مقالات رزومه دکتر شهریار مقصودلو

Phytogenic products have been used as food spices and traditional remedies has a long history in different worldwide nations, but their application in poultry feed industry is almost new. Phytogenic feed additives are natural products originated from different parts of the plants, mostly in the form of powder or extracts. Researches with phytogenic agents have shown various characteristics such as anti-oxidative and antimicrobial effects, regulation of the gut function, and growth promoting effects for this products. They also have been noticed as potential alternatives for antibiotic growth promoters especially after the ban on antibiotic growth promoters in animal feed industry by European Union due to concerns about their residues in animal tissues and subsequent induction of bacterial resistance. It has been shown that the dietary incorporation of herbs and their associated essential oils may provide beneficial effects on poultry performance and health due to the antimicrobial activity of their phytochemical components Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a member of Zingiberacae family and contains curcumin and its different derivatives as active constituents. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and nematocidal activities of turmeric and their relative constituents have been demonstrated in numerous researches. However, the benefits of an additive in animal nutrition matters little if it fails to show a significant economic improvement. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess the effects of addition of different levels of turmeric to diet on the growth performance and some economic indicators of broilers production.

To investigate the effect of turmeric addition in diet on growth performance, carcass traits and economic parameters of broilers, a completely randomized design was conducted. Three experimental diets having 0% (control), 0.25% and 0.5% Turmeric were fed to 120 mixed sex of Ross 308 day-old chicks. Chickens were randomly distributed into 12 pens, so as to have 4 replicate per treatment and 10 chicks per pen. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Average body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, breast muscle and thigh muscle relative weights and economic indexes were used as a criteria of response. Relative weight of internal organs including heart, liver, gizzard, spleen and bursa of fabricius and abdominal fat were also recorded. Diets were formulated to meet nutrient requirements of chicks according to the Ross 308 Management Guideline (2009) in three periods of starter (0-10 days), grower (11-24 days) and finisher (25-42 days). Feed and water were provided ad libitum. All chicks were vaccinated against Newcastle, Bronchitis and Inflammatory bowel disease, according to the regional vaccination program routine. Body weight and feed intake of chickens were recorded on days 1, 10, 24, 28, 35 and 42 of experimental period and the feed conversion ratio calculated for days 10, 24, 42 and feed cost of each pen, feed cost to weight gain ratio, production efficiency and monetary return calculated for days 28, 35 and 42. At the end of experimental period, 1 chicken per pen was slaughtered, and carcass cuts including breast muscle, thighs, and back bone, neck and wings were weighed in fresh and empty carcass was calculated as sum of these parts. Abdominal fat, heart, liver, spleen and bursa of fabricius were separated and weighed and percent of each part per live weight was calculated. The data were analyzed as a completely randomized design by analysis of variance (ANOVA), using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS (2001). Means were compared using Duncan's Multiple Range Test with accepted level of significance of 0.05.

The results of this experiment showed that, addition of turmeric powder in broiler diet has no significant effect on feed intake, average weight gain or feed conversion ratio. Carcass traits including percentage of breast muscle weight (21.66, 22.78 and 21.62 % respectively in control, 0.25% turmeric and 0.50% turmeric groups), thighs muscle weight (19.98, 19.31 and 20.01% in control, 0.25% turmeric and 0.50% turmeric groups, respectively) and empty carcass weight (58.62, 59.16 and 59.43% in control, 0.25% turmeric and 0.50% turmeric groups respectively) relative to live weight also were not significantly affected by addition of turmeric powder in diet, however abdominal fat was significantly decreased in both turmeric containing treatments (2.98 and 2.90 respectively in treatments containing 0.25 and 0.50 percent turmeric powder vs. 3.31 percent in control group, p<0.05). This may indicate an improvement in fat metabolism of chickens and can be important in terms of human health. Relative weights of internal organs (heart, spleen, liver and bursa) were not significantly different among experimental treatments (p<0.05). Our findings also revealed a significant reduction of production efficiency in 0-28 days period (242.90 vs. 262.90) and monetary return (25452.25 vs. 29445.00) compared to control group as a result of 0.25% turmeric powder addition to feed (p<0.05). Addition of 0.50% turmeric powder didn't affect production efficiency and monetary return, however resulted statistically insignificant increase in feed cost compared to control group (66908.75 vs. 64535.00 rials/kg of weight gain).

