Efterpi Christaki

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | AUTH · Department of Animal Production, Ichthyology, Ecology and Protection of the Environment

Introduction Bioactive constituents of medicinal-aromatic plants used as feed additives may affect the metabolic profile and oxidative stability of hen eggs. Objectives To determine the effects of dietary supplementation with a mixture of dried oregano, thyme, sideritis tea and chamomile on laying hen performance, egg quality parameters, and oxida...

In this research trial, the effects of the dietary supplementation with a probiotic were evaluated in broiler chickens fed diets with standard or reduced (-4%) metabolisable energy concentration. A total of 640 day-old Ross-308 male chicks were allocated into four equal treatments with ten replicates each (16 chicks per pen). The control treatment...

In this research trial, the effects of the dietary supplementation with a probiotic were evaluated in broiler chickens fed diets with standard or reduced (-4%) metabolizable energy concentration. A total of 640 day-old Ross-308 male chicks were allocated into four equal treatments with ten replicates each (16 chicks per pen). The control treatment...

According to the available literature, clinoptilolite, or other zeolites, have not been used as feed-additives in ostrich rations. Taking into consideration the positive effects of clinoptilolite supplementation in the diets of laying hens on some of their reproductive traits and its potential use as mycotoxin binder, a study was performed in order...

According to the available literature, clinoptilolite, or other zeolites, have not been used as feed-additives in ostrich rations. Taking into consideration the positive effects of clinoptilolite supplementation in the diets of laying hens on some egg quality parameters, a study was performed in order to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion...

Campylobacter is an important pathogen commonly found in chickens that can cause severe acute gastroenteritis in humans. Despite intensive efforts to inhibit food-borne transmission of Campylobacter no effective strategy exists to reduce Campylobacter loads in farmed broilers. This study examined the capacity of a novel feed additive to lower Campy...

Nowadays, the use of antibiotics or arsenic-based substances is under examination, due to concerns over microbial resistance and possible health hazards, such as toxicity. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of a commercial polyherbal feed additive on the growth performance in broiler chickens in comparison with an arsenic-...

1. This feeding trial investigated the effects of herbal feed additives on performance of broiler chickens, jejunal and caecal microbiota, jejunal morphology, and meat chemical composition and oxidative stability during refrigerated storage. 2. In a 42 days trial, 320 one-day-old broiler chickens were randomly allocated to four groups with four rep...

Parasites (protozoa, helminthes, arthropods) represent a main threat for poultry worldwide. Among helminthes, nematodes constitute the most important group of parasites of poultry. The nematode Ascaridia galli, the cause of ascaridiosis in poultry, is one of the most important and prevalent parasites, resulting in serious economic losses, associate...

Authenticity of origin of raw feed materials is an important but difficult problem that could be solved by appropriate quantification of variable constituents. Feedstuffs contain a plentiful mixture of organic and inorganic compounds, whereas, there are many and varying factors influencing their composition. These factors include seed quality, grou...

Η πειραματική αυτή εργασία είχε σκοπό τη μελέτη μιας καινοτόμου μορφής χηλικού σιδήρου (Ferric tyrosine) στη διατροφή των κρεοπαραγωγών ορνιθίων. Χρησιμοποιήθηκαν 384 ορνίθια ηλικίας μίας ημέρας, τα οποία κατανεμήθηκαν τυχαία σε τέσσερις ομάδες με έξι υποομάδες η καθεμιά (16 ορνίθια/υποομάδα). Τα ορνίθια της ομάδας Τ1 (μαρτύρων) διατράφηκαν με δυο...

In this experimental trial, the possible effects of two dietary herbal products in broiler chicken nutrition were investigated on growth performance, intestinal microbiota of jejunum and caeca, intestinal morphology, and meat quality. A total of 240, one-day-old male broiler chicks, were used in a 42-day trial. Birds were randomly distributed into...

