ABSTRACT This study aimed to estimate the nutritional requirements for calcium (Ca) and available phosphorus (Pd) for Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during the growth phases, as well as to evaluate the residual effect of the rearing phase during laying. An entirely randomized design was used in a factorial scheme with 4 levels of Ca (0.57; 0.81; 1.05; and 1.29%) × 4 levels of Pd (0.21; 0.32; 0.43; and 0.54%), totaling 16 treatments with 3 repetitions, with 38 and 35 quails per experimental unit in the rearing (n=1824) and growing (n=1680) phases, respectively. The data were analyzed using polynomial regression for the levels of Ca and Pd to estimate the best-fit model, and the nutritional requirements were determined through the application of overlapping contour plots. Considering the estimates obtained for the performance variables (p<0.05), the levels of 0.92% Ca and 0.37% Pd were estimated for the rearing phase (1 to 14 days), and 0.94% Ca and 0.39% Pd for the growing phase (15 to 42 days). A third experiment was conducted using the same design (n=576), whereby birds received conventional feed to evaluate the residual effect; the best results reinforce the levels estimated during the growth of the birds.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess and compare leukocyte and biochemical parameters in Deshi (local), Sonali crossbred, and broiler chickens. 90 chickens were included in the experiment, with 30 each from the commercial broiler, Deshi, and Sonali (RIR cock × Fayoumi hen) groups. Blood samples were collected to measure total leukocyte counts (TLC) and differential leukocyte counts (DLC). The serum biochemical parameters assessed were triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), serum total protein, glucose, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), uric acid, and creatinine. Deshi chickens exhibited significantly higher TLC, characterized by elevated heterophil counts and lower lymphocyte counts (p<0.05). Both Deshi and Sonali chickens displayed a higher heterophil-to-lymphocyte (H/L) ratio than broilers. Broilers showed the highest serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-c levels, while Deshi chickens had the lowest. Deshi and Sonali chickens also had significantly higher serum total protein and albumin levels, with stable glucose concentrations. Liver function showed no significant differences among breeds. Additionally, Deshi and Sonali chickens demonstrated better kidney health. In conclusion, Deshi and Sonali chickens demonstrated a more favourable leukocyte and lipid profile, as well as better kidney health compared to broilers, highlighting their potential for healthy and productive poultry farming.

ABSTRACT Nowadays, there is an increasing demand for free software for broiler ration balancing, which is evident within relevant scientific and professional communities. While some available applications account for certain procurement costs, more affordable options usually come with limited functionality. Many users require customized solutions that meet their specific needs. Developing such projects requires collaboration between professionals in animal feed technology, animal science, and software development. Multidisciplinary projects could develop much faster if teams were not required to build solutions from scratch. The availability of open-source code, ready for modification and further development, could significantly enhance efficiency in these endeavors. The Web-Based Ration Balancing Tool (WBRB) is a server-side application designed to optimize the formulation of rations for chicken broilers. This tool streamlines the process of creating ration recipes, reducing the risk of errors associated with manual calculations or general spreadsheet-based solutions. With proper software integration, WBRB can even run offline. This free and open-source application is available to all interested users, and developers can modify the existing code to meet specific needs and requirements. WBRB is built using HTML and PHP, with MySQL as its relational database management system.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effect of probiotics on antimicrobial peptides and cytokines’ mRNA synthesis in the proventriculus and cecum of broiler chicks exposed to Campylobacter jejuni lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The chicks were divided into two groups: the probiotic-supplemented group, which received 0.4% probiotics in their feed for seven days, and the control group, which did not receive probiotics. On the seventh day, both groups were further divided and exposed to either no LPS (0-LPS) or 1 µg LPS (1-LPS) (n=6 per group). Five hours post-LPS administration, tissue samples from the proventriculi and ceca were collected, and the expression of avian beta defensins (AvBDs), cathelicidins (CATHs), and proinflammatory cytokines was assessed via real-time PCR. The expression of CATH, AvBD4 and AvBD6 in the proventriculus, and CATH1, CATH3, AvBD2, AvBD4, AvBD6 and AvBD7 in the cecum was downregulated in the probiotic group compared to the control group following 1-LPS exposure. Probiotic upregulated the levels of IL6 and TNFSF15 in the cecum, and IL6 in the proventriculus after exposure to 1-LPS. This study concluded that Campylobacter LPS either downregulated or had no significant effect on AvBDs and CATHs expressions in probiotic-fed chicks. In addition, the innate immune response in the form of AvBDs, CATHs and cytokines may be modulated according to the nature of the pathogen and the supplemented probiotics.