Based on results of this experiment, it can be concluded that, addition of turmeric powder in levels used in this experiment (0.25% and 0.50% of feed dry matter) had no beneficial effect on feed intake, growth performance or most of carcass traits. However, the reduction of abdominal fat in turmeric containing treatments was noticeable, usage of turmeric powder as broilers feed additive cannot be recommended in commercial farms because of its negative effects on economic parameters of boilers production. More experiments with different levels of turmeric or in challenging environment may be needed to illuminate beneficial effects of turmeric in broiler feed.

  It is advantageous to include as many ingredients as possible when formulating a diet for broiler chickens, because the supplementary nature of nutrients in different feedstuffs promotes the reduction of nutrient variation. The results of some experiments have shown that diet uniformity, through variance reduction for nutrients, improves broiler performance. In addition, lower variability of nutrients reduces the possibility of nutrient wastage. Also, in practical feed formulation when using of cheaper feed ingredients such as canola meal (CM) or poultry by-product meal (PBM) instead of more expensive ingredients such as soybean meal (SBM) in such a way that inclusion of them didn’t result in a lower production and quality indices thus they may result in a lower feed costs and higher economic benefit for producer. Both CM and PBM are good sources of protein for broilers and less expensive than SBM. Canola meal is a worthful feed ingredient and according to climatic condition and type of processing contains 36-39% crude protein. It may consider as a good source of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and iron as well as relatively good source of methionine and lysine. Poultry by product meal can be used in poultry ration up to 6% of total feed if sanitary operations is observed. High levels of fat, moisture and feather contents are main drawbacks of PBM in the poultry rations. However, if PBM mixed with CM that has low levels of fat and moisture, a proteinous mixture will result with similar CP level to SBM and longer storage potential. Both CM and PBM have lower nutrient digestibility as crude protein, fats and trace minerals because of phytate and NSP and dietary exogenous enzymes may improve digestibility of nutrients. The results of some researches showed that Kemin multi-enzyme supplementation improved broiler performance or carcass characters. This research is carried out for study effect of different substitution of a proteinous mixture composed of CM and PBM (65%:35%) with SBM with Kemin WP multi-enzyme supplementation on production and economic performances of broiler chickens.      

 This experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement 4×2 (4 levels of proteinous mixture replaced with SBM: 0, 25, 50 and 75%×2 levels of Kemin WP multi-enzyme supplementation: 0 and 250mg/kg diet) with 8 treatments, 4 replicates of 12 pieces of Ross308 strain broiler chicks of either sex reared on 1×1.25m floor pens in a completely randomized design. Proteinous mixture was made by proper mixing of CM and PBM (65%:35). During experimental period chickens were received mash diet according to Ross308 feed specification booklet (2014) for as hatched broilers. Feed and water were prepared for broilers ad-libitum. Body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), production index, feed cost to gain (Rials/kg), and monetary returns (Rials/bird) were measured or calculated at different phases of growth period. At the end of growth period (42 days of age) one bird similar in body weight to average weight of each replicate was selected and sacrificed for carcass character measurements. Collected data were subjected to analysis of variance by ANOVA procedure of SAS2003Software. Treatment means were separated using Duncan multiple range test at 0.05 significant level.

At shorter growth period of 1-24 days, there was a significant interaction between dietary multi-enzyme supplementation and different substitution levels of protein mixture and SBM on body weight and FCR. As, in diets without multi-enzyme supplement,75% substitution of protein mixture with SBM significantly resulted in the most decrease in body weight and increase in FCR however, in diets with enzyme supplement 50 and 75% substitution levels of protein mixture with SBM resulted in a non-significant difference in body weight and FCR of chickens. It is reported that commercial multi-enzymes in broiler diets resulted in an increase in body weight and decrease in FCR. Also, there are some evidences that the mean retention time of digesta in different parts as well as whole digestive tracts of broilers in diets with CM was significantly less than SBM diets and this may be the cause of decrease in digestion and absorption of nutrients in diets with CM. It is reported that the use of more than 6% poultry offal meal in broiler diet resulted in a lower production performance and higher FCR and the causes of these phenomena should be searched in lower quality and palatability of poultry offal meal with higher level usage in the diet. Protein mixture substituted with SBM resulted in the lower feed cost to gain. However, diets with 50 and 75% substitution levels resulted in a significant decrease in MR compared with 0 and 25% substitution levels. Different substitution levels of protein mixture with SBM had no significant effect on carcass characters, however, dietary multi-enzyme supplementation resulted in a significant higher abdominal fat percentage. Similar to these results, it is reported that multi-enzyme supplementation resulted in higher abdominal fat percentages in broiler chickens. The lipase content in multi-enzyme may cause increase in digestion, absorption and deposition of fat in the body.   

