Poultry Science Journal
Volume:3 Issue: 1, Winter-Spring 2015

In order to investigate the effects of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) alcoholic extract on liver injury caused by the oxidant carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), an experiment was performed as a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement (2 × 2) with 4 replications of 10 broilers each. Factors included two levels of peppermint leaf alcoholic extract (0 and 2 mL/Kg body weight) and CCl4 (0 and 1 mL/Kg body weight). Results showed significant (P) interactions for body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) on d 42 of the experiment. The alcoholic extract of peppermint leaf did not improve growth performance, whereas CCl4 worsened BWG and FCR (P). The interaction between peppermint extract and CCl4 indicated an ameliorative effect of peppermint extract on BWG and FCR (P). The interaction effects between peppermint extract and CCl4 significantly differed for blood serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, albumin:globulin ratio, glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDLC, LDLC, LDLC:HDLC ratio, and VLDLC as well as the amount of blood liver enzymes (P). Peppermint extract significantly increased blood serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, triglyceride and HDLC, whilst CCl4 decreased those concentrations (P). Blood serum concentrations of total cholesterol, LDLC, LDLC:HDLC ratio, VLDLC and glucose were decreased by peppermint extract, whereas those concentrations were increased by CCl4 (P). A significantly higher level of liver enzymes was found in blood serum of birds treated by CCl4 than those by peppermint extract (P). A moderate effect on blood serum liver enzymes was observed by the interaction between 2 mL of peppermint extract and 1 mL of CCl4 (P). Generally, this study indicated that in vivo administration of peppermint alcoholic extract ameliorated the adverse effects of CCl4 on growth performance and liver function, therefore it might be useful for the prevention of oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity in broilers.

The effect of dietary Terbutaline, a beta adrenergic agonist, on carcass characteristics and blood attributes in 288 Japanese quails was studied from 21 through 49 days of age. Dietary treatments included four levels of Terbutaline [0 (T0), 1 (T1), 3 (T3), and 5 (T5) mg/Kg of the diet]. Quails were bled at the end of the trial for biochemical assays and the carcass characteristics were then measured. The relative weights of breast and drumstick muscles were increased in birds treated with 3 and 5 mg/Kg diet of Terbutaline (P). Regardless of Terbutaline dietary levels included, the weight of subcutaneous and abdominal fat pad was significantly decreased in treated birds (P). The relative weight of heart was increased in T3 treatment group and that of liver was increased in all birds receiving Terbutaline as compared with the control group (P). Irrespective of the dosing level, the percentage of protein in breast muscle was higher in Terbutaline-treated birds (P). However, the fat percentage in drumstick muscle was reduced in birds treated with 3 and 5 mg/Kg diet of Terbutaline, but its protein percentage was increased in T1, T3, and T5 (P). A significant increase in plasma levels of free fatty acids was found in all birds that received Terbutaline (P) as compared with the control. Overally, the data suggested that dietary Terbutaline had a profound positive effect on carcass composition, but a minimal one on the plasma metabolites (glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride) of Japanese quails.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of phytase superdoses alone or in combination with citric acid (CA) in canola meal-based diets severely limited in available phosphorus (Pa) on growth performance, plasma phosphorus (P), and tibia ash (TA) in broilers from 22 to 42 d of age. Two hundreds and eighty 21-d-old male broilers were used in 28 pens of 10 birds per each. The experimental diets consisted of a positive control (PC) diet and six negative control (NC) diets which consisted of two levels of CA (0 and 20 g/Kg) and three levels of phytase (0, 1000 and 4000 U/Kg) in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. The PC diet contained 4.3 g/Kg Pa, but all NC diets contained 1.5 g/Kg Pa. Results indicated that the birds fed the PC diet had a significantly higher average daily gain (ADG), plasma P and TA, but a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those fed the NC diet. The ADG, FCR and plasma P values in birds fed NC diets supplemented with 4000 U/Kg phytase enzyme (with or without CA) significantly reached those of birds fed the PC diet. But, addition of phytase enzyme at 1000 U/Kg only plus CA to the NC diet could significantly improve FCR and plasma P. A significant interaction was observed between phytase and CA for FCR and plasma P. Although TA values in NC + 1000 U/Kg phytase treatments (with or without CA) were similar to the PC treatment, TA values of NC + 4000 U/Kg phytase treatments (with or without CA) was greater than that of the PC treatment. Results of this study showed that, in severely limited Pa corn-canola meal-based diets, supplementing 4000 U/Kg phytase or also 1000 U/Kg phytase plus CA will be sufficient to obtain the comparable feed efficiency in broilers to those fed the adequate Pa diet.