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify key morphometric predictors of body weight in local ducks and assess their genetic diversity to inform breeding programs in southeastern Nigeria. A total of 200 ducks (100 from each of the states of Abia and Imo) were measured for 10 morphometric traits to evaluate their relationship with body weight. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed five distinct clusters within the duck population, with Cluster 1 showing the lowest and Cluster 5 the highest average body weights. Hierarchical clustering corroborated these groupings. Correlation analysis identified body circumference (BDC) as the most reliable predictor of body weight (r=0.76). Gender-specific trends were also observed: shank length (SHL) had a positive correlation with females (r=0.65), while neck length (NKL) was more strongly correlated with males (r=0.72). The strongest overall correlation was between body weight and body circumference, modelled by the equation BDW = 2401.41 + 122.04 × BDC (R²=0.84, r=0.91). For genetic diversity assessment, 40 blood samples (20 from each state) were collected from randomly selected, unrelated ducks. DNA was extracted, amplified using PCR, and sequenced, revealing two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): C→A and A→G substitutions. This led to the identification of two homozygous (CC, AA) and two heterozygous (CA, AG) genotypes, along with four haplotypes and 133 polymorphic sites. The haplotype diversity was 1.000, and nucleotide diversity averaged 0.606%. These findings demonstrate that integrating morphometric and molecular analyses provides a robust framework for characterizing local duck populations. This dual approach supports the development of informed breeding strategies to enhance productivity, particularly in resource-limited settings.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the efficacy of an attenuated coccidiosis vaccine containing early-maturing Eimeria strains, combined with a nutritional additive, as an alternative to anticoccidial drugs in broilers. A total of 672 male Ross chicks were allocated in a 4×2 factorial design (4 control programs: anticoccidial, additive + anticoccidial, vaccine and additive + vaccine vs. challenged or not with live coccidiosis vaccine and Escherichia coli), totaling eight treatments with six replicates of 14 birds. Data were analyzed using ANOVA (GLM procedure, SAS software). Challenged birds showed reduced productive performance (p<0.05) regardless of treatment, with no differences between control programs. The vaccine improved jejunal morphometry, notably villus width and crypt depth, and was associated with enhanced regenerative capacity at 28 days. No significant effects (p>0.05) were observed for mitotic index. Serum FITC-d levels were lower (p<0.05) in challenged birds, and foot coloration was higher with the vaccine plus additive. These findings support the use of an early attenuated vaccine as a viable and effective alternative to traditional anticoccidials, especially when paired with nutritional additives.

ABSTRACT The present experiment was carried out to examine the influence of hydrolyzed cottonseed protein (HCP) supplementation on the production performance, jejunum morphology, egg quality and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of serum and egg yolk in laying Japanese quail. A total of one hundred and ninety-two laying quails were divided into six treatments groups. Four diets containing 0 (basal diet), 5, 6, and 7 g of HCP were compared to the basal diet + 15 IU of vitamin E or the basal diet + 2 mg lincomycin. The birds fed diets containing 7 g HCP/kg of diet had the highest average daily feed intake (p<0.05). Birds fed diets containing 5 or 6 g HCP/kg of diet had better feed conversion ratio (p<0.05). Egg mass and percentage of egg production were higher in quails fed basal diet + 7 g HCP/kg of diet (p<0.05). Quails fed diets containing 5 g HCP/kg of diet had higher villus height to crypt depth ratio (p<0.05). Quails fed diets containing 5 g HCP/kg of diet had higher percentage of protein in the albumen compared to other groups. The birds fed diets containing 7 g HCP/kg of diet had the highest TAC in serum and yolk (p<0.05). The findings showed that addition of 5 g HCP/kg of diet could have a positive influence on the feed conversion ratio, jejunum morphology, egg quality and the TAC of serum in laying Japanese quail.

