Poultry
Manoochehr Allymehr; Kamyar Yousefi; Alireza Talebi; Amir Tukmechi
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 20 February 2024
Abstract
The aims of current investigation were to study the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and expression profile of Myostatin (MSTN), Insulin-like growth hormone type I (IGF-I), Myogenin (MyoG) and Myogenic regulatory factor 4 (MRF4) genes in three commercial broiler strains including Ross ...
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The aims of current investigation were to study the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and expression profile of Myostatin (MSTN), Insulin-like growth hormone type I (IGF-I), Myogenin (MyoG) and Myogenic regulatory factor 4 (MRF4) genes in three commercial broiler strains including Ross 308 (Ross), Cobb 500 (Cobb), and Arian (Arian) in 2023. A total of 240 one-day-old chicks were reared under an equalized standard management condition for six weeks. Performance, organ weights, meat quality, and the expression level of the myogenic genes in the pectoral muscle were investigated. The lowest body weight, feed intake, weight gain and highest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed for Arian at the end of the study (p<0.05). The meat quality was similar between strains (p>0.05). The IGF-I expression level was significantly higher at 42 days of age in Cobb compared to Ross and Arian (p<0.001). The MRF4 expression level was significantly higher at 28 days of age in Cobb compared to Ross (p<0.001). The MyoG expression level was significantly lower in Arian compared to Cobb at 42 days of age (p<0.05). Furthermore, the MSTN expression level was significantly lower in Cobb compared to Ross and Arian at 42 days of age (p<0.05). The remarkable differences in gene expression levels at the end of the rearing period was supported by higher growth performance and body weight of Cobb compared to RossandArian strains. In conclusion, the finding of current study will conveniently help to assess the performance of these broiler strains under similar rearing condition.
Immunology
Monireh Falsafi; Nowruz Delirezh; Elham Safarzadeh; Alireza Talebi; Zahra Heidari
Volume 14, Issue 8 , August 2023, , Pages 423-429
Abstract
Coccidiosis is the leading parasitic disease in poultry. One of the most critical Eimeria species, Eimeria tenella, lives inside the cecal epithelial cells and induces bloody coccidiosis. The present study evaluated the effect of radiation-attenuated E. tenella oocytes mixed with inulin adjuvant on broiler ...
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Coccidiosis is the leading parasitic disease in poultry. One of the most critical Eimeria species, Eimeria tenella, lives inside the cecal epithelial cells and induces bloody coccidiosis. The present study evaluated the effect of radiation-attenuated E. tenella oocytes mixed with inulin adjuvant on broiler chicken. Initially, the effect of irradiation on oocyst attenuation was confirmed. Then, one-day-old broilers (n = 90) were divided into nine groups on seven days of age as follow: Group 1 (400 attenuated oocysts + 1.00 mg of adjuvant), group 2 (400 attenuated oocysts + 0.50 mg adjuvant), group 3 (200 attenuated oocysts + 1.00 mg of adjuvant), group 4 (200 attenuated oocysts + 0.50 mg adjuvant), group 5 (1.00 mg adjuvant), group 6 (400 attenuated oocysts), group 7 (commercial vaccine), group 8 (negative control) and group 9 (blank). On day 21, we performed a challenge with E. tenella oocytes and investigated oocyst output and average weekly weight throughout the study. At the end of the study, we evaluated macroscopic lesion, histology, cytokine level and leukogram status. The results showed a statistically significant difference among groups. Furthermore, the optimal dose was 400 irradiated oocysts and 1.00 mg of inulin. Moreover, an X-ray could reduce the virulence of E. tenella oocytes. Inulin alone or combined with attenuated oocysts showed an acceptable effect on evaluated parameters.
Recep Gümüş; Adem Kara; Seçkin Özkanlar; Halit İmik; Nevra Aydemir Celep
Volume 14, Issue 5 , May 2023, , Pages 249-257
Abstract
This study was aimed at determining the effects of dietary supplementation with thyme essential oil (TEO) and rosemary essential oil (REO) on blood parameters, the anti-oxidant metabolism in the liver, breast and drumstick muscle tissues, the morphology of the small intestine, and the myofibril structure ...
