Effect of supplemental humic and butyric acid on performance and mortality in broilers raised under various environmental conditions

Evaluating natural compounds as a way of enhancing performance and reducing mortality in broilers is important for the poultry industry. Four experiments, involving 1,668 male Ross 708 broilers, were conducted to determine the effect of humic acid (MFG) and protected butyric acid (PBA) on performance and death loss throughout the starter and grower-finisher periods. Experiments 1 and 2 (conducted in early summer and late summer and fall) had between 4 and 6 treatments with MFG and PBA fed alone or in combination with 10 (0.22 m²/bird) to 12 (0.18 m²/bird) broilers per pen. The combination of MFG and PBA significantly improved performance and livability in experiment 1, but had no effect in experiment 2. Experiments 3 (early summer) and 4 (middle of summer) had 20 broilers per pen (0.11 m²/bird). Treatments for experiments 3 and 4 were (1) control, (2) control + MFG (4 and 2 lb/ton for starter and grower-finisher, respectively), (3) control + MFG (4 and 2 lb/ton) + PBA (0.66 and 0.33 lb/ton) for starter and grower-finisher, respectively, and (4) control + MFG (4 and 2 lb/ton) + PBA (1.1 and 0.55 lb/ton). No significant performance differences were observed in experiment 3. In contrast, broilers on treatment 4 in experiment 4 had significant responses in ADG and FCR, along with lower mortalities in extremely hot weather, compared with treatment 1, for the overall (d 0–45) period. Based on these data, especially during heat stress, broilers fed a mixture of MFG and PBA have improved growth and feed efficiency along with lower mortalities.     

Dietary Apparent Metabolizable Energy and Amino Acid Density Effects on Growth and Carcass Traits of Heavy Broilers

Two experiments (EXP) were conducted to evaluate the interactive effects of dietary AME and amino acid (AA) density (total basis) on broiler chickens from 42 to 56 d of age. In EXP 1, diets were formulated to contain low AME (3,140 kcal/kg) and moderate AME (3,240 kcal/kg) in combination with moderate AA (16.2% CP, 0.88% Lys, and 0.75% TSAA) and high AA (18.0% CP, 0.98% Lys, and 0.83% TSAA) and fed to male broilers. Dietary treatments in EXP 2 were diets formulated to contain moderate AME (3,220 kcal/kg) and high AME (3,310 kcal/kg) combined with moderate and high AA concentrations used in EXP 1 and fed to male and female broilers. In general, dietary AME and AA did not interact to influence growth and meat yield responses. Broilers provided the low AME diet in EXP 1 consumed more feed and had poorer feed conversion but had higher total breast meat yield than birds fed the moderate AME diet. In EXP 2, broilers fed the high AME diet from 42 to 56 d had increased BW gain, decreased feed consumption, and improved feed conversion. Feeding the high AA diets in both EXP decreased feed consumption, improved feed conversion, and increased total breast meat yield. Nutritionists establishing nutritional programs for heavy broilers late in development from 2.5 to 3.6 kg may need to consider increasing AA density to optimize breast meat yield. Increasing the AME content of the diet improves feed conversion but not breast meat yield.     

Growth and meat yield responses of Ross × Ross 708 male broilers fed diets formulated with distillers dried grains with solubles varying in ether extract content and inclusion rate from 1 to 49 days of age

