This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of partial or complete replacement of okara meal for soybean meal on broiler performance, nutrients digestibility and economic efficiency. A total number of 350 one-day-old unsexed Ross chicks of nearly similar live body weight (45 g.) were randomly divided into equal five treatments; each contained 70 birds in seven replicates of ten birds each. Five experimental diets were formulated to be approximately iso-caloric and isonitrogenous according to the management recommendation guide data (Ross). Birds were fed starter-growers (1-4 weeks) and finisher (5-7 weeks) diets ad lib and had free access to water for the entire experimental period. The results showed that the whole experimental period, feeding graded levels of okara meal replacing for soybean meal at levels of either 25,50 and 75 % in broiler diets had no significant effect on live body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion rate (FCR) and average live body weight (LBW) compared with control group. However, the differences were significant poorest (P<0.05) as replacing okara meal for soybean meal at a level of 100% compared to control group or other treatments. There were significant decreases (P<0.05) feed intake values due to using different levels of okara meal compared to control group. Results showed a significant increase (P<0.05)in average values of EE and CF digestibility and N retention with using okara meal as replacing for soybean meal at levels of 25,50 and 75% while, the use of high level (100%) significantly decreased most of nutrient digestibility coefficient and nitrogen's balance. The obtained results showed that replacing of soybean meal by okara meal at levels of 25, 50 and 75% in broiler diets had no significant effect on carcass traits of chicks, while full replacement had a significant adverse effect. The results indicated that replacing soybean meal by okara meal in broiler diets up to level of 75% can reduce cost of feeding, save a considerable amounts of expensive ingredients and prevent environmental pollution.

No abstract

, , , , and Antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry diets are currently restricted, so other feed additives, such as prebiotics and probiotics, have been suggested as an antibiotics alternative to improve the performance and gut health of poultry. The current experiment was conducted to study the effects of adding Mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) as a potential replacement for an antibiotic on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, some blood parameters, and caecal microbiota of broiler chickens. For conducting the current research experiment, a total of 180 one–day old Ross broiler chicks were randomly divided into one control group fed a basal diet and four dietary treatments with six replicates for each treatment. The treatment groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with different levels of MOS 0.5, 1, and 2 g/Kg diet and Lincomycin 4.4 mg/Kg diet during 35 days of the feeding trial. With exception of the growing period, the group fed a basal diet supplemented with 2 g MOS/Kg feed had considerably higher body weight and weight gain, while having the lowest feed consumption and best feed conversion ratio compared to the other treatment groups, during all experimental periods. Moreover, dietary supplementation of MOS resulted in a significant decrease in the counts of caecal E. coli and Enterococcus, while Lactobacillus and Yeast bacteria counts were significantly higher, compared to non-supplemented groups. Broiler chicks having a 2 g MOS/kg diet recorded lower values of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), urea, and liver enzymes, including Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), while they recorded significantly higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL), compared to the other experimental groups. Group treated with MOS 2 g/Kg feed improved digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, nitrogen-free extract, and organic matter, compared to the control group, Additionally, MOS supplementation also increased the intestinal villi length, width, and crypt depth and decreased intestinal inflammation, compared to the control group. In conclusion, supplementation of MOS at 2 g/kg diet improved growth performance, digestibility, and blood parameters without having adverse effects on the intestine of broiler chickens, comparable to the Lincomycin.

No abstract

This investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of partial or total replacement of added DL-methionine (Met) with betaine or choline or both in diets of broilers chicks on growth performance and economic efficiency. A total numbers of 440 day-old straight-run Cobb500 broiler chicks were randomly taken, weighed and divided into eleven treatments (40 birds each). Each treatment contained 4 replicates of 10 birds. A basal diet was formulated as control according to NRC, recommendations for starter (0-12 days, 0.165% added Met.), grower (12-24 days, 0.135% added Met.) and finisher (24-36 days, 0.090% added Met.). Treatment one was fed the control ration while the other ten treatments were fed the control ration after partial or total replacement the added Met. with betaine or choline or both. The results of the present study indicated that replacement of added methionine with betaine and/or choline positively affected final live body weight (LBW) of broiler chicks compared with their control group. The highest LBW was achieved by chicks fed T10 (50% betaine and 50% choline) and T7 (100% betaine) when compared with other dietary treatments while the lowest value was recorded with the control group. The same trend of response was observed in body weight gain (BWG) of chicks fed on diets containing different levels of betaine or choline during the whole experimental period compared with their control counterparts. Slight differences were observed among the different experimental groups of broiler chicks in feed intake FI which seemed erratic and perhaps were not related to the effect of dietary treatments. Replacing added dietary methionine with betaine and/or choline in broiler diets led to superior means of feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the three phases of growth and the whole experimental period to those attained by the control group. During the whole experimental period (0-36 days old), birds fed diets in which betaine completely replaced added methionine achieved the lowest PER compared with their control group and other treatments. Also this level of replacement resulted in significantly (P<0.05) the best EEU value (4.82) as compared to the control group (5.22). Inclusion of 100% betaine instead of added methionine showed significantly (P< 0.05) higher PI value compared with the control group. Birds appeared health and total mortality rates throughout the experimental period were within the normal range among treatments. The lowest cost/kg body weight (11.96 LE) was observed with chicks fed diets completely replaced added methionine, while the highest value in which betaine (12.91 LE) was recorded with the control group. Similar results were observed with economic efficiency. It could be concluded that replacing methionine by betaine, choline or both improved body weight gain, feed conversion and economic efficiency of broiler production.