Plant bioactive compounds are currently viewed as possible feed additives in terms of methane mitigation and improvement of ruminal fermentation. A range of analyses, including the botanical characterisation, chemical composition and in vitro efficiency, have to be conducted before testing the compounds in vivo. Therefore, the aims of this study were (1) to identify the main bioactive components of black seed (Nigella sativa) oil (BO) and of the root powder of Ferula elaeochytris (FE), and (2) to investigate their effects on ruminal fermentation in vitro, when supplemented in different dosages to a diet (1 : 1, forage : concentrate), using the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec). Main compounds of BO were thymoquinone and p-cymene and α-pinene in FE. Supplementation of the diet with BO and FE did not affect concentration of volatile fatty acids but ammonia concentrations decreased with both supplements (P < 0.001). No effects of supplements on protozoal counts were detected but in vitro disappearance of DM and organic matter tended to increase with 50 mg/L FE (P < 0.1), compared with the control.

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Camelina sativa, belonging to the Brassicaceae family, has been grown since 4000 B.C. as an oilseed crop that is more drought- and cold-resistant. Increased demand for its oil, meal, and other derivatives has increased researchers’ interest in this crop. Its anti-nutritional factors can be reduced by solvent, enzyme and heat treatments, and genetic engineering. Inclusion of camelina by-products increases branched-chain volatile fatty acids, decreases neutral detergent fiber digestibility, has no effect on acid detergent fiber digestibility, and lowers acetate levels in dairy cows. Feeding camelina meal reduces ruminal methane, an environmental benefit of using camelina by-products in ruminant diets. The addition of camelina to dairy cow diets decreases ruminal cellulolytic bacteria and bio-hydrogenation. This reduced bio-hydrogenation results in an increase in desirable fatty acids and a decrease in saturated fatty acids in milk obtained from cows fed diets with camelina seeds or its by-products. Studies suggest that by-products of C. sativa can be used safely in dairy cows at appropriate inclusion levels. However, suppression in fat milk percentage and an increase in trans fatty acid isomers should be considered when increasing the inclusion rate of camelina by-products, due to health concerns.

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SummaryThis experiment was conducted to determine the effects of boric acid (BA) (60 mg/kg of feed) and plant extract mixture (Fitococci, F) (0.75 g/kg of feed), individually or in combination, on egg production, egg quality parameters and blood cholesterol concentration of laying hens in 23 wk of age. After wk 7 of the trial the level of boric acid in feeds were increased to 180 mg/kg. The feeding period lasted 14 wk. One hundred ninety-two pullets (Hyline) were randomly divided into control and 3 treatment groups each containing 48 birds and 6 replicates (each with 8 birds). At the end of the experiment there were no significant effects of dietary boric acid and plant extract mixture inclusion on feed efficiency, egg weights and egg production, egg quality parameters (shell thickness, breaking strength, and shape index) compared with control. But feed intake of hens which were supplemented with plant extract mixture and boric acid were increased (P<0.01). It was also determined that there were no effects of treatments on blood cholesterol levels. As a result, since hens which were fed with basal diet plus plant extract mixture showed better feed conversion ratio at 9-10 wks, this combination of feed additives can be added to diets without any adverse effect on laying hens. But inclusion of 60 mg/kg boric acid is considered better than 180 mg/kg with regard to feed efficiency in laying hens. Keywords: Boron, plant extract mixture, Laying hen, Egg production, Egg quality, Cholesterolemia Yumurtacı Tavuk Rasyonlarına İlave Edilen Borik Asit ve/veya Bitki Ekstraktı Karışımının Yumurta Verimi ve Yumurta Kalitesi ile Kan Kolesterolü Üzerine Etkileri ÖzetBu deneme borik asit (BA) (60 mg/kg yem) ve bitki ekstraktı karışımının (Fitococci, F) (0.75 g/kg yem) tek başlarına ya da birlikte kullanıldıkları zaman 23 haftalık yumurta tavuklarında yumurta verimi, yumurta kalite parametreleri ve kan kolesterol düzeylerine etkisini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Denemenin 7. haftasının ardından yemlerdeki borik asit düzeyleri 180 mg/ kg'a yükseltilmiştir. Yemleme dönemi 14 hafta sürmüştür. 192 adet yarka (Hyline) rastgele kontrol ve 3 deneme grubuna ayrılmış olup bu grupların her biri 6 tekrarlı 48 hayvandan oluşmaktadır (her bir tekrar 8 hayvandan oluşmaktadır). Denemenin sonunda rasyonlara borik asit ve bitki ekstraktı karışımı ilave edilen deneme gruplarında kontrol grubuna göre yemden yararlanma, yumurta ağırlık ve verimleri, yumurta kalite parametreleri (kabuk kalınlığı, kırılma direnci ve şekil indeksi) bakımından önemli etki görülmemiştir. Ancak bitki ekstraktı ve borik asit karışımıyla beslenen deneme grubunda yem tüketimi önemli düzeyde artmıştır (P<0.01). Ayrıca rasyona borik asit ve bitkisel ekstrakt karışımı ilavesinin kan kolesterol düzeylerine istatistiki önemde etki etmediği tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, bitki ekstraktı karışımıyla beslenen tavuklarda yemden yararlanma oranının 9-10. haftalarda daha iyi olmasından dolayı, bu yem katkı maddelerinin karışımı yumurta tavuğu rasyonlarına olumsuz etki göstermeksiz...

