Pravin Mishra, DVM

In Hawaiʻi , there is a relatively high number of feral chickens, commonly seen on roads and in parking lots. These feral chickens are of scientific interest, as they can provide clues about the modern-day chicken’s biology. However, until now, there was limited or no knowledge of the gut microbiota of these feral birds. That’s according to Professor Rajesh Jha of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources ( CTAHR ) Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences . For the first time, Jha’s research team sequenced the intestinal microbiota of the Hawaiian feral chicken and explored the cecal (referring to a specific part of the intestine) microbiota profile of commercial chickens. “Since microbial populations are instrumental to their host’s health, we hope that our work will help determine what bacteria are dominant and what potential roles they play, either beneficial or non-beneficial,” said Jha. Knowing the healthy gut mic

This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of Fenugreek seeds ( Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on overall performance of broiler. A total of 96-day old Cobb-500 chicks were randomly divided into four dietary treatment groups namely T0, T1, T2 and T3 having three replications in each treatment group. Brooded chicks were randomly separated into replications wise separate pen to rear up to 4 weeks. Each treatment group contains 24 birds (8 birds in each replication). Experimental birds in T1, T2 and T3 were provided fenugreek seeds meal with 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% of feed while T0 was provided with standard feed and considered as control group. The results of this study were indicated that final live weight gain and feed efficiency of birds was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 compared to T2, and T0 respectively. The result also indicated that feed efficiency was increased at dose rate of 1.5% fenugreek seeds meal in T3 compared to T2, T1 and control T0 group respectively. In ca

  Poultry Science Department, Mississippi State University  The department of poultry science at Mississippi State University is seeking a highly motivated Ph.D. research assistant interested in layer nutrition starting in Spring 2022. The research will focus on evaluating several feed additives on the performance and intestinal health of laying hens. The selected candidate will be responsible for, but not limited to: Work in farm and the laboratory Feed formulation and ingredient analysis Develop research protocols and plan research studies Lead the research and carry out data analysis using appropriate statistical methods Present and publish research in scientific meetings and peer-reviewed journals Qualifications: M.S. in poultry science or animal science Strong oral and written communication skills Stipend: $20,000 plus tuition waiver and health care if needed. Contact Dr. Pratima Adhikari for more details, by email pratima.adhikari@msstate.edu or phone 662-325-2853, before applyi

Diverse gut microbiota plays a significant role in host metabolism, growth performance, nutrient digestion, and overall health of birds. The composition of chicken gut microbiota depends on age, especially at the early stages of life, genotype, farming conditions/environment, and diet/feed additives. Sometimes, the gut microbiota composition can be altered severely by non-infectious or infectious stressors. Consequently, this dysbiosis can impact intestinal morphology and activities (e.g., increased permeability of the intestine, higher risk of bacterial infection, sepsis, inflammation, and reduced digestion). Probiotics can affect the health, performance, and disease risk of the hosts, as they can amend the dysbiosis and improve the balance of gut microbiota in healthy hosts by reducing the proliferation of pathogenic species and increasing the beneficial bacteria. The most commonly used probiotic species belong to the genera Lactobacillus ,  Streptococcus ,  Bacillus , Bif

Photo Courtesy: Prof. Dr. Rajesh Jha Compared to the fattening up power of soybeans and corn, high-fiber animal feeds are often considered to be inefficient for optimal growth and production. But livestock producers may want to reconsider that stance. That’s according to Associate Professor Rajesh Jha of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences . “Our lab has studied many alternative feed components for developing cost-effective and sustainable animal production systems and, in the process, found many functional benefits of dietary fiber not previously appreciated,” Jha noted. Although fibrous feedstuffs typically have fewer calories and relatively lower nutritional values, the higher level of dietary fiber works to improve the animal’s gut health by modulating beneficial microorganisms in the large intestine, the same way as in humans. This benefits the immune function, as well as ove

Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits to the host. The use of probiotics in poultry has increased steadily over the years due to higher demand for antibiotic-free poultry. The objective of this systematic review is to present and evaluate the effects of probiotics on the nutrient utilization, growth and laying performance, gut histomorphology, immunity, and gut microbiota of poultry. An electronic search was conducted using relevant keywords to include papers pertinent to the topic. Seventeen commonly used probiotic species were critically assessed for their roles in the performance and gut health of poultry under existing commercial production conditions. The results showed that probiotic supplementation could have the following effects: (1) modification of the intestinal microbiota, (2) stimulation of the immune system, (3) reduction in inflammatory reactions, (4) prevention of pathogen colonization, (5) enhancement of