No abstract

Early feeding post-hatching (EFPH) can impact the immune response and modify the immunity-related gene expression. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effects of EFPH with different diets composition versus fasting during the first 72 h of chick’s life on the histomorphological structures of the liver, proventriculus, central and peripheral lymphoid organs, and immunity-related genes in layer-type chicks during the brooding period. A total of 400 chicks were randomly allotted into 4 groups with 4 replicates each. The experimental groups during the first 72 h of life were: feed and water deprivation (control, T1), feeding a starter layer diet (20% CP and 11.84 MJ/kg ME, T2), feeding a starter layer diet contained 3% molasses in its composition (20% CP and 11.81 MJ/kg ME; T3), and feeding a starter broiler diet (23% CP and 12.68 MJ/kg ME, T4). After the first 72 h of chick’s life, all chicks were fed ad libitum the T2 diet. EFPH had no negative effect on the development of the lymphoid or digestive organs in chicks. Greater relative weights of the spleen and bursa of Fabricius (p < 0.05) were observed in the early fed chicks compared to control at day 14 of age. Histomorphological examination revealed an increase (p < 0.05) in thymus cortex and cortex:medulla in the T3 and T4 groups compared to the fasted ones at day 28 of age. Pelicae height, follicular width, cortex, and cortex:medulla of bursa were improved (p < 0.01) in the fed groups compared to fasted chicks, with resultant influences on the primary lymphoid organs. Compared to control, higher germinal center areas and white pulp of the spleen (p < 0.05) were recorded in the early fed chicks, implying augmented proliferation and maturation of B cells in the secondary lymphoid organs. In the liver, a strong positive reaction to Best’s carmine stain in the early fed groups, indicating that the liver of these chicks had numerous glycogen granules or greater glycogen density in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. There was a significant enhancement in the proventriculus mucosal and gland thickness, as well as fold height (p < 0.05) in the early fed chicks. The expression levels of splenic Toll-like receptor 2, interleukin 4, tumor necrosis factor α, and interferon gamma were up-regulated (p < 0.01) in most of the early fed chicks (T2, T3, and T4) compared to fasted ones at 14 day of age. In conclusion, EFPH could modify the splenic-immunity related genes and modulate the histomorphology of the digestive (liver and proventriculus) and lymphoid organs in layer-type chicks during the brooding period.

his study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of dietary varying levels of nano di-calcium phosphate (NDCP) on eggshell quality [total thickness (EST), mammillary layer thickness (MT), and mammillary density (MD)] egg mineral contents, bone breaking strength, serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations and calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) retention in old laying hen. Therefore, one hundred and eighty brown LSL hens at the age of 52 weeks of age were used for 12 weeks at the end of their production period. Hens were divided into four equal groups, 45 birds/group with nine replicates each. The treatments were as follows: Group (1): basal diet (control); Group (2): basal diet + 200g NDCP/ ton; Group (3): basal diet + 400g NDCP/ ton; and Group (4): basal diet + 800g NDCP/ ton. Results detected that serum Ca and P concentration, tibia fresh weight, tibia ash, tibia Ca, Ca and P retention were significantly increased stuck with the increase in NDCP supplementation level up to 400 g / ton and tend to decrease after that. Furthermore, Yolk mineral content (Ca and p) accumulation was significantly decreased with increasing NDCP levels. There were no significant differences in tibia breaking strength and tibia P with the supplementation in comparison with the control group. Eggshell thickness and breaking strength increased parallel to the increase in NDCP levels due to the increase in palisade layer and mammillary layer. In conclusion supplementation of NDCP up to 400 g/ ton to layers diet may be help in solving the problems of egg shell weakness at the end of egg laying season or old hen production.

he present study was conducted in order to determine the protein requirements of Sinai cocks males as a local strain by feeding different crude protein (CP) levels (Control: 17%, Medium: 15% or Low: 13%) on their reproductive performance and semen quality. Forty five male of local strain Sinai Bedouin (32 weeks old) were divided into three equal groups, 15 male/ group with 3 replicates each, having nearly similar body weights (1.40 kg) and located housed in individual cages. The experiment extended for 6 weeks. Results revealed that feed intake and protein intake were significantly reduced as the dietary crude protein level was decreased (13% CP, being 86 and 11.11g/ cock/day compared to 96, 93 g feed/cock/day and 16.34, 13.24g CP/cock/ day in cocks fed the control (17%) and the medium (15%) crude protein diets, respectively). Neither fertility nor hatchability was affected, while significant increase in semen volume and motility were noticed with reducing dietary crude protein levels. The greater amounts of semen volume and the lowest semen concentration (226×10 7 / ml), were recorded for males fed the lowest dietary crude protein diet (13%) in comparison with the other feeding groups. Blood glucose, total protein and triglycerides were decreased by reducing dietary crude protein levels. Meanwhile, blood serum createnine, total cholesterol and ALT and AST enzymes were increased by reducing dietary crude protein levels.

he present study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding commercial probiotic preparation (Proact) supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters, intestinal morphological parameters and economical efficiency. A total of 240, one-day old Molar ducklings were individually weighed, wingbanded and randomly assigned to eight equal groups each of 3 replicates (30 birds each). All birds were fed a starter diet until 21-day of age and finisher diet from 22 day until marketing (70 d). Ducklings of group 1 (control) were fed the starter and finisher diets without Proact supplementation. Ducklings of groups 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were fed the control diets plus graded levels of Proact (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50 and 1.75g/ kg diet, respectively). Results revealed that ducklings of group 4 (0.75) showed significantly (P≤ 0.05) higher body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and performance index. Moreover, feed conversion ratio, European efficiency index and economic efficiency were significantly improved. Carcass and giblets weights and percentage were significantly (P≤ 0.05) increased with the supplementation. Probiotics supplementation (0.75g/ kg diet) significantly increased serum glucose and liver enzymes (AST and ALT), and significantly (P≤ 0.05) decreased createnine, cholesterol, triglyceride and total lipids. However; total protein and albumen were not affected. Moreover, villi height, villi width and villi height: villi width ratio were significantly improved by the addition of probiotics up to 0.75g/ kg diet. Therefore, it may be concluded that supplementation of 0.75g probiotics/ kg diet could be used in diets of Molar ducklings from 0-10 weeks of age to improve growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass traits.