Due to the presence of polyphenols and phthalides in Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf (Umbelliferae; K. odoratissima hereafter), this medicinal plant might be a robust in-feed additive to modulate lipid peroxidation in meat-type chickens. The present study evaluates antioxidative, antihyperlipidemic, and growth-promoting effects of K. odoratissima in meat-type chickens. In a 37-day trial (5-42 days of age), a total of 240 broiler chicks (Ross 308 strain) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups. Treatments included 0, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75% K. odoratissima in feed. Aerial parts of the plant was dried, ground and added to diet. Dietary inclusion of K. odoratissima significantly (P) increased villus height and width and its absorptive surface area in different parts of small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) compared with the control group. Whole body growth significantly (P) improved when K. odoratissima was included in diets at 0.75% (2375 vs. 2488 g). Broilers received K. odoratissima had significantly (P) lower concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to the control group. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene has been highly overexpressed (~ 24-fold) in the lung of broilers fed K. odoratissima at 0.75%. However, K. odoratissima significantly (P=0.004) suppressed (~ 8-fold) the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene in the lung of broilers when compared to the control. Feeding K. odoratissima at 0.75% caused a significant (P) reductions in serum levels of triglycerides and cholesterol as well as reduction in abdominal fat deposition. In conclusion, K. odoratissima showed antioxidative, antihyperlipidemic, and growth-promoting effects in broiler chickens.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental L-arginine (ARG) in reduced-protein diets on cardiopulmonary performance and intestinal morphology in the broilers reared at high altitude. A total of 156 day-old male broilers were randomly assigned to 3 treatments and 4 replicates of 13 chicks and reared up to 42 days of age. Treatment groups were designed as a normal-protein diet (NPD), a reduced-protein diet (RPD) with 30 g/Kg less crude protein compared to the NPD, and a reduced-protein diet plus 4 g/Kg L-arginine (RPD + ARG). There were no significant differences among dietary treatments for intestinal morphology and weight gain. Feed conversion ratio was improved in the chickens fed RPD + ARG compared to those fed RPD alone. The right to total ventricular weight ratio (RV:TV) was significantly increased in the chickens fed RPD when compared to those fed NPD or RPD + ARG. Serum nitric oxide and amplitude of the S waves of electrocardiogram significantly declined by reducing dietary protein content. Relative expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) gene was higher in the heart and lungs of chicks fed RPD than those fed NPD and it was off set when ARG supplemented to RPD (P). In conclusion, supplementing reduced-protein diets with ARG would be an effective strategy to prevent the development of pulmonary hypertension by increase in nitric oxide, and decrease in RV:TV and ET-1 gene expression.

Four hundred and eighty mixed-sex broiler chicks aged 3 hrs after hatching were allotted according to a completely random design in a 6 × 2 × 2 factorial schedule into 2 groups of 12 replications of 20 chicks each. The main experimental factors were fasting for 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hrs after chick placement, calcium gluconate (Ca-glu) injection (0 and 0.6 mL) and sex (male and female). Independent of sex, live body weight (BW) of chicks decreased linearly (Y=43.36-0.109BW0h, r2=0.876) as neonatal fasting extended. Injection of 0.6 mL Ca-glu at 3 hrs post hatching did not affect weight loss of chicks. Yolk residuals (YR) utilized linearly (Y=5.75-0.062YR, r2=0.956) by 0.062 g/hr in neonate fasted chicks showing no effect for Ca-glu injection. Neonatal fasting periods longer than 12 hrs increased liver weight (P). The mean absolute and proportional (% of BW0h) breast and leg weight were reduced linearly as neonatal fasting extended (P). Serum glucose concentration in both sexes increased up to 6 hrs fasting, then reduced linearly to 150 mg/dL after 48 hrs feed withdrawal. The Ca-glu treatment influenced serum glucose level for a short period up to 6 hrs of fasting. Serum Ca concentration sharply increased up to three-fold in the birds received Ca-glu injection resulting in acute hypercalcemia, then decreased to the initial level after 24 hrs feed withdrawal. The mean serum level for creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, HDL, albumins and total proteins significantly increased during the fasting periods of 6 to 48 hrs and significantly elevated in the birds received 0.6 mL Ca-glu injection compared with the non treated chicks. It was concluded that subcutaneous administration of 0.6 mL Ca-glu in the chick''s neck did not suitably support the increased metabolic demands for glucose and calcium in feed deprived neonate chicks.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of caffeine and trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC) on growth performance, hematological parameters, stress hormones, immune response, and some blood parameters of broiler chickens. Three hundred fifty 1-d-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 7 dietary treatments (five pens/ treatment of 10 male broilers each) in a completely randomized design. A basal control corn-soybean meal diet for starter, grower and finisher periods were formulated and supplemented with appropriate levels of caffeine (0.5, 1 and 2%) or TC (0.5, 1 and 1.5%). Findings showed that caffeine at level of 2% decreased feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG) and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR). TC supplementation had no significant effect on growth performance compare to control diet. Except caffeine which significantly decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit at level of 2% in 21 day old chicks (P), caffeine and TC had no significant effects on hematological parameters and stress hormone of broiler chickens in 21 and 42 d (P>0.05). Similar trend were observed for humeral and cell mediated immunity. Supplementation of 2% of caffeine significantly decreased glucose level in 21 d (P) and this effect was not observed for TC levels compare with the control treatment. On the other hand all levels of caffeine and TC at level of 1% significantly decreased cholesterol levels in 21 d compared to control treatment (P). Caffeine and TC levels were not change the blood parameters in 42 d. Findings showed that supplementation of diets with caffeine specially at level of 2% decrease growth performance and neither caffeine nor TC affect the hematological, hormonal and immunity response in broiler chickens.

A total of 240, one-day-old quail chicks (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were used to study the effects of Artichoke leaf meal (ALM) and vitamin E in diet on growth performance, ileal microbial populations and intestinal morphology in a 42-d trial. This experiment was performed as a completely randomized design with 4 replicates of 15 quails each, using a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement with diet and gender as the main effects. Four dietary treatments were formulated by addition of 2 levels (1.5 and 3 percent) of ALM and 300 mg/Kg vitamin E to the basal diet. Supplementing basal diet with ALM did not improve growth performance at different rearing periods, whereas dietary vitamin E increased feed intake and body weight gain at day 21 of age (P). The ileal populations of lactobacillus and coliforms was not affected by dietary ALM treatments, whereas vitamin E increased the population of total aerobic bacteria (P≤0.04). The ileal villus height (P≤0.01) and crypt depth (P≤0.008) were reduced in quails fed on diets with ALM and vitamin E. The quails fed diets containing 3 percent ALM and 300 mg/Kg vitamin E had higher villus height:crypt depth ratio. The thickness of muscularies (P≤0.04) and mucosa (P≤0.0007) layers were decreased in birds fed diets containing ALM than control birds. Birds treated with ALM and vitamin E showed a shorter intestinal length (P≤0.02) and a lower pancereas relative weight. The results of this study showed that supplementing diet by ALM (1.5 and 3%) and 300 mg/Kg vitamin E did not improve growth performance, ileal microbiota pupolations and intestinal morphometric indices in Japanese quail.

Biochemical polymorphism study is a method of determination of genetic variation. This variability could be a basis for selection and subsequent genetic improvement in farm animals. The polymorphism in the intron 1 of chicken growth hormone (cGH) gene was investigated in the Iranian native fowls by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. The genomic DNA was extracted from 217 samples (129 samples from the native fowls of Isfahan province and 88 samples from the native fowls of Mazandaran province) by using modified salting out technique. The DNA fragment of the growth hormone gene with 776 bp was amplified by PCR using specific primers. Then the PCR products were digested with MspI restriction enzyme and analyzed on 2.5% agarose gel. The allelic frequency of intron 1 locus for A1, A2 and A3 alleles in Isfahan native fowls were 0.60, 0.21 and 0.19 and those in Mazandaran native fowls were 0.28, 0.05 and 0.67, respectively. The results of current study indicated that the intron 1 of cGH is polymorphic in Iranian native fowls and could be exploited as a candidate gene for marker-assisted selection for growth-related traits.