A total of 160 pigs were used during the fattening period to evaluate the efficacy of a probiotic, a mannan-oligosaccharide, an organic acid and their mixture on growth performance, intestinal microbiota composition, intestinal morphology and immune response. Pigs were randomly distributed into five treatments with four replicates of eight pigs per...

In recent years there has been increased interest in the production of novel functional foods by utilizing eco-friendly materials and methods. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the effects of dietary spirulina (Spirulina platensis), a blue-green microalga, on growth performance, meat oxidative stability and fatty acid profile...

Due to the variability of feed cost and in order to maintain the competitiveness of pork products, the pig farmers of the European Union try to maximize the use of locally produced feeds, such as rapeseed meal which is a by-product of the oil and biofuel industries. Dietary rapeseed meal of Greek origin was evaluated as alternative for imported soy...

Pigments derived from microalgae are promising natural sources of high-value compounds. These pigments, which include carotenoids, chlorophylls, and phycobiliproteins, have health-promoting properties such as vitamin precursors, antioxidants, immune enhancers, and anti-inflammatory agents. Accordingly, microalgae pigments can find commercial applic...

The term “functional foods” can include simple foods, technologically treated food products and/or their active components that can be used to prepare fortified foods, or can be consumed separately from foods as supplements. Several epidemiological studies have provided evidence that foods should no longer be considered only for their nutritive val...

A total of 120 pigs, 3 months old, were allocated to two equal groups (4 replications per group), to investigate the effect of the dietary inclusion of rapeseed meal (R group) of Greek origin instead of imported soybean meal (S group) on growth performance and certain carcass characteristics, such as chemical composition, lipid oxidation and fatty...

Soybean meal is a widely available feed for farm animals, rich in protein (440-500 g kg-1). It has high biological value and digestibility, and considerable energy content. Unfortunately, in recent years, soybean meal has become so expensive that other vegetable feedstuffs are urgently sought after by nutritionists and feed industries. The dietary...

Abstract 1. This paper reviews the use of botanical extracts in the control of coccidial infection in poultry. 2. Some plants and their respective volatile oils and extracts have the potential to alleviate coccidiosis and reduce its severity. 3. Most plant bioactives improve some, but not all, aspects of coccidiosis with variable effectiveness agai...

Stevia rebaudiana is a perennial bush originating in South America, traditionally used as sweetener or as medicine. Stevia contains important natural antioxidants such as flavonoids and various phenolics, tannins, essential oils and other compounds. In addition, stevia could be a potential source of prebiotics, mainly inulin-type fructooligosacchar...

Carotenoids are isoprenoid molecules which are synthesised de novo by photosynthetic plants, fungi and algae and are responsible for the orange, yellow and some red colours of various fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids are lipophilic compounds, some of which act as provitamins A. These compounds can be divided into xanthophylls and carotenes. Many...

Plant essential oils (EOs) and their compounds have proven in vitro efficacy as antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunodulating and anti-inflammatory agents. These substances deserve an important place as feed additives that are generally considered as safe. The available in vivo data show that EOs could find use as natural growth promoters in animal di...

Aromatic plants, also known as herbs and spices, have been used since antiquity as folk medicine and as preservatives in foods. The best known aromatic plants, such as oregano, rosemary, sage, anise, basil, etc., originate from the Mediterranean area. They contain many biologically active compounds, mainly polyphenolics, which have been found to po...

An important field of research today is the control of biological damages such as oxidative stress and oxidative rancidity caused by free radicals. Natural antioxidants can be used because of their health benefits against oxidative stress which is involved in the pathology of several diseases in living organisms. Moreover, antioxidants have been us...

Nowadays, there is a great interest towards Spirulina-a bluegreen microalga because of its beneficial compounds. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of dietary Spirulina platensis on milk fatty acid profile of dairy cows. Twenty healthy Holstein crossbreed, average age 4.3 years, in the second month of lactation were allocat...

In this experiment 108 Coturnix japonica quail, 149 days old, were randomly allocated into four equal groups with three subgroups of 9 birds each (6 females and 3 males). A commercial laying diet was fed to the control group. The remaining three groups were fed the same diet supplemented with ground oregano at 10 g/kg or 20 g/kg or additional 300 m...