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of diets containing low-, moderate-, or high-oil dried distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) included at conventional- or increased-inclusion rates fed to 1,500 Ross × Ross 708 male broilers that were assigned to 60 floor pens from 1 to 49 d of age. Three sources of DDGS had ether extract composition of 6.06, 8.80, or 11.59%, on dry matter (DM) basis, representing low-oil, moderate-oil, or high-oil DDGS, respectively. Diets were formulated to contain corn, soybean meal, animal protein meal as the primary ingredients, and 1 of the 3 DDGS sources at either 5, 7, 9, or 11% (conventional-inclusion rate) and 8, 10, 12, or 14% (increased-inclusion rate) in the starter (1 to 14 d), grower (15 to 24 d), finisher 1 (25 to 34 d), and finisher 2 (35 to 49 d) periods, respectively. Apparent ME_n (low-oil:1,975, moderate-oil: 2,644, and high-oil: 3,137 kcal/kg) and digestible amino acid (AA) values of the 3 DDGS sources were determined from previous research. No differences were detected for cumulative BW gain and feed conversion 1 to 49 d of age or meat yields at 50 d of age. Feeding broilers diets containing the low-oil DDGS source increased feed cost per BW gain and breast meat weight of $0.025/kg and $0.004/kg compared with birds fed diets containing high-oil DDGS or moderate-oil and high-oil DDGS sources, respectively. These data indicated that DDGS source and inclusion rate did not affect cumulative growth and carcass characteristics of broilers from 1 to 50 d of age but demonstrate differences in feed cost/BW gain and feed cost/breast meat weight.     

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of male broilers fed diets varying in digestible threonine to lysine ratio from 21 to 49 days of age

Two experiments were conducted to ascertain digestible Thr to Lys ratio of male broilers from 21 to 35 d of age (experiment 1) and 35 to 49 d of age (experiment 2) based on growth performance and processing yields. In both experiments, 2 diets (dilution and summit; 3,108 kcal ME/kg and 18.2% CP in experiment 1; 3,163 kcal ME/kg and 17.2% CP in experiment 2) consisting of corn, soybean meal, poultry by-product meal, and peanut meal formulated to be surfeit in limiting amino acids with exception of digestible Lys and Thr were mixed at various proportions to create 8 titration dose-response diets. Digestible Lys was formulated to contain 95% of the requirements from 21 to 35 and 35 to 49 d of age. In each experiment, gradient treatment structure was arranged in a randomized complete block design. Calculated digestible Thr to Lys ratios ranged from 0.512 to 0.806 in approximately increments of 0.040 (1,600 Hubbard × Cobb 500 broilers; experiment 1) and 0.552 to 0.793 in approximately increments of 0.035 (3,000 Ross × Ross 708 broilers; experiment 2). In experiment 1, digestible Thr to Lys ratio for male Hubbard × Cobb 500 broilers was estimated at 0.68 and 0.67 for BW gain and feed conversion from 21 to 35 d of age. In experiment 2, digestible Thr to Lys ratio of Ross × Ross 708 was determined at 0.68 and 0.63 for feed conversion ratio with quadratic and linear broken-line models, respectively. Meat weights and yields were not affected by the dietary treatments in either experiment. These data indicate that a digestible Thr to Lys ratio of 0.68 can optimize growth performance of broilers from 21 to 35 and 35 to 49 d of age.     

Prebiotics and probiotics used alone or in combination and effects on pullet growth and intestinal microbiology

A study was conducted examining the effects of prebiotics and probiotics separately and in combination on growth parameters, fecal and cecal microbiota. Six dietary treatments consisted of: 1) control, 2) control + 0.2 lb/ton calculated to contain 1 × 10¹⁰Pediococcus acidilactici/kg, 3) control + 0.2 lb/ton calculated to contain 2 × 10¹⁰ live Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii/kg, 4) control + 2 lb/ton yeast cell wall extract (YCWE), 5) control + 0.2 lb/ton calculated to contain 1 × 10¹⁰ /kg Pediococcus acidilactici/kg and + 2 lb/ton YCWE, and 6) control + 0.2 lb/ton calculated to contain 2 × 10¹⁰/kg live Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii/kg + 2 lb/ton YCWE. Dietary treatments had 10 replicates during the brooder phase; 6 replicates from grower phase through conclusion of the study. Bovan white pullets were utilized for the study. There was not a significant difference between treatments for feed intake, body weight, body weight gain or feed conversion. There were no significant differences between treatments for Salmonella enteritidis presence or fecal counts of E. coli, coliform, and Salmonella spp. Cecal E. coli and coliform counts were not affected by treatment. There was a significant treatment by time effect for Enterobacteriaceae cecal counts. Enterobacteriaceae counts increased at 16 wk of age and decreased through the study for all treatments, except for YCWE. The addition of prebiotics and probiotics, individually or in combination, did not significantly improve growth or alter the potentially pathogenic bacteria microbiology of feces or ceca in pullet chicks.     