 This study results showed that 25% dietary protein mixture substitution with SBM in the broiler diet did not show significant negative impact on economic performance of broiler chickens and could potentially be used as a substitute for more expensive soybean meal protein. Also, the use of multi-enzyme supplementation in the diet restricted to the age of chickens and the quality of protein source. As considering lower growth period of 24 days and 75% substitution levels of protein mixture with SBM multi enzyme supplement may result in a better FCR. However, for production of broilers with 42 days of age multi-enzyme supplementation in the diet had no significant positive effect on broiler performance and its economic traits.

Based on the recommendations of some poultry nutrition references as National Research Council (NRC 1994), growth period of growing Japanese quails have been considered to be six weeks and only one dietary protein concentration was recommended for the entire growth period. However, the amino acid requirements of growing quails are similar to those of broilers as the percentage of the diet decreases with age, and applying one level of protein throughout the rearing period may cause deficiency or loss of amino acids compared with daily requirements. Given the high cost of protein in quail diets and the fact that few researches has been done on the effect of dietary protein levels at different phases of growth period on quail performance, this experiment was conducted to investigate different dietary regimens of protein on production and economic performances and also carcass characteristics of Japanese quails.

The experiment was carried out in a 3×3 factorial arrangement (3 protein levels: low (L)=20%, medium (M)=22% and  high (H)=24 percent in grower phase (8-21 days)× the same dietary protein levels, in finisher phase (22-42days)) with 9 treatments, 5 replicates and 8 pieces of quails per each replication. All chicks were received the same starter diet with 2900 kcal/kg Metabolizable energy and 24% crude protein (CP) from time of hatch up to 7 days of age and after that they were received dietary L×L, L×M, L×H, M×L, M×M, M×H, H×L, H×M and H×H protein programs. Production traits such as feed consumption, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and production index at the whole growth period, as well as some economic traits such as feed cost per gain monetary returns per quail and also some traits related to carcass characteristics and meat quality such as edible carcass percentage, water holding capacity and oxidative spoilage index of meat were measured or calculated.

During 8-42 days of age, different dietary protein levels in growing phase had no significant effect on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). While, higher protein levels (22 and 24%) in finishing phase significantly resulted in a better weight gain, FCR and production index of quails. Protein levels in grower and finisher phases had no significant effect on monetary returns however, increase in dietary protein level in finishing phase resulted in a significant feed cost to the gain at 8-42 days. Different dietary protein programs had no significant effect on carcass part percentages, water holding capacity and oxidative rancidity of meat.

For proper performance and economic production of quails protein regimen with at least 20% protein in grower and 22% protein in finisher phases could be recommended.

Effect of using eucalyptus (Eucalyptus SPP) leaf chloroform oral extract (EE) and black pepper (Piper nigrum) powder (BP) in diet on growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters and microbial populations of intestine and syrinx was investigated in a 42 days trial with 160 Cobb 500 day-old chicks divided into four treatments and four replicates as a completely randomized design. The treatments were 1- basal diet (control), 2- basal diet and adding 0.1 % EE solution in drinking water, 3- diet having 0.2% BP, and 4- diet having 0.2% BP and 0.1% EE solution in drinking water. Over the study, feed intake of chickens consumed oral EE or BP in diet and/or the combination of them was lower than chickens in control group (P<0.05). Weight gain and feed conversion ratio of chickens were not affected by the treatments. Oral EE resulted in greater percentile lungs weight and lower heart and abdominal fat weights in chickens (P<0.05). Using oral EE or BP in diet and/or the combination of them caused a significant decrease in serum concentrations of glucose, cholesterol and uric acid in chickens (P<0.05). Hematological parameters of chickens were not affected by the experimental treatments. Chickens consumed oral EE or BP in diet and/or the combination of them showed a significant lower intestinal E-coli population than control birds (P<0.05). Furthermore, using oral EE caused a decrease in Mycoplasma population of broilers Syrinx (P<0.05). The results showed that using oral EE leads to lowered abdominal fat and microbial populations of intestine and syrinx while adding BP in diet leads a decrease in microbial populations of intestine in broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of nutrients and organic acids supplementation (Biotronic) on performance, ileum microbial populations and blood parameters of broiler chickens. Three hundred broiler chicks (Cobb500 strain, of both sex) were allotted to 6 treatments and 5 replications in completely randomized design with factorial arrangement of 2×3 and 30 experimental units. Factors included two levels of organic acid supplementation (diets containing 0.1% organic acid supplementation and diets without organic acid supplementation) and three levels of nutrients (standard levels of Cobb recommendation, 2.5% and 5% below than that). The interaction between organic acid and different dietary nutrient levels was not significant in any of the traits. Using organic acids supplementation increased growth performance at first 21 days (P<0.05). Different levels of nutrients in diet had no significant effects on growth performance. Feed intake was not affected by dietary treatments. Organic acids supplementation improved feed conversion ratio (P<0.05), whereas this trait was not affected by different levels of dietary nutrients. Organic acids decreased total bacteria counts of ileum (P<0.05). Microbial population was similar in different levels of nutrients group. Organic acids supplementation had no effects on blood metabolites and carcass composition of the broiler chicks. To sum up, feed formulation up to 5% less than Cobb500 broiler chicken nutrients recommendation had no negative significant effect on production performance of the chickens. Also, the use of dietary organic acid supplement resulted in an improvement in some productive traits especially in starter phase of growth period.

