title: The effects of halofuginone and salinomycin, alone and in combination, on live performance and skin characteristics of female broilers: influence of a high-proline diet supplemented with ascorbic acid and zinc.
abstract: Live performance and carcass quality of female broilers were evaluated under four coccidiostat programs (CP) and two feed treatments. The CP consisted of halofuginone (H) and salinomycin (S), fed either continuously (HH and SS) or in rotational programs (HS and SH), during the starter (1 to 21 d) and grower (22 to 35 d) periods, respectively. All groups received an unmedicated withdrawal feed from 36 to 42 d. Feed treatments consisted of a control and a fortified diet high in proline and supplemented with additional ascorbic acid and zinc (50 birds per pen; 4 pens per feed; 8 pens per CP). In addition to live performance and skin puncture strength, carcass quality attributes following processing (at 43 d of age) were assessed. No CP by feed interactions were detected for any of the variables measured. The CP treatments did not differ for live performance. Birds on fortified feed were heavier at 21 d (P < .001) and had an improved feed conversion at 42 d (P < .05). Skin puncture strength was significantly reduced for the birds fed H, either in continuous (HH) or rotational programs (HS and SH). Skin sores-scratches and tears were lowest for the SS and SH groups. The HH treatment resulted in fewer grade A carcasses (P < .001). Halofuginone, when fed continuously or in the starter feed, affected carcass quality of broilers. Higher dietary proline or supplementation with ascorbic acid and zinc did not appear to alleviate the effects of halofuginone on skin quality.
authors.affiliation: Poultry Science Department, Auburn University, Alabama 36849-5416, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pinion
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Bilgili
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D003049:Coccidiostats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D010880:Piperidines; D011392:Proline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011714:Pyrans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052999:Quinazolinones; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D003049:Coccidiostats; D010880:Piperidines; D011392:Proline; D011714:Pyrans; D011799:Quinazolines; D052999:Quinazolinones; D015032:Zinc; C010327:salinomycin; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides; C010176:halofuginone