Life Sciences Commons^™

Phytogenic Feed Additives As An Alternative To Antibiotic Growth Promoters In Broiler Chickens, G. R. Murugesan, Basharat Syed, Sudipto Haldar, Chasity Pender

G. R. Murugesan

The recent trend toward reduction of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in North American poultry diets has put tremendous pressure on the industry to look for viable alternatives. In this context, phytogenic feed additives (PFA) are researched to improve gut health and thereby performance. An experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate the effects of PFA as an alternative to AGP on small intestinal histomorphology, cecal microbiota composition, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance in broiler chickens. A total of 432, day-old Vencobb 400 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of three dietary groups, each consisting of 12 replicate pens …

Effects Of Protease, Phytase And A Bacillus Sp. Direct-Fed Microbial On Nutrient And Energy Digestibility, Ileal Brush Border Digestive Enzyme Activity And Cecal Short- Chain Fatty Acid Concentration In Broiler Chickens, G. R. Murugesan, L. F. Romero, M. E. Persia

G. R. Murugesan

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of protease and phytase (PP) and a Bacillus sp. direct-fed microbial (DFM) on dietary energy and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens. In the first experiment, Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed diets supplemented with PP and DFM in a 262 factorial arrangement. The 4 diets (control (CON), CON + PP, CON + DFM, and CON + PP + DFM) were fed from 15–21 days of age. In Experiment 1, significant interaction (P#0.01) between PP and DFM on the apparent ileal digestibility coefficient for starch, crude protein, and amino acid indicated that both …

Influence Of A Direct-Fedmicrobial And Xylanase Enzyme On The Dietary Energy Uptake Efficiency And Performance Of Broiler Chickens, G. R. Murugesan, M. E. Persia

G. R. Murugesan

BACKGROUND: Efficacy of a multi-strain direct-fed microbial product (PoultryStar® ME; PS) and a xylanase enzyme product on the dietary energy utilization efficiency and resulting performance in broiler chickens was evaluated. Apart from performance parameters, cecal and serum metabolites and activities of hepatic enzymes involved in energy metabolism were also determined. Ross 308 chicks were fed one of four experimental diets [control (CON), CON + PS, CON + xylanase and CON + PS + xylanase] using a 2×2 factorial arrangement from 1–21 days of age.

RESULTS: Cecal proportions of propionate and butyrate, as well as total short-chain fatty acid concentration were …

Validation Of The Effects Of Small Differences In Dietary Metabolizable Energy And Feed Restriction In First-Cycle Laying Hens, G. R. Murugesan, M. E. Persia

G. R. Murugesan

An experiment was conducted to evaluate energy utilization of laying hens fed diets containing 2 ME concentrations, using response criteria including performance, BW, abdominal fat pad, and energy digestibility. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial with 2 feeding regimens (ad libitum and restriction fed), and 2 dietary ME levels [2,880 kcal/kg of ME (CON); and 2,790 kcal/kg of ME (LME)]. A total of 60 Hy-Line W36 first-cycle laying hens were fed experimental diets, resulting in 15 individually caged hens for each of the 4 treatments. Hens in the restriction-fed group were fed 90 g of feed per day. …

New Model For Examining The Energy Metabolism Of Laying Hens, G. Murugesan, Michael Persia

G. R. Murugesan

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the energy utilization of laying hens fed diets containing two energy concentrations, using a holistic approach includingmeasurement of productive, maintenance and storage energy. The experiment was a 2 x 2 factorial arrangementwith two feeding levels (ad libitum and restricted feeding of 90 g feed/hen-d), and two dietary energy levels (HE-high metabolizable energy or ME content of 2,880 kcal/kg; and LE-low ME content of 2,790 kcal/kg). A total of 60 HyLine W36 first-cycle laying hens were fed treatment dietsfor 12 wk from hen age 27 to 39 wk, with 15 individually housed hens for each …

Evaluation Of Energy Values Of Various Oil Sources When Fed To Broiler Chicks, G. Murugesan, Brian Kerr, Michael Persia

G. R. Murugesan

The nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) values of seven different oil and fat sources used in broiler diets, primarily across the Midwestern US, were determined in a digestibility experiment. Fifteen days old, Ross 308 male broiler chicks were fed diets containing each oil or fat source at 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% inclusion levels for 7 days before excreta samples were collected to analyze AMEn on day 21. The AMEn was calculated using 2 different methods, including a linear equation slope method as well as calculating the difference between basal diet and oil containing diets. The AMEn values determined by …