Poultry Science最新文献

{"title":"Research note: Cosinor-based rhythmometry reveals how heat stress disrupts the circadian rhythm of core body temperature in broilers.","authors":"Chris Major Ncho, Meg Aui Delmonte, Vaishali Gupta, Yun-Ji Hwang, Yang-Ho Choi","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106934","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106934","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In response to the global increase in ambient temperatures, heat stress (HS) has emerged as a significant concern for livestock production. Core body temperature (CBT) has been a reliable indicator of HS in broilers; however, most research has focused on single-time-point measurements, thereby limiting our current understanding of thermoregulation in broilers. Consequently, the objective of this study was to conduct a time-dependent measurement to evaluate the effect of HS on the diurnal pattern of CBT in finishing broilers. To this end, n = 96 mixed sex chicks were divided into a thermoneutral group (CON, 21°C, 49% relative humidity (RH)) and a cyclic HS group (maximum 33°C, 53% RH, from 10:00 h to 16:00 h) from 34 to 40 days of age. Each group consisted of 8 replicates, each with 6 birds. Both environmental temperature and CBT were recorded every 5 min using a thermohygrometer and an ingested telemetry-based sensor, respectively, throughout the trial. Data were analyzed using both linear mixed models and cosinor-based rhythmometry. The results indicated that HS significantly (P < 0.01) modulated the hourly CBT of broilers for 7 consecutive h throughout the days, with the HS group recording higher CBT from 12:00 h to 16:00 h but lower CBT at 18:00 h and 19:00 h compared to the CON group. However, no significant difference was found in the hourly average of CBT between male and female broilers, irrespective of thermal treatment. Additionally, cosinor-based rhythmometry highlighted that rhythmicity parameters were significantly (P = 0.022) influenced by thermal challenge, with the HS group exhibiting a slightly higher mesor (41.19°C vs. 41.00°C), greater amplitude (0.66°C vs. 0.21°C), and an expedited acrophase (13:52 h vs. 15:25 h) compared to those of the CON group. Besides, the CON male broilers exhibited a slightly higher amplitude (P < 0.01) compared to their female counterparts. Overall, the current study demonstrated that HS disrupts the circadian rhythm of CBT in broilers by increasing their mesor and amplitude and synchronizing their acrophase to the time of the peak environmental temperature. Furthermore, broilers may be able to adapt to cyclic HS by substantially decreasing their basal CBT during cooler times of the day.</p>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 7","pages":"106934"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13141753/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147819838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of recombinant Xylanase Xyn1m on growth performance, Intestinal morphology, and bacterial community structure in broilers.","authors":"Mengjian Liu, Tingting Fu, Shaohua Zhai, Yong Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106961","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106961","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated the effects of recombinant xylanase Xyn1m, derived from Fibrobacter succinogenes and expressed in Pichia pastoris, on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and gut microbial characteristics in broilers. A total of 144 one-day-old broilers were randomly allocated to three treatments with 12 replicates per treatment (4 birds per replicate): a control group (basal diet), a low-dose Xyn1m group (6,800 IU/kg), and a high-dose Xyn1m group (13,600 IU/kg). Supplementation with high-dose Xyn1m significantly increased body weight at 49 d and average daily gain during the 29-49 d growth phase compared with the control group (P< 0.01), whereas feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected. High-dose Xyn1m reduced duodenal crypt depth (P< 0.05), while ileal morphology remained unchanged. In the duodenum, Xyn1m supplementation increased the Shannon index and reduced the Simpson index of the microbial community (P< 0.05), although no significant differences were detected in the relative abundance of dominant bacterial taxa. Beta-diversity analysis showed that high-dose Xyn1m altered the duodenal microbial community structure. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in microbial diversity or community composition in the ileum, except for a linear reduction in the relative abundance of Acinetobacter (P< 0.05). Functional prediction using PICRUSt2 indicated enrichment of pathways associated with nutrient transport, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy production in the duodenal microbiota of the high-dose group, whereas predicted functional changes in the ileum were limited. These results indicate that dietary supplementation with 13,600 IU/kg recombinant xylanase Xyn1m improved growth performance during the mid-growth stage and enhanced duodenal microbial diversity and intestinal morphology, while exerting minimal effects on distal ileal microbial functions.