Poultry feed has commonly been supplemented with a variety of feed additives and trace elements with the aim of improving bird performance and health (Jackson et al., 2003). However, these AGPs have been increasingly scrutinized by some scientists, consumers and government authorities due to the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may cross the human species barrier after continuous use (Ratcliff, 2000). The subtherapeutic use of antibiotics also leads to the development of antibiotic resistance in animal pathogens, making it less effective in treating common infections.
Antibiotics and their uses
- Mode of action
- Therapeutic use
- Sub-therapeutic use
- Antibiotic resistance
- Prebiotics
- Frutooligosaccharides (FOS) in birds' performance
- Organic acids
This has been shown to improve the live performance of turkeys (Hooge, 2004 and Parks et al., 2001). Lee et al. (2003) reported no effect of essential oil components on growth performance in female broilers.
Discussion and conclusion
Therefore, essential oils can be helpful in preventing problems with C.perfringens and necrotic enteritis. This statement could be in line with studies by Bassett (2000) and Langhout (2000) who stated that the effect of dietary essential oils on growth becomes apparent when chickens are subjected to suboptimal conditions such as less digestible diets and/or less clean the environment.
Introduction
Effect of Bio-Mos and Selplex (organic selenium) on male broiler fertility. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of Bio-Mos and Selplex on fertility and E.coli levels of male broilers.
Materials and methods
Animals and diets
- Escherichia coli counts
An amount of 50/-l of the mixture was then used to fill both sides of the hemocytometer. Spermatozoa were counted with a light microscope at 40x magnification in five randomly selected blocks on both sides of the hemocytometer. Fresh faecal samples were collected at 57, 61 and 66 weeks of age from 10 roosters randomly selected from each of the four diets.
Statistical analysis
Approximately 5g of fresh stool samples were collected from the trays into the flip-top vials.
Results
Escherichia coli counts
Supplementation of Bio-Mos and Selplex increased (P<0.05) the number of normal sperm compared to control diets. Birds on the Bio-Mos-supplemented diet had the highest total number of normal sperm (3332 versus 3244) compared to those on the control diet and those on the combination. A lower number (P<0.05) of bent spermatozoa was observed in the treatment with the combination of Selplex and Selplex and Bio-Mos.
Discussion
A reduced number of intestinal pathogenic microflora (E. coli, Clostridium perjringens) was observed in chickens supplemented with Bio-Mos compared to those on the control diet (Jamroz et al., 2004). On the other hand, the health status of the roosters could have been so good that there was no challenge for BioMos to be effective. Shashidhara and Devegowda (2003) reported that supplemental Bio-Mos improved sperm density and antibodies in broiler breeders.
Conclusion
Introduction
The influence of mannan oligosaccharides (Bio-Mos) and zinc bacitracin on the growth of broilers. Based on this scenario, there is a need to find possible effective alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters for the feed industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of mannan oligosaccharides (Bio-Mos) as an alternative to zinc bacitracin on the growth of broilers.
Materials and methods
Birds and housing
Feeds and treatments
Zinc bacitracin alone also decreased uptake, but in the presence of Bio-Mos, uptake increased as the level of Bio-Mos increased. Supplementation of Bio-Mos alone or when combined with Bacitracin Zinc resulted in no difference (P>O.05) in feed intake beyond age 2 Id. Supplemental Bio-Mos in the absence of zinc bacitracin increased FCE (P
Discussion
These responses to Bio-Mos therefore do not appear to be related to the grain source used. With less feed consumed, Bio-Mos may have increased the availability of the nutrients which then led to increased growth of the birds. Bio-Moss increased the height and girth of villi thereby increasing the absorptive intestinal surface area, resulting in improved feed conversion ratio.
Conclusion
Introduction
Supplementation of chicken feed with a blend of plant essential oil produced significant improvements in body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and carcass yield (Alcicek et al., 2004). 2003) evaluated essential oils extracted from herbs grown in Turkey and found that these significantly improved body weight, feed conversion ratio and carcass yield of broilers after a 42-day growing period. 2005) further reported reduced feed intake and improved feed conversion efficiency in broilers supplemented with oregano and its essential oils. Jamroz and Kamel (2002) observed improvements of 8.1% in daily gain and 7.7% in feed conversion ratio in 17-day-old birds fed a diet supplemented with a plant extract containing capsaicin, cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol at 300 ppm . 2004) reported that plant extracts gave similar live performance to the antibiotic growth promoter (avilamycin) when included in chicken diets.