日粮硒水平对22~42日龄肉仔鸡生长性能及肉品质的影响

为研究日粮硒水平对22~42日龄肉仔鸡生长性能和肉品质的影响,试验选用380只1日龄Arbor Acres（AA）肉公雏,1~21日龄统一饲喂同种正常添加无机硒的玉米-豆粕型日粮（含硒0.47 mg/kg）,于22日龄从中选取体重接近的336只鸡,随机分成6个处理组,每组7个重复,每个重复8只鸡。分别饲喂不添加硒的玉米-豆粕型基础日粮（对照组,含硒0.015 mg/kg）和在基础日粮中分别添加0.10、0.20、0.30、0.40和0.50 mg/kg硒（以亚硒酸钠形式添加）的试验日粮,试验期21 d。结果表明,日粮中添加不同硒水平对22~42日龄肉仔鸡平均日增重、平均日采食量和料重比均无显著影响（P>0.05）;对42日龄肉仔鸡屠宰率、全净膛率、胸肌率、腿肌率和腹脂率均无显著影响（P>0.05）;日粮中添加不同硒水平对42日龄肉仔鸡腿肌剪切力和胸肌肉色L^*值有显著影响（P<0.05）,其中添加0.50 mg/kg硒处理组肉鸡的腿肌剪切力最低,添加0.20和0.50 mg/kg硒处理组肉鸡的胸肌肉色L^*值最低,但其他肉质性状指标在各组间均无显著差异（P>0.05）。综上所述,玉米-豆粕型基础日粮中添加不同水平硒对22~42日龄肉仔鸡生长性能与42日龄肉仔鸡胴体性状均无显著影响,但日粮中添加0.50 mg/kg硒降低了腿肌剪切力和胸肌L^*值,对肉品质有一定的改善作用。     

Body weight,meat quality and blood metabolite responses to carbohydrate administration in the drinking water during pre‐slaughter feed withdrawal in broilers

This study was conducted to determine weights of body (BW), carcass (CW), gastrointestinal tract (GTW), meat quality and some blood metabolite responses to corn starch, saccharose or glucose administration in the drinking water during pre‐slaughter feed withdrawal (FW) in broilers. On day 42 of age, 200 broilers (Ross 308) were allocated randomly to five treatments with four replicates. During a 10‐h FW, control broilers (C) were provided with non‐treated water and the standard finisher diet ad libitum, whereas fasted broilers provided with non‐treated (NFW) or treated water, 3 g glucose (G), saccharose (S) or corn starch (CS)/L. Eight birds (four males and four females) per treatment were slaughtered. Birds receiving non‐treated or treated water had lower BW and higher carcass yield than the full‐fed broilers. The full‐fed broilers had higher absolute and relative GTW than the fasted birds. Broilers consumed more readily treated water compared with non‐treated water. While the a* value of breast meat from CS birds was higher than that from NFW, the b* value of that was higher than S and C birds. The c* values of breast meat from S birds were lower compared with that from the CS treatment. The thigh meat from NFW broilers had higher h* value than that from C and G broilers. The thigh meats of C and CS broilers had higher c* value than that of G birds. The full‐fed broilers had higher plasma triglyceride concentration than NFW, S and G birds. The full‐fed broilers had higher plasma uric acid and uric acid nitrogen concentrations than S birds. These results show that carbohydrate administration in the drinking water cannot be a good alternative for the FW period before slaughter due to the fact that the carbohydrates do not reduce BW losses and do not lead to increases in meat quality.     