</p>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 7","pages":"106961"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13136736/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147819822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut health in broiler chickens fed a mixture of Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor meals: does it have a key role in shaping bird performance?","authors":"Ilaria Biasato, Talal Hassan, Davide Buzzanca, Stefano Bagatella, Achille Schiavone, Maria Teresa Capucchio, Laura Gasco, Ákos Kenéz, Ilario Ferrocino","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106966","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106966","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insect meals are promising sustainable protein sources for poultry, but comprehensive insights into their effects on gut health and growth performance are lacking. This study is the first to elucidate relationships between gut health parameters and performance in broilers fed Hermetia illucens (HI) and Tenebrio molitor (TM) meals at 5% or 10% inclusion levels, singly or in a 1:1 combination. A 37-day trial used 420 male Ross 308 chicks randomly allocated to seven treatments: control (C), HI5 (5% HI), HI10 (10% HI), TM5 (5% TM), TM10 (10% TM), MIX5 (5% MIX), and MIX10 (10% MIX). By integrating intestinal histomorphometry, mucin histochemistry, multi-organ histopathology, and multi-omics cecal microbiome characterization, we identified key structural, microbial, and metabolic biomarkers associated with performance variations (false discovery rate [FDR]<0.05 and P < 0.05 for microbiome and histomorphology, respectively). High-performing groups (MIX5, TM5) showed microbiomes enriched in short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (Veillonellaceae, Butyricicoccus, Limosilactobacillus crispatus), positively correlated with ADG and ADFI (FDR<0.05) and negatively correlated with FCR (FDR<0.05). Favorable metabolomic profiles (increased dopamine, tyramine, malic and orotic acids; reduced 3-deoxyglucosone, hexanoylcarnitine [FDR<0.05]) and preserved balance between neutral (positively correlated with BW and ADFI [P < 0.05]) and acidic mucins (positively correlated with BW, ADFI and ADG, and negatively correlated with FCR [P < 0.05]) were also observed. Low-performing groups (MIX10, HI10) displayed microbiomes dominated by Ruminococcaceae, Alistipes, and l-Eubacterium (negatively correlated with FCR and associated with purine metabolism alterations [FDR<0.05]), alongside worsened morphology (tendency for reduced villus height in MIX10 [P = 0.07], positively and negatively correlated with ADG and FCR, respectively [P < 0.05], and thinner mucosal/muscular layers [P < 0.05]) and decreased neutral mucins (P < 0.05). TM10 maintained unaffected growth performance via beneficial taxa (Limosilactobacillus crispatus, Tyzzerella), and reduced Campylobacter jejuni and antimicrobial resistance genes (FDR<0.05). Jejunal inflammation, negatively correlated with ADG (P < 0.05), was not influenced by dietary treatments (P > 0.05). In conclusion, specific taxa (Butyricicoccus, Veillonellaceae, Limosilactobacillus crispatus), metabolites (dopamine, tyramine, malic and orotic acids), and mucosal features (villus height, mucin composition) were identified as biomarkers of optimal performance in insect-fed broilers.</p>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 7","pages":"106966"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13136755/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147819897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nano-encapsulated vitamin D₃ supplementation effects on reproductive performance, egg quality, and blood indexes in breeding pigeons.","authors":"Binbin Guo, Zhengyu Yu, Yunxiang Zhang, Huanxi Zhu, Zhe Chen, Zichun Dai, Xuefeng Sun, Leyan Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106944","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106944","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Calcium homeostasis is indispensable for optimal egg production in poultry, and vitamin D₃ (VD₃) plays a pivotal role in regulating calcium metabolism and maintaining overall reproductive health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nano-encapsulated VD₃ supplementation in drinking water on reproductive performance, egg quality, endocrine profiles, and antioxidant capacity of breeding White King pigeons. A total of 216 three-year-old pigeon pairs were randomly allocated into four groups, receiving 0, 1,000, 2,000, or 4,000 IU/L of nano-encapsulated VD₃ for 13 weeks. The results demonstrated that a moderate supplementation level (2,000 IU/L) significantly improved egg mass, fertilization rate, plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E₂), and testosterone (T), as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes [glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD)], while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (P < 0.05). This dosage also optimized the growth performance of squabs. Although the highest dosage (4,000 IU/L) further enhanced eggshell thickness and strength (P < 0.05), it did not confer additional benefits for reproductive success and slightly reduced squab weight gain. Serum calcium concentrations remained stable across all groups, indicating sufficient dietary calcium supply. Collectively, these findings suggest that a balanced VD₃ supplementation strategy, particularly at 2,000 IU/L, can effectively improve reproductive outcomes and offspring health in breeding pigeons, while excessive supplementation may lead to diminishing returns. This study provides novel insights into the optimal VD₃ requirement for breeding pigeons and offers practical guidance for pigeon production.