The Effects of Different Amount of Protein and Vitamin e Supplementation in Rations on Lipid and Antioxidant Metabolism of Broilers Exposed to Heat Stress

Consequences of varying dietary crude protein and metabolizable energy levels on growth performance, carcass characteristics and biochemical parameters of growing geese

This research aimed to investigate the effect of varying dietary crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) quantity on growth, carcass characteristics, biochemical blood parameters and molecular aspects of growing geese. Overall, a total of 180 Egyptian goslings were used in a 2 × 3 factorial design. Two levels of CP (18% and 16%) and three levels of ME (3000, 2900 and 2800 kcal/kg diet) were employed. Growth traits showed no significant differences as a result of different CP or ME levels. Birds fed the higher CP level consumed more feed than the lower. Carcass, dressing, heart, spleen, abdominal fat and thigh percentages within the group fed 18% CP were higher than the other group. Compared with the other ME-based diet, geese fed a low-ME based diet had the highest heart percentage. Feeding growing geese on a 2900 Kcal/kg ME-based diet increased the serum content of total protein and globulin. Geese fed the high-ME diet showed the highest levels of ALP and C4 as compared with other ME levels. Regarding Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), different protein and energy levels did not affect the molecular weight of blood proteins of Egyptian geese during the growing phase. It could be concluded the levels of 16% CP and 2800 kcal/kg ME are enough to maintain the growth performance and the other physiological indices as well as molecular aspects.

Effect of Dietary Protein and Tsaa Levels on Performance, Carcass Traits, Meat Composition and Some Blood Components of Egyptian Geese During the Rearing Period

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary levels of protein, total sulfur amino acids (TSAA), methionine and cystine (M + C) and their interaction on the performance, carcass characteristics, blood components and meat quality of Egyptian geese. A total number of 144 geese at twelve weeks of age were randomly divided into 9 groups (16 birds/each group), each group of birds was sub-divided into 4 replicates, each of 4 birds. There was a significant increase in the bodyweight of geese due to protein and M + C levels (p < 0.01). The studied levels of M + C affected significantly on weight gain of growing geese at the early period of 12-18 wk of age. Feed intake was increased with high dietary levels of CP % or M + C (p < 0.05). There was a significant (p < 0.01) increase in percentages of carcass, liver, dressing, breast and wing with high dietary protein level as compared to a moderate or low level. A high level of dietary protein led to increase in concentrations of total protein and albumin, while total lipids, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were decreased with increasing level of protein (p < 0.01). Fat percentage of breast muscle was significantly (p < 0.01) decreased with increasing M + C levels. Protein % of breast muscle was increased with increasing protein levels. Finally, it can be concluded that the consumption of diets with high levels of protein or M + C can improve the bodyweight, feed conversion ratio, carcass and meat composition of Egyptian geese during the rearing period (12-24 wk of age).

Effect of Glutamine on Antioxidant Capacity and Lipid Peroxidation in the Breast Muscle of Heat-stressed Broilers via Antioxidant Genes and HSP70 Pathway

This study investigated whether Glutamine (Gln) could be used as an additive to improve antioxidant capacity in the breast muscle of heat-stressed broilers. Two hundred and forty 22-day-old Arbor Acres broilers in the G1, G2, G3, and G4 groups (n = 60 each) were housed in a cyclic hot environment and fed the basal diet with 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% Gln, respectively. Compared with the G1 group, dietary 1.5% Gln increased (p < 0.05) pH and b* values, but decreased (p < 0.05) L* cooking loss, drip loss, and water loss rate in breast meat of heat-stressed broilers. Malondialdehyde levels in the breast muscle were lower (p < 0.05) in 1.0% and 1.5% Gln groups than that of the heat-stress group. Compared with the G1 group, dietary 1.5% Gln increased (p < 0.05) catalase (CAT), glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px,) and total antioxidant capacity in the breast muscle of heat-stressed broilers. Furthermore, the CAT, GSH-Px, HSP70 mRNA expression levels, and HSP70 protein expression levels were increased (p < 0.05) in the G3 and G4 groups compared with the G1 group. In sum, Gln alleviated antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in the breast muscle of heat-stressed broilers through antioxidant genes and HSP70 pathways.

Antioxidant capacity of omega-3-fatty acids and vitamin E against imidacloprid-induced hepatotoxicity in Japanese quails

Imidacloprid (IM) is a neonicotinoid insecticide, used in a wide range of agricultural activities worldwide. However, it results in ecosystem disturbances and signs of toxicity in human and animals. The current study was designed to elucidate the protective effects of omega-3-fatty acids (OFAs) and vitamin E (Vit E) against IM hepatotoxicity in Japanese quails. Seventy male quails (30 days old) were divided into seven groups (n = 10); G₁ -ve control; G₂ received IM (+ve control); G₃ received OFA; G₄ received Vit E; and G₅, G₆, and G₇ received OFA and/or Vit E with IM for 30 days, respectively. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected. Imidacloprid significantly (p < 0.05) increased serum levels of alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), triglycerides (TGC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as liver tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Moreover, IM caused a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the levels of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), as well as liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity and reduced-glutathione (GSH) concentration in comparison to the -ve control group. Histopathological changes in hepatocytes, including thick cell trabeculae with marked hydropic vacuolar degeneration of cytoplasm, were found in IM-treated group. Treatment with OFA and/or Vit E resulted in significant improvements in general body condition, serum HDL-C level, and liver tissue SOD enzyme activity and GSH concentration, as well as significant decreases in the levels of serum AST, ALT, TGC, LDL-C, and hepatic tissue MDA. In conclusion, OFA and Vit E have a protective effect against IM toxicity, especially in their combination.