This study investigated the effects of Yucca schidigera extract (YE) supplementation via drinking water at concentrations of three levels 0.0%, 0.1% and 0.2% on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and carcass traits of Alex-Line rabbits. A 6-week completely randomized experiment was conducted using 72 growing rabbits. Yucca schidigera supplementation significantly reduced average feed consumption, while final body weight, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected. In addition, YE supplementation was associated with significant positive effects, eliminating the occurrence of bloating and improving rabbit viability. Supplementation with YE significantly improved the apparent digestibility of neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), with the highest values observed in rabbits receiving 0.2% YE. Regarding carcass characteristics, the 0.2% YE treatment significantly increased live weight, while both YE-supplemented groups showed higher carcass and dressing percentages compared with the control group. Carcass length and small intestine percentage were also positively affected by YE supplementation.Overall, supplementation of Yucca schidigera extract, particularly at 0.2%, improved fiber utilization, reduced the occurrence of bloating and rabbit viability in Alex-Line rabbits. These findings suggest that YE may be a useful natural feed additive for supporting digestive efficiency, health-related indicators and productive performance in growing rabbits.
Avian Mycoplasmosis is a widely distributed disease associated with vertical and horizontal transmission affecting respiratory, joints, reproductive, and immune system of all poultry species. Severe economic losses were associated with mycoplasmosis including reduced productivity, increased mortality and medication cost, so this study aimed to follow and investigate the epidemiological/molecular analysis of the main mycoplasmas affecting industrial poultry farming, especially Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), Mycoplasma synoviae (MS), and Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) in the newly agricultural urban area, El-Wady El-Gedid, Egypt. During January, 2024, four hundred and twenty-eight nostril swabs were collected from various suspected chickens and turkeys. Initially a generic PCR was performed for the detection of Mycoplasma spp.. The positive samples were subsequently subjected to species-specific PCRs for the identification of MG, MS, and MM. After that, five positive samples were selected for sequence analysis and submitted to Gene Bank depending on their clinical signs’ severity, PCR band intensity, and identified Mycoplasma species. Our results revealed the detection of Mycoplasma species in 29.9% of the examined birds (128/428), comprising 46.1% (59/128) MG, 30.5% (39/128) MS, and 23.4% (30/128) MM strains. The DRS MM PP723102 and DRS MM PP723103 displayed complete identity with each other, and Japanese strain, MM NR-113681-NBRC 14852. The DRS MS PP723061 correlated completely with Indian strains, MS AS2, and MS 53, while DRS MG PP723057 and DRS MG PP723058 showed similarities of 99.3% with each other. These findings demonstrated the lower incidence of Mycoplasma spp. as a whole in the evaluated region with circulation of major important strains, MG, MS, and MM. Therefore further studies were urgently required on preventive and control strategy of Mycoplasmosis in this newly reclaimed area.
The present study investigated whether electrically ionized drinking water could improve productive performance and intestinal functionality in broiler chickens through coordinated effects on nutrient digestibility, gut microbiota, and jejunal morphology. Three hundred Cobb-500 broilers were randomly allocated at 7 days of age to two drinking-water treatments: conventional tap water or electrically ionized water, with five replicates per treatment. The trial lasted four weeks under identical nutritional and management conditions. The ionized water was generated using a WID device operating at 12 V and 30,000 Hz for 30 min. Water physicochemical and microbiological characteristics, productive performance, apparent ileal nutrient digestibility, intestinal bacterial populations, and jejunal histomorphometry were evaluated. Results showed that ionized water significantly increased pH and reduced oxidation–reduction potential, total dissolved solids, algal total count, and heterotrophic plate count compared with tap water (P < 0.05). Birds receiving ionized water showed greater body weight and body weight gain, improved feed conversion ratio, higher livability and European Production Efficiency Index, and lower mortality (P < 0.05). Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and crude fiber was also enhanced (P < 0.05), whereas ether extract and nitrogen-free extract were unaffected (P > 0.05). Ionized water increased cultivable Lactobacillus counts and decreased Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens counts (P < 0.05), whereas Salmonella counts remained unchanged (P > 0.05). Jejunal villus height, crypt depth, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and villus surface area increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas villus width was unaffected (P > 0.05). In conclusion, electrically ionized drinking water improved broiler performance and was associated with enhanced nutrient utilization, a shift in selected intestinal bacterial populations toward a more favorable profile, and improved jejunal architecture, suggesting that it may be a promising water-management intervention in broiler production.
