Submit Manuscript

International Journal of Poultry Science

Year: 2009 | Volume: 8 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 14-20
Facebook Twitter Digg Reddit Linkedin StumbleUpon E-mail
Research Article

Use of Organic Acid, Herbs and Their Combination to Improve the Utilization of Commercial Low Protein Broiler Diets

A.S. Abd El-Hakim, G. Cherian and M.N. Ali

ABSTRACT

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the growth performance, carcass characteristics, organ weights, plasma proteins and fecal N excretion in broilers fed a 18% crude protein diet supplemented with Thymus vulgaris, Curcuma longa, citric acid, lactic acid or their combinations. In the first experiment, 98 broiler chicks were fed a control diet or a control diet with 0.2% Thyme (TH), 0.2% Curcuma longa (CL), 0.2% Citric acid (CIT), 0.2% TH + 0.2% CL, 0.2% TH + 0.2% CIT, 0.2% CL + 0.2% CIT. In the second experiment, 98 broiler chicks were fed a control diet with 0.2% TH, 0.2% lactic acid (LAC), 0.2% CIT, 0.2% TH + 0.2% LAC, 0.2% TH + 0.2% CIT, 0.1% LAC + 0.1% CIT. Addition of 0.2% TH, or TH + CIT increased weight gain in 21 day-old birds in experiment 1 (p<0.05). Addition of supplements did not produce any significant increase in day 42 body weight. No significant effect of supplements on carcass characteristics, feed conversion, plasma proteins or organ weights were observed except for liver which was higher in birds fed CIT (experiment 1) (p<0.05). No difference was observed in the total protein, albumen or globulin in the plasma. No difference was noticed between dietary treatments on the percentage of fecal Nitrogen (N), AME or Nitrogen retention (NR). Although not significant, the birds fed TH + CL excreted 12.9% less fecal N than Control birds. Similarly, the NR was 13.25% higher in TH + CL when compared with Control birds. Considering the role of low protein diets in reducing feed cost and fecal N excretion, further studies are needed to evaluate the role of plant extracts and organic acids and their optimal levels for broiler birds fed a low protein diet that are raised under suboptimal commercial conditions.
PDF References Citation