Effect of dietary vitamin E on broiler meat qualities,color, water‐holding capacity and shear force value,under heat stress conditions

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary vitamin E (VE) on broiler meat quality, especially focused on PSE (pale color, soft and exudative), under chronic heat stress (HS) conditions. Twenty‐eight‐day‐old female Ross broilers were kept in independent cages with a controlled temperature of 24°C (normal temperature: NT) or 30°C (high temperature: HT). The NT chickens were fed basal feed. The HT chickens were fed basal feed (HT) or VE (200 mg/kg) added feed (HT + E). Broilers were weighed and slaughtered at 38 days old. The breast muscle was removed immediately and then the samples were used for determination of meat color, pH, water holding capacity (WHC) and shear force value (SFV). Body weight gain and feed intake were significantly decreased in the HT and HT + E groups compared to the NT group. VE supplementation did not affect the growth performance. Chronic HS at 30°C for 10 days may cause deterioration of meat quality such as PSE. The effects of chronic HS on meat quality were most significant in the toughness of broiler breast meat. Supplementation of VE in broiler feed would be effective to prevent the extent of PSE on broiler meat by chronic HS.     

复方中药制剂对肉鸡生长性能的影响

试验选用600羽AA肉鸡,随机分为2组,每组设3个重复,每个重复100羽。中药组为试验组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验期为20 d。结果表明,中药添加剂可有效调节高温条件下肉鸡生长性能。试验组AA肉鸡与对照组相比：2组鸡粪便正常,未出现明显差异;试验组在试验阶段明显较对照组安静,特别是试验最后1周因肉鸡生长相对密度较大时更为明显;试验组平均日增重较对照组提高8.1%,差异显著（P<0.05）;试验组料重比较对照组降低了7.34%（P<0.05）;而试验组的鸡采食量略高于对照组。说明中药添加剂能提高肉鸡的体增重,降低料重比。     

饲喂发酵饲料对肉鸡生长性能、养分利用率、肠道健康和肉品质的影响

【目的】本试验旨在研究肉鸡生长前期(1~21日龄)饲喂发酵饲料对其生长性能、养分利用率、肠道健康和肉品质的影响。【方法】选用1日龄爱拔益加肉鸡公鸡240只,随机分入4个处理组,每组6个重复,每个重复10只鸡。4组肉鸡生长前期(1~21日龄)分别饲喂添加0、5%、10%、15%发酵饲料的试验饲粮,生长后期(22~42日龄)均饲喂不含发酵料的基础饲粮,试验期为42 d。试验第21和42天时,测定肉鸡的1~21日龄、22~42日龄和1~42日龄生长性能、19~21日龄和40~42日龄养分利用率、42日龄肠道菌的数量和42日龄肉品质等指标。【结果】与对照组相比,饲喂10%发酵饲料显著降低肉鸡1~21日龄料重比(P＜0.05);饲喂15%发酵饲料显著提高肉鸡1~42日龄平均日增重和平均日采食量(P＜0.05),显著提高19~21日龄肉鸡干物质利用率和能量代谢率(P＜0.05)。前期饲喂发酵饲料对42日龄肉鸡的盲肠菌群数量影响不显著(P＞0.05)。与对照组相比,饲喂发酵饲料显著降低42日龄肉鸡肌肉中胆固醇含量(P＜0.05)。【结论】生长前期饲喂10%的发酵饲料显著降低了肉鸡1~21日龄料重比;饲喂15%发酵饲料显著提高了肉鸡1~42日龄平均日增重、平均日采食量及19~21日龄肉鸡干物质和能量利用率。生长前期饲喂发酵饲料显著降低了42日龄肉鸡肌肉胆固醇含量,但是对42日龄肉鸡盲肠菌群数量无显著影响。     

