusion levels on the feed intake, performance, bone status and nitrogen (N) retention of broilers could be mitigated by wet feeding. Giving a completely randomized design experiment in 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, seventy two broiler chickens, managed in 24 floor pens received one of the two experimental diets (having 20 or 40% RB) either in dry or wet form from day 21 to 42 using a completely randomized design experiment in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Wet feeds were prepared every day by mixing the respective air dry feed with tap water (1:1 w/w). Growth performance, visceral organ weights, N retention and tibia ash percentages were determined. At both dietary RB levels, birds given wet feed ate significantly more feed dry matter than those fed dry form of the respective feeds. The increase of RB level from 20 to 40% significantly reduced the feed intake, weight gain and N retention while increasing the digestive tract weight when the diet was of dry form. Those adverse effects were mitigated when the 40% RB diet was offered in wet form. It is concluded that wet feeding mitigates the adverse effects of high RB inclusion levels on broiler diets. پرونده مقاله

Canistel (Pouteria campechiana) is an underutilized fruit tree species found in many parts of the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate suitability of canistel fruit meal (CFM) as a feed ingredient for broiler chickens. Giving completely randomize design, ninety broiler chickens in 30 floor pens received one of five diets ad libitum from day 21 to 42. The nutritionally balanced control diet contained 40% maize meal. In the other four test diets, CFM quantitatively replaced 25, 50, 75 and 100% of maize meal from the control diet. One randomly selected bird from each cage was killed on day 42 to determine the visceral organ weights and tibia ash contents. Breast meat samples were subjected to sensory evaluation by ten panelists. No mortality or visible health problems were observed throughout the experiment. Except between day 21 and 28, CFM had no significant effect on feed and water intake. Increasing levels of dietary CFM linearly reduced the live weight on day 42 and weight gain while increasing the feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, above parameters of the birds fed diet with 10% CFM (25% substitution of maize meal) was not significantly different from those of the birds fed control diet (40% maize meal). The transit times of digesta, relative weights of gizzard, pancreas, heart and abdominal fat pad, tibia ash contents and organoleptic properties of the meat in the birds were not significantly different among treatments. Birds fed 40% CFM had higher relative gut length and liver weight compared to those fed 40% maize meal. It was concluded that canistel fruit meal could be included up to 10%, substituting 25% of the maize fraction of the broiler diet without any delirious effects on growth performance. Further research is needed to determine the important nutritional indices of CFM. پرونده مقاله

Citric acid has been reported to increase utilization efficiency of dietary phytate-bound phosphorus and protein. Objective of this study was to determine the effects of citric acid on growth performance and nutrient retention of broiler chickens fed diets having two levels of non-phytate phosphorus and rice bran. Giving a completely randomize design in 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, 144 broiler chicks in 48 pens received one of the eight experimental diets containing two levels of dietary rice bran (20% or 30%), citric acid (0% or 2%) and non-phytate phosphorus (0.25% or 0.35%) ad libitum from day 21 to 42. Retention of nitrogen, phosphorus, mineral and dry matter was determined using a total collection trial. Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and weights of feather, liver, gizzard and pancreas were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the levels of dietary rice bran, citric acid, or non-phytate phosphorus levels. Retention of nitrogen, phosphorus or dry matter were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by the levels of dietary rice bran, citric acid, non-phytate phosphorus or their interactions. 2% citric acid improved the retention of mineral with 30% rice bran compared to diets with 20% of rice bran. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in tibia ash when diet contained 20% or 30% rice bran. A significantly (P<0.05) higher tibia ash content was observed when diets had 2% of citric acid with 0.35% of non-phytate phosphorus. It is concluded that 30% rice bran had no adverse effects on growth performance of broiler chicken from day 21 to 42. 2% citric acid produces no beneficial effects at dietary rice bran levels of 20 or 30% or non-phytate phosphorus levels of 0.25 or 0.35%. پرونده مقاله