The effects of Moringa peregrina seed meal, autoclaving, and/or exogenous enzyme cocktail on performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood lipids of broilers

The effects of Moringa peregrina seed meal (MPSM), autoclaving, and/or enzyme cocktail addition on performance, profitability, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood lipids of broilers between 1 and 35 d of age were investigated. Seven experimental diets were employed: the control 0% MPSM, 10% raw MPSM, 10% autoclaved MPSM (at a temperature of 120°C and 1 kg/cm² pressure for 30 min), 10% raw MPSM supplemented with enzymes at 0.1 or 0.2 g/kg feed, and 10% autoclaved MPSM supplemented with the same previous enzymes and doses. Each diet was fed to 8 replicates with 5 broilers in each. At the end of the experiment, 3 broilers from each replicate were randomLy chosen to determine carcass traits, meat quality, and blood lipids. Findings at 35 d of age indicated that all 10% raw MPSM treatments with or without enzymes addition impaired growth, feed conversion (FCR), and profitability (p < 0.05), but increased feed intake (p < 0.05) and did not affect mortality when compared with the control group. The 10% autoclaved MPSM treatments with or without enzymes addition increased feed intake (p < 0.05) when compared with the control group, inducing growth equal to the control group (p > 0.05), and improving FCR and profitability. Enzymes addition to raw MPSM did not produce positive effects (p < 0.05), and no additive effect was observed when autoclaving and enzymes addition were combined (p > 0.05) as compared to the autoclaving group. Carcass traits, meat quality, and blood lipids were not significantly affected by MPSM, autoclaving, and enzymes addition. However, intestine, cecum, and gizzard percentages increased (p < 0.05) with all 10% raw MPSM treatments, while all 10% autoclaved MPSM treatments could return these values (p > 0.05) to the control group, except with gizzard, which exhibited less improvement. Additionally, all autoclaved groups had lower meat pH measured 24 h postmortem (p <0.05) compared to the control group. In conclusion, autoclaved MPSM can be included in broilers' diets at a 10% level without negative effects on performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood lipids. This indicates that autoclaving alone is adequate.

Effect of Sodium Selenite, Selenium Yeast, and Bacterial Enriched Protein on Chicken Egg Yolk Color, Antioxidant Profiles, and Oxidative Stability

The chicken egg is one of nature's flawlessly preserved biological products, recognized as an excellent source of nutrients for humans. Selenium (Se) is an essential micro-element that plays a key role in biological processes. Organic selenium can be produced biologically by the microbial reduction of inorganic Se (sodium selenite). Therefore, the possibility of integrating Se enriched bacteria as a supplement in poultry feed can provide an interesting source of organic Se, thereby offering health-related advantages to humans. In this study, bacterial selenoproteins from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was used as a dietary supplement with other Se sources in Lohman brown Classic laying hens to study the egg yolk color, egg yolk and breast antioxidant profile, oxidative stability, and storage effect for fresh and stored egg yolk at 4 ± 2 °C for 14-days. The results showed that dietary Se supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) improved egg yolk color, the antioxidant profile of egg yolk, and breast meat (total carotenoid and phenol content). When the Se treated groups were compared to control groups, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in total cholesterol in fresh and stored egg yolk and breast muscle. In hens that were fed ADS18-Se, the primary oxidation products (MDA) concentrations in the eggs, breast, and thigh muscle, and plasma were significantly (p < 0.05) lower. However, the MDA content increased (p < 0.05) with an extended storage time in egg yolk. In comparison to inorganic Se and basal diets, egg yolk from hens fed organic Se remained fresh for two weeks. The egg yolk color, antioxidant profile, and oxidative status of egg yolk and tissue improve with dietary Se organic supplementation (ADS18 > Se-Yeast). The source of supplemented organic Se is critical for egg enrichment and antioxidant properties. As a result, ''functional eggs'' enriched with organic Se becomes possible to produce.

Moringa oleifera Leaves as Eco-Friendly Feed Additive in Diets of Hy-Line Brown Hens during the Late Laying Period

Simple Summary

It is of the utmost importance to explore the merit of a new phytogenic feed additive for sustainable egg production in laying chickens during the late laying period. Thus, the current study was designed to evaluate the effect of the addition of Moringa oleifera leaves to laying hen diets on laying performance, egg quality, excreta ammonia concentrations and blood biochemical parameters. The findings showed that the egg production, weight and mass and eggshell quality of laying hens fed with Moringa oleifera leaves during the late laying period were significantly improved in comparison with those of the hens in the control group. Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation decreased excreta ammonia concentration and serum cholesterol and triglycerides as well as serum liver enzymes, uric acid, and creatinine levels compared to those of the control group.

