High costs of conventional protein feed sources including soybean meal (SBM) generated the need for finding other alternatives. Thus, the present study was designed to evaluate the impact of graded replacements of SBM by sunflower seed meal (SFM) with or without enzyme supplementation on growth performance, digestive enzymes, carcass traits, and blood profile of broiler chickens. A total of 240 unsexed 1-week-old broiler chicks (Hubbard) were randomly divided into eight treatment groups of 30 chicks each in five replicates each of six chicks in a factorial design (4 × 2) arrangement, including four levels of SFM (0, 25, 50, and 75% replacing SBM) and two levels of enzyme (0- or 0.1-g/kg diet) supplementation. Performance traits including feed conversion ratio, body weight, and weight gain were significantly (P < 0.01) improved with increasing SFM up to 50% substitution for SBM or with enzyme supplementation in broiler diet during the experiment. However, feed intake of broiler chicks was decreased with enzyme supplementation (P < 0.05). The activities of digestive enzymes (protease and amylase) were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced and enhanced by SFM and enzyme inclusion in diets, respectively. The activities of protease and amylase were improved with SFM diet supplemented with 0.1 g/kg enzyme in comparison with those with the un-supplemented diet. The evaluated carcass traits were not statistically (P > 0.05) influenced by feeding SFM meal or enzyme addition. Biochemical blood parameters were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by SFM, enzyme, or their interaction in broiler diets, except for globulin that was not affected by dietary enzyme. It is concluded that increasing SFM level in the diet up to 50% replacing SBM with the supplementation of enzyme improved the growth performance and enhanced positively carcass traits as well as the activity of digestive enzymes in broiler chickens.

a total of 450 fertile Japanese quail eggs were used to determine the impacts of in ovo administration of water-soluble vitamins (c, b 6 and b 12 ) on the growth performance, carcass traits, hematological and biochemical blood parameters as well as the immune response of Japanese quails. on the 7th day of incubation, the eggs were allocated to five groups: un-injected, 0.1 ml/egg saline, 1 mg/egg vitamin C, 150 µg/egg vitamin B 6 and 20 µg/egg vitamin B 12 . the percentage of early embryonic mortality was increased (P≤0.001) in all treated groups versus the control group. chicks that hatched from eggs injected with 1 mg/egg vitamin C exhibited a significantly greater (P≤0.05) live body weight (lbw) than those from the control and saline groups. during 0-2 weeks of age, the chicks hatched from eggs injected with vitamins displayed better feed conversion than the positive or negative controls. in ovo injection of vitamins had no significant effect on all carcass traits. in ovo injection with vitamins C, B 6 and b 12 increased plasma total protein and its fractions compared with the control. plasma levels of total lipids and cholesterol were decreased in chicks hatched from eggs injected with 1 mg/egg vitamin C, 150 µg/egg vitamin B 6 or 20 µg/egg vitamin B 12 compared with those hatched from control eggs. plasma t 3 and t 4 were increased in chicks hatched from eggs injected with vitamin C, vitamin B 6 and vitamin b 12 . the relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus were significantly (P=0.002 or 0.003) increased in the birds hatched from eggs injected with vitamins compared with those in the control or saline group. Thus, in ovo injection of vitamins c, b 6 and b 12 improved the blood profile and immune response of Japanese quail.

This study was carried out to study the beneficial role of organic acids and other beneficial compounds produced by Aspergillus japonicas and their effects on the egg production, egg quality, fertility, and hatchability as well as blood metabolites of quail breeders. A number of 150 mature 8-week of age Japanese quails (100 females and 50 males) were used and divided into 5 groups. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4 th , and 5th groups were fed basal diet with 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, and 4 ml Aspergillus japonicas culture filtrate/kg diet, respectively. The use of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate improved egg number, egg mass and feed conversion ratio when compared to control. The use of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate quadratically improved feed conversion ratio when compared to control at all ages. Quail breeders fed 2 and 3 ml Aspergillus japonicas filtrate-treated diets consumed less feed than the other diets (0, 1, or 4 ml) during 8-12 week-old and the overall period. Supplementation of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate to quail diets improved fertility percentage during 12-16 and 8-16 week of age, the best level was 2 ml/kg of filtrate. Addition of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate to quail diets reduced the shell percentage and shell thickness, but increased the Haugh unit. The use of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate in quail breeder's diets tended to decline total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, and VLDL in plasma. Inclusion of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate in the diets of quail breeders improved the immune parameters. The activity of SOD and TAC was higher in Aspergillus japonicas filtrate groups than the control. In conclusion, supplemental Aspergillus japonicas filtrate could improve productive and reproductive performance, lipid profile, immunity, and antioxidant indices. HIGHLIGHTSUse of Aspergillus filtrate in quail diets improved egg production and egg mass. Use of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate to quail diets improved fertility percentage Use of Aspergillus filtrate in quail diets improved immunity and antioxidant indices Dietary addition of Aspergillus filtrate improved lipid profile.

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This study was carried out to examine the beneficial role of organic acids and other beneficial compounds produced by Aspergillus japonicas and their effects on performance, carcase yield, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbiota and blood constituents of quail. 240 quails (7 days old) were allotted to 5 groups consisting of 48 quail chicks (4 replicates of 12 chicks). The first, second, third, fourth and fifth groups were fed basal diet with 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, and 4 mL A. japonicas culture filtrate/kg diet, respectively. The addition of A. japonicas culture filtrate up to 3 mL/kg feed increased body weight at 3 and 5 weeks-old and body weight gain from 1-3, 3-5 and 1-5 weeks, the best level was 3 mL/kg feed. Quails fed A. japonicas filtrate diets recorded the best feed conversion ratio in comparison with the control. Dietary addition of A. japonicas filtrate tended to decline triglyceride, LDL, and VLDL and increased HDL values in the plasma. Use of A. japonicas filtrate in diets up to 2 mL/kg improved the immune indices. The levels of SOD and TAC, GSH and CAT as well as digestive enzymes were improved due to A. japonicas filtrate supplementation compared to control. Plasma levels of MDA were decreased (p ¼ .0001) in the quails fed Aspergillus filtrate (1 or 2 mL/kg). Quails fed rations enriched with filtrate exhibited lower colonisation of Escherichia coli, coliform and Salmonella. In conclusion, supplemental A. japonicas culture filtrate could improve the performance, digestive enzymes, immunity, antioxidant indices and mitigate intestinal pathogens. HIGHLIGHTSUse of Aspergillus filtrate improved in quail diets performance and digestive enzymes. Use of Aspergillus filtrate in quail diets improved immunity and antioxidant indices. Dietary addition of Aspergillus filtrate mitigated intestinal pathogens.

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