The objective of present study was to investigate the effect of feeding diets containing different levels (0, 15, 30 or 45 %) of corn-with-cobs (CWC) meal in two forms (mash or pellets) with or without adding exogenous enzyme preparation (Sicozyme) on the broiler growth performance, carcass traits, blood constituents, and nutrient digestibility. Five hundred seventy-six Hubbard broiler chicks were randomly divided into 16 equal experimental groups; each contained 3 equal replications. The chicks were kept in brooding and growing batteries during the starter and finisher periods, 0-3 and 3-7 weeks of age. Sixteen starter and finisher experimental diets were formulated and used. Each experimental group was given its respective diet and all birds were managed similarly and had free access to feed and water. The results obtained can be summarized in the following: Apart from the effect of diet form (DF) or enzyme addition (EA), feeding CWC-diets had no adverse effect on live body weight (LBW) or body weight gain (BWG) of broilers during the entire experimental period. When the dietary CWC level reached 45% feed intake (FI) of broilers was significantly increased while feed conversion (FC) was negatively affected compared with their control counterparts. Birds fed pellets exhibited significantly better LBW and BWG than those of birds fed the mash diets, while FI and FC were not affected, regardless of the effect of dietary CWC level or EA. Similarly, LBW and BWG of broilers were positively affected due to dietary EA as compared to those of birds fed the un-supplemented diets, irrespective of the effect of DF or dietary CWC level. Increasing dietary CWC level to 30 or 45% adversely affected digestibilities dry matter, organic matter and crude protein and rate of nitrogen retention. Birds fed the pelleted diets had better digestibilities for crude protein and ether extract and nitrogen retention compared with those fed the mash diets. Dietary EA led to an increase in the rate of nitrogen retention. Carcass traits of broilers were not significantly affected by dietary CWC level with the exception of significant reductions in dressing-out and abdominal fat percentages and an increase in relative weight of gizzard for birds fed the 45% CWC-diets compared with the controls. Dietary EA and DF had no effect on carcass traits, except that gizzard percent slightly reduced due to feeding pellets as compared to feeding the mash diets. There were significant reductions in serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol for broilers fed the CWC-containing diets, particularly having the 45%level. However, blood parameters were not affected by EA or DF, with the exception of a significant decrease in triglycerides level in broilers fed pellets as compared to those fed the mash diets. Economic efficiency of broiler production was not affected by including CWC up to 30% in their diets; pelleting of diets and enzyme addition might have a beneficial effect. It could be concluded that corn-with-cobs meal can be inclu...

