ObjectiveThe present study investigated the litter performance of multiparous sows fed 3% and 6% densified diets at farrowing to weaning during summer with mean maximum room temperature of 30.5°C.MethodsA total of 60 crossbred multiparous sows were allotted to one of three treatments based on body weight according to a completely randomized design. Three different nutrient levels based on NRC were applied as standard diet (ST; metabolizable energy, 3,300 kcal/kg), high nutrient level 1 (HE1; ST+3% higher energy and 16.59% protein) and high nutrient level 2 (HE2; ST+6% higher energy and 17.04% protein).ResultsThere was no variation in the body weight change. However, backfat thickness change tended to reduce in HE1 in comparison to ST treatment. Dietary treatments had no effects on feed intake, daily energy intake and weaning-to-estrus interval in lactating sows. Litter size, litter weight at weaning and average daily gain of piglets were significantly greater in sows in HE1 compared with ST, however, no difference was observed between HE2 and ST. Increasing the nutrient levels had no effects on the blood urea nitrogen, glucose, triglyceride, and creatinine at post-farrowing and weaning time. The concentration of follicle stimulating hormone, cortisol and insulin were not affected by dietary treatments either in post-farrowing or weaning time. The concentration of blood luteinizing hormone of sows in ST treatment was numerically less than sows in HE2 treatment at weaning. Milk and colostrum compositions such as protein, fat and lactose were not affected by the treatments.ConclusionAn energy level of 3,400 kcal/kg (14.23 MJ/kg) with 166 g/kg crude protein is suggested as the optimal level of dietary nutrients for heat stressed lactating sows with significant beneficial effects on litter size.

The present study investigated the effects of feed form and distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestine microbiota in broilers. A total of 720 broilers (Ross 308; average BW 541 ± 6 g) was randomly allotted to 6 treatments on the basis of BW. There were 6 replicates in each treatment with 20 birds per replicate. Birds were fed 3 different feed forms (mash, simple pellet, and expanded pellet) and DDGS (0 or 20% of diet) in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Simple pellet (SP) and expanded pellet (EP) fed birds showed an increase in BW gain (P < 0.05). The interaction between feed processing and DDGS level was observed on pellet hardness (P < 0.01). The lowest (P < 0.01) pellet durability index (PDI) and hardness were observed in the diet with DDGS. Values for PDI and hardness were higher for EP compared with SP (P < 0.01). Simple pellet decreased ileal digestibility of CP compared to mash feed. The inclusion of DDGS decreased the digestibility of CP, and tended to decrease digestibility of DM (P = 0.056) and gross energy (P = 0.069). Expanded pellet feeding decreased (P < 0.05) the ileal digestibility of isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, cysteine, and glutamine compared with mash diet. Processed feed increased (P < 0.01) pH in the gizzard and duodenum; however, processing decreased pH in ileum. The addition of DDGS to the diet reduced pH in the duodenum. The population of Lactobacillus spp. was lower in the duodenum of birds fed the EP diet compared to the mash diet. Processed feed increased the colonization of Clostridium spp. in the gizzard. These results indicated that SP and EP in broiler diet had a potential to improve BW gain, but EP compromised amino acid digestibility. In addition, DDGS supplementation (20%) decreased pellet quality and CP digestibility in broiler chickens; however, the growth performance and feed intake were not affected.

The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of multienzyme preparation on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, and gut health of weaned pigs. A total of 240 weaned pigs (initial body weight: 7.3 ± 0.7 kg) were randomly allotted to five treatments on the basis of body weight. The dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal (SBM)-based diet supplemented with 0 (control), 0.025, 0.050%, 0.075%, or 0.10% multienzyme preparation. The experimental diets were fed in a meal form for two phases (d 0-14, phase I and d 15-28, phase II). Increasing multienzyme supplementation linearly improved overall (d 0-28) average daily gain, gain:feed, and ATTD of dry matter, gross energy, and crude protein. At d 21, pigs fed dietary increasing levels of multienzyme preparation had linearly greater Lactobacillus spp. (ileum and caecum and faeces) and fewer Clostridium spp. (ileum and caecum) and Escherichia coli (ileum and faeces) populations. On d 28, villus height of the jejunum and ileum were linearly increased with dietary increase in multienzyme preparation. In conclusion, this multienzyme has potential to improve the growth performance, ATTD of nutrients, and gut health of weaned pigs fed a corn-SBM-based diet in the absence of antibiotics growth promoters. ARTICLE HISTORY

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary combinations of vitamin A (VA), vitamin E (VE) and methionine (Met) on growth performance, meat quality and immunity in commercial broilers. Ross chicks (n=3,630) were allocated to five experimental treatments with three replicates per diet. The dietary treatments were:

This research was conducted to compare the effects of vitamin E (VE) when supplemented in either feed or water on the performance and meat quality of broilers. For a six-week feeding trial, a total of 330 broiler chicks were allotted to five treatments. The treatments were 1) 0 ppm VE, 2) 10 ppm VE in feed, 3) 20 ppm VE in feed, 4) 5 ppm VE in water and 5) 10 ppm VE in water. During the starter phase (0-3 weeks) chicks on non-supplemented groups grew slower (p<0.05) than the supplemented ones and the same trend was followed during the finisher (4-6 weeks) and overall period (0-6 weeks). The feed intake was significantly higher in feed supplemented groups as compared with water-supplemented groups and at higher levels as compared with lower levels of supplementation. The nutrient digestibility studies conducted after 15 and 35 days on the feeding trial showed that the digestibility of all nutrients was significantly (p<0.05) higher in supplemented groups than the non-supplemented one. The dressing percentage was higher in supplemented groups, when fed in feed and at higher levels when compared with their respective counterparts. Similar trends were noticed with respect to bone resistance. The calcium and phosphorus contents in tibia were also significantly (p<0.05) higher in supplemented, feed fed groups at higher levels than other groups. The TBARS values measured after 5 and 10 days of storage, which reflect the degree of oxidation, showed significantly lower levels in supplemented diets. The plasma and muscle vitamin E levels also showed a positive linear correlation with the levels supplemented both in feed and water. Overall it can be inferred that supplementation of VE was beneficial and there was not much difference observed when fed either in feed or water at the levels measured in the present study.