The objective of this study was to evaluate the Glycyrrhiza glabra effect on growth performance, blood parameters, antioxidant and lysosomal activity, histology and immunohistochemistry of liver and intestine, and the gene expression profile of broiler chickens. A total of 180 Cobb500 broiler chicks (one-week-old) were used in this study. Chicks were distributed randomly into three treatment groups; the first group received drinking water without any supplementation (control group). In contrast, birds in groups 2 and 3 received licorice supplementation in drinking water with 0.4 and 0.8 g licorice/liter, respectively. Results revealed that licorice at a 0.4 g/L of water level improved body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and FCR. Licorice also exhibits a broad range of biological activities such as hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, immunostimulant, and antioxidant effects. The morphometric analysis of different parameters of the intestine revealed a significant increase in the intestinal villi length, width, and villi length/crypt depth in the group supplemented with licorice 0.4 gm/L compared to other groups. The number of CD3 positive in both duodenum and ileum was increased in the licorice 0.4 gm/L group compared to other groups. The expression of growth-related genes was significantly increased with licorice supplementation and modulation of the lipid metabolism genes in the liver and upregulated to the mRNA expression of both superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and Catalase (CAT). Our results revealed that licorice supplementation increased the growth performance of broiler chickens and impacted the birds’ antioxidant activity through modulation of the growth-related genes, lipid metabolic markers, and antioxidant-related pathways.

Background: The rising popularity of eggs as an alternative source of protein to meat has led to significant increase in egg consumption over the past decade. To meet the increasing demand for eggs, poultry farmers have used antibiotics to treat infections and, to some extent, promote growth and egg production in raising layer. However, the emergence and global spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria has now necessitated antibiotic-free poultry farming. As alternatives to antibiotics, prebiotics are feed additives that can be used to improve the growth and laying performance of poultry which positively impacts their performance and general health. In this study we evaluated the effect of lactulose, formulated as Vetelact, on body weight, egg production, egg quality, blood biochemical parameters and expression of genes associated with reproductive performance in laying hens. Results: Vetelact supplementation improved egg weight, egg production as well as egg quality. Following Vetalact supplementation, the levels of total bilirubin, total protein, globulin and phosphorus were increased, while the activities of alkaline phosphatase and lipase enzymes were increased compared to control. Vetelact at 0.10 ml/kg body weight upregulated OCX-36, OVAL, CALB1, OC-116, OCX-32 and IL8 transcripts while downregulating the transcription of Gal-10, PENK and AvBD9. At this optimal inclusion rate of Vetalect, histomorphologic analyses of intestinal tissue showed increased villi length with more goblet cell distribution and obvious mucus covering a surface, increase in the depth of intestinal crypts produce digestive enzymes, as well as more developed muscle layer that promote improved nutrient absorption. Conclusion: Vetelact at a dose of 0.10 ml/ kg body weight was effective in improving productive performance of laying hens. Adding lactulose (0.10 ml/ kg body weight) to layer diet is recommended to promote growth and improve egg laying performance in antibiotics-free poultry production.

Introduction The major goal of poultry production worldwide is to maximise the mass of chicken produced per square meter of space while decreasing overcrowding-related production losses to reach an acceptable benefit (Petek et al., 2010). Stocking

We investigated the effects of a source of selenium [inorganic or nano-selenium (nano-Se)] on female V-line rabbits with or without injection of ivermectin (IVM). Eighty four rabbits (12 weeks old) were randomly divided into 4 groups of 21 rabbits each with the basal diet supplemented as per the following treatments: G1 (control): inorganic Se at 0.3 mg/kg diet with no IVM injection; G2: inorganic Se with IVM injection; G3: nano-Se with no IVM injection; and G4: nano-Se with IVM injection. IVM was injected subcutaneously at 0.2 mg/kg body weight starting when the does were 14 weeks old and repeated weekly for five consecutive weeks. Replacement of inorganic Se with nano-Se improved body weight and total body weight gain, total feed intake, average feed conversion ratio, and reproductive performance (age at puberty, number of service/conception, conception rate, number of kits/litter, and litter weight at birth). Similarly, sexual activity of does, serum estrogen levels, and serum levels of antioxidants (glutathione reduced, catalase, and malondialdehyde) increased in nano-Se-supplemented groups. Ivermectin treatment in inorganic Se-supplemented groups was detrimental to growth and reproductive performance, while these parameters improved in IVM-treated and nano-Se-supplemented groups. Nano-Se mitigated the negative effects of IVM treatment on the growth and reproductive performance of does.

Backyard poultry flocks that employ heritage breeds of chicken play a crucial role in the maintenance of poultry pathogens of economic and zoonotic importance. This study examined innate immunity to viral pathogens in heritage chicken breeds using a model of viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Following intraperitoneal injection of high molecular weight (HMW) -poly(I:C)/Lyovec into 4-wk-old chicks, we evaluated gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and splenocytes. There was a significant difference across breeds in the expression of IL-4, IL-12p40, IFNγ, and B-cell activating factor (BAFF) in the spleen. In PBMCs, a significant difference in IFN-α expression was seen across breeds. Approximately 57% of IFN-α transcripts in PBMCs was explained by levels of expression of MDA5 transcripts. Using flow cytometry, we showed that only monocytes/macrophages (KUL01+ cells) expressed the scavenger receptor CD163. Regression analysis showed that 42% of fold change in CD163 expression on PBMCs was explained by breed (P < 0.0004). In general, breeds that responded to HMW-poly(I:C) by showing higher upregulation of IFNγ, IL-1β, and IL-12p40 transcripts in the spleen, and higher IFNα transcripts in peripheral blood, expressed less CD163 on blood monocytes. These findings suggest a genetic basis for the response of chickens to double-stranded RNA. Surface expression of the scavenger receptor CD163 in PBMCs following injection of high molecular weight poly(I:C) may be a rapid method to select chickens for breeding based on innate immune response to viral dsRNA.

| Garlic oil is a strong natural disinfectant. Previous studies documented the effectiveness of pre-incubation application of garlic oil on hatching efficiency. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of spraying garlic oil solution before incubation and for the first 10 days of incubation on hatching performance of fertile Japanese quail eggs including; weight loss, hatchability, embryonic mortalities and hatch weight. A total of 2100 Japanese quail eggs were divided into three treatments (Each treatment represented with four replicates). T1 (control group); non-treated group, T2 group sprayed with distilled water and T3 group that sprayed with garlic oil solution (2%). The results showed that T3 group had the lowest egg weight loss percentage during different incubation stages as well as less early, intermediate and late mortalities. Furthermore, hatchability percentages of T3 remarkably exceeded than T1 and T2. Significant differences were observed for hatch weight among treatments (P<0.05) where, T3 group had the heaviest chick weight. We concluded that spraying garlic oil solution 2% as pre-incubation disinfectant and during first 10 days of eggs incubation could improve the hatchability, embryonic development and hatch weight of Japanese quail.