Effect of the Pellet and Mash Feed Forms on the Productive Performance, Egg Quality, Nutrient Metabolism, and Intestinal Morphology of Two Laying Hen Breeds

Feed form and perch design do not interact to production performance, gastrointestinal tract traits, behaviour and welfare of laying hens reared in enriched cages

1. It was hypothesised that perch material and design may affect utility and maintenance energy demand in laying hens, affecting their feed form preferences and daily feed consumption. Accordingly, perch design and feed form on hen performance, gastrointestinal tract functions and some behavioural and welfare-related traits were studied in laying hens (ATAK-S) reared in enriched colony cages from 24 to 40 weeks of age.2. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial investigating two perch materials and design (circular steel or mushroom-shaped plastic) and feed form (mash or crumble). A total of 396 hens were randomly assigned to one of the four treatment groups with nine replicates each (11 birds per replicate).3. Except for feeding behaviour and prevalence of foot pad dermatitis at 40 weeks of age, the modification of the perch design did not have a significant effect on the traits examined. Mushroom-shaped plastic perches reduced feeding behaviour (p < 0.01) and the incidence of foot pad dermatitis at 40 weeks of age (p < 0.001).4. Performance traits were not affected by feed form. Intake, final body weight and FCR for crumble-fed laying hens were greater than those fed mash (p < 0.01).5. Hens fed mash had higher (p < 0.01) relative gizzard weights along with lower (p < 0.05) pH values, pancreatic chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase activities (p < 0.05), and duodenal absorption surface areas (p < 0.01). Ultimately, this gave higher protein digestibility (p < 0.05) compared to those receiving crumble.6. In conclusion, in enriched cage rearing systems, mashed feed was preferred over crumble to efficiently maintain productive performance. Compared to circular steel, plastic mushroom-shaped perches were associated with better footpad health and welfare.

Changes in Tight Junction Protein Expression Levels but Not Distribution in Commercial White and Brown Laying Hens Supplemented with Chondrus crispus or Ascophyllum nodosum Seaweed

It is proposed that prebiotic diet supplements improve intestinal function, in part by improving the barrier function of the intestinal epithelium with an associated increase in the expression of tight junction proteins, including occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). We examined the expression of these proteins in two strains of laying hens (Lohman LSL-lite (White) and Lohman Brown-lite (Brown)) who were supplemented or not with 3% Chondrus crispus or 0.5% Ascophyllum nodosum seaweeds from 31 to 72 weeks of age. Occludin was localized to the lateral surfaces and across the intestinal epithelium in all animals. Reactivity for ZO-1 was concentrated at the apicolateral epithelial cell membrane border. Mood's median test indicated that White hens may express more occludin in villus epithelium (median intensity 3.5 vs. 2.5 in Brown hens, p = 0.06) but less ZO-1 in the deep cryptal epithelium (median intensity 1.5 vs. 2.5 in Brown hens, p = 0.06). Western blotting also showed higher levels of occludin in White than Brown hens (p < 0.05). A decrease in ZO-1 Western blot expression was associated with Chondrus crispus supplementation in comparison to controls (p < 0.05), but not with Ascophyllum nodosum supplementation (p > 0.05). In conclusion, genetic strain and dietary seaweed supplements affect tight junction regulatory protein expression levels but do not impact the anatomical distribution, as seen in cryosections.

In Vitro Rumen Fermentation Characteristics, Estimated Utilizable Crude Protein and Metabolizable Energy Values of Grass Silages, Concentrate Feeds and Their Mixtures