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This study was aimed at determining the effects of dietary supplementation with thyme essential oil (TEO) and rosemary essential oil (REO) on blood parameters, the anti-oxidant metabolism in the liver, breast and drumstick muscle tissues, the morphology of the small intestine, and the myofibril structure of the superficial pectoral and biceps femoris muscles. For this purpose, 400 three-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were used. Five groups, each comprising 80 broilers, were established. The control group was fed on a basal diet alone and groups thyme-1, thyme-2, rosemary-1 and rosemary-2 received basal diets supplemented with 0.15 g kg-1 of TEO, 0.30 g kg-1 of TEO, 0.10 g kg-1 of REO and 0.20 g kg-1 of REO, respectively. The serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels were decreased significantly in group thyme-1. Dietary TEO and REO significantly increased glutathione levels in all tissues. Drumstick catalase activity was significantly increased in groups thyme-1, thyme-2 and rosemary-2. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly increased in the breast muscle of all groups that received dietary TEO and REO. Histomorphometrical analyses demonstrated that dietary supplementation with TEO and REO increased both crypt depth and villus height in the small intestine. In result, the tested doses of dietary TEO and REO were ascertained to improve the intestinal morphology and to increase the anti-oxidant metabolism mainly in the breast muscle, the drumstick muscle and liver.
Jamshid Razmyar; Sara Shokrpoor; Abbas Barin; Jamshid Gheshlagh; Peyman Nakhaee; Moein Khodayari; Seyed Mostafa Peighambari
Volume 12, Issue 2 , June 2021, , Pages 259-262
Abstract
In February 2019, a severe respiratory distress with co-infection of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) and Newcastle disease accompanied with Salmonella Enteritidis occurred in a broiler flock in the western region of Iran. Clinical signs included paralysis, torticollis, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, ...
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In February 2019, a severe respiratory distress with co-infection of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) and Newcastle disease accompanied with Salmonella Enteritidis occurred in a broiler flock in the western region of Iran. Clinical signs included paralysis, torticollis, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, gasping and respiratory rale with high mortality. At necropsy, caseous diphtheritic membrane adherent to the larynx and trachea was observed. Microscopically, syncytial cells formation with dense eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were main histopathological findings in tracheal tissues. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for ICP4 gene amplification as a definitive diagnosis was utilized for the detection of ILT virus nucleic acid in suspected tracheal samples inoculated on to the chorioallantioc membrane of 11-day-old specific pathogen free (SPF) chicken eggs. Tracheal tissues taken from these SPF birds were positive by nested ILT PCR. In conclusion, because of no vaccination policy against ILT in broilers, the most probable scenario is that virus-laden dust or other fomites can be vectors and virus persistence and disease outbreak can be a sequel of wild virus introduction to the farm.
Poultry
Mohammad Naser Nazem; Negin Amiri; Shima Tasharofi
Volume 10, Issue 4 , December 2019, , Pages 323-331
Abstract
Early development of the digestive tract is crucial for achieving maximal growth and development of chickens. This study examined the effects of in ovo (IO) feeding of 0.70 mL of dextrose (10.00% and 20.00%) or amino acids solutions into the yolk sac at day 14 of incubation on small intestine histomorphometry ...
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Early development of the digestive tract is crucial for achieving maximal growth and development of chickens. This study examined the effects of in ovo (IO) feeding of 0.70 mL of dextrose (10.00% and 20.00%) or amino acids solutions into the yolk sac at day 14 of incubation on small intestine histomorphometry and histomorphology, intestinal development, hatchability, body weight, and liver glycogen reserves in newborn chicks. Results showed body weight in amino acid fed hatchlings was higher than control and dextrose groups non-significantly, but hatchability was lower in amino acid group than others. Also, diameter of glycogen vacuoles in all IO treatment groups was more than control. Administration of exogenous dextrose and amino acids solutions into the yolk sac enhanced intestinal development by increasing the size and surface area of the villi and changed villi shape as well. It seems that dextrose or amino acids solutions could improve the intestinal villi development, while they did not affect finger-like villi in jejunum.
Nutrition
Zahra Amini; Siamak Parsaei; Mohammad Houshmand; Reza Naghiha
Volume 10, Issue 3 , September 2019, , Pages 255-259
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of olive leaf (OL) on the performance, abdominal fat pad and some ileal bacterial population of Cobb broiler chickens. A total number of 400 day-old chicks were randomly distributed into floor pens and reared under the same condition until 14 days ...
