Salmonellosis is a significant public health risk and is often associated with the consumption of poultry products. Colonization of poultry by Salmonella may be affected by dietary ingredients. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of hulless barley (HB) and β-glucanase (BGase) on Salmonella colonization in broiler chickens. Day-old broilers (200) were placed in battery cages and fed

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is an economically significant pathogen of poultry which results in severe disease especially when complicated by other respiratory pathogens. The objectives of this study, were to establish preliminary baseline data on the respiratory pathogens in MG positive commercial turkey flocks in California and to identify key predictor variables of MG serologic status. The retrospective

The image processing of muscular fibers has seen significant improvements over the last decades, from light microscopy acquisition to virtual microscopy and from manual segmentation and fiber typing to automatic. The present study aims to discuss the main tools employed in different histo-enzymological image processing phases applied to muscle fibers, which are respectively: the acquisition, segmentation

This study evaluated the effects of whole-grain rice (WGR) on pellet quality, geese performance, and economic benefits. A total of 360 one-day-old healthy male Jiangnan White goslings with similar body weight (BW) were randomly divided into two groups with six replicates per group and 30 geese per replicate. Pelleted diets were prepared with WGR for the experimental group and crushed rice (CR) for

The study examined the distribution of Cobb 700 broiler chickens in large (1.524 m x 6.096 m) pens under commercial conditions with two nipple waterer lines and a single feeder. The light intensity in the house was 4 lx provided by LED lighting but with supplementary lighting along the feeder line. There was a gradation of light intensity from 100 lx at bird level by the feeders to 4 lx at the edge

This study analyzed the effect of sodium bisulfate (SBS) supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology, and vitamin D3 status of broilers subjected to a 2X dose coccidiosis vaccine. Coccidiosis causes detrimental effects to poultry health and substantial economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. At day of placement, 800 one-day-old male Cobb500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of embryonic thermal manipulation and dietary fat source during the finisher period on carcass characteristics and breast muscle myopathies following acute heat stress. Thermal manipulation (TM) of incubation temperatures has been shown to improve bird resistance to heat stress and enhance breast muscle growth. Fat supplementation is frequently

This experiment was conducted to assess a protocol combining 20% excess dietary methionine above the modern breeder pullet's requirement and AviPro® MGF vaccine in controlling Mycoplasma gallispeticum (MG) infection. In a complete randomized design, a total of 276 six-week old breeder pullets, of the Ross 308 strain were randomly allocated into four treatments, each with three floor pen replicates

This study aims to determine the influence of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on performance, clinical and pathological pictures, virulence gene expression, and electron microscopy of experimentally induced Escherichia coli infection (colisepticemia) in broiler chickens. One-day-old chickens (n = 120) were segregated into 4 equal groups (1–4) with 3 replicates of 10 birds each. Birds were fed mash diet

Two independent trials were conducted to assess the effect of Herbanoplex CP (HB) on broiler chicken's performance using a 1) a nondefined challenge or 2) necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge model with intestinal lesion scoring. Herbanoplex CP is a unique combination of phytocompounds (ground hops, wheat germ, and chicory). In Exp 1, 400-day-old male chicks (Cobb 500) were individually tagged, weighed

Salmonella is an important foodborne pathogen, recognized globally, which can be introduced to humans through poultry products. Producers of poultry meat and eggs mitigate this threat through several means including vaccination. Salmonella Infantis has received recent attention due to outbreaks and contamination of processing facilities. Three floor pen experiments evaluated the efficacy of a modified

Improving pellet quality (PQ) by increasing the percentage of pellets in finished feed is complicated. The hurdles of feed manufacturing are well documented. Researchers continue to investigate the effects of PQ on various performance parameters, yet additional PQ benefits must be presented to stimulate change in feed manufacturing practices. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the

The aptitude of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) for changing its surface proteins allows the pathogen to reduce the efficacy of antimicrobial agents, especially those targeting surface proteins. Although antibiotic treatment cannot be a solution for the eradication of avian mycoplasmosis, it can be considered a good option to minimize the number of deaths. One of the challenges of antibiotic treatments

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of 2 captive bolt devices in the euthanasia of market age Pekin ducks. One hundred twenty ducks were euthanized using either a commercially available captive bolt device (Zephyr-EXL, n = 60) or an Experimental Crossbow captive bolt device (n = 60). Ducks were euthanized and observed for pupillary light reflex, nictitating membrane reflex, cessation

Ammonia buildup in poultry houses is a concern for the poultry industry as it can lead to potential losses because of reduced bird performance, damage to the birds' skin and respiratory tract, and loss of customers owing to animal welfare issues. Current methods for ammonia control are useful, but there is considerable variation in ammonia levels from farm to farm. A potential strategy for eliminating

