The black proventriculus is a necropsy finding sign observed during post-mortem examinations of dead young chicks up to 10 days of age and due to variation in color of the affected proventriculus organ, it may be ignored in some cases, in particular when the disease occurs simultaneously with other well-recognized infections of two weeks old chicks. In late January 2018, several live and dead chicks with a history of an unusual increase in mortality showing no clinical signs but sudden dead were referred to the poultry clinic of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. General routine postmortem examination revealed color changes (light green to dark green color) in the wall of proventriculus together with some degrees of congestion in the lungs and liver of the dead chicks. Microbiology tests revealed that the causative agent was Escherichia coli strain O142 and histopathological examination indicated that the color changing of the organ was due to necrosis of glandular epithelium with locally extensive or diffuse hypercellularity by lymphocytes and macrophages with hemorrhages. In conclusion, black proventriculus due to E. coli strain O142 was responsible for the sudden death of young chicks and based on antibiogram, selective antibiotics should be used for the treatment of the affected flocks.

In this experiment, the effect of garlic (GP) and tomato (TP) powders on performance, blood parameters, sex differentiation and hatchability of Ross-308 broiler breeders were examined and compared with In-Ovo injection of garlic or tomato hydroalcoholic extracts. In first experiment, 375 hens and 25 roosters (47 wk.) were randomly allocated to 5 treatments and 5 replicates, for 4 weeks. Treatments included: 1) basal diet (control), 2 and 3) basal diet+ 2 and 4 percent of GP, and 4 and 5) basal diet + 2 and 4 percent of TP, respectively. In second experiment, 200 hens and 20 roosters were randomly allocated to 2 treatments including 1) basal diet and 2) basal diet + 4% of TP (selected treatment of the Exp. 1) in 5 replications from 52-56 wk. During incubation period, experimental treatments included: 1) control group, 2) eggs from hens fed 4% TP, 3) In-Ovo injection of physiological serum and 4 and 5) In-Ovo injection of 0.1 and 0.3 ml of garlic and tomato hydroalcoholic extracts. The results of first experiment, adding garlic and tomato powders was not significant on egg qualitative traits and blood parameters (P>0.05). All In-Ovo injection treatments increased fertility percentage (P<0.05). The second experiment results showed that treatments had no significant effect on the percent of males and females (P>0.05). In general, addition of 4 percent tomato powder to broiler breeders in comparison to In-Ovo injection of hydroalcoholic extracts of garlic and tomato, did not increase male 1-d-old chicks’ percentage of hatched chicks.

Increase in feed intake of broiler breeder hens, results to incidence of metabolic and hormonal changes and finally leads to poor reproductive performance. An experiment was conducted to evaluate responses of feed - satiated and feed - restricted laying breeder hens to daily injection of an acute dose of progesterone (P4). A total of 64 Cobb 500 hens were fed either restricted or ad libitum from 27 to 38 wk of age. Fourteen laying hens from each group were selected to conduct P4 injection assay. Each P4 injection were 2.5 mg P4/kg BW subcutaneously, at the base of the neck, daily for 21 days. Each treatment had 7 replicates. Settable and abnormal eggs were recorded daily. Blood sample were taken just before initiation of injections, 10-d and 20-d after initiation of injection. Plasma samples were analyzed for glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, P4, estradiol (E2), testosterone, T3 and T4 concentrations. Progesterone injection in feed - satiated and feed - restricted birds resulted in ovary regression; the ovary of these birds had no hierarchical follicle (p>0.05). Progesterone injection increased incidence of holding hard-shelled eggs in the uterus (p>0.05). Our results revealed that whereas injecting an acute dose of P4 induced frequent ovulation early in the injection period in both feed - satiated and feed - restricted breeder hens (p>0.05); however this higher ovulation rate did not result in more settable egg production. Restricted fed and ad libitum fed laying breeder hens respond in a similar way to an acute dose of P4 injection.

The worldwide application of antibiotic growth promotors in the last decades in animal production at least partly contributed to the global pool of multiantibiotic-resistant bacteria causing hardly treatable and severe human but also veterinarian infectious diseases. These circumstances prompted the development of alternative strategies to replace antibiotic growth promotors without losses in animal performance. Among other feed additives, health-beneficial live microorganisms (often designated as probiotics or gut microbiota stabilizers) became promising parts of such alternative approaches. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Bacillus coagulans DSM 32016 (1×109 CFU/kg of diet) on the performance of broiler breeder (Arbor Acres). Broiler breeder hens (Arbor Acres; n=240) at the age of 22 weeks were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 dietary treatments with 12 replicates of 10 birds each, in a completely randomized design. Supplementation of the diet with Bacillus coagulans DSM 32016 increased the number of produced eggs, the number of produced settable eggs, egg yolk weight and eggshell thickness (P≤0.05). The probiotic supplementation reduced the mortality rate, enhanced egg hatchability, and increased the egg production-based economic profit. Thus, Bacillus coagulans DSM 32016 can be considered as performance-enhancing zootechnical feed additive for broiler breeders.

