This research evaluate the influence of different oil sources, namely fish oil (FO), coconut oil (CocO), canola oil (CanO), or a mixture of the three oils (MTO)-included at 1.5% in broiler diets-compared to a no oil-supplemented diet. Hence, 250 unsexed, 1-day-old Cobb chicks were weighed and randomly allocated into five dietary treatment groups of 50 chicks each and five replicates per group. Oil-supplemented diets significantly increased the growth, improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and decreased the abdominal fat percentage compared to the control diet. Amylase was significantly elevated due to feeding the FO-or CocO-supplemented-diet compared to the control diet, whereas lipase increased due to offering CocO-and CanO-enriched diet; chymotrypsin increased due to different oil sources. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased markedly due to offering an oil-supplemented diet, but low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the LDL-C:HDL-C ratio, and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased. Blood plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM significantly increased due to feeding CocO, CanO, or MTO compared to the control group, whereas FO increased IgG only. FO-and CanO-containing diets resulted in the highest increase in α2-globulin and γ-globulin. The antibody titer to avian influenza (HIAI) and Newcastle disease (HIND) were significantly elevated due to CocO supplementation compared to the control group. The bursa follicle length and width and thymus cortex depth were increased considerably due to the FO-supplemented diet compared to the control, but the follicle length:width ratio decreased. The villus height:depth ratio was significantly elevated due to both the CanO and MTO diets. The antioxidant status improved considerably due to the addition of CocO and CanO. Both CanO and MTO similarly increased plasma T3, T4, and the T3:T4 ratio. In conclusion, oil supplementations at 1.5% enhanced growth performance and immune status, improved the blood lipid profile and antioxidants status, and the effect of the oil sources depends on the criteria of response.

Productive traits and immunity in laying hens decrease sharply during the late phase of laying due to aging, which negatively affects the metabolism and hormonal status of the animals. The influence of Ca levels (3.5, 4.0, and 4.5%) and/or cholecalciferol [Vitamin D 3 (VD 3 )] supplementation (800-, 1,000-, and 1,200-IU/kg diet or as total of 3,800, 4,000, and 4,200 IC VD 3 ) on performance, egg quality, blood biochemistry, and immunity of brown egg layers was investigated. Three hundred and sixty H&N Brown egg layers (60 weeks old) were allocated at random into nine nutritional treatments of five replications (cages) of eight hens each. The control diet in this experiment contained a 3.5% Ca level with 800 IU VD 3 . The addition of VD 3 at 1,000 and 1,200 IU to 3.5 and 4% Ca diets significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) increased the rate of laying, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control diet on 3.5% and 800 U of VD 3 . Besides this, the addition of VD 3 at 800 and 1,200 IU to 3.5% Ca level diets enhanced the Haugh unit score. Similar results were observed in eggshell quality measurements and tibia ash. Increasing the Ca concentration from 3.5 to 4 and 4.5% and increasing VD 3 levels from 800 to 1,000 or 1,200 IU significantly and similarly increased serum total protein and globulin. In addition, VD 3 at 1,000 IU increased serum albumin, compared to 800 IU. Increasing Ca level increased IgA, and 4 and 4.5% Ca levels similarly increased IgG and α-2 globulin compared to the 3.5% Ca diet. VD 3 addition at 1,200 IU to the 4% Ca diet significantly increased γ-globulin compared to 1,000 IU, but decreased β-globulin. Increasing the Ca level to 4% significantly reduced serum triglycerides, and the very low-density lipoprotein and the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein ratio were both decreased with 4 and 4.5% Ca level diets. Increasing the Ca level caused a stepwise increase in catalase, which was markedly increased with VD 3 supplementation at 1,200 IU. Plasma estrogen was increased considerably with VD 3 supplementation at 3.5% Ca, but parathyroid hormone levels were not affected. In conclusion, increasing Ca levels in the diet of laying hens to 4% during the late production phase could be a useful tool to improve laying performance, eggshell quality, Haugh unit score, and physiological and immunological status. Besides, VD 3 at a 1,000 IU/kg diet to 3.5% Ca improved performance of hens fed 3.5% Ca, showing that the potential impact of VD 3 depends on Ca concentrations.

In this experiment, fifty four, 6-week-old weaned New Zealand White rabbits were used to investigate the impact of dietary supplementation with nano-selenium or glutamine on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing rabbits fed diets containing two crude protein levels. A factorial experiment (2x3), being two levels of dietary crude protein (16 and 14 %) without or with organic nano-Se (0.1 mg/kg feed) and glutamine (10 g/kg feed) were performed. Rabbits were randomly distributed into 6 equal experimental groups; each contained three equal replications. Each replicate group was housed in a separate cage and fed their respective experimental diets from 6 to 15 weeks of age. Feed and water were offered ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Apart from the effect of feed supplements, rabbits fed the normal crude protein level (16%) achieved significantly better growth performance (final live body weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio) while carcass traits were not affected compared with those of rabbits fed the low crude protein level. But dietary supplements (nano-Se or glutamine) did not significantly affect criteria of growth performance or dressing-out percentage of rabbits. Dietary protein by added supplements interaction did not significantly affect traits, investigated in the present study, the whole experimental period. Based on the present results, it can concluded that the crude protein level (14%) is inadequate for attaining normal growth of post-weaning New Zealand White rabbits. However, dietary supplementation with nano-selenium or glutamine proved to be ineffective.

