Journal of Applied Poultry Research最新文献

This study evaluated the effects of reducing total amino acid (AA) & crude protein (CP) level and supplementation of protease on egg production, egg quality, AA digestibility and economics of egg production in W-36 laying hens from 50-70 wk of age. Five hundred seventy-six Hy-Line W-36 hens were housed in 192 cages consisting of 12 reps of 2 side-by side cages containing 3 hens. Each replicate was fed one of 8 diets in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of AA&CP levels (85, 90, 95, and 100% of the breeder recommendations) and protease (exclusion or inclusion). Protease was incorporated into the feed at the dosage recommended by the manufacturer, which is 60 grams per metric ton. Corn and soybean meal-based diets were formulated to meet 100% of the breeder's recommendations for the standardized ileal digestibility of Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, TSAA, Ile, and Val. Our study explored the effects of varying levels of AA&CP set at 85, 90, 95, and 100% of the recommendations for the ileal digestibility of Lys, Thr, Trp, TSAA, Ile, and Val, in diets with and without protease supplementation. All diets were supplemented with phytase at 500 phytase units/kg. Data were analyzed using PROC GLM of SAS 9.4 (2019) and the means were separated using Tukey's multiple comparison tests (P < 0.05). Overall, an interaction was observed between AA&CP level and protease supplementation on egg weight (EW; P = 0.003). The main effect of AA&CP level was observed on haugh unit (HU; P < 0.001) and feed cost (P < 0.001) where higher values were observed in 100 and 95% CP level diets as compared to 90 and 85% CP level diets. Similarly, a decrease in the AA&CP level increased the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of CP (P < 0.001), Lys (P < 0.001), Met (P < 0.001), Thr (P < 0.001), Trp (P < 0.001), Ile (P < 0.001), and Val (P < 0.001). Protease supplementation increased the AID of CP (P = 0.003), Lys (P = 0.001), Thr (P = 0.009), Ile (P < 0.001), and Val (P < 0.001). In conclusion, lower levels of AA&CP supplemented with protease did not negatively affect the egg production, albumen quality and the cost of production in low AA&CP corn and soybean meal-based diets in the Hy-Line W-36 laying hen.

The objective of this analysis was to quantify how changes in the protein content of soybean meal (SBM) impact the economic value and environmental impact of SBM used in U.S. poultry and swine diets. A recent study presented a framework to quantify SBM value in poultry and swine diets using digestible amino acids and energy as the primary determinants of end-user value. While improved SBM nutritional composition (higher digestible amino acids and energy) results in increased SBM market value, one aspect not well understood is how ingredient quality and composition impact the environmental assessment when formulating animal diets. This study demonstrated that the economic value of SBM in swine and poultry diets increases as SBM protein (amino acids and energy) increases and that this coincides with reduced dietary Green House Gas (GHG) emissions (gCO2e/kg). Least cost diet formulation was conducted on poultry and swine diets to estimate inclusion, diet cost, relative value of SBM, and GHG emissions for the calculated diets. Results show that for each 1% increase in SBM crude protein (CP) from 44.0% to 48.0%, SBM value increases over $19 per metric ton while reducing GHG emissions by 5.5% in poultry diets, and SBM value increases almost $16 per metric ton while reducing GHG emissions 4.8% in swine diets. Furthermore, increasing SBM CP content was confirmed to be favorable financially due to diet cost reductions in poultry and swine diets, with improvements in GHG emissions (gCO2e/kg), and estimated nitrogen excretion being unchanged across SBM CP.

Feedstuff variability negatively affects the poultry production chain. The nutritional value of soybean meal (SBM) is variable, especially among countries of origin. Complete nutrient analysis by traditional laboratory methods takes time, and not all this data is applied timely for feed formulation. The nutrient, energy, and digestibility information obtained with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could be used to describe feedstuffs, improve feed formulation, potentially reduce feed costs, and enhance accuracy to meet nutrient target levels. Diets for broilers and laying hens were formulated using variability due to country of origin, harvest year, SBM and corn prices to demonstrate the effects of applying NIRS information on feed cost and SBM valuation. The nutritional data was obtained from the NIRS Precision Nutrition Evaluation (PNE) service (Adisseo) for all feedstuffs. Only SBM by origin (Argentina, Brazil, and the USA) harvested in 2 yr varied in 3 feeding phases for broilers and in 2 phases for white and brown laying hens. The 378 diets were formulated to meet recommended nutrient levels and be similar within each feeding phase. Feed prices were analyzed using a 3 × 2 × 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with SBM origin, harvest year, corn, and SBM prices as main factors in a mixed model where SBM origin was the only fixed effect. Almost all diets that included USA SBM were cheaper than using other sources. Therefore, USA SBM was the base for estimating relative and premium SBM values. This exercise demonstrated the economic value of segregating SBM by origin and utilizing NIRS to obtain nutritional information.

