• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Cellulitis in broiler chickens is one of the economically important problems that facing the broiler industry due to the presence of the lesion leads to condemnation of part of /or the entire carcasses. Broiler with cellulitis lesions showed lower body weight. Cellulitis was recorded on different body regions including the head, dorsum, thighs, breast, legs, and abdomen. Cellulitis results from the invasion of subcutaneous (s.c.) tissues by bacteria through disruption of skin integrity. Lesions revealed the existence of the characteristic s.c colored exudate varies from yellowish to green, which were either serosanguineous, fibrinous s.c exudate yellowish, greenish or suppurative. Many bacterial isolates including E. coli, Staphylococci, Clostridia, Aeromonas spp., Enterobacter spp., Proteus mirabilis, P. aeruginosa, and Streptococci were isolated from the lesion. Chickens exposed to immunosuppression proved to have a greater probability of developing cellulitis. The condition was experimentally induced by s.c inoculation of 25-day-old broiler chickens with E. coli, S. aureus and clostridia. Usually, bacterial isolates were multidrug-resistant. The usage of Bifidobacterium bifidum or antibiotic with avoiding immunosuppression can reduce lesion and condemnation rate resulted from cellulitis. The objective of this review is to collect different literature written about cellulitis to be available to students, researchers, and veterinarians in poultry practical.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1503-1509
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• 2007

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an important factor in regulation of cardiovascular tone in humans and mammals, but the biological function of ET-1 in the avian vascular system has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to characterize the role of endogenous ET-1 in the vascular system of poultry by investigating the effect of endothelin A receptor ($ET_AR$) antagonist BQ123 on the femoral artery pressure (FAP) and the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in broiler chickens. First, we found that plasma and lung homogenate ET-1 levels were both increased with age over the seven weeks life cyccle of broiler chickens. Second, 60 min after intravenous injection, BQ123 ($0.4{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ and $2.0{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively) induced a significant reduction in FAP and PAP (p<0.05). Third, chronic infusion of BQ123 ($2.0{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ each time, two times a day) into abdominal cavities led to significant decrease in systolic pressure of the femoral (p<0.05) and pulmonary arteries (p<0.01) in broiler chickens at 7 and 14 days after treatment. Taken together, the $ET_AR$ antagonist BQ123 lead to a significant reduction of FAP and PAP, which suggests that endogenous ET-1 may be involved in the maintenance and regulation of systemic and pulmonary pressure in broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1162-1167
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• 2004

The present study was designed to define whether dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) could affect antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S transferase (GST), and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, in the small intestine and liver from broiler chickens. A total of twenty-four 3 wk-old male broiler chickens were assigned to three dietary treatments (1.5% corn oil, 0.75% corn oil plus 0.75% CLA, and 1.5% CLA, isocalorically), and fed a grower-finisher diet from 22 to 35 days. In the small intestinal mucosae, the specific activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, and GST, and the level of MDA were not substantially influenced by dietary CLA. In the liver, the specific activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and GST, and the level of MDA were also unaffected by dietary CLA at the level of either 0.75% or 1.5% compared with corn oil at the level of 1.5%. However, the broiler chickens fed the diet containing 1.5% CLA resulted in a significant increase in peroxisomal CAT activity and a marked decrease in total lipid and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) from liver tissues compared with those fed the diet containing 1.5% corn oil. In conclusion, ability of CLA to increase hepatic CAT activity suggest that dietary CLA may affect, at least in part, antioxidant defense system as well as lipid metabolism in the liver of broiler chickens.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1881-1891
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• 2022

