The study investigated the effects of administration of graded levels of fermented Averrhoa bilimbi L. fruit filtrate in drinking water on the growth performance, hematological variables, intestinal ecology, and carcass characteristics of broilers. The experiment was arranged based on a completely randomized design. Two hundred day-old-Lohmann broiler chicks were randomly assigned into 4 treatment groups, each consisting of 5 replications with 10 chicks in each replication. The treatments were administration of fermented A. bilimbi L. fruit filtrate through drinking water at concentrations of 0% (CONT), 0.5% (FAB05), 1.0% (FAB1), and 2.0% (FAB2). Blood was sampled on days 21 and 33, while intestinal segments and digesta were collected on day 33. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved (p<0.05) with the increased concentrations of fermented filtrate in drinking water. Body weight, cumulative feed intake, and mortality of broilers were not affected by the treatments. On day 21, thrombocytes decreased (p<0.05) with the increased concentrations of fermented filtrate. On day 33, leukocytes and lymphocytes were lower (p<0.05) in treated chicks than in control. On day 21, the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased (p<0.05) with the enhanced fermented filtrate concentrations. On day 33, creatinine and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased (p<0.05) following the increased fermented filtrate concentration in drinking water. Fermented fruit filtrate increased (p<0.05) jejunal villi height and ileal crypt depth. Fermented filtrate also resulted in higher (p<0.05) pH values of jejunum. The Enterobacteriaceae counts in the ileum decreased (p<0.05) with the increased fermented filtrate concentration in drinking water. Fermented fruit filtrate decreased (p<0.05) the liver and caeca weights and increased (p<0.05) the proventriculus weight. In conclusion, administration of 2% of fermented A. bilimbi L. fruit filtrate (pH 1.83) through drinking water improved FCR, physiological condition, and intestinal ecology of broilers. The addition of fermented fruit filtrate up to 2% in drinking water did not exert a negative effect on the carcass characteristics of broilers.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of dietary supplementation of formic acid, butyric acid or their combination on carcass and meat characteristics of broiler chicks. A number of 288 day-old-chicks (Lohmann MB-202 meat broilers) were distributed to four groups, including CONT (basal diet with no additive as a control), FORM (basal diet containing 0.1% formic acid), BUTR (basal diet with 0.03% butyric acid) and FORM+BUTR (basal diet with 0.1% formic and 0.03% butyric acid). At day 35 the birds were slaughtered and eviscerated, and from which the breast meat was obtained. Carcass and cut yields of broilers were not different (P>0.05) among CONT, FORM and BUTR birds. The combination of formic and butyric acids increased (P<0.05) the relative weight of back of broilers. Meat pH value was higher (P<0.05) in organic acids treated than in non-treated birds. Organic acids lowered (P<0.05) drip loss of broiler meat. Butyric acid increased (P<0.05) moisture and decreased (P<0.05) the content of meat protein. Formic acid increased (P<0.05), whereas butyric acid and combination of formic and butyric acids decreased (P<0.05) lightness values of breast meat. Yellowness values of meat increased (P<0.05) with organic acid administration. Intense bands of 25 kDa (phosphoglycerate mutase) was observed in most of meat samples from the treated birds, but not in meat from the control birds. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of organic acids was capable of improving the meat quality of broiler meats. The treatments may prevent the pale, soft and exudative (PSE)-like condition in broiler meats.