ABSTRACT:A study was conducted to study the effects of feeding a spray-dried metabolite (SDM) produced by Lb. plantarum I-UL4 in the diets of postweaning rats on growth performance, faecal pH, Enterobacteriaceae bacterial and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts in the faeces and on plasma cholesterol concentrations. A total of 15 female 4-weeks-old Sprague dawley rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups of diets: basal diet (control), 0.25% SDM and 0.5% SDM diets. Daily feed intake, daily growth rate, blood plasma for total cholesterol concentration and faecal Enterobacteriaceae and LAB were measured. The growth rate, total feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and pH were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among all the treatment groups. The faecal Enterobacteriaceae counts in the 0.25% and 0.5% groups were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in the control group. However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the LAB counts among all the treatment groups. The plasma cholesterol concentration was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) following the feeding of the metabolite. The control had the highest concentration of cholesterol. However, the 0.5% SDM group had the lowest plasma cholesterol concentration, followed by the 0.25% SDM group.
The study investigated the effects of varying dietary calcium (Ca) levels and sources of oil on performance of broiler chickens. A total of 378 one-day-old birds were fed 6% palm oil (PO), soybean oil (SO) or linseed oil (LO) in combination with three levels of Ca, 1%, 1.25% and 1.5%, for six weeks in a 3 x 3 factorial experiment. Birds fed diet supplemented with SO and PO had higher average daily gains, more abdominal fat and greater villi height compared with those fed LO. However, feed efficiency, apparent digestibility of organic matter, ether extract, crude protein and ash were similar across treatments. Regardless of oil source, the chickens fed diets containing 1.5% Ca had a lower bodyweight and apparent digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, ether extract and phosphorus (P) than those fed 1% and 1.25% Ca. In contrast, the birds fed 1.25% Ca had higher ash, Ca and P digestibility than did the 1% Ca birds. Interaction between source of oil and Ca level on mineral digestibility was significant. It can be concluded that palm oil could be used as an alternative to soybean and linseed oils to improve growth performance in broiler chickens. Moreover, increasing the level of Ca to 1.25% can improve broiler performance and apparent nutrient digestibility, regardless of the type of oil used in the current study. ______________________________________________________________________________________
Larvae meal has been reported as a suitable alternative protein source to fish meal and soybean meal. It contains necessary essential amino acids required in poultry feeding. A feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of feeding different levels of larvae meal on broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass and meat quality, and bacterial count. Day-old male broiler chicks (216) were raised for 42 days. Birds were weighed and randomly allotted into 6 dietary treatments consisting of 6 replicates (pens) per treatment and 6 birds in each replicate. The dietary treatments were supplemented with earth larvae meal by 0% (control group), 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%. The feed and drinking water were provided ad lib. The findings showed that body weight, average daily gain and total weight gain for group of birds fed 0% larvae meal significantly decreased compared to those chickens fed 8% and 10% larvae meal. A higher crude protein digestibility was found in birds fed with larvae meal. Control group had the highest Enterobacteriaceae count compared to the other treatments. Larvae meal supplementation improved the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and meat quality of broiler chicken and decreased excreta Enterobacteriaceae counts.
Digestibility trial was conducted to determine the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in untreated palm kernel cake (PKC) and fermented palm kernel cake (FPKC) on finisher broiler. Paenibacillus polymyxa ATCC 842 and P. curdlanolyticus DSMZ 10248 were used to produce FPKCa and FPKCb, respectively through solid state fermentation (SSF). Broiler male chickens were fed with diets containing 15% PKC from day one until 41 days of age. Birds (36) were selected with uniform body weight, and randomly distributed into 3 groups with 6 replicates in each treatment and 2 birds per replicate. The chickens were deprived from food overnight with free access to drinking water. The birds were fed PKC, FPKCa and FPKCb with indigestible marker. All the chickens were allowed free access to the test ingredients and drinking water for 4 days. The birds were slaughtered; ileal digesta were individually collected, pooled within each replicate in plastic cups; and immediately kept at -20°C for chemical analysis. The findings showed that the process of SSF by cellulolytic bacteria increased the levels of CP from 16.43% in the PKC to 16.68% and 16.80% in FPKCb and FPKCa, respectively. The AID of CP was increased in FPKC compared to the PKC. Additionally, there was an increase in the digestibilities of AA in FPKC compared to untreated PKC. The process of SSF decreased the fibres in FPKC, and there was improvement in the nutrient value of FPKC by cellulolytic bacterial cultures in terms of nutrient content and digestibility.
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