This study was to investigate the effect of dietary protein levels and supplementation with two cold‐pressed oils on the performance, immunity and antioxidant indices of growing Japanese quails. A 3 × 4 factorial experiment, using 3 dietary crude protein (CP) levels (22%, 24% and 26%) and 4 supplemental herbal oils levels: control without additives, 250 mg marjoram (Mar), 250 mg thyme (Thy) and 125 mg Mar + 125 mg Thy per kg diet. A total of 720 unsexed, 7‐day‐old quail chicks were randomly distributed into twelve treatment groups (4 replicates per group of 15 chicks in each). The live body weight (LBW) on 42 days and body weight gain (BWG) from 7 to 42 days were significantly improved (p < 0.01 and 0.05) in chicks fed 24% or 26% CP compared with those of the 22% CP group. The groups fed diets supplemented with Mar or in combination with Thy oil exhibited significantly better LBW, BWG and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the control at all periods except BWG from 21 to 42 days and FCR from 7 to 21 days were not significant. Feed intake was gradually decreased with increasing dietary CP level or adding herbal oils during the periods 21–42 and 7–42 days of age. Plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, total lipids and malondialdehyde were decreased by cold‐pressed oils supplementation, but the activity of reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase was increased (p < 0.01) compared with the control. In conclusion, quails fed a diet containing 24% or 26% CP or diets supplemented with Mar or Thy oils or both exhibited improvement in the performance, lipid profile, immunity and antioxidant capacity without any detrimental impacts on the other studied parameters.

The main objective of this work was to investigate the impact of dietary chromium supplementation on growth indices, carcass yield, and some hematological and biochemical blood parameters of growing Japanese quails subjected to heat stress. A total of 360 unsexed 2-week-old Japanese quail chicks were used in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement that had two ambient temperatures (23 ± 2 and 33 ± 2 °C) and three dietary chromium (0.00, 500, and 1000 μg Cr/kg diet as chromium picolinate). For induction of heat stress, the room temperature was set at 33 ± 2 °C from 2 to 6 weeks of age. Results showed that body weight, body weight gain, and feed intake were decreased for birds subjected to heat stress condition during 2 to 4 and 2 to 6 weeks of age. Feed conversion was not significantly (P> 0.05) affected by high ambient temperature throughout the experiment. Carcass, dressing, liver, and heart percentages were not influenced by the ambient temperature or dietary chromium or their combinations. Significant temperature × chromium combinations were observed for hemoglobin value (P = 0.025) and packed cell volume (P = 0.001). Cholesterol and glucose in plasma were increased (P = 0.004 or 0.022) in quails subjected to heat stress condition. Plasma measurements of total proteins, albumin, globulin, lipids, glucose, and A/G ratio of quail chicks were not influenced (P > 0.05) by chromium, while cholesterol was increased with increasing chromium level (P = 0.033). High ambient temperature or dietary chromium levels or their interactions did not (P > 0.05) affect plasma levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), or T3/T4 ratio of growing quails. From these observations, it can be concluded that dietary chromium supplementation of growing Japanese quail subjected to heat stress condition could beneficially affect growth performance and carcasses, as well as modulate the hematological and biochemical blood parameters, probably through modulating stress status.

The present study aimed to investigate the consequences of dietary levels of crude protein (CP) and total sulfur amino acids (TSAA, Met+Cys) on productive performance, egg quality and egg components for Lohmann Brown laying hens through 18-34 weeks of age. A 2×3 factorial design experiment was conducted using two levels of CP (16 and 18 %) and three levels of Met+ Cys (0.67, 0.72 and 0.77 %). A total of 144 Lohmann Brown laying hens at 18 weeks of age were randomly divided into 6 treatment groups. The best values of fi nal body weight and body weight change were recorded by the hens fed 18 % CP diet. Increasing dietary CP up to 18 % accompanied with the best (P> 0.01) feed conversion, egg weight and egg mass. The combination between low-CP diet (16 %) and 0.72 % Met+ Cys gave the best percentage of egg production. The majority of egg quality traits were not signifi cantly altered by dietary treatments. The interaction between CP and Met+Cys levels had a statistical (P>0.01) impact on egg content of moisture and total solids only. It could be concluded that the best production criteria could be obtained by using 0.72% Met+Cys. Moreover, dietary level of 16 or 18 % CP with 0.72% Met+Cys is recommended for feeding Lohmann hens.

