No abstract

Probiotics, toxin binders, and plant extracts improve health and immunity of broiler chickens exposed to aflatoxin. The effects of licorice extract ( LE ), Protexin probiotic, toxin binder (Agrabound), and poultry litter biochar ( PLB ) in experimental aflatoxicosis were evaluated. In a completely randomized design, 504 broiler chickens were allotted to 7 treatments and 6 replicates with 12 broiler chickens in each. The experimental groups were as follows: T1) basal diet ( B ) without any feed additive or aflatoxin B 1 ( AFB 1 ); T2) B + 0.5 mg AFB 1 /kg; T3) T2 + 3 g LE/kg; T4) T2 + 6 g LE/kg; T5) T2 + 0.5 g Protexin/kg; T6) T2 + 1 g toxin binder/kg, and T7) T2 + 5 g/kg PLB. Broiler chickens fed AFB diet (T2) had lower body weight gain at the end of grower period and higher feed conversion ratio at the end of the finisher period, whereas inclusion of LE, probiotic, toxin binder, or PLB restores body weight of broiler chickens to that of the control group. Aflatoxicosis decreased total protein, TG, albumin, Ca, and P concentrations and greater uric acid concentration in broiler chickens as compared with the control group ( P < 0.05). As compared with the T2 group, inclusion of 3 mg LE/kg increased serum total protein; inclusion of 3 mg LE/kg, probiotic, and toxin binder increased TG; inclusion of 3 and 6 mg LE/kg, probiotic, and PLB increased serum albumin; and the whole additive decreased serum uric acid of broiler chickens comparing with the control group. Lymphocyte percentage, avian influenza antibody titer, thymus relative weight, and immune response to phytohemagglutinin were decreased in the T2 group, whereas heterophil percentage and heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were increased ( P < 0.05). Aflatoxicosis increased breast meat malondialdehyde concentration, liver enzymes activities, and number of fat vacuoles ( P < 0.05). As compared with the T2 group, all of the additives lowered alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine transaminase activities, breast meat malondialdehyde concentration, and liver pathological damages ( P < 0.05). It can be concluded that all of the additives are capable to decrease the negative impact of AFB 1 on broiler chickens' performance, blood indices, and immunity.

This research was conducted to investigate the effects of single or combined use of probiotic (Primalac), prebiotic (Fermacto) and butyric acid glycerides (Baby C4) compared to salinomycin on resistance against coccidiosis in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria. One day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were divided into 9 cages with 15 birds per each. Birds of different treatments received a regular corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with feed additives; none of them in negative control (C − ), salinomycin in positive control (C ＋ ), probiotic in PRO group, prebiotic in PRE group, butyric acid glycerides in BAG group, probiotic＋prebiotic in PRO＋PRE group, probiotic＋ butyric acid glycerides in PRO＋BAG group, prebiotic＋butyric acid glycerides in PRE＋BAG group, and probiotic ＋prebiotic＋butyric acid glycerides in PRO＋PRE＋BAG group. At 28 d of age, 8 birds from each treatment were removed and kept separately in other cages (2 birds/cage) to challenge with Eimeria. These separated chicks were orally challenged with 1×10 5 E. acervulina and 9×10 4 E. tenella. Positive effect (P＜0.05) was observed in the duodenal and cecal lesion scores in any of the supplemented groups when compared to that of the C − . There was no significant difference between all supplemented groups and C ＋ for cecal lesion score. PRO, PRE＋BAG, PRO＋ PRE, PRO＋BAG and PRO＋PRE＋BAG reduced (P＜0.05) oocyst shedding in birds challenged with Eimeria oocysts compared to the C − , and there was no significant difference between PRO＋PRE, PRO＋BAG, PRO＋PRE ＋BAG and C ＋ . These results demonstrate that prebiotic, butyric acid glycerides and especially probiotic or its combination with prebiotic or butyric acid glycerides enhance the resistance of birds and partially protects against coccidiosis. Therefore, it seems some of these supplements, in comparison to salinomycin, can diminish partially the adverse effects of coccidiosis.

A 42-day trial was conducted to compare the effects of the following seven experimental diets, which varied in black seed, cumin seed, probiotic or prebiotic concentrations, on the broiler chicks: control (no additives), diet BS1 (4 g/kg black seed), diet BS2 (8 g/kg black seed), diet CS1 (4 g/kg cumin seed), diet CS2 (8 g/kg cumin seed), diet Pro (1 g/kg probiotic Primalac(®)) and diet Pre (2 g/kg prebiotic Fermacto(®)). A total of 420 1-day-old male broiler chicks, initially weighing an average of 43 g, were distributed into 28 floor pens at a stocking density of 15 birds per pen. At 28 day of age, the body weight in the birds fed diets BS2, CS2 and Pro was significantly higher than in the control group, but final body weight was not affected. Additionally, the birds fed diets BS2, Pro and Pre exhibited better feed conversion ratio than control birds from 0 to 42 day of age. Diets BS2, CS2 and Pro also statistically increased the relative weight of thymus and bursa of Fabricius, whereas only diet Pro decreased the abdominal fat percentage compared with control diet. Regarding the haematological parameters, feeding diet BS2 yielded a significant increase in red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit percentage compared with control diet. Serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the birds fed diets BS2, Pro and Pre were also significantly lower than in the birds fed the control diet. Without exception, no diets affected feed intake, internal organs weights, carcass characteristics, antibody titres against Newcastle and influenza viruses and leucocyte subsets. In general, current study showed promising results regarding the use of spice additives as growth and health promoters, especially at higher levels of their incorporation in the diets, which were comparable to the probiotic- or prebiotic-containing diets.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Aloe vera (AV) powder and synbiotic as growth promoter agents on performance, gut morphology, immune responses, hematology and serum biochemistry in broilers. A total of 240-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to six treatments with four replicates. Birds were offered either a corn-soybean meal basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg virginiamycin (VM), 1 g/kg synbiotic (Syn), 2.5 g/kg AV (AV1), 5.0 g/kg AV (AV2) or 7.5 g/kg AV (AV3). Chickens fed any of the diets, except diet AV1, exhibited better feed conversion ratios at the 14-28 day period and higher average daily gain and duodenal villus height/crypt depth ratio at 42 days than those fed the control diet. Synbiotic supplementation caused a marked increase in the serum antibody titer against infectious bursal disease and infectious bronchitis vaccines. Feeding diet AV3 significantly increased red blood cell count and hemoglobin concentration, and decreased serum triglyceride level compared to the control group. The results suggested that dietary inclusion of 5 and 7.5 g/kg AV, similar with synbiotic supplementation, can be applied as effective alternatives to in-feed antibiotics for broiler diets.