This study examined how selenium-supplemented diets affected the performance of naked neck chickens. The birds were fed both organic and inorganic selenium at 0.30 ppm, while the control diet did not include any additional selenium. A total of 225 one-day-old naked neck chicks were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups, each of which was replicated 5 times (replicates) and contained 15 birds. This was done using a completely randomized design. The data was collected after growth, meat quality, and blood profile parameters were assessed. The findings showed that the birds fed inorganic selenium in the diet displayed increased (P < 0.05) feed intake followed by those administered organic selenium and the control diet. On the other hand, birds fed organic selenium in the diet showed enhanced body weight gain and better feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Similarly, organic selenium supplementation increased (P < 0.05) breast and thigh weight compared to inorganic selenium, but no other metrics, such as dressing percentage, drumstick weight, liver weight, gizzard weight, heart weight, or wing weight, significantly differed between treatments (P > 0.05). When compared to birds fed inorganic Se and control diet, the birds fed organic Se had greater (P < 0.05) blood levels of total protein and globulin. Additionally, it was discovered that organic Se-fed birds had greater (P < 0.05) blood Se concentrations than control and inorganic Se-fed birds. However, no differences between treatments were found in albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, or uric acid (P > 0.05). In conclusion, adding Se-enriched yeast, as an organic selenium source, to diets may enhance the poor growth and slaughter characteristics of naked neck chicks without negatively affecting blood chemistry.

Objective: Due to current selection practices for increased egg production and peak persistency, the production profile, age at maturity, and body weight criteria for commercial layers are constantly changing. Body weight and age at the time of photostimulation will thus always be the factors that need to be adequately addressed among various production systems. The current study was carried out to determine the effects of pullets' body weight (low, medium, and heavy) on their performance, welfare, physiological response, and hormonal profile.Methods: With regard to live weight, 150 16-week-old pullets were divided into three groups using a completely randomized design (CRD) and held until the 50th week. One-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the data under the CRD, and the least significant difference test was used to distinguish between treatment means.Results: In comparison to the medium and light birds, the heavy birds had higher body weight at maturity, an earlier age at maturity, and higher egg weight, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness, egg yolk index, breaking strength, egg surface area, egg shape index, egg volume, and hormonal profile except corticosterone. However, the medium and light birds had lower feed consumption rates per dozen eggs and per kilogram of egg mass than the heavy birds. Light birds showed greater body weight gain, egg production, and egg specific gravity than the other categories. At 20 weeks of age, physiological response, welfare aspects, and catalase were non-significant; however, at 50 weeks of age, all these factors—aside from catalase—were extremely significant.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that layers can function at lower body weights during photostimulation; hence, dietary regimens that result in lighter pullets may be preferable. Additionally, the welfare of the birds was not compromised by the lighter weight group.

Reproductive efficiency is a cornerstone of success in poultry production, particularly in species such as the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), which are valued for their high productivity and adaptability. Semen extenders have been evaluated for their efficacy in preserving sperm quality and improving reproductive outcomes. This study assessed the effects of different semen extenders on the reproductive performance of Japanese quail, focusing on key parameters such as fertility, hatchability, and semen quality. Over a period of twenty-eight days, a total of 300 adult female breeder quails (5 to 6 weeks of age) with an average weight of 200 ± 8 g were divided into four experimental groups, under a completely randomized design. The treatment groups included T₁ (proctodeal gland foam), T₂ (quail egg albumen), T₃ (Shit’s extenders), and T₄ (control group with undiluted semen). Each group comprised five replicates with 15 birds per replicate. Additionally, 75 male breeder quails with an average weight of 170 ± 7 g were housed separately for semen collection and analysis. The results showed that birds in the T₁ group, treated with proctodeal gland foam as a semen extender, exhibited the highest fertility and hatchability rates. This group also displayed improved semen quality, with increased sperm motility and a higher percentage of live sperm count. These findings suggest that proctodeal gland foam is an effective semen extender for enhancing reproductive outcomes in Japanese quails.

The goal of the current study was to determine how selenium-supplemented diets affected the growth performance, carcass traits, and blood biochemistry of Rhode Island Red (RIR) chickens. Organic and inorganic selenium (SE) was fed to the birds at 0.30ppm, whereas the control diet was not supplemented with selenium in either organic or inorganic form. A total of 225 day-old RIR chicks were indiscriminately distributed in three groups according to the experimental diets, in a completely randomized design. Each treatment group was repeated 5 times (replicates), and each replicate had 15 birds. Parameters of growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood biochemistry were assessed. Birds fed an inorganic selenium-supplemented diet had higher feed intake than those fed an organic selenium-supplemented diet or the control diet, whereas birds fed an organic selenium-supplemented diet had higher body weight gains and better feed conversion ratios. Birds fed organic SE in the diet showed higher breast and thigh weight than those receiving inorganic Se, whereas dressing percentage, drumstick yield, and weights of liver, gizzard, heart, and wing were not significantly different across treatments. The organic Se group showed higher values for total protein and globulin in the blood relative to those fed inorganic Se and the control diet. Similarly, organic Se fed birds showed higher blood Se concentration than the other two groups. However, no significant differences in albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid were observed among the diets. These results lead to the conclusion that organic Se may be utilized in diets to improve the poor performance of RIR chicken.