Productive and reproductive performance and egg quality of laying hens fed diets containing different levels of date pits with enzyme supplementations

Effects of potato peels inclusion with exogenous enzymes in broiler diet on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and carcass characteristics

The purpose of the research was to investigate the effects of including potato peels (PP) in broilers diet with exogenous enzymes supplementation on feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), nutrient digestibility and carcass parameters. For this purpose, five iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous rations were formulated with different levels of PP (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%). Experimental diets were supplemented with a blend of exogenous enzymes (Xylanase, Mannanase, Protease, Cellulase). A total of four hundred male broiler chicks (day old) of 38 ± 3 gram were randomly distributed into 5 experimental groups in such a way that each group had 8 replicates and each replicate had 10 birds. Results revealed that the inclusion of PP @ 5% with exogenous enzymes had similar FI, BWG and nutrients digestibility with control. However, the inclusion of P @ of 10, 15, and 20% with exogenous enzymes in the broiler diet adversely affected the BWG, feed conversion ratio and nutrient digestibility (p < 0.05). Results of carcass parameters were not affected (p > 0.05) by dietary treatments. Based on findings, it is concluded that 5% addition of PP with exogenous enzymes could be practiced in broiler diet without any adverse effect on the performance of commercial broilers.

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by-Products: Chemical Composition, Nutritive Value and Applications in Poultry Nutrition, an Updating Review

Several by-products, such as whole cull dates, date stones (also called pits, seeds, kernels), sugar-extracted date pulp, are produced from date fruit processing industries. These by-products, particularly date stone meal represent 10 to 20% of the whole dates are wasted, causing environmental issues. However, the date stone is rich in various nutrients, such as nitrogen-free extract, fiber, fat, and minerals, which could be used as an alternative feed source in poultry nutrition. However, the high fiber content in date stone meal restricts its use in poultry diets. Whole date wastes and date pulp have lower protein, fiber and fat content than those in date stone meal. Several studies have investigated the use of date stone meal and other by-products as a replacement of dietary corn and barley on feed intake, growth, feed efficiency, and nutrient utilization in poultry. The compilation of results obtained from different studies indicates that date fruit by-products, particularly date stone meal, could be incorporated up to 10% levels, replacing corn or barley grains without hampering production performance, and this could reduce the production cost. Moreover, the use of date stone meal at lower levels (5-10%) sometimes shows better growth performance, probably due to the presence of bioactive principles such as antioxidants and phenolic compounds. The use of date stone meal in poultry diets may be practically important under certain circumstances not only under the COVID-19 crisis due to the lockdown of airports, dry ports, ports and traffic restrictions, but also in countries with a limited supply of classical feed resources and which depend on imported ones. Finally, it can recommend that using date stone meal (DSM) up to 5-10% in poultry diets positively affect the productive performance. Due to the variability in the nutritive value of the DSM, developing a formula for metabolizable energy (ME) of DSM = a (intercept) - b (slope) × crude fiber (CF) content should be considered to improve the precision of feed formula for poultry. However, the nutritional value of DSM might not only depend on crude fiber but also on other compounds.

Effect of storage duration on egg quality, embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB-ɑ chickens

