No abstract

We investigated the effects of adding up to 11% rice bran (RB) in corn-soybean meal diets fed to broiler chickens without or with a multi-enzyme supplement (MES). The MES supplied xylanase, β-glucanase, invertase, protease, cellulase, α-amylase and mannanase with targeted activity of 2,500, 300, 700, 10,000, 1,200, 24,000, and 20 U/kg of feed, respectively. The study used a two-phase feeding program (starter, d 0 to 24; finisher, d 25 to 35) with RB added at 5% and 11%, respectively creating 4 diets in each phase. Diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous and contained phytase (500 FTU/kg) and TiO 2 as a digestibility marker. Three hundred and sixty d-old male Ross 708 broiler chicks were placed in cages based on BW (15 birds/cage) and allocated to 4 diets ( n = 6). Birds had free access to feed and water. Body weight and feed intake were recorded. Excreta samples were collected 3 d prior to the end of each phase for apparent retention (AR) of components. Samples of birds were sacrificed on d 24 and 35 for gut weight and ceca digesta for organic acid content. There was no interaction ( P > 0.10) between RB and MES on BWG and FCR in starter or finisher phase. In finisher phase, birds fed MES had better BWG (961 versus 858 g) and FCR (1.69 versus 1.86) than birds fed non-MES diets ( P < 0.01). Feeding RB reduced ( P = 0.02) BWG in finisher phase resulting in lower d 35 BW. Birds fed RB had higher ( P ≤ 0.01) gizzard weight on d 24 and 35 than non-RB birds. An interaction ( P ≤ 0.01) between RB and MES on concentrations of propionic and iso-butyric acids in ceca digesta showed that MES reduced these acids in non-RB diet. The AR of gross energy was higher ( P < 0.02) for MES versus non-MES birds in starter and finisher phases. In conclusion, independently, RB increased gizzard weight and reduced final BW whereas MES improved growth and energy utilization.

Effects of rearing cage type and dietary limestone particle size ( LPS ) on growth, apparent retention ( AR ) of nutrients, and bone quality were investigated. The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with cage (conventional, CON and furnished, FUR ) and LPS (fine, < 0.595 mm, F ; medium, 0.595 to < 1.68 mm, M ; and 1:1 mixture of F and M wt/wt; FM ). A total of 900-day-old Lohmann LSL-Lite chicks were placed in CON (20 chicks/cage) and FUR (30 chicks/cage) based on BW. The diets were formulated according to breeder's nutrient specifications for starter, grower, and developer phases. At the end of 4, 12, and 16 wk of age ( woa ), 2 pullets/cage were euthanized for samples. At 12 and 16 woa, 1 pullet/cage was transferred to metabolism cages for AR measurements. There was no interaction ( P > 0.05) between cage type and LPS on response variables. At 4 woa, body ( P = 0.002) and bone ( P < 0.05) weight was higher for CON than FUR pullets, but this was reversed ( P < 0.01) at 16 woa. Pullets fed M LPS had higher ( P < 0.05) AR of Ca, whole body mineral density ( BoMD ), and whole body mineral content ( BoMC ) than pullets fed F LPS. However, pullets fed F LPS had higher ( P < 0.05) femur bone mineral density ( BMD ) and tended ( P = 0.059) to have higher tibia bone breaking strength ( BBS ) than pullets fed M LPS at 16 woa. Pullets reared in CON cages had higher ( P < 0.05) AR of Ca than FUR pullets. At 4 woa, CON pullets had lower ( P < 0.05) femur and tibia BMD but higher tibia (93 vs. 83 N P = 0.012) BBS than FUR pullets. However, at 16 woa, FUR pullets had higher ( P < 0.05) BoMD, BoMC, and tibia BBS than CON pullets. In conclusions, cage type and dietary LPS had independent effects on Ca utilization and skeletal development. Despite poor Ca retention, FUR caged pullets showed improved bone quality at 16 woa. Finer LPS improved femur mineral density suggesting coarser LPS had limited effects on pullet bone quality.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is endemic in Nepal and causes substantial economic losses in the livestock industry. The goal of this study was to perform an epidemiological analysis of FMD outbreaks reported to the Veterinary Epidemiology Center, Tripureshwor, Nepal during 2010–2015, in order to strengthen the National FMD Control Program. These current data were considered in the context of historical data on FMD virus (FMDV) serotypes detected in the country between 1965 and 2015. During 2010–2015, a total of 1333 livestock holdings reported FMD outbreaks in Nepal. On average, 71.2 animals were affected in each outbreak, with a case fatality rate of 3.6%. FMD was reported throughout the country, and the proportion of affected holdings was not significantly among eco‐zones, regions, or species. The Hill eco‐zone had the highest number of holdings affected (782), followed by Mountain (304), and Terai (247). When analysed by the developmental region, the Western (381) and Central (368) Developmental Regions had the highest numbers of holdings affected. Cattle were the most frequently affected species (39%), followed by buffalo (33%), and goats (19%). FMD occurred throughout the year, with peaks in winter (December/January) and in the pre‐monsoon period (April/May). Between 1965 and 2015 FMDV serotype O had the highest prevalence (81%), followed by Asia‐1 (11%), A (6%), and C (2%). Serotype C was not detected after 1996, and only serotype O was reported after 2011. These descriptive analyses provide critical landmarks to establish baselines, and document early progress of the ongoing Progressive Control Pathway of FMD (PCP‐FMD) which could be useful in Nepal and other South Asian nations.

No abstract