The effects of raw (GP) and fermented grape pomace (FGP) on the growth performance, some carcass parameters, antioxidant status, intestinal morphology, and selected bacterial species in broiler chicken were investigated in this study. Grape pomace was fermented with Aspergillus niger for 7 d. In total, 140 one-day-old male chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, with five replicates and seven birds each. Chickens were fed either a basal diet (CON) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.25 g/kg synthetic antioxidants (5% butylated hydroxytoluene, 1% butylated hydroxyanisole, and 11% ethoxyquin) (AO), or 15 g/kg GP (GP), or 15 g/kg FGP (FGP) for 42 d. Dietary GP raised serum glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.031) and superoxide dismutase (p = 0.021) levels, increased ileum lamina muscularis thickness (p = 0.016), and did not affect selected bacterial species in the cecum of broiler chickens. Dietary FGP improved body weight (p = 0.003), increased the serum catalase level (p = 0.032), and decreased the cecal Clostridium perfringens count (p = 0.033) but did not affect the ileal morphology of broiler chickens. The carcass parameters, malondialdehyde level, pH, and color of the breast meat of chickens were not changed by either GP or FGP supplementation. Chickens fed with the synthetic antioxidants had similar growth performance with the chickens fed with FGP but had better body weight (p = 0.003) and feed conversion ratio (p = 0.045) compared with the chickens fed with GP. The obtained results showed that FGP can be used as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants in broiler diets.

Grape seed (GS) is a by-product of the fruit juice and wine industry with the potential to be an alternative to synthetic antioxidants due to its antioxidant activity. Agro-industrial residues can be converted to more effective products by solid-state fermentation. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of GS and fermented grape seed (FGS) on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and cecal microflora in broiler chickens. A total of 128 female broilers were randomly allocated into four treatment groups, each consisting of four replicates of eight birds. Throughout the 42-day feeding period, the birds were fed with soybean-corn based diet (CON), 0.15 g/kg synthetic antioxidant (butylated hydroxyanisole) supplemented diet (AO), 5 g/kg GS supplemented diet (GS), and 5 g/kg FGS supplemented diet (FGS). Dietary GS, FGS, and AO supplementation increased the BW (P < 0.05) and average daily weight gain (ADG, P < 0.05) compared with the CON group in the overall period of 42 days. Dietary FGS also increased the ADG (P < 0.05) in the period of 22-42 days compared with the control group. The pH of the breast meat of the chickens fed GS was higher (P < 0.01) than CON and FGS groups. Dietary FGS and AO decreased the b* value (P < 0.01) of breast meat compared with the CON group. Grape seed had the highest serum glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05) and catalase (CAT, P < 0.01) levels among the treatment groups. The FGS also increased serum CAT level (P < 0.01) compared with the AO group. Moreover, dietary FGS supplementation increased Lactobacillus spp. (P < 0.05) in the cecum compared with the other treatment groups and decreased Staphylococcus aureus (P < 0.05) compared with the CON and AO groups. The present findings indicate that GS and FGS can be used in broiler diets as alternatives to synthetic antioxidants.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary raw sour cherry kernel (RC) or fermented sour cherry kernel (FC) on apparent digestibil

Sour cherry kernels are waste products of the fruit juice industry. Solid-state fermentation has great potential for recycling the agro-industrial re

Solid‐state fermentation is a useful method for the utilization of the agri‐industrial residues. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of tomato pomace (TP) and Aspergillus niger‐fermented tomato pomace (FTP) on the growth performance, some carcass traits, antioxidant status, and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens. A total of 140 Ross 308 one‐day‐old male chicks were allocated to one of four treatment groups consisting of five replicates of seven chicks each. Chicks were fed ad libitum with the corn‐soybean based basal diet (control), the basal diet supplemented with 0.25 g/kg synthetic antioxidant, 10 g/kg TP or 10 g/kg FTP for 42 days. Dietary TP increased serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) but did not affect the growth performance. Dietary inclusion of FTP improved the feed conversion ratio and raised serum GPx and SOD. Carcass traits, malondialdehyde level, pH, and color of breast meat and cecal microflora were not affected by dietary treatments. The results of the study showed that TP can be used as a natural antioxidant in broiler diets without a detrimental effect on growth performance. Dietary FTP can be suggested as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants with beneficial effects on growth performance and antioxidant capacity.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of raw (PP) and fermented pomegranate pomace (FP) on performance, antioxidant activity, caecal microbiota and ileal morphology in broiler chickens. A total of 175 male broiler chicks were allocated to five treatment groups with five replicates and seven birds per replicate in a completely randomised design. Dietary treatments included a soy-corn based diet (control), diets supplemented with PP at 5 (5PP) and 10 g/kg (10PP), and diets supplemented with FP at 5 (5FP) and 10 g/kg (10FP). Dietary PP and FP did not change the body weight and feed conversion ratio. Moreover, dietary PP and FP did not alter the serum glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels but decreased malondialdehyde (p < 0.05) in breast meat. Caecal Clostridium perfringens count was decreased in broiler chickens of groups 10PP, 5FP and 10FP (p < 0.05). However, PP and FP had detrimental effects on the ileum morphology of broiler chicks. The villus height was decreased in the 10PP, 5FP and 10FP groups compared with the control group (p < 0.01). Crypt depth was higher in the 5PP and 10FP groups than control and 10PP groups (p < 0.01). The villus height to crypt depth ratio was also decreased in 5PP, 5FP, and 10FP groups (p < 0.01). These results suggest that PP and FP have the potential to be used in broiler diets as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. However, detailed studies should be conducted to investigate the underlying reasons for the detrimental effects on ileal morphology.