</p>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 7","pages":"106944"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13138030/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147779206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional effects of rosmarinic acid on gut health and epigenetic regulation in antibiotic-free poultry diets.","authors":"Mohamed E Abd El-Hack, Elwy A Ashour, Asmaa F Khafaga, Hadeel K Khaleel, Mahmoud Kamal, Ayman E Taha, Ahmed E Alfifi, Mohammed Al-Rasheed, Mohammad M H Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106943","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.106943","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rosmarinic acid (RA), a bioactive polyphenol found in Salvia officinalis and other Lamiaceae herbs, has attracted attention for its functional feed application in animal nutrition. RA supplementation positively influences growth efficiency, liver antioxidant status, and serum biochemical indices in broilers. Its antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects promote health and productivity. Studies suggest benefits for gut health and meat quality; however, epigenetic regulation of RA in poultry is considered a minor future perspective, being mostly based on mammalian studies. Hypothesized impacts of RA on chronic disease prevention and as a microbiome-engineering agent require further investigation. This review explores the regulatory effects of RA on DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), and histone modifications, which influence gut microbiome structure, nutrient absorption, and immune function in poultry. It emphasizes RA's potential as a functional food for gastrointestinal health, metabolic regulation, and chronic disease prevention, alongside its use in antibiotic-free poultry feed for microbiome engineering. The review also discusses RA's effects on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress, highlighting its role in maintaining intestinal barrier health. Nevertheless, certain limitations must be acknowledged, as successful nutritional interventions depend on understanding individual variability, including genetics, metabolism, age, and health status. Tailored methodologies, such as micronutrition and genomic nutrition, can improve diet quality, promote nutrient absorption, and enhance overall animal health. A tailored feeding regimen focuses on selecting nutrients with proven benefits for key health outcomes, such as omega-3 fatty acids, which scientific evidence shows promote brain and heart health while reducing inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 8","pages":"106943"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147875184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The construction of recombinant DNA vaccine pVAX-ROP27-IL-2-IFN-γ and its immune enhancement effect against Eimeria tenella","authors":"Zhibin Niu,&nbsp;Jiaqi Zhao,&nbsp;Kewei Dou,&nbsp;Kuihao Liu,&nbsp;Mengbo Xu,&nbsp;Meng-gang Li,&nbsp;Xiaozhen Cui,&nbsp;Rui Bai,&nbsp;Mingxue Zheng,&nbsp;Xiaoling Lv","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106466","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106466","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Eimeria tenella</em> (<em>E. tenella</em>) is a highly pathogenic and widely distributed species responsible for significant economic losses in the global poultry industry. The rhoptry protein 27 (<em>Et</em>ROP27) DNA vaccine of <em>E. tenella</em> provides certain immune protection against <em>E. tenella</em> infection. Notably, vaccination triggers a sharp increase in the expression of chicken-derived cytokines chIL-2 and chIFN-γ. This study combines chIL-2 and chIFN-γ with the <em>Et</em>ROP27 DNA vaccine to investigate the immunomodulatory effects. Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were immunized intramuscularly, and successful in vivo expression was confirmed by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction and Western blot. Immunoprotective assays, histopathology, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and immunohistochemical staining (IHC) were employed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms of chIL-2 and chIFN-γ in the context of the <em>Et</em>ROP27 DNA vaccine. The results showed that pVAX-ROP27, pVAX-ROP27-IL-2, pVAX-ROP27-IFN-γ, and pVAX-ROP27-IL-2-IFN-γ DNA vaccines could be expressed in vivo. All DNA vaccines effectively induced both cellular and humoral immune responses, significantly reduced oocyst shedding, alleviated cecal lesions, and improved weight gain. In addition, the pVAX-ROP27-IL-2-IFN-γ group exhibited the strongest protective efficacy, with an anticoccidial index (ACI) of 183.51, accompanied by the highest levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, IgY, and IgA, while inflammatory cytokine expression was notably reduced. IHC analysis further confirmed that the immune group enhanced the activation of T and B cells, with the most pronounced effect observed in the pVAX-ROP27-IL-2-IFN-γ group. These results indicate that chIL-2 and chIFN-γ have an immune-enhancing effect on the <em>Et</em>ROP27 DNA vaccine, and their binding effect is more pronounced.