Considerable variability has been reported for soybean meal (SBM) nutrient and energy content and protein and amino acid (AA) digestibility. Furthermore, analytical variability among labs can introduce bias in feedstuff valuation. Energy values are typically estimated with prediction equations that may require digestibility values and nutrient contents that are not always available for every SBM batch. Adequate valuation of SBM nutrient value remains an issue. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) can reduce analytical inconsistencies and aid with valuation. Direct NIRS calibration curves obtained with in vivo data can estimate ME and AA digestibility. We evaluated the effects of SBM origin and year of harvest on SBM nutrient, AME, AMEn, AA content, and digestibility using data estimated with the NIRS Precision Nutrition Evaluation (PNE) service (Adisseo). The database contained 77,478 SBM samples from Argentina, Brazil, and the United States (USA) scanned in nine countries between 2018 and 2021. Results confirmed that SBM varied by country of origin and year of harvest. Generally, Argentina had the lowest CP, EE, CF, Leu, Phe, His, and Arg, intermediate Lys, Ile, and energy values. Brazilian SBM had the highest CP, EE, CF, and Lys digestibility values but the lowest AME, AMEn, Lys, Met, Cys, and Trp per unit of CP. The USA SBM had the highest AME, AMEn, Lys, and Arg content per unit of CP, nutritional uniformity, and AA digestibility, similar to Argentina. The NIRS PNE service detected the variability caused by the origin and harvest year interaction on SBM nutrient and energy value.

The present study aimed to determine the effects of adding Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to laying quail diets on performance, egg quality, and internal organ weights. We used 96 laying Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) at 12 wk of age. The birds were divided into 3 treatment groups (32 quails per group), each divided into 8 replicates (4 quails per replicate). The research was carried out in 3 periods of 28 d each. We used 3 diets; the 1st group served as a control group, receiving only a basal diet. The 2nd and 3rd experimental groups received 0.1% (1×10⁹ CFU/g) B. megaterium and B. amyloliquefaciens as an addition to the basal diet, respectively. Adding B. megaterium and B. amyloliquefaciens did not influence the performance parameters statistically. Also, adding B. megaterium and B. amyloliquefaciens significantly (p < 0.05) impacted the albumen index, Haugh unit, and egg yolk compared to the control group. In contrast, the applied Bacillus species did not affect other egg quality parameter values. The addition of B. megaterium and B. amyloliquefaciens did not significantly influence body weight, heart weight, liver weight, gizzard weight, small intestine length, and cecum length among the slaughter parameters examined. Adding 0.1% (1 × 10⁹ CFU/g), of B. amyloliquefaciens to the laying quail diets can be used without causing a significant difference in performance, egg quality characteristics, and visceral weights compared to the control group.

The current feeding study was designed to investigate the influence of naringenin dietary supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, blood biochemistry, immunity, antioxidant responses, and the cecal microbiota of growing Japanese quails. Two hundred 1-wk-old Japanese quails with an average body weight of 28.02 ± 0.10 g were randomly clustered into 5 groups with 5 replicates each (n = 40 chicks/treatments & 8 chicks/replicate). The first group was received the basal diet (BD) without naringenin supplementation and considered the control group. Whereas, the naringenin-treated groups were fed on BD supplemented with naringenin at 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, and 2.00 g/kg diet. Regarding the antimicrobial activity of naringenin, the results displayed growth inhibition zones increased with increasing levels of naringenin. The main findings included significant linear and quadratic increases in quail's body weight and body gain with marked improvement of FCR (P < 0.05) without obvious alterations in carcass traits (P > 0.05). Moreover, dietary treatment with naringenin distinctly improved quail's hematology and biochemistry with prominent hypolipidemic effects assured by the significant lowering of cholesterol, TG, LDL, and VLDL. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG), complement 3, and lysozyme were increased with naringenin supplementation. The presence of naringenin in quail's diet significantly reduced the presence of different microbial populations in the cecum of growing quails. Net profit and economic efficiency were improved with naringenin supplementation when compared to control. Therefore, naringenin could be effectively included in quail's nutrition as a promising feed additive to improve quail's health and overall performance.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Kernza grain on particle size, flowability, and pellet durability index (PDI). An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of grinding Kernza grain on subsequent particle size and flowability. Three separate hammermill screen sizes, 2.0, 2.8, and 3.6 mm were used to grind Kernza grain. Each treatment was ground at 3 separate time points for a total of 3 replications per screen size. When grinding Kernza grain, particle size analysis showed an increase in geometric mean diameter, d_gw, (linear, P < 0.001) as screen hole diameter increased from 2.0, 2.8, to 3.6 mm. However, as d_gw increased with increasing screen hole diameter, the standard deviation, S_gw, (linear, P < 0.021) decreased. As the d_gw increased, Kernza grain AoR increased (linear, P < 0.001). With the resulting AoR values of Kernza grain ground with a screen size of 2.0 mm and 2.8 mm this product would classify as a poor flowing material (46–55°). However, as the screen size increased to 3.6 mm and subsequent particle size increased, the AoR value decreased determining this product as a passable flowing material (41–45°). Pelleting conditions yielded an increase (linear, P < 0.01) in Δ temperature as the inclusion of ground Kernza grain increased. As the inclusion of Kernza grain increased, subsequent PDI increased (quadratic, P < 0.001). Pellet durability increased from 58.6% in the control diet to 88.4% in the 30% Kernza grain diet. The largest increase in pellet durability occurred between the 0 and 10% inclusion ranges where there was a 20% increase in pellet durability. From 10% to 30% inclusion, pellet durability still increased, but at a decreased rate of only 10%.