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of two-stage fermented cassava pulp (FCP) on growth, blood parameters, intestinal microbiology and carcass characteristics of broilers. Two hundreds Lohmann broiler chicks were used from days 22 to 38 and allotted to CONT (maize-soybean-mealbased finisher diet), FCP-10 (finisher diet containing 10% FCP), FCP-15 (15% FCP) and FCP-20 (20% FCP). FCP was included into finisher diet at the expense of maize. On day 38, one bird per replicate was blood sampled and slaughtered. Ileal and caecal digesta and duodenal, jejunal and ileal segments were obtained for intestinal microbiology and villi height measurements. Breast muscle was obtained for meat colour determination. FCP-10 had a higher (p≤0.05) body weight gain than CONT. Feed intake was highest (p≤0.05) in FCP-15 and the lowest (p≤0.05) in CONT. Feed conversion ratio was lowest and highest in FCP-10 and FCP-15, respectively (p≤0.05). FCP-20 had a lower (p≤0.05) abdominal fat than CONT and FCP-10. CONT had lower (p≤0.05) serum total triglycerides than FCP-15 and FCP-20. Duodenal villi height for FCP-20 was higher (p≤0.05) than that for CONT and FCP-15. The ileal villi height for FCP-20 was lower (p≤0.05) than that for CONT and FCP-15. The wings relative weight was higher (p≤0.05) in FCP-20 than in FCP-10 and FCP-15. FCP-15 and FCP-20 had higher (p≤0.05) L* (lightness) values than CONT. In conclusion, feeding two-stage FCP up to 20% had no deleterious effect on growth, haematological parameters, intestinal microbiology and carcass characteristics. Feeding two-stage FCP at a level of 20% reduced the abdominal fat content and increased duodenal villi height of broilers.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 is a major cause of diarrhea in both neonatal and young pigs. Indeed, only pigs having F4 receptors are susceptible. Among the susceptible pigs, it is yet unknown if spontaneous E. coli postweaning diarrhea (PWD) occurrence and intestinal mucosal responses to ETEC differ between genotypes. This study investigated a diarrhea-like condition and intestinal mucosal responses in F4 homo- and heterozygous susceptible weaner pigs. Sixteen weaned pigs (28 d of age) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial study with genotype (homo- or heterozygous F4R(+)) and inoculation with E. coli F4 or not as the 2 factors. Within genotype, 4 pigs were inoculated with E. coli F4 and the other 4 pigs received saline buffer on days 7 and 8 after weaning. Fecal score and DM and bacterial counts were conducted from days 7 to 12 after weaning. Blood was obtained on days 3 and 10 after weaning and at the time of killing. Four pigs were killed per day on days 14, 15, 16, and 17. Small intestine (SI) was divided into 3 parts of equal length for measurement of intestinal weight and the amount of mucosa. Lymphocyte subsets in jejunal Peyer's patches (jejPP) were analyzed using flow cytometry. Escherichia coli reduced (P = 0.05) total percentage of intestinal mucosa (on a dry basis) and had an impact on metabolomics profile of the plasma. No effect of genotype was seen on fecal score and DM, fecal shedding of hemolytic E. coli, mucosal responses, metabolomics profile, antibody responses, and lymphocyte subsets counts. This study suggests that both F4 homo- and heterozygous susceptible pigs have similar functional receptors for E. coli F4, which facilitate the adhesion of F4 to the intestinal tissue.

This study aimed to assess the effect of a mixture of garlic powder and Lactobacillus casei (GLC) on intestinal development, hematological parameters, nutrient digestibility, and performance of broilers in the starter phase. One hundred forty 1-day-old broiler chicks were divided into four groups, namely control (not given GLC supplement) and given GLC supplement either 1%, 2%, and 3% of total feed. Chickens were reared for 21 days in an open cage. On the 21st day of the experiment, blood collection, lymphoid organ and digestive organ weight, and performance data were recorded. Accumulative feed intake until day 21 did not differ (P>0.05) among treatment groups. In this study, there were improvements in the height of villi in the jejunum, and the acidity in the duodenum and caecum, due to the increase of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA: acetate and propionate). Protein and crude fiber digestibility in the GLC-given chickens was significantly higher than in the control group ((P≤0.05). GLC supplementation (1%, 2%, and 3% of total feed) significantly increased body weight gain and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P≤0.05). In conclusion, the use of GLC during the starter phase can improve the nutrient digestibility, intestinal health, and performance of broiler chickens.