Effect of dietary oat administration on lipid stability in broiler meat

1. The susceptibility to oxidation of meat from broilers receiving 200 g/kg oats in the diet was compared to the stability of meat from broilers receiving a control diet (10 mg/kg of alpha-tocopheryl acetate) and a diet enriched in alpha-tocopheryl acetate (200 mg/kg). 2. After 9 d of refrigerated storage thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) values in raw dark meat (thigh) were 0.51 and 0.19, respectively, for broilers fed on the control and the alpha-tocopheryl acetateenriched diets. Meat from broilers fed on the diet containing oats had a lower TBARS value than the control group (P 0.05), but higher than the group receiving the supplemented diet. The same trend was observed in white meat (breast). Similar effects were observed after the frozen storage of meats, although the antioxidant effect of oats was more evident (P 0.05) than in the raw meat. 3. Cholesterol oxidation products (COPS) in broiler meat were also influenced by the dietary regimen. COPS concentration in white and dark meat, respectively, from broilers fed on the oat diet were 43% and 32% lower than those in the control samples. 4. Supplemental alpha-tocopheryl acetate reduced COPS concentration by approximately 60%. The availability of natural antioxidants and their possible synergistic effects suggest an interesting way of improving meat stability.     

Effect of increasing supplemental phytase concentration in diets fed to Hubbard × Cobb 500 male broilers from 1 to 42 days of age

Phytase supplementation beyond the standard doses used for phosphorus release has been reported to result in extraphosphoric effects by enhancing nutrient digestibility resulting in improved performance of broilers. A study was conducted to examine the effects of the progressive addition of an enhancedEscherichia Coli phytase (400–1,600 phytase units; FTU) on growth performance and carcass characteristics from 1 to 42 d of age in male broilers. One thousand four hundred Hubbard × Cobb 500 1-d-old chicks were randomly distributed into 56 floor pens (0.08 m²/bird). Seven dietary treatments were provided in a 3-phase feeding program consisting of (1) a positive control (adequate Ca and nonphytate P; PC); (2) 1 negative control (Ca and nonphytate P reduced by 0.14% and 0.13%; NC); (3 to 6) the NC diet with 4 increasing supplemental phytase concentrations (NC + 400 FTU, NC + 800 FTU, NC + 1,200 FTU, and NC + 1,600 FTU, respectively); and (7) a low-energy NC diet without phytase and xylanase (reduced 66 kcal of AME_n/kg). Body weight gain, feed conversion, mortality, weight and yield of whole carcass, abdominal fat, and pectoralis major and minor muscles were evaluated. Progressive supplementation of phytase decreased cumulative FCR linearly. Broilers fed diets containing 1,600 FTU had heavier total breast meat by 49 g compared with birds receiving the PC diets. Broilers consuming the NC + 400 FTU or the low-energy NC diet had similar growth performance and meat yield compared with birds provided PC diet. These data indicated that phytase supplementation beyond the need for phosphorus enhances growth performance and carcass characteristics.     

Energy balances of lactating sows in relation to feeding level and stage of lactation

Twelve crossbred sows were used in an energy balance study to estimate energetic efficiency of milk production from feed. Balances were made from 7 to 14 d and from 18 to 25 d of lactation. Two feeding levels were applied (high and low). The low level (L) was meant to supply energy slightly above maintenance, with energy needed for milk to be derived from body reserves. The high level (H) was meant to supply sufficient energy for maintenance and for milk production. The low-level animals received 2.5 to 2.6 kg of feed/d and the high level animals 4.8 to 6 kg/d. The loss of weight of sows during lactation depended more on feeding level than on stage of lactation. A high level of feeding to sows resulted in heavier piglets compared with the low feeding level (significant after 10 d). At 24 d of age piglets with the high-feeding-level sows weighed 7.5 kg and those with the low-level sows, 5.7 kg. At the high level, animals excreted 1,200 to 2,800 kcal more milk energy per day than the low-level animals. Energy for milk from feed was produced with an efficiency of 67 to 69% with a maintenance requirement of 112 to 125 kcal metabolizable energy (ME) X W-.75 X d-1. Efficiency of milk production from feed was calculated as 62% and the maintenance requirement was 68 kcal. In this calculation, milk was corrected toward zero energy balance. Another way of calculating this efficiency after correcting feed toward zero energy balance resulted in estimates of 68% for efficiency and of 88 kcal ME X W-.75 X d-1 for maintenance requirement. From these data it was derived that, for each piglet, the sow needed to receive .5 to .6 kg of extra feed (ME content 3,000 kcal/kg) per day to cover milk production. Level of metabolic rate for nursing piglets was estimated as 97 kcal ME X W-.75 X d-1 for maintenance and, in addition, .195 kcal/kcal extra of milk intake above maintenance.     