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing concern for human and animal health. Public awareness of these issues has contributed to increased demand for organic food. In poultry production, there are 3 major production types: no antibiotic ever, organic, and conventional. Organics have been considered safer alternatives that carry fewer antibiotic-resistant bacteria and have less incidence of stable

Alpha-monolaurin has been demonstrated to have antipathogenic properties and is therefore used as feed additive for broilers to prevent infectious diseases and improve production performance. As its antiviral effect is thought to be exerted by disintegrating the viral envelope, α-monolaurin might counteract with the current vaccination programs used in poultry production that are based on administering

Although many studies have attempted to determine the effect of goose age on egg weight, the relationship remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of the relevant literature in an attempt to provide clarity on this question. We found that goose egg weight changes with age and that he greatest amount of yolk is produced following the second laying season, after which laying performance tends to

Aluminum doped magnetite (Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) has been used as an effective sorbent to remove phosphorus (P) species in poultry processing wastewaters. It was found that spent MNP contains approximately 13% of P by weight. A study was conducted to evaluate the potential of using spent MNP as a P source. A total of 240 one-day-old male broilers were randomly allocated to four dietary

Litter sampling is utilized as a non-invasive and practical method to determine broiler flock Salmonella status. The common methods include boot cover/sock (BC), drag swab (DS), or litter grab sampling (LG). Roller swabs are a new research method that can be used to sample litter without entering research pens. This study aimed to assess the use of roller swabs (RS) for Salmonella (S) detection in

We studied the on-farm variety of thermotolerant Campylobacter strains isolated from field samples received over a twelve-month period from four broiler-producing companies in southern Brazil. In total, 515/807 (63.8%) of analyzed samples were found to be Campylobacter-positive. Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli were detected; the first one being more frequently isolated (98.2%). The highest antimicrobial

Amakusa Daioh cross chickens from Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu Island, Japan, are F1 hybrid chickens resulting from a cross between the Amakusa Daioh and Kyushu Rhode breeds. A significant association has been reported between a SNP (AB604331, g.420 C>A) in the cholecystokinin type A receptor gene and growth traits in some Japanese slow-growing chickens. This genetic improvement effect was examined

The ban on the use of antibiotics in feed for broiler chickens in some parts of the world, coupled with increasing consumer demand antibiotics-free poultry, has in recent decades increased the interest of researchers and producers to identify suitable alternatives to such antibiotics. One such alternative is yeast (S. cerevisiae). This review discusses the potential of probiotic and prebiotic yeast

At present, the poultry industry places great importance on natural pigment products to achieve an acceptable yolk color for the market. To determine the effect of achiote seed powder on the external and internal egg quality, a total of 400 Dekalb White egg-laying hens at 38 wk of age were placed for 56 d in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 20 replicate cages. Treatments consist

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of graded inclusion of almond hulls on growth performance, body composition, digestive tract weight, and liver antioxidant capacity of broilers. A total of 420 one-day-old Cobb male chicks was randomly allocated to 5 experimental treatments with 6 replicates of 14 birds each for 19 d of age. The five dietary treatments consisted of a corn-soybean

Four experiments were conducted to study the effect of supplementing different concentrations of xylanase (Xyl) (3,200–24,000 u/kg) and α-amylase (Amy) (300–2,250 u/kg) to corn-soybean meal (SBM)–based diets on performance, carcass variables, and apparent ileal digestibility of energy (AIDE) in broiler chicken. Corn–SBM–based diet without the enzymes was kept as the control. Each diet was fed ad libitum

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary amino acid density and exogenous protease inclusion on growth performance and amino acid digestibility in poultry. In experiment 1, Cobb 500 broiler chicks (n = 480) were fed to 21 d of age. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 4 factorial design with main effects of commercial protease (with or without) and amino acid density which corresponded

Pretesting of any new animal housing system in Sweden must include an evaluation of animal welfare. In 2013, a Swedish hatching company applied to the competent authority (CA) for permission to import, install, and bring into use a system with large furnished cages for breeding birds of layer strains, with ∼70 birds per cage (compared with the current 16 birds per cage). Pretesting of the system was

Water scarcity is a global reality and with the anticipated population growth, freshwater resources will be further strained to meet both human and agriculture applications. To ensure a water sustainable and food secure future, all aspects of agriculture must become more efficient. Two strategies were explored. The first strategy was to develop a more efficient and accurate method for measuring water

The following research report provides information regarding the bacterial contamination that exists in feed ingredients and mixed animal feeds collected from 4 commercial feed mills and the research feed mill from Auburn University. The experiment was conducted to establish if feed ingredients or commercial animal feeds serve as sources of contamination of Salmonella, Escherichia coli (EC), and Clostridium

