Paulownia Leaves as A New Feed Resource: Chemical Composition and Effects on Growth, Carcasses, Digestibility, Blood Biochemistry, and Intestinal Bacterial Populations of Growing Rabbits

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of paulownia leaf meal (PLM) as a nontraditional feed on the growth, carcasses, digestibility, blood chemistry, and intestinal microbiota of growing rabbits. Sixty rabbits (5-weeks old) were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments containing three amounts of PLM (0%, 15%, and 30%). The results showed that PLM has a higher content of ether extract, organic matter, methionine, tyrosine, histidine, manganese, and zinc than alfalfa hay. Body weight gain decreased when 30% PLM was provided. The best feed conversion ratio was recorded in the rabbits fed 15% PLM. A notable increase in high-density lipoprotein levels with a significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein was noted in the rabbits fed the PLM diets. Total fungi and Enterobacteriaceae and total bacterial count in the feed were significantly reduced because of PLM. In the cecum, coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae species, and total bacterial count declined in the rabbits fed the PLM diets. Conclusively, up to 15% PLM can be used in rabbit diets without any deleterious effects on the performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood constituents. In addition, dietary inclusion of PLM has the potential to reduce cecal pathogenic bacteria in rabbits.

Effects of graded levels of microbial fermented or enzymatically treated dried brewer’s grains on growth, digestive and nutrient transporter genes expression and cost effectiveness in broiler chickens

“…The upregulation of proventriculus pepsinogen (PGC and PGA5) genes was more prominent (P < 0.01) in Means within the same row carrying different superscripts are significantly different at P < 0.05. 1 Data represent the mean value of ten replicate pens of 20 birds. 2 Treatments include: NC (negative control), PC (positive control), FDBG5% (5% fermented dried brewers grains), FDBG10% (10% fermented dried brewer grain), FDBG15% (15% fermented dried brewers grains), DBG5%+Enz (5%dried brewers grains mixed with enzymes), DBG10%+Enz (10% dried brewers grains mixed with enzymes), DBG15%+Enz (15% dried brewers grains mixed with enzymes).…”

“…In commercial poultry, the feeding costs of broilers contribute up to 70% of the total production costs. And, since, global feed prices are increasing, it is important to explore alternative or unconventional feed ingredients to achieve cost-effective poultry production [1]. However, the high fiber and low protein contents and presence of antinutritional factors (ANF) in unconventional feed represent a critical challenge for their use in poultry feed.…”

Effect of a Diet Supplemented with the Moringa oleifera Seed Powder on the Performance, Egg Quality, and Gene Expression in Japanese Laying Quail under Heat-Stress

“…Several studies have examined technical options such as nutritional manipulation and feed additives to alleviate the harmful effect of heat stress on laying birds [7,[15][16][17]. Natural herbal plants, such as black seed, coriander seeds, and Moringa oleifera exhibit effective roles in overcoming the effect of heat stress through flavonoids and other phenolic compounds [18,19].…”

Impacts of dietary inclusion of dried brewers’ grains on growth, carcass traits, meat quality, nutrient digestibility and blood biochemical indices of broilers

“…Among the challenges to the poultry industry in developing countries are the high prices of soybean meal and yellow corn, which are used mainly for the formulation of poultry diets. The cost of feed is between 65% and 70% (Al-Sagheer et al, 2019) and 70% and 75% (Abd El-Hack et al, 2015) of the total cost of production, as opposed to about 50% to 60% in developed countries (Saeed et al, 2017). The best strategy to reduce the cost of poultry feeds is to use alternative cheaper local ingredients Ashour et al, 2016).…”