Black soldier fly defatted meal as a dietary protein source for broiler chickens:Effects on growth performance,blood traits,gut morphology and histological features

Background: The present study has evaluated the effects of different inclusion levels of a partially defatted black soldier fly(Hermetia illucens L.; HI) larva meal on the growth performance, blood parameters and gut morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 256 male broiler chickens(Ross 308) were reared from d 1 to d 35 and assigned to4 dietary treatments(8 replicates/treatment and 8 birds/replicate). HI larva meal was included at increasing levels(0, 5%, 10% and 15%; HI0, HI5, HI10 and HI15, respectively) in isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets formulated for 3 feeding phases: starter(1–10 d), growing(10–24 d) and finisher(24–35 d). Two birds per pen were slaughtered at d 35 and morphometric investigations and histopathological alterations were performed.Results: The live weight(LW) showed linear and quadratic responses to increasing HI larva meal(maximum for HI10 group). Average daily gain(ADG) showed a linear and quadratic responses to HI meal(maximum for HI10 group) during starter and growing periods. A linear decrease was observed for ADG during the finisher period. The daily feed intake(DFI) showed a linear and quadratic effect during the starter period(maximum for HI10 group).Linear and quadratic responses were observed for the feed conversion ratio(FCR) in the growing period and for the whole period of the experiment. The FCR showed a linear response in the finisher period(maximum for HI15).No significant effects were observed for the blood and serum parameters, except for the phosphorus concentration,which showed linear and quadratic responses as well as glutathione peroxidase(GPx) activity, the latter of which showed a linear response. The HI15 birds showed a lower villus height, a higher crypt depth and a lower villus height-to-crypt depth ratio than the other groups.Conclusions: Increasing levels of dietary HI meal inclusion in male broiler chickens may improve the LW and DFI during the starter period, but may also negatively affect the FCR and gut morphology, thus suggesting that low levels may be more suitable. However, no significant effects on the haematochemical parameters or histological findings were observed in relation to HI meal utilization.

Dietary sophorolipid accelerates growth by modulation of gut microbiota population and intestinal environments in broiler chickens

Background:Gut is a crucial organ for the host’s defense system due to its filtering action of the intestinal membrane from hazardous foreign substances.One strategy to strengthen the gut epithelial barrier function is to upregulate beneficial microflora populations and their metabolites.Sophorolipid(SPL),which is a glycolipid biosurfactant,could increase beneficial microflora and decrease pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.Therefore,herein,we conducted an experiment with broiler chickens to investigate the fortifying effects of SPL on the host’s gut defense system by modulating the microbiota population.Methods:A total of 5401-day-old chicks(Ross 308)were used,and they were immediately allotted into three treatment groups(6 replications with 30 chicks/pen)according to their initial body weight.The dietary treatments consisted of CON(basal diet),BAM(10 mg/kg bambermycin),and SPL(10 mg/kg SPL).During the experiment,birds freely accessed feed and water,and body weight and feed intake were measured at the end of each phase.On d 35,birds(one bird/pen)were sacrificed to collect jejunum and cecum samples.Results:Dietary SPL and BAM supplementation significantly accelerated birds’growth and also significantly improved feed efficiency compared to CON.Intestinal microbial community was significantly separated by dietary SPL supplementation from that of CON,and dietary SPL supplementation significantly increased Lactobacillus spp.and Akkermansia muciniphila.Moreover,birds fed with dietary SPL also showed the highest concentration of cecal butyrate among all treatment groups.Gut morphological analysis showed that dietary SPL significantly increased villus height,ratio of villus height to crypt depth,goblet cell numbers,and the gene expression levels of claudin-1 and mucin 2.Additionally,dietary SPL significantly decreased the mRNA expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokine,interleukin-6,and increased that of anti-inflammatory cytokine,interleukin-10,compared to other treatments.Conclusions:Dietary SPL increases the beneficial bacterial population and butyrate concentration,which leads to a strengthened gut barrier function.In addition,the intestinal inflammation was also downregulated by dietary SPL supplementation.

Lignocellulose as an insoluble fiber source in poultry nutrition:a review

Extensive research in recent years into the use of various fiber sources in poultry nutrition has led to the perception that dietary fiber is more than a simple diet diluent.Several studies showed that the feeding of insoluble fiber sources such as oat hulls,sunflower hulls or wood shavings may affect digestive physiology and function improving chickens health and growth performance.In this context,the effect of lignocellulose as an insoluble dietary fiber source is increasingly being investigated.Lignocellulose is a component of plant cell walls and consists mainly of the insoluble carbohydrate polymers cellulose and hemicelluloses as well as the phenolic polymer lignin.Lignocellulose is chemically and physicochemically different from other insoluble fiber sources and thus possibly has different effects on poultry compared to traditional fiber sources.Several studies investigated the effect of dietary lignocellulose on growth performance,nutrient digestibility,gastrointestinal tract development and intestinal microbiota in broilers and laying hens.Studies differed in terms of feed formulation and lignocellulose inclusion level as well as products of different suppliers were used.The results obtained are inconsistent;beneficial,indifferent or detrimental effects of feeding lignocellulose were observed,so that a final assessment of lignocellulose as a“novel”insoluble fiber source is difficult.This review article summarizes the results of studies in connection with the feeding of lignocellulose to poultry,compares them with those that have used other insoluble fiber sources and illuminates the possible mechanisms of action.

Effects of Weaning on Immunity and Nutrition in Piglets

The number of birth per year was an important indicator of the sow＇s productivity and it was related to the duration of breasffeeding. Weaning had been shown to be a stressful period. The weaning age had declined over time in order to increase sow productivity and the fact that weaning under modern-day commercial conditions inflicted stress （environmental, nutritional and psychological/social） on pigs and associated with marked changes in gastrointestinal tract （GIT） physiology, microbiology and immunology. However, the early weaning resulted in post-weaning diarrhea, mainly related to intestinal dysbiosis during this rapid adaptation to the new diet. The environment and feed had influence on physiology, gut morphology, immune system and diseases of weaned piglets.

Optimal sulfur amino acid to lysine ratio for post weaning piglets reared under clean or unclean sanitary conditions

Two 14-day experiments,each with 90(Duroc×[Yorkshire×Landrace]; 7.3 ± 0.6 kg) piglets,were conducted to determine the optimum sulfur amino acid(SAA) to lysine(Lys) ratio(SAA:Lys) for piglets when reared under clean or unclean sanitary conditions using performance and non-performance response criteria. Piglets were randomly assigned to the following dietary treatments. The basal diet contained 1.18% standardized ileal digestible(SID) Lys, and the SAA:Lys was 52%. In diets 2 to 5, the basal diet was supplemented with 4 graded levels of DL-Met to make SAA:Lys of 56%, 60%, 64% and 68%. In Exp.1, piglets were housed in disinfected clean room. In Exp. 2, piglets were housed in a room previously occupied by other pigs and was not disinfected. On the last day, blood was collected to measure plasma urea nitrogen(PUN) and one pig per pen was euthanized to collect jejunal tissue to measure villus height(VH), crypt depth(CD), and VH:CD. In Exp. 1, increasing SAA:Lys linearly and quadratically increased VH and VH:CD(P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, increasing SAA:Lys linearly increased(P < 0.05) VH and VH:CD and linearly and quadratically decreased PUN(P < 0.05). Estimated PUN and VH-based optimum SAA:Lys requirements for clean and unclean sanitary condition were 60%, 63% and 66%, respectively.