This study investigated the effects of sunflower meal (SFM) inclusion at 15% in turkey diets containing an enzyme cocktail on growth performance, organ weights, nutrient digestibility, and carcass traits in turkey toms. A total of 180 one-day-old turkey toms were divided into 20 pens in a randomized complete block design and fed a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet (CON diet) containing phytase, protease, and nonstarch polysaccharide degrading enzymes (NSPase; xylanase, glucanase, cellulase, invertase, protease, and amylase) or where 15% SFM was added at the expense of corn and soybean meal (SFM diet). The diets were formulated to meet the nutrient recommendations for the turkey breed and fed to the turkeys in 7 feeding phases until market. Feeding the SFM diet increased (P < 0.05) body weight (BW) at the end of week 4 and BW gain for 0 to 4 wk. Feed conversion ratio for 0 to 4 wk was also decreased (P = 0.085). The SFM diet had similar (P > 0.10) apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter and amino acids and apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and crude protein compared to CON diet. Dietary treatments did not influence (P > 0.10) hot carcass yield, cold carcass yield, and yield of breasts, thighs, drumsticks, and wings compared to those of turkeys fed the CON diets. In conclusion, SFM can be included at 15% in corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with additional soybean oil and an enzyme blend, including phytase, protease, and NSPase, for turkey toms with minimal impact on the overall feed conversion ratio and carcass yield of turkey toms.

This study aims to characterize the environmental microbiota of an egg-producing farm situated in Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil, spanning from the chick to the laying hen stages and encompassing the treatment of carcasses and manure. Metataxonomy analyses reveal the continuity of bacterial diversity across the production stages (chick, pullet, and laying hen). The presence of Fusobacteriota and Cyanobacteria in poultry environments before any manure or carcass treatments (named pre-treatment samples) are identified as indicative phyla markers for healthy animals. Nonetheless, alterations in the bacterial communities emerge during the treatment of manure and carcasses (treatment samples), revealing an increased abundance of Halanaerobiaeota. In summary, the study underscores the key phyla influencing the entire environment of the egg production process on a farm in South Brazil. Although our data is from a specific farm, it provides insights for a more robust and representative study of the egg chain.

This study investigated the effects of supplemental Gly, Ser, and Arg on growth performance, carcass traits, footpad dermatitis, and litter ammonia emission of broilers fed low-protein diets from 18 to 42 d of age. A total 576 one-day-old female Cobb 500 broilers were divided into 6 dietary treatments: 1) control, high CP (HCP 20%), 2) medium CP (MCP 18%), 3) low CP (LCP 16%), 4) LCP + 0.20% Gly+Ser, 5) LCP + 0.20% Arg, and 6) LCP + 0.20% Gly+Ser + 0.20% Arg. Although BW gain and feed intake were not affected by treatments, reducing CP to LCP (16% CP) increased FCR regardless of amino acid supplementation, with MCP being intermediate. The calculated net energy values of low CP diets were higher than MCP and MCP. Net energy intake per 1,000 g of gain was also higher for birds fed LCP diets. Protein efficiency ratio was improved for birds fed the LCP diet. LCP diets either with or without supplemental Gly+Ser or Arg resulted in significantly higher relative tender weight. Reducing CP from 20 to 16% significantly increased fat deposition and fat yield. Footpad scores and NH₃ emission significantly decreased on LCP compared to HCP and MCP. Broilers fed reduced CP had good growth, reduced litter ammonia, and improved foot pad health, but increased FCR and peritoneal cavity adipose tissue.