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106466"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146026253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel traditional Chinese medicine compound alleviates broiler ascites syndrome by modulating the IL-6/STAT3/FOXO3a signaling pathway","authors":"Yifan Gao ,&nbsp;Shijing Shan ,&nbsp;Yang Liu ,&nbsp;Shuo Cao ,&nbsp;Linjue Li ,&nbsp;Yue Yu ,&nbsp;Jianzhu Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaona Zhao ,&nbsp;Pimiao Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106588","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106588","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Broiler ascites syndrome (BAS), a non-infectious group disease caused by relative hypoxia in broilers, is one of the three most serious nutritional metabolic diseases that jeopardize the chicken industry. At present, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used to treat BAS, however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to screen a new traditional Chinese medicine compound (NCMC) for the treatment of BAS and to elucidate its therapeutic mechanism through an integrated strategy of data mining, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments. To this end, a novel NCMC comprising <em>Poria, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Astragali, Semen Plantaginis, and Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens</em> was successfully formulated based on data mining analysis. Utilizing network pharmacology, STAT3, SRC, and EGFR were identified as core therapeutic targets for BAS. Gene pathway analysis further suggested that the NCMC might exert its effects by modulating hypoxia response, oxidative stress, and the FOXO signaling pathway. These in silico predictions were subsequently validated by in vivo experiments, which demonstrated that NCMC treatment significantly alleviated systemic inflammation, reduced the ascites heart index, and mitigated lung tissue damage in broilers. Concurrently, it markedly enhanced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) while decreasing the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in lung tissue. Ultimately, our integrated research approach revealed that the therapeutic effect of NCMC against BAS is primarily achieved through inhibition of the IL-6/STAT3/FOXO3a signaling pathway activation. This study not only provides a promising candidate drug for the treatment of BAS, but also offers a feasible systems pharmacology paradigm for modern research on traditional Chinese medicine compounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106588"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146166452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effective treatment of multidrug-resistant Riemerella anatipestifer infection in ducks using a compound Chinese herbal medicine in drinking water","authors":"Bingdong Wang ,&nbsp;Mengyao Fu ,&nbsp;Jinyou Ma ,&nbsp;Pei Gao ,&nbsp;Chengfei Li ,&nbsp;Zhiyong Xu ,&nbsp;Limin Chao ,&nbsp;Zhike Liu ,&nbsp;Yan Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106465","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106465","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Riemerella anatipestifer</em> (<strong><em>R. anatipestifer</em></strong>), a pathogenic bacterium, causes systemic infection in poultry. Although antibiotics can alleviate <em>R. anatipestifer</em> infection, their irrational use has worsened antibiotic resistance, rendering existing drugs less effective against the growing number of multidrug-resistant strains. Treatment with compound Chinese herbal medicines (<strong>CCHMs</strong>), which show the ability to eliminate pathogens and reduce inflammation in the body, offers a promising alternative for the treatment of bacterial infections. Herein, we characterized a multidrug-resistant <em>R. anatipestifer</em> strain isolated from a duck farm in northern Henan Province. On the basis of the pathological characteristics of the infected ducks, a novel CCHM was developed, and its therapeutic efficacy against <em>R. anatipestifer</em> infection was evaluated alongside a preliminary assessment of the therapeutic mechanism. The results showed that the isolated <em>R. anatipestifer</em> belonged to serotype 1 and was multidrug-resistant. The median lethal dose (<strong>LD₅₀</strong>) of the strain was approximately 1.89 × 10⁹ CFU/mL. In vitro antibacterial assay revealed that the MIC and MBC of the CCHM against the pathogen were both 0.97 