Physico-chemical properties of late-incubation egg amniotic fluid and a potential in ovo feed supplement

A.A. Omede,M.M. Bhuiyan,A.F. Islam,P.A. Iji 아세아·태평양축산학회 2017 Animal Bioscience Vol.30 No.8

Objective: This study explored the physico-chemical properties of late-incubation egg amniotic fluid and a potential in ovo feed (IOF) supplement. Methods: Amniotic fluid was collected from broiler breeders (Ross 308, 51 weeks and Cobb 500, 35 weeks) on day 17 after incubation. A mixture of high-quality soy protein supplement – Hamlet Protein AviStart (HPA) was serially diluted in MilliQ water to obtain solutions ranging from 150 to 9.375 mg/mL. The mixtures were heat-treated (0, 30, 60 minutes) in a waterbath (80°C) and then centrifuged to obtain supernatants. The amniotic fluid and HPA supernatants were analysed for their physico-chemical properties. Results: Only viscosity and K+ were significantly (p<0.05) different in both strains. Of all essential amino acids, leucine and lysine were in the highest concentration in both strains. The osmolality, viscosity and pCO2 of the supernatants decreased (p<0.05) with decreasing HPA concentration. Heat treatment significantly (p<0.05) affected osmolality, pH, and pCO2, of the supernatants. The interactions between HPA concentration and heat treatment were significant with regards to osmolality (p<0.01), pH (p<0.01), pCO2 (p<0.05), glucose (p<0.05), lactate (p<0.01) and acid-base status (p<0.01) of HPA solutions. The Ca2+, K+, glucose, and lactate increased with increasing concentration of HPA solution. The protein content of HPA solutions decreased (p<0.05) with reduced HPA solution concentrations. The supernatant from 150 mg/mL HPA solution was richest in glutamic acid, aspartic acid, arginine and lysine. Amino acids concentrations were reduced (p<0.05) with each serial dilution but increased with longer heating. Conclusion: The values obtained in the primary solution (highest concentration) are close to the profiles of high-protein ingredients. This supplement, as a solution, hence, may be suitable for use as an IOF supplement and should be tested for this potential.

Intestinal Structure and Function of Broiler Chickens on Wheat-Based Diets Supplemented With a Microbial Enzyme

Iji, P.A.,Hughes, R.J.,Choct, M.,Tivey, D.R. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2001 Animal Bioscience Vol.14 No.1

A study was conducted to assess the nutritive value of two diets based on a low-energy variety of wheat, RAC C1 and their effects on intestinal mucosal structure and function in broiler chickens. The diets were fed with or without microbial enzyme supplement to male and female broiler chickens. The digesta viscosity was reduced (p<0.001) through supplementation with a microbial enzyme in male and female chicks. Enzyme supplementation also improved the dietary apparent metabolizable energy content (p<0.001) and had slight but non-significant positive effects on chick growth and feed conversion ratio. Intestinal mucosal structure and enzyme function were not affected by microbial enzyme supplement. Male chicks consumed more feeds (p<0.001), attained higher final body weight (p<0.001) and were more efficient at feed utilization (p<0.01) than the female chicks. Except for duodenal villus surface area and ileal protein content, intestinal mucosal structure and enzyme activities were similar between the two sexes and dietary treatment groups. The study showed an improvement in the nutritive value of the diets in the presence of the microbial enzyme supplement.

Effects of Xylanase on Growth and Gut Development of Broiler Chickens Given a Wheat-based Diet

Yang, Y.,Iji, P.A.,Kocher, A.,Mikkelsen, L.L.,Choct, M. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.11

