title: Effect of TEX-OE(®) treatment on the development of heat shock proteins in commercial broiler chicks and the impact on performance indicators in the grow-out period.
abstract: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved proteins, shown to protect organisms against physical and physiological stress. TEX-OE(®) is a patented total extract of the fruit of Opuntia ficus indica, which has been demonstrated to accelerate the development of HSPs in several animal species. One-day-old commercial broiler chicks were treated with TEX-OE(®); HSP was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and a large commercial field trial investigated key performance indicators (KPIs) in treated versus untreated controls chicks. TEX-OE(®) significantly increased HSP concentrations in treated chicks versus controls. Final cumulative mortality, liveweight and percentage factory-rejects were better than in controls. The accelerated HSP response may enable chicks to cope with early stressors, which is reflected in improved KPIs.
authors.affiliation: a Slate Hall Veterinary Practice , Unit 10 Moorlands Trading Estate, Metheringham , Lincoln LN4 3HX , UK.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serrar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts