Silage and haylage as forage in slow and fast-growing broilers – effects on performance in Campylobacter jejuni infected birds

Abstract

1. This study investigated the effects of daily intake of silage or haylage on broiler production performance and organ development. Furthermore, effects of daily intake of Lactobacillus plantarum either via silage or by supplemented drinking water, on Campylobacter jejuni loads in faeces were studied. 2. To test this, a 42-d experiment using Ross 308 and a 63-d experiment with Rowan Rangers hybrids, were performed. Silage inoculated with L. plantarum strain 256 and haylage were fed in total mixed rations with mixtures of 85% of pellets and 15% of respective forage (DM-based weight). Feed intake (FI), forage intake, body weight (BW) and feed conversion ration (FCR) were monitored weekly. Mortality was recorded daily, and organ weights were registered at slaughter. Quantification of C. jejuni was performed by colony counts from faecal samples after culture on agar plates. 3. There was a negative effect of haylage on BW and FI in the fast-growing Ross 308 hybrid. Silage had a negative effect on BW only on week four and six. Water inoculated with L. plantarum 256 increased BW in the starter period. Interestingly, no significant adverse effect of forage inclusion was observed in the Rowan Ranger birds. 4. Relative weight of the emptied gizzard was higher in both Ross 308 and Rowan Ranger birds fed haylage and silage than in the control group. In Ross 308 birds, both forages significantly reased the relative weight of gizzard with digestive content when compared to birds fed solely pellets. 5. In both studies, higher consumption of silage than haylage was observed. 6. In conclusion, daily intake of L. plantarum 256 either via silage or supplemented in drinking water, was not effective in reducing the shedding of C. jejuni in either Ross 308 or Rowan Ranger hybrids at the end of the rearing period.

Innovative Use of Olive, Winery and Cheese Waste By-Products as Functional Ingredients in Broiler Nutrition

“…Silages are commonly used in ruminant nutrition. Their use in poultry and especially broilers is not so common, probably due to the fact that most examined silages contain forages with average or high amounts of insoluble fiber for which the digestive tract of chicken cannot produce the enzymes necessary to digest [8]. However, it appears that moderate amounts of insoluble fiber can have positive effects on nutrient digestibility and the overall health of chicken [27].…”

“…However, it appears that moderate amounts of insoluble fiber can have positive effects on nutrient digestibility and the overall health of chicken [27]. Negative effects of silage and haylage have been reported on chicken body weight gain and feed intake, compared to chickens or hens fed only pellets with concentrate feeds [8,28]. Other researchers reported promising results [29].…”

“…It is possible that differences in performance results can be explained by the sensitivity of fast-growing chicken to feed texture and structure or different methods of incorporation of the silage in the pellet [30]. It has been suggested that slower growth chicken breeds, such as those used in organic or small scale-farms, could benefit more from the inclusion of silages in the overall diets [8].…”

“…Agricultural by-products can be included in silage processing to lower the overall cost, but also to incorporate into the silage valuable nutrients such as antioxidants or unsaturated fatty acids. Although silages are more commonly used in ruminant nutrition, silages created with waste by-products are also under investigation in other farm animals such as chickens with promising results [7,8].…”

Intestinal colonization with Campylobacter jejuni affects broiler gut microbiota composition but is not inhibited by daily intake of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

“…The experimental setting was previously described in detail by Valečková et al (2020); a brief description follows. Two experiments were conducted concurrently at the Swedish Livestock Research Centre of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, with approval from the Uppsala region's animal ethics committee (approval number 5.8.18-16271/2017).…”