Abstract

This study investigated the dietary effects of Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation on egg quality, laying performance, excreta ammonia concentrations and serum biochemistry of laying chickens during the late laying period. A total of 240 64-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens were assigned to four treatment diets including Moringa oleifera leaves at 0, 3, 6 or 9 g/kg, respectively, for eight weeks. The treatments had twelve replicates with five hens each. The results revealed that incremental dietary Moringa oleifera leaves significantly increased (p < 0.01) egg weight, production, and mass through 64–68, 68–72 and 64–72 weeks of age. Simultaneously, feed conversion ratio was significantly improved (p < 0.01) with Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation compared with the control. Haugh units and the thickness of eggshells significantly improved as a response to diets supplemented with 3, 6 and 9 g/kg Moringa oleifera leaves at 72 weeks of age. Interestingly, excreta ammonia concentrations, serum cholesterol, aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase significantly decreased by Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation compared with the control group. In conclusion, introducing Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation at 3, 6 and 9 g/kg increased egg production, eggshell quality, Haugh units, and decreased serum cholesterol, triglycerides, excreta ammonia concentrations besides serum liver enzymes, uric acid and creatinine. Overall, based on the observed results, Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation was very promising and these leaves could be used as an effective feed additive in laying hens’ diet during the late laying period.

Nutritional evaluation of some Indian tree pods for livestock feeding

The objective of this study was to evaluate promising tree pods for feeding to the livestock particularly for the small ruminants. Out of eight tested tree pods, seven tree pods, i.e. White siris (Albizia procera), Siris (Albizia lebbeck), White kheri (Acacia senegal), Babul (Acacia arabica), Khejri (Prosopis cineraria), Vilayati babul (Prosopis juliflora) and Sajna (Moringa oleifera) were collected from semiarid region of Rajasthan while one tree pods e.g., Jungle jalebi (Enterolobium timoba) was collected from Dehradun, Uttrakhand, India. Most of the tree pods were rich in CP content. On an average, OM, CP, EE, NDF, ADF and cellulose content of these tree pods were found to be 91.1, 16.7, 2.5, 43.3, 34.7 and 25.4% on DM basis, respectively. Rumen protozoal number decreased due to inclusion of Enterolobium timoba tree pods in the incubation media. The TVFA and propionate production were higher for Acacia Senegal, Acacia arabica tree pods followed by Moringa oleifera tree pods while ammonia nitrogen concentration was lower due to inclusion of Enterolobium timoba tree pods in the incubation media. All the tested tree pods had no effect on xylanase, β-glucosidase and amylase enzyme activity. However, specific activity of carboxymethyl cellulase enzyme reduced due to addition of Enterolobium timoba tree pods in the incubation medium. Highest IVDMD was observed for Acacia arabica tree pods followed by Acacia senegal and Moringa oleifera tree pods. The results indicated that Acacia arabica, Acacia senegal and Moringa oleifera are good tree pods for feeding to the animals.

Influence of Oyster Mushroom Waste on Growth Performance, Immunity and Intestinal Morphology Compared With Antibiotics in Broiler Chickens

Oyster mushroom waste (OMW) is a by-product of the agriculture industry with valuable antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, and prebiotic properties. This by-product might be a useful alternative to antibiotic growth stimulators in poultry nutrition. The purpose of this research was to test the impact of OMW on the immune responses and on the morphology of intestine of broiler chickens. Four dietary therapies with five replicas of 15 birds in each, totalling 300 day- Ross 308 broiler chickens, were utilized in this study. Control chickens were fed a mixed diet that included a maize-soybean meal complemented by 1 and 2% OMW in addition to the basal diet. Furthermore, Enramycin (125 g/kg) was added to the control diet as an antibiotic. Throughout this experiment, performance was studied as well as the immune response to the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) and intestinal morphological traits. A substantial surge was noted in body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) of chickens after the addition of 1% OMW (p ≤ 0.05). In contrast, feed supplementation with 2% OMW, compared with the control diet, produced no noteworthy increase in BWG or the feed conversion rate (FCR). Antibiotic addition, on the other hand, increased serum cholesterol (p ≤ 0.05). After 42 days, neither OMW nor antibiotic addition affected organ mass. In contrast, antibiotic addition reduced the small intestine percentage, crypt depth and villus height (p ≤ 0.05). The Newcastle disease vaccine (NDV) antibody titer improved after feed supplementation with 1% OMW comparing with the control and antibiotic diet group. Furthermore, OMW supplementation decreased the heterophil-to-lymphocyte H/L ratio (p ≤ 0.05). The use of OMW led to a reduction in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the breast and liver and an increase in glutathione peroxidase. It helped to reduce glutathione, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase. In conclusion, the impact of OMW were dose-dependent, and the use of 1% OMW in broiler diets enhanced their growth and immunity. Nonetheless, supplementation with 2% OMW produced conflicting results.