Feed mill pellet production rate is of great importance to integrated meat bird production. Ingredients such as dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), inorganic phosphate source (IPS), and fat influence production rate and feed quality because of their composition. The naturally abrasive properties of an IPS may scour the pellet die and affect the feed production rate. The objective of the study

An experiment was conducted to evaluate high doses of phytase associated with multicarbohydrase complex in diets with a nutritional reduction on feed cost, performance, intestinal morphometry, digesta viscosity, blood and bone parameters, and carcass yield of broilers. For this purpose, 1,540 1-day-old male broiler chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments, with 14

Modern broilers have been selected for rapid growth but demonstrate reduced heat tolerance toward market age. As the poultry industry expands globally, strategies must be developed to support broiler performance in challenging climates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of embryonic thermal manipulation (TM) and dietary fat source during the finisher period on broiler performance

In the present study the occurrence of turkey carcass alterations such as breast skin lesions, liver lesions, and swelling of the hock joint in turkeys reared in organic farms was investigated at slaughterhouses in Germany. The examinations included 1,860 turkey carcasses of 2 turkey lines Kelly Broad Breasted Bronze(BBB) (540 toms and 540 hens) and British United Turkeys (Big 6 and The Test Product

To explore the role of insulin and forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) on cell proliferation regulated by sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) in goose primary hepatocyte, goose primary hepatocytes were isolated and incubated with Sirt1 inhibitor and nicotinamide, and then, some hepatocytes were transfected with FoxO1 interference plasmid or treated with insulin. The indexes related with cell proliferation were measured

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of phytase and multicarbohydrase (MC) on growth performance, bone ash, and nutrient digestibility in broilers fed a nutritionally reduced diet. A total of 480 Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly allocated to 8 treatments with 6 replicates of 10 birds each. Experimental diets consisted of a positive control (PC); a negative control (NC) with the reduction

The use of nutritional requirements adjusted to the new broiler genotypes defines their optimal genetic expression. Thus, broiler breeders, universities, and scientific institutions have carried out research with different nutritional requirements to improve the productive efficiency of broilers and decrease production costs. This test aimed to evaluate the growth performance and carcass characteristics

This study was conducted to establish the optimal digestible arginine (dArg) to digestible lysine (dLys) ratio of Yield Plus Male × Ross 708 male broilers from 1 to 14 d of age, 1 to 25 d of age (experiment 1), and 25 to 42 d of age (experiment 2) based on growth performance, feed utilization, and processing yields. Diets were comprised of corn, wheat middlings, corn gluten meal, poultry meal, and

While the number of students pursuing animal science degrees is increasing, more students are further removed from food animal production. There are not enough graduates to fill available jobs in agriculture. The poultry industry has a strong presence in the Midwest, but there are limited opportunities in many undergraduate programs to expose students to the industry and careers. Therefore, we created

Two experiments were designed to determine interactive effects of supplemental dietary Cu and amino acid (AA) density on growth performance, processing characteristics, ileal microflora, and AA digestibility of broilers. In experiment 1, 8 dietary treatments were used, consisting of a factorial arrangement of 3 Cu programs providing Cu concentrations of 135-135-135, 270-135-135, or 270-270-135 mg/kg

Owing to the high cost of feed for poultry, there is continuous pressure to formulate ‘least-cost’ diets that meet nutritional requirements. However, the main aim of any commercial enterprise is usually to maximize profits with the resources or inputs available, and the conventional or historic tool of least-cost ration formulation has limitations in a more demanding economic environment. The layer

Laying hen flocks undergo depopulation at end of lay, a difficult process that has been associated with injuries and is considered stressful to hens and human collectors. To date, most assessments of depopulations have been conducted within cage housing systems, layers, or noncage broilers, thus offering little relevance to noncage laying hen systems including aviaries. Given that the predominant housing

Salmonella is the pathogen mostly associated with feed and dry food safety incidents and is a cause of many foodborne outbreaks. In most feed mills conditioning and retentioning systems are installed to improve the pelleting process but also as a kill-step to reduce the microbial load of the feed material. As knowledge about the efficiency of this kill-step at different process conditions in specific

This study examined the effects of 2 corn-expressed phytases, differing in enzyme concentration within the grain (3,000 or 9,677 Fytase unit [FTU]/g), on broiler performance and tibia mineralization when used as a component in pelleted feed. Dietary treatments included a positive control (PC), with industry-recommended levels of calcium and phosphorous, and a negative control (NC), lower in calcium

A broiler study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of nonstarch polysaccharides-degrading enzyme (NSPase) in the presence of high dose of phytase, by comparing the effect of phytase alone or in combination, on growth performance, bone mineralization, and carcass traits. In total, 4,536 day-old male broiler birds were randomly allocated into 9 dietary treatments with 14 replicates and 36 birds