In this experiment the effect of dietary carob pods in the growth performance of fattening pigs and their meat quality, including steak chemical composition and fatty acid profile, were examined. A total of 160 weaning piglets, 30 days old, were allocated into four equal groups with 4 subgroups of 5 female and 5 males each. The animals were fed wit...

Hippophae rhamnoides, also known as sea buckthorn is an ancient plant with modern virtues, due to its nutritional and medicinal value. Sea buckthorn is a spiny bush with long and narrow leaves, and orange-yellow berries. It is cold resistant, and native to Europe and Asia. All parts of Hippophae e.g. berries, leaves, and seed or pulp oils contain m...

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Ascophyllum nodosum, an edible brown macroalga, on some haematologic parameters of dairy cows. Nineteen clinically healthy Holstein cows, an average 4.3 years old, were divided into two groups for 49 days. Ten cows received control diet (roughages and concentrate) while the concentrate of 9 cows...

The administration of a natural zeolite, clinoptilolite, in newborn calves via colostrum and milk has been proven to be beneficial in enhancing the intestinal absorption of immunoglobulins and in reducing the incidence and the severity of diarrhoea syndrome. Th e aim of this study was to investigate whether a 2-month-long supplementation at 2 level...

Cynara genus, originating from the Mediterranean area, includes globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus L) and cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis DC). Traditionally these crops have long been used as food and medicine. Nowadays, they are considered as functional foods, owing to their nutritional properties. Artichoke has exhibited h...

Three hundred, one-day-old Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) divided into four groups, with three subgroups each, were fed a basal diet that served as control, or a basal diet containing 6 g calcium formate (CF)/kg or 2 g mannan oligosaccharides (MOS)/kg or both 6 g CF/kg plus 2 g MOS/kg. On 21st and 42nd days the pH of the quail crop, proventricu...

Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in the identification of natural substances that can increase animal production. In this experiment performance parameters and egg quality of laying Japanese quail dietary supplemented with olive leaves and / or α-tocopheryl acetate were studied . For this reason 108 Coturnix japonica quail (72 females and...

Aim of the present study was the comparative evaluation of the effect of ground oregano, anise and olive leaves as feed additives on performance and some egg quality characteristics of laying Japanese quails. A total of 189 Coturnix japonica quails (126 females and 63 males), 149 days old, were randomly allocated into seven equal groups with three...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the dietary supplementation of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) extracted from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, acidifiers-calcium formate (CF), calcium propionate (CP)- and their combination on the caecal microflora of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Four hundred and fifty 1-day old quail whe...

Microalgae are known for centuries, but their commercial large-scale production started a few decades ago. They can be grown in open-culture systems such as lakes or highly controlled close-culture systems, have higher productivity than the traditional crops and can be grown in climatic conditions and regions where other crops cannot be grown, such...

The sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus) is an annual herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family. It is grown primarily for its seeds, the sunflower oil and the sunflower meal obtained from it, but also as an ornamental plant, as feed and as fuel. The sunflower seed is comprised from the husk on the outside and the kernel on the inside, whereas depen...

The carob tree belongs to the nutrient plants and it is known since antiquity as a native plant of Greece. Its scientific name Ceratonia siliqua, originates from the Greek word “keraton” which means "horn", and which indicates the shape of its fruit. The carob tree is an evergreen, long-lived, polygamous, monoecious or dioecious. It is easily culti...

The effect of the dietary supplementation of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) on hydrogen ion concentration of the digestive tract and microbial populations of the ceca of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) was investigated in this experimentation. Two hundred twenty five, one-day old Japanese quail divided into three groups, with three subgroups...

Pomegranate has been used extensively as a folk medicine since ancient times. The edible pomegranate fruit has 5-12 cm diameter with a rounded hexagonal shape and thick leathery skin, usually deep pink or red. The inside of the fruit has white spongy tissue that creates spaces filled with edible sacs, known as arils. Over the last decade significan...

