Decoquinate (DQ) is an antiprotozoal quinolone derivative developed as an anticoccidial for poultry and other animals. The aim of the study was to determine the safety of DQ as an extra-label anticoccidial in chukar partridges, which are generally raised as game birds. In the study, a total of 40 animals were divided into four equal groups, ten animals from each group. Nothing was applied to the control group and they were fed with standard feed. The treatment groups were fed with feed containing DQ at a dose of 30, 60 or 120 ppm at the end of the study. At the end of 100 days of study period, blood serum for biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, ALP, BUN, and creatinine) and tissue samples (kidney, brain and liver) for pathological evaluations were taken from the chukar partridges. In addition, biochemical parameters were measured from the blood serum. No difference was found between the groups in histopathological and serum biochemical parameters. It was concluded that DQ is safe in chukar partridges.
{"title":"Determination of safety of decoquinate in chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar)","authors":"Rahmi CANBAR , Gökhan AKCAKAVAK , Muhittin USLU , Beyza SUVARIKLI ALAN","doi":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100638","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100638","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Decoquinate (DQ) is an antiprotozoal quinolone derivative developed as an anticoccidial for poultry and other animals. The aim of the study was to determine the safety of DQ as an extra-label anticoccidial in chukar partridges, which are generally raised as game birds. In the study, a total of 40 animals were divided into four equal groups, ten animals from each group. Nothing was applied to the control group and they were fed with standard feed. The treatment groups were fed with feed containing DQ at a dose of 30, 60 or 120 ppm at the end of the study. At the end of 100 days of study period, blood serum for biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, ALP, BUN, and creatinine) and tissue samples (kidney, brain and liver) for pathological evaluations were taken from the chukar partridges. In addition, biochemical parameters were measured from the blood serum. No difference was found between the groups in histopathological and serum biochemical parameters. It was concluded that DQ is safe in chukar partridges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Poultry Research","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 100638"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-05DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2025.100637
Justin H Lowery , Chongxiao Chen , Catherine G Fudge , Christina Sigmon , Robert B Beckstead , Lin L Walker
Infection with Cochlosoma anatis, a flagellated protozoan parasite, significantly impacts U.S. commercial turkey production by causing poult enteritis (poor weight gain, flock non-uniformity, and diarrhea) and is associated with co-infections. Though unconfirmed, prior research suggests impaired nutrient acquisition or utilization. This study investigated how infection timing affects disease severity in turkey poults, hypothesizing that inoculation at early brooding (placement or 8 days of age) would lead to more severe outcomes relative to inoculation at 15 days of age or non-infected controls (NC). Poults were orally inoculated with a C. anatis field strain and performance recorded for 28 days. Ileal C. anatis concentrations and cecal tonsil concentrations of Escherichia coli, total coliforms, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella were measured at 28 days of age. Mortality was normalized with the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation, and all parameters were assessed using a one-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer mean separation in JMP Pro 16. Mortality was significantly higher (p = 0.0007) with inoculation at placement and 8 days of age (up to 70 %) compared to those inoculated at 15 days of age (16 %) and the NC group (8 %). Initial weights were similar; however, poults inoculated at placement had significantly lower (p < 0.0001) final body weights (408.42 g/poult) compared to inoculation at 8 and 15 days of age (∼587 g/poult) and the NC group (797.51 g/poult). C. anatis and bacterial concentrations did not significantly differ. This study showed that C. anatis infection in early brooding leads to severe disease, highlighting the fragility of young poults susceptible to C. anatis infection.