The experimental work was carried out in the Rabbit Production Farm, Agricultural Researches and Experiments Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, during the period from February to Augusts 2006. A total of 12 sexually mature California bucks having 6-8 months of age and 3.0-3.5 kg live body weight) was used in this study. Bucks were healthy, free of diseases and external parasites. The experimental bucks were divided into three groups (4 males in each group) according to treatment. Bucks in the 1st Group served as control. However, group 2 and 3 were given chromium picolinate (9 and 18 μg/kg body weight) respectively. The bucks were given the dose orally every day as a suspend buck. To determine mass motility, progressive motility, Sperm cell concentration, Percentage of dead spermatozoa, percentage of abnormal spermatozoa was recorded. Results show that ejaculate volume of rabbit bucks significantly (P<0.05) decreased in both treated groups as compared to control group. This reduction was higher with low than high Cr dose, being about 12.5 and 8.6%, respectively. The obtained results revealed a negative effect of Cr treatment on ejaculate volume of rabbit bucks. Mass motility or percentage of progressive motility was significantly (P<0.05), being positive for the low level (9 µg/kg) and negative for the high level (18 µg/kg) of Cr. Level of 9 µg/kg significantly (P<0.05) increased score of mass motility by about 24% and progressive motility by about 34%, however, level of 18 µg/kg significantly (P<0.05) decreased score of mass motility by about 16% and progressive motility by about 22% as compared to controls. Dead sperm percentage was significant (P<0.05), being lower by about 17% for the low level (9 µg/kg) and higher by about 4% for the high level as compared to the control group (18 µg/kg) of Cr. Percentage of sperm abnormality was affected significantly (P<0.05) by the low Cr level, but was not affected by the high level of Cr. Sperm abnormality percentage significantly (P<0.05) reduced by about 48% as compared to the control group. Sperm cell concentration (x10 6 /ml) significantly (P<0.05) increased by about 37% in low Cr group, but was not affected by the high level of Cr. However, total sperm output (x10 6 /ejaculate) significantly (P<0.05) increased by about 16.5% in low Cr group and reduced by about 10% in high Cr group as compared to the control group.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potato by-product (PB) and tomato pomace (TP) as unusual feedstuff in broiler diets in terms of performance and carcass characteristics. A total number of 504 one day old male Ross broiler chicks were used in the experiment. The by-products were added to the experimental diets at 8, 16 and 24 % of the diet. After that, the experimental diets were divided into two groups. The first group was supplemented with enzyme mixture while the other group was free of enzyme supplementation. Two control diets were also used as positive and negative control. Each dietary treatment was fed to 3 replicates of 12 chicks each up to 35 days of age. The results of the experiment showed that significantly lower body weights and weight gain were recorded for the two groups fed 24% potato by-product with or without enzyme supplementation when compared to their respective controls. On the other hand, no significant differences in body weight and weight gain were observed for the birds fed Tomato pomace (TP) at different replacement levels compared to their respective control groups whether the birds fed diets supplemented with enzyme or not. All the groups fed TP at different replacement levels, whether supplemented or not with enzyme and the groups fed PB (8%) and PB (16%) without enzyme recorded significantly higher feed intake in comparison with their respective control group. Non significant differences were obtained among different groups for carcass parameters. The addition of enzyme enhanced in general the numerical values of chicken performance parameters. It could be concluded that either potato by-products (PB) or tomato pomace (TP) could be incorporated into broilers' diets by replacement levels up to 16%. The negative effect of high fiber content on chickens' performance could be avoided by addition of fiber degrading commercial enzyme to the diets.

Three hundred and sixty, 2 weeks old, unsexed Cobb chicks were used in this study to evaluate the effect of low protein diets fortification with amino acids and Probiotic on productive performance, carcass traits and some blood constituents. Two control diets (19 % C.P.) and (17% C.P.) and eight experimental groups depending on two levels of Lysine and Methionine (0.1 or 0.2%) supplemented to the 17% protein diets with or without supplementation of probiotic (1.0×109 C.F.U.UP Bacillus subtilis; Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) were investigated. Chicks fed 17% CP diet with adding 0.2% methionine plus probiotic (Treatment 10) showed significantly (P<0.05) highest body weight, body weight gain and consumed the lowest significantly (P<0.05) amount of feed. Furthermore, the same treatment showed highest value of carcass quality except for gizzard. However there was no significant effect of treatment on plasma total protein.

A factorial experiment (4×2×2) was conducted to evaluate the response of laying hens to feeding experimental diets containing graded levels of corn-with-cobs meal (0, 10, 20 and 30%) with or without Kemzyme ® supplementation (0 and 1 g/kg diet) in the form of mash or pellets. Thus, 16 isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated and used from 28 to 52 weeks of age. A total of 384 Silver Montazah laying hens were randomly chosen, individually caged in an open sided house and exposed to a daily photoperiod of 16 hr, and managed similarly. All hens were fed their respective experimental diets and had free access to water throughout the experimental period. The most important results obtained could be summarized as follows: Dietary level of corn-with-cobs meal (CCM) had no significant effects on body weight change, feed consumption, egg weight, egg shape index and yolk index or serum total protein, albumin, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, or activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in blood serum of hens. Increasing dietary level of CCM positively affected feed conversion, egg production rate and egg mass. In addition, Haugh units and serum and egg cholesterol were significantly increased when the level of CCM reached 30%. However, neither dietary enzyme supplementation nor diet form (mash vs. pellets) had significant effects on body weight change, feed consumption, feed conversion, egg production rate, egg weight, egg mass, shell thickness, egg shape index, yolk index, Haugh units or egg cholesterol, or serum levels of total protein, albumin, cholesterol, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and activity of ALT and AST in blood serum. According to the obtained results, corn-with-cobs meal can be included up to 30% in diets of Silver Montazah laying hens, without compromising their productive performance or egg quality, with no need for pelleting the diets or adding exogenous enzymes.