Dietary glycine and threonine interactive effects in broilers

Little information is available regarding the interaction of dietary Thr and Gly on the potential metabolic sparing effects, live production, or breast meat yield of broilers. To test these potential interactions, 432 one-day-old Ross 308 male broilers were fed a common diet up to 21 d of age, and then fed 1 of 6 experimental diets. A factorial arrangement of treatments consisted of 3 dietary levels of standardized digestible Thr (0.57, 0.61, and 0.65%) in combination with 2 levels of total Gly + Ser (1.55 and 1.65%). Experimental diets were fed from 21 to 42 d of age, with live performance, carcass traits, and free blood plasma levels of Gly, Ser, and Thr serving as evaluation criteria. Interactions (P ≤ 0.05) were observed for BW gain, feed consumption, carcass and breast meat weight, and carcass yield, all showing improvements with increasing dietary Thr in combination with low dietary Gly + Ser treatments. Circulating plasma Gly, Ser, and Thr were affected by their respective dietary status.     

The effect of vitamin E on growth performance and meat quality in broilers given diets containing distillers’ dried grain with solubles (DDGS)

1. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E (VE, α-tocopherol acetate) on growth performance and meat quality of broilers fed on diets containing maize distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

2. A total of 360 one-d-old broilers were randomly assigned to 6 groups. Each group comprised 6 replicates of 10 broilers. Broilers were allocated to 1 of 6 diets and fed for 49?d in a 3?×?2 factorial design. The dietary treatments included three concentrations of DDGS (0, 10 or 20%) and two concentrations of VE (0 or 200?mg/kg).

3. Diets containing 20% DDGS decreased the growth phase and average daily feed intake, demonstrating that small amounts of DDGS affected feed intake in broilers and that an excess of DDGS was not conducive to feed intake.

4. Different dietary concentrations of DDGS did not significantly improve colour, drip loss, cooking loss, or shear force. Supplementation with 200?mg/kg VE significantly reduced cooking loss and shear force and improved colour.

5. In conclusion, supplementation with DDGS at 10% and/or α-tocopherol acetate at 200?mg/kg had positive effects on growth performance and meat quality in broilers.     

Growth performance of Hubbard × Cobb 500 and Ross × Ross 708 male broilers fed diets varying in apparent metabolizable energy from 14 to 28 days of age

