Papers by Maria Francesch
Agriculture
A series of four broiler performance studies were conducted in different facilities to investigat... more A series of four broiler performance studies were conducted in different facilities to investigate the efficacy of a novel bacterial 6-phytase added at 500 FTU/kg diet on growth performance, bone mineralization and precaecal digestibility of phosphorus (pcdP) in broilers fed diets deficient in available P (avP) and calcium (Ca). The experimental design was the same for all studies, with each having three treatments: positive control (PC) diet formulated to meet or exceed the requirements of birds, negative control (NC) diet similarly reduced by 0.15% points in avP and Ca compared to the PC diet, and the NC diet supplemented with phytase (PHY) at 500 FTU/kg diet from 1 to 35 days of age. Body weight (BW) and feed intake were measured at 21 and 35 days of age, and average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), BW gain-corrected-FCR (cFCR), mortality and European performance efficiency factor (EPEF) were calculated. Tibia dry matter, tibia ash ...
Evaluation of PRC and DNA sequencing for direct detection of Clostridium perfringens in the intestinal tract of broilers
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2009
Les enzymes chez la pondeuse : des bénéfices au-delà de la valeur nutritionnelle
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Mar 28, 2007
Effects of added phytase on growth performance, carcass traits, and tibia ash of broiler chickens fed diets with reduced amino acid, crude protein, and phosphorus concentration
Journal of Applied Poultry Research
The differences in intestinal viscosity produced by barley and beta-glucanase alter digesta enzyme activities and ileal nutrient digestibilities more in broiler chicks than in cocks
The Journal of nutrition, 1995
The objectives of this study were to determine whether intestinal viscosity caused by mixed linke... more The objectives of this study were to determine whether intestinal viscosity caused by mixed linked barley beta-glucan depresses ileal nutrient digestibility and digestive enzyme activities and to determine the interaction of intestinal viscosity, digestive enzyme activities and ileal nutrient digestibility in different ages of poultry. In Experiments 1 and 2, 1-d-old broiler chicks and 1-y-old cocks, respectively, were fed diets with 60% corn, low and high viscosity barley with or without beta-glucanase, for 3 wk. A 3 x 2 factorial design was used. Comparisons were made only within the same age group. In Experiment 3, 1-d-old broiler chicks were fed high viscosity barley with and without beta-glucanase to measure fecal nutrient and ileal and fecal amino acid digestibility. Broiler chicks fed barley ate less and gained less weight than those fed corn; added beta-glucanase resulted in increases in both food consumption and weight gain for the barley-fed chicks (P < 0.05). Relative ...
Valoracion nutritiva de cebadas para la alimentacion aviar
En esta tesis se realiza un estudio de la composicion quimica y valor nutritivo en pollos de dive... more En esta tesis se realiza un estudio de la composicion quimica y valor nutritivo en pollos de diversas cebadas cultivadas en distintas areas de la geografia espanola, durante tres campanas agricolas sucesivas. Se determina: densidad, materia seca, fibra bruta, proteina bruta, energia bruta, viscosidad del extracto acuoso, beta-glucanos totales y energia metabolizable aparente tambien se estudia el efecto de la viscosidad sobre el valor energetico de la cebada y la mejora de su valor nutritivo con la adicion de enzimas con actividad beta-glucanasica, tanto en animales jovenes como en adultos. Por ultimo se estudia el efecto de la inclusion de niveles crecientes de cebada en dietas practicas de engorde de pollos y las respuestas productivas de distintas variedades de cebada, con o sin adicion de enzimas en las dietas.
