Emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria has created the necessity of replacement of antibiotic with other products like prebiotics, probiotics, organic acid botanicals, and herbal essential oils. Essential oils (EOs) are important aromatic components of herbs and spices, and are used as natural alternatives for replacing antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry feed as these have antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral properties. Beside, other beneficial effects of EOs include appetite stimulation, improvement of enzyme secretion related to food digestion, and immune response activation. Recently, use of EOs in broiler chickens has drawn attentions. EOs are generally used as blend with a carrier oil or combination with other plant oils in the feed to enhance the productive performance of birds. Conclusively, EOs can be used in poultry feed, but there are still questions concerning their action, metabolic pathway and optimal dosage in poultry, which are to be explored in detail. This mini-review describes the expanding horizons in the research on EOs in poultry nutrition.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate effects of administration of a 4.7-mg deslorelin acetate implant on egg laying in healthy cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). ANIMALS 52 cockatiels. PROCEDURES 26 breeding pairs (a female and its respective male in each pair) were selected on the basis of their history of egg laying. Female birds were sedated and received a 4.7-mg deslorelin acetate implant (n = 13) or placebo implant (13) in the subcutaneous tissues between the scapulae. Male and female birds of each breeding pair were placed in separate but adjacent cages. Birds were exposed to 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness. A nest box was placed in cages of female birds to stimulate reproductive activity. Egg production and quality were monitored daily for 365 days. RESULTS Deslorelin acetate implants significantly suppressed egg laying in cockatiels, compared with effects for the placebo implants. Eleven of 13 placeboimplanted birds laid eggs between 12 and 42 days after implantation. None of the deslorelin-implanted birds laid eggs within 180 days after implantation, and only 5 of 13 deslorelin-implanted birds laid an egg during the study period (first egg laid between 192 and 230 days after implantation). No differences in egg quality or number of eggs per clutch were observed between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Insertion of a 4.7-mg deslorelin acetate implant suppressed egg laying in healthy cockatiels for at least 180 days. Studies are necessary to evaluate effects of a deslorelin acetate implant in other avian species or in association with reproductive disorders.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of 4.7-mg deslorelin acetate implants on egg production and plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol and androstenedione in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) over 180 days and assess safety of the implants in quail via gross and histologic examination. Animals: 20 female Japanese quail. Procedures: Following a 7-day period of consistent egg laying, quail were anesthetized and received a 4.7-mg deslorelin implant (treatment group; n = 10) or identical placebo implant (control group; 10) SC between the scapulae. Egg production was monitored daily. Plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol and androstenedione were measured on days 0 (immediately prior to implant injection), 14, 29, 62, 90, 120, 150, and 180 via radioimmunoassay. Birds were weighed periodically and euthanized at day 180 for complete necropsy. Results: Egg production was significantly decreased in the treatment group, compared with the control group, from 2 to 12 weeks after implant injection. Egg production ceased in 6 of 10 quail in the treatment group (mean duration of cessation, 70 days). Plasma androstenedione and 17β-estradiol concentrations were significantly lower on day 29 in the treatment group than in the control group. Plama androstenedione and 17β-estradiol concentrations were significantly lower on day 29 in the treatment group then in the control group. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: 4.7-mg deslorelin acetate implants reversibly decreased egg laying for approximately 70 days in most of the Japanese quail evaluated. Further studies evaluating implants containing different concentrations of the drug are needed in quail and other avian species.

An indexing system for hygiene variables associated with egg production was developed by use of datacollected from chicken flocks in southern California. The data were analyzed by factor and regression analysis. On the basis of our findings, hygiene index in relation to egg production consists of ventilation system, cooling system, manure removal, and truck movement. Flocks kept under natural ventilation produced, on the average, 2% more hen-day eggs than flocks kept under artificial ventilation. Flocks placed in houses with roof sprinklers produced 3.3% more hen-day eggs, compared with flocks placed in houses with inside foggers and pad. Flocks kept under the system of frequent removal of manure produced 2% more hen-day eggs than flocks kept under the system for which the manure was removed less frequently. Flocks kept in farms that restricted trucks collecting dead birds from entering the premises produced 3.4% more hen-day eggs than those that allowed such trucks to enter the farm.