{"title":"Infection with Cochlosoma anatis in early brooding leads to poor health outcomes in turkey poults","authors":"Justin H Lowery , Chongxiao Chen , Catherine G Fudge , Christina Sigmon , Robert B Beckstead , Lin L Walker","doi":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100637","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100637","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Infection with <em>Cochlosoma anatis</em>, a flagellated protozoan parasite, significantly impacts U.S. commercial turkey production by causing poult enteritis (poor weight gain, flock non-uniformity, and diarrhea) and is associated with co-infections. Though unconfirmed, prior research suggests impaired nutrient acquisition or utilization. This study investigated how infection timing affects disease severity in turkey poults, hypothesizing that inoculation at early brooding (placement or 8 days of age) would lead to more severe outcomes relative to inoculation at 15 days of age or non-infected controls (NC). Poults were orally inoculated with a <em>C. anatis</em> field strain and performance recorded for 28 days. Ileal <em>C. anatis</em> concentrations and cecal tonsil concentrations of <em>Escherichia coli</em>, total coliforms, <em>Clostridium perfringens</em>, and <em>Salmonella</em> were measured at 28 days of age. Mortality was normalized with the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation, and all parameters were assessed using a one-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer mean separation in JMP Pro 16. Mortality was significantly higher (<em>p</em> = 0.0007) with inoculation at placement and 8 days of age (up to 70 %) compared to those inoculated at 15 days of age (16 %) and the NC group (8 %). Initial weights were similar; however, poults inoculated at placement had significantly lower (<em>p</em> < 0.0001) final body weights (408.42 g/poult) compared to inoculation at 8 and 15 days of age (∼587 g/poult) and the NC group (797.51 g/poult). <em>C. anatis</em> and bacterial concentrations did not significantly differ. This study showed that <em>C. anatis</em> infection in early brooding leads to severe disease, highlighting the fragility of young poults susceptible to <em>C. anatis</em> infection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Poultry Research","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 100637"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2025.100635
Waleed Alhujaili , Halah A. Hafiz , Garsa Alshehry , Ahmed K. Aldhalmi , Mohammad M.H. Khan , Mahmoud Kamal , Mohamed M.F. El-Mekkawy
This study evaluated the effects of lactic acid (LAC) and spirulina (SPR) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters, antioxidant status, and cecal microbiota of broiler chickens as natural antioxidant and growth-promoting agents. A total of 360 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to six groups in a completely randomized design. Each group consisted of six replicates with ten unsexed chicks per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: NC (control, basal diet), PC (0.5 g polymyxin E antibiotic/kg diet), LAC 2 (2 g LAC/kg diet), LAC 4 (4 g LAC/kg diet), SPR 1 (1 g SPR/kg diet), and SPR 2 (2 g SPR/kg diet). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed among treatments for live body weight (LBW), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), or performance index (PI), except for FI during days 1–21, where the SPR 1 group showed improved FCR. Carcass characteristics did not differ significantly among treatments. LAC and SPR supplementation (P < 0.001) reduced total protein and albumin levels compared with NC and PC groups. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, as well as urea and creatinine levels, were lower in the LAC 4 and SPR 2 groups. Spirulina supplementation at different levels increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, along with glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, compared with NC, PC, and LAC treatments. Significant (P < 0.05) differences in total bacterial count (TBC) were recorded, with the NC group showing the highest values. Lactobacilli and E. coli counts were highest in the LAC 2 and LAC 4 groups, whereas SPR 1 had the greatest Salmonella counts. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 2 g LAC/kg improved gut health by promoting microbial balance, while 1 g SPR/kg enhanced antioxidant status and organ function, thereby improving overall physiological resilience in broilers.
本试验研究了乳酸（LAC）和螺旋藻（SPR）作为天然抗氧化剂和促生长剂对肉鸡生长性能、胴体性状、血液参数、抗氧化状态和盲肠菌群的影响。采用完全随机设计，将360只1日龄罗斯308雏鸡随机分为6组。每组6个重复，每个重复10只无性别的雏鸡。饲粮处理为：NC（对照，基础饲粮）、PC （0.5 g多粘菌素E抗生素/kg饲粮）、LAC 2 （2 g LAC/kg饲粮）、LAC 4 （4 g LAC/kg饲粮）、SPR 1 （1 g SPR/kg饲粮）和SPR 2 （2 g SPR/kg饲粮）。除第1 - 21天的饲料系数（FI）外，各组活重（LBW）、采食量（FI）、饲料系数（FCR）和生产性能指数（PI）均无显著差异（P > 0.05）。不同处理间胴体性状无显著差异。与NC组和PC组相比，添加LAC和SPR （P < 0.001）降低了总蛋白和白蛋白水平。丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）和天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）活性以及尿素和肌酐水平在LAC 4和SPR 2组均较低。与NC、PC和LAC处理相比，添加不同水平螺旋藻可提高谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GPx）和谷胱甘肽s -转移酶（GST）活性，以及谷胱甘肽（GSH）和丙二醛（MDA）浓度。两组总细菌计数（TBC）差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）， NC组最高。乳酸杆菌和大肠杆菌数量在LAC 2和LAC 4组中最高，而沙门氏菌数量在SPR 1组中最高。综上所述，饲粮中添加2 g LAC/kg可通过促进肠道微生物平衡来改善肉鸡肠道健康，而饲粮中添加1 g SPR/kg可增强机体抗氧化状态和器官功能，从而提高肉鸡的整体生理弹性。
{"title":"Modulating cecal microbiota and systemic physiology in broilers through non-antibiotic dietary approaches","authors":"Waleed Alhujaili , Halah A. Hafiz , Garsa Alshehry , Ahmed K. Aldhalmi , Mohammad M.H. Khan , Mahmoud Kamal , Mohamed M.F. El-Mekkawy","doi":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of lactic acid (LAC) and spirulina (SPR) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters, antioxidant status, and cecal microbiota of broiler chickens as natural antioxidant and growth-promoting agents. A total of 360 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to six groups in a completely randomized design. Each group consisted of six replicates with ten unsexed chicks per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: NC (control, basal diet), PC (0.5 g polymyxin E antibiotic/kg diet), LAC 2 (2 g LAC/kg diet), LAC 4 (4 g LAC/kg diet), SPR 1 (1 g SPR/kg diet), and SPR 2 (2 g SPR/kg diet). No significant differences (<em>P</em> > 0.05) were observed among treatments for live body weight (LBW), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), or performance index (PI), except for FI during days 1–21, where the SPR 1 group showed improved FCR. Carcass characteristics did not differ significantly among treatments. LAC and SPR supplementation (<em>P</em> < 0.001) reduced total protein and albumin levels compared with NC and PC groups. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, as well as urea and creatinine levels, were lower in the LAC 4 and SPR 2 groups. Spirulina supplementation at different levels increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, along with glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, compared with NC, PC, and LAC treatments. Significant (<em>P</em> < 0.05) differences in total bacterial count (TBC) were recorded, with the NC group showing the highest values. Lactobacilli and <em>E. coli</em> counts were highest in the LAC 2 and LAC 4 groups, whereas SPR 1 had the greatest <em>Salmonella</em> counts. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 2 g LAC/kg improved gut health by promoting microbial balance, while 1 g SPR/kg enhanced antioxidant status and organ function, thereby improving overall physiological resilience in broilers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Poultry Research","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 100635"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2025.100633
C. Hisasaga , S.K. Orlowski-Workman , K.J. Tarrant
The broiler industry has observed an increase in the incidence and severity of myopathies in recent years, which has negatively affected meat quality and compromised consumer acceptance of fresh and processed products. Among these, a myopathy known as woody breast (WB) has become of concern to both the scientific community and the poultry industry, prompting numerous studies on the etiology of the myopathy. WB has been described as a disorder that causes hardening and discoloration of the chicken pectoralis major muscle, subsequently decreasing the meat quality. Palpation of the breast muscle of live birds has been used to estimate the presence and severity of woody breast in broiler populations. To assess its accuracy, this experiment aimed to evaluate how effectively the method can estimate the incidence and severity of WB pre-mortem. Furthermore, this study supports previous statements that demonstrate birds with WB are heavier in weight than those without WB. Our study provides insight into the reliability of using external palpations for scoring woody breast in live broilers. While the palpation method on live birds can be used to gain general information about breast scores, internal evaluation of WB scoring is needed to fully understand the incidence and severity of myopathy, as live scoring can be variable.
{"title":"Applied research note: Reliability in using live palpation scores to evaluate woody breast severity in commercial broilers","authors":"C. Hisasaga , S.K. Orlowski-Workman , K.J. Tarrant","doi":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The broiler industry has observed an increase in the incidence and severity of myopathies in recent years, which has negatively affected meat quality and compromised consumer acceptance of fresh and processed products. Among these, a myopathy known as woody breast (WB) has become of concern to both the scientific community and the poultry industry, prompting numerous studies on the etiology of the myopathy. WB has been described as a disorder that causes hardening and discoloration of the chicken pectoralis major muscle, subsequently decreasing the meat quality. Palpation of the breast muscle of live birds has been used to estimate the presence and severity of woody breast in broiler populations. To assess its accuracy, this experiment aimed to evaluate how effectively the method can estimate the incidence and severity of WB pre-mortem. Furthermore, this study supports previous statements that demonstrate birds with WB are heavier in weight than those without WB. Our study provides insight into the reliability of using external palpations for scoring woody breast in live broilers. While the palpation method on live birds can be used to gain general information about breast scores, internal evaluation of WB scoring is needed to fully understand the incidence and severity of myopathy, as live scoring can be variable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Poultry Research","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 100633"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2025.100636
A. Renner, E.B. Estanich, E.A. Lynch, K.M. Bowen, L.E. Knarr, T. Waugerman, J.S. Moritz
Thermal processes during steam conditioning and pellet die extrusion aid in pelleting but may degrade exogenous feed enzymes. This study determined how ambient temperature interacts with varying steam conditioning temperatures to influence moisture addition throughout pelleting, the pelleting process, and enzyme activity. A split-plot design was implemented using two whole-plot units (Ambient Temperature: -1 and 16°C) and three sub-plot units (Conditioning Temperature: 66, 74, and 82°C). Corn and soybean-based mash feed was within 5°C for all treatments before conditioning and contained a commercial phytase and xylanase. Increasing conditioning temperature increased conditioned mash and hot pellet moisture content, regardless of ambient temperature (P < 0.05). Pellet production rate was affected by the interaction of ambient and conditioning temperatures (P = 0.0357). Production rate did not change across conditioning temperature at -1°C ambient temperature; however, increased three percent from 74°C to 82°C at 16°C ambient temperature. Pellet mill motor load decreased with increasing conditioning temperature (P = 0.0002) and tended to decrease with 16°C ambient temperature (P = 0.0647). Unlike phytase, xylanase activity decreased in cooled pellets with increasing conditioning temperature and higher ambient temperature (P < 0.05). Increasing conditioning temperature and 16°C ambient conditions likely produced steam that provided increased lubrication at the pellet die and decreased xylanase activity. Perhaps the steam within our system experienced a Leidenfrost effect or there was less flash-off of moisture within the conditioner during warm ambient temperatures. These data suggest conditioning and ambient temperatures influence steam dynamics, the pelleting process, and nutrition.