Effects of the butyric acid-producing strain Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 on broiler and piglet zootechnical performance and prevention of necrotic enteritis
Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho, 2018
The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a probiotic strain Clostridium butyricum... more The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a probiotic strain Clostridium butyricumMIYAIRI 588 (CBM588) on broiler and weaned piglet health and zootechnical performance. Five field studies were carried out in broilers and five in weaned piglets under European feed additive guidelines. Each study followed a randomized blocked design with two treatments: Control (basal diet) and CBM588 supplemented groups. The zootechnical performance parameters selected were body weight, daily gain, feed intake and feed efficiency (feed:gain). Broilers fed diets with CBM588 gained significantly more weight (+2%, p < .001) and exhibited significantly better feed efficiency (-1.6%, p < .001) in comparison with Controls. Similarly, analysis of pooled data of weaned piglet trials showed that CBM588-fed piglets were significantly heavier than Controls (+2.6%, p = .014), exhibited significantly higher mean daily gain (+4.7%; p = .004), and significantly improved feed efficiency (-4.2%, ...
Combined effect of using near‐infrared spectroscopy for nutritional evaluation of feed ingredients and non‐starch polysaccharide carbohydrase complex on performance of broiler chickens
Animal Science Journal, 2017
This study was carried out to evaluate the combined effect of using near‐infrared spectroscopy (N... more This study was carried out to evaluate the combined effect of using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for nutritional evaluation of feed ingredients and the addition of non‐starch polysaccharide carbohydrase complex (NSP enzymes) on the growth performance of broilers fed diets produced with low‐quality wheat and soybean meal. A 2 × 2 trial design was performed, with seven replicates of 40 male Ross 308 broilers per treatment, evaluating the effect of the addition of NSP enzymes and the ingredients’ nutritional matrix based on table values or NIRS values. Diets without added enzymes were formulated to reach nutritional requirements, whereas diets with enzymes were reformulated, reducing the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) by 85 kcal/kg. In the overall period (days 0–35), broilers fed diets formulated using NIRS values had higher (P < 0.001) average daily gain (+11.3%) and daily feed intake (+7.2%), and a lower (P < 0.001) feed conversion ratio (−5.3%) compared to those fed ...
Bases de la utilización de complejos enzimáticos en avicultura
Avances En Nutricion Y Alimentacion Animal Xii Curso De Especializacion Fedna 1996 Pags 117 131, 1997
Enzyme Supplementation of a Barley and Sunflower-Based Diet on Laying Hen Performance
Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 1995
Abstract A laying hen trial was performed to determine the effect of increasing levels of an enzy... more Abstract A laying hen trial was performed to determine the effect of increasing levels of an enzyme preparation (Grindazym GP 5000) on productive parameters, egg quality, water consumption, and excreta quality of a barley and sunflower meal containing diet for laying hens. Six hundred and forth white Shaver 2000 caged laying hens received a 60% barley-20 sunflower meal diet with either 0, 0.5, 0.75, or 1.0 g enzyme/kg feed from 26 to 41 wk (four months in total). The commercial enzyme preparation contained 5,000 units/kg of β-glucanase, 12,000 units/g of xylanase, and 10 units/g of pectinase. During the first four weeks, the highest dose of enzyme (1 g/kg feed) increased egg weight by more than 1 g, improved the percentage of eggs heavier than 60 g, and enzyme supplementation reduced the percentage of dirty eggs. Enzyme addition reduced water intake and the feed:water ratio. High doses of enzyme improved excreta quality. There were no significant differences in rate of lay, daily feed intake, and body weight gain due to enzyme addition.
Effect of artemisinin on oocyst wall formation and sporulation during Eimeria tenella infection
Parasitology International, 2010
The anticoccidial effect of a product extracted from the natural herb Artemisia annua, artemisini... more The anticoccidial effect of a product extracted from the natural herb Artemisia annua, artemisinin, which has a potential use as a dietary supplement, has been studied. Commercial artemisinin was administered at 10 and 17 ppm in food and tested against infection with Eimeria tenella. A battery trial to quantify the effect of artemisinin on the reproductive and infective capabilities of E. tenella was carried out. For that purpose flow cytometry was combined with electron microscopy and immunofluorescence techniques in order to study the effect of artemisinin on E. tenella gametogenesis. Significantly reduced oocyst output and lesion scores were found in chickens treated with artemisinin. In addition, evidence to support a lower oocyst sporulation rate was obtained. Though the ultrastructural studies showed normal development of gametogenesis in artemisinin-treated chickens, the oocyst wall formation was significantly altered. This resulted in both death of developing oocysts and reduced sporulation rate. Immunofluorescent studies provided evidence that treatment with artemisinin inhibited sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) expression in macrogametes. According to these findings, artemisinin has a deleterious effect on fertilized macrogametes (early zygotes) by inhibiting SERCA. The altered secretion of the wall-forming bodies may be the result of Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase impaired activity which, in turn, is the result of SERCA inhibition.