This study has been done in order to determine the avian encephalomyelitis in chicken having low egg yield in the Konya region. For this purpose virus isolation and histopathological cheeking have done with internal organs (liver, hearth, brain, pancreas, spleen, proventriculus collected from 27 floks having low egg production in 6-7 days eggs with SPF embrio

Scientific and production examination of feed additive Semerik-Vita containing iodine and selenium was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus by studying of its influence on production and economic indexes of laying hens and their products, as well as by studying of its influence on clinical state and biochemical blood indexes of poultry. Research results showed that application of feed additive Semerik-Vita made it possible to increase of egg producing ability intensity on 1,8 %, egg yield - on 2,4 % in the conditions of lowering of feeding expenses on 1,4 %. Application of the analyzed feed additive made it possible to obtain a new kind of eggs fortified with iodine, selenium, beta-carotene and vitamins (A, E, C, PP, B1, B2, pantothenic acid and folic acid). In eggs of poultry of experimental group the content of selenium increased in 2,1 times, iodone - in 1,5 times, vitamin E – in 3,9 times, beta-carotene – in 1,4 times, vitamin A – in 1,3 times, pantothenic acid – in 1,2 times, vitamin C – in 1,17 times, vitamin PP – in 1,4 times, vitamin B1 – in 1,5 times, vitamin V2 – in 1,4 times, folic acid - in 1,5 times in comparison with eggs of laying hens from the control group. Research results proved that application of Semerik-Vita did not render negative effect on the clinical indexes of laying hens. It made it possible to lower the content of urea acid in 1,7 times, as well as to increase the content of triglycerides in 2 times, cholesterol - in 2,4 times, magnesium - in 1,28 times

Scientific experiments on determination of the optimal doses kizelgur for import substitution of shells in poultry diets was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarusby an example of 4 groups of laying hens of Khajseks korichnevyj cross. Hens of the first (controlled) group were given full ration applied at the tested poultry farm which included 5% of shells. Hens of the other three experimental groups were given complete feedstuffs with inclusion of mineral feed kizelgur: hens of the second group – in dose 2% out of dry matter mass; third group - 3%; for the fourth group - 4%. The research results showed that application of mineral feed additive kizelgur increased hen productivity in experimental groups on 2,8%; 5,9%; 7,2%, respectively. In the experimental groups there was an increasing of egg yields on 2,8%; 5,9%; 7,2%, respectively. The best indexes of poultry livability were stated in the third group (on 5,5% higher than in control). The similar tendency was stated in course of analysis of egg weight, shell thickness and calcium content of shell. Kizelgur application led to increasing of egg mass in tested groups: on 0,46% (2 group), 1,6% (3 group) and 2,4 % (4 group). At the age of 340 days shell thickness in experimental groups was on higher 3,3% (2 group), 0,7% (3 group) and 8,7 % (4 group) than in control. The analyzed additive increased the natural resistance of hens that was proved by indexes of bacterial growth-inhibitory activity of blood serum and lysozyme activity. There noted tendency of total protein increasing. Studying of immunological indexes showed that they were the most evident in the fourth experimental group

Investigation of influence of complex probiotic preparation Laktimet obtained by means of cultivation of bifidus bacteria and lactic acid bacillus on morphological indexes of pancreatic gland of laying hens was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. Two groups of laying hens of 121-130 days old were used in the experiment. The experimental hens were given probiotic Laktimet with water in dose of 1 ml/head every day in 4 cycles during 7 days and with 7 days intervals. Total condition, dynamics of body weight, and egg production were estimated. Research results showed that body weight of experimental hens increased on 6,4 % on the 10-th day; on 12,1% - on the 24-th day; on 6% - on the 40-th day; and 7,5% - on the 50-th day of experiment. Pancreas weight of experimental hens increased on 4-9%. Acinus size increased on 11%. Morphological indexes in exocrine pancreatic cells showed that altitude of basal pole increased on 3-7%. Application of probiotic Laktimet rendered positive influence on laying hens that was evident in increasing of their productivity (there was an increasing of live weight on 4-8%, and egg-laying capacity – on 18-33%). The positive dynamics of the majority of morphofunctional indexes of exocrinous and endocrine parts of pancreatic gland proved its significant role in maintenance of general state of laying hens and metabolic processes