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotics on ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen, production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and number of Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. The probiotics blend was tested in vitro for 48 h incubation using "Hohenheim Futterwert Test" (HFT). There was no interaction effect of the treatment and incubation time on the ruminal pH and ammonia-nitrogen concentration. A supplemental probiotics blend tended to increase the total SCFA concentration in comparison to the non-supplemented control fermenter fluids (P> 0.05). There was a significant interaction effect of the treatment groups and incubation time on butyrate (P=0.042), valerate (P=0.045) and isovalerate (P= 0.028) concentrations. Total protozoa and total bacteria numbers were higher in probiotics supplemented fluid than in non-supplemented control fluid (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). Dietary supplementation of a probiotics blend to the fermenters did not influence (P>0.05) the number of copies of R. albus. However, the population of R. flavafaciens was lower (P<0.01) in the probiotic supplemented group as compared with the non-supplemented control group. Our results showed that the probiotics blend might modulate both microbial metabolic activity and the population of ruminal microorganisms.

Bile acids are used for better emulsification, digestion and absorption of dietary fat in chicken, especially in early life. Similarly, exogenous lipases have also been used for the improvement of physiological limitation of the chicken digestive system. Owing to potential of both bile acids and lipases, their use has been increased in recent years, for better emulsification of dietary fat and improvement of growth performance in broilers. In the past, pancreatic lipases were used for supplementation, but recently, microbial lipase is getting attention in poultry industry as a hydrolysis catalyst. Bile acids strengthen the defence mechanism of body against bacterial endotoxins and also play a key role in lipid regulation and sugar metabolism as signaling molecules. It has been demonstrated that bile acids and lipases may improve feed efficiency by enhancing digestive enzyme activity and ultimately leading to better fat digestion and absorption. Wide supplemental range of bile acids (0.004% to 0.25%) and lipases (0.01% to 0.1%) have been used in broiler diets for improvement of fat digestibility and their performance. Combinations of different bile acids have shown more potential to improve feed efficiency (by 7.14%) even at low (0.008%) levels as compared to any individual bile acid. Lipases at a lower level of 0.03% have exhibited more promising potential to improve fat digestibility and feed efficiency. However, contradicting results have been published in literature, which needs further investigations to elucidate various nutritional aspects of bile acids and lipase supplementation in broiler diet. This review focuses on providing insight on the mechanism of action and potential application of bile acids and lipases in broiler diets. Moreover, future implications of these additives in poultry nutrition for enhancing nutrient utilization and absorption are also discussed.