nutrient Requirements and Interactions The Differences in Intestinal Viscosity Produced by Barley and 0Glucanase Alter Digesta Enzyme Activities and Heal Nutrient Digestibilities More in Broiler Chicks than in Cocks1«2'3
The objectives of this study were to de termine whether intestinal viscosity caused by mixed link... more The objectives of this study were to de termine whether intestinal viscosity caused by mixed linked barley 0-glucan depresses ¡leal nutrient digesti bility and digestive enzyme activities and to determine the interaction of intestinal viscosity, digestive enzyme activities and ¡leal nutrient digestibility in different ages of poultry. In Experiments 1 and 2, 1-d-old broiler chicks and l-y-old cocks, respectively, were fed diets with 60% corn, low and high viscosity barley with or without ß- glucanase, for 3 wk. A 3 x 2 factorial design was used. Comparisons were made only within the same age group. In Experiment 3, 1-d-old broiler chicks were fed high viscosity barley with and without /3-glucanase to measure fecal nutrient and ¡leal and fecal amino acid digestibility. Broiler chicks fed barley ate less and gained less weight than those fed corn; added /3-glucanase resulted in increases in both food consumption and weight gain for the barley-fed chicks (P < 0.05). Relative pan...
EPC 2006-12th European …, 2006
The objective was to develop a fast and accurate molecular method for the quantification of the i... more The objective was to develop a fast and accurate molecular method for the quantification of the intestinal flora in chickens by rRNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Seven weeks old conventionally reared Lohmann hens were used to set up the method. To sample ileal intestinal content, the distal part from Meckels diverticulum to the ileo-caecal junction was removed. Fixation was performed in ethanol and phosphate buffered saline. After washing by centrifugation, the sample was resuspended in pre-heated hybridization buffer with oligonucleotide probe labelled with Cy3 (10ng/µl). The cells were hybridized for 24-72h, centrifuged, washed with pre-heated hybridization buffer, centrifuged and resuspended in Millipore quality water before filtration onto a 0.22 µm black polycarbonate filter. The probes used in this study were, LGC354A, LGC354B, LGC354C, Strc493, Bacto1080, Sal3, Chis150, EUB338, Probe D and Non-EUB338 according to previous publications. Cultures of 38 bacterial strains representing type strains within the genera Bacillus, Listeria, Campylobacter, Bacteroides, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Escherichia, Salmonella and Lactobacillus were used for optimization of hybridization conditions on slides. Signal was obtained from all 38 reference strains with probe EUB338 and not from the non-sense probe Non-EUB338. In most cases, signal was obtained from the expected target sequence. In the samples from the seven weeks old Lohman hens, 3-7×10 8 bacterial cells per g of sample were counted by the EUB338 probe. Three weeks old male broiler Ross 308 chickens were used to investigate the bacterial composition of the intestine. The birds received a wheat-barley diet. Counts with the EUB338 probe were 1.97×10 8 (std 1.45×10 8 ) The means of counts obtained with probes targeting the rRNA of genera Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Enterococcus-Streptococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella, Clostridium and Bacteriodes were around 1 ×10 8 bacterial cells per g of gut material. As for the EUB338 probe, huge variations were observed between the six different samples analysed even though each sample was obtained from a pool of six chickens allocated in the same cage. The technique will be used to investigate the effect of antimicrobials, feed additive, rearing conditions and Salmonella -and Campylobacter status on the bacterial composition of the chicken intestine.
