This study evaluated the effect of linseed incorporation in laying hens’ feed (alone or along with a tomato-red pepper mix) on laying hens’ egg yolk fatty acids profile, as well as on their atherogenic (IA) and thrombogenic (IT) health lipid indexes, and the ratio between the hypocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (HH). Sixty 27 weeks-old Novogen White laying hens were divided into three groups and given 100 g/hen/day of a standard diet (Control, C) containing 4.5% of ground linseed (Linseed diet, L), containing 1% of dried tomato paste and 1% sweet red pepper (Lineseeds-Tomato-Pepper, LTP). The linseed dietary inclusion significantly reduced the egg yolk content of palmitic acid from 25.41% (C) to 23.43% (L) and that of stearic acid from 14.75% (C) to 12.52% (L). Feeding 4.5% ground linseed did not affect the egg yolk content of α-Linolenic acid but significantly increased the egg yolk concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from 0.011% (C) to 0.047% (L) and that of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from 1.94% (C) to 2.73% (L). The IA and the HH were not affected (p > 0.05) by the dietary addition of linseed, whereas the IT decreased (p < 0.05) from 1.16 (C) to 0.86 (L). Adding tomato-sweet red pepper mix to the linseed-supplemented feed did not affect the measured parameters as compared to the linseed dietary treatment.

L-carnitine as well as lysine and methionine are amino acids of important nutritional and nutraceutical interest and are used in nutritional strategies as dietary supplements to improve feed quality characteristics in animals and broiler chicken in particular. This study investigated the effect of different levels of L-carnitine and extra levels of lysine-methionine on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and some immune system markers. Two hundred seventy male Ross 308 broilers were a fed control diet (C) and eight different diets supplemented with an excess of amino acids. In the experimental diets, identified as D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, and D8, extra L-carnitine, lysine, and methionine were added in excess with respect to the American National Research Council (NRC) recommendations: L-carnitine equal to NRC (D1), control diet supplemented with lysine at 30% in excess of NRC, methionine at 30% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine equal to NRC (D2), control diet supplemented with lysine equal to NRC, methionine equal to NRC, and L-carnitine at 15% in excess of NRC (D3), control diet supplemented control diet supplemented with lysine at 15% in excess of NRC, methionine at 15% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 15% in excess of NRC (D4), control diet supplemented lysine at 30% in excess of NRC, methionine at 30% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 15% in excess of NRC (D5), control diet supplemented with lysine equal to NRC recommendations, methionine equal to NRC recommendations, and L-carnitine at 75% in excess of NRC (D6), control diet supplemented with lysine at 15% in excess of NRC, methionine at 15% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 75% in excess of NRC (D7), and control diet supplemented with lysine at 30% in excess of NRC, methionine at 30% in excess of NRC, and L-carnitine at 75% in excess of NRC (D8). During the starter and growth phases, feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment (p > 0.05). By contrast, body weight and FCR were both affected (p < 0.001) during the starter period. During the finisher phase, feed consumption was affected (p < 0.05) by dietary treatment. Feed intake of broilers fed on C, D3, D6, and D7 were statistically similar (p > 0.05) (1851.90, 1862.00, 1945.10, and 1872.80 g/pen/day, respectively) and were higher (p < 0.05) than 1564.40 g/pen/day (D5). With the exception of drumsticks, neck, back thoracic vertebrae, and proventriculus weights, the economical carcass segments were not affected (p > 0.05) by the dietary supplementation of amino acids. Duodenum and ileum weights and lengths decreased with amino acid supplementation (p < 0.05). IgT and IgG titers against Sheep Red Blood Cells (SRBC) for both primary and secondary responses were not affected by dietary treatments (p > 0.05). Dietary amino acids supplementation did not affect IgM titer after the secondary challenge (p > 0.05) and had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on serum antibody titers in broilers vaccinated against Newcastle disease (NCD) and Gumboro ‘s disease at the 27th and 30th days, respectively.

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper

This study aimed at improving the egg quality through cholesterol reduction and enrichment with natural pigments, which could prevent lipids oxidation. Eighty 27 week-old Novogen White laying hens were divided into four groups and given 100 g/hen/d of a standard diet (Control, C), standard diet containing 4.5% ground linseed (Linseed diet, L), linseed diet containing 1% dried tomato and 1% sweet pepper (LTP) or linseed diet containing 2% ground fenugreek (LF). LTP and LF were associated with higher feed consumption (P0.05) by dietary treatment. LF was associated with lower (P0.05). Egg yolks carotenoids concentrations in yolks from hens on L and LTP diets were not different (P>0.05) and both were higher (P<0.05) than those from hens on C and LF. Total phenols concentrations in yolks from hens fed LF were higher (P0.05) and both were higher (P0.05) by dietary treatment. Egg yolks antioxidant activity of the C groups was lower (P0.05). There was a significant enrichment of eggs with carotenoids and an enhancement of their antioxidant status in response to linseed supplementation. There was no beneficial effect of further supplementation with sweet red pepper and dried tomato or fenugreek seed. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the impact of these supplements on fatty acids profile and lipid oxidation status of eggs after their storage.

Background: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a medicinal plant known for its various pharmacological properties, including its antibacterial activity. The purpose of this study was to assess the extraction procedure effect on yield, phytochemical profile and antibacterial activity of fenugreek seed crude extracts. Methods: The extraction procedure of components from fenugreek seed possessing an antibacterial potential was first optimized. Extracts at the highest yield were analyzed for phytocomponents and their bacterial growth inhibitory effect was assessed by determining the diameter of the inhibition zone (IZ) and the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC). Result: Optimum conditions for highest yield of extract (270,78 mg/g) are as follows: solvent (water), substrate-solvent ratio (1:10), and extraction time (72 hours). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of the major compounds known to have an antibacterial activity such as tannins and flavonoids in the aqueous and methanol extracts. The methanol extract was associated with an IZ diameter ranging from 8.46 +/- 2.25 mm up to 27.65 +/- 1.32 mm and displayed the lowest MIC (1.25 mg/ml). Our findings indicate that fenugreek seed extracted with methanol showed the best antibacterial effect against the targeted bacterial strain.