Effect of almond hulls as an alternative ingredient on broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, and cecal microbiota diversity

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate 2 types of almond hulls (prime hulls and California-type hulls) as alternative feed ingredients for broilers. A total of 560 one-day-old Cobb male chicks were randomly placed to 7 experimental treatments with 8 replicates of 10 birds each. Seven treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal control diet and diets containing prime hulls or California-type hulls at 3, 6, and 9%. The nitrogen-corrected true metabolizable energy, crude protein, and crude fiber from prime hulls and California-type hulls were 1,624 and 1,514 kcal/kg, 4.8 and 5.0%, and 13.1 and 26.45%, respectively. During 0–19 d of age, the inclusion of the prime hulls at 3 levels had no significant effects on growth performance, but the California-type hulls at 9% increased feed intake ( P = 0.02) and feed conversion ratio ( P < 0.01), compared with control. The prime hulls at 9% decreased ( P < 0.01) ileal dry matter and ileal nitrogen digestibility, and the California-type hulls at 9% only decreased ileal dry matter digestibility, but both prime hulls and California-type hulls at 6% had no effects on ileal dry matter digestibility and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy compared to control. In addition, inclusion of prime hulls at 3% decreased ( P < 0.01) AMEn compared with control group. There were no significant differences in cecal microbiota diversity at a phylum or genus level among treatments, but 9% inclusion rate of the California-type hulls increased ( P < 0.05) the population of certain bacteria in the genus Clostridium and Oscillospira compared with control. In conclusion, as a dietary energy and fiber source, the prime hulls can be used at up to 9% without a negative effect on body weight gain, whereas the California-type hulls can be used up to 6%.

Effect of almond hulls on the performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility, and body composition of laying hens

“…Thus, we hypothesized that almond hulls could be used in the laying hen diet at higher levels. The nutrient matrix value could be found in our previous report ( Wang et al, 2021 ) showing that broilers fed a diet containing prime or California type hulls at 9% had a similar body weight gain compared to those fed the corn soybean meal control diet. The prime hulls and California type hulls used in the present study have a nitrogen corrected true metabolizable energy ( TMEn ) at 1,624 and 1,514 kcal/kg, respectively.…”

“…From the previous report of our lab, the nutrient matrix values of both prime and California type hulls are shown in Table 2 ( Wang et al, 2021 ). No mortality was found during the 8 wk experimental period, and hens in all dietary treatments were able to maintain egg laying rates over 90% ( Table 3 ).…”

Genomic evidence of environmental and resident Salmonella Senftenberg and Montevideo contamination in the pistachio supply-chain

“…The presence of a chicken isolate (OSF045712) from Facility H located within the California nut clade can possibly be explained by the use of a tree nut supplemented animal feed [70][71][72]. This scenario is supported by domestic pistachio firms advertising the distribution of their…”

Genomic Evidence of Environmental and ResidentSalmonellaSenftenberg and Montevideo Contamination in the Pistachio Supply-chain

“…Isolates from seven different facilities collected over different points in time are detected throughout the tree. The presence of a chicken isolate (OSF045712) from Facility H located within the California nut cluster can possibly be explained by the use of a tree nut supplemented animal feed (68)(69)(70). The chicken isolate is 2 -5 SNPs away from nuts in the cluster.…”