Effect of extended storage on egg quality, embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB-ɑ chickens was determined. Hatchable eggs (n = 288; weighing 53.2 ± 4.67 g) collected from a flock of FUNAAB-ɑ layer breeder hens aged 32 weeks were stored in egg tray with broad end up under 16 ± 1.5°C for either 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 or 20 d. Before incubation, eight eggs from each group were evaluated for internal and external quality traits. Remaining eggs were set in an incubator and transferred into hatcher on embryonic day 18. Data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Egg weight loss (EWL; p < .001), surface area (p < .001), yolk diameter (p < .001), inner and outer blastoderm diameters (p < .05) and dead in germ (DIG; p < .001) increased with storage duration while yolk height (p < .001), yolk index (p < .001), albumen weight (p < .05), albumen height (p < .05), albumen index (p < .01), Haugh's unit (HU; p < .05), fertility (p < .001), hatchability of set (HATCHS; p < .001) and fertile eggs (p < .05) decreased. Weight losses of 0, 1.2, 2.2, 3.4, 4.6 and 6.1% were recorded in egg stored for 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 days respectively. Eggs stored beyond 8 days exhibited higher DIG and lower HATCHS. Shell percentage in 4 days storage (11.4%) was lower (p < .05) than in 16 days storage (13.4%). Shell thickness was similar in eggs stored for 0 to 12 days, but 8 days storage (0.60 mm) had thinner (p < .01) shell than day 16 (0.71 mm) and day 20 (0.73 mm) storage. Internal quality unit (IQU) was higher (p < .05) in fresh eggs (180.4) than in 12 days (167.8) and 20 days (167.8) stored eggs. Extended storage of FUNAAB-ɑ eggs caused EWL, surface area shrinkage, lowered HU and IQU, loss of yolk and albumen quality, increased blastoderm diameters and DIG, and decreased egg fertility and HATCHS from day 8 forward. Storing FUNAAB-ɑ eggs beyond 8 days reduced quality parameters; therefore, other mitigating factors are recommended when storing beyond 8 days.

Effect of Inclusion of Degraded and Non-Degraded Date Pits in Broilers' Diet on their Intestinal Microbiota and Growth Performance

Simple Summary

In developing countries, most of the feedstuffs for animal nutrition are imported. Therefore, great attention has been focused on the use of agro-industrial by-products as feedstuffs to improve the feeding value of animal nutrition. These improvements can be induced by different means, including feed additive supplements, such as enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, and organic acids. Other factors can also induce enhancement such as grinding, autoclaving, pelleting, and solid-state degradation by cellulolytic fungi. These methods aim to enhance the digestion of complex carbohydrates and decrease anti-nutritional constituents. In this study, the impact of non-degraded date pits (NDDP) and degraded date pits (DDP) using the cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma reesei in broiler’s diets on the gut bacterial growth and growth performance was investigated. It was found that when DDP are present at a rate of 10% of the broilers’ diet, it boosted gut health by increasing prebiotic production, thus serving as a growth promoter in broilers’ nutrition.

Abstract

The current study aims to assess the effect of non-degraded date pits (NDDP) and degraded date pits (DDP) in broilers’ diets on gut microbiota and growth performance. The degradation of date pits (DP) occurred via the cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma reesei by a solid-state degradation procedure. One-day-old Brazilian broilers were allocated into six dietary groups: (1) maize–soy diet, (2) maize–soy diet with oxytetracycline (20%, 50 g 100 kg⁻¹), (3) maize–soy diet with 5% NDDP, (4) maize–soy diet with 10% NDDP, (5) maize–soy diet with 5% DDP, and (6) maize–soy diet with 10% DDP. At the end of the trial, the total count of bacteria was significantly (p < 0.05) less in broilers fed 10% DDP diet (treatment 6) compared with the control group (treatment 1). In addition, DDP and oxytetracycline control diets have a similar diminishing effect on total bacterial counts and the populations of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella spp., and Escherichia coli. Over 35 days of trial, weight gains were similar among the six dietary groups. Our results showed that DDP and control diets have a similar effect on growth performance. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was poorer in broilers fed NDDP diets than other treatments. The European Production Efficiency Index (EPEI) was greater with 5% and 10% DDP than those fed NDDP at the same levels, with no significant variance from the control and antibiotic-supplemented diet (treatment 2). Overall, it can be suggested that maintaining 10% of DDP can partly replace dietary maize while also serves as a gut health enhancer and thus a growth promoter in the diet for broilers.