This research aimed to investigate the attitude of broiler breeders toward the production of antibiotics-free chickens in Tehran province. The statistical population in this study included all broiler breeders (N=450) in Tehran province. Using stratified-random-sampling method 136 breeders were selected. The main tool for data gathering was a questionnaire contained 44 questions and items. Results showed that 52.9% of the respondents had “positive” or “relatively positive” viewpoints about the production of antibiotic-free chicken. The results also indicated that there were a significant (p<0.05) positive relationship between the attitude of production of antibiotic-free chicken with the education level, job satisfaction, second job as well as having technical supervisor. Moreover, a significant (p<0.01) positive relationship was observed between the participation in training courses related to the production of antibiotic-free chicken and the viewpoint of studied broiler producers. On the other hand, no significant correlation was observed between the “viewpoint of chicken producers” and the variables such as: “age”, “job background”, “frequency of progeny”, “production/non-production of antibiotic-free chicken”, “consumption/non-consumption of antibiotic-free chicken” and “knowledge on breeding the antibiotic-free chicken”.

Introduction: The accumulation of excess triacylglycerol and fatty acids in nonadipocytes results in lipotoxicity, cellular dysfunction, and cell death. Although feed restriction is an effective and practical management technique to prevent the obesity in broiler breeders, after the peak of egg production hens have propensity to be overweight. Lipotoxicity in hepatocytes and follicular cells of laying hens could cause liver disfunction, ovarian abnormalities, and therefore, decline egg production. Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effect of Pioglitazone on egg production and plasma metabolites in broiler breeder hens. Material and method: Thus, forty birds were randomly allotted to four groups with 10 birds in each and were fed standard diet supplemented with different levels of Pioglitazone at 0, 10, 20 and 40 mg/bird per day from 45 through to 51 weeks of age. Results: The results indicated that 20 and 40 mg levels improved egg production and quality (P<0. 05). In regard to plasma lipids, Pioglitazone at levels of 20 and 40 mg had hypolipemic effects and could effectively decrease plasma glucose, triacylglycerol, low density lipoprotein and cholesterol (P<0. 05). In addition, the activity of liver enzymes, as a criterion of liver health, was improved in hens receiving 20 and 40 mg Pioglitazone (P<0. 05). Also, necropsy observations showed that liver and abdominal fat weights significantly decreased by dietary supplementation of 20 and 40 mg Pioglitazone (P<0. 05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the current study indicated that Pioglitazone at levels 20 and 40 mg/bird/day could improve performance of post-peak female broiler breeders through lowering plasma lipids.

Selenium (Se) is an essential rare element that plays a vital role in the health and performance of animals. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of hydroxyl selenomethionine (OH-SeMet) in the diet of broiler breeder and old broiler breeder roosters on production performance, quality traits of eggs and blood parameters. For this purpose, 260 broiler breeders Ross 308 (45 weeks old) were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five repetitions (13 hens and one rooster in each replication). Experimental treatments included: 1) a basal diet without OH-SeMet (control), 2) a broiler breeder diet without OH-SeMet and a rooster diet containing 0. 1 mg/kg OH-SeMet, 3) broiler breeder diet containing 0. 1 mg/kg OH-SeMet and rooster diet without OH-SeMet and 4) broiler breeder and rooster diet containing 0. 1 mg/kg OH-SeMet. Performance and quality traits of eggs were measured weekly at 50, 55 and 60 weeks of age. The results showed that the use of 0. 1 mg/kg OH-SeMet in the broiler breeder diet and the broiler breeder and rooster diet improved the laying percentage, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion ratio compared to the control treatment (p <, 0. 05). Feeding broiler breeder and rooster with diet containing OH-SeMet improved the mentioned parameters compared to feeding broiler breeders alone (p <, 0. 05). Eggshell strength increased in treatments 3 and 4 compared to control and treatment 2 (p <, 0. 05). The concentration of selenium and glutathione peroxidase in the treatments fed with OH-SeMet was significantly higher than the control treatment (p <, 0. 05). The use of 0. 1 mg/kg of OH-SeMet may be a practical approach to help production performance and eggshell strength in old broiler breeders.

To compare the effects of automatic and conventional laying nests in broiler breeder houses on some egg quality variables, a broiler breeder farm in which 5 houses equipped with automatic laying. nests and 5 houses had the conventional laying nests was used. The weekly percentages of misshapen eggs, double-yolked eggs, cracked eggs, dirty eggs, wasted eggs, and hatchable eggs were measured in houses during a production period (34 weeks). The observations of weekly percentages of each variable were analysed using a model included the random effects of houses and production weeks using proc mixed of SAS software, and the mean percentage of variables were compared between the two groups of houses. The frequency of misshapen eggs were lower and the frequency of dirty eggs and wasted eggs were higher in houses with automatic laying nests, (p<0. 01). The percentage of hatchable eggs was also higher in houses equipped with automatic nests (p<0. 01). The cracked eggs and double-yolked eggs percentages were not affected by the nest type. It is concluded that equipping broiler breeder houses with automatic laying nests and its proper mangement could improve egg quality and percentage of hatchable eggs.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on performance and egg quality in broiler breeders and the abatement of its deteriorative effect through its counteraction with Herbal Mycotoxin Binder (HMB). Thirty-six, 28-wk-old broiler breeder hens were allotted to one of the three treatments of: (1) basal diet (control), (2) control plus 500 mg kg-1 AFB1 and (3) control diet plus 500 mg kg-1 AFB1+0.2%HMB for three periods, each of a duration of three weeks and when from 28 to 36 weeks of age. Results revealed that 500 mg kg-1 AFB1 significantly (P<0.05) reduced feed consumption, feed efficiency, egg production as well as egg weight. Supplementation of HMB partially restored feed consumption and egg production alleviating some side effects of AFB1.