Objective: The present study aimed to quantify the effects of fermented soybean meal (FSBM) on broiler chickens' performance by employing a meta-analysis approach. Methods: A total of 16 studies were included in the database after being systematically selected using a PRISMA protocol. Hedges' g effect size was used to quantify pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) using random-effects models at 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Publication bias among studies was computed with Egger's test and visualized using funnel plots. Results: Results indicated that dietary FSBM inclusion increased final body weight (BW) (SMD = 0.586, 95% CI: 0.221 to 0.951, p = 0.002) of broiler chickens, particularly in starter period (SMD = 0.691, 95% CL: 0.149 to 1.233, p = 0.013) while in the finisher period, the effect was weaker (SMD = 0.509, 95% CI: 0.015 to 1.004, p = 0.043). Average daily gain (ADG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected with FSBM inclusion when compared to control. Subgroup analysis revealed that FI increased in starter period (SMD = 0.582, 95% CI: 0.037 to 1.128, p = 0.036). When considering types of microorganism as moderating variables in the subgroup analysis, we found that Aspergillus oryzae, mixed probiotics+bromelain protease, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus bacteria significantly increased ADG and FI (p<0.01). Additionally, either Bacillus subtilis+protease or Bacillus subtilis alone decreased FCR (p<0.001). However, meta-regression analysis showed that levels of FSBM inclusion had no effects on final BW (p = 0.502), ADG (p = 0.588), FI (p = 0.861), and FCR (p = 0.462). Conclusion: Substituting SBM in broiler chickens' diet with FSBM improved BW of broiler chickens, especially in the starter period whereas the effects on ADG, FI, and FCR were mostly dependent on microbial strains used for fermentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1796-1804
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• 2016

The high incidence of deaths during transport for slaughter is associated with poor welfare and represents a considerable loss to the poultry industry. In the period from 2009 to 2014, all shipments of broiler chickens to poultry processing plants were monitored in the Czech Republic and the numbers of chickens transported and those dying as a result of their transport were recorded and analysed. Overall transport-related mortality of broiler chickens transported for slaughter in the Czech Republic was 0.37%. It ranged from 0.31% to 0.72%, the increase approximately corresponding to the increasing transport distance. Statistically highly significant (p<0.001) differences were found when comparing transport-related mortality rates in individual seasons of the year. The greatest mortality (0.55%) was associated with transports carried out in winter months whereas the lowest death losses (0.30%) were found in chickens transported for slaughter in summer months. Our study revealed greater transport-related mortality rates in broiler chickens transported for slaughter in the Czech Republic than expected when considering earlier studies. The most pronounced increases were found in transports for shorter distances and in winter months. However, an increase was found at all transport distances monitored except for distances exceeding 300 km and all seasons except for summer. Furthermore, a general increasing tendency in chicken losses during the monitored period was found. The particularly alarming finding is that the mortality of broiler chickens being transported to processing plants has been showing a long-term increasing tendency over the last two decades. Further research should focus on the identification of specific factors leading to such high and growing mortality rates and developing practical guidelines to improve the welfare of the birds in transit accordingly.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.231-238
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• 2015

An experiment was conducted to increase the quality of rice bran by fermentation using Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and humic substances and its utilization as a feed ingredient for broiler chickens. The experiment was carried out in two steps. First, the fermentation process was done using a completely randomized design in factorial with 16 treatments: i) Dosage of B.amyloliquefaciens ($2.10^8cfu/g$), 10 and 20 g/kg; ii) Graded levels of humic substances, 0, 100, 200, and 400 ppm; iii) Length of fermentation, three and five days. The results showed that the fermentation significantly (p<0.05) reduced crude fiber content. The recommended conditions for fermentation of rice bran: 20 g/kg dosage of inoculums B. amyloliquefaciens, 100 ppm level of humic substances and three days fermentation period. The second step was a feeding trial to evaluate the fermented rice bran (FRB) as a feed ingredient for broiler chickens. Three hundred and seventy-five one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned into five treatment diets. Arrangement of the diets as follows: 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% level of FRB and the diets formulation based on equal amounts of energy and protein. The results showed that 15% inclusion of FRB in the diet provided the best bodyweight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) values. In conclusion, the nutrient content of rice bran improved after fermentation and the utilization of FRB as a feed ingredient for broiler chickens could be included up to 15% of the broiler diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.699-703
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• 2005