To study the working mechanisms for non-starch polysaccharidases to improve the growth performance of broiler chickens, a 21-day feeding trial was conducted. Two dietary treatments were included: 1) wheat diet (the control); 2) wheat+xylanase diet (xylanase, Allzyme PT, Alltech, Kentucky, USA). There were 8 replicates with 8 birds each for each treatment and the experimental diets were given to birds from hatch. Feed intake and body weight were measured on days 7 and 21. At the same ages, samples were taken for the determination of selected groups of luminal and mucosa-associated bacteria, mucosal morphology, brush-border membrane (BBM) bound enzyme activity and ileal nutrient digestibility. The xylanase supplement increased (p<0.05) body weight gain (BWG) and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) at the end of the experiment but protein and starch digestibilities were not affected (p>0.05) by xylanase. Up to day 7, xylanase increased the counts of C. perfringens in the ileum and total anaerobic bacteria (TAB) in the caeca (p<0.05, p=0.07, respectively). By day 21, the counts of ileal lactobacilli (p<0.05) and TAB (p=0.07) were lower in birds given the xylanase-supplemented diet than in those on the control diet. No significant differences were observed in the counts of mucosa-associated lactobacilli and coliforms between xylanase treatment and the control at both ages. Villus height at the jejunum was not affected (p>0.05) by the supplement but crypt depth at the same site was reduced at day 7. Also, xylanase tended to increase the concentration of BBM protein (p = 0.09) and the specific activity of sucrase (p = 0.07) at day 21.

Effect of Production Phase on Growth, Enzyme Activities and Feed Selection of Broilers Raised on Vegetable Protein Diet

Hossain, M.A.,Islam, A.F.,Iji, P.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2014 Animal Bioscience Vol.27 No.11

This study consisted of two experiments, conducted to assess the impact of phase at which vegetable protein (VP) diets are introduced to broiler chicks, and preference of birds for diets based on soybean or canola meal (CM). Two hundred and ten day-old Cobb 500 chicks were randomly distributed into five dietary groups in the main experiment. One group was fed on animal protein (AP) diet all through to 21 days of age; two other groups were started on AP diet for 7 days and then switched to diets containing soybean meal (AP-SBM) or AP-CM, while two other diets (SBM-AP and CM-AP) were started on one of the VP diets for 7 days and then switched to AP diet. A sub-experiment on thirty birds raised on a commercial diet to 7 days was used in a feed selection test to quantify the preference of birds for the diets containing mainly CM or SBM. Chicks were reared under similar care and management conditions and the diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. Results of the main experiment showed that chicks on CM-AP diet ate more (p<0.05) than those on the other diets up to day 7. Body weight gain was highest (p<0.001) on the AP-SBM diet while birds on the CM-AP diet weighed the least at 7 d. Feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, mortality, bone growth, visceral organ development, and activities of digestive enzymes were similar between the groups from hatch to 21 days of age. Results of the second sub-experiment showed that chicks preferred the CM-based diets to the SBM-based diets at 8 to 14 d (p<0.001) and 15 to 21 d (p<0.01) when given a choice. Overall, the birds were not affected by the nature of the starter diet although they tended to prefer the canola to soybean diets.

Energy Value of Cassava Products in Broiler Chicken Diets with or without Enzyme Supplementation

Bhuiyan, M.M.,Iji, P.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.9

This study investigated the metabolizable energy (ME) intake, net energy of production (NEp), heat production (HP), efficiencies of ME use for energy, lipid and protein retention as well as the performance of broiler chickens fed diets based on cassava chips or pellets with or without supplementation with an enzyme product containing xylanase, amylase, protease and phytase. The two products, cassava chips and pellets, were analysed for nutrient composition prior to feed formulation. The cassava chips and pellets contained 2.2% and 2.1% crude protein; 1.2% and 1.5% crude fat; and 75.1% and 67.8% starch, respectively. Lysine and methionine were 0.077%, 0.075%, and 0.017%, 0.020% protein material, respectively, while calculated ME was 12.6 and 11.7 MJ/kg, respectively. Feed intake to day 21 was lower (p<0.01) on the diet containing cassava chips compared to diets with cassava pellets. Enzyme supplementation increased (p<0.01) feed intake on all diets. Live weight at day 21 was significantly (p<0.01) reduced on the diet based on cassava chips compared to pellets, but an improvement (p<0.01) was noticed with the enzyme supplementation. Metabolizable energy intake was reduced (p<0.01) by both cassava chips and pellets, but was increased (p<0.01) on all diets by enzyme supplementation. The NEp was higher (p<0.01) in the maize-based diets than the diets containing cassava. Enzyme supplementation improved (p<0.01) NEp in all the diets. Heat production was highest (p<0.01) on diets containing cassava pellets than on cassava chips. It is possible to use cassava pellets in diets for broiler chickens at a level close to 50% of the diet to reduce cost of production, and the nutritive value of such diets can be improved through supplementation of enzyme products containing carbohydrases, protease, and phytase.