mg/mL. The CCHM killed the bacteria rapidly within hours by disrupting bacterial cell structure and integrity. In vivo therapeutic experiments demonstrated that CCHM treatment cleared the bacteria, ameliorated pathological damage, and increased the survival rate by 30 %. Integrated network pharmacology prediction and experimental validation further showed that CCHM treatment significantly downregulated the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (<strong>IL</strong>)-1β, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, interferon (<strong>IFN</strong>)-γ, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (<strong>STAT3</strong>; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). These results confirm that CCHM treatment effectively reduced mortality from <em>R. anatipestifer</em> infection through multiple pathways in ducks, providing an important basis for the development of CCHM as an effective alternative for controlling multidrug-resistant <em>R. anatipestifer</em> infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106465"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of treated walnut green husk on broiler growth performance, gut health, and meat quality","authors":"Hassan Shirzadi ,&nbsp;Enayat Rahmatnejad ,&nbsp;Shokoufeh Hasanvand ,&nbsp;Yaser Khorram Del","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of treated walnut green husk (<strong>WGH</strong>) on growth performance, cecal microflora, jejunal morphology, nutrient digestibility, blood biochemistry, and meat quality in broiler chickens. A total of 180 day-old Ross 308 broilers were assigned to three dietary treatments for a 42-day trial, with six replicates (10 birds per cage). The dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (control), the basal diet supplemented with 2.1 g/kg fermented WGH (<strong>FWGH</strong>), and the basal diet containing 2.0 g/kg WGH plus 0.1 g/kg multi-enzyme (<strong>EWGH</strong>). Both FWGH and EWGH improved broiler growth performance during the grower, finisher, and overall periods, as indicated by enhanced feed conversion ratio and European production efficiency index, with FWGH producing marginally greater improvements. Both treatments reduced cecal total aerobic bacteria, while FWGH additionally increased <em>Lactobacillus</em> spp. and decreased Clostridium perfringens. Jejunal villus height increased in both WGH-treated groups, whereas villus surface area improved in FWGH group. Both FWGH- and EWGH-supplemented diets increased ileal digestibility of dry matter, while FWGH also improved organic matter digestibility. Both FWGH and EWGH had a modulatory effect on blood parameters by increasing lymphocyte (L) percentage and decreasing WBC count, percentage of heterophil (H), H:L ratio, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. In addition, FWGH increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level and reduced alanine transaminase (ALT) activity. Both FWGH and EWGH improved meat quality by reducing breast muscle press loss and malondialdehyde content in thigh muscle, while EWGH further decreased malondialdehyde and increased pH in breast muscle, and enhanced water-holding capacity and pH in thigh muscle compared with the control. Overall, the dietary inclusion of treated-WGH improved growth performance, intestinal health, nutrient digestibility, blood lipid profile, and meat quality in broiler chickens, with FWGH showing slightly superior effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106400"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Establishment and Optimization of a Dynamic Model for Energy and Protein Requirements in Meat Ducks","authors":"Zhengbo Li ,&nbsp;Qiong Liu ,&nbsp;Dingtao Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The efficient utilization of energy and protein resources is crucial for the growth and development of meat ducks, as well as for the profitability of the poultry industry. This study aims to establish and optimize a dynamic model for the energy and protein requirements of meat ducks. A series of experiments were conducted with different dietary energy and protein levels. The growth performance, carcass quality, and nutrient utilization of the meat ducks were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that when the dietary metabolizable energy (ME) was 12.8 MJ/kg and the crude protein (CP) level was 17.5%, the meat ducks exhibited the best growth performance and feed conversion ratio. The established dynamic model takes into account the interactive effects of energy and protein on the growth and metabolism of meat ducks, incorporating factors such as environmental temperature and breed characteristics. It provides a scientific basis for formulating precise feeding strategies to meet the nutritional needs of meat ducks at different growth stages, thereby improving production efficiency and reducing feed costs in the meat duck industry. The optimization of the model also considers the practical application in different production environments and duck breeds, enhancing its adaptability and reliability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106443"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}