Effect of supplementation of Lactobacillus brevis postbiotics on nutrient digestibility, growth and intestinal health in growing mink

The objective of this research was to investigate the functional roles of phytase and xylanase in nursery pigs and broiler chickens. These enzymes have been widely studied and have shown consistent results improving nutrient digestibility and growth performance. However, recent studies have raised the hypothesis that phytase and xylanase could also have potential effects on intestinal and bone health, and intestinal microbiota. The first study studied at the effects of a bacterial 6-phytase on nutrient digestibility and retention of nursery and growing pigs. The results showed that supplementing a bacterial 6-phytase in pig diets can be a potential alternative for reducing high levels of inorganic phosphorus sources while still increasing the digestibility and utilization of phosphorus by the animals. The second study investigated the efficacy and optimal level of a bacterial 6-phytase supplemented beyond traditional dose levels on bone and intestinal health, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of nursery pigs. The results revealed that the supplementation of the bacterial 6-phytase enhanced bone health, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance in nursery pigs. The third study aimed to determine the effects of phytase supplementation on the intestinal microbiota and morphology, bone health, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of broiler chickens. The results showed that phytase supplementation had potential benefits on the microbiota by reducing potential harmful bacteria and increasing beneficial bacteria. Additionally, phytase had positive effects on bone health, intestinal morphology, and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. The fourth study examined the functional roles of xylanase on the intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs. The results showed that xylanase supplementation had beneficial effects on intestinal health by reducing the digesta viscosity, the relative abundance of potentially harmful bacteria, and the oxidative stress in the jejunal mucosa. All of these factors collectively reflected in improvements on the intestinal morphology, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of nursery pigs. In conclusion, the results of these studies reaffirmed the benefits of phytase and xylanase related to nutrient digestibility and growth performance in nursery pigs and broiler chickens, as well as showed potential benefits on intestinal health and microbiota of the animals. Supplementing these enzymes could also contribute to a reduction in feed costs and environmental concerns associated with a poor hydrolysis and breakdown of antinutritional factors in animal diets.

The growing restriction of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) use in farming animals has raised a concern regarding the viability of the animal production system. In this new context, feed additives with proven positive impact on intestinal health may be used as strategy to avoid losses on performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a protected blend of organic acids and essential oils [P(OA+EO)] on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal health of broiler chickens. A total of 1,080 Cobb × Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly distributed in four treatments with 10 replicates (27 birds/each). Treatments were as follow: non-challenged control; challenged control; AGP (enramycin at 10 g/t); and P(OA+EO) at 300 g/t. All birds on challenged groups were challenged with Eimeria spp. at 1 day and with Clostridium perfringens at 11, 12, and 13 days. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were evaluated until 42 days. At 17 days, one bird per pen was orally gavaged with fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-d) and blood samples were collected for FITC-d detection to assess intestinal permeability. At 21 days, apparent ileal nutrient and energy (IDE) digestibility, intestinal macroscopic and histologic alterations (ISI) and, expression of mucin2 (MUC2), claudin1 (CLDN1), and occludin (OCLN) genes in the jejunum were evaluated. From 1 to 42 days, birds from the non-challenged and P(OA+EO) groups had greater (P < 0.001) BWG compared to challenged control and AGP groups. The challenged control group presented the worst FCR (P < 0.001). IDE was 106 kcal/kg greater when broilers were fed P(OA+EO) compared to the challenged control group. Broilers supplemented with P(OA+EO) had improved intestinal integrity with lower blood FITC-d concentration and ISI scores, and greater expression of MUC2, CLDN1, and OCLN genes compared to the challenged control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the P(OA+EO) and the AGP led to increased growth performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal health of challenged broilers. A marked difference occurred in favor of the P(OA+EO), suggesting that this blend may be used to improve intestinal health and broiler growth performance in AGP free programs.

