Reducing ammonia emission by aluminum sulfate addition in litter and its influence on productive, reproductive, and physiological parameters of dual-purpose breeding hens

This research investigated the impact of aluminum sulfate (AS) as amendment to different types of litter (new, reused, and mixed litters) for reducing ammonia emission and improving productive performance of local dual-purpose breeding hens. A total of 450 hens and 60 cocks from the Inshas strain were randomly assigned to six groups (five replicates each of 15 hens + 2 cocks) raised in pen floor furnished with a wheat straw litter. The groups included: (1) new, (2) reused, (3) mixed (50% new + 50% reused) litter; the other groups (4, 5 and 6) were respectively housed on the same litter as groups 1, 2 and 3 but with the addition of 495 g of AS/m² litter. The feed conversion ratio was better for layers raised on new litter with or without AS than other groups. Different kinds of litter had different moisture (p < 0.05) and pH (p < 0.05) values. Birds raised on litter types treated with AS significantly (p < 0.05) decreased intestinal pH and decreased total bacterial count compared to the same litter types without AS at the end of the experiment. Birds raised on new litter supplemented with AS had the highest plasma T3, total protein, globulin, Hgb, and PCV% and the lowest levels of uric acid and cholesterol at the end of the experimental period. Therefore, litter amendment with AS, also the mixed or reused one, could be recommended to reduce ammonia and, in turn, increasing plasma T3 and decreasing total bacterial count, leading to increasing bird's performance.

Effect of the Biologically Produced Nanoselenium Dietary Supplementation on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Blood Parameters, and Economic Efficiency in Broiler Chickens

This study evaluates the impacts of the produced nano selenium (SeNPs) products using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as an alternative to the imported commercial organic selenium (Sel-Plex) as a source of Se dietary supplement on growth efficiency, carcass traits, blood parameters and economic efficiency in mixed‐sex Cobb500 broiler. A total of 480 one‐day‐old mixed‐sex Cobb500 broiler grown over a 35‐days period were allocated into three treatments with four replicates (n = 40). Chicks in the control group were fed commercial diets. The chicks of the second and third groups control diets supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg of either nano selenium (SeNPs) product or commercial organic selenium (Sel-Plex). Chicks fed a diet containing nano selenium diet (SeNPs) recorded significantly the highest final body weight, while those fed control diet recorded significantly the lowest final body weight (2132.2 vs. 1996.1 g, p < 0.05). Chicks fed with diet of SeNPs showed the highest significantly breast muscle percentage, whereas there were no major variations between those fed the control and the Sel-Plex diets. Plasma total protein, albumin, globulin, A/G ratio and total lipids were not significant differences due to dietary selenium source. There were no substantial effects on all hematological parameters by nano or organic selenium in compared to control diet. In conclusion, the results confirmed that feeding broiler chicks on SeNPs form with the 0.3 Se mg/kg of feed enhanced growth performance and had no adverse effect on carcass markers and blood parameters.

Use of dried poultry litter in the diet of pregnant and lactating Awassi ewes

Two groups of 45 Awassi ewes, were fed a control diet (group C) or a diet containing 0.30 poultry litter from laying birds (group PL). The experiment began when the rams were put with the ewes and continued through pregnancy and lactation. Mean weight changes of ewes of both groups were small and not significantly different. The numbers of ewes that lambed and the numbers of lambs weaned, as proportions of the number of ewes mated, were 0.91 and 0.73 respectively for group C, and 0.93 and 0.70 for group PL. The mean weaning weight of lambs of group C (20.6 kg) was just significantly greater than the value for group PL (18.4 kg) but the estimated mean daily milk yields, 0.716 and 0.626 kg respectively, did not differ significantly. Differences in breeding and lactation performance, between ewes given the control and those given the poultry litter diet, were small for all the data obtained. Also, there was no disease problem related to the use of poultry litter; and the food products milk and cheese, from ewes given poultry litter, were just as acceptable as those from ewes given the control diet.