Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by different strains of fungi, such as aspergillus, fusarium, and penicillium that can contaminate feed ingredients or the entire feed of poultry and animals. Mycotoxins can cause many serious complications to both humans and animals due to carcinogenic, mutagenic, and immunosuppressive disorders. Therefore, the present experiment aims to investigate the effect of broiler chickens’ diets supplemented with different levels of nanosilica (NS) as an adsorbent agent of mycotoxins on their growth performance and hepatic histopathology. Detectable levels of toxins were present in the feed before feeding, and all levels of mycotoxins were above the normal limit. A total of 180 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chickens were allocated randomly to six treatment groups with three replicates per group, including ten chickens per replicate. The experiment lasted for five weeks, and dietary treatments included control diet and diets with four levels of nanosilica as 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15%, and 0.20% as well as 0.50% bentonite (fixfin® Dry) diet. Bodyweight, body weight gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were measured weekly. At the end of the fifth week, six chickens per treatment were sacrificed to investigate the effects of NS and bentonite on carcass characteristics and hepatic histopathology. The results showed that providing broiler chickens’ diets with an adsorbent agent, such as NS or bentonite, can reduce the side effects of mycotoxins and enhance their growth performance. The best record was achieved with NS at 0.20%, compared with the control group and other dietary treatment groups. Accordingly, 0.20% of NS could be used in broiler chickens’ diets to minimize the harmful effects of mycotoxins.

This study was planned to evaluate varying dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels effects on the productive performance of Sudani ducklings during the growth period. A total of 240 unsexed ducklings, 7 days-old were split into four empirical groups, each of three replicates (20 ducklings each). The ducklings in the 1 st up to the 4 th group fed diet contained Ca plus P levels as follows 0.70% Ca+0.35% P (T1), 0.85% Ca+0.40% P (T2, as a control), 1.0% Ca+0.45% P (T3) and 1.15% Ca+0.50% P (T4), respectively during the starter and grower periods. Ducklings in T4 group recorded a significant improvement of live body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio compared to the ducklings in T1 group at 7-91 days-old period. Both eviscerated carcass and total edible parts (%) were ameliorated (P>0.05) by increasing levels of Ca and P. All hematological parameters not significantly affected except for hemoglobin, which decreased by increasing levels of Ca and P. Serum Ca, P, vitamin D and alkaline phosphatase content for ducklings were not differed by varying Ca and P levels. Duckling's tibia calcium content significantly augmented by mounting Ca and P levels; however, their content from P not affected. From the obtained results, it could be concluded that the necessity to use the diet containing 1:1.15 Ca with 0.45: 0.50 P (%) to achieve the best growth characteristics and the ratio of edible parts, as well as tibia Ca content for Sudani ducklings during the growing period.

study was conducted to evaluate effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) inclusion in Japanese quail rations during lying period on egg laying performance, egg quality parameters, fertility, and hatchability. A total number of 120 females and 60 males Japanese quail 56 day old were distributed randomly into four treatment groups, each of 3 replicates of 10 females and 5 males. Dietary treatments were designed to contain 0.0 (control), 0.2, 0.4and 0.6% Moringa oleifera leaf meal as growth promoters in Japanese quail diets. Data on feed consumption (FC), hen-day egg production, egg weight, and egg mass as well as mortality were recorded daily. Egg quality parameters were measured at the last week (20wks). Fertility and hatchability of eggs, as well as mortality of birds and embryonic mortality of fertile eggs during the incubation period were recorded. The obtained results can be summarized as follows: Diet supplemented with 0.4% followed by 0.2% MOLM recorded higher egg production values but 0.4, 0.6% recorded higher average egg weight during different periods. Most external and internal egg quality parameters, especially yolk color, were improved when the diet contained MOLM. Supplementation of MOLM at 0.4% and 0.6% levels had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher WBCs, RBC, Hb and Ht than control. Increasing MOLM level up to 0.6% presented significantly (P ≤ 0.05) the highest total plasma protein and globulin. Total lipid, cholesterol and LDL decreased significantly and HDL increased significantly by MOLM supplementation. Total antioxidant capacity was significant higher at 0.6 and 0.4% MOLM. Diet supplemented with all levels of MOLM presented significantly (P ≤ 0.05) excellent fertility, but level 0.4% improved hatchability per total egg, while level 0.6% improved hatchability per fertile egg. In conclusion, MOLM up to 0.6% of supplementation to the diet had better positive effects on egg production, egg quality parameters, eggs fertility, and hatchability of Japanese quail.