ObjectiveThe objective was to evaluate the efficacy of increasing supplementation of Yarrowia lipolytica (YL) up to 3.0% replacing 1.6% poultry fat and 0.9% blood plasma for growth performance, intestinal health and nutrient digestibility of diets fed to nursery pigs.MethodsTwenty-four pigs weaned at 24 d of age (initial body weight at 7.2±0.6 kg) were allotted to three dietary treatments (n = 8) based on the randomized complete block. The diets with supplementation of YL (0.0%, 1.5%, and 3.0%, replacing poultry fat and blood plasma up to 1.6% and 0.9%, respectively) were fed for 21 d. Feed intake and body weight were recorded at d 0, 10, and 21. Fecal score was recorded at every odd day from d 3 to 19. Pigs were euthanized on d 21 to collect proximal and distal jejunal mucosa to measure intestinal health markers including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-8, immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G. Ileal digesta was collected for apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients in diets. Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed of SAS.ResultsSupplementation of YL (1.5% and 3.0%) replacing poultry fat and blood plasma did not affect growth performance, fecal score and intestinal health. Supplementation of YL at 1.5% did not affect nutrient digestibility, whereas supplementation of YL at 3.0% reduced AID of dry matter (40.2% to 55.0%), gross energy (44.0% to 57.5%), crude protein (52.1% to 66.1%), and ether extract (50.8% to 66.9%) compared to diets without supplementation.ConclusionYarrowia lipolytica can be supplemented at 1.5% in nursery diets, replacing 0.8% poultry fat and 0.45% blood plasma without affecting growth performance, intestinal health and nutrient digestibility. Supplementation of YL at 3.0% replacing 1.6% poultry fat and 0.9% blood plasma did not affect growth performance and intestinal health, whereas nutrient digestibility was reduced.

This study evaluated supplemental effects of increasing levels of soy protein concentrate (SPC) replacing animal protein supplements on growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs. Thirty-two newly weaned pigs (6.4 ± 0.4 kg BW) were allotted to 4 treatments in a RCBD with initial BW and sex as blocks and fed for 35 d in 3 phases (P1/2/3 for 10/12/13 d, respectively) following NRC (2012). Dietary treatments were SPC-0 (diet with fish meal 4/2/1%, poultry meal 10/8/4%, and blood plasma 4/2/1% for P1/2/3, respectively); SPC-1, SPC-2, and SPC-3 (SPC-0 with SPC replacing 1/3, 2/3, and 3/3 of animal protein supplements). Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to the diets as indigestible marker from d 30. Growth performance was recorded for each phase. Pigs were euthanized on d 35 to collect jejunal tissue to measure intestinal health, and ileal digesta to measure apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Overall, increasing levels of SPC replacing animal proteins reduced linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.05) the BW (21.4 to 17.3 kg), ADG (431 to 312 g/d), and ADFI (551 to 390 g/d) of pigs. The G:F decreased linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.05) on P1 (0.72 to 0.52). Increasing levels of SPC replacing animal proteins did not affect the AID of nutrients. Immunoglobulin A tended to increase (P = 0.099, 3.39 to 5.55 mg/mg of protein) when SPC supplemental levels were compared with the control group. Increasing levels of SPC replacing animal proteins did not affect the concentration of MDA, TNF-a, IL-8, protein carbonyl, and IgG and villus height, villus width, and crypt cells proliferation among treatments. Collectively, increasing level of SPC supplement did not negatively affect the intestinal health and digestibility of nutrients, whereas linearly reduced the growth performance.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of basal diets supplemented with a clay product consisting of zeolite and attapulgite (ZA) at 1:1 ratio on growth performance, digestibility of feed nutrients, activities of digestive enzymes in small intestine and intestinal health in broiler chickens. In experiment 1, 112 one-day-old male chickens were randomly divided into 2 groups with 8 replicates of 7 chickens each. In experiment 2, 84 one-day-old male chickens were randomly allocated into 2 groups consisting 6 replicates of 7 chickens each. The experimental diets both consisted of a maize-soybean basal control diet supplemented with 0% or 2% ZA. The diets were fed from 1 to 42 days of age. The results showed that ZA supplementation could increase body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI), but had no significant effect on feed conversion ratio. The apparent digestibility values of crude protein and gross energy were significantly increased (p<0.05) by ZA from 14 to 16 d and 35 to 37 d. Dietary ZA treatment significantly increased (p<0.05) the activities of amylase, lipase and trypsin in jejunal digesta and the activities of maltase and sucrase in jejunal mucosa on days 21 and 42. The ZA supplementation also significantly increased (p<0.05) the catalase activity, reduced (p<0.05) the malondialdehyde concentration in the jejunal mucosa. In addition, a decrease of serum diamine oxidase activity and an increase (p<0.05) in concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A in jejunal mucosa were observed in birds treated with ZA on 21 and 42 days. It is concluded that ZA supplementation (2%) could partially improve the growth performance by increasing BWG and FI. This improvement was achieved through increasing the secretion of digestive enzymes, enhancing the digestibilites of nutrients, promoting intestinal health of broiler chickens.