Search

REFERENCES

  1. Ali, M.N., A.A. Mahrous and F.G. Ahmed, 2008. Evaluation of some natural additives as growth enhancers in rabbits diets. Egypt. J. Rabbit Sci., 18: 67-82.
  2. Allen, P.C., H.D. Danforth and P.C. Augustine, 1998. Dietary modulation of avian coccidiosis. Int. J. Parasitol., 28: 1131-1140.
    CrossRefPubMedDirect Link
  3. Barak, V., T. Halperin and I. Kalickman, 2001. The effect of sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: 1. Inflammatory cytokines. Eur. Cytokine Network, 12: 290-296.
    PubMed
  4. Basilico, M.Z. and J.C. Basilico, 1999. Inhibitory effects of some spice essential oils on Aspergillus ochraceus NRRL 3174 growth and ochratoxin a production. Lett. Applied Microbiol., 29: 238-241.
    CrossRefPubMedDirect Link
  5. Bregendahl, K., J.L. Sell and D.R. Zimmerman, 2002. Effect of low-protein diets on growth performance and body composition of broiler chicks. Poult. Sci., 81: 1156-1167.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  6. Boling, S.D., D.M. Webel, I. Mavromichalis, C.M. Parsons and D.H. Baker, 2000. The effects of citric acid on phytate-phosphorus utilization in young chicks and pigs. J. Anim. Sci., 78: 682-689.
    CrossRefPubMedDirect Link
  7. Chang, C.P., J.Y. Chang, F.Y. Wang and J.G. Change, 1995. The effect of Chinese medicinal herb Zingiberis rhizoma extract on cytokine secretion by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. J. Ethnopharmacol., 11: 13-19.
    CrossRef
  8. Cross, D.E., T. Acamovic and R.M. Mcdevitt, 2004. Effects of the inclusion of Thymus Vulgaris L. Oil in diets with and without enzymes, on nutrient digestibility in broilers. Br. Poult. Sci., 45: S22-S23.
    PubMed
  9. Debersac, P., M.F. Vernevaut, M.J. Amiot, M. Suschetet and M.H. Siess, 2001. Effects of a water-soluble extract of rosemary and its purified component rosmarinic acid on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver. Food Chem. Toxicol., 39: 109-117.
    Direct Link
  10. Duncan, D.B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics, 11: 1-42.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  11. Ewing, W.N. and D.J.A. Cole, 1994. The Living Gut: An Introduction to Micro-organisms in Nutrition. Context Publications, Dungannon, UK., pp: 228.
    Direct Link
  12. Furuse, M. and H. Yokota, 1985. Effect of the gut microflora on chick growth and utilization of protein and energy at different concentrations of dietary protein. Br. Poult. Sci., 26: 97-104.
  13. Gaskins, H.R., 2001. Intestinal Bacteria and Their Influence on Swine Growth. In: Swine Nutrition, Lewis, A.J. and L.L. Southern (Eds.). 2nd Edn., CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL., pp: 585-608.
  14. Headon, E.R. and K. Dawson, 1990. Yucca extract controls atmospheric ammonia levels. Feedstuffs, 62: 21-22.
  15. Hernandez, F., J. Madrid, V. Garcia, J. Orengo and M.D. Megias, 2004. Influence of two plant extracts on broilers performance, digestibility and digestive organ size. Poult. Sci., 83: 169-174.
    CrossRefPubMedDirect Link
  16. Jang, I.S., Y.H. Ko, S.Y. Kang and C.Y. Lee, 2007. Effect of a commercial essential oil on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and intestinal microflora population in broiler chickens. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 134: 304-315.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  17. Jang, I.S., Y.H. Ko, H.Y. Yang, J.S. Ha and J.Y. Kim et al., 2004. Influence of essential oil components on growth performance and the functional activity of the pancreas and small intestine in broiler chickens. Asian-Australasian J. Anim. Sci., 17: 394-400.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  18. Kerstetter, J.E., O.O.K. Brien and K.L. Insogna, 2003. Dietary protein, calcium metabolism and skeletal homeostasis revisited. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 78: 584S-592S.
  19. Klavins, J.V., T.D. Kinney and N. Kaufman, 1962. The influence of dietary protein on iron absorption. Br. J. Exp. Pathol., 43: 172-180.
    PubMed
  20. March, B.E., R. Soong and C. Macmillan, 1978. Growth rate, feed conversion and dietary metabolisable energy in response to virginiamycin supplementation of different diets. Poult. Sci., 57: 1346-1350.
    Direct Link
  21. Nahm, K.H., 2007. Feed formulation to reduce N excretion and ammonia emission from poultry manure. Bioresour. Technol., 98: 2282-2300.
  22. Ocana-Morgner, C. and J.R. Dankert, 2001. Induction of complement sensitivity in Escherichia coli by citric acid and low pH. J. Applied Microbiol., 90: 771-778.
    Direct Link
  23. Parsons,C.M., 1995. Nutrient utilization and methods of assessment-an environmental perspective. Proceeding of the Deagussa Technical Symposium, May 17-18, Indianapolis, IN., USA. pp: 1-5.
  24. Richards, J.D., J. Gong and C.F.M. de Lange, 2005. The gastrointestinal microbiota and its role in monogastric nutrition and health with an emphasis on pigs: Current understanding, possible modulations and new technologies for ecological studies. Can. J. Anim. Sci., 85: 421-435.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  25. Roe, A.J., D. McLaggan, I. Davidson, C. O`Byrne and I.R. Booth, 1998. Perturbation of anion balance during inhibition of Escherichia coli by weak acids. J. Bacteriol., 180: 767-772.
    Direct Link
  26. SAS., 1994. SAS/STAT User's Guide: Statistics. Version 6.04, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC., USA.
  27. Schiavone, A., K. Guo, S. Tassone, L. Gasco, E. Hernandez, R. Denti and I. Zoccarato, 2008. Effects of a natural extract of chestnut wood on digestibility, performance traits and nitrogen balance of broiler chicks. Poult. Sci., 87: 521-527.
    CrossRefPubMedDirect Link
  28. Schutte, J.B., J. de Jong and J.M. van Kempen 1993. Dietary Protein in Relation to Requirement and Pollution in Pigs During the Body Weight Range of 20-40 Kg. In: Nitrogen Flow in Pig Production and Environmental Consequences, Versetegen, M.W.A., L.A. Den-Hartog, G.J.M. van Kempen and J.H.M. Mertz (Eds.). Pudoc Scientific Publishers, Wegeningen, The Netherlands, pp: 259-263.
  29. Si, J., C.A. Fritts, P.W. Waldroup and D.J. Burnham, 2004. Effects of excess methionine from meeting needs for total sulfur amino acids on utilization of diets low in crude protein by broiler chicks. J. Applied Poult. Res., 13: 579-587.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  30. Si, J., C.A. Fritts, P.W. Waldroup and D.J. Burnham, 2004. Effects of tryptophan to large neutral amino acid ratios and overall amino acid levels on utilization of diets low in crude protein by broilers. J. Applied Poult. Res., 13: 570-578.
    Direct Link
  31. Smith-Palmer, A., J. Stewart and L. Fyfe, 1998. Antimicrobial properties of plant essential oils and essences against five important food-borne pathogens. Lett. Applied Microbiol., 26: 118-122.
    CrossRefPubMedDirect Link
  32. Snow, J.L., D.H. Baker and C.M. Parsons, 2004. Phytase, citric acid and 1α-Hydroxycholecalciferol improve phytate phosphorus utilization in chicks fed a corn-soybean meal diet. Poult. Sci., 83: 1187-1192.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  33. Sterling, K.G., D.V. Vedenov, G.M. Pesti and R.I. Bakalli, 2005. Economically optimal dietary crude protein and lysine levels for starting broiler chicks. Poult. Sci., 84: 29-36.
    Direct Link
  34. Vander-Klis, J.D. and A.J.M. Jansman, 2002. Optimising Nutrient Digestion, Absorption and Gut Barrier Function in Monogastrics: Reality or Illusion? In: Nutrition and Health of the Gastrointestinal Tract, Blok, M.C., H.A. Vahi, L. de Braak, G. Hemke and M. Hessing (Eds.). Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, pp: 15-36.
  35. Waldroup, P.W., 2000. Feeding programs for broilers: The challenge of low protein diets. Proceeding of the 47th Maryland Nutrition Conference, March 22-24, 2000, University of Maryland, College Park, MD., pp: 119-134.
  36. Williams, P. and R. Losa, 2001. The use of essential oils and their compounds in poultry nutrition. World Poult., 17: 14-15.
    Direct Link
  37. Aletor, V.A., I.I. Hamid, E. Nieb and E. Pfeffer, 2000. Low-protein amino acid-supplemented diets in broilers chickens: Effects on performance, carcass characteristics, whole-body composition and efficiencies of nutrient utilization. J. Sci. Food Agric., 80: 547-554.
    Direct Link

Search

Related Articles

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *