The current study evaluated the effect of dietary inclusion of curcumin (Cur) or curcumin nanoparticles (CurNPs) on growth performance, blood metabolites, antioxidant status and humoral immunity of broiler chicks. In a completely randomized block design, a total of 504 one-day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to seven experimental groups with eight replications of nine birds each. The first (control) group received the basal diets without supplements while the 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th groups were fed diets supplemented with 25, 50 and 100 mg.kg-1 of Cur and the 5 th , 6 th and 7 th groups were fed the same levels but from CurNPs, respectively. Results showed that the addition of 50 and 100 mg.kg-1 of Cur, irrespective of the form used, improved body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and reduced feed consumption. The same doses increased relative weights of liver, thymus and bursa of Fabricius. Hypocholestrolimic impact of Cur and CurNPs was remarkably observed in treated birds. Regardless Cur form, lipid peroxidation was reduced while glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities were enhanced in groups treated with 50 and 100 mg.kg-1. Both Cur forms exhibited immunomodulatory effect as total serum antibody titer against SRBCs, IgG and IgM were elevated at 21 and 35 day of age. In conclusion, supplementation of Cur and CurNPs to broiler diets, particularly at levels of 50 and 100 mg.kg-1 , improved growth performance, reduced blood cholesterol, and enhanced redox status and humoral immune response of broiler chickens.

Global warming has become intensified and widespread, threatening the world with causing acute heatwaves that adversely affect poultry production and producers' profitability. Spirulina platensis is a precious and promising mitigating strategy to combat the detrimental impacts of heat stress due to its high contents of nutrients and bioactive components. The current study was designed to compare the incorporation impact of S. platensis powder or aqueous extract on the growth and physiological responses of heat-stressed broiler chicks. Six hundred 1-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were allocated into five experimental groups with six replicates of 20 chicks each. The control group fed the basal diet without additives, SPP1 and SPP2 groups fed the basal diet with 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg S. platensis powder, respectively, while SPE1 and SPE2 groups received 1 ml/L and 2 ml/L S. platensis aqueous extract in the drinking water, respectively. All birds were exposed to cyclic heat stress (34 ± 2 °C for 12 h) for three successive days a week from day 10 to day 35. In vitro analysis showed that total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of S. platensis were remarkably decreased (P < 0.001) in the aqueous extract compared to the powder form. Body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were improved (P < 0.001) in all treated groups, while carcass yield and dressing percentage were increased only in SPP1 and SPP2. Feed and water intake and blood biochemical parameters were not affected. Both forms of S. platensis enhanced the lipid profile, redox status, and humoral immune response of heat-stressed chicks superior to the powder form. Conclusively, the powder form of S. platensis was more effective in enhancing the productivity of broilers and alleviating the negative impacts of heat stress than the aqueous extract form.

One hundred and eighty Isa Brown layers, 40 weeks old, were used to study the role of dietary yeast supplementation on productive performance and cholesterol levels in laying hens. All hens were equally classified into four groups. The 1 st group, hens were fed the basal diet without any supplementation (control), while those in the 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with yeast at levels of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%, respectively. Feed consumption, feed conversion, egg production and eggshell traits, serum total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides concentrations as well as yolk and liver contents of cholesterol were measured. The obtained findings indicated that feed consumption for hens of yeast-supplemented groups was significantly lowered compared with control. The lowest amount of feed consumption was recorded for 0.6% yeast-treatment group. On the other hand, each of egg production, egg weight and feed conversion were not significantly influenced. The means of eggshell (weight, thickness, and breaking strength) for hens supplemented with 0.6% yeast were significantly improved compared with the other yeast-treated and control groups. Dietary yeast supplementation significantly reduced egg yolk and liver tissues cholesterol content comparing with control group. However, the lowest (P≤0.05) values were recorded for hens supplemented with yeast at 0.6%. Similarly, serum total lipids, and cholesterol as well as triglycerides levels were significantly lowered in yeasttreated groups than the control group. From the previous results, it could be recommended to use 0.6 % yeast in laying hen diets especially at late age to improve eggshell quality and produce low-cholesterol eggs.

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of some different chemical egg disinfectants against bacteria and to study its effect on embryonic mortality, hatchability and some blood biochemicals parameters. A total of 525 hatching eggs (38-wk-old Golden Montazah) were randomly distributed to seven equal groups. The first group was disinfected by formaldehyde. The second, third and fourth groups were sprayed by 3, 5 and 7% Hydrogen peroxide. While, the fifth, sixth and seventh groups were sprayed by 0.1, 0.5 and 0.7% TH4 (DDAG). Total bacterial counts on hatching eggshell surface and chicks' caeca salmonella counts, embryonic mortality, hatching percentage, hatched chicks' weight, and relative weights of liver and spleen were measured. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, uric acid, creatinine, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and triiodothyronine concentrations were determined. Results indicated that the total number of bacterial counts were significantly higher at pre-disinfection than post-disinfection. The lowest number of bacteria detected was that of the 7% of Hydrogen peroxide and 0.7% TH4 groups. Total embryonic mortality was significantly lower, while, hatchability percentage was higher in the formaldehyde group than the other disinfectants groups. Also, hatchability traits were significantly better while, embryonic mortality were significantly lower in the 5% Hydrogen peroxide group. In addition, protein profiles, glucose, and triiodothyronine concentrations were significantly lowered, while, kidney and liver functions were significantly higher in the formaldehyde group. While, its values improved in the 5% Hydrogen peroxide group. In conclusion, our results recommended using 5% Hydrogen peroxide as egg disinfectants against bacteria due to its effectiveness and ease of application