An experiment was conducted to investigate the possible use of anise (Pimpinella anisum) and/or alpha-tocopheryl acetate as dietary supplements on the performance and some egg quality characteristics of laying Japanese quail. One hundred and eight Coturnix japonica quail (72 females and 36 males), 149 days old, were randomly allocated to four equal...

An experiment was conducted to investigate the possible use of anise (Pimpinella anisum) and/or α-tocopheryl acetate as dietary supplements on the performance and some egg quality characteristics of laying Japanese quail. One hundred and eight Coturnix japonica quail (72 females and 36 males), 149 days old, were randomly allocated to four equal gro...

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of formic and propionic calcium when used as acidifiers in the feed, on the performance of meat producing quail, on the hydrogen ion concentration in the quail’s digestive tract and on the fatty acids composition of their meat. For this study, 225 Coturnix japonica chicks, one day old, were distr...

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the acidifiers formic and propionic calcium, when included in the feed of egg producing quail Coturnix japonica, on some performance parameters and egg quality characteristics. For this study, which lasted 90 days, 129 Coturnix japonica quail, 42 days old, were distributed randomly into 3 grou...

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of mannan oligosaccharides, extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MOS-500), when included in the feed, on the performance of meat producing quail, on the hydrogen ion concentration in the quail’s digestive tract and on the fatty acids composition of their meat. For this study, 225 Coturnix jap...

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of mannan oligosaccharides extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MOS-500), when included in the feed of egg producing quail Coturnix japonica, on some performance parameters and egg quality characteristics. For this study, which lasted 90 days, 134 Coturnix japonica quail, 42 days old, were di...

Thirty turkeys were allocated to five groups of six birds each. One group that served as control was fed a basal diet, while the others were fed diets supplemented with olive leaves at 5 or 10 g/kg, or α-tocopheryl acetate at 150 or 300 mg/kg. Following slaughter, fillets from breast were stored at 4 °C in the dark for 12 days, and lipid oxidation...

In this review article the use of algae as feed in animal nutrition is being examined. The algae evolved on earth 3.5 billion years ago. They are primitive, generally aquatic and photosynthetic organisms, which range in size from 0,2-2,0 μm in diameter -microalgae (phytoplankton) up to 60 m length-macroalgae and may divide once or more per day. Alg...

A total of 160 weaning piglets, 30 days old, were divided into four equal groups (A, B, C, D) with four subgroups of 10 animals each, in order to investigate the effect of the dietary inclusion of carob pods of Greek origin on nutrient digestibility during weaning, growing and fattening periods of pigs. The whole experimentation lasted 150 days. Ca...

Because of the development of drug resistant coccidian strains, the potential protective effects of Fraxinus ornus were investigated in the present study on broiler chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella. For that, in 1 day old Ross 308 chickens not infected / not treated (group A: negative controls), infected (on day 11 with 9.104 s...

Aloe vera, a cactus-like plant has been used for traditional medical purposes for thousands of years. Aloe leaves can be separated into two basic products: the latex, a bitter yellow liquid beneath the epidermis of the leaf and the gel, a colorless and tasteless substance in the inner part of the leaf. Both of them have many biologically active com...

Experimentation was performed to determine the effect of the dietary supplementation of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) and the acidifier calcium formate (CF) on the performance and carcass quality of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Three hundred 1-day old Japanese quail divided into four groups with three subgroups each were fed a basal diet...

The effect of the dietary supplementation of Mannan Oligosaccharides (MOS) and the acidifier Calcium Propionate (CP) on the performance and carcass quality of the Japanese quail ( Coturnix japonica ) was investigated in this experimentation. Three hundred, one-day old Japanese quail divided into four groups with three subgroups each were fed a basa...

