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frontier in veterinary sciences
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
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Abstract: |
The current study investigated the impact of different concentrations of purified egg
yolk immunoglobulin Y (IgY) supplemental food on the growth performance, behaviors,
cecal contents of Escherichia coli, and the meat quality of broiler chicks. Four dietary
groups were given to 180 female Ross broiler chicks at random (n = 45 for each). The
control group was fed a standard diet only, whereas the other three experimental groups
were fed the same basic diet supplemented with 1,500, 3,000, and 4,000μg/ml IgY
for a duration of 42 days. Significant greater behavioral activities, including, feeding,
drinking, and dust bathing (p < 0.05), in the birds fed 4,000μg/ml of IgY compared
to the control group were observed. Greater weight gains of the crop, proventriculus,
gizzard, and intestine (p < 0.05) were observed for broiler chicks fed 4,000μg/ml of IgY
when compared to the control group. After 3 weeks of feeding, the groups fed 3,000 and
4,000μg/ml IgY had significant lower E. coli counts in the muscle and cecal contents (p
< 0.05) when compared to the control group. Moreover, dietary supplementation with
4,000μg/ml IgY in the third week and 3,000μg/ml IgY in the sixth week resulted in
greater weight gain (p < 0.01) when compared to the control group. Also, at week 3,
chicks fed 4,000μg/ml of IgY had a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) when compared to
Rehan et al. IgY-Concentrations Improved Meat Quality
the control group (p<0.05). At week 6, chicks fed 3,000μg/ml of IgY had lower FCR than
the control (p < 0.05). The circulating heterophile/lymphocyte ratio was simply altered in
birds fed variable IgY concentrations (1,500, 3,000, and 4,000μg/ml), with no significant
differences compared to the control group due to the individual resistance of each bird
to physiological stress. The addition of 4,000μg/ml IgY to the diet enhanced the nutritive
value of meat, including protein, fat, and ash content (p < 0.05). Our study concluded
that dietary supplementation of 3,000 and/or 4,000μg/ml IgY improved the growth rates,
behavioral activities, intestinal health indices, and meat quality of broiler chicks
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