Four formulations of concentrate feeds, three contrasting qualities of grass silages, and mixtures of the silages (55%) and concentrates (45%, dry weight) were tested for in vitro fermentation kinetics, in vitro dry matter degradation (IVDMD), utilizable crude protein (uCP), and metabolizable energy (ME) values. The concentrates were pelleted control concentrate for dairy cows (CONT-P); pelleted alkaline concentrate with ammoniated cereal grains (ALKA-P); mash form concentrate with ALKA-P main ingredients but with feed-grade urea and barley replacing ammoniated cereal grain (UREA-M); and mash form of ALKA-P ingredients prior to alkalization (ALKA-M). The grass silages were early cut, late cut, and a mixture (1:1) of early and late cut. The objectives were to test if the feeds differed in the tested parameters within each feed category and assess the modulatory effect of concentrate feeds on the grass silage fermentation characteristics in the mixed diets. No interaction effects of the concentrate feeds by silage quality were observed for the tested parameters in the mixed diets. For concentrates, the pelleted diets were higher (p < 0.05) in IVDMD and molar proportion of propionate but lower in butyrate. The ALKA-P produced the highest estimated uCP (p < 0.01). For silages, uCP, ME, total short-chain fatty acids (VFAs), and molar proportions of propionate and branched-chain VFAs decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing stage of maturity. In conclusion, the ALKA-P could match the CONT-P in uCP and ME values and fermentation characteristics. Results for silages and their mixtures with concentrates highlight the importance of silage quality in dietary energy and protein supply for ruminants.

Effect of feed form and nutrient density on growth performance, blood parameters, and intestinal traits in broiler breeder pullets

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feed form and nutrient density on growth performance, blood parameters, and intestinal traits of broiler breeder pullets during grower (7-19 wk) and pre-breeder (19 weeks to 5% production) periods. A total of 450 female broiler breeder pullets were used in a completely randomized design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement including 3 feed forms (mash, crumble, and pellet) and 2 nutrient densities (standard diet with the nutrient requirement of Ross 308 parent stock nutrition specification, and diluted diet by using sunflower hull to have 10% lower nutrient than the standard diet). Five replicates with 15 pullets per replicate were allocated to each of the 6 treatments. Blood samples were collected at 19 wk of age. Egg production reached 5% in the mid of 25 wk. Results showed that pullets fed crumble or pellet diets had greater body weight gain and a lower feed to gain ratio (F:G; P < 0.001). Diet dilution led to a decrease in body weight gain while increasing the F:G (P < 0.05). Pullets fed the pellet diets had shorter eating times than those fed crumble diets, whereas the longest eating time belonged to pullets fed mash diets (P < 0.001). Pullets fed pellet diet had a greater heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio than those fed crumble or mash diets (P = 0.007). Diluting the diet led to a decrease in the H/L ratio (P = 0.026). Neither feed form nor nutrient density had a significant effect on body weight uniformity, blood glucose and lipid concentrations, liver enzyme activities, and intestinal traits (P > 0.05). It can be concluded that pelleted or crumbled diets with lower nutrient density can be considered in broiler breeder's pullets feeding with no detrimental effect on their performance or health state.

Effect of fermented heat-treated rice bran on performance and possible role of intestinal microbiota in laying hens

Rice bran is a high-quality and renewable livestock feed material rich in nutrients and bioactive substances. To investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with fermented heat-treated rice bran on the performance, apparent digestibility of nutrients, cecal microbiota and metabolites in laying hens, a total of 128 18-week-old Hy-Line brown layers were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: 2.5% HRB (basal diet contained 2.5% heat-treated rice bran), 5.0% HRB (5.0% heat-treated rice bran), 2.5% FHRB (2.5% fermented heat-treated rice bran), 5.0% FHRB (5.0% fermented heat-treated rice bran). Results showed that FHRB supplementation significantly increased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) during 25-28 weeks, and improved apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and crude fiber (CF) in laying hens. Moreover, feeding 5.0% of HRB and FHRB resulted higher egg production (EP) and average egg weight (AEW) during the feeding period, and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) during 21 to 28 weeks. The alpha and beta diversity indices indicated that FHRB altered the cecal microbiota. In particular, dietary supplementation with FHRB significantly increased the relative abundances of Lachnospira and Clostridium. Compared with the 2.5% level of supplementation, supplementing 5.0% HRB and 5.0% FHRB increased the relative abundances of Firmicutes, Ruminococcus and Peptococcus, and lowered the relative abundance of Actinobacteria. Furthermore, dietary FHRB supplementation significantly increased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids in cecum and changed the overall metabolome. The results of correlation analysis showed a close interaction between cecal microbiota, metabolites and apparent digestibility of nutrients. Taken together, we revealed that FHRB supplementation can induce characteristic structural and metabolic changes in the cecal microbiome, which could potentially promote nutrient digestion and absorption, and improve the production performance of laying hens.