The objective of the present study was to determine whether the addition of clinop-tilolite and sand in ostrich nest has any influence on egg production, fertility, hatch-ability, embryonic mortality, egg weight loss (%) and chick weight. Moreover, egg quality parameters, such as egg weight, albumen, yolk and shell weight (g and %), yolk color, she...

The first four weeks of ostrich chicks' life are very crucial in respect of mortality. Theprovision of proper housing is one of the most important factors that contribute to the successful growth of chicks and may affect their later performance. Under intensive farming conditions the proposed stockingdensityin the brooder building is 4 chicks/m2. I...

The first four weeks of ostrich chicks' life are very crucial in respect of mortality. Theprovision of proper housing is one of the most important factors that contribute to the successful growth of chicks and may affect their later performance. Under intensive farming conditions the proposed stockingdensityin the brooder building is 4 chicks/m2. I...

The effect of sex and the supplementation of the prebiotic, mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), the acidifier, calcium propionate (CPr) or their combination in the feed of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) on their performance and carcass quality was examined in this experimentation. Three hundred, 1-day old Japanese quail were divided into four groups...

BACKGROUND: This study was performed on female Wistar rats allocated to eight groups of six animals each. Groups 1 and 2 were fed the basal diet, groups 3 and 4 were fed the basal diet supplemented with ground oregano at 20 g kg−1 level, groups 5 and 6 were fed the basal diet supplemented with ground rosemary at 20 g kg−1 level, while groups 7 and...

The effect of dietary supplementation with oregano essential oil on microbial growth of rabbit carcasses during refrigerated storage was investigated. A total of 45 weaned rabbits were separated into three equal groups with three subgroups each. One group was given the basal diet and served as control and the other two groups were administered diet...

The objective of the present study was to determine whether the supplementation of clinoptilolite in ostrich diet or its addition in their nest, has any influence on total bacteria contamination of ostrich eggshells and on hatchability of fertile eggs. Three experiments were carried out. In each of the first two experiments 18 African Black ostrich...

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with oregano, vitamin C, vitamin E and their combination on the performance of broiler chickens and the oxidative stability of breast and thigh muscle tissues. A total of 320 day-old Cobb-500 chicks were randomly allocated into 8 groups with 4 subgroups of 10 birds e...

An experiment was undertaken to evaluate the oxidative stability and the sensory characteristics of designer versus ordinary (control) eggs in Greek market. Several types of designer eggs available through super-market shelves can be found in the Greek market. They are enriched in n-3 fatty acids and vitamin E ("Eggs+plus", Mega Farm Co., Megara; "...

Fifty-two clinically healthy Holstein cows were randomly assigned to one of three groups according to their age and parity. The first group (A) consisted of 17 cows that were fed a concentrate ration supplemented with 1.25 per cent clinoptilolite, the second group (B) consisted of 17 cows fed a ration supplemented with 2.5 per cent clinoptilolite,...

The effect of the dietary inclusion of natural zeolite (a clinoptilolite-rich tuff) and flaxseed on body fat deposition was assessed. Sixty broiler chickens, from a commercial strain (Ross) were randomly allocated into five treatments (A, B, C, D, and E) according to the experimental diets used (n=12 birds per treatment). In treatment A, served as...

Treatment with neomycin (as a positive control) and dried oregano leaves on mortality, number of days scouring and severity of scours due to Escherichia coli were examined in 30 Holstein calves. Calves were assigned to one of the treatments following clinical signs of diarrhoea (i.e. faecal score >2), and treated either with an oral solution of neo...

To determine whether dietary supplementation with clinoptilolite affects the incidence of parturient paresis and serum concentrations of total calcium (tCa), inorganic phosphorus (PO(4) (2)), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), and sodium (Na+) in dairy cattle. 52 dairy cows. Procedure-Cows were placed into 3 groups. The first 2 groups (group A [n =...

The effect of the dietary inclusion of clinoptilolite on the haematological parameters of dairy cows has not been studied yet; however in mice, prolonged zeolite administration causes disturbances in the adaptation of erythropoiesis in periods of increased demands. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the long term supplementatio...