Spray-Dried Plasma Promotes Broiler Chick Growth by Enhancing Immune Surveillance
Candice E. C. Blue,
Yasin Jababu,
Salam A. Ibrahim,
Radiah C. Minor,
Leonard L. Williams,
Adedeji O. Adetunji,
Rizwana Ali,
Lea S. Young,
Yewande O. Fasina
Affiliations
Candice E. C. Blue
Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Yasin Jababu
Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Salam A. Ibrahim
Food Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Food and Nutritional Science Program, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Radiah C. Minor
Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Leonard L. Williams
Center for Excellence in Post-Harvest Technologies, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
Adedeji O. Adetunji
Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Rizwana Ali
Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Lea S. Young
Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Yewande O. Fasina
Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Spray-dried plasma (SDP) contain a variety of functional proteins that play an immunomodulatory role. To evaluate the potential of SDP to stimulate the immune system, day-old Ross 708 male broiler chicks (200) were allocated randomly to five dietary treatments. Treatment 1 (CX) comprised chicks fed basal unmedicated corn–soybean meal (SBM) without the addition of SDP. Treatment 2 (MX) includes chicks fed unmedicated corn–SBM basal containing Bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) at 0.055 g/kg diet. Treatments 3 (SDP1), 4 (SDP2), and 5 (SDP3) contained chicks given unmedicated corn–SBM basal, into which SDP was included at 10, 20, and 30 g/kg diet, respectively. On d 7, 14, and 21, chicks’ body weight and FCR were calculated. Additionally, leucocyte counts, oxidative status, and IgY concentrations were determined in blood. On d 23, fecal populations of selected indicator bacteria species were determined. Results showed that FCR for SP3 was superior (p p < 0.05) compared to MX. In conclusion, dietary SDP at 30 g/kg enhanced immune surveillance by increasing circulating IgY levels, maintaining a normal oxidative state, and increasing gut Bifidobacteria, thereby improving chick growth performance.