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of various dietary levels of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) on the growth performance and meat quality (i.e., tenderness and oxidative stability) of Ross broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty dayold broiler chicks were fed four experimental diets with graded levels of SC at 0.0, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0%. Each treatment consisted of six cages with 10 chicks per cage. Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the experiment that lasted for 5 wk. Birds were switched from starter to finisher diets at 3 wk of age. The average BW gains of broiler chickens increased (linear p<0.05) during either 0-3 or 0-5 wk of age as dietary SC levels increased. A linear effect (p<0.05) of SC on feed intake during either 4-5 wk or 0-5 wk of ages was also monitored. The addition of SC to the control diet significantly lowered shear forces in raw breast, raw thigh, and boiled drumstick meats (linear p<0.05). Upon incubation, 2-thio-barbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) values increased gradually in breast and thigh meats while more dramatic increase was noted in skin samples. The TBARS values of either breast or thigh meats were not significantly affected (p>0.05) by dietary treatments up to 10 d of incubation. At 15 d of incubation, TBARS values of breast and thigh meats from all SC-treated groups were significantly lower (p<0.05) than those of the control. It appears that dietary SC could enhance growth performance of broiler chickens, and improve tenderness and oxidative stability of broiler meats.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.632-642
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• 2019

The concentrations of functional compounds and micronutrients of chicken breast from native chickens were compared with those from broiler. Totally 200 male chicks from a commercial native chicken (HH) and three newly bred native chicken strains (2A, 2C, and 2D) were reared for about 2 kg of final live weight up to 12 wk. After slaughtered, antioxidant dipeptides, reducing sugar, free amino acids, vitamins, and minerals of the breast muscles were analyzed with those from broilers with similar live weight. Mostly native chicken strains had higher contents of carnosine, anserine, and reducing sugar than the broiler. Especially HH implied the highest values of carnosine and anserine, and 2C did the highest of reducing sugar (p<0.05). Vitamin A contents between native chickens and broiler were not significantly different (p>0.05). The contents of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ were significantly higher in 2C than those of HH or broiler (p<0.05). Native chicken strains contained lower cholesterol levels than the broiler. Broiler had higher contents of P, Mg, and Na than native chickens (p<0.05), but it had lower content of Cu than HH or 2A. The savory free amino acids including glutamic acid was highest in 2A than the other native chickens and broiler (p<0.05). This study confirms that certain new strains of native chickens be a good source in terms of functional compounds and micronutrients which can be attractive health promoting nutritional quality factors.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.597-600
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• 1993

An experiment was conducted using 160 Arbor Acres broiler strain of chickens to evaluate the effects of partial replacement of soyabean meal with feather meal on the diets of broiler chickens raised from day old to 8 weeks of age. Feathers, obtained from a local poultry processing plant, were boiled in water for 30 minutes, sun-dried and ground using a 2 mm sieve for inclusion into the experimental diets at 0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% levels at the expense of soyabean meal. The feather meal was assayed and found to contain 86.5% crude protein and to be low in lysine, methionine and histidine amino acids. The inclusion of such processed feather meal up to 3% in the diet did not (p>0.05) affect growth or feed conversion ratio. However, the highest level of inclusion of feather meal in the diet, 4.5%, significantly reduced both growth rate and feed conversion ratio of the birds. The results of this experiment showed that up to 3% of water-boiled feather meal, which represents 12% of dietary protein, the equivalent of 6% level of use of soyabean meal in the diet, can be successfully included as a protein source in the diets of broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1400-1406
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• 2009

The effects of dietary copper (Cu) supplementation in broiler chickens challenged with a single injection of Salmonella typhymurium lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the antioxidant capacity and plasma levels of ceruloplasmin (Cp) were evaluated. The broiler chickens were provided with a basal diet or diets supplemented with 8 and 50 mg/kg Cu from 1d of age. At 25d of age, 48 chickens with similar body weight were selected from each diet. Half of the chickens in each dietary treatment were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with LPS (1 mg/kg body weight). The other half was injected with saline, serving as the control. Body weight gain and feed consumption were significantly suppressed by LPS challenge during the first 12-h after injection, regardless of dietary Cu levels. Feed efficiency was reduced by LPS injection during the 72-h experimental period. Dietary Cu levels had no significant effect (p>0.05) on the plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations in chickens injected with saline. In contrast, high dietary level of Cu elevated plasma Cp levels in chickens with LPS challenge. Short-term LPS challenge had no significant effect on the antioxidant ability of broilers, as indicated by superoxide dismutase, ferric reducing/antioxidant power and the thiobarbituric acid reacting substances in the plasma. The result suggests that high dietary Cu level (as much as 50 mg/kg supplementation) is favorable for coping with short-term LPS challenge through upregulating plasma Cp levels.