Assessment of dietary supplementation of green iron oxide nanoparticles: impact on growth performance, ammonia emissions, carcass criteria, tissue iron content, and meat quality in broiler chickens under hot climate conditions

Background

The potential significance and importance of green iron nanoparticles (Nano-Fe) in poultry production lie in their capability to effectively tackle iron deficiency in poultry. Iron, an indispensable mineral for numerous physiological functions in birds, such as oxygen transport, energy metabolism, and immune response, underscores the critical need for adequate iron levels. Nevertheless, conventional iron supplementation methods frequently face hurdles like limited bioavailability rates in poultry. To enhance performance, and promote sustainable broiler productivity, Nano-Fe showed promise as an efficient feed supplement for broiler chickens. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of green Nano-Fe inclusions in diets on growth, ammonia excretion, carcass criteria, and meat quality in broiler chickens.

Methods

A total of 192 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks, were assigned to three treatment diets including Nano-Fe oxide at 0, 20, or 40 mg/kg, respectively, for 42 days. Each treatment comprised eight replicates, each with eight broiler chicks. Two phases comprised the 42-day study (0 to 21 days for the starter and 21 to 42 days for the finisher).

Results

In comparison to the control group, the Nano-Fe oxide groups 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg linearly improved (p < 0.05) body weight (R 2 = 0.574) and body weight gain (R 2 = 0.367) under hot climatic conditions at 42 days of age. Furthermore, Nano-Fe oxide to broiler diets, improved (linear, p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (R 2 = 0.424) throughout whole periods. The feed intake did not show any significant difference (p > 0.05) among groups during the experimental periods under hot climatic conditions. The ammonia content of excreta (R 2 = 0.454) was linearly decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing Nano-Fe oxide levels in broiler diets compared to control at 21 and 42 days of age under hot climatic conditions. Nano-Fe oxide positively influences cook loss, water-holding capacity, and iron content in various tissues. Moreover, it contributes to a healthier carcass yield and reduced abdominal fat.

Conclusion

In conclusion, broiler chickens fed diets containing Nano-Fe oxide at 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg demonstrated enhanced growth performance, improved meat quality, increased iron content in tissues, higher dressing percentage, and reduced abdominal fat deposition. Future research should explore the impact of green Nano-Fe oxide on additional factors such as the microbiome and gene expression related to immunity and heat stress.

The effect of combining green iron nanoparticles and algae on the sustainability of broiler production under heat stress conditions

Background

Natural feed additives in broiler feed contribute to the overall health, productivity, and economic viability of broiler chickens while meeting consumer demands and preferences for natural products. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of green iron nanoparticles (Nano-Fe) and Halimeda opuntia supplementation in broiler diets on performance, ammonia excretion in excreta, Fe retention in tissues and serum, carcass criteria, and meat quality under hot environmental conditions.

Methods

A total of 256 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of four feeding treatments for 42 days. Each treatment had eight replications, with eight chicks per replicate. The treatments were Negative control (CON), positive control (POS) supplemented with 1 g/kg Halimeda opuntia as a carrier, POS + 20 mg/kg Nano-Fe (NFH1), POS + 40 mg/kg Nano-Fe (NFH2).

Results

When compared to CON and POS, dietary Nano-Fe up to 40 mg/kg enhanced (p < 0.001) growth performance in terms of body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Nano-Fe had the highest BWG and the most efficient FCR (linear, p < 0.01, and quadratic, p < 0.01) compared to POS. Without affecting internal organs, the addition of Nano-Fe and POS enhanced dressing and reduced (p < 0.001) abdominal fat compared to control (CON). Notably, the water-holding capacity of breast and leg meat was higher (p < 0.001), and cooking loss was lower in broilers given Nano-Fe and POS diets against CON. In comparison to POS, the ammonia content in excreta dropped linearly as green Nano-Fe levels increased. When compared to CON, increasing levels of Nano-Fe levels boosted Fe content in the breast, leg, liver, and serum. The birds fed on POS showed better performance than the birds fed on CON.

Conclusion

Green Nano-Fe up to 40 mg/kg fed to broiler diets using 1 g/kg Halimeda opuntia as a carrier or in single can be utilized as an efficient feed supplement for increasing broiler performance, Fe retentions, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and reducing ammonia excretions, under hot conditions.