The cost of energy-contributing ingredients has increased over the last several years. Defining minimum dietary energy specifications for broilers is a strategy to mitigate high diet cost. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of diets with graded concentrations of AME_n fed to Hubbard × Cobb 500 (experiment 1) and Ross × Ross 708 (experiment 2) male broiler chicks from 14 to 28 d of age. Both experiments were identical in experimental procedures with the exception of genetic strain. Broilers were fed a common corn-soybean meal-based starter diet from 1 to 13 d of age. At 14 d of age, dietary treatments were provided with 1 of 6 concentrations of AME_n (3,000, 3,030, 3,060, 3,090, 3,120, and 3,150 kcal/kg). In experiment 1, BW gain, feed intake, and FCR of Hubbard × Cobb 500 broilers decreased linearly with increasing AME_n. Linear broken-line response of FCR was estimated at 3,062 kcal of AME_n/kg based on broken-line methodology. In experiment 2, Ross × Ross 708 broilers did not respond to graded concentrations of energy, as indicated by linear and quadratic regression of BW gain, feed intake, caloric conversion, and FCR data. Therefore, Hubbard × Cobb 500 male broilers respond to AME_n from 14 to 28 d of age and may be fed diets formulated at 3,062 kcal of AME_n/kg without loss of performance. Conversely, growth performance of Ross × Ross 708 male broilers was not affected by varying AME_n (3,000 to 3,150 kcal/kg) from 14 to 28 d of age. In addition, the response to AME_n may not be as pronounced with the modern broiler compared with broilers used in previous research.     

Synergistic effect of cellulase and hemicellulase on nutrient utilization and performance in broilers fed a corn–soybean meal diet

In the present study, the synergistic effect of dietary cellulase and hemicellulase on the nutrient utilization, performance and digesta (content of jejunum) viscosity in broilers fed a corn–soybean meal diet were studied. The treatment groups included a control, cellulase (0.33 U/g feed), hemicellulase (2 U/g feed) and mixed enzyme (cellulase (0.33 U/g feed) + hemicellulase (2 U/g feed)) group. The enzymes were mixed with the basal diet (21.1% crude protein, 3000 kcal/kg metabolizable energy) and fed to male broiler chickens (Cobb strain) for 12 days from 15 days of age. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. Chicks were raised under 25°C in wire‐bottomed cages during the entire experimental period. We found that broilers given enzymes grew faster, and that the mixed enzyme was most effective. Feed intake remained the same for all of the treatment groups. Carcass weight was increased by mixed enzyme significantly, but not by cellulase and hemicellulase. The enzymes, but not mixed enzyme, decreased abdominal fat and were significant in the case of cellulase. Enzymes did not affect muscle weight and nitrogen‐retention, but metabolizable energy content of the diet was improved by the mixed enzyme. Ash‐retention was increased by hemicellulase and mixed enzyme. Digesta viscosity was significantly decreased by cellulase, but not by hemicellulase and the mixed enzyme. The results indicate that the combination of cellulase and hemicellulase has a synergistic effect on the performance of broilers fed a corn–soybean meal diet.     

Effect of dietary administration of oil extracts from rosemary and sage on lipid oxidation in broiler meat

1. Oxidation of meat and membrane from broilers fed on a diet containing 500 mg/kg rosemary and sage extracts was compared to meat and membrane oxidation from broilers receiving a control diet (not enriched with antioxidants) and a diet enriched in alpha-tocopheryl acetate (200 mg/kg). 2. After 9 d of refrigerated storage, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances of white meat from broilers fed on the control and the alpha-tocopheryl acetate-enriched diets were 0.51 and 0.25 mg malonaldehyde/kg meat, respectively. Values for meat from broilers fed on the diets containing the rosemary and sage extracts were in the range 0.30 to 0.35 mg malonaldehyde/kg meat, significantly lower than those from birds fed on the control diet. A similar trend was observed in the dark meat but differences were not significant at 9 d of storage. Similar trends were observed in raw samples stored at- 20C for up to 4 months and in samples cooked at 70C and kept stored under refrigeration for up to 4 d. 3. The meat from broilers fed on the diet containing spice extracts had smaller concentrations of total cholesterol oxidation products (COPS) than meat from the control group (P<0.05). Supplemental alpha-tocopheryl acetate reduced the COPS concentrations to a greater extent than did spice extracts (P<0.05). 4. A similar trend was observed in microsomal fraction isolates, in which the rate of metmyoglobin/hydrogen peroxide-catalysed lipid peroxidation was lower in animals receiving spice extracts than in those fed on the basal diet.     