Different Non-cage Housing Systems Alter Duodenal and Cecal Microbiota Composition in Shendan Chickens

Housing systems are among the most important non-genetic factors affecting hen production performance and intestinal microbes. With increased interest in animal welfare, cage-free laying hen housing systems have become common, providing behavioral freedom and health benefits. The present study aimed to compare the effects of plastic net housing system (NRS) and floor litter housing system (LRS) on the composition and function of the duodenal and cecal microbiota in Shendan chicken, one of the most popular laying hen strains in China. The associations between the differential microbiota abundance and production traits and intestinal morphological parameters were determined. Compared with the LRS, the NRS improved the laying rate (p < 0.05) and increased the villus height (VH) of the duodenum (p < 0.05) and the VH-to-crypt depth ratio (VCR) of the cecum (p < 0.05). Alpha diversity analysis showed that LRS chickens had a significantly higher diversity and richness than NRS chickens. Beta diversity analysis demonstrated differences in the microbiota composition based on housing systems. Within the cecum, Proteobacteria and Kiritimatiellaeota were significantly more abundant in the LRS than in the NRS (p < 0.05), while Bacteroidetes were significantly less abundant in the LRS (p < 0.05). Phascolarctobacterium and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 were significantly less abundant in the LRS (p < 0.05) compare to the NRS. Within the duodenum, Lactobacillus was significantly less abundant in the LRS (p < 0.05) than in the NRS, while Pseudomonas was significantly more abundant in the LRS (p < 0.05). Cecal Phascolarctobacterium and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 were significantly positively correlated with eggshell strength (R = 0.608, p < 0.01) and egg weight (R = 0.526, p < 0.05), respectively. Duodenal Lactobacillus was significantly positively correlated with VH and VCR (R = 0.548 and 0.565, p < 0.05), while Pseudomonas was significantly negatively correlated with the Haugh unit (R = -0.550, p < 0.05). In conclusion, there are differences in the cecal and duodenal microbiota compositions of Shendan laying hens reared in different non-cage housing systems, and the NRS was superior to the LRS in improving the laying performance and intestinal morphology and microecological environment.

Effects of Dietary Rapeseed Meal on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Serum Parameters, and Intestinal Development of Geese

The use of inexpensive nonconventional feed materials, such as rapeseed meal (RSM), could help alleviate the shortage of feed materials in the poultry industry. This study was to investigate the effects of dietary double-low RSM on growth performance, carcass traits, serum parameters, and intestinal development of geese. A total of 270 healthy 35-day-old male Jiangnan White geese were randomly divided into five treatments, with six replicate pens of nine geese each. The geese were fed five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%, and 16% RSM replacing dietary soybean meal for 35 days. At 35, 49, and 70 d, the BW and feed intake were recorded. All Samples were collected at 70 d of age. The results showed that dietary RSM up to 16% did not affect the BW, ADFI, ADG, and feed/gain ratio (F/G) during 35 to 49 d, 49 to 70 d, and 35 to 70 d periods (p > 0.05). At 70 d, no difference was observed in carcass yield or serum biochemical parameters among groups (p > 0.05). Dietary 12% and 16% RSM significantly increased the concentration of serum GH compared with 0%, 4%, 8% groups (p < 0.01), but serum TSH, T3 and T4 were unaffected (p > 0.05). The relative weights of heart, liver, spleen, proventriculus, gizzard, and small intestine were similar among groups (p > 0.05). However, the geese fed dietary 16% RSM had greater bursa of Fabricius than geese in the 8% group (p < 0.05). Intestinal morphology was unaffected by treatments (p > 0.05). According to the findings, dietary RSM up to 16% can be used in geese diets without impact on production performance.