A total of 210 unsexed 1-day old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were wing banded and randomly distributed among 30 cages of 7 birds per cage keeping equal initial BW during days 1-20 of age. A factorial design (2×3) was used in which there were two feed forms (mash vs crumble diet) and three enzyme treatments (unsupplemented, phytase, phytase plus multienzyme). Each treatment was replicated 5 times with 7 chicks per replicate. Body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of fed chicks were significantly improved when the crumble diet was administered. However, feed intake of chicks fed on the crumble feeds was significantly lower than those fed the mash diet. Digestibility of ether extract and crude fiber was significantly greater in groups fed the crumble diet than those fed the mash diet. Enzyme supplementation significantly and similarly increased growth and production index, and improved FCR. Also greater digestibility of crude protein and crude ash was observed but growth during days 8-14 of age and crude fibre digestibility were significantly greater in chicks receiving the multienzyme plus phytase supplement than those receiving phytase alone. Crumble feed supplemented with multienzyme resulted in the highest performance and nutrient digestibility of broilers during days 1-20 of age.

The aim of the paper was to compare the effect of prebiotics (inulin and/or mannan-oligosaccharides, MOS) and bee products (bee pollen and/or propolis) on productive and reproductive performance of rabbit does. Seventy nulliparous V-line female rabbits were distributed among 7 groups. The groups were fed the same diet and received no supplements (control group), natural molecules (bee pollen and/or propolis) at 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) or prebiotics (inulin and/or MOS) at 35 mg/kg BW. Productive, reproductive, biochemical and haematological traits were investigated. Bee pollen with propolis significantly increased body weight gain of does 1 wk after mating (3.53%), decreased feed intake (4.49%) and caused larger litter size (39.4%), heavier body weight of litter (17.7%), a greater number of kits born alive (48.7%), higher weight of kits (87.81%) at 28 d of age, higher milk yield (43.6%) and more favourable milk conversion ratio (31.6%). Moreover, bee pollen with propolis had significantly increased plasma total protein (43.1%), albumin (45.7%), globulin (41.0) and progesterone (60.5%), and had a significantly decreased plasma cholesterol (31.1%), aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio (20.3%) compared to the control group. Does treated with growth promoters had significantly fewer services per conception (22%) and greater fertility rate (21%) compared to the control group. Inulin with or without MOS significantly increased plasma glucose (49.9 and 50%, respectively) and feed cost (90.2%) compared to the control group. Supplementation of MOS or bee pollen with or without propolis had significantly greater relative economic efficiency (61.9, 55.1 and 27.1%, respectively) than the control group. MOS and bee pollen with or without propolis are able to improve productive and reproductive performance and economic efficiency of rabbit does in comparison to the unsupplemented group.

Abstract. Four hundred-twenty broilers were used in a factorial design (4×3) in which four feed forms (mash vs. pellet diet with diameter of 2 mm, 3 mm and 3.5 mm, respectively) and three enzymes treatments (unsupplemented, phytase, phytase+multi-enzyme) were used. Each treatment was replicated five times (7 broiler/replicate). Feed form had no effects on most of carcass traits and physical characteristics of meat, but pellet diets decreased the relative weight of gizzard and caecum length. Feeding 3.5 mm pellet diets increased abdominal fat compared to that of broilers fed mash diets. Pellet with 3 mm diameter increased and decreased respectively meat fat and moisture. Pellets with 3.5 mm diameter increased meat ash compared to broilers fed mash diet. Levels of plasma glucose and alanine aminotransferase of broilers fed 2 mm pellet, cholesterol of broilers fed 3 mm pellet and albumin/globulin ratio, monocytes and red blood cells of broilers fed 3.5 mm pellet were significantly higher than those of broilers fed mash diet. Haemoglobin, phagocytic activity, heterophils and heterophils/lymphocyte ratio were higher in groups fed mash diets and 2 mm pellet. Packed cell volume and phagocytic index were the highest in group fed mash diets. Phytase or multi-enzyme+phytase increased carcass yield, total edible parts and decreased inedible parts compared to broilers fed diet without enzyme supplementation. Enzyme supplementations significantly and similarly increased plasma glucose, total protein, triglycerides, red blood cells and phagocytic activity and decreased phagocytic index in comparison to the control group. However, phytase alone decreased cholesterol and increased monocytes by contrast with the control group. Multi-enzymes+phytase induced greater effect on white blood cells than phytase alone.

A total of 420 21-day-old broilers were wing banded and randomly distributed among 60 cages of 7 birds per cage during days 21-37 of age. A factorial design (4×3) was used in which there were four feed forms (mash vs. pellet diet with diameter 2-2 mm, 2-3 mm and 3-3.5 mm, respectively) and three enzyme treatments (unsupplemented, phytase, phytase plus multi-enzyme). Each treatment was replicated 5 times with 7 broilers per replicate. Body weight gain of broilers fed 2-3 mm-diet was significantly greater than that of those fed mash diet and 2-2 mm or 3-3.5 mm pellet-diet. Feed conversion ratio was the best in broilers fed 2-3 mm and 3-3.5 mm pellet-diets. However, feed intake was significantly lower in broilers fed pellet-diets than that of those fed the mash diet. The production index and economic efficiency were significantly higher in groups fed 2-3 mm pellet diameter compared to those fed 2-2 mm and 3-3.5 mm pellet diets. Digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre and crude ash were significantly and similarly greater in groups fed pellet diets in comparison with those fed mash diet. Enzyme supplementations significantly and similarly increased growth and production index whereas improved feed conversion ratio and economic efficiency than the control group and this concurred with greater digestibility of crude protein, ether extract and crude ash. However, multi-enzymes plus phytase induced greater effect on the production and economic traits than phytase alone showing synergetic effects. Pellet diet at 2-3 mm supplemented with multi-enzyme plus phytase resulted in the highest performance and nutrient digestibility of broilers during day 20-37 d of age.

The aim of the article was to study the effect of different growth promoters on growth performance, carcass quality, biochemical and haematological traits and immune response of growing rabbits. A total number of 105 male growing NZW rabbits during 35-91 days of age were randomly distributed among 7 groups fed the same basal diet and submitted to different dietary treatments: the first group was unsupplemented and used as control; the other groups were supplemented respectively with bee pollen and/or propolis at 200 mg/kg BW of each and inulin and/or mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) at 35 mg/kg BW of each. Body weight gain, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), biochemical and haematological blood parameters, carcass characteristics, histological studies of ileum and spleen and economical efficiency were measured. Bee pollen administered alone or with propolis significantly (p < 0.01) the body weight gain and improved FCR in respect of the control group. Inulin with MOS significantly improved just FCR than the control group. Bee pollen with propolis and MOS supplemented-groups resulted in significantly higher (7.96 and 8.41% respectively) white blood cells compared to the control group. Plasma total cholesterol was significantly higher for the MOS group in respect of the control, bee pollen, inulin and inulin with MOS supplemented-groups. Propolis resulted in significantly higher dressed carcass percentage than the control group and higher carcass index than only bee pollen with propolis supplemented-group. Bee pollen, in particular if in combination with propolis, could be used as a supplement in the growing rabbits during days 35-91 of age with positive effects on growth rate and feed conversion ratio.