The combination of quillaja and yucca saponins in broilers: effects on performance, nutrient digestibility and ileal morphometrics

Figures & data

Table 1. Diets formulated for evaluating graded levels of QY (0, 250 and 500 ppm) on whole tract nutrient digestibility

	Starter (d 1–14)	Grower (d 15–35)
Ingredient	%	%
Maize	58.84	67.67
Soybean meal (CP 49%)	32.40	23.60
Soybean Oil	3.77	3.77
Limestone	1.50	1.40
Monocalcium phosphate	1.40	1.13
Premix ^1	1.20	1.20
DL Methionine	0.39	0.33
L-Lysine HCl	0.34	0.34
L-Threonine	0.09	0.09
L-Tryptophan	0.02	0.02
Silicon dioxide (>97%)^2,3	0, 0.025 or 0.05	0, 0.025 or 0.05
QY (Magni-Phi)^3	0, 0.025, or 0.05	0, 0.025 or 0.05
Titanium (IV) dioxide	-	0.40
	Calculated Analyses
ME (MJ/kg)^4	12.73	13.07
Crude protein	22.04	18.52
Lysine	1.42	1.17
Methionine + Cysteine	1.08	0.92
Threonine	0.92	0.78
Tryptophan	0.26	0.20
Crude fat	6.67	6.89
Crude ash	5.64	4.87
Starch	37.1	42.43
Sugars	3.92	3.27
Calcium	0.90	0.80
Phosphorus	0.69	0.60
Sodium	0.18	0.18

¹Each kg of premix contained: 600 000 I.U. Vit. A (acetate); 120 000 I.U. Vit. D3; 6000 mg Vit. E (α-tocopherol acetate); 200 mg Vit. K3 (MSB); 250 mg Vit. B1 (mononitrate); 420 mg Vit. B2 (crystalline. riboflavin); 300 mg Vit. B6 (pyridoxin-HCl); 1500 µg Vit. B12; 3000 mg niacin (niacinamide); 12 500 µg biotin (commercial, feed grade); 100 mg folic acid (crystalline, commercial, feed grade); 1000 mg pantothenic acid (Ca d-pantothenate); 60 000 mg choline (chloride); 5000 mg iron (iron carbonate); 5000 mg zinc (zinc sulphate); 6000 mg manganese (manganous oxide); 1000 mg copper (copper oxide); 45 mg iodine (calcium-iodate); 20 mg selenium (sodium-selenite); 140 g sodium (NaCl); 55 g magnesium (magnesium sulphate); carrier: calcium carbonate (calcium min 38%).

²Silicon dioxide >97% (Tixosil. Solvay, Lyon, France).

³QY (Magni-Phi) was added to the appropriate diets at the expense of Si0₂ in order to achieve the dose levels of 0, 250 or 500 ppm.

⁴ME levels are equivalent to 3042 and 3123 kcal/kg for Starter and Grower feeds, respectively.

Table 2. The effects of graded levels of QY on performance, average daily gain (ADG) and European Poultry Efficiency Factor (EPEF).¹

	Body Weight Gain (g)	FCR (g:g)	Body Weight Gain (g)	FCR (g:g)	Feed Intake (g)	ADG (g)	EPEF
Day 14			Day 35
QY Level ppm
0	449^a	1.18^a	2249 ^c	1.38^a	3100^a	63.3^c	447 ^c
250	456^a	1.14^b	2274^b	1.36^a	3085^a	65.0^b	469^b
500	458^a	1.13 ^c	2322^a	1.32^b	3074^a	66.4^a	492^a
PSEM	13.7	0.04	39.6	0.03	15.5	1.13	26.3
Linear Coefficient^2	0.0178*	−0.0001*	0.1467*	−0.0001*	−0.0515	0.0042*	0.0897*

¹Data are the results of two pooled pen trials representing a total of 16 replications per treatment. Means were separated by applying the Holm-Bonferroni procedure to the Least Significant Difference Test. Means within columns showing different superscripts are significant (P < 0.05). ²Linear coefficients are the coefficients of QY in linear models of the effects of QY level on performance variables. Coefficients designated with * indicate significant linear effects (P < 0.005); those without * were not significant (P > 0.05).

Table 3. The effect of graded levels of QY on percent apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and percent nitrogen retention of broilers measured from days 21 to 25 in two pooled floor pen trials.¹

	ATTD Dry Matter	ATTD Organic Matter	ATTD Crude Ash	ATTD Crude Fat	Nitrogen Retention
QY Level ppm
0	67.2^c	70.5^c	18.1 ^c	80.0^b	53.9 ^c
250	70.1^b	73.1^b	20.5^b	81.8^b	57.1^b
500	74.1^a	76.6^a	22.9^a	84.1^a	60.0^a
PSEM	0.91	0.80	0.77	0.62	1.11
Linear Coefficient^2	0.0138*	0.0121*	0.0095*	0.0062*	0.0123*

¹Treatment means are the results of two pooled pen trials representing a total of 16 replications per treatment. Means for Digestibility and N retention were determined in metabolism cages using two birds per pen during days 21 to 25 of the trials. Means were separated by applying the Holm-Bonferroni procedure to the Least Significant Difference Test. Means within columns showing different superscripts are significant (P < 0.05). ²Linear coefficients are the coefficients of QY in linear models of the effects of QY level on ATTD variables and N retention. Coefficients designated with * indicate significant linear effects (P < 0.005).

Table 4. The effects of graded levels of QY on interim performance, ileal morphometrics and final performance of coccidiosis vaccinated broilers reared under enteric disease challenge.¹

	Body Weight Gain (g)	FCR (g:g)	Villus Height (µm)^2	Crypt Depth (µm)^2	Body Weight Gain (g)	FCR (g:g)^3	Feed Intake (g)	ADG (g)
Day 21					Day 42
QY Level ppm
0	744 ^c	1.36^a	946^b	431^a	2142 ^c	1.87^a	4013^b	52.4 ^c
250	808^b	1.28^b	989^a	388^b	2298^b	1.82^b	4174^a	56.1^b
500	828^a	1.25 ^c	1020^a	356 ^c	2359^a	1.78 ^c	4193^a	57.6^a
PSEM	9.87	0.014	13.6	12.7	25.3	0.016	40.2	0.613
Linear Coefficient^4	0.1678*	−0.0002*	0.1489*	−0.1501*	0.4333*	−0.0002*	0.3600*	0.0105*

¹Data are the results of two pooled pen trials representing a total of 24 replications per treatment. Used commercial broiler litter supplemented with Eimeria oocysts was used to induce the enteric challenge. Means were separated by applying the Holm-Bonferroni procedure to the Least Significant Difference Test. Means within columns showing different superscripts are significant (P < 0.05). ²Villus height and crypt depth were measured by collecting ileal segments from four birds per pen on d 21 of each test. Intestinal segments were fixed in buffered formalin at sampling. Standard histological procedures were used prior to measurement. ³The linear model for the effect of QY level on FCR at d 42 showed a significant block effect (P < 0.05). Significant block effects were not observed for the other variables (P > 0.05). ⁴Linear coefficients are the coefficients of QY in linear models of the effects of QY level on performance variables and ileal morphology. Coefficients designated with * indicate significant linear effects (P < 0.005).

Figure 1. The QY-induced improvements in villus height regressed against final body weight of coccidiosis-vaccinated broilers reared in an enteric disease challenge

The relationship between QY-mediated improvements in villus height at d 21 and improvements in final body weights was significant (P < 0.001). The linear coefficient of villus height was 1.21.