Impact of restricting feed and probiotic supplementation on growth performance, mortality and carcass traits of meat‐type quails

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of quantitative feed restriction, along with dietary supplementation with a probiotic blend (Protexin) as a natural growth promoter, on the performance, water consumption, mortality rate and carcass traits of meat‐type quails. A total of 250 1‐day unsexed quails were randomly allocated to five equal groups in a completely randomized design. The first group (A) fed a basal diet without any restriction (24 hr/day); the second group (B1) fed the basal diet for 20 hr/day; the third group (B2) fed the basal diet enriched with probiotic (0.1 g/kg diet) for 20 hr/day; the fourth group (C1) fed the basal diet for 16 hr/day; and the fifth group (C2) fed the basal diet enriched with probiotic (0.1 g/kg diet) for 16 hr/day. Birds were fed ad‐libitum from 0–14 days of age, and then the feed restriction regimes started from 14 till 28 days of age. Results showed that quails in the control‐group consumed more feed and water than the other treatment groups (p < .01), however their body weights did not differ (p > .05) compared with the other treated groups. The best feed conversion values were achieved in quails supplemented with probiotic blend (B2 and C2) in comparison with the other groups (p < .01). Feeding probiotic had a positive effect on bird health which reduced the mortality rate. Further, mortality rate was significantly reduced (p < .05) by feed restriction, with or without probiotic supplementation. No carcass parameters were significantly affected (p > .05) by treatments. Our results show that quail could be reared under a feed restriction system, for 4–8 hr daily, along with dietary supplementation of probiotic as growth promoter for better growth performance.

Nutritional significance of amino acids, vitamins and minerals as nutraceuticals in poultry production and health – a comprehensive review

“…To preclude these effects, the addition of a high specific substance for a certain infection is needed (Frei et al 2015). In this condition, nutraceuticals were found to have various beneficial health applications and potential roles in enhancing production performances as they act as antioxidants, safeguard health, modulate gut microbiota, and enhance the immunity of poultry (Dhama et al 2014a;Rahal et al 2014Soomro et al 2019; Abd El-Hack et al 2020b). For better delivery, improved bioavailability and utilization of nutraceuticals within the body of poultry, numerous delivery forms are being investigated.…”

Effects of the dietary inclusion of a probiotic or prebiotic on florfenicol pharmacokinetic profile in broiler chicken

“…Prebiotic and probiotics were used to feed medication to improve feed intake and digestion (Abd El-Hack, Mahgoub, Alagawany, & Ashour, 2017;Alagawany et al, 2018). In addition, they increased the height of jejunal villi and decreased the depth of villi crypt, both reduced pathogen colonization and mortality rates in broiler chickens (Patterson & Burkholder, 2003;Soomro et al, 2019;Wang et al, 2018). Prebiotic and probiotic were added to poultry feed for the prophylaxis from intestinal diseases as well as antibiotics are often added orally to cure the bacterial infection; therefore, a combination of prebiotic and probiotic with other antibacterial agents is inevitable.…”

Study of the antibiotic residues in poultry meat in some of the EU countries and selection of the best compositions of lactic acid bacteria and essential oils against Salmonella enterica

“…For example, phosphatase excreted by LAB can lead to improvement of phosphate digestion ( Neveling et al., 2020 ). The LAB, possessing PRO properties, showed ability to attach to intestinal epithelial cells and to reduce pathogens colonization, as well as to increase growth performance and improve the immune system of the poultry ( Soomro et al., 2019 , Mohammadreza et al., 2020 , Salehizadeh et al., 2020 ). In addition to aforementioned probiotic properties, LAB can reduce mycotoxins in feed ( Haquea et al., 2020 ).…”