The light intensity of saloon may affects on production, immunity and economic indices of broiler chickens production that was not enough studied. In the present study the effect of different light intensities of ambient on growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemical and immune parameters as well as economic indices were studied in broiler chickens. Three hundred one-day-old Ross broiler chicks (both sexes) were randomly divided into three treatment groups having five pens as replicates (20 birds in each) in a completely randomized design. Treatments were three light intensities in rearing saloon; conventional (20 lux), low (7 lux) and decreasing (gradually from 20 to 7 lux) that discretely offered in three saloons offered from d 8 to d 42. Chickens were fed with the same starter, grower and finisher diets over the study. Feed intake and body weight gain of chickens were measured weekly. After the end of study, 10 chickens from each treatment group were slaughtered for carcass analysis and blood sampling. Results showed that feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of chickens over the study were not affected by ambient light intensity. Carcass parts weights and relative weights of bursa of fabricius and spleen of the chickens were not significantly different among the groups. There were no significant differences in blood biochemical metabolites and hematological parameters of the chicken reared under different ambient light densities. Antibody titer against Gumboro in broiler chickens were affected by light density (p<0.05), where in low-density group it was significantly greater than the conventional group (1.74 vs 1.30 log 2). Antibody titer against Newcastle in low-density group non-significantly tended to be greater than the conventional group. The mortality percentages of broiler chickens in the conventional, decreasing and low light intensity were 1.4, 1.5 and 0.9 percent, respectively. The electricity cost for rearing the broiler chickens in low-density and decreasing groups was as 64.74 and 33.33 percent less than the conventional group. By inclusion of electricity cost, the monetary benefit of production per chicken was approximately 1% more than other groups. Generally, due to the absence of significant differences in the growth performance and carcass characteristics of chickens treated with different ambient light densities and in the other hand, lower mortality percentage and electricity cost in low-density group, using constant 7 lux light intensity for broilers saloon has an economic advantage.

In order to investigate the management factors affecting the mortality rate in broiler farms in Ramyan and Azadshahr cities in Golestan Province, Iran, the necessary information was collected in form of questionnaire from 65 active broiler farms between years 2018 to 2019 breeding period. To compare the means of studied traits (first week mortality and whole breeding period mortality) at different levels of management factors GLM procedure of SAS software was used. The results showed that the mortality rate in broiler farms in Ramyan was lower than Azadshahr city (p<0.05). Large hall area, high density of chickens and times of breeding per year increased mortality rate. The distance of the broiler farm from the nearest city, village and other poultry farms did not affect the mortality rate. Also, chick strain, breeding season, manager age and experience had no significant effect on mortality rate. Farms that their managers had higher educational level experienced lower mortality (p<0.05). The presence of any kind of disease significantly increased the mortality rate (p<0.05). Diet type (mash or pellets) had no significant effect on mortality but the effect of feed preparation source on mortality was significant and farms that prepared food from the factory had lower mortality rate (p<0.05). Generally, the results of this study showed that chicken density, farm area, breeding frequency during a year, manager educational level and disease are the most important managerial factors affecting mortality rate and should be considered to increase the survival of chicks.

