Background and Aim: Soybean meal (SBM) is the primary protein source in broiler diets; however, its high cost and import dependency necessitate alternative protein sources. Sunflower meal (SFM) is a viable alternative but contains high fiber and non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), which can impair nutrient utilization. This study evaluated the effects of partially replacing SBM with SFM, with or without NSP degrading enzymes (NSPase) enzyme supplementation, on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, digesta viscosity, and gut morphology in broilers. Materials and Methods: A total of 588 day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments following a 3 × 2 factorial design, with three levels of SBM replacement (0%, 10%, and 20% SFM) and two levels of NSPase supplementation (0 or 100 g/ton feed). Diets were formulated for the starter (1–10 days), grower (11–21 days), and finisher (22–35 days) phases. Growth performance (body weight gain [BWG], feed intake [FI], feed conversion ratio [FCR]), nutrient digestibility (dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and crude fiber [CF]), digesta viscosity, and gut morphology (villus height [VH], crypt depth [CD], villus width, and villus-to-crypt ratio) were assessed. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s test for mean comparisons (p < 0.05). Results: Replacing SBM with up to 20% SFM did not significantly impact BWG (p > 0.05), FI (p > 0.05), or FCR (p > 0.05). However, digesta viscosity increased significantly with higher SFM levels (p < 0.001), while NSPase supplementation reduced viscosity (p < 0.001). CF digestibility was lower with increasing SFM levels (p < 0.01) but improved with NSPase addition (p < 0.01). Gut morphology parameters, including VH and CD, were negatively affected by higher SFM inclusion but showed improvement with NSPase supplementation. Conclusion: SBM can be partially replaced with up to 20% SFM in broiler diets without compromising growth performance. However, increasing SFM levels can reduce CF digestibility and increase digesta viscosity. The addition of NSPase enzymes mitigates these adverse effects by enhancing fiber digestibility and reducing gut viscosity. These findings support the use of SFM as an economically viable protein alternative in broiler feed formulations, particularly in SBM-importing regions. Keywords: broiler nutrition, feed efficiency, gut morphology, non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes, nutrient digestibility, soybean meal replacement, sunflower meal.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, disrupts gut microbial homeostasis, compromises intestinal barrier integrity, and contributes to inflammation-associated bone loss. Although the gut-bone axis is increasingly recognized as a critical regulator of skeletal health, effective nutritional strategies targeting this pathway remain insufficiently explored. This study investigated the protective effects of Zn glycine, a highly bioavailable organic zinc chelates, against LPS-induced inflammatory bone loss in meat geese. Dietary supplementation with Zn glycine at 80 mg/kg significantly alleviated LPS-induced growth impairment, intestinal barrier dysfunction. Zn glycine markedly reduced LPS accumulation in both intestinal and bone tissues (p < 0.01) and enhanced tight junction integrity by upregulating zonula occludens-1 and claudin-1, thereby limiting systemic LPS translocation. These effects were accompanied by reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α), elevated anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and increased microbial production of short-chain fatty acids, collectively supporting gut and bone health. Additionally, Zn glycine mitigated LPS-induced oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and total antioxidant capacity while reducing oxidative damage markers. Importantly, Zn glycine preserved bone microarchitecture, increased (p < 0.01) bone mineral density (BMD), suppressed osteoclastic genes such as tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATC1), and promoted osteoblast activity through upregulation of runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteocalcin (OCN), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Mechanistically, these protective effects were mediated through inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Overall, Zn glycine emerges as a promising nutritional strategy for preventing inflammation-driven bone loss via modulation of the gut-bone axis.

This study aimed to assess the effects of different arginine (Arg) to lysine (Lys) ratios on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antibody titers of Newcastle disease (ND) and infectious bronchitis (IB) disease in broilers during 35 days of trial. For this purpose, a total of 816 day-old broiler birds having an average weight of 38 ± 3 g were divided into six dietary treatments in such a way that each treatment had eight replicates and each replicate had 17 birds. The treatments were 0.95 (1.19/1.25, 1.12/1.18, and 1.05/1.1), 1 (1.25/1.25, 1.18/1.18, and 1.1/1.1), 1.05 (1.31/1.25, 1.24/1.18, and 1.17/1.1), 1.10 (1.38/1.25, 1.30/1.18, and 1.23/1.1), 1.15 (1.44/1.25, 1.36/1.18, and 1.28/1.1), and 1.20 (1.50/1.25, 1.42/1.18, and 1.34/1.1) Arg/Lys divided into different amounts according to the nutritional needs of starter, grower, and finisher diets, respectively. The results showed that in the finisher phase, the FI was influenced cubically, while in the overall period, a quadratic effect was observed for the FI (p < 0.05). The results of BWG showed that BWG was linearly increased in birds given different Arg/Lys in the grower, finisher, and overall period (p < 0.05). The results also showed that during the grower, finisher, and overall phases, the body weight gain (BWG) was better in birds fed with 1.05 and 1.10 Arg/Lys (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) was shown in the starter and grower phases at 1.10 and 1.15 Arg/Lys (p < 0.05). The results of nutrient digestibility explored showed that the experimental treatments had a better effect (p < 0.05) on dry matter and crude fat digestibility in birds fed with 1.19/1.25, 1.12/1.18, and 1.05/1.1 and 1.25/1.25, 1.18/1.18, and 1.1/1.1 Arg/Lys in their diets while the crude protein digestibility remained unaffected with different treatments (p > 0.05). The treatments had no effect (p > 0.05) on relative organ weights, immune organs, and carcass characteristics. However, higher titers of ND and IBD were observed in birds fed with Arg/Lys of 1.38/1.25, 1.30/1.18, and 1.23/1.1 and 1.50/1.25, 1.42/1.18, and 1.34/1.1 in their diets (p < 0.05). Based on the results of the current study, it is concluded that the inclusion levels of 1.38/1.25, 1.30/1.18, and 1.23/1.1, and 1.44/1.25, 1.36/1.18, and 1.28/1.1 Arg/Lys resulted in better growth performance and immune response in the broiler birds, respectively. Therefore, adjusting the levels of Arg/Lys in feed is recommended to enhance broilers’ growth performance and immune response.