{"title":"Interaction of ambient temperature and conditioning temperatures on moisture addition throughout pelleting, the pelleting process, and enzyme activity","authors":"A. Renner, E.B. Estanich, E.A. Lynch, K.M. Bowen, L.E. Knarr, T. Waugerman, J.S. Moritz","doi":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100636","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100636","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermal processes during steam conditioning and pellet die extrusion aid in pelleting but may degrade exogenous feed enzymes. This study determined how ambient temperature interacts with varying steam conditioning temperatures to influence moisture addition throughout pelleting, the pelleting process, and enzyme activity. A split-plot design was implemented using two whole-plot units (Ambient Temperature: -1 and 16°C) and three sub-plot units (Conditioning Temperature: 66, 74, and 82°C). Corn and soybean-based mash feed was within 5°C for all treatments before conditioning and contained a commercial phytase and xylanase. Increasing conditioning temperature increased conditioned mash and hot pellet moisture content, regardless of ambient temperature (P < 0.05). Pellet production rate was affected by the interaction of ambient and conditioning temperatures (<em>P</em> = 0.0357). Production rate did not change across conditioning temperature at -1°C ambient temperature; however, increased three percent from 74°C to 82°C at 16°C ambient temperature. Pellet mill motor load decreased with increasing conditioning temperature (<em>P</em> = 0.0002) and tended to decrease with 16°C ambient temperature (<em>P</em> = 0.0647). Unlike phytase, xylanase activity decreased in cooled pellets with increasing conditioning temperature and higher ambient temperature (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Increasing conditioning temperature and 16°C ambient conditions likely produced steam that provided increased lubrication at the pellet die and decreased xylanase activity. Perhaps the steam within our system experienced a Leidenfrost effect or there was less flash-off of moisture within the conditioner during warm ambient temperatures. These data suggest conditioning and ambient temperatures influence steam dynamics, the pelleting process, and nutrition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Poultry Research","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 100636"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2025.100630
W. Evan Chaney , Jennie Baxter , Manuel Da Costa , Vivek A. Kuttappan , Maci Oelschlager , Matthew Jones , Charles Hofacre
Colibacillosis outbreaks caused by Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) remain a burden of risk for the global poultry industry. Recent reports have demonstrated the functionality of postbiotic and phytogenic blends to support poultry health during APEC challenge. This study evaluated the effects of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation-derived postbiotic and phytogenic blend (SCFP+; Biostrong™ C-Protect, Cedar Rapids, IA) to ameliorate the severity of acute colibacillosis in layer pullets intra-tracheally challenged with APEC serotype O78. Two-hundred-eighteen day-of-age (D0) commercial layer pullets from Hyline were floor reared for 8 weeks in small pens by dietary treatment group (Control Diet or Control Diet with 1.15 lb./ U.S. Ton SCFP+), fed ad libitum until study termination at 10 weeks (W10). Within each group, 26 birds were randomly tagged for bodyweight (BW) measurement at D0, W3, W9 and W10. At W8, birds were placed into individual cages by treatment and randomly assigned one of two APEC O78 challenge doses (108 or 1010 CFU/bird) administered intratracheally at W9, with final BW, necropsy and lesion scoring at W10 (n=48 birds/dose/treatment). Mean lesion scores for air sacculitis were significantly reduced in birds receiving SCFP+ as compared to the challenge control (0.61 vs. 0.94). SCFP+ numerically improved the cumulative severity score (0.94 vs. 1.42) while observed means were lower for perihepatitis (0.13 vs. 0.18) and pericarditis (0.20 vs. 0.30) lesions. Similarly, observed clinical prevalence ( % of birds with a non-zero lesion score), remained lower for SCFP+ birds, approaching significance for pericarditis. D0, W3 and W9 bodyweights were statistically equivalent, however, observed mean BW gain during acute APEC challenge was numerically higher for SCFP+ birds (+0.07 kg). These data report on a novel APEC pullet challenge model and indicate that SCFP+ could support layer pullet health and development during acute APEC O78 challenge.