Fructans from Renga Renga Lily (Arthropodium cirratum) Extract and Frutafit as Prebiotics for Broilers: Their Effects on Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility

Vidanarachchi, J.K.,Iji, P.A.,Mikkelsen, L.L.,Choct, M. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.5

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary water-soluble carbohydrate extract from Renga renga lily (Arthropodium cirratum) and a commercial product, $Frutafit^{{\circledR}}$ (both fructans) on the performance, organ weights, ileal digestibility and gut morphology of male Cobb broiler chickens. There were six treatment groups: a negative control with no supplements, a positive control supplemented with 45 ppm Zn-bacitracin, and four test diets each supplemented with Renga renga lily extract or Frutafit at 5 or 10 g/kg diet. Supplementation with low levels of Renga renga lily extract and Frutafit in the diet did not affect productive parameters, whereas the inclusion of a high level of Frutafit had a negative effect on BWG and FI compared with birds fed the negative control diet. The addition of an antibiotic to the diet significantly improved (p<0.05) the BWG and FCR of broilers. Apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, starch, protein and fat was not affected (p>0.05) by supplementation with both levels of lily extract and the low level of Frutafit. The apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, protein and fat was decreased (p<0.05) by the high level of Frutafit. The apparent metabolisable energy (AME) of the diets fed the high level of Frutafit was approximately 0.2 MJ/kg DM lower than that of the negative control group. The addition of Zn-bacitracin increased (p<0.05) the apparent ileal digestibility of fat. The relative weight of the liver was higher (p<0.05) in broilers supplemented with the high level of Frutafit than for negative control birds at 14 and 35 d of age. Feeding Renga renga lily extract or Frutafit had no effect on the gut morphology of birds on d 14 and 35. It can be concluded that dietary inclusion of fructans from the two sources used in this study affected broiler performance differently and in a dose-dependent manner.

Energy Value of Cassava Products in Broiler Chicken Diets with or without Enzyme Supplementation

M.M. Bhuiyan,P.A. Iji 아세아·태평양축산학회 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.9

This study investigated the metabolizable energy (ME) intake, net energy of production (NEp), heat production (HP), efficiencies of ME use for energy, lipid and protein retention as well as the performance of broiler chickens fed diets based on cassava chips or pellets with or without supplementation with an enzyme product containing xylanase, amylase, protease and phytase. The two products, cassava chips and pellets, were analysed for nutrient composition prior to feed formulation. The cassava chips and pellets contained 2.2% and 2.1% crude protein; 1.2% and 1.5% crude fat; and 75.1% and 67.8% starch, respectively. Lysine and methionine were 0.077%, 0.075%, and 0.017%, 0.020% protein material, respectively, while calculated ME was 12.6 and 11.7 MJ/kg, respectively. Feed intake to day 21 was lower (p<0.01) on the diet containing cassava chips compared to diets with cassava pellets. Enzyme supplementation increased (p<0.01) feed intake on all diets. Live weight at day 21 was significantly (p<0.01) reduced on the diet based on cassava chips compared to pellets, but an improvement (p<0.01) was noticed with the enzyme supplementation. Metabolizable energy intake was reduced (p<0.01) by both cassava chips and pellets, but was increased (p<0.01) on all diets by enzyme supplementation. The NEp was higher (p<0.01) in the maize-based diets than the diets containing cassava. Enzyme supplementation improved (p<0.01) NEp in all the diets. Heat production was highest (p<0.01) on diets containing cassava pellets than on cassava chips. It is possible to use cassava pellets in diets for broiler chickens at a level close to 50% of the diet to reduce cost of production, and the nutritive value of such diets can be improved through supplementation of enzyme products containing carbohydrases, protease, and phytase.

Effects of Seeding Rates and Phosphorus Levels on the Productivity of Atylosia scarabeoides (Benth.)

