Extract of Scrophularia striata (ES) was tested as a feed additive for improving the efficiency of ruminal degradation of nutrients, concentration of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds and antioxidant activity using the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). Twelve fermentation units (vessels) were ...
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Extract of Scrophularia striata (ES) was tested as a feed additive for improving the efficiency of ruminal degradation of nutrients, concentration of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds and antioxidant activity using the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). Twelve fermentation units (vessels) were set up for 2 experimental runs each lasting 10 d wherein the last 5 days served for sampling. Treated vessels were supplied with no additive (Control), 10 mg/d monensin (Monensin), and 480 and 960 mg/d of ES, respectively. Both levels of ES and monensin decreased methane production expressed per gram nutrients degraded (P<0.05). Production of total volatile fatty acid per gram DM and organic matter degraded was higher in ES treatments in comparison with control and Monensin (P<0.05). The ammonia production expressed per gram CP degraded was lower than control only in the high level of ES supplementation (P<0.05). The latter treatment also resulted in the highest concentration of total flavonoid, phenol lic compounds and antioxidant activity compared to other treatments (P<0.05). Based on the present results, ES could be considered as an alternative to antibiotic for improving the efficiency of degradation, increasing ruminal antioxidant activity and decreasing methane production.
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chromium-methionine (Cr-Met) supplementationon the blood and immune parameters of broiler under acute stress. A total of one hundred twenty six broilers were allocated to 3 treatments and 3 replicates (14 birds per replicate) in a completely randomized ...
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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chromium-methionine (Cr-Met) supplementationon the blood and immune parameters of broiler under acute stress. A total of one hundred twenty six broilers were allocated to 3 treatments and 3 replicates (14 birds per replicate) in a completely randomized design. Treatments were: 1) negative control: i.e. basal diet without stress and Cr-Met, 2) positive control: basal diet with stress and without Cr-Met, 3) basal diet with stress and supplemented with 1000 ppb Cr-Met. Stress was induced from day 18 by addition of 1.5 mg dexamethasone per kg of the diet for one week followed by a withdrawal period until day 46. Blood samples were collected on day 25 and 46 of age. Results showed that stress increased blood glucose and lipid concentrations of serum (P < 0.05). The addition of Cr-Met decreased cholesterol, TG, LDL and VLDL on day 25 of age (P < 0.05). However, broilers fed Cr-Met had higher TG, LDL, VLDL and less HDL compared to other treatments on day 46 (P < 0.05). Administration of dexamethasone significantly elevated concentrations of white blood cell (WBC), heterophil (H), and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (P < 0.05), while these parameters decreased by Cr-Met supplementation on day 25 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplemental Cr-Met improved broiler response to physiological stress during the acute stress period. However, broilers did not benefit from feeding Cr-Met supplementation after dexamethasone induced stress.