由禽致病性大肠杆菌（APEC）引起的大肠杆菌病暴发仍然是全球家禽业的风险负担。最近的报告已经证明了后生物和植物性混合物在APEC挑战期间支持家禽健康的功能。本研究评估了酿酒酵母发酵衍生的后生物和植物混合物（SCFP+; Biostrong™C-Protect, Cedar Rapids， IA）对改善经气管内感染APEC血清型O78的蛋鸡急性大肠杆菌病严重程度的影响。选用Hyline产的218只日龄（D0）商品蛋鸡，在小栏内地板饲养8周，分饲粮处理组（对照饲粮或添加1.15 lb / U.S. - Ton SCFP+的对照饲粮），自由饲喂，直至研究于10周（W10）结束。每组随机选取26只鸡，分别在0、3、9、10岁时进行体重测定。在W8时，通过处理将禽类放入单独的笼子中，并在W9时随机分配两种APEC O78攻毒剂量（108或1010 CFU/只）中的一种，在W10时进行最终体重、尸检和病变评分（n=48只/剂量/治疗）。与攻毒对照组相比，接受SCFP+的鸟类空气囊炎的平均病变评分显著降低（0.61比0.94）。SCFP+在数值上提高了累积严重程度评分（0.94 vs. 1.42），而观察到的周围肝炎（0.13 vs. 0.18）和心包炎（0.20 vs. 0.30）病变的平均值较低。同样，观察到的临床患病率（病变评分非零的鸟类百分比）在SCFP+鸟类中仍然较低，接近心包炎的显著性。D0、W3和W9体重在统计上是相等的，然而，在急性APEC攻击期间观察到的SCFP+鸟的平均体重增加在数值上更高（+0.07 kg）。这些数据报告了一种新的APEC小母鸡挑战模型，并表明SCFP+可以在急性APEC O78挑战期间支持蛋鸡的健康和发育。
{"title":"Applied research note: Effect of a postbiotic and phytogenic blend on the severity of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) serotype O78 infection in a 10 week layer pullet challenge model","authors":"W. Evan Chaney , Jennie Baxter , Manuel Da Costa , Vivek A. Kuttappan , Maci Oelschlager , Matthew Jones , Charles Hofacre","doi":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100630","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100630","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Colibacillosis outbreaks caused by Avian Pathogenic <em>Escherichia coli</em> (APEC) remain a burden of risk for the global poultry industry. Recent reports have demonstrated the functionality of postbiotic and phytogenic blends to support poultry health during APEC challenge. This study evaluated the effects of a <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> fermentation-derived postbiotic and phytogenic blend (SCFP+; Biostrong™ C-Protect, Cedar Rapids, IA) to ameliorate the severity of acute colibacillosis in layer pullets intra-tracheally challenged with APEC serotype O78. Two-hundred-eighteen day-of-age (D0) commercial layer pullets from Hyline were floor reared for 8 weeks in small pens by dietary treatment group (Control Diet or Control Diet with 1.15 lb./ U.S. Ton SCFP+), fed <em>ad libitum</em> until study termination at 10 weeks (W10). Within each group, 26 birds were randomly tagged for bodyweight (BW) measurement at D0, W3, W9 and W10. At W8, birds were placed into individual cages by treatment and randomly assigned one of two APEC O78 challenge doses (10<sup>8</sup> or 10<sup>10</sup> CFU/bird) administered intratracheally at W9, with final BW, necropsy and lesion scoring at W10 (n=48 birds/dose/treatment). Mean lesion scores for air sacculitis were significantly reduced in birds receiving SCFP+ as compared to the challenge control (0.61 vs. 0.94). SCFP+ numerically improved the cumulative severity score (0.94 vs. 1.42) while observed means were lower for perihepatitis (0.13 vs. 0.18) and pericarditis (0.20 vs. 0.30) lesions. Similarly, observed clinical prevalence ( % of birds with a non-zero lesion score), remained lower for SCFP+ birds, approaching significance for pericarditis. D0, W3 and W9 bodyweights were statistically equivalent, however, observed mean BW gain during acute APEC challenge was numerically higher for SCFP+ birds (+0.07 kg). These data report on a novel APEC pullet challenge model and indicate that SCFP+ could support layer pullet health and development during acute APEC O78 challenge.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Poultry Research","volume":"34 4","pages":"Article 100630"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145462540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-29DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2025.100632
Bahareh Eskandari , Shaban Rahimi , Mohammad Amir Karimi Torshizi , Tayebeh Toliyat , Nazanin Soltani , Jesse Grimes
Egg yolk immunoglobulin Y (IgY) can be used as an alternative to antibiotics for preventing and treating intestinal pathogenic infections. In the present study, sixty Lohmann-LSL-Lite laying hens were immunized intramuscularly with formaldehyde-killed whole-cell E. coli antigens. Lyophilized antibodies were obtained from eggs and encapsulated with sodium alginate, beta-cyclodextrin/alginate, and methacrylic acid co-polymer (L100–55). A total of 450 day-old ROSS 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated into six groups (five replicates of 15 birds each) to evaluate the protective effects of IgY. The groups were as follows: Negative control (NC) — unchallenged and unsupplemented; Positive control (PC) — challenged with E. coli O78, unsupplemented; Non-encapsulated IgY (Non-ECIgY) — challenged and given 5 g/kg IgY powder; IgY-eudragit pellet (IgY-EP) — challenged and given 10 g/kg IgY-EP; IgY-beta-cyclodextrin-alginate microcapsules (IgY-βCyD-Alg) — challenged and given 11 g/kg IgY-βCyD-Alg; and IgY-alginate microcapsules (IgY-Alg) — challenged and given 12.5 g/kg IgY-Alg. Dietary supplementation with both encapsulated and non-encapsulated IgY significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) performance and intestinal histology compared to the PC group. However, the improvements (P < 0.05) were more pronounced in the encapsulated IgY group. The total number of E. coli in ceca and liver of birds fed with encapsulated IgY was lower (P < 0.05) than non-encapsulated IgY. Therefore, encapsulated IgY improved the efficacy of IgY against E. coli in broiler chickens because the encapsulation of IgY could protect it from gastrointestinal inactivation and enhance its delivery to the intestines.