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This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of olive leaf (OL) on the performance, abdominal fat pad and some ileal bacterial population of Cobb broiler chickens. A total number of 400 day-old chicks were randomly distributed into floor pens and reared under the same condition until 14 days of age. On day 14, each pen was randomly assigned to one of the five experimental treatments with four replicates of 20 male and female chicks. The dietary treatments were consisted of a control group which fed basal diet without OL entire period of the study and groups 2 to 5 that fed diets supplemented with 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00% OL powder, respectively. On days 21 and 42 of the experiment, ileal digesta samples were collected under the sterile condition to evaluate ileal bacterial population. The results indicated that birds fed diets containing various levels of OL, had higher body weight gain (except for 1.00% OL) and lower feed conversion ratio compared to that of the control group. Dietary inclusion of OL resulted in a higher count of Lactobacillus sp. compared to the control group on 42 days of age, while Escherichia coli count significantly was not influenced. The abdominal fat pad was lower in birds fed OL supplemented diets. In conclusion, findings of the current experiment showed that the OL had positive effects on feed conversion ratio, abdominal fat pad deposition and ileal bacterial count of broiler chickens.
Poultry
Shima Tasharofi; Laleh Yazdanpanah Goharrizi; Farhad Mohammadi
Volume 8, Issue 2 , June 2017, , Pages 127-132
Abstract
Two hundred 1-day-old commercial broilers (Ross 308) were used to determine the effects of diets supplementation with waste date’s vinegar (WDV) on the growth and performance of digestive tract over a 42-days growing period. Chicks were randomly allocated to one of five experimental diets supplementing ...
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Two hundred 1-day-old commercial broilers (Ross 308) were used to determine the effects of diets supplementation with waste date’s vinegar (WDV) on the growth and performance of digestive tract over a 42-days growing period. Chicks were randomly allocated to one of five experimental diets supplementing as 0 (control), 1, 2, and 3% of WDV and 2% industrial vinegar (IV). Broilers and their feed consumptions were weighed at the trial beginning and days 10, 21, 35 and 42 of experimental period. Moreover, one chick from every replicate was killed at days 21 and 42 to measure development of digestive tissues and morphology and microbiology of small intestine. Although the final body weight was higher following IV and 1% WDV usage, feed conversion ratio was negatively affected by IV usage compared to control (p < 0.05). Relative weight of different parts of small intestine was not affected by experimental diets. Villus height and width were reduced linearly in WDV, IV and control groups (p < 0.05), but crypt depth was not different among experimental diets. Also, ileum microbiota was not affected by treatments. Results indicated that diet supplementation with WDV has positive effects on growth performance and histomorphology of jejunum in broilers.
Clinical Pathology
Payam Baghban Kanani; Mohsen Daneshyar; Javad Aliakbarlu; Fatemeh Hamian
Volume 8, Issue 2 , June 2017, , Pages 163-169
Abstract
Two hundred and fifty male 1-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of turmeric and cinnamon powders on meat quality and lipid peroxidation of broilers under heat stress condition. The five treatment groups were control (recommended temperature ...
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Two hundred and fifty male 1-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of turmeric and cinnamon powders on meat quality and lipid peroxidation of broilers under heat stress condition. The five treatment groups were control (recommended temperature for Ross 308), heat stressed (32 ± 1 ˚C from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM during finisher period) and heat stressed birds fed with 0.50% turmeric, 0.50% cinnamon and a blend of cinnamon and turmeric (0.25% turmeric + 0.25% cinnamon). The results showed that there were no significant differences between the treatments for ether extract, ash and crude protein contents of thigh meat at 42 day of age (p > 0.05). Heat stress decreased the pH value and dry matter (DM) content of thigh meat, whereas the consumption of all experimental diets (turmeric, cinnamon and both of them) compensated the decreased pH and DM values due to heat stress to some extent but could not restore them to the level of control treatment (p< 0.01). Furthermore, the thigh meat lightness was increased under heat stress (p < 0.05). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and free radicals scavenging activity were increased in thigh meat of broilers reared under heat stress (p < 0.05), while these parameters were reduced by the combination of both plants (p < 0.01). It was concluded that heat stress reduces antioxidant properties and quality of thigh meat and dietary supplementation of turmeric and cinnamon powders together can remove the detrimental effects of heat stress on meat quality.
Poultry
Waleed Seger; Arash Ghalyanchi Langeroudi; Vahid Karimi; Omid Madadgar; Mehdi Vasfi Marandi; Masoud Hashemzadeh
Volume 7, Issue 4 , December 2016, , Pages 317-321
Abstract
Avian infectious bronchitis (IB), caused by a gammacoronavirus, is an OIE-listed (List B) disease and characterized by respiratory and renal involvements, causing high mortality, and economic loss in both layers and broilers. In comparison with other diagnostic methods, real-time polymerase chain reaction ...