Feed accounts for more than 65% of live production costs of poultry production; thus, accurate feed formulation is vital to ensure poultry are receiving an optimal diet and nutrients are not in undersupply or oversupply. However, this is difficult when the nutrient compositions of feed ingredient batches are highly variable. To help reduce the variability in the specified finished feeds, appropriate

Cage-free housing of laying hens may provide opportunities for widespread environmental distribution of Salmonella contamination and horizontal transmission of infection within flocks. Salmonella Enteritidis in commercial laying flocks presents an ongoing public health concern because reproductive organ colonization in hens leads to deposition inside eggs. Many S. Enteritidis control programs include

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of prepelleting whole corn (WC) inclusion on body weight (BW), feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), processing yield, organ development, and gut microbiome of broilers from 14 to 42 d of age. One thousand male Ross × Ross 708 broilers were randomly distributed among 4 treatments with 10 replicate pens per treatment and 25 broilers per pen (0.12 m2/chick)

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary yeast culture (YC) supplementation on the meat quality and antioxidant capacity of geese. Three hundred geese (live weight: 95.57 ± 2.42 g) were fed a basal diet (control), or diets supplemented with 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0% YC for 70 d. Compared with the control, dietary YC supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the lightness and redness (a∗) readings

Although the poultry industry has developed into an intensive management system over the past several decades, current trends are moving toward extensive systems with decreased hen-stocking density. However, there is limited information on the resource demands of such systems, particularly with regards to labor requirements. Labor h commitment per hen originally housed and hens surviving were evaluated

The use of exogenous enzymes for poultry has been studied for years. However, there is still limited information on the effects of exogenous lipase supplementation on the growth performance of broilers fed with diets containing reduced nutritional levels. The objective was to investigate the effects of lipase supplementation on growth performance of broilers fed with diets containing different reduced

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary nonphytate phosphorus level and a novel corn-expressed phytase (GraINzyme, Agrivida Inc., Woburn, MA) supplementation on broiler growth performance and bone mineralization. Broilers were fed graded levels of nonphytate phosphorus from 0.20 to 0.44% increased by 0.06% and 4 levels of corn-expressed phytase (500; 1,500; 3,000; and 4,500 FTU/kg)

Mussel meal is an alternative feed ingredient that can reduce the gap in available protein-rich feedstuff for organic layer hen diets. Mussel meal production requires high input of energy because of mussel deshelling. The production of mussel meal through filtration could create a more cost-efficient product. A field study was conducted on a commercial farm to compare feeding laying hens with fishmeal

Administration of functional feed additives, including direct-fed microorganisms (DFM), dietary prebiotics, and phytogenic preparations, has been demonstrated to improve growth performance, animal health, and microbial food safety in poultry and is thought to be a potentially important component of antibiotic-free poultry production. In this study, we investigated the administration of Bacillus licheniformis

The overall objective in this study is to determine the effects of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis probiotic supplementation on performance and cecal Salmonella load in broilers challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis. A total of 360 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly distributed to 4 experimental groups in a 2 × 2 factorial setup of treatments: control, control + challenge

Research using a commercial broiler house demonstrated physical/nutrient feed segregation as feed varying in percent pellets (PP) and manufacturing technique was augered throughout a feed line (FL); these factors impacted bird performance and uniformity. The current objective was to investigate feed flow and segregation of pellets and fines as a bin of feed is augered throughout a commercial feed system

Replicated research has not identified the impact of augering feed on the pellet quality, feed segregation, and resulting bird performance; therefore, 2 experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 was conducted to determine the effects of pellet-to-fine ratios (P:F; 55:45 or 75:25) and liquid application method (LAM; mixer liquid application method [MLAM] or postpellet liquid application method [PPLAM]

Ensuring the safety of food sources continues to be a priority in animal production. This requires elucidating and utilizing interventions such as bacteriophages (BP) to reduce pathogens such as Salmonella. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a bacteriophage in the feed for its ability to reduce Salmonella Enteritidis (S.E.) colonization in broilers. Two hundred seventy day-of-hatch

Fractures to the keel bone is one of the greatest problems facing the laying hen industry. With most severe effects observed in non-cage housing, frequencies are expected to dramatically increase as the industry continues transitioning away from battery cages. Incidences within commercial systems are well documented, where the main cause is believed to be high egg production and the associated need

Phytase and xylanase are routinely used to reduce indigestible components and improve broiler performance; however, more research is needed to determine combined enzyme inclusion strategies (EIS) to maximize performance within diets varying in nutrient density (ND). It is also of interest to explore the potential for EIS to assist with disease mitigation. Therefore, a 2 ND (low density [LD]: 5% decrease