The effect of a direct-fed microbial (Primalac) on turkey live performance

Two pen trials and 2 field trials were conducted to determine whether a direct-fed microbial (DFM; Primalac) was effective in improving turkey productive performance. In the pen trials, typical turkey diets were formulated with and without Primalac. All feed was provided by a commercial feed mill. In trial 1, Large White male turkey poults were placed in 48 pens (18 birds/pen, 24 pens/treatment) on the day of hatch and were reared to 20 wk. In trial 2, Large White female turkey poults were placed in 48 pens (30 birds/pen, 24 pens/treatment) on the day of hatch and were reared to 18 wk. Cumulative FCR was significantly improved for birds fed DFM feed compared with birds fed control feed at 20 wk in trial 1 and at 8 wk in trial 2. Body weight was significantly greater for birds fed DFM feed compared with birds fed the control feed through 12 wk in both trials. In 2 field trials, 2 brooder houses and 4 grow-out houses were paired on each farm (4 brooder houses and 8 grow-out houses total). All birds received the same feed provided by the integrator. The DFM was provided in the water from placement to market in 1 brooder house and in the 2 matching grow-out houses. Breeder flocks were equally represented in both brooder houses within each trial. Approximately 12,000 male poults were placed in each brooder house and were transferred to 2 grow-out houses at 5 wk. Although no statistical analyses were computed for the field trials, there was a nominal improvement in performance associated with the DFM: mean livability was increased by 3.5%, mean BW was increased by 0.9 kg (2 lb), mean total weight removed from the farms was increased by 13,706 kg (30,153 lb), mean FCR was improved by 0.165, and cost of production was reduced by $0.0195/kg ($0.043/lb) of BW by the DFM. In conclusion, the DFM product (Primalac) used in these studies was effective in improving turkey live performance.     

1～21日龄雌性肉仔鸡表观回肠可消化色氨酸需要量评定

本试验旨在研究1～21日龄雌性肉仔鸡表观回肠可消化色氨酸需要量及饲粮色氨酸水平对肉仔鸡肉品质、抗氧化指标和免疫指标的影响。试验选取480只1日龄雌性商品代肉雏鸡,随机分成5个处理,每个处理8个重复,每个重复12只鸡。采用含0.170%色氨酸的玉米-豆粕-玉米蛋白粉型基础饲粮,分别在其中添加0、0.021%、0.042%、0.063%和0.084%晶体L-色氨酸,使饲粮色氨酸水平分别为0.170%、0.191%、0.213%、0.234%和0.248%。测定1～21日龄肉仔鸡生产性能、胸肌品质、抗氧化指标、免疫指标和21～25日龄肉仔鸡氨基酸表观消化率和表观回肠消化率。结果表明:饲粮色氨酸水平显著影响1～21日龄肉仔鸡采食量及增重(P<0.05),采食量及增重与饲粮表观回肠可消化色氨酸水平呈现二次曲线关系(P<0.05)。1～21日龄肉仔鸡获得最大增重的饲粮表观回肠可消化色氨酸水平为0.176%,表观回肠可消化色氨酸摄入量为68.15 mg/d。与饲粮色氨酸水平0.170%相比,饲粮色氨酸水平0.213%及0.248%可显著降低肉仔鸡胸肌丙二醛含量、肝脏总超氧化物歧化酶活性和血清谷丙转氨酶活性(P<0.05),饲粮色氨酸水平0.248%可显著提高肉仔鸡屠宰后45 min胸肌pH、肠道总分泌型免疫球蛋白A浓度及血清总免疫球蛋白A浓度(P<0.05)。由此可知,1～21日龄雌性肉仔鸡获得最大增重的表观回肠可消化色氨酸需要量为0.176%(68.15 mg/d)。提高饲粮色氨酸水平可减轻肉仔鸡组织细胞脂质过氧化损伤,降低屠宰后肉仔鸡胸肌酸度,改善肉仔鸡肠道黏膜免疫和体液免疫能力。