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Avian infectious bronchitis (IB), caused by a gammacoronavirus, is an OIE-listed (List B) disease and characterized by respiratory and renal involvements, causing high mortality, and economic loss in both layers and broilers. In comparison with other diagnostic methods, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and conventional RT-PCR are potent, more sensitive and faster techniques for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) detection. This research was conducted to detect IBV using specific primers of IB in three governorates (Basra, Thi-Qar and Muthana) in the south of Iraq. Tracheal specimens were collected from 46 IB suspected commercial broiler flocks. XCE2+ and XCE2- Primers, which amplify all IBV serotypes, were used. Primers MCE1+, BCE1+ and DCE1+ were used to amplify the specific nucleotide sequences of Massachusetts, 793/B and D274 genotypes, respectively. The results of real-time RT-PCR of this study showed that 34 (74.00%) out of 46 infected flocks were positive to IBV. The results of nested PCR showed that 50.00% and 5.89% of positive samples were belonged to genotypes 793/B and Massachusetts, respectively, and the remaining positive (44.11%) were unknown. The results indicate presence of Massachusetts and 793/B IBV strains in commercial broilers in southern Iraq.
Morad Rahimi; Zahra Minoosh Siavosh Haghighi
Volume 6, Issue 1 , March 2015, , Pages 95-98
Abstract
Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) has been reported in many countries in the world. The IBH or similar cases characterized by hepatitis and presence of intra-nuclear inclusion bodies in hepatocytes have not been reported in broiler chickens in Iran. This is the first report on outbreak of adenovirus-like ...
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Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) has been reported in many countries in the world. The IBH or similar cases characterized by hepatitis and presence of intra-nuclear inclusion bodies in hepatocytes have not been reported in broiler chickens in Iran. This is the first report on outbreak of adenovirus-like inclusion body hepatitis in Iran. On October 2012, an onset of high acute mortality in a flock of 2 day-old broiler chickens was reported to the Veterinary Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. The birds showed lethargy, huddling, ruffled feathers, and inappetence. At necropsy the livers were the primary organ affected which were enlarged, pale yellow with necrotic foci and multiple petechial hemorrhages. Tissue samples of liver, kidneys and heart were fixed in 10% buffered formalin. They were processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological studies. Significant microscopic lesions were seen in the livers. Large eosinophilic intra-nuclear inclusion bodies were seen in hepatocytes. Based on the acute high mortality, age of the broilers, gross lesions and histopathological findings (especially intra-nuclear inclusion bodies), the condition was diagnosed as adenovirus-like inclusion body hepatitis.
Hoseein Moravej; Majid Alahyari-Shahrasb; Ali Kiani; Mona Bagherirad; Mahmood Shivazad
Volume 4, Issue 1 , March 2013, , Pages 13-18
Abstract
The present study was carried out to examine the effects of a vitamin premix (VP) reduction or withdrawal from finisher diet (29-43 days) on performance, immuno-competence, and characteristics of leg bones and meat lipid oxidation of chickens fed on corn-soybean meal based diet. A total of 900 male broiler ...
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The present study was carried out to examine the effects of a vitamin premix (VP) reduction or withdrawal from finisher diet (29-43 days) on performance, immuno-competence, and characteristics of leg bones and meat lipid oxidation of chickens fed on corn-soybean meal based diet. A total of 900 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were allocated to five treatment groups (0, 33%, 66%, 100% and 133% VP), with nine replicates per treatment group. At 29 and 36 days of ages, four birds from each replicate were injected with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The cell-mediated immunity was determined via phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and 1-chloro 2-4-dinitrobenzen (DNCB) at 34 and 42 days of ages. At 33, 38 and 43 days of age, 42 days of ages, and two birds of each replicate were slaughtered and bone parameters measured. The oxidative stability was evaluated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) on the thigh samples that were stored for 90 day at -80 ˚C. The results showed that reduction or withdrawal of VP from diets at different time points of the finisher period did not affect performance, immunocompetence and characteristics of leg bones. Results of TBARS showed that lipid peroxidation of the treatment without VP was significantly higher than of the other treatments when slaughtered at 43 days of age. Finally, the results of this study demonstrated that it is not possible to reduce the VP in finisher broilers’ diets without negative effects on meat quality during the time of freezing.