This study focused on effects of in ovo administration of zinc sulfate and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on small intestine histological measurements, yolk sac and cecal bacterial counts, growth performance and immunity of broiler chicks (Arbor Acres strain). A total of five hundred and forty-six fertile eggs (average weight 63.97 g ) were randomly distributed into 7 groups, in three replicates, The 1st group as control, while the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups administered with 25, 50 and 75 μg/egg zinc sulfate dissolved in 100 µl deionized water respectively whereas 5th, 6th and 7th groups administered with 25, 50 and 75 μg/egg ZnO-NPs, dissolved in 100 µl deionized water respectively on the 9th day of incubation. The results as follows: The highest values of duodenum villus height and villus surface area were of chicks of 25 µg/egg ZnO-NPs in ovo administration compared to the control. The highest values of jejunum villus height and width, villus height / crypt depth ratio and villus surface area were of chicks of 75 µg/egg zinc sulfate, 25 µg/egg or 50 µg/egg ZnO-NPs injected groups compared to the control. The higher results of ileum villus height, and villus surface area were of 50 µg/egg ZnO-NPs injected group. In ovo administration of ZnO-NPs resulted in significantly greater reductions in cecal and yolk sac microbial populations compared to control and zinc sulfate. The highest values of body weight gain during the period from 0-5 weeks were of groups 75 µg/egg zinc sulfate and 25 µg/egg ZnO-NPs in ovo administration. The best feed conversion ratio were found of group 25µg/egg ZnO-NPs in ovo administration during the period from 0-3 weeks of age. It is recommended to inject broiler hatching eggs with a dose of 75 μg/egg zinc sulfate or 25 μg/egg ZnO-NPs as both treatments demonstrated significant improvements in histological and microbiological parameters, in addition to enhancing the chicks' growth performance.
This study evaluated the effects of manual handling on productive performance and hematological parameters in doe rabbits during the first six days post-mating. A total of 140 multiparous New Zealand White does were randomly assigned to seven experimental groups: six treatment groups according to the day of manual handling after mating (days 1–6) and one untreated control group. Reproductive and productive parameters were assessed, including doe body weight, conception rate, gestation period, litter size, litter weight at birth and weaning, mortality from birth to weaning, and average daily milk yield. In addition, blood samples were collected to determine selected hematological parameters. The results showed that the timing of manual handling significantly (P<0.05) affected productive performance. Delayed handling on the fifth and sixth days post-insemination was associated with higher body weight, litter size and litter weight, as well as lower mortality rates and higher daily milk production, compared with earlier post-insemination handling, particularly on days 1 and 2. Moreover, no significant differences were detected between the control group and the groups subjected to manual handling on days 5 and 6 post-insemination for any of the studied traits. Hematological analysis showed minor changes in red blood cell count, white blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and erythrocyte indices, with no significant differences among the handling-day groups. However, lymphocyte percentage increased (P<0.05), whereas eosinophil percentage decreased (P<0.05), indicating a mild immunological response to handling. In conclusion, the timing of manual handling after mating significantly affected the productive performance of multiparous doe rabbits. Careful and gentle handling during the early post-mating period is recommended to improve reproductive and productive efficiency. Handling timing affected several reproductive and productive traits, including gestation length, litter size, litter weight, offspring mortality, and milk yield, but did not affect conception rate.