{"title":"Capsulation as a strategy for oral delivery of immunoglobulin Y in broilers challenged with Escherichia coli O78:K80","authors":"Bahareh Eskandari , Shaban Rahimi , Mohammad Amir Karimi Torshizi , Tayebeh Toliyat , Nazanin Soltani , Jesse Grimes","doi":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100632","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100632","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Egg yolk immunoglobulin Y (<strong>IgY</strong>) can be used as an alternative to antibiotics for preventing and treating intestinal pathogenic infections. In the present study, sixty Lohmann-LSL-Lite laying hens were immunized intramuscularly with formaldehyde-killed whole-cell <em>E. coli</em> antigens. Lyophilized antibodies were obtained from eggs and encapsulated with sodium alginate, beta-cyclodextrin/alginate, and methacrylic acid co-polymer (L100–55). A total of 450 day-old ROSS 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated into six groups (five replicates of 15 birds each) to evaluate the protective effects of IgY. The groups were as follows: Negative control (NC) — unchallenged and unsupplemented; Positive control (PC) — challenged with <em>E. coli</em> O78, unsupplemented; Non-encapsulated IgY (Non-ECIgY) — challenged and given 5 g/kg IgY powder; IgY-eudragit pellet (IgY-EP) — challenged and given 10 g/kg IgY-EP; IgY-beta-cyclodextrin-alginate microcapsules (IgY-βCyD-Alg) — challenged and given 11 g/kg IgY-βCyD-Alg; and IgY-alginate microcapsules (IgY-Alg) — challenged and given 12.5 g/kg IgY-Alg. Dietary supplementation with both encapsulated and non-encapsulated IgY significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) performance and intestinal histology compared to the PC group. However, the improvements (P < 0.05) were more pronounced in the encapsulated IgY group. The total number of <em>E. coli</em> in ceca and liver of birds fed with encapsulated IgY was lower (P < 0.05) than non-encapsulated IgY. Therefore, encapsulated IgY improved the efficacy of IgY against <em>E. coli</em> in broiler chickens because the encapsulation of IgY could protect it from gastrointestinal inactivation and enhance its delivery to the intestines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Poultry Research","volume":"34 4","pages":"Article 100632"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145462541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-28DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2025.100631
Doyun Goo , Janghan Choi , Jihwan Lee , Milan K. Sharma , Deependra Paneru , Hamid R. Rafieian-Naeini , Hong Zhuang , Byungwhi Kong , Brian Bowker , Casey W. Ritz , Woo K. Kim
High leucine levels and an imbalanced branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) ratio in the diet can trigger BCAA antagonism, negatively affecting chicken growth. The current study investigated how additional valine and isoleucine could mitigate the negative effects of imbalanced BCAA diets in broilers. The control and additional isoleucine groups experienced significantly decreased body weight gain (BWG) and feed efficiency compared to the additional valine and valine with isoleucine groups (P < 0.001). The additional isoleucine group significantly reduced BWG and feed intake (FI) compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The additional isoleucine group had the lowest carcass weight, breast muscle weight, lean and fat weights, bone mineral density and content, tight junction-related gene expression levels, and villus height values among the groups (P < 0.05). The additional isoleucine group had the highest levels of breast muscle BCAA catabolism-related enzyme and gene expression among the groups (P < 0.05). However, the gene expression levels in breast muscle decreased when valine and isoleucine were provided together. In conclusion, adding isoleucine alone to a BCAA-imbalanced diet can further exacerbate the negative effects of BCAA antagonism and deficiency, impairing growth performance unless additional valine is also provided.
