Production Efficiency and Utility Features of Broiler Ducks Fed with Feed Thinned with Wheat Grain

Halloysite supplemented in the diet, and sex of Cherry Valley ducks affects growth, carcass composition, meat quality, and jejunum and leg bone strength

BACKGROUND

Natural minerals can be innovative feed additives in the waterfowl nutrition, affecting the production efficiency and the meat quality. The study assessed production results, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and strength of the jejunum and leg bones of male and female Cherry Valley ducks fed with 1% halloysite. The ducks were kept in control groups (males and females) and fed a commercial diet. In the experimental groups (males and females), 1% halloysite was added to the diet throughout the rearing period. 50 ducks in 5 repetitions were in each group. During 42 days of rearing, the ducks' body weight, growth, feed intake, and conversion ratio were controlled and calculated. After rearing, 10 carcasses per group were selected and dissected. The physicochemical characteristics of the leg and pectoral muscles and the strength of the jejunum and leg bones were analyzed.

RESULTS

The application of halloysite reduced the body weight of birds (P = 0.049) and body weight gain (P = 0.048) on day 42 and throughout the rearing period and increased the liver weight of ducks (P = 0.020). Female carcasses were characterized by a higher weight of pectoral muscle (P = 0.005), muscle total (P = 0.015), and abdominal fat (P = 0.007), and males by a higher weight of carcass remains (P = 0.013). In the pectoral muscles of ducks where the mineral was added, significantly lower protein content and higher collagen (P < 0.001), intramuscular fat (P < 0.001), and water (P = 0.014) content were found. The leg muscles of the birds from the control groups were characterized by significantly higher redness (P = 0.003) and yellowness (P = 0.031), and males had a higher content of intramuscular fat compared to females (P < 0.001). Halloysite increased the jejunum tensile strength (P = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Halloysite adversely impacted ducks' body weight and weight gain while altering meat quality by increasing pectoral muscle pH (pectoralis major) and fat content (pectoralis major and pectoralis minor) and changing leg muscles' color. Jejunum tensile strength was higher post-halloysite supplementation. These results suggest halloysite has both positive and negative effects on duck growth, meat properties, and jejunum strength, warranting further research.

Effects of different fiber levels of energy feeds on rumen fermentation and the microbial community structure of grazing sheep

BACKGROUND

Rumen microbial community structure and stability are very important for ruminant health, growth and development, and livestock product yield. Dietary composition and nutritional structure affect microbial diversity and richness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different fiber levels of energy feed on the rumen microflora and fermentation function of grazing sheep in salinized sown pasture, to reveal the response of the main microflora of sheep rumen at the phylum and genus levels to different fiber levels of energy feed and to analyze the internal mechanism to provide a reference for the selection of energy feed and the improvement of the production performance of grazing livestock.

RESULTS

The fiber level of energy feed affects the rumen fermentation and rumen microbial community structure of grazing sheep. Low-fiber-energy feeds significantly increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, while the relative abundances of Cyanobacteria, Ruminococcaceae_UCG_010, Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, and Elusimicrobium significantly decreased, adjusting the relationship between the flora toward cooperation. High-fiber-energy feeds significantly increased the concentration of VFAs, significantly decreased the relative abundances of Proteobacteria, Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, adjusted the relationship between the flora to compete, and promoted the enrichment of metabolic pathways such as "Protein Digestion and Absorption," "Nitrogen Metabolism," "Starch and Sucrose Metabolism," and "Degradation of Other Sugars."

CONCLUSIONS

Supplementary feeding of high and low fiber energy feeds reduced the pH value of rumen fluid and the richness and diversity of microorganisms in grazing sheep, reduced the relative abundance of some harmful microorganisms, affected the metabolic activities of some fiber-digesting bacteria, regulated the interaction and competition between bacteria, increased the content of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and the relative abundance of metabolic-related microorganisms in the supplementary feeding group, and enriched the metabolic-related pathways. However, further understand the mechanism of the effect of fiber level on the rumen of sheep, it is necessary to conduct in-depth analysis using research methods such as transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics.

Effects of varying wheat levels on growth performance, intestinal barrier, and cecal microbiota of broilers

Introduction

The study aimed to investigate the potential effects of varying wheat levels in broiler diets on growth performance, intestinal barrier, and cecal microbiota.

Methods

Day-old male broilers were fed the same diet until 10 d of age. Then they were randomly assigned to 1) the low-level wheat group, where inclusion of 15.0% and 25.0% wheat in the grower and finisher diet, respectively, 2) the medium-level wheat group with 30.0% and 40.0% of wheat in the grower and finisher periods; and 3) the high-level wheat dietary group, in which the grower and finisher diets contained 55.77% and 62.38% of wheat, respectively.

Results

Dietary treatments unaffected the body weight at 39 d, whereas incorporating high wheat in diets significantly increased the feed intake and reduced the feed conversion ratio from 10 to 39 d (p < 0.05). Except for increased phosphorus digestibility in the high wheat group, dietary treatments had no significant effect on the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and ether extract. Meanwhile, the broilers that consumed the medium and high content of wheat presented a higher villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth than those fed the low-level wheat birds. Feeding the medium-level wheat enhanced ileal integrity and depressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the ileum. The addition of high levels of wheat reduced the Chao1 index and the abundance of Lactobacillaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Ruminococcacea in cecal content, which probably decreased the metabolism of histidine, sulfur-containing amino acids, and the biosynthesis of lysine.