Abating ammonia emission from poultry manure by Pt/TiO2 modified corn straw

Poultry manure is a significant source of ammonia (NH3) emissions, which not only poses detrimental impacts on human well-being and the ecological system, but also leads to economic losses in the agricultural industry. Herein, we modified corn straw (CS) with 1 wt% Pt/TiO2 catalysts using a low-temperature partial-oxidation technology to mitigate NH3 emissions from poultry manure. It was found that Pt/TiO2 can enable exothermic processes to occur at lower temperatures by reducing the activation energy. Under optimal modification conditions of 220 °C, the NH3 uptakes of modified CS samples were markedly greater compared to those of the original CS. Addition of 20-50% modified CS to poultry manure resulted in significant reductions of 54.1-98.6% in NH3 emissions compared to the control. Mechanistic studies indicate that NH3 adsorption on the modified CS is mainly driven by the presence of acidic and alkaline functional groups, while surface area and pore structure have a negligible effect. XPS combined with NH3-TPD reveals that the formation of amide and amine bonds contributes to the excellent stability of adsorbed NH3. H2-TPR, O2-TPD, and d-band theory suggest that strong metal-support interactions between Pt and TiO2 could be particularly crucial in catalyzing CS modification. This study proposes an environmentally sustainable and economically viable solution for abating NH3 emissions from poultry manure, thereby addressing crucial environmental and economic concerns in the agricultural sector.

Modified lignite and black coal reduce ammonia volatilization from cattle manure

Modified lignite and black coal (BC) are potential amendments for animal bedding to abate ammonia (NH₃) emissions due to their large adsorption capacities for ammoniacal nitrogen (N). However, the ability of modified lignite and BC in reducing NH₃ volatilization from livestock manure and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The present study has investigated the effect of lignite, modified lignite, BC and modified BC on NH₃ volatilization from cattle manure, biological immobilization of manure ammoniacal N and manure properties. Modified lignite and BC reduced the NH₃ volatilization from manure by 44 and 36%, respectively, which were comparable with original lignite (43%). The biological immobilization of applied stable isotope labelled ¹⁵N in lignite, modified lignite, BC and modified BC amended manures was 15, 18, 11 and 16%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in unamended manure (4%, P < 0.001). In addition, NH₄⁺-N concentrations of lignite, modified lignite and modified BC amended manures (7.0-7.3 mg g^-1) were significantly higher than that of the unamended and original BC amended manures (3.3 and 4.8 mg g^-1, respectively, P < 0.001). However, the manure pH in all treatments remained alkaline (pH > 8.2). Our results highlight that the adsorption and immobilization of manure ammoniacal N induced by amendments are the key drivers in reducing NH₃ loss from manure, outweighing the pH effect. The findings of this study provide new insights into the mechanisms of coal amendments reducing NH₃ loss from animal manure and their potential applications in intensive livestock systems.

Lignite, dewatered lignite and modified subbituminous coal reduce nitrogen loss from broiler litter

Broiler litter is generated in large quantities as a waste by-product of chicken meat production. N may be lost from the litter and emitted from bird housing as gaseous NH₃, which can be damaging to the environment and limit the recycling of a valuable nutrient. This study investigated the effect of lignite application rate (0, 5, 10, 15, 20%) on N loss from broiler litter in a static chamber laboratory incubation. Lignite was subsequently dewatered and subbituminous coal modified by aerobic thermal oxidation and their ammoniacal N adsorption potentials were characterised. In a second static chamber incubation, the capacity of these materials (applied at 20%) to reduce N loss from litter was investigated. Finally, their potential to directly reduce NH₃ emissions was examined using a chamber acid trap system. This study showed that lignite reduced N loss when applied to litter at a rate ≥ 5%, with the amount of N retained increasing with increasing lignite application rate. Litter treated with 20% lignite retained 24% more N than untreated litter. Following aerobic thermal treatment, maximum ammoniacal N adsorption capacities of the materials were as follows: lignite > dewatered lignite > modified subbituminous coal > subbituminous coal. Despite inequalities in adsorption capacity, lignite, dewatered lignite and modified subbituminous coal reduced total N loss by 17.3, 18.2 and 18.4% and NH₃ emissions by 41.6, 49.1 and 29.8%, respectively. This study demonstrates the potential of coal-based materials to reduce NH₃ emissions from broiler litter and increase the nutrient value of waste by reducing N loss.

