Umair Ahsan

This meta-analysis aimed to systematically assess the effects of organic acid supplementation on growth performance and disease-related parameters in broiler chickens challenged with coccidiosis. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, yielding 11 controlled experimental studies for quantitative analysis. The outcomes measured were BWG, feed conversion ratio (FCR), lesion score, and oocyst count (OPG). No overall significant effect of organic acid supplementation was detected on body weight gain (BWG) (MD = 49.88 g; 95% CI: −156.94 to 256.70; p = 0.64) and FCR (MD = −0.12 g/g; 95% CI: −0.25 to 0.01; p = 0.08), with high heterogeneity across investigations (I² = 100%) as identified through random-effects meta-analysis. Organic acid supplementation was associated with lower lesion scores (MD = −1.08 score units; 95% CI: −1.39 to −0.77; p < 0.00001; I² = 57%) and reduced oocyst shedding (SMD = −1.25; 95% CI: −2.25 to −0.25; p = 0.01; I² = 93%). Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested possible differences according to study duration, organic acid type, Eimeria species, and measurement time point. However, several subgroup estimates were based on a small number of studies and should therefore be interpreted cautiously rather than as confirmatory evidence of differential efficacy. Leave-one-out sensitivity analyses showed stable conclusions for BWG, FCR, and lesion score, whereas the statistical significance of the OPG effect was sensitive to omission of some studies. Exploratory assessments suggested possible small-study effects for BWG and OPG, but these analyses were underpowered because fewer than 10 studies contributed to each outcome. Using the GRADE framework, the certainty of evidence was rated as very low for BWG, FCR, lesion score, and OPG because of risk-of-bias concerns, inconsistency, and imprecision. Overall, very low-certainty evidence suggests that organic acids may reduce intestinal lesion severity and oocyst shedding, whereas their effects on growth performance remain uncertain. Further well-designed and standardized studies are required to clarify treatment effects and optimal supplementation strategies.

Triticale, a hybrid cereal crop derived from the cross of wheat and rye, is widely used for silage production owing to its high nutritional qualities and tolerance to varying climatic conditions. The genotype and maturity stage of forage crops govern the efficiency of microbial inoculants used for ensiling. The effects of homofermentative (HMF; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium) and heterofermentative (HTF; Lentilactobacillus buchneri) inoculants, either alone or in combination, on the fermentation quality, nutrient composition, and in vitro rumen digestibility of ensiled triticale varieties (Alperbey and Karma 2000) were assessed in this study. The study was carried out using a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of two triticale varieties, two levels of HMF [0 or 1 × 10⁵ CFU/g fresh forage (0.8 mg/kg)], and two levels of HTF [0 or 0.5 × 10⁵ CFU/g fresh forage (500 mg/kg)]. Forages were harvested at the early dough stage, vacuum-packed in 110 μm-thick plastic bags (35 cm × 25 cm), and allowed to ferment for 120 days. Fermentation characteristics, chemical composition, volatile fatty acids, and digestibility traits were evaluated after ensiling. Application of HMF inoculant significantly reduced silage pH compared to the control and HTF treatments in Alperbey, whereas in Karma 2000, terminal pH remained statistically similar between control and HMF treatments. Generally, inoculated silages had lower ammonia nitrogen levels than control silages, reflecting better protein conservation. The HTF significantly increased the acetic acid and decreased the butyric acid concentrations. There were significant two-way (variety × HMF and variety × HTF) and three-way (variety × HMF × HTF) interactions for crude protein content, fiber contents, volatile fatty acids profile, and digestibility characteristics (p < 0.05). For Karma 2000, the application of HMF increased crude protein concentration; however, it also increased lignin and fiber contents, thereby reducing organic matter digestibility. In contrast, dual inoculation raised neutral detergent fiber digestibility. The results show that variety-specific inoculant selection can improve triticale silage quality, underscoring the importance of aligning microbial additives with the forage’s biochemical properties.

A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to study the individual and combined effects of barley variety (Tarım 92 and Bravo), homofermentative inoculant (HMF; Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium), and heterofermentative inoculant (HTF; Lactobacillus buchneri) on the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition, nutritive value indices, and in vitro digestibility of whole-crop barley silages which were harvested at the early dough stage. Forty-eight laboratory silos (six replicates per treatment) were ensiled for 120 days. Tarım 92 silage exhibited superior fermentation stability across all treatments, with pH ranging from 4.11 to 4.30, Flieg points of 102.94–115.47, and lower NH₃-N concentrations (142.01–173.72 mg/kg TN (total nitrogen)), reflecting better protein preservation than Bravo silage. In contrast, the poorest fermentation outcome (pH 5.24; Flieg 47.06; NH₃-N 307.48 mg/kg TN) was exhibited by the Bravo silage inoculated with only homofermentative inoculants. Significant three-way interaction effects were detected among barley variety, homofermentative inoculant, and heterofermentative inoculant (p < 0.05). The dual-inoculated Tarım 92 silage showed the optimum in vitro digestibility and nutritional value (TDN 77.14%; NEL 1.81 Mcal kg⁻¹ DM; RFV 176.25; ADF 18.75%; IVOMD 65.72%; predicted DMI 3.06% BW), while higher amounts of butyric acid and NH₃-N suggested that better nutritional value was not always accompanied by better protein preservation. The combined inoculation also yielded the best outcomes within Bravo treatments (RFV 144.00), whereas HTF inoculation alone reduced IVDMD and IVOMD below uninoculated controls. Overall, these results show that the response to microbial inoculation is genotype-dependent and a combination of homofermentative and heterofermentative inoculation for high-dry-matter barley varieties can enhance nutritive value and digestibility. However, fermentation quality indicators, particularly butyric acid and NH₃-N, require consideration in the selection of technique.