Raw potato fries are a type of potato by-product (PBP), and they have great potential as a partial replacement of grain in animal feeds to improve the environmental sustainability of food production. This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing corn with different levels of PBP (0%, 12.84%, 25.65%, and 38.44%) in the total mixed ration (TMR) of Angus bull. Sixty 16-month-old Angus bulls (548.5 ± 15.0 kg, mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to four treatments. The results indicated that with the increase in the substitution amount of PBP, the body weight decreased significantly. The dry matter apparent digestibility and starch apparent digestibility linearly decreased as PBP replacement increased. The feed ingredient composition in the TMR varied, leading to a corresponding change in the rumen microbiota, especially in cellulolytic bacteria and amylolytic bacteria. The abundance of Succiniclasticum in the 12.84% PBP and 38.44% PBP diets was significantly higher than that in the 0% PBP and 25.65% PBP diets. The abundance of Ruminococcus linearly increased. In conclusion, using PBP to replace corn for beef cattle had no negative impact on rumen fermentation, and the decrease in apparent digestibility explained the change in growth performance. Its application in practical production is highly cost-effective and a strategy to reduce food waste.

This study evaluated the effect of biochars on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass yield, bone mineralization, litter quality and footpad lesions in broilers. Eight hundred day-old chicks were randomly divided into four treatments, 10 replicates per treatment (20 birds/replicate) for 35 days. Treatments were basal diet (control), a control diet with corncob (CC) biochar (1%), a control diet with wheat straw (WS) biochar (1%) and a control diet with sugarcane bagasse (SCB) biochar (1%). Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly. Nutrient digestibility, bone mineralization and carcass parameters were determined on the 21st and 35th days, while footpad lesions and litter quality were also assessed. The results revealed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in FI, BWG and FCR with supplementation. Nutrient digestibility was higher (p < 0.05) in the SCB biochar group. Tibia calcium and phosphorus levels were enhanced (p < 0.05) in the WS and SCB biochar groups, respectively. Footpad lesions were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the CC biochar group, while litter quality was improved (p < 0.05) in the WS biochar group. Lymphoid organ relative weight results revealed that spleen weight was not affected by biochar supplementation in diet (p > 0.05), while dietary supplementation of CS and WS biochar in the diet resulted in the highest relative weights of thymus and bursa (p < 0.05). However, dietary supplementation of WS, SC and SCB biochar supplementation had affected positively the log value of the ND virus and IBV titers in birds. Overall, dietary supplementation of 1% biochars enhances growth performance, bone mineralization, footpad health immunity and litter quality in broilers.

Recent days, feed biotechnology is creating land mark differences among traditional and sustainable poultry formulations. Biotechnology is now enables us to incorporate useful additives in broilers ration like enzymes, probiotics and more absorbable mineral sources. Individual effect of each additive had been explored extensively but combined effect of chelated minerals, enzymes and probiotics was studied in this research for sustainable broiler production. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of Nutri biyo® (Nb) on different growth and physiological parameters in broilers. A total of 240 day-old chicks were randomly divided into 4 treatments having 6 replicates each (10 birds per replicate). The treatments were T0 (basal diet), T1 (basal diet + 0.5 g Nb), T2 (basal diet + 1 g Nb) and T3 (basal diet + 1.5 g Nb). During starter, finisher and overall duration, growth performance was improved in group receiving the highest inclusion of Nb. Furthermore, total tract nutrient digestibility, immune organ index and meat quality (springiness, chewiness, adhesiveness, compression, shear force and hardness values, ) were observed significant (p < 0.05) in birds fed with 1.5 g of Nb as compared to control group on both 21st and 35th day. Antibody titers, carcass characteristics (carcass, thigh, heart, gizzard, back and proventriculus percentages), ileal digestibility (crude protein, dry matter, and ether extract) and bone measurements (tibia length, weight, wall thickness, and structural indicators) were improved (p < 0.05) by T3 group. Hematological parameters such as hemoglobin, packed cell volume, lymphocyte and red blood cell counts revealed significant increases in birds fed 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg. Other hematological parameters, crude fiber (ileal) digestibility, breast, liver, wings and pancreas weights remained unchanged. These findings suggest Nutri Biyo^® at 1.5 g dose level as an effective feed additive for improving overall broiler performance.