World's Poultry Science Journal, 2004
The control of excreta/litter moisture and quality is a priority in the modern poultry industry, ... more The control of excreta/litter moisture and quality is a priority in the modern poultry industry, to avoid environmental and animal welfare problems and to reduce productivity losses. Control implies the reduction of their amounts and moisture content. Several factors can affect them, some related to management and housing, others related to diseases and finally, dietary factors. The paper reviews some nutritional aspects that could interfere with the moisture and quality of poultry excreta/litter, focusing on dietary factors affecting water consumption, water excretion and the amount and composition of excreta: dietary protein level, electrolyte balance, ionophores, cereals causing viscosity problems or containing high levels of non-digestible fibre fractions, unusual ingredients or by-products and finally some feed technological treatments.
The use of enzymes to improve cereal diets for animal feeding
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2006
ABSTRACT Exogenous enzyme supplementation of animal feeds has been practised successfully since t... more ABSTRACT Exogenous enzyme supplementation of animal feeds has been practised successfully since the late 1980s. Early research demonstrated that enzymes improve the nutritional value of several main ingredients such as barley, wheat, rye and triticale. More recent studies have associated feed enzymes with environmental and welfare benefits. By 2000, around 60 enzyme products had been authorised in the European Union (EU) as feed additives, and currently around 40 of these have attained definitive EU approval. This paper reviews EU legislation relating to feed enzymes and recent advances in the understanding of enzyme properties, future potential and modes of action when added to animal feeds. First, the legislative history of feed enzymes in the EU is summarised. Recent developments in the knowledge of substrate structure and the influence of enzyme inhibitors are then discussed. Also considered is the application of enzymes to maize/soybean diets, traditionally thought to be less sensitive to improvement with enzymes. Finally, an evaluation is made of the potential of enzymes to reduce environmental pollution and to improve animal health, welfare and performance in a possible future scenario where both coccidiostats and antibiotic growth promoters are prohibited. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of an experimental phytase on performance, egg quality, tibia ash content and phosphorus bioavailability in laying hens fed on maize- or barley-based diets
British Poultry Science, 2005
A 24-week performance trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of an experimental phytase on ... more A 24-week performance trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of an experimental phytase on performance, egg quality, tibia ash content and phosphorus excretion in laying hens fed on either a maize- or a barley-based diet. At the end of the trial, an ileal absorption assay was conducted in order to determine the influence of phytase supplementation on the apparent absorption of calcium and total phosphorus (P). Each experimental diet was formulated either as a positive control containing 3.2 g/kg non-phytate phosphorus (NPP), with the addition of dicalcium phosphate (DCP), or as a low P one, without DCP addition. Both low P diets (containing 1.3 or 1.1 g/kg NPP) were supplemented with microbial phytase at 0, 150, 300 and 450 U/kg. The birds were housed in cages, allocating two hens per cage as the experimental unit. Each of 10 dietary treatments was assigned to 16 replicates. Low dietary NPP (below 1.3 g/kg) was not able to support optimum performance of hens during the laying cycle (from 22 to 46 weeks of age), either in maize or barley diets. Rate of lay, daily egg mass output, feed consumption, tibia ash percentage and weight gain were reduced in hens fed low NPP diets. The adverse effects of a low P diet were more severe in hens on a maize diet than in those on a barley diet. Low dietary NPP reduced egg production, weight gain, feed consumption and tibia ash content and microbial phytase supplementation improved these parameters. Hens given low NPP diets supplemented with phytase performed as well as the hens on positive control diets containing 3.2 g/kg of NPP. A 49% reduction of excreta P content was achieved by feeding hens on low NPP diets supplemented with phytase, without compromising performance. Phytase addition to low NPP diets increased total phosphorus absorption at the ileal level, from 0.25 to 0.51 in the maize diet and from 0.34 to 0.58 in the barley diet. Phosphorus absorption increased linearly with increasing levels of dietary phytase. Mean phosphorus absorption was higher in barley diets than in maize diets (0.49 vs 0.39).