Iji, P.A.,Kolawole, O.A.,Bawa, G.S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1997 Animal Bioscience Vol.10 No.2

Glasshouse investigations were carried out to investigate the development and yield of Atylosia scarabeoides on soils of the northern guinea savanah zone of Nigeria. Seeds were sown at four rates 50, 75, 100 and 125 kg/ha. Single superphosphate (SSP) fertilizer was applied at sowing at four rates 0, 60, 90 and 120 kg/ha. Seeding (plant) population at one month and at harvest was significantly (p < 0.01) influenced by seeding rate but not fertilizer level. Fresh herbage yield was strongly (p < 0.01) dependent on fertilizer level, with the highest (not significant) dry matter yield at 90 kg SSP/ha. Seeding rate had no significant effects on herbage yield. The crude protein content of herbage rose with increase in fertilizer level although there were no significant differences between the various seeding and phosphorus rates. No significant interactions were observed between seeding rate and phosphorus lever. The yields were generally high, indicating good prospects for pasture development with A. scarabeoides in the zone, although field trials would be of benefit.

The Digestibility of Organic Trace Minerals along the Small Intestine in Broiler Chickens

Bao, Y.M.,Choct, M.,Iji, P.A.,Bruerton, K. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.1

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of low concentrations of organic and inorganic dietary trace minerals on broiler performance and trace mineral digestibility along the small intestine of 35-day-old broiler chickens reared under floor-pen conditions. Eight hundred male, day-old Cobb broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments (25 birds per pen with 8 replicates per treatment). Broilers fed diets supplemented with 4, 20, 40 and 30 mg/kg, respectively, of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn from organic chelates and inorganic salts achieved the same body weight gain as those supplemented at the NRC levels (8 mg Cu, 40 mg Fe, 60 mg Mn and 40 mg Zn/kg, respectively) from inorganic salts. However, birds fed a control diet without any supplementation at dietary levels of 7.4-8.8, 60.1-69.2, 14.6-15.4 and 19.1-20.6 mg/kg of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, respectively, had decreased feed intake and growth rate. There was no significant difference in the digestibility of Cu in all regions of the small intestine. Throughout the small intestine the apparent absorption of Mn from both organic and inorganic sources was small, whereas the digestibility of Zn seemed to be more complex, exhibiting differences in the apparent absorption due to both mineral source and intestinal site. Therefore, the digestibility of organic Zn was improved (p<0.01) in the ileum compared to inorganic Zn. The digestibility of Zn in the duodenum was smaller (p<0.05) than that in the ileum.

Effects of Different Dietary Levels of Mannanoligosaccharide on Growth Performance and Gut Development of Broiler Chickens

Yang, Y.,Iji, P.A.,Choct, M. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.7

Different levels of dietary mannanoligosaccharide (Bio-MOS, Alltech Inc.) were evaluated for their efficacy on performance and gut development of broiler chickens during a 6-week experimental period. Experimental diets contained (g MOS/kg diet) a low (0.5 g during the entire period), medium (1 g during the entire period), high (2 g during the entire period), or step down (2 g in the first week; 1 g in the second and third week; 0.5 g in the last three weeks) level of MOS. Control diets included a negative and a positive control (zinc bacitracin, ZnB, 50 ppm and 30 ppm in the first and last three weeks, respectively). MOS supplementation improved the growth performance of young birds and the effects became less when the birds got older. The growth response of birds was more obvious at the high dosage level of MOS treatment than the other MOS treatments and the growth performance of birds fed on the high MOS diet was comparable to that of birds fed on the ZnB diet. Depending on the dosage level and the age of birds, MOS seemed to reduce the size of the liver and the relative length of the small intestine but did not affect the relative weight of the other visceral organs (proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, bursa and spleen) and that of the small intestine. A numerical increase in the small intestine digestibility of nutrients was noticed in the young birds fed on the MOS diet(s), but not in the older ones. Medium and/or high MOS treatment also increased the villus height of the small intestine of birds at different ages. Similar results were observed on the ZnB treatment. However, MOS and ZnB affected caecal VFA profile in different ways. MOS increased, or tended to increase, whereas ZnB reduced individual VFA concentrations in the caeca.