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An experiment was conducted to find out the effect of different levels of crude protein in broiler diets during different phases. i.e., pre starter (0-11d), starter (12-21d) and finisher (22-42d). 360 day-old broilers (Vencobb) were procured from a commercial hatchery and fed either high or low dietary CP diets during pre-starter (23 and 21%) , starter (21 and 19%) and high, moderate or low CP diets during finisher ( 18.5, 17.5 and 16.5%) phases, for a total of 12 possible treatment combinations at d 42. The results showed that the broilers fed low levels of CP ( 21 and 19 %) had significantly(P<0.05) higher body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI), and better feed efficiency over the diets with high levels of CP during pre-starter and starter phases (23 and 21%, respectively). The higher (18.5%) level of protein in the finisher phase showed higher BWG and best FCR compared to the lower levels (17.5 and 16.5%). Carcass characters were not influenced by the variation in dietary CP level tested except the abdominal fat weight which was significantly higher in broiler fed low CP diet compared to those fed higher levels of CP during all three phases. The results indicated that the broilers fed low CP diets supplemented with critical amino acids (21 and 19%) had beneficial effect on the growth performance during prestarter and starter phase. The broilers showed an ability to respond to increase in dietary CP levels during finisher phase.

The three naked neck broiler genotypes (NaNa, Nana and nana) were investigated for the effect of temperature on juvenile body weights, shank length, immune competence and carcass characteristics. Weekly body weights were recorded from day old to six weeks (n = 417). The body weights were significantly higher in naked neck genotypes (NaNa and Nana) at 4th, 5th and 6th week of age. Birds with NaNa and Nana genotype recorded significantly (p#0.05) higher weight gains during 4th (211.17 g) and 5th (207.96 g) week, respectively than nana genotype. The body weight gains were numerically higher at all ages either in NaNa or Nana genotypes without any significant difference. The shank length did not show any significant variation among the genotypes, which ranged from 78.54 mm in full feathered (nana) birds to 79.67 mm in heterozygous (Nana) population with an overall mean of 79.13 mm. Mean anti SRBC titre, anti NDV titre and response to PHA-P ranged from 3.55-5.6, 2.75-5.10 and 1.35-1.47 mm, respectively in different genetic groups. The dressing percentage was significantly higher in NaNa genotypes (71.96) than their normal (nana) siblings (69.66), which can be attributed to higher body weight and less losses due to lack of feathers in naked neck chicken. The liver, heart and gizzard weights are numerically higher in NaNa and Nana genotypes. The present study invariably concluded that Na gene in homozygous and heterozygous condition is more beneficial to exploit for better performance of Naked neck in tropical conditions.

Background and Aim: Poor palatability, low bulk density, and low nutritive value restrict the utilization of the crop residues as animal feeds. Altering the physical characteristics of feed by blending the roughage and concentrates in the form of complete feed improves the nutrient use efficiency and reduces the feed wastage, feed cost, and labor cost. The study aims to determine suitable processing methods (mash, pellet, or block forms) for efficient utilization of sorghum stover-based complete rations vis-a-vis conventional feeding methods in sheep. Materials and Methods: The sorghum stover was incorporated in complete rations with roughage to concentrate ratio of 50:50 proportion in a growth trial of 120 days. The feed ingredients were chaffed, ground in a hammer mill, passed through expander-extruder, and compressed by feed block machine to prepare chop, mash, pellet, and block form of rations, respectively. Twenty-four male intact growing Nellore×Deccani cross lambs (3.5±0.5 months age, 14.50±0.41 kg (mean ± SD) at the start of the experiment) were divided into four experimental groups of six animals each in a complete randomized design. The experimental rations were randomly allotted to each group and evaluated for their intake, nutrient utilization, and growth performance. Results: The sheep fed on pellet-based ration consumed a higher (p<0.05) quantity of dry matter. The digestibility coefficients of organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber were higher (p<0.05) in processed rations (mash, pellet, or block). Further, the nitrogen balance (g/d) was higher (p<0.05) in the mash, pellet, and block form of rations, compared to chopped ration. The processing method did not influence calcium or phosphorous balance parameters, except for their urinary losses, which showed an increasing trend (p=0.07). The ram lambs fed with pelleted ration showed higher (p<0.05) weight gain than mash, block, or chaff forms. The efficiency of feed utilization in gaining one kg body weight was higher (p<0.05) in lambs fed a pelleted diet. Feeding pelletized ration was more economical to gain one kg body weight. The bulk density was highest for block-based ration followed by pellet, mash, and conventional rations, and the carrying capacity of truck was highest with the least transport cost in block-form of rations. Conclusion: Physical processing (mash, pellet, and block) of sorghum stover-based complete rations increased the nutrient utilization and growth performance of sheep compared to conventional chopped form. Pelleting the mash with expander-extruder procedure was found to be more profitable. Nevertheless, the cost economics revealed blocks as more preferable forms for transporting the complete rations to larger distances.

Gut health plays an important role on production and performance of broilers. This trial was undertaken with an aim to evaluate the synergistic effect of probiotic, chicory root powder and coriander seed powder on the performance and gut health of broiler chicken. For this purpose, a total of 240 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments with 8 replicates of 5 birds in each. Treatment groups included T1 as control i.e., basal diet (BD) without any growth promoter and T2—BD + antibiotic (BMD 0.05%). In the remaining experimental diets, T3—probiotic (@ 0.01%) + chicory root powder (@ 1.0%), T4—probiotic (@ 0.01%) + coriander seed powder (@ 1.5%), T5—chicory root powder (@ 1.0%) + coriander seed powder (@ 1.5%) and T6—probiotic (@ 0.01%) + chicory root powder (@ 1.0%) + coriander seed powder (@ 1.5%). The results indicated that supplementation of probiotic + chicory (T3), probiotic + coriander (T4), chicory + coriander (T5) and probiotic + chicory + coriander (T6) in combination resulted in significantly (P<0.05) higher weight gain and better FCR compared to control and antibiotic groups at 42 d of age. Supplementation of different dietary groups did not show any significant (P>0.05) effect on feed intake of broilers. Supplementation of all the test diets (T3 to T6) significantly (P<0.05) increased the glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione reductase (GSHRx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity when compared to control and antibiotic groups at 42 d of age. Supplementation of all the test diets (T3 to T6) significantly (P<0.05) lowered the pH in the gut, increased Lactobacillus counts, and reduced E. coli and Salmonella counts in the ileum compared to control and antibiotic groups. Supplementation of all the test diets (T3 to T6) significantly (P<0.05) increased the villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), VH:CD ratio and villus width (VW) in the duodenum and only VH and CD in the ileum compared to control and antibiotic groups. Significantly (P<0.05) higher jejunal VH and VW and increased the goblet cell number in duodenum, jejunum and ileum was recorded in all test diets (T3 to T6) compared to control and antibiotic groups. Therefore, combinations of probiotic (0.01%), chicory root powder (1.0%) and coriander seed powder (1.5%) can be used as feed additive for improving performance and gut health of broiler chicken.