ABSTRACT This study optimized feeding and breeding strategies for a local chicken breed - Xianghuang (XH) chickens - through growth modeling and weight prediction. Body weight and morphometric traits (body slope length, keel length, shank length, shank circumference, and chest angle) were measured for 600 chickens. Growth curves were fitted using Logistic, Gompertz, and Bertalanffy models, while weight prediction used multivariate stepwise linear regression (MSLR) and feedforward neural network (FNN). The Gompertz model demonstrated superior accuracy (R²>0.997) and identified three inflection points, delineating four distinct growth phases: early (0-2 weeks), rapid (3-8 weeks), late rapid (9-15 weeks), and plateau (16 weeks to market age). Among morphometric traits, body slope length, keel length, and shank length showed strong correlations with weight (r>0.85). Both MSLR and FNN models achieved high predictive performance (R²≈0.78, MAE≈124 g), substantially outperforming univariate regression. The accurate growth curve assessment completed through body weight analysis, combined with the morphometric prediction models, provides a valuable reference for non-contact weight monitoring. This integrated approach offers practical tools to enhance the efficiency and management of XH chicken production. Future research should incorporate computer vision for automated measurement in intensive farming.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary paddy rice on the performance of geese. A total of 210 28-day-old geese were randomly allotted to 5 treatment groups with 7 replicates of 6 geese each. The geese were raised for 42 days on feed with 0 (control), 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% dietary paddy rice inclusion. The results showed that dietary paddy rice increased body weight, average daily feed intake, and average daily gain of geese (p<0.05), but did not influence feed/gain ratio (p>0.05). Increasing dietary paddy rice levels decreased the plasma total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and indirect bilirubin content of geese (p<0.05). The percentage of carcass, half-eviscerated yield, and eviscerated yield in geese were increased as dietary paddy rice increased (p<0.05). The dietary paddy rice did not affect the breast meat quality of geese (p>0.05). In conclusion, paddy rice could increase the growth performance, and had no negative effects on plasma biochemical parameters, carcass traits, and breast meat quality of geese from 28 to 70 d of age. We showed that paddy rice can be used up to a concentration of 60% in the geese diets.

ABSTRACT Allium tuberosum (Chinese chives; CC) contains large amounts of metabolites that have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In our previous study, fermented CC was shown to improve physiological functions and have positive results in broilers. In this study, we investigated egg productivity, egg quality, blood parameters, organ and intestinal characteristics, and gut microbiota by adding solid-state fermented CC (FCC) to laying hen diets. A total of 120 laying hens (40-weeks-old) were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatment groups: (1) basal diet + carrier mixture (CM) 1.5% (CC juice concentration 0%; CON); (2) basal diet + 0.5% FCC + 1.0% CM (CC juice concentration 0.1%; FCC 0.1%); (3) basal diet + 1.5% FCC (CC juice concentration 0.3%; FCC 0.3%). Each treatment was designed with 10 replicates, and 4 hens were assigned to each replicate. The experiment lasted for 5 weeks. As a result, the FCC 0.1% group had a heavier egg weight, and the FCC 0.3% group had higher feed intake (p&lt;0.05). However, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was similar in all treatments (p&gt;0.05). Egg quality was also not observed to be affected by the supplementation of FCC (p&gt;0.05). However, interestingly, when eggs were stored for 4 weeks, FCC treatment hens showed lower malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations than CON (p&lt;0.05). Although the content of blood components was similar (p&gt;0.05), FCC 0.1% affected ileum length and potential pathogen growth (p&lt;0.05). This study suggests that FCC as a feed additive for laying hens improves egg productivity, and storage period, and helps maintain health.