Thesis (MSC. Agriculture (Animal Production)) --University of Limpopo, 2014 / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The first experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Two hundred and fifty unsexed day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, replicated five times, and each replication having 10 chickens. A completely randomized design was used. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (M0), 5 (M5), 10 (M10), 15 (M15) and 20 (M20) g of moringa seed meal/bird/day. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, metabolisable energy intake, nitrogen retention, feed conversion ratio and live weight of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens. Moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) growth rates of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. A moringa seed meal supplementation level of 13.3 g/kg DM feed optimized growth rate of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. The second experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens weighing 558 ± 10 g/bird were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replications having 10 birds. The chickens, aged 21 days, were allocated to the treatments in a completely randomized design. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (FM0), 5 (FM5), 10 (FM10), 15 (FM15) and 20 (FM20) g of moringa seed meal per kg DM. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake, carcass weight, breast meat weight, abdominal fat pad weight, liver weight, heart weight, thigh weight, meat flavour, juiciness and tenderness of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. vi It was concluded that moringa seed meal supplementation improved growth rate of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Similarly, moringa seed meal supplementation increased nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days.

Inflammation is the body's response to injury and is characterized by pain, swelling, redness, and heat. Eicosanoids are lipid mediators of inflammation. Leukotrienes (LT) are 20-carbon eicosanoids produced from arachidonic acid (AA), an n-6 fatty acid (FA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an n-3 FA. LT produced from AA are proinflammatory (LTB₄) and those produced from EPA (LTB₅) are less inflammatory. Two experiments were conducted. The objective of the first experiment was to optimize the assay conditions for LT production by platelets from chickens, and neutrophils from horses and dogs. Optimal production of LT from equine and canine neutrophils and chicken platelets was characterized in terms of incubation time (2.5, 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes), temperature (25 or 37°C), and calcium ionophore A23187 concentration (0.1, 1, 10 or 20 μM). In all species, incubation at 37°C resulted in optimal LTB₄ production compared to 25°C (p≤0.05). Production of LTB₄ was maximum when neutrophils were stimulated with 20 μM calcium ionophore A23187 in all species (p≤0.05). Incubation times greater than 2.5 minutes did not further increase LTB₄ production in chickens and horses; in dogs, incubation for 2.5 and 10 minutes resulted in the highest concentrations of LTB₄ (p≤0.05). These results indicate that platelets from chickens, and neutrophils from horses and dogs, are capable of producing LTB₄; optimum conditions for LTB₄ production are similar in all three species. In the second study, the effect of feeding diets that differed in n-6 and n-3 FA ratios to breeder hens was investigated with regard to changes in composition of immune tissue, alteration of delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) response, and LT production by platelets. Chicks hatched to hens fed these diets were also studied with regard to fatty acid composition of immune tissues and LT production by platelets at various stages of growth (7, 14, 21 days). A total of 72 breeder hens were randomly divided into three groups (n=24) and fed diets supplemented with either 3.0% (by weight) sunflower oil (SF0; rich in n-6 FA; Diet I), a mixture of 1.5% SF0 and 1.5% fish oil (Diet II), or 3.0% fish oil (FO; rich in n-3 FA; Diet III). Production of LTB₄ and LTB₅ by platelets stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187 were assessed by RP-HPLC. The hens fed Diet I synthesized 43.9 ± 2.5 ng of LTB₄ per 5x10⁶ cells compared to 13.3 ± 0.9 ng of LTB₄ from hens fed Diet II (p≤0.05). However, no LTB₄ was produced by hens fed Diet III. Production of LTB₅ by platelets of hens fed Diet III was 36.7 ± 4.9 ng compared to 47.4 ± 5.7 ng of LTB₅ from hens fed Diet II. No LTB₅ was produced by hens fed Diet I. The DTH reaction was smaller at 48 hrs post injection of bovine serum albumin in hens fed the 3% FO Diet III (p≤0.05). Fatty acid composition spleen and platelets in hens reflected the fatty acid composition of diets consumed by them (p≤0.05). Hatched chicks from hens fed Diet I produced significantly less LTB₄ at 14 days (p≤0.05) compared to 7- and 21-day-old chicks, which were not different from each other. Chicks from hens fed Diet II produced more LTB₄ at 21 days (p≤0.05) compared chicks from hens fed Diet III produced more LTB₄ at 7 and 21 days (p≤0.05) compared to 14-day-old chicks. There were no significant differences in LTB₅ production from chicks hatched to hens fed Diet III at 7 and 14 days of growth. By 21 days of growth, chicks hatched to hens fed Diet III showed decreased production of LTB₅ compared to 7- and 14-day-old chicks. The spleen and bursa tissue fatty acid composition in chicks at 7 and 14 days of age were similar to the maternal diet fatty acid composition, however, there were no significant differences in platelet fatty acid composition between the groups at different stages of growth. These results indicate that the type of fat in diets fed to breeder hens may alter the inflammatory response in hatched chicks, which could lead to less mortality and increased production performance in poultry. / Graduation date: 2005