Intestinal Development and Histomorphometry of Broiler Chickens Fed Trichoderma reesei Degraded Date Seed Diets

A study was conducted to investigate the impact of degraded date pits (DDP) on the development and morphology of the intestine in broilers. Trichoderma reesei was used to produce the DDP using a solid-state degradation method. One hundred and eighty broilers were divided into six treatments in triplicate groups of 10 chicks each. The dietary treatments were: positive control with corn-soy basal diet, negative control with corn-soy basal diet + 20% oxytetracycline at 0.05%, corn-soy basal diet + 10% DDP, corn-soy basal diet + 0.2% mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), corn-soy basal diet + 0.2% mannose and corn-soy basal diet + 0.1% mannose for 6 weeks. The results indicate that a 10% DDP diet increased the activities of the pancreatic enzymes, the villus length, and the villus/crypt ratio, and decreased the crypt depth of the intestine. In conclusion, when compared to oxytetracycline and MOS, DDP can be used as a replacement for antibiotic growth promoters for broilers while improving gut development and intestinal health.

Impact of Multienzymes Dose Supplemented Continuously Or Intermittently in Drinking Water on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Blood Constituents of Broiler Chickens

The aim of this work was to study the continuous or intermittent impact of a multienzyme supplement on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood metabolites of broilers, and to evaluate production index of dietary supplementation. A total of 315 unsexed day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly distributed to seven treatments groups, keeping initial body weights similar, in 35-floor pens (replicates) of nine chicks per replicate (pen) and five experimental units per treatment. All experimental groups were fed the same basal diet and administered seven multienzyme treatments: the 1st group (control) did not receive any enzyme supplementation; the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th groups were administered multienzymes at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mL/L drinking water, respectively. Each enzyme supplemented-group was divided into two subgroups, with additives being applied either continuously (24 h/day) or intermittently (12 h/day) from 1 to 35 days old. Regardless of administration method, multienzyme supplements at 1.0 mL/L water along with a corn-soybean meal diet increased the body weight gain (BWG) by 7.8% compared to 0.5 mL/L water during days 1-21 of age. In addition, 1.5 mL/L water significantly improved BWG by 5.1% of broilers compared to 0.5 mL/L water during days 1-35 of age. Enzyme supplementation at 1.5 mL/L water significantly enhanced feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 4.3% during days 1-21 of age, and FCR by 5.2% and European production index (EPI) by 10.4% during days 1-35 of age compared to the group on 0.5 mL/L water. For the whole period, there were improvements of beneficial consideration in BWG (4.0%), FCR (4.0%), and European production index (8.2%) due to continuous multienzyme supplementation at 0.5 mL/L water compared to the same dose added intermittently. A similar trend was observed due to intermittent multienzymes at 1 mL/L drinking water that resulted in increased BWG by (6.4%) and improved FCR by (6.7%) and EPI by (12.7%). Intermittent administration significantly increased feed intake of broilers during 22-35 days of age compared to continuous supplementation. Multienzymes at different doses did not significantly affect the digestibility of nutrients, blood serum biochemical constituent, inner body organs, and markers of functions of liver and renal organs. In conclusion, the highest BWG and the best FCR and EPI for the whole period were from broilers given continuous 1 and 1.5 mL/L drinking water or intermittent multienzyme supplementation at 1.5 mL/L drinking water. Furthermore, intermittent supplementation of enzymes at 1 mL/L drinking water and continuous supplementation at 0.5 mL/L drinking water can be investigated in further experiments as a tool to improve broiler growth performance and economic traits and to decrease the cost of enzyme application.