The global poultry industry faces a critical ethical and bioeconomic challenge regarding the annual culling of 6–7 billion day-old male layer chicks, which lack commercial value for mass meat production. This study critically evaluates European and global regulatory frameworks alongside the practical, economic, and ethical viability of alternative management strategies. While legislative bans in nations like Germany and France push for in ovo sexing technologies, and several systems are already operational across Europe, these methods currently impose substantial financial burdens and operational constraints that hinder their global commercial implementation. Alternative approaches, including rearing light-type cockerels or caponisation, frequently face significant sustainability challenges due to poor feed conversion ratios, prolonged production cycles, and inherent animal welfare concerns. Consequently, the immediate, worldwide integration of these technological alternatives remains challenging. This paper offers a pragmatic, bioeconomically stable recommendation: while in ovo systems continue to expand towards genuine high-throughput global viability, a sustainable approach—manual post-hatch sorting followed by immediate culling using methods permitted under current animal welfare legislation—may represent a transitional management option in jurisdictions where commercially viable in ovo sexing technologies are not yet available. Managed strictly as Category 3 animal by-products under Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, the resulting material could potentially be directed to biogas plants to recover renewable energy. When implemented in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, such an approach may provide a legally compliant pathway for recovering renewable energy while remaining consistent with current veterinary and environmental regulations.

This study evaluates the effect of homofermentative and heterofermentative inoculants used independently or in combination on the quality of fermentation, chemical composition, fiber digestion, and nutritional value of silage made from four wheat varieties (Bayraktar 2000, Kızıltan 91, Bezostaja 1, and Tosun bey). Four treatments were applied within each variety: an untreated control group; a homofermentative inoculant (HMF group; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, formerly Lactobacillus plantarum, and Enterococcus faecium, applied at 1.0 × 10⁵ cfu/g fresh weight); a heterofermentative inoculant (HTF group; Lentilactobacillus buchneri, formerly Lactobacillus buchneri, applied at 5.0 × 10⁴ cfu/g fresh weight); and their combination (HMF+HTF; group 1.5 × 10⁵ cfu/g fresh weight). The whole-crop wheat silage collected at the dough stage was allowed to ferment for 120 days using a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial design having four replications. Statistically significant differences between varieties and inoculation treatments were seen in most of the recorded characteristics (p < 0.001), demonstrating that inoculant responses were significantly impacted by genotype. In Kızıltan 91, dry matter (DM) did not differ significantly among treatments (p > 0.05). In Bayraktar 2000, DM was reduced only by HTF applied alone (36.56% vs. 43.23% in the control), while HMF and HMF+HTF did not differ from the control. In Bezostaja 1, both HTF and HMF+HTF decreased DM relative to the control, whereas HMF alone had no effect. In Tosun bey, all LAB treatments increased DM relative to the control, with the homofermentative inoculant producing the greatest increase. Homofermentative inoculants demonstrated improved fermentation characteristics by lowering silage pH and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations and enhancing physical traits, while Heterofermentative inoculants reduced butyrate accumulation and raised acetic acid concentration, which reached 3.50 g/kg DM in Kızıltan 91 during combined inoculation. According to genotype, the application of inoculants varied the amount of fiber and digestibility. In vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility, net energy of lactation, total digestible nutrient, and relative feed value (RFV) were frequently reduced by the combination HMF+HTF treatment. In Bayraktar 2000, RFV was found to have decreased the most, from 166.79 to 106.51. Conversely, Bezostaja 1 showed comparatively constant levels of energy content and digestibility regardless of the treatment, suggesting greater adaptability to the effects of microbial inoculants. In general, wheat genotype was the main factor influencing the nutritional value and quality of silage, and varietal characteristics had a significant impact on the efficacy of microbial inoculation. These results show how essential it is to choose inoculant methods according to variety in order to maximize fermentation quality and maintain feeding value in the production of wheat silage.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) levels of calf starter and weaning time on growth, rumen fermentation characteristics, serum metabolites, and rumen microbial diversity of Holstein calves. A total of 24 newly born male Holstein calves were randomly distributed to four groups in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of NDF levels (14% and 24%) and weaning time (d 44 and d 54). There was no interaction between starter NDF levels and weaning time for any trait except rumen acetic acid in the immediate post-weaning phase (p = 0.013). Starter NDF levels had no effect on growth, feed intake, and hay intake. Late-weaned calves had greater (p = 0.050) weight gain in the pre-weaning phase whereas, early-weaned calves showed greater weight gain (p = 0.004) and starter intake (p = 0.004) in the post-weaning phase although overall weight gain, and starter and hay intakes were not affected by weaning time. Rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen, and most volatile fatty acids remained unaffected by starter NDF levels and weaning except isobutyric acid which was greater in calves fed 24% NDF starter (p = 0.001) in the immediate post-weaning and isovaleric acid which was greater in early-weaned calves (p = 0.044) at the end of experiment. Serum metabolites were largely affected (p < 0.05) by starter NDF levels and weaning time in the pre-weaning phase only. Alpha diversity of rumen microbes was greater and chaotic in 14% NDF starter group (early- and late-weaned) in the pre-weaning phase which converged in the immediate post-weaning phase and diverged on starter NDF basis at the end of experiment. Microbial ecology at phylum and genus levels composition were greatly driven by starter NDF levels in the pre-weaning phase, by weaning time in the immediate post-weaning phase, and two distinct bifurcated microbial ecologies based on starter NDF levels appeared at the end of experiment. In conclusion, the comparable growth with distinct microbial diversity but largely in favor of 24% NDF starter suggests that calves can be subjected to early weaning with 24% starter NDF levels for smooth transition from liquid to solid feed in Holstein calves.