Effect of a Diet Supplemented with the Moringa oleifera Seed Powder on the Performance, Egg Quality, and Gene Expression in Japanese Laying Quail under Heat-Stress

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three concentrations of the Moringa oleifera seed powder as a feed supplement on the productive performance and egg quality traits of laying Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) exposed to heat stress. The expression patterns of the genes estrogen receptors (ESR2), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), prolactin receptor (PRLR), and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) were estimated in ovaries, using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. A total of 200 laying quail aged seven weeks were randomly allocated to the following four experimental groups-the control (CNT), T1, T2, and T3 groups; each group comprised 50 quail females with 5 replicates (10 per group). The CNT group was fed a basal diet, whereas the T1, T2, and T3 groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% M. oleifera seed powder, respectively. The results revealed that the T3 group showed the highest hen-day egg production (%) as well as the highest egg yolk index. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio improved significantly (p < 0.05) with increased concentrations of the M. oleifera seed powder supplementation. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of ESR2, FSHR, and STAR increased significantly in the T3 group, compared to those in the CNT group. Alterations in ovarian gene expressions corresponded to the reproductive patterns of the treated Japanese quail. Thus, it was concluded that the supplementation of the Japanese quail feed with 0.3% M. oleifera seed powder during the laying period might enhance resistance to heat stress and consequently improve egg productivity.

Effects of feeding diets with processed Moringa oleifera stem meal on growth and laying performance, and immunological and antioxidant activities in laying ducks

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Moringa oleifera stem (MOS) meal in ducks. A total of 225 ducklings at 1 D of age were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatment groups with 3 replicates of 25 each. The growth experiment lasted 63 D . The egg experiment started from 23 to 27 wk of age. Ducks were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups with 3 replications of 15 each. The following dietary treatments were applied: 1) Control (CON), basal diet + 0% MOS meal; 2) basal diet + 2% MOS meal; 3) basal diet + 4% MOS meal. During 0 to 4 wk of age, ducks fed 2% MOS diet showed significantly increase in average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG; P < 0.05) and ducks fed 4% MOS diet had a significant improvement in feed conversion rate (FCR; P < 0.05). However, ADFI, ADG, and FCR were not affected significantly during 5 to 9 wk of age (P > 0.05). In egg production experiment, ADFI, average egg weight, laying rate, and FCR showed significant increase in 4% MOS diets (P < 0.05). Laying ducks fed 4% MOS diet had a higher egg shape index, whereas a lower yolk color compared with CON (P < 0.05). The proportion of broken shell eggs were zero in experimental diets, whereas 3% of which occurred in CON (P < 0.05). However, no significant effects in proportion of soft shell eggs, proportion of abnormal-shape eggs, albumen height, haugh unit, and eggshell thickness were observed among all treatments (P > 0.05). For serum biochemical parameters, total protein and albumin were increased in MOS diets during 0 to 4 wk of age, but decreased during 5 to 9 wk of age. For serum antioxidant index, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase values were increased whereas malondialdehyde values were decreased in MOS diets from 0 to 9 wk of age. The results suggest that MOS positively affects early growth performance and laying performane of duckling but partially affects egg quality. The antioxidative activity and immunological index may be improved.

Effect of dietary supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on egg quality, composition and anti-stress activity of Vanaraja laying hens

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MLM) on egg quality, composition and anti-stress activity of Vanaraja laying hens. One hundred twenty, Vanaraja laying hens of 24 weeks of age were randomly divided into four groups of 30 each with three replicates of 10 in each group. Four experimental diets were fed to birds in which T1 (control-antibiotic - oxytetracycline powder @ 50 g/ quintal) and in rest of the 3 treatment groups T2, T3 and T4, the birds were fed with MLM at levels of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0%, respectively. The egg quality parameters studied at 36 weeks of age did not show any significant difference between the treatment groups except for the yolk index. The activities of serum enzymes like alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase were also not differed significantly, except for alkaline phosphatase. The heterophil / lymphocyte ratio showed significant difference (P<0.05) between the treatment groups of MLM, where in the highest mean value was showed by T4 (1% MLM). No significant influence of dietary MLM was noticed on the nutrient composition and amino acid profile of eggs. From the above findings, it is concluded that MLM up to 1% level in the diet of Vanaraja laying hens is beneficial in terms of egg quality, composition and anti-stress activity.

Application of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) as Natural Feed Supplement in Poultry Diets

Application of natural herbs with a view to enhancing production performance and health status has created an important demand in poultry production. With the increasing concerns on this issue, greater attention paid to alternatives to antibiotics for organic meat and egg production has led to a great demand. This study was conducted with view to assessing the possible role of M. oleifera as a natural feed supplement in poultry ration. Various scientific findings and published research articles were considered concerning issues including the study background, objectives, major findings, and conclusions of the review. M oleifera is known as a miracle tree because of its wealthy resource of various nutrients with high biological values. M. oleifera has been used as a growth promoter, immune enhancer, antioxidant, and has a hypo-cholesterol effect on chickens. It has both nutritional and therapeutic values. However, there is still much confusion in past published articles involving the major roles of M. oleifera in production performance and health status of chickens. Taking this into account, the present study highlights an outline of the experimental uses of M. oleifera on growth performance, egg production performance, egg quality, and health status in broilers and laying hens justified with the past findings to the present. The knowledge gaps from the past studies are considered, and the feasibility of M. oleifera in poultry ration is suggested. The findings have motivated further study on M. oleifera to find out the most active ingredients and their optimal doses in both broiler and laying hen rations. Finally, the present study highlights that supplementation of M. oleifera may play a role in the immunity, sound health, and production performance in poultry.