This study was conducted to compare the effects of different types and levels of organic acids being Formic (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0% FA), Fumaric (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% FUA), Acetic (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% AC) and Citric Acids (1, 2 and 3% CA). A total number of 351 one d-old Arbor-Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into 13 treatment groups, each in three replicates of 9 chicks per replicate. The first group was fed the basal diet without supplementation and served as control. While, the other groups were received the basal diet supplemented with the tested organic acids. The experiment was lasted when chicks were 42 d old. Performance, pH of some gastrointestinal tract (GI-tract) segments, organ morphology, cecal bacteria, blood metabolites and nutrients digestibility were measured. Results obtained could be summarized as follow: 1-Any of the tested organic acids increased significantly (p<0.01) body weight gain and European Production Efficiency Index compared with the control group. However, feed conversion ratio improved, but not significantly in case of formic and fumaric acids, while significantly improved with acetic and citric acids supplementation, compared to the control. No great differences in mortality rate were observed among all treatments as from 1 to 2 birds were died all over the experimental period due to natural causes and not due to nutritional treatments. 2-Dietary organic acids improved both ME and nutrients digestibility of the experimental diets compared to the control. 3-Dietary organic acids significantly reduced (p<0.01) the pH values in the different GI-tract segments of the chicks compared to chicks fed the control. 4-Feeding dietary FA and FUA led to sharp reduction in caeca content of lactobacilli bacteria, but increased number of coliforms bacteria and anaerobes was slightly increased. Feeding 0.75% AC and 2%CA increased Lactobacillus count and coliforms. Villus height was significantly higher (p<0.01) of all organic acid supplementation fed groups. 5-Blood serum content of calcium, phosphorus, total protein and globulin were increased significantly (p<0.01) by 0.5% FA, 0.5% FUA, 0.75% AC and 2%CA in the diet compared to the control. 6-Relative weights of lymphoid organs (spleen, bursa of fabrics and thymus gland) were significantly higher (p<0.01) by supplementing the tested organic acids compared to the control group. In conclusion, dietary 0.5% either of formic or fumaric as well as 0.75% acetic or 2% citric acids could be used safely to improve performance and health of broiler chickens.

he objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary sumac seed powder (SSP) as an antioxidant and growth promoter on growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood constituents. A total number of 240 Japanese quail birds 7 days old were distributed into 4 groups (n=60) with 3 replicates (20 in each). The first group was fed the control (0.0% SSP), while, the other groups fed 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% SSP. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded biweekly, while, mortality rate was recorded daily. Average body weight gains, feed conversion ratio, and European Production Efficiency Index (EPEI) were calculated while; bacterial count of intestinal contents was estimated. At the end of the experiment, carcass characteristics were measured, moreover, blood samples were taken to determine some blood constituents and organoleptic evaluation of cooked chicken meat. Results indicated that quail chicks fed different levels of SSP had the heaviest (p<0.05) body weight and body weight gain and better FCR and EPEI as compared to the control group. Sumac Seed Powder with different levels significantly (p<0.05) improved dressing, breast, total edible parts and the values of the meat quality including taste, aroma, texture, color and overall acceptability compared to the control group. Abdominal fat percentage was absent with different levels of sumac compared to control group. Chicks fed 2 and 2.5%SSP showed significantly (p<0.05) higher spleen, bursa and thymus. The ALT, AST, cholesterol, LDL, glucose, A/G and the population of E.coli of the control were higher than the birds fed SSP. Total antioxidants capacity, total lipids and globulin of the sumac fed groups were higher than the birds in control. Total plasma protein was significantly higher with 2%SSP compared to other treatments. Generally, diets supplemented with sumac seed powder (1.5, 2 and 2.5%) significantly improved growth performance, carcass, meat quality and plasma blood constituents in Japanese quail. The best supplemented level of SSP was 2%.

