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In a completely randomized experiment, the effect of Daphnia magna meal on growth performance and carcass composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) larvae (body weight 0.538±0.197 g) was evaluated for a period of 60 days. Five diets with the same protein content (crude protein 52.70%) were prepared, including two diets containing fermented daphnia meal T₁ (20%), T₂ (30%), two diets containing raw meal T₃ (20%) and T₄ (30%), and a basal diet without daphnia meal as the control. The bacterial species used for fermenting included five commercial probiotic species. Fermented daphnia meal brought about significantly higher growth and the lowest feed conversion ratios, viz. T₁ (1.27 ± 0.35) and T₂ (1.31 ± 0.46), in comparison with T₃ (1.38 ± 0.37), T₄ (1.41 ± 0.42) and the control (1.84 ± 0.69) (p<0.05). The result of carcass composition analyzes showed that the highest protein percentage (68.23 ± 0.48%) was in T₂ and the highest percentage of fat and energy (11.26 ± 0.50% , 4761.63 ±48.88 Cal g^-1) were in T₄ (p<0.05). The overall results of this experiment indicated that daphnia could be considered as a suitable partial protein source in rainbow trout larval feed.

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The present study investigates the effects of Vitamin E (VE) supplement on pulmonary hypertensive response of broilers fed a low-protein diet in a 42-day trial. A total of 180 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in a completely randomized design. Treatments included a Normal Protein Diet (NPD) served as control, a Low-Protein Diet (LPD) with 30 g kg^-1 of crude protein lower than NPD, and a LPD supplemented with VE (100 mg kg^-1). Analyzed protein content of NDP and LPD was 227 and 199 g kg^-1 in the starter stage and 198 and 169 g kg^-1 in the grower stage. Growth performance, blood and carcass variables and Lead II of the electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded. Feed conversion ratio was not significantly changed by treatments. The relative weights of liver, heart, and the right to Total Ventricular weight ratio (RV:TV) as well as the S wave amplitude of ECG were significantly (P< 0.05) increased by feeding LPD. However, VE supplementation of LPD significantly (P< 0.05) restored these variables to similar ranges observed in NPD. Feeding LPD caused a significant decrease in serum Nitric Oxide (NO) and Uric Acid (UA) concentrations, whereas it caused a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and Heterophils to Lymphocytes ratio (H:L). Similarly, VE supplement restored these variables to similar levels observed in NPD. In conclusion, oxidative stress was involved in the pathogenesis of ascites in broilers fed with LPD, which could be counteracted by VE supplement.
 

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the immunostimulant Immunobeta^® on egg production and oxidative stress parameters, influenced by the environmental conditions in free range laying hens. A total of 81 laying hens and 9 cocks (Tetra Super Harco) were divided into three groups: group 1 (control) without supplementation; group 2 with 0.2%, and group 3 with 0.4% Immunobeta^® as a dietary supplement. The laying period (19-55 weeks of age) was divided into three sub-periods depending on the ambient temperature – cold (from November to March 2015, from 19 to 37 weeks of age), thermoneutral (April and May 2016, from 38 to 46 weeks of age) and hot period (June and July 2016, from 47 to 55 weeks of age). Immunobeta^® supplementation dose dependently improved the average egg production and mean egg weight, and in 0.4% dose treatment significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio for the entire laying period. Immunobeta® supplementation influenced the blood oxidative stress parameters, decreasing significantly the lipid peroxidation level during the cold period, increasing the glutathione level in hens supplemented with 0.4% dose in all periods, regulating the catalase activity during the hot period, and increasing glutathione peroxidase activity during the thermoneutral and hot periods. In conclusion, addition of Immunobeta^® to the diet reduced the oxidative stress induced by thermal stress and enhanced the performance of free range laying hens.