{"title":"Additional isoleucine without valine in an imbalanced branched-chain amino acid diet further exacerbates its negative effects in broilers","authors":"Doyun Goo , Janghan Choi , Jihwan Lee , Milan K. Sharma , Deependra Paneru , Hamid R. Rafieian-Naeini , Hong Zhuang , Byungwhi Kong , Brian Bowker , Casey W. Ritz , Woo K. Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100631","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100631","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High leucine levels and an imbalanced branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) ratio in the diet can trigger BCAA antagonism, negatively affecting chicken growth. The current study investigated how additional valine and isoleucine could mitigate the negative effects of imbalanced BCAA diets in broilers. The control and additional isoleucine groups experienced significantly decreased body weight gain (BWG) and feed efficiency compared to the additional valine and valine with isoleucine groups (<em>P</em> < 0.001). The additional isoleucine group significantly reduced BWG and feed intake (FI) compared to the control group (<em>P</em> < 0.001). The additional isoleucine group had the lowest carcass weight, breast muscle weight, lean and fat weights, bone mineral density and content, tight junction-related gene expression levels, and villus height values among the groups (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The additional isoleucine group had the highest levels of breast muscle BCAA catabolism-related enzyme and gene expression among the groups (<em>P</em> < 0.05). However, the gene expression levels in breast muscle decreased when valine and isoleucine were provided together. In conclusion, adding isoleucine alone to a BCAA-imbalanced diet can further exacerbate the negative effects of BCAA antagonism and deficiency, impairing growth performance unless additional valine is also provided.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Poultry Research","volume":"34 4","pages":"Article 100631"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145462548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-25DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2025.100629
Ali Reza Ghiasvand , Hassan Shirzadi , Hossein Ali Ghasemi , Kamran Taherpour , Shokoufeh Hasanvand , Ali Khatibjoo
Arginine (Arg) is an essential amino acid for poultry due to their lack of a functional urea cycle, and it plays a critical role in growth, metabolism, and immune function. This study aimed to determine the optimal dietary digestible Arg levels for maximizing growth performance and processing yields, while also assessing its impact on meat quality and immune response in Japanese quails. A total of 600 meat-type Japanese quails were assigned to five dietary groups with varying digestible Arg concentrations (0.75 %, 1.00 %, 1.25 %, 1.50 %, and 1.75 %), ensuring adequate levels of other amino acids. Arginine requirements were estimated using both linear one-slope broken-line and quadratic broken-line models. The optimal digestible Arg levels for body weight gain, feed efficiency, and carcass yield during the first 21 days were 1.24 % and 1.61 %, 1.49 % and 1.70 %, and 1.20 % and 1.48 %, respectively, based on the linear and quadratic broken-line models. Meat quality parameters showed no significant differences; however, malondialdehyde concentrations in the thigh and pectoral muscles were significantly lower in Japanese quails fed 1.25 % and 1.50 % Arg diets (P < 0.05), indicating improved oxidative stability. Additionally, birds fed the 1.25 % Arg diet exhibited significantly higher IgG and total antibody responses against sheep red blood cells compared to those fed the 1.75 % Arg diet (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the optimal dietary digestible Arg level for Japanese quails during the starter phase is estimated at 1.49 %, based on the linear broken-line model for feed efficiency with the highest r² value. Furthermore, a minimum of 1.25 % digestible Arg is required to support favorable oxidative stability and immune function.