The effects of chicory root powder on performance, digestibility, immune system and carcass characteristics of broilers were investigated using 360 pieces of Ross 308 strain day-old broiler chicks (male and female), in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replicates and in a growth period of 1-42 days of age. The experimental treatments were consisted of a basal diet and diets containing the levels of 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 percentages ofchicory root powder. Feed intake and weight of birds were measured periodically and body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were calculated. Nutrient digestibilities were measured at 33-36 days of age. The use of chicory root powder in the feed of broilers caused an improvement in feed conversion ratio at 1-14 and 28-42 days of age (P<0.05), but had no significant effect on perfomance traits in the whole of experimental period. The digestibility of protein and fat in broilers fed with 0.75% chicory root powder were higher than the other diets (P<0.05). The relative weight of liver decreased in broilers fed with chicory root powder (P<0.05). Feeding of broiler chickens with 0.25 percent dietary chicory root powder increased the number of lymphocytes and decreased the number of heterophils (P<0.05). According to the results of this experiment, the use of 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% chicory root powder in broiler ration does not have significant effect on production performance of broiler chickens but improves the immune system activity of broilers.

An experiment was conducted in order to study the effects of butyric acid glycerides in pelleted feed and different commercial probiotics in drinking water on performance, carcass characteristics and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens. This experiment was carried out with 240 of Ross308 chicks in a 2×4 factorial arrangement consisting 2 levels of dietary butyric acid glycerides (0 and 0.2%) and 4 different probiotics in drinking water (0, 0.012% Aqua blend, 0.012% Primalac and 0.5% sour yoghurt) with 24 experimental units and 3 replicates of 10 straight-run chicks. Dietary butyric acid glycerides had no significant effects on production performance, carcass characteristics (edible carcass, breast, thighs and abdominal fat percentages) and production index of broilers (p>0.05). Different commercial probiotics in drinking water had no significant effect on feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio and production index of broilers (p>0.05) too; however, this effect was significant for edible carcass percentage (p < 0.05) as use of Primalac and sour yoghurt increased edible carcass percentage. Interaction effects between dietary butyric acid glycerides in pelleted feed and different probiotics in drinking water on production performance, production index and carcass characteristics were not significant (p>0.05). Totally, inclusion of some probiotics in drinking water (Primalac and sour yoghurt) had positive effects on carcass characteristics but supplementation of butyric acid glycerides in pelleted feed had no significant effects on production performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens (p>0.05).

In order to evaluate the effects of using mixture of probiotic bacteria applied as a freeze dried or fresh culture on feed intake, weight gain, structural growth measurement and health, and blood metabolites, twenty four female Holstein calves were used in a completely randomized design. Calves after birth were randomly assigned into one of three treatments as follow: 1) control (without any additive), 2) calves received probiotic as a fresh culture and 3) calves received probiotic as freeze dried. Determination of starter intake and fecal scoring were done daily, and weighing and Structural growth measurements were recorded weekly. Blood samples were taken at the age of 25, 50 and 70 days old. Rumen fluid was collected 4 hours after morning feeding on 30, 60 and 70 days. The results showed that there were no differences among treatments on average weaning age and structural growth indices (p>0.05). Neither fresh culture probiotic nor freeze dried probiotic had effect on initial, final and weaning weight (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between treatments in terms of pH and ammoniacal nitrogen concentration (p>0.05). Freeze dried or fresh culture of probiotic had no significant effect (p>0.05) on blod metabolites (glucose, triglyserid, total protein, β_Hydroxybutyrate and albumin). Totally, the loss of predictable response resulted using of powder and liquid probioticson weaning calves performance can be attributed to good managerial and sanitary condition in weaning calves.

Effect of type of diet formulation (diet with corn and soybean or control diet، diet with wheat، barley and agricultural byproducts balanced for sulfur-containing amino acids، total lysine and threonine and a diet similar to second diet with balanced digestible amino acids) and different levels of dietary protein (recommended level of Cobb company، 10 and 20 percentages lower than the recommended level) were studied on performance and carcass characteristics of broilers within a 3×3 factorial experiment with four replicates and 360 broiler chicks. Effect of formulation type was significant (P<0. 05). Feed intake and body weight of chicks used diets with balanced amino acids were lower than those in control group (4272 g vs. 4445 g and 2156 g vs. 2254 g). Effect of crude protein level was significant on body weight and feed conversion ratio (P<0. 05). Body weight was decreased from 2357 g to 2025 g and feed conversion ratio was increased from 1. 9 to 2. 2 along with decrease in dietary protein level. Percentages of edible carcass parts and breast were greater in control (76 and 26%، respectively) than those for two other formulations (P<0. 05). Percentages of thigh، abdominal fat and giblet were lower in recommended protein level group (20. 6، 2. 1 and 3. 8، respectively) than other levels (P<0. 05). In general، the use of diet based on agricultural byproducts balanced for digestible amino acids was recommendable for improving performance، but decrease in dietary protein level could decline performance.