The study evaluated the influence of fermented papaya leaf and seed powder (FPLS) and/or multienzymes on the growth, physiology, antioxidant, and gut ecology of the Indonesian crossbred chicken (ICC) at high stocking density. Three hundred and seventy ICC were randomly allotted to LSD (chicks fed conventional feed at low stocking density), HSD (chicks fed conventional feed at high stocking density), HSD+mE (chicks fed conventional feed plus multienzyme at high stocking density), HSD+FPLS (chicks fed FPLS at high stocking density) and HSD+FPLS+mE (chicks fed FPLS plus multienzyme at high stocking density). Body weight and feed intake were determined weekly. Two ICC were taken from each pen ( 10chicks per treatment group) at week 10 for sampling. The study was arranged based on a completely randomized design with five treatment groups, each consisted of five replicates. Except for performance, analysis of variance was conducted on two chicks from each replicate (10 chicks per treatment group). Chicks in LSD consumed more (p<0.05) feed and had a higher (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio. Platelet distribution width (PDW) was lower (p<0.05) in HSD, HSD+FPLS, and HSD+FPLS+mE chicks than in LSD chicks. Lymphocyte counts were lower (p<0.05) in HSD relative to HSD+mE chicks. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) was higher (p<0.05) in HSD and HSD+FPLS+mE chicks than in LSD, HSD+mE, and HSD+FPLS chicks. High-density lipoprotein was smaller (p<0.05) in HSD+mE chicks than in LSD, HSD, and HSD+FPLS chicks. Compared to the other treatment groups of chicks, HSD+FPLS chicks had a lower (p<0.05) albumin level. Creatinine level was lower (p<0.05) in HSD chicks than in the other group of chicks. Enterobacteriaceae counts were lower (p<0.05) in HSD+FPLS cecal content of chicks than in LSD and HSD chicks. The redness values of breast meats were lower (p<0.05) in HSD+FPLS chicks than the chicks in HSD+mE and HSD+FPLS+mE dietary treatments. LSD chicks had higher (p<0.05) redness values of thigh meat than the other treatment groups of chicks. LSD chicks also had higher (p<0.05) yellowness values than HSD+mE and HSD+FPLS+mE chicks. In conclusion, high stocking density resulted in mild stress conditions, as was demonstrated by the increased SOD and decreased PDW and redness meat values. A combination of FPLS and multienzyme ameliorated the adverse influence of high stocking density in ICC.

Postweaning diarrhoea (PWD) is a significant enteric disease causing considerable economic losses for the pig industry. Among several aetiological risk factors, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is considered to be a major cause. After being routinely used for several decades to control bacterial disease outbreaks in piglets, the use of antibiotics at subtherapeutic concentrations has been banned in the European Union because of the increasing prevalence of resistance to antibiotics in pigs. The removal of in-feed antibiotics from piglet diets has negative economic consequences as it dramatically increases the rate of morbidity and mortality due to ETEC as well as the use of antibiotics for therapeutic purposes. Other than subtherapeutic antibiotics, zinc oxide (ZnO) has been reported to ameliorate and/or prevent the development of PWD in piglets, but its excretion may have negative impacts on the environment. Thus, other alternatives that can control ETEC infections in piglets postweaning will be of great advantage. A number of nutritional strategies have been proposed as alternative means of preventing ETEC infections, of which feeding dairy-based products to piglets could be one of such strategies. It is apparent that colostrum, milk and milk fractions such as whey and casein contain several biologically active compounds with anti-microbial and immunomodulatory properties. Recently, these dairy products and their isolated compounds such as lactoferrin and oligosaccharides have been employed as anti-infective agents against ETEC infections in piglets postweaning. The dairy by-products (e.g. whey or whey permeate) may also be fermented to further improve the anti-infective potential of the products. Overall, the anti-infective activities of dairy-based products against ETEC could be attributed to the improvement of the intestinal barrier functions, microbial ecosystem and immunity of the piglets.

Background and Aim: Natural feed additives are important for broiler sustainability during the post-antibiotic era. This study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of the dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus casei-fermented mixture of red rice and aromatic ginger (FERMIX) on growth, blood profiles, intestinal bacterial content, and morphological measurements of broilers. Materials and Methods: Two hundred broiler chicks were allotted to four groups with five replications, including CONTROL (chicks provided with basal feed), FERMIX025 (basal feed supplemented with 0.25% FERMIX), FERMIX050 (0.50% FERMIX), and FERMIX100 (1.00% FERMIX). FERMIX is an anaerobic fermentation product from a mixture of red rice flour and aromatic ginger using L. casei. Blood, organs, digesta, and carcass were collected on day 35. Results: Final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio did not differ (p>0.05) across treatments. FERMIX at 0.5% increased (p<0.05) spleen relative weight. Liver weight was lower (p<0.05) in broilers fed with 1% FERMIX. The liver weight linearly reduced (p<0.05) with the increased FERMIX levels. FERMIX at 0.25% elevated (p<0.05) broiler drumsticks' yield than that in other groups. Erythrocytes, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and plasma total protein levels were quadratically higher (p<0.05) in FERMIX050 treated than in other groups. Increased FERMIX levels resulted in a linear decrease (p=0.08) in ileal lactose-negative Enterobacteriaceae counts. Villi height/crypt depth (CD) ratio was quadratically higher (p<0.05) in the duodenum of broiler supplemented with 0.5% FERMIX. The jejunal CD was quadratically lower (p<0.05) in FERMIX050 than in other groups. Conclusion: Although it did not influence growth, dietary FERMIX, especially at 0.5%, improved immune competencies, physiological conditions, and health of broilers' intestine.