Discussion

These results support the medium-level wheat diet improved intestinal barrier function and had no deleterious effects on the growth performance of broiler; dietary inclusion of high wheat reduced the feed conversion rate, which might be associated with the disturbed gut microbiota and decreased metabolism of amino acids.

Replacement of Corn with Different Levels of Wheat Impacted the Growth Performance, Intestinal Development, and Cecal Microbiota of Broilers

Replacing corn with different levels of wheat in the iso-energy and -protein diet of broilers and the impacts on growth performance and intestinal homeostasis of broilers under the condition of supplying the multienzyme complex were evaluated in this study. A total of 480 10-day-old male broilers were assigned randomly to the low-level wheat group (15% wheat and 35.18% corn), the medium-level wheat group (30% and 22.27%), and the high-level wheat group (55.77% wheat without corn) until 21 d. The different levels of wheat supplementation did not affect hepatic function, serum glycolipid profile, or bone turnover. The replacement of corn with 55% wheat in the diet of broilers increased the body weight at 21 d and feed intake during 10 to 21 d (both p < 0.05), with a comparable feed conversion ratio. Compared with the low-wheat group, the dietary addition of medium or high wheat levels notably increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the duodenum (p < 0.05) and the ileal villus height (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the supplementation of medium and high wheat in the diet increased the proportion of Bacteroidetes, and a diet with high wheat proportion elevated the content of Firmicutes when compared to the low-level wheat group (both p < 0.05). In addition, the diet containing 30-55% wheat enhanced the anti-inflammatory capability in both the ileum and the serum. These findings suggest that the replacement of corn with 55% wheat in the diet improved the growth performance of 21-day-old broilers, which might be linked to the alteration in intestinal morphology and cecal microbiota.

Effects of feeding silage of beet pulp or maize on the growth performance, meat quality, and production economics of broiler ducks

The present study aimed to compare the growth, meat quality, and production economics of Cherry Valley broiler ducks fed with a commercial diet along with silage from beet pulp or maize. In this study, 180 male Cherry Valley ducks were reared for 49 d. The control group (group C) was fed a commercial diet ad libitum. The experimental groups were fed a restricted amount of commercial diet and ad libitum beet pulp silage (group B) or maize silage (group M). For all groups, the growth performance and meat quality were analyzed, and their production costs were estimated. The beneficial effects of feeding maize silage on the growth rate were observed on d 29 to 49 in group M; moreover, both experimental groups showed lower feed intake than group C (P < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio was lower in the first rearing stage and during the entire experimental period in groups B and M than that in group C. Group M showed a higher European Production Efficiency Factor and European Broiler Index than group C (P < 0.05). The relative weight of the liver was higher in group C than that in the experimental groups (P < 0.05). Group M showed a higher L* value of leg muscles than group C (P < 0.05). Water-holding capacity was higher in leg muscles from ducks fed with silages (P < 0.05). The experimental groups had lower costs of commercial diets. Higher costs were observed for maize silage than for beet pulp silage. Carcass sales yielded the highest profit for group M and the lowest one for group C. Compared with the control group, the silage-fed groups showed a higher estimated profit by PLN 7.94 to 10.68 per duck (P < 0.05). Based on the beneficial production results, notably lower feed conversion ratio, no negative effects on carcass characteristics, and lower production costs, especially maize or even beet pulp silage in broiler duck rearing, could be recommended.

Evaluation of coffee husks in pellet bedding, performance characteristics, footpad dermatitis scoring, and meat quality of broiler ducks

The study aimed to analyze the chemical composition of pellet bedding made of straw or coffee husks (10, 25, 50%) and the performance characteristics of broiler ducks and footpad dermatitis. During rearing, the properties of the bedding and utility features of ducks were analyzed, and the frequency of footpad dermatitis (FPD) in ducks was verified. There was a decrease in dry matter from the 28th day of rearing. The crude fiber, NDF, ADF, and nitrogen content decreased compared to fresh bedding, while phosphorus and potassium increased. The highest pH was found in the CH25 and CH50 groups in fresh bedding on day 42 and in CH50 on day 14. High adj. R2 was found due to rearing time and bedding material (0.817-0.985). The ducks' growth rate in the CH25 group was higher at week 6 than in the other groups. In CH10 and CH25 groups, higher carcass weight was found than in group C. In group CH10, a higher weight of pectoral muscles and lower wing proportion was found than in C. In CH25, a higher remains weight was shown than in C and CH50. In CH50, lower water-holding capacity in the pectoral muscles was found than in the other groups. Considering the bedding (the content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), carcass features, and meat quality (water-holding capacity, intramuscular fat, and water content), it is possible to use 10, 25 or 50% of coffee husks in straw pellets in the rearing of broiler ducks. Due to the FPD, the moisture should be lowered.