Effect of wet feeding and enzyme supplementation on performance and immune responses of broiler chicks

Wet feed and chilled water as stratigies to ameliorate heat stress impacts in growing turkeys during summer conditions

The researchers investigated wet feed and chilled water effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and physiologic responses of native turkeys during the summer season. We hypothesized that the present treatments during the hot season would show different performances. A total of 180 four-week-old unsexed pullets were divided into six groups in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Pullets were allocated regarding feed conditions to 3 groups (ad libitum dry feed, ad libitum wet feed, and diurnal wet feed). Each group was divided into 2 subgroups according to water temperature (ordinary or chilled water; 15-16 °C). Pullets fed diurnal wet feed and drank chilled water had the highest daily feed intake and the lowest feed conversion ratio during 4-16 weeks of age. Abdominal fat, IgG level and body temperature were low, whereas total antioxidant capacity and the meat quality scores for color, juiciness, and susceptibility were high in turkeys that drank chilled water. The interaction between wet feed and water temperature showed significant changes in glucose, cholesterol levels, and alanine transaminase activity. Pullets fed diurnal wet feed and drank chilled water had the lowest body temperatures. Wet feeding and chilled water may be the appropriate feeding method for native turkeys raised in hot weather.

Effect of Feeding Wet Feed or Wet Feed Fermented by Bacillus licheniformis on Growth Performance, Histopathology and Growth and Lipid Metabolism Marker Genes in Broiler Chickens

The present study evaluated the effect of three feeding methods (dry feed, wet feed or wet feed fermented with Bacillus licheniformis) on the growth performance, intestinal histomorphometry and gene expression of the lipid metabolism- and growth-related genes of broiler chickens. A total of 360 one-day-old Cobb-500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted into three groups containing four replicates with 30 birds each. The first group (control) was fed a dry mash basal diet. The second and third groups were fed wet feed and fermented wet feed. The final body weight and weight gain were reduced (p < 0.01) in the wet feed group, while they did not differ between the fermented wet feed and dry feed groups. Feed intake was not altered, and feeding on wet feed significantly (p < 0.01) increased the feed-to-gain ratio compared to the remaining groups. No differences between the three feeding methods in carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry and nutrient digestibility were observed except for crude protein digestibility, which was increased (p < 0.01) in the fermented wet feed group. Duodenal and ileal villi heights were elevated in birds fed fermented wet feeds, while crypt depth was not altered. The expression fold of IGF-1, GH and m-TOR genes in the pectoral muscle of birds fed wet feed was decreased (p < 0.05), while myostatin gene expression was elevated. Feeding on wet feed reduced the hepatic gene expression of PPARγ and increased that of FAS. In conclusion, wet feed negatively affected the broiler chickens' efficiency under heat stress; however, fermenting the wet feed with Bacillus licheniformis improved feed utilization and birds' performance compared to the dry feed group.

Avian Liver: The Forgotten Organ

Simple Summary

The liver is a multi-purpose organ, with involvement in bile secretion, and lipid, carbohydrate and protein metabolism, as well as a number of other metabolic functions. This organ can adapt easily to changes in feed and the environment. Being at the centre of a number of digestive, metabolic and productive activities, it is essential to have a better understanding of this organ and the factors affecting liver functionality.

Abstract

Despite having huge responsibilities in avian species, published reports on the influence of dietary factors and other possible constraints on the size, development and function of liver are limited. Consideration of the factors that could influence and alter liver function is therefore of critical relevance. In the current review, aspects of liver structure and function, and the influence of feed restriction, anti-nutritional factors, structural components and feed additives on liver are discussed. Effects of feed technology techniques such as thermal treatment and pelleting, feed particle size and whole grain feeding on the liver are also reviewed. A discussion of lipogenesis and lipid storage in poultry is presented to provide a better understanding and to differentiate the normal pathways of lipid metabolism from abnormal (i.e., disordered) pathways. The liver is the main site of fat synthesis in poultry, but under certain conditions, excessive fat can accumulate in the liver and cause problems. Factors contributing to the fatty liver syndrome are also examined.

Effects of wet feeding and enzyme supplementation on nutritional value of wheat screenings for broiler chickens

The effects of wet feeding and a multi-enzyme preparation on the nutritional value of wheat screenings (WS) for broiler chicks were investigated. In total, 540 1-day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks were fed a corn–soybean meal-based diet up to 29 days of age. At that time, the birds were randomly assigned to nine diets in a completely randomised design with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, including three levels of WS (0%, 25% and 50%, WS0, WS25 and WS50 respectively) and three processing methods (no processing, enzyme supplementation and wet feeding). The enzyme mixture contained endo-1, 4-β-xylanase (200 FXU/g), endo-1, 4-β-glucanase (50 FBG/g), endo-1, 8-β-glucanase (21 FBG/g), hemicellulase (3000 VHCU/g), α-galactosidase (3 GALU/g) and protease (260 U/g) and was supplemented at a level of 6 g/kg of diet. The inclusion of water in wet diets was in the extent of 1.2 kg/kg of diet. During the period from 29 to 49 days of age, feed intake was not affected (P > 0.05) by the inclusion of WS in the diet, whereas chicks fed the WS25 diet had a higher (P < 0.05) bodyweight gain than did those on WS0 diet. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved (P < 0.05) by the inclusion of WS in the diet throughout the study. The feed intake was increased (P < 0.05) by enzyme supplementation to WS50 diet, while bodyweight gain was increased (P < 0.05) by wet feeding. Enzyme supplementation did not affect (P > 0.05) FCR, whereas wet feeding resulted in lower (P < 0.05) FCR over the entire study. The plasma concentration of glucose was increased (P < 0.05) by the inclusion of WS in the diet. The viscosity of the ileal digesta was higher (P < 0.05) in chicks receiving the WS50 diet than that in chicks receiving the other diets. The jejunal villus height was increased (P < 0.05) and the jejunal crypt depth was decreased (P < 0.05) by the inclusion of WS in diet. The jejunal crypt depth was greater (P < 0.05) in chicks receiving the wet diets than in chicks receiving the enzyme-supplemented diets (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the results from the present study indicated that broiler growth performance was improved by the inclusion of WS in the diet and also by wet feeding. These effects were largely compatible with the changes that occurred in the small intestine morphology, but not with those observed for ileal digesta viscosity.