Decomposition of poultry litter organic matter co-applied with industrial and agricultural products/by-products

Increasing soil organic matter (SOM) is one purpose of applying manures to soils, but soil-applied manures decompose and disappear in a short time, leaving very little trace as SOM. The objective of this study was to test and identify agricultural and industrial products and by-products (PBPs) that reduce the speed of manure decomposition and, potentially, increase SOM. Raw poultry litter (PL) was amended with selected PBPs (15% fresh weight) and incubated for 1-3 mo. Unamended PL lost an average of 19% of its dry weight after 1 mo incubation and 24% of its dry weight after 3 mo. Monitoring the CO₂ release during a 1-mo incubation revealed that decomposition and weight loss of unamended PL is greatest in the first 2 d. Amending PL with Al₂ (SO₄ )₃ · 18H₂ O and CaO reduced cumulative CO₂ release and final dry biomass loss during the incubation period of 1-3 mo. Amending PL with Al₂ (SO₄ )₃ · 18H₂ O reduced PL temperature by up to 14 °C and pH by ∼4.0, whereas CaO elevated its temperature by up to 24 °C and pH by ∼4.0. Both products suppressed total culturable bacteria and reduced dehydrogenase activity soon after mixing. Amending PL with flue gas desulfurization gypsum, CaCO₃ , cement kiln dust, or biochar either enhanced or had no effect on suppressing litter decomposition. Our results overall show that the decomposition of PL and possibly other manures may be slowed and that the soil-residence life of manure C may be increased using PBPs that raise or lower manure pH and temperature.

Review of litter turning during a grow-out as a litter management practice to achieve dry and friable litter in poultry production

Maintaining dry litter that chickens can “work” is a key objective for successful meat chicken production as it reduces the likelihood of health and welfare issues by breaking down and working excreta and contributing to the water evaporation process. Litter turning is a practice that may help reduce moisture content within the litter by accelerating the drying process when it is combined with effective ventilation. However, information and research about the practice and the effects it could have on the health and well-being of meat chickens (broilers) are minimal. A recent survey of Australian meat chicken growers reiterated the concerns they have about its impact on chicken well-being, but it also demonstrated how growers thought it could enhance the effectiveness of their operation. The aim of this review paper is to identity information relevant to litter turning and the potential effects of this practice on litter quality, ammonia emissions, litter moisture, and animal welfare. This review demonstrates the need for additional research to validate perceptions and address potential concerns and impacts that this practice may have on broiler production. Closing this knowledge gap will improve litter turning practices leading to safer and more consistent outcomes.

Supplementation of poultry feeds with dietary zinc and other minerals and compounds to mitigate nitrogen emissions--a review

One of the environmental challenges that the poultry industry has been faced with is ammonia emission from manure. One way to reduce nitrogen excretion and emissions is supplementing dietary trace minerals to inhibit the activity of microbial uricase, a key enzyme converting nitrogen compounds in the manure into ammonia. Several dietary minerals are commercially available as economic alternatives for reducing ammonia emissions in poultry. In this review, we discuss different mineral elements including zinc as feed amendment minerals that could be used to reduce ammonia emission. Issues discussed include potential for inhibiting microbial uricase, dietary supplementation levels, growth performance, toxicity, their influence on manure nitrogen emission, and potential mineral accumulation in soil. In addition, we discuss other minerals and compounds that have the potential to reduce ammonia volatilization by inhibiting microbial uricase and growth of uric acid-utilizing microorganisms.

High litter moisture content suppresses litter ammonia volatilization

With global food demand expected to increase by 100% in the next 50 yr, urgency to combine comprehensive strategies for sustainable, efficacious, and environmentally sensible agronomic practices has never been greater. One effort for US meat bird management is to reduce NH(3) volatilization from litter to create a better growing environment for the birds, improve production efficiency, retain N in litter for fertilizer value, and negate the detrimental environmental impacts of NH(3) loss to the air. To derive the fundamental effects of temperature and moisture on litter NH(3) volatilization over the range of conditions found in commercial houses, experiments were conducted using commercial broiler litter that had moisture contents of approximately 20 to 55% while controlling temperatures ranging from 18.3 to 40.6°C. Litter samples (100 g) were placed in 1-L containers that received humidified air at approximately 113 mL/min. Volatilized NH(3) in exhaust air was captured in H(3)BO(3) traps. Ammonia loss (log(10) transformation) was modeled via an equation using linear coefficients for temperature and moisture, an interaction term for temperature × moisture, and a quadratic term for moisture. The surface responses resembled parabolic cylinders, indicating a critical moisture level at which NH(3) no longer increases but is diminished as moisture continues to increase. The critical moisture level lies between 37.4 and 51.1% litter moisture, depending on the temperature. An increase in temperature consistently increased NH(3) generation. When the temperature extremes were compared, the maximum NH(3) was up to 7 times greater at 40.6 vs. 18.3°C. The upper moisture limit at which NH(3) release is maximized and subsequently arrested as moisture continues to increase had not been defined previously for commercial broiler litter. The poultry industry and researchers can use these results as a decision tool to enable management strategies that limit NH(3) production.