European reference method ofin vivodetermination of metabolisable energy in poultry: Reproducibility, effect of age, comparison with predicted values
British Poultry Science, 1990
1. Apparent metabolisable energy corrected to zero-nitrogen retention (AMEn) was measured using t... more 1. Apparent metabolisable energy corrected to zero-nitrogen retention (AMEn) was measured using the European reference procedure in 9 European laboratories. Seven pelleted diets were evaluated. AMEn was measured with adult cockerels and young birds. 2. Between-laboratory standard deviations were for dry matter (DM) 12.5 g/kg, gross energy 0.085 MJ/kg DM, Kjeldahl nitrogen 0.768 g/kg DM, AMEn (adults) 0.256 MJ/kg DM, and AMEn (young) 0.337 MJ/kg DM. Corresponding coefficients of variation between laboratories were 1.42, 0.45, 2.15, 1.88 and 2.60% respectively. 3. AMEn values of experimental diets were always significantly lower when measured with young birds. This effect was more pronounced when diets contained added fat. 4. Tallow or soyabean oil were incorporated into two basal diets at 40 g/kg inclusion rate. No significant differences were observed between AMEn values of either diet with adults or young birds, suggesting that AMEn energy values of these fats are indistinguishable at this inclusion rate. 5. Similar AMEn values were obtained in young birds by estimating nitrogen accretion, either by the difference between intake and excreta nitrogen or by measuring body weight gain. Determined AMEn values were very similar to those predicted using three different regression equations.
Effects of cultivar, pelleting and enzyme addition on nutritive value of barley in poultry diets
British Poultry Science, 1994
1. The effect of pelleting process and Trichoderma viride enzymes (TVE) addition on apparent meta... more 1. The effect of pelleting process and Trichoderma viride enzymes (TVE) addition on apparent metabolisable energy, corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) and on productive value of practical diets containing 40 and 45% of three different barley cultivars and one wheat were studied in poultry. 2. The effect of the pelleting process on AMEn was inconsistent and was dependent on the cereal included and the addition of enzyme. 3. The growth trial showed a significant effect of enzyme addition to pelleted diets over the whole growth period (0 to 42 d). Addition of TVE improved weight gain and food efficiency by 1.3% and 2.9%, respectively and decreased food intake by 1.6% between 0 and 22 d. In the finisher period (23 to 42 d) TVE improved efficiency by 2.8% and reduced food intake by 2.9%. 4. The incidence of sticky droppings was related to the viscosity of barley used, and enzyme supplementation reduced it. Both pelleting and enzyme addition increased dry matter content of excreta. 5. At the end of the experiment, 14 animals per treatment were slaughtered and carcass yield, viscera weight and abdominal fat were determined.
El estudio de la diversidad intestinal por RFLP
etsia.upm.es
1 CreSA (UAB-IRTA). Bellaterra, Barcelona 2 Departamento de Produccion Animal. ETSI Agrónomos. Ma... more 1 CreSA (UAB-IRTA). Bellaterra, Barcelona 2 Departamento de Produccion Animal. ETSI Agrónomos. Madrid. 3 Departament de Nutrició Animal, IRTA. Reus, Tarragona. 4 Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments. UAB. Bellaterra, Barcelona. ... La profundización en el ...
Effect of Trichoderma viride enzymes in pelleted broiler diets based on barley
Animal Feed Science and Technology, 1991
ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted with 1440 chicks to determine the effect of added Trichoderm... more ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted with 1440 chicks to determine the effect of added Trichoderma viride enzymes (TVE) in pelleted broiler diets based on barley (35% from 0 to 19 days, 45% from 19 to 45 days) at 0, 100 and 200 mg kg-1. The beta-glucan content of the barley was 1.8%. Addition of TVE significantly improved weight gain by 2.7% and feed to gain ratio by 2.3% throughout the experiment. The improvement was greater in the finisher period (19-45 days) than in the grower period (0-19 days). These results suggest that TVE enzymes are effective even at low beta-glucan concentrations, during the finisher period, and in pelleted diets.
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Papers by Maria Francesch