Evaluating the nutritional value of date pits and demonstrating their application in laying hen diets

This experiment was carried out to study the feeding value of ground date pits (DP) (Phoenix dactylifera L.) with and without enzyme supplementation on laying hens' performance. Apparent metabolizable energy value of DP was determined by the total collection method using 10 adult Leghorn cockerels. After that, a total number of 144 Lohmann 50-week-old LSL-Lite hens were randomly allocated into six groups consisting of four replicates of six birds, based on a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of the treatments. Six iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous experimental diets including I-corn-soya bean meal-based control, II-corn-soya bean meal oil-based control and III- corn-soya bean meal-based diet (180 g/kg DP) were formulated. Each of the diets was supplemented with two levels of an enzyme (0.0 and 0.07 g/kg Natozim Plus). The experiment lasted 10 weeks after 7 days of adaptation. The results revealed that there was no significant difference in feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg mass, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness and Haugh unit among the treatments. Dietary inclusion of DP significantly decreased body weight gain (BWG), egg weight and yolk colour score. On the other hand, corn-soya bean meal-based control diet with vegetable oil significantly increased egg weight and BWG of birds in comparison with other treatments. The serum biochemical metabolites were not affected by DP and enzyme supplementation. Thus, DP can be used as alternative feedstuff in laying hen diets, up to 18% of the diet with little effect on the performance of hens, including egg weight, and also, it had an adverse effect on yolk colour. Eventually, in terms of performance, the results failed to demonstrate any positive effect of Natozim Plus on either the controls or 18% DP diets.

Apparent metabolizable energy value of whole date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and its possible use as a feedstuff for aged laying hens

This study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of whole date palm (WDP) with and without enzyme supplementation on aged laying hen's performance. Apparent metabolizable energy value of WDP was determined by the total collection method using ten adult leghorn cockerels. WDP was substituted with a corn-soybean meal basal diet at 40% level, and then the metabolizable energy of this experimental diet and basal diet was determined. After that, a total number of 256 Bovanz 95-week-old hens were randomly allocated into eight groups consisting of four replicates of eight birds each, based on a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of the treatments. Eight iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous experimental diets including one corn-soybean meal-based control diet and two, three, and four corn-soybean meal-based diets included 70, 140, and 210 g/kg ground WDP, respectively. Each of the diets supplemented with two levels of an enzyme (0.0 and 0.07 g/kg Natozim Plus). There was no significant difference in feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg mass, eggshell thickness, and Haugh unit among the treatments (P > 0.05). However, yolk color score significantly decreased as dietary WDP level increased. The serum biochemical metabolites were not significantly affected by WDP and enzyme supplementation (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the relative weight of different organs except for abdominal fat. Our findings show that using WDP up to 21% of the diet was more economic and had no adverse effect on productive performance and serum metabolites of laying hens. However, WDP had an adverse effect on yolk color which can be ameliorated by carotenoid supplementation.

Effects of divergent selection for growth on egg quality traits in Japanese quail

The experiment was designed to investigate the impact of selection for increased body mass on external and internal egg quality traits of Japanese quail. Three hundred and sixty Japanese quail, divergently selected over three generations for different body mass at 4 weeks of age, were used. Quail were homogeneously divided into three groups each consisting of 120 birds: high body mass (HBM), low body mass (LBM) and Control. ANOVA was used to detect the effect of selection on egg quality. In addition, correlation between external and internal egg quality traits was measured. Our results revealed that HBM quail laid heavier eggs (P = 0.03 compared with LBM but not significantly different with Control quail) with a higher external (shell thickness, shell weight, eggshell ratio and eggshell density, P = 0.0001) and internal egg quality score (albumen weight, P = 0.003; albumen ratio, P = 0.01; albumen height, yolk height, yolk index and Haugh unit, P = 0.0001) when compared with both the Control and LBM. The egg surface area and yolk diameter were significantly higher in HBM when compared with the LBM but not with the Control line. Egg weight was positively correlated with albumen weight (r = 0.54, P = 0.0001), albumen ratio (r = 0.14, P = 0.05), yolk height (r = 0.27, P = 0.0001), yolk weight (r = 0.23, P = 0.002), yolk diameter (r = 0.14, P = 0.05) and yolk index (r = 0.21, P = 0.005) but was negatively correlated with yolk ratio (r = –0.16, P = 0.03). Our results indicate that selection for higher body mass might result in heavier eggs and superior egg quality.