Anticoccidial effect of “Shi Ying Zi” Powder in chickens infected with Eimeria tenella

This work aimed to assess the effect of using the RNL on performance indices, carcass trait, and meat quality of broiler chicken infected with Eimeria tenella compared with commercially used anticoccidials salinomycin. Moreover, we compare these selected variables between infected medicated groups and a non-infected unmedicated group (UUT) and an infected unmedicated group (IUT). A total of 150 1-day-old Ross 308 mixed-sex broilers were divided into 6 groups. Birds in groups 1, 2, and 3 were fed basic diets supplemented with 1, 3, and 5 g of RNL/kg diet, respectively. Group 4 received a basic diet with 66 mg of salinomycin. The control groups (5 and 6) were given a basic diet with no RNL or salinomycin added. All groups except the negative controls were challenged with Eimeria tenella at 21 days old. Birds in RNL groups outperformed those in the IUT group in performance indices, and they have a similar effect to the salinomycin group. Enhancement-infected birds with RNL affected some chickens’ carcass traits. Drip loss, water-holding capacity, and meat tenderness were improved by RNL inclusion (1 g) in the diet. In conclusion, the meat of infected birds receiving 1 g RNL had increased quality attributes, with preferable tenderness and springiness when compared to the IUT group. RNL could therefore also be considered a promising non-conventional feed source in the future. Further research is needed to optimize the use of RNL to improve broilers production and meat quality in both infected and non-infected conditions.

Effect of Rumex nervosus Leaf Powder on the Breast Meat Quality, Carcass Traits, and Performance Indices of Eimeria tenella Oocyst-Infected Broiler Chickens

Qaid

Al-Mufarrej

Azzam

et al. 2021

Effects of Eimeria tenella Infection on Key Parameters for Feed Efficiency in Broiler Chickens

Choi

Tompkins

et al. 2021

The purpose of the study was to investigate effects of different inoculation dosages of E. tenella on growth performance, gastrointestinal permeability, oocyst shedding, intestinal morphology, fecal consistency, ileal apparent digestibility, antioxidant capacity, and cecal VFA profile in broiler chickens. Five different dosages (T0: 0, T1: 6250, T2: 12,500, T3: 25,000, and T4: 50,000) of E. tenella oocysts were inoculated via oral gavage to fourteen-day-old broilers. Inoculation of E. tenella linearly increased FCR (p < 0.05), and feed intake was quadratically increased on 6 days post-infection (dpi; p = 0.08) and 7 dpi (p = 0.09). Cecal lesion score of each treatment was T0: 0; T1: 0.39 ± 0.14; T2: 0.93 ± 0.21; T3: 1.25 ± 0.16; and T4: 1.58 ± 0.2. Cecal total VFA production was linearly reduced due to E. tenella infection on 6 dpi (p < 0.01). E. tenella infection deepened cecal crypts depth on 6 dpi (CD; p < 0.05). Gastrointestinal permeability tended to be linearly increased (p = 0.07). E. tenella infection tended to linearly reduce duodenal VH (p = 0.1) and jejunal VH on 9 dpi (p = 0.09). Different dosages of E. tenella modulated the tendency of fecal moisture content and oocyst shedding. Therefore, E. tenella infection impaired feed efficiency and small intestinal health mainly by reducing cecal VFA production and deepening cecal CD in broilers.

Dietary Cinnamon Bark Affects Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Breast Meat Quality in Broiler Infected with Eimeria tenella Oocysts

Qaid

Al-Mufarrej

Azzam

et al. 2022

A total of 150 broiler chicks were used to determine the impact of dietary cinnamon bark powder (CBP; Cinnamomum verum) on breast meat quality, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of birds under coccidiosis, as one of the protozoan parasitic diseases. A total of 5 replicates of birds received 1 of the following 6 groups for 34 days: control groups (1 and 2) received a basal diet without the addition of CBP or salinomycin; group 3 received a basal diet with 0.066 g salinomycin; groups 4–6 were given a basal diet supplemented with 2, 4, and 6 g CBP/kg feed, respectively. On day 21, 4 × 104/100 µL of Eimeria tenella oocysts/bird were challenged, except for the negative control (NC). At the end of the experimental trial, five birds/group were sampled for carcass characteristics and breast attributes. Overall, emeriosis negatively affects slaughter body mass, carcass yield, and the majority of carcass characteristics in birds, and cinnamon can mitigate these effects. Cinnamon groups, particularly at the 2 g level, alleviated the negative effect on performance caused by coccidia infestation to the same or greater extent as the negative control and salinomycin treatment groups. Furthermore, when compared with the other experimental groups, the addition of cinnamon improved some physicochemical properties with some affecting meat quality, such as decreasing MFI and increasing toughness in cinnamon-treated groups. In summary, it can be concluded that CBP can enhance the shelf life, carcass, and quality of birds’ meat by maximizing the productive performance efficiency and breast meat productivity of birds under coccidiosis infestation. Further research is required to investigate the use of cinnamon to optimize the quality of meat and the productivity of both healthy and diseased broilers.