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Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fat, vitamin E(Vit. E) and selenium(Se) supplementation on the performance, fatty acid(FA) composition, lipid oxidation on blood and the oxidative stability of muscle tissues (breast and thigh) during refrigerated storage of broiler chickens fed high levels of flaxseed(FXS). Four hundred and eighty d-old broiler chicks were fed experimental diets for a 3 wk period, which consisted of the combination of two dietary fat sources: fullfat soybean(FFSB) and FXS; 3 Vit. E levels: 10, 40 and 80 IU/kg and two Se levels: 0.15 and 0.30ppm (Exp. I). Four hundred and forty d-old chicks were fed on FFSB diets supplemented with 10, 80, and 160 IU of Vit. E/kg, FXS diets supplemented with 10, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 IU of Vit. E/kg, corn-soybean based diet (control), and on a commercial diet for 21 days (Exp. II). For Exp. III, 1680 (840 of each sex) d-old broiler chicks were raised up to 41d. Three basal diets containing 10% FXS and 3 levels of Vit. E: 60-, 90- and 160 IU/kg were formulated for 3 age periods: starter (0--3wk), grower (3--5 wk) and finisher (5--6wk). Three groups of birds were fed these basal diets, while 3 other groups were fed the diet containing 160 IU of Vit. E either during the starter, grower or finisher phase (diets supplemented with 60 IU/kg were given in the two remaining phases). (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Three potential probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and the fungus Scytalidium acidophilum were prepared in different ways. They were evaluated for their effects on performance and immune responses in broiler chickens in two 6-week trials. In the first trial, probiotics were orally administered at the ages of day 1 and day 8. There were no differences between live and disrupted cells. However, cobalt-containing cells had improved effects numerously in comparison with non cobalt-containing cells. As a result, these three disrupted probiotics, each in two different concentrations, were sprayed onto a mash basal feed before pelleting in the second trial. Improved feed intake (up to 6%) and body weight gain (up to 7%) were observed in all probiotic treatments. The anti-KLH IgA and IgG titers of probiotic-treated chickens were not significantly different from the negative controls in both trials. In summary, disrupted and cobalt-containing probiotics were proved to enhance the performance of broiler chickens and are promising for commercial application. In addition, a new fungal mycelium, Scytalidium acidophilum, was suggested to be a good probiotic to improve the growth of broilers.

[Truncated abstract] Australia produces 87% of the world’s lupins (Lupinus angustifolius) which have the potential to be an excellent source of protein and energy in animal diets. However, feed manufacturers and poultry producers cannot use more than about 5% lupins in broiler and 7% in layer diets. The main reason is because 34% of the lupin grain comprises complex cell-wall polysaccharides that are indigestible. The main component of cell walls in lupins is pectin (33%). Poultry cannot digest pectin because they don't secrete the appropriate enzymes so their ability to use lupins is limited. Undigested pectins increase the viscosity of digesta in the bird's digestive tract, which in turn reduces the digestibility of dry matter and efficiency of feed utilisation. Pectins also increase water-holding capacity, a characteristic directly related to water intake and wet droppings. In this thesis, I tested the general hypothesis that breakdown of cell walls and pectins will improve the nutritive value of lupins for broilers and layers and reduce wet droppings. This hypothesis was tested in six experiments by treating lupins with specific exogenous enzymes (pectinases) or mechanical-heat treatment (expansion) plus pectinase. In the first experiment, attempts to break down the cell walls and pectins using four doses of pectinase, specifically polygalacturonase (PG), succeeded in improving the nutritive value of whole and dehulled lupins for egg layers. The lowest dose, 0.6g/kg diet, was the most effective dose for reducing water intake, wet droppings, the viscosity of the digesta and the number of soiled eggs. ... Equivalent figures for layers were 14, 15, 5 and 8%, indicating that the pectinases were slightly more effective in layers than broilers. For diets containing 20% dehulled lupins, pectinases were also very effective at breaking down both pectin and cell walls to release nutrients and, concomitantly, reducing water intake and wet droppings, but the magnitude of the responses was slightly less than with the 10% dehulled lupin diets. For diets containing 30% dehulled lupins, although the pectinases again were effective at breaking down pectin and cell walls and reducing viscosity, they did not reduce water intake or wet droppings. This might be due to the large amounts of nonmethylated pectic polysaccharides, which make up two thirds of the cell walls, by increasing water-holding capacity particularly when dehulled lupins are included in the diet at high levels (up to 30%). These polysaccharides might be broken down by appropriate enzymes. This hypothesis is worth testing in the future. Overall, the results of my study supported the general hypothesis. These in vivo results are conclusive and consistent. They show that an optimum combination of PME and PG is capable of including dehulled lupins up to 20% in broiler and layer diets without any nutritional or hygienic problems. The strategies I developed have proven very useful for breaking down the cell walls and pectins, improving the nutritive value of lupins for broilers and layers, and reducing wet droppings. By using the optimum combination of two pectinases, it should be possible to make substantial improvements in the nutritive value of lupins for broilers and layers, most importantly by reducing excessive water intake and wet droppings associated with feeding dehulled lupins. Without pectinases, the amount of dehulled lupins used in poultry diets is fairly small (7%), but if pectinases are used, this upper limit can be lifted to 20%.

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