In order to investigate the effects of using different levels of either raw or processed amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus chlorostachys) grain on performance productivity, egg physicochemical properties, blood biochemistry and egg fatty acids, a trial was conducted using 168 Hy-line W-36 laying hens (67 week of age) in a completely randomized design with seven treatments and six replications of four birds for eight weeks. The trial treatments included the control group receiving no amaranth and the test groups receiving 5, 10 and 15% of raw or autoclaved (120 °C for 5 min) amaranth grain based on dry matter. The results showed that the use of processed amaranth up to the level of five and ten percent of the diet compared to raw amaranth resulted in a better performance than the control group (p < 0.05). The consumption of amaranth decreased blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride of trial birds without having a negative effect on their health and blood antioxidant status (p < 0.05). The use of different forms of amaranth in diets of laying hens had no negative effects on the physicochemical properties of eggs and led to the production of eggs with reduced yolk cholesterol and triglyceride; however, the omega-6 content in eggs and the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the use of amaranth grain at low levels in the diet of laying hens can enhance the health of the bird and the production of quality and useful eggs.

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of two species of poultry (cockerel and Japanese quail), two levels of enzyme (0 and 0.5 g/kg) and five processing methods (untreated control [UT], soaking for 12 h [SO12h], 24 h [SO24h] and 48 h [SO48h], and fermentation with Lactobacillus (FL)] on apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn) of whole barley. In this experiment, each processing method was tested at two levels of enzyme (0 and 0.5 g/kg) in six replications, with two cockerel or four quails per replication. The results showed that the AMEn values by barley processing methods were as follows: UT – 2739 and 2695; SO12h – 2767 and 2701; SO24h – 2841 and 2728; SO48h – 2916 and 2811; FL – 3098 and 2,989 kcal/kg cockerels and quails, respectively. The AMEn of level of enzyme 0 (2,766 kcal/kg) was significantly lower than that of level of enzyme 0.5 (2,854 kcal/kg). The interaction among species, levels of enzyme and barley processing in AMEn was significant. There was a significant difference in the AMEn of processed barley between cockerels and quails. Practical Applications In the present study, the results suggested that the most effective processing method of barley to obtain high level of AMEn values is fermentation with Lactobacillus, and the use of both enzyme and processing methods can improve the AMEn values compared with processing method alone. We also need to consider species differences when AME and AMEn of feed ingredients are evaluated in poultry.

As broiler breeder hens age, they often experience a decline in bone mineralization and calcium absorption, especially during the later stages of egg production. This issue not only affects the hens’ health, making them more prone to conditions like osteoporosis, but it also impacts the quality of their offspring. To tackle this problem, our study explores whether supplementing these hens with a combination of vitamins D₃ and C could help improve their bone health and overall biochemical balance, both for them and their progeny. The goal of this research was to evaluate the effects of high doses of vitamin D₃, with and without added vitamin C, on bone mineralization and key blood parameters in aging broiler breeder hens and their offspring. In this experiment, 240 hens and 24 roosters from the Ross 308 strain, aged between 49 and 61 weeks, were used, and a two-way ANOVA (2 × 2) design was applied. This involved two levels of vitamin D₃ (3,500 IU and 5,500 IU) and two levels of vitamin C (0 and 150 mg/kg), with six replications of 10 hens and one rooster per group. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected from hens and their offspring for biochemical analysis, and tibia bones were taken for ash content and mineralization assessment. The findings showed that vitamin D₃ supplementation significantly lowered blood cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (P < 0.05), while boosting calcium, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D₃), and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)₂D₃) (P < 0.05). Higher doses of vitamin D₃ also improved the strength, resistance, and ash content of the hens’ tibia bones, and increased calcium in the carcasses of their offspring. Adding 150 mg/kg of vitamin C to the diet also had a positive effect, reducing cholesterol, ALP, and PTH, while enhancing plasma calcium, total antioxidant capacity, and the active form of vitamin D₃ (P < 0.05). Vitamin C supplementation significantly strengthened the tibial bones of the hens and improved plasma calcium and PTH levels in their offspring (P < 0.05). Interestingly, combining elevated doses of both vitamins D₃ and C resulted in even greater improvements in tibial bone strength (P < 0.05). In conclusion, giving hens 150 mg of vitamin C along with 5,500 IU of vitamin D₃ leads to substantial improvements in the calcium content and structural integrity of their bones, and also boosts calcium and ash content in the carcasses of their offspring.

