Effect of feeding fermented and non-fermented palm kernel cake on the performance of broiler chickens: a review

Awareness and use of improved livestock feed technologies among agro-pastoral households in the West African Sahel

Seasonal scarcity of quality feed continues to be a bottleneck for agro-pastoralists and is the most important limitation to livestock production in agro-pastoral systems in the West African Sahel. In this regard, diverse promising technologies to increase the production and availability of quality feed have been introduced. Despite the introduction of various feed technologies in the region, the adoption rate by smallholder farmers is very low. The objective of this study was to identify factors affecting the likelihood of using improved livestock feed technologies among agro-pastoral households in two regions of Niger. A logit model was employed using data collected from randomly selected 218 agro-pastoral households between February and April 2023. The study revealed low awareness and use of improved livestock feed technologies among agro-pastoral households. The findings suggested the positive impact of education level, membership of farmer groups and ownership of small ruminant on enhancing the probability of using improved livestock feed technologies. Households' geographical area was one of the determinant factors in using improved livestock feed technologies. The use of improved livestock feed technologies was also influenced by family size. The study provides guidance to inform strategies by the decision-makers to enhance the utilization of improved livestock feed technologies among agro-pastoral households in the West African Sahel. Suggested strategies may in turn alleviate the current problem of low productivity of livestock, contribute to improving household food security and nutrition among agro-pastoral communities.

Effects of fermented sweet potato residue on nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and intestinal microbes in broilers

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different proportions of dietary fermented sweet potato residue (FSPR) supplementation as a substitute for corn on the nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and intestinal microbes of yellow-feathered broilers. Experiment 1 (force-feeding) evaluated the nutrient composition and digestibility of mixtures with different proportions of sweet potato residue (70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%) before and after fermentation. In Experiment 2 (metabolic growth), a total of 420 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly allocated to 4 groups and fed corn-soybean meal-based diets with 0, 5%, 8%, and 10% FSPR as a substitute for corn. The force-feeding and metabolic growth experiments were performed for 9 and 70 d, respectively. The treatment of 70% sweet potato residue (after fermentation) had the highest levels of crude protein, ether extract, and crude fiber and improved the digestibility of crude protein and amino acids (P < 0.05). Although dietary FSPR supplementation at different levels had no significant effect on growth performance and intestinal morphology, it improved slaughter rate, half-chamber rate, full clearance rate, and meat color, as well as reduced cooking loss in the breast and thigh muscles (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 8% and 10% FSPR increased the serum immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G levels in broilers (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 10% FSPR increased the Shannon index and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010 and Romboutsia abundances and decreased Sutterella and Megamonas abundances (P < 0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis showed that meat color was positively correlated with Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 (P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with Megamonas (P < 0.05). Collectively, 70% sweet potato residue (after fermentation) had the best nutritional value and nutrient digestibility. Dietary supplementation with 8% to 10% FSPR as a substitute for corn can improve the slaughter performance, meat quality, and intestinal microbe profiles of broilers. Our findings suggest that FSPR has the potential to be used as a substitute for corn-soybean meals to improve the meat quality and intestinal health of broilers.

Effect of emulsifier on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, faecal microbiology and blood biochemistry of broiler chickens fed low-energy diets

BACKGROUND

This study hypothesizes that a natural multicomponent emulsifier (Lipidol) could improve production performance in broiler chickens by aiding lipid digestion and addressing digestive system limitations.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary emulsifier inclusion on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, faecal microbiology, blood biochemistry and liver enzyme activities of broiler chickens fed low-energy diets.

METHODS

The experiment involved 144 one-day-old male broiler chickens split into 4 treatments. Four diets were used: standard metabolizable energy (ME) as a control diet and three low-ME diets, reducing by 100 kcal/kg by adding 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/kg of exogenous emulsifier (Em).

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed in body weight gain and feed intake. However, during the finisher period (25-42 days), supplementation emulsifier to low-ME diets notably improved feed efficiency. Although crude protein, organic matter and ash digestibility remained unaffected, dry matter (DM) digestibility significantly increased in broilers fed low-ME diets with emulsifier. Broilers receiving 0.5 g/kg of emulsifier showed the highest villus width and surface area values. Moreover, including 1.5 g/kg of emulsifier led to the highest villus height to crypt depth ratio. Faecal microbiota, blood biochemistry and liver enzyme activities showed no significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Emulsifier supplementation compensated for the energy reduction and enhanced performance, DM digestibility and some intestinal morphology parameters in broiler chickens fed low-ME diet. Using 0.5 g/kg of emulsifier per 100 kcal of ME reduction in broiler diets is suggested.

Effects of different processing techniques of palm kernel cake on processing quality of pellet feed, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal microbiota of pigs

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of extrusion, fermentation, and enzymolysis of palm kernel cake on processing quality of pellet feed, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal microbiota of pigs. First, the pretreatment parameters of extrusion, enzymolysis, and fermentation of palm kernel cake were optimized. Then, PKC after three processing techniques were used to prepare pellet feed. A total of 160 crossbred piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with an average body weight of 28 ± 0.5 kg were used in an 8-wk feeding experiment. Pigs were randomly assigned to five treatments with four replicates per treatment and eight pigs per replicates. The five experimental groups were as follows: basal diet group (whole corn-soybean meal), 10% PKC group (PKC), 10% extrusion PKC group (PPKC), 10% enzymolysis PKC group (EPKC), and 10% fermented PKC group (FPKC), respectively. At the end of the experiment, four pigs from each treatment (randomly collected one pig per pen) were sacrificed by administering a pentobarbital overdose, the gut and blood samples were collected for the quantification analysis of microbiota, hematological parameters, and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility. The results showed that all three processing techniques significantly decreased the contents of crude fiber of PKC (P < 0.01), pulverization rate (P < 0.01), powder content (P < 0.01), and increased the hardness and gelatinization starch of pellet feed (P < 0.05) compared to PKC group. In addition, PPKC significantly improved the dry matter, crude protein, and ether extract content, blood indices and average daily feed intake compared to PKC group (P < 0.01), while the parameters were similar among FPKC, EPKC, and control group (P > 0.01). Furthermore, all three processing techniques significantly increased the Lactobacillus and decreased the Escherichia levels in feces or gut compared to PKC. Collectively, extrusion, fermentation, and enzymolysis of PKC had positively enhanced the pellet quality, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut microbiota, extrusion exhibited a superior feeding effect compared to fermentation and enzymolysis.

Impact of Feeding Fermented Palm Kernel Cake and High Dietary Fat on Nutrient Digestibility, Enzyme Activity, Intestinal Morphology and Intestinal Nutrient Transporters mRNA Expression in Broiler Chickens under Hot and Humid Conditions

The study aimed at determining the ileal nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, and nutrient transporters mRNA expressions in broiler chickens fed with fermented PKC (LPKC) based diets with different levels of fat supplementation under hot and humid conditions. From day 22 to 35, broiler chickens were randomly fed with either (1) 20% LPKC-based diet with 5% palm oil, (2) 20% LPKC based diet with 9.5% palm oil, (3) 20% PKC-based diet with 5% palm oil or (4) 20% PKC-based diet with 9.5% palm oil. Feeding LPKC and PKC diets at the finisher phase have not affected the nutrient’s digestibility, but a higher level of oil supplementation does. This was seconded by changes in the digestive enzyme activity, villus height, and mRNA expression of nutrient transporters in the higher level of oil-supplemented diets fed chickens. In conclusion, the inclusion of oil at 9.5% in a 20% LPKC/PKC-based diet is necessary to ensure better nutrient digestibility in chickens via improved digestive function, especially in hot and humid tropical regions.