total number of 198 local Sinai birds (180 ♀ and 18 ♂) 14-weeks-old were weighed and divided into six dietary treatments to determine the nutritional requirements of crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) on growth performance and nutrients digestibility during the growing period (13-18 weeks of age) and subsequent effect during laying period from 23 to 32 weeks of age. The dietary levels of CP and ME included 3x2 factorial design (13, 14 and 15 CP, each contained 2650 and 2700 ME). The results obtained indicated that BW at the end of grower period increased significantly with the diet contained 15% CP+2700 Kcal/Kg diet followed by those fed diet contained 14% CP + 2650 Kcal/Kg diet as compared to the other dietary groups. The best value of feed conversion ratio was observed with the diet contained 15% CP + 2700 Kcal/Kg diet followed by the diet with 14% CP + 2650 Kcal/ Kg diet. In respect of sexual maturity (SM) the pullets fed diet contained 14% CP + 2650 Kcal/ Kg diet reached to SM at earlier age (139 days). the values of crude fiber digestibility was significantly increased in the pullets fed diet contained 14% + 2650 kcal/Kg diet compared to those fed the diet with 15% CP+2650 Kcal/Kg diet. The birds fed previous grower diet contained 15% CP + 2700 Kcal/Kg diet ME recorded significantly the highest value of feed intake compared to the other dietary treatments except for the diet with 14% CP+2650 Kcal/Kg diet ME and 14% CP+ 2700Kcal/ Kg diet ME. Subsequent significant effect was observed on feed conversion ratio where there was significantly improved due to the grower diet contained 14% CP + 2650 Kcal/Kg diet ME compared to the other treatments except for the grower diet included CP 15% +2700 Kcal/Kg diet. The most remarkable was observed with the hens fed previous grower diet contained 14 CP% + ME 2650 Kcal/Kg diet where there was a significant increase in economic efficiency compared to the other dietary treatments except for those fed grower diet with CP 15% + ME 2700 Kcal/Kg diet. The results in the current study illustrated that the Sinai birds during the growing period (13-18 weeks of age) require 14%dietary crude protein and 2650 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy diet to optimal performance during the growing and laying periods.

his study was carried out to investigate the effects of feeding some organic acids mixtures on broilers. Four organic acids (OAs): formic (FA) at 0.50%, acetic (AC) at 0.25%, citric (CA) at 2% and butyric (BA) at 0.2% were used as mixtures. A total number of 210 one day old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into 7 treatment groups, each in three replicates of 10 chicks per replicate. The first group fed the basal diet without supplementation and served as control (T1). While, the other groups received the basal diet supplemented with the tested organic acids mixtures as follow: T2 (0.5% FA+0.25% AC), T3 (0.5%FA+2%CA), T4 (0.5% FA +0.2% BA), T5 (0.25 %AC+ 2% CA), T6 (0.25% AC+0.2%BA) and T7 (2%CA+0.2%BA). The experiment lasted up to 42 day of age. Performance, pH of feed and some GI-tract segents, cecal bacteria count, blood metabolites, acceptability and nutrients digestibility were measured. Results indicated that: 1) Most of OAs mixtures improved performance of broiler chicks measured as feed conversion ratio, protein utilization efficiency and European Production Efficiency Index (EPEI) compared with the control group. 2) Dietary OAs mixtures improved some nutrients digestibility of the experimental diets compared with the control group. 3) Blood plasma content of calcium, phosphorus, total protein and globulin were significantly increased by feeding OAs mixtures compared with the control group. 4) Relative weights of lymphoid organs (spleen and bursa of fabrics) of chicks fed OAs mixtures were mostly higher than the control. 5) The pH values were significantly reduced in crop and gizzard of the chicks fed OAs mixtures compared to chicks fed the control. 6) Most of OAs mixtures significantly increased lactobacillus count and significantly lowered the population of the anaerobic and E. coli count of ceca. In conclusion, 0.5%FA, 0.25%AC, 0.2%BA and 2%CA as mixtures may improve performance and health of broiler chickens.