his study was carried out to evaluate the impacts of inclusion of two plant proteins (soybean meal or rocket meal) in the starter and growing -finishing diets fed with / without nano-chitosan for 500 one-day old broiler chicks on growth performance and serum parameters as well as expression patterns of target genes (PPARα,PPARγ and IGF-1) in liver tissue. A total of 220 chicks were randomly distributed into four treatment (five replications, each), and housed in a floor pen under hygienic conditions. The results indicated that birds fed 7.5% rocket seed meal (RSM) exhibited the best means of FBW, BWG and FCR. While, least feed intake with higher FBW and BWG was found in nano-chitosan fed birds. RSM fed chicks had a significant decrease in serum levels of TG, LDL, total lipids, AST and ALT with insignificant changes in serum albumin, total Cholesterol and HDL compared with the control group. Furthermore, significant increases in serum levels of IgG, IgM, IgA, CAT, TAC, SOD, T3, T4 and FSH were found in RSM fed birds as compared to the control group. Insignificant differences were noted in the fold changes of gene expression among the different experimental groups of chicks with regard toIGF-I and PPARα genes, but the RSM-diet insignificantly increased in the transcript level of the IGF-I gene and improved the IGF-1 gene expression. Our findings declared that RSM can be used in chicks diet up to 7.5 % singly or in combination with nano-chitosan without any adverse effect on performance, blood parameters and related gene expression in broiler chicks.

ne hundred and eight, 6 weeks of age weaning New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were used in this study to investigate the impact of feeding three levels of yellow corn diets without or with enzymes or prebiotics or both. Rabbits were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design in a 3×4 factorial arrangements, with the variables being supplementation or not with enzymes (500 g / ton feed) or prebiotics (500 g / ton feed) or both (500 g enzymes +500 g prebiotics) / ton feed. The experimental groups of rabbits were fed their respective experimental rations in pelleted form. Three basal rations were used in this study; the first containing 5% corn (R1), the second one contained 10% corn (R5) and the third one contained 15% corn (R9). The composition and calculated analysis of the basal diets were done according to NRC (1977). The basal ration (R1) was supplemented with enzymes or prebiotics or both for R2, R3 and R4, respectively. While the basal ration (R5) was supplemented with enzymes or prebiotics or both for R6, R7 and R8, respectively, and the basal ration (R9) was supplemented with enzymes or prebiotics or both for R10, R11 and R12, respectively. Apart from the effect of feed rations which were contained 5% or 15% corn, were significantly (P<0.05) higher live body weight (LBW) of rabbits 7 weeks of age than feeding on ration was contained 10% corn, but without significant effect on LBW at different ages of the experimental period, from 8 to 15 weeks of age. Regardless of the effect of dietary corn level, addition of enzymes or prebiotics or both had no significant effect (P>0.05) on live body weight of rabbits at different ages of the experimental period, from 6 to 15 weeks of age. Apart from the effect of corn levels and dietary supplements had no significant effect (P< 0.05) on daily feed intake (DFI) of rabbits during the period from 6 to 15 weeks. The daily feed intake (DFI) of rabbits fed rations contained 5%, 10% and 15% corn were 89.88, 89.03 and 89.62 g / d, respectively. The interaction between dietary corn levels and added supplements on feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the whole experimental period (from 6-15 weeks) showed that, the FCR of the growing rabbits were better (P<0.05) with rations R8, R9 and R11 (3.93, 4.07 and 4.04 g/d, respectively). The effect of dietary interaction, showed that addition of enzymes with diet containing 5% corn or diet containing 10% corn without supplements lead to a significant (p<0.05) increased in weight of viscera. The economic efficiency (%) showed that feeding growing rabbits on ration contained 10% corn and supplemented with enzymes plus prebiotics (R8) or feeding diet contained 15% corn without supplements (R9), improved of feed efficiency (102.8 and 102.4 %, respectively).

This study evaluated the effect of feed withdrawal without/ with feed additive (Progut®) on broiler chickens’ performance, carcass traits and some blood parameters, in a factorial arrangement (4 feed restriction×2 levels of feed additive). Three hundred twenty-one-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were distributed into 8 treatments with four replicates. In the first week all chicks fed starter basal diet, however during the second week, broiler chicks were exposed to feed restriction by feed withdrawal time (0, 6, 9, 12 hours/day). Broiler chicks exposed to feed withdrawal had low body weight gain and feed consumption at 2 weeks of age. Feed withdrawal had no effect on final weight, body weight change, total feed intake, total feed conversion, economic efficiency, carcass traits and serum blood composition of 42-day-old-broiler chicks. Feed withdrawal and feed additive in broiler diets decreased total microflora counts and E coil and enhanced lacto Bacillus, amylase and chemo trypsin in broiler guts. Feed additive (Progut®) decreased total feed consumption, improved total feed conversion and increased economic efficiency of broilers. Feed additive increased the level of β globulin and decreased the level of α globulin in serum blood of broiler chicks. The obtained results suggested that feed withdrawal during the second week of age had not effect on broiler performance, carcass traits and serum blood characteristics and improved lacto Bacillus, amylase and chemo trypsin. Feed additive (Progut®) in broiler diets improved growth performance and decreased total bacteria counts, E coli and increased lacto bacillus counts in broiler guts.