he effect of various levels of sumac seed powder (SSP) as antioxidant and growth promoter on laying performance, egg production, egg quality, some plasma concentration and reproductive performance of Japanese quail was investigated using 180 birds in 9 weeks of age, randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (0.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% SSP) with 45 birds per treatment and 3 replicates (10 hens and 5 cocks each). The results obtained can be summarized as follows: At the overall periods quail fed 2% SSP recorded significant the highest (p≤0.05) feed consumption compared with 2.5% SSP, while, all levels of SSP recorded the best values of feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. Also, egg production %, egg number, egg weight and egg mass/hen/day for SSP treatments were significantly (p≤0.05)increased than those fed control diet. Sumac seed powder supplements significantly (p≤0.05) increased albumin height, internal quality unit, color yolk, shell% and yolk / albumin ratio. However, albumin% and shell thickness were significantly decreased compared with control group. Also, most levels of SSP had improved the blood hematological parameters such as white blood cells, hemoglobin, red blood cells and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration feeding especial birds fed 1.5 and 2% SSP compared to the control group. The birds fed 1.5% SSP recorded significantly (p≤0.05) the highest value for globulin and improved A/G ratio compared with other treatments. The plasma lipid profile, liver enzymes and total lipid were significantly reduced (p≤0.05) but increased total antioxidant capacity and by supplementation SSP. Reproductive performance significantly (p≤0.05)improved by feeding SSP. In conclusion, the data obtained showed that the diet supplemented with the sumac seed powder (1.5, 2.0 and 2.5%) for Japanese quail laying improved egg performance, egg quality, most of the blood hematological, blood biochemical parameters and reproductive performance.

An experiment was designed on 165 local Sinai laying hens (150 females + 15 males), 47 wk-old, were equally divided into five dietary treatments to determine possible benefits from dietary supplementation with proanthocyanidins to the layer's diet of grape pomace and green tea extracts (GPGT extract) at levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg diet) on productive and reproductive performance during the laying period from 47 to 62 wk of age. Results illustrated that egg number/hen or laying rate (%) significantly (P≤0.05) improved due to feeding the diet supplemented with 150 mg GPGT extract/ kg diet as compared to the control group. Also, the hens fed diet supplemented with 150 mg GPGT extract recorded the highest value of egg mass when comparing with the control and other dietary treatments. Fertility % of eggs from hens fed diet supplemented with 100 and 200 mg GPGT extract / kg diet was significantly (P≤0.05) increased compared to the low level of extraction (50 mg/ kg diet) and control diet. The diet supplemented with 100 mg GPGT extract / kg diet had higher hatchability % and chick weight than the control diet. In addition, total antioxidant capacity yolk content in was significantly increased as a result of feeding on diet with 150 mg GPGT extract/ kg diet compared to the control diet. It could be concluded that supplementation 150 mg GPGT extract / kg diet in Sinai hen's diets can be used to maximize the egg production performance, quality of egg yolk and economic efficiency from 47 to 62 wk of age. Moreover, these results suggest that 100 mg GPGT extract/ kg layer diet can be applied for optimal performance of reproductive traits.

he aim of this study is examine the ability of xylanase (XY), fresh whey (FW), dried whey (DW) alone or in combination to improve broiler low energy diet containing 30% wheat bran (WB). This experiment conducted in Egypt from April to May (23.9 o C-34.8 o C).Two hundred and ten unsexed Cobb broiler chicks seven days old were randomly distributed into seven treatments received control diet, WB (30%) diet,WB+0.1%XY, WB+1% FW,WB+ 0.5% DW, WB+ XY +1% FW or WB+ XY + 0.5 % DW. At 35 days. Birds fed WB diet recorded significantly higher body weight by 2.43% compared to control diet. The birds fed WB +XY was significantly higher in body weight compared to all treatments. Dried whey failed in affecting performance of WB diet. Addition of XY to WB diet significantly increased carcass percentage compared to WB diet or control diet. Wheat bran diet alone increased plasma globulin and phosphorus by 114.8 and 48.54 %, respectively compared to control diet. Xylanase is a suitable additive for WB diet. It could be concluded that the diets containing 30 % wheat bran low energy diet alone or with 0.1% Xylanase improve broiler performance under condition of this study.