This study aimed to investigate the interactions between corn particle size (PS) and conditioning temperature (CT) on the performance, carcass traits, intestinal morphology, and immune responses in broilers fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet. A total of 360 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into six dietary treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of two corn PS (finely ground with geometric mean diameter (GMD) of 357 µm (PS_F) vs. coarsely ground corn with GMD of 737 µm (PS_C), and three CT [unconditioned (CT_U), conditioned at 75 °C (CT₇₅) and 90 °C (CT₉₀)]. Birds were accommodated in 30 pens with five replicates and 12 chicks per each pen. There was no interaction between corn PS and CT on the growth performance and immune response of broilers at any growth phases. However, during the starter (0–10 days) period, the average daily weight gain (ADWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of PS_F-fed birds were significantly improved compared to those fed PS_C (p < 0.05). During the starter (0–10 days) and grower (11–24 days) periods, increasing the conditioning temperature of corn increased the ADWG, while in the starter phase only the CT₇₅ caused a lower FCR (p < 0.05). Broilers fed PS_F corn showed the lowest FCR during the finisher (25–42 days) period compared to those fed PS_C (p < 0.05). Conditioning corn at 75 °C reduced FCR during the finisher (25–42 days) period compared to the birds fed CT_U and CT₉₀ corn (p < 0.05). In whole experimental periods (1–42 days), PS_F and CT₇₅ treatment increased the ADWG compared to the PS_C and CT_U (p < 0.05). The CT₇₅ treatment improved primary total anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBCs) titer (IgT) and IgM and secondary IgT and IgG responses compared to the other experimental groups (CT_U and CT₉₀) (p < 0.05). No significant PS × CT interaction was found on the Newcastle disease (ND) antibody titer of broiler chickens (p > 0.05). Feeding CT₇₅ corn reduced duodenum and jejunum relative lengths compared to the birds fed diets containing CT_U corn. Significant PS × CT interactions (p < 0.05) were observed for villus height, villus height to crypt depth, crypt depth, muscle thickness, and absorption surface area of the jejunum. The highest carcass yield was observed in the PS_F-CT₇₅ group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the use of finely ground corn (PSF) conditioned at 75 °C (CT75) was beneficial to growth performance, development of the digestive tract, jejunum histomorphometry and the immune responses of broilers.

This study aimed to investigate the interactions between corn particle size (PS) and conditioning temperature (CT) on the performance, carcass traits, intestinal morphology, and immune responses in broilers fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet. A total of 360, one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into six dietary treatments in a 2×3 factorial arrangement, consisting of two corn PS (finely ground with geometric mean diameter (GMD) of 357 µm (PSF) vs. coarsely ground corn with GMD of 737 µm (PSC), and three CT [unconditioned (CTU), conditioned at 75◦C (CT75) and 90◦C (CT90)]. Birds accommodated in 30 pens with five replicates and 12 chicks per each. There was no interaction between corn PS and CT on growth performance and immune response of broilers at any growth phases. However, during the starter (0-10d) period, the average daily weight gain (ADWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of PSF-fed birds were significantly improved compared to those fed PSC (P<0.05). During the starter (0-10d) and grower (11-24d) periods, increasing the conditioning temperature of corn increased the ADWG, while in the starter phase only the CT75 caused a lower FCR (P<0.05). Broilers fed PSF corn showed lowest FCR during the finisher (25-42d) period compared to those fed PSC (P<0.05). Conditioning corn at 75ºC reduced FCR during the finisher (25-42d) period compared to the birds fed CTU and CT90 corn (P<0.05). In whole experimental periods (1-42d), PSF and CT75 treatment increased the ADWG compared to the PSC and CTU (P<0.05). The CT75 treatment improved primary total anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBCs) titer (IgT) and IgM and secondary IgT and IgG responses compared to the other experimental groups (CTU and CT90) (P0.05). Feeding CT75 corn reduced duodenum and jejunum relative length compared to the birds fed diets containing CTU corn. Significant PS×CT interactions (P<0.05) were observed for villus height, villus height to crypt depth, crypt depth, muscle thickness, and absorption surface area of jejunum. The highest carcass yield observed in PSF-CT75-group (P<0.05). In conclusion, the use of finely ground corn (PSF) conditioned at 75℃ (CT75) was beneficial to growth performance, development of the digestive tract, jejunum histomorphometry and the immune responses of broilers.