The current investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of dried brewers' grains (DBG) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, nutrient digestibility, blood biochemical constituents and antioxidant indices of broiler chickens. A total of 300 unsexed one-week-old Hubbard chicks were randomly allotted to five treatment groups. The dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet as the control and DBG groups (3%, 6%, 9% and 12%, respectively). The best feed conversion ratio (FCR) was found in the group of birds fed a diet containing 9% DBG, compared the other groups. Dressing and abdominal fat percentages decreased significantly but gradually with the elevated DBG level in the diets from 6% to 12%. The inclusion of DBG in broiler diets resulted in significant positive effects on all of the sensory evaluation indicators except appearance and tenderness. Broilers fed a diet containing 3% DBG had significant higher of digestion coefficients for crude protein than those fed on the other experimental diets. Based on growth performance and health status, 3% or 9% DBG may be the optimum percentages for inclusion in the diets of poultry until six weeks old. In addition, DBG exerted several health benefits in meat, which would be reflected positively on human health.

This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of both TIM-1 rs41297579 G>A (-1454) and TIM-4 rs7700944 polymorphisms on susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a cohort of Egyptian population and to evaluate for the first time their relation to activity, severity, disease-related disability and erosion. TIM-1 rs41297579 G>A (-1454) and TIM-4 rs7700944 gene polymorphisms were typed by RFLP for 128 patients with RA and 125 healthy controls. The A allele, A-containing genotypes (GA and AA) of the TIM-4 and GA haplotype were present with significant higher frequency in patients with RA than healthy controls (Pc < 0.001). These findings suggest that the A allele, A-containing genotypes (GA and AA) and GA haplotype may be a susceptibility risk factor for RA [OR = 5.83 (3.6-9.4), OR = 9.41 (5.0-17.6) and OR = 4.21 (1.07-19.2), respectively]. No associations were found between TIM genotypes and disease activity, severity or presence of erosion. However, the RA patients with GA genotype of TIM-4 have higher grade of rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity (P = 0.018), and have worse disease-related disability (P = 0.007) and worse pain (0.025). TIM-4 rs7700944 and not TIM-1 rs41297579 G>A (-1454) is associated with RA in the present cohort of Egyptian and may be a risk factor for development of RA in Egyptian. Both SNPs have no effect on disease activity, severity or erosion. However, TIM-4 GA genotype is associated with higher grade of RF positivity and worse disease-related disability and pain.

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the present investigation aimed to study the effect of the partial replacement of distiller's dried grains with solubles (ddgs) instead of soybean meal (sbm) with or without vitamin e supplementation in laying hen diet on egg quality criteria, egg analysis, blood chemistry and productive performance traits. a 4×2 factorial design experiment was carried out involving four substitution levels of ddgs (0, 25, 50 and 75%) and two levels of vitamin e (0 and 250 mg /kg diet) through 22-42 weeks of age. No significant differences were noticed between the control and 25 or 50% ddgs substitution in the percentage of eggs produced and egg output. the fewest number of produced eggs and the lightest egg output were observed in 75% ddgs group. yolk index, shell percentage, and haugh unit scores were affected (p>0.01) by ddgs levels. albumin percentage showed increase (p>0.01) in vitamin e treated groups. the impact of the combination of ddgs and vitamin E was significant (P>0.01) on all egg quality traits excepting shell percentage. The 75% ddgs diet gave the highest values of egg nutrients. vitamin e had a positive effect on egg crude protein, ether extract, and nitrogen free extract which increased by 10.39, 10.28 and 7.85%, respectively. The combination of vitamin E addition and DDGS levels was highly significant (p>0.01) on all egg nutrients. hens fed the 50% ddgs diet had more concentrations of lipids profile in their blood than those fed control and other DDGS diets. All serum lipid profile inclined to increase due to vitamin e supplementation. the interaction between ddgs and vitamin e had significant (P>0.05 or 0.01) influence on all serum metabolites excepting calcium. It could be concluded that vitamin e could enhance nutrient content of eggs and preserve blood lipids from lipid peroxidation. the interaction between 75% ddgs replaced sbm with 200 mg vitamin e/kg diet accomplished the best results regarding nutrient content of eggs.

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