Materials and methods
- Birds and housing
- Feeds and treatments
- Measurements
- Statistical analysis
A gas heater was used to provide heat to the room. The temperature was set at 29.5°C and was decreased by 1°C every 3 days until 23°C was reached at 21 days of age. The seven diets used in the methionine response trial were produced by mixing a top and a dilution diet (Table 4.1) in different proportions, with methionine content varying between diets as follows and 2.8 g/kg (Table 4.2). Feed seven was the same dilution as feed six, but was supplemented with 41.2 g DL-methionine/kg feed. The dilution feed contained no proteins or amino acids.
Results
Discussion
El-Ghamry (2004) reported that the inclusion of fenugreek in a diet of Moscow ducks significantly improved final body weight, feed intake and feed conversion, but this was not the case in the trial reported here. If this were the case in the current trial, there would have been a significant interaction between methionine content and the amount of supplement used. The fact that there was no interaction indicates that the nutrients provided by Kick-Start were not limiting at any of the methionine levels used in the trial.
Conclusion
Introduction
Effect of All-Lac XCL 5x, Acid-Pak 2x, Bio-Mos and zinc bacitracin on the performance of broilers challenged with Clostridium perfringens. Some of the products used in the program include All-Lac XCL, Acid-Pak 4-way and Bio-Mos. Bio-Mos blocks mannose-sensitive type 1 fimbriae lectin binding sites, thus preventing pathogenic organisms from attaching to the intestinal wall and colonizing the gastrointestinal tract (Ferket et al., 2002).
Materials and Methods
Birds and housing
According to Sun (2004), organic acids are claimed to suppress the growth and proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract by creating an acidic environment unfavorable for pathogenic bacteria, although favorable for the survival of beneficial bacteria. The temperature was gradually decreased from 31°C on birthday to 21°C on day 21 and was maintained at this level for the rest of the experiment. The humidity in the house depended on the air exchange provided by the tunnel ventilation system.
Experimental design
For the first two weeks, gas heaters were used to maintain temperature, during which time minimal ventilation was provided using cross fans. The house was then longitudinally ventilated and cooled with the help of four large fans and curtains.
Feeds and treatments
Feed was removed from the cages one hour before vaccination so that all chickens would eat at the same time at the next feeding. Each of the 48 cages was inoculated with 100ml of the solution, supplied in 20kg of feed, and this was mixed thoroughly in a bucket before being given to the birds.
Measurements
Statistical analysis
Results
- Body weight gain
- Feed intake
- Feed conversion efficiency
- Challenge performance
Differences were noted in feed intake during the initiation and growth phase as well as over the entire period (Table 5.4). Birds on Zinc bacitracin, Bio-Mos and on Treatment 6 (Sprayed with All-Lac XCL 5x, drinking water with Acid-pak 2x and consumption of feed supplemented with Bio-Mos) had less feed (P<0.05) during the initial and growth phase taken compared to that on the control diet. There were also differences in feed intake between sexes (P<0.05) during the grower and finisher phases and over the full period, with males consuming more than females. Table 5.4 The effect of Bio-Mos, Zinc-bacitracin, All-LAC and Acid-Pak on feed intake of broilers up to 42 days of age.
Discussion
The significant differences observed between treatments in FCE are consistent with the findings of Kocher et al. perjringens and found a significant improvement in feed efficiency. Sun et al. (2004) also found that feeding broilers without growth promoters resulted in higher mortality and reduced performance compared to the use of the antibiotic, while Bio-Mos in combination with All-Lac XCL helped to reduce the negative effects when birds exposed to coccidia. This is not unusual: Kocher et al. 2004) reported that birds did not die or develop clinical forms of necrotic enteritis when artificially challenged, while Sun (2004) reported that different feed additives did not significantly affect the lesion scores of challenged birds.
Conclusion
Further research may be needed to determine the effect of higher levels of additive inclusion. However, none of these feed additives improved the overall performance of the birds. The health status of the birds and the level of hygiene in the house can greatly influence the response to supplements (Talay et al., 2004).
Appendix A
1994) Effect of dietary fructo-oligosaccharides on suppression of intestinal colonization by Salmonella typhimurium in broilers. 1999) Effect of supplementation of zinc bacitracin, mannan oligosaccharide and probiotic in broiler feed on fattening performance. 1988) Effect of dietary buffered propionic acid on broiler productivity and gut and carcass microflora.
Colon healthy food. Pp Single and Combined Effect of Dietary Protease and Mannan Oligosaccharide on Layer Performance. Effect of bacitracin zinc and roxarsone on the performance of broilers when fed in combination with narasin.