{"title":"Arginine responses in meat-type Japanese quails from 1 to 21 days: Growth performance, meat quality, and immune response","authors":"Ali Reza Ghiasvand , Hassan Shirzadi , Hossein Ali Ghasemi , Kamran Taherpour , Shokoufeh Hasanvand , Ali Khatibjoo","doi":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100629","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100629","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arginine (Arg) is an essential amino acid for poultry due to their lack of a functional urea cycle, and it plays a critical role in growth, metabolism, and immune function. This study aimed to determine the optimal dietary digestible Arg levels for maximizing growth performance and processing yields, while also assessing its impact on meat quality and immune response in Japanese quails. A total of 600 meat-type Japanese quails were assigned to five dietary groups with varying digestible Arg concentrations (0.75 %, 1.00 %, 1.25 %, 1.50 %, and 1.75 %), ensuring adequate levels of other amino acids. Arginine requirements were estimated using both linear one-slope broken-line and quadratic broken-line models. The optimal digestible Arg levels for body weight gain, feed efficiency, and carcass yield during the first 21 days were 1.24 % and 1.61 %, 1.49 % and 1.70 %, and 1.20 % and 1.48 %, respectively, based on the linear and quadratic broken-line models. Meat quality parameters showed no significant differences; however, malondialdehyde concentrations in the thigh and pectoral muscles were significantly lower in Japanese quails fed 1.25 % and 1.50 % Arg diets (<em>P</em> < 0.05), indicating improved oxidative stability. Additionally, birds fed the 1.25 % Arg diet exhibited significantly higher IgG and total antibody responses against sheep red blood cells compared to those fed the 1.75 % Arg diet (<em>P</em> < 0.05). In conclusion, the optimal dietary digestible Arg level for Japanese quails during the starter phase is estimated at 1.49 %, based on the linear broken-line model for feed efficiency with the highest <em>r</em>² value. Furthermore, a minimum of 1.25 % digestible Arg is required to support favorable oxidative stability and immune function.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Poultry Research","volume":"34 4","pages":"Article 100629"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145462411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-18DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2025.100628
Lukáš Zita , Ondřej Krunt , Jitka Edrová , Jakub Vorel , Eva Chmelíková , Antonella Dalle Zotte
Housing conditions strongly influence both the welfare and productivity of farmed poultry. Muscovy ducks, unlike many other commercial species, are naturally adapted to water and may benefit from access to swimming facilities. In this study, we explored how providing a pond environment affects the overall health, growth, and product quality of these birds, while also considering natural differences between males and females. Ducks allowed to swim displayed better hygiene, with cleaner plumage and healthier eyes and nostrils, suggesting a direct link between water access and welfare. Their physiological status also indicated a more balanced metabolism. Growth patterns differed over time, but ultimately ducks with swimming access achieved similar or superior body development compared with those kept without water. Differences were also apparent in carcass composition and bone quality. Swimming birds carried less excess fat and produced stronger skeletal tissue with greater mineral content, outcomes that can be considered both a welfare and a production advantage. Sex differences were evident across many traits: males generally grew larger and had heavier carcasses, while females tended to show higher fat loss after processing. These observations underline that management practices interact with biological factors in shaping performance and meat quality. Overall, the findings demonstrate that incorporating swimming ponds into Muscovy duck housing not only enhances bird welfare by improving hygiene and natural behavior but also contributes to valuable production traits. Such housing adjustments may therefore represent a sustainable step forward in balancing animal welfare with the expectations of modern poultry production.
{"title":"Welfare and productivity in muscovy ducks: Impact of swimming pond availability","authors":"Lukáš Zita , Ondřej Krunt , Jitka Edrová , Jakub Vorel , Eva Chmelíková , Antonella Dalle Zotte","doi":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100628","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.japr.2025.100628","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Housing conditions strongly influence both the welfare and productivity of farmed poultry. Muscovy ducks, unlike many other commercial species, are naturally adapted to water and may benefit from access to swimming facilities. In this study, we explored how providing a pond environment affects the overall health, growth, and product quality of these birds, while also considering natural differences between males and females. Ducks allowed to swim displayed better hygiene, with cleaner plumage and healthier eyes and nostrils, suggesting a direct link between water access and welfare. Their physiological status also indicated a more balanced metabolism. Growth patterns differed over time, but ultimately ducks with swimming access achieved similar or superior body development compared with those kept without water. Differences were also apparent in carcass composition and bone quality. Swimming birds carried less excess fat and produced stronger skeletal tissue with greater mineral content, outcomes that can be considered both a welfare and a production advantage. Sex differences were evident across many traits: males generally grew larger and had heavier carcasses, while females tended to show higher fat loss after processing. These observations underline that management practices interact with biological factors in shaping performance and meat quality. Overall, the findings demonstrate that incorporating swimming ponds into Muscovy duck housing not only enhances bird welfare by improving hygiene and natural behavior but also contributes to valuable production traits. Such housing adjustments may therefore represent a sustainable step forward in balancing animal welfare with the expectations of modern poultry production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Poultry Research","volume":"34 4","pages":"Article 100628"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145462536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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