Fermented liquid feed (FLF) can improve dietary nutrient absorption levels, degrade antinutrient factors in diets, and increase beneficial bacteria abundance in animal guts. However, few systematic studies have been conducted on wheat-based fermented liquid feed (WFLF) in pigs. The present study evaluates the effects of WFLF on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gastric volume, intestinal morphology, intestinal health, intestinal barrier function, serum biochemical immunity, gut microbiota, and intestinal microbial diversity of grower-finisher pigs. In total, 80 weaned pigs were randomly allocated to two treatment groups based on their initial body weight: a basal diet with pellet dry feeding (CON) and a basal diet with WFLF, with four replicate pens per group. The experiment lasted 82 d. Compared with CON pigs, those fed WFLF were significantly heavier at 60 to 82 d and had significantly higher average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and gain: feed ratio at 60 to 82 d and 1 to 82 d. WFLF pigs had significantly greater jejunum, total tract, and ileal digestibility for all nutrients and amino acids, excluding arginine, than CON pigs. WFLF intake influenced villus height, villus height:crypt depth ratio of the anterior segment of the jejunum (A-jejunum), crypt depth, and redox potential of the posterior segment of the jejunum (P-jejunum) while significantly affecting body weight. Additionally, FLF improved gastric capacity significantly. Furthermore, mRNA expression of occludin and claudin-1 in the mucosa of the ileum and jejunum was significantly higher in WFLF pigs than in CON pigs. WFLF increased serum concentrations of alanine transaminase and reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and total bile acid content. The alpha diversity (Shannon and Simpson indices) in the stomachs of WFLF pigs was significantly higher than in CON pigs. Microbial diversity in the stomach, ileum, and cecum, as well as the abundance of lactic acid bacteria, were increased in WFLF pigs compared to CON pigs. In conclusion, WFLF intake may positively influence intestinal ecology by improving digestive tract structure, upregulating intestinal barrier-related genes, and improving intestinal morphology to enhance intestinal digestive function and health. Collectively, the present study shows that WFLF intake can increase growth performance while maintaining beneficial nutrient digestibility in grower-finisher pigs.

Effects of xylanase on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and intestinal health in weaned piglets

This study aimed to examine the effect of synbiotics and synbiotics plus Selenium or betaine on the performance, intestinal ecology, nutrient digestibility, and carcass quality of Tegal ducks. A total of 200 ducks were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a completely randomized study. The treatment groups included control (basal feed without any additive), synbiotics (Syn; basal feed supple-mented with 2% synbiotics), synbiotic plus selenium (Syn+Se; basal feed supplemented with 2% syn-biotics and 10 mg/kg selenium), synbiotic plus betaine (Syn+Bet; basal feed supplemented with 2% synbiotics and 500 mg/kg betaine). The Tegal duck performance, intestinal health, nutrient digestibil-ity, and carcass quality were determined at the end of the study. Final body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were improved (p&lt;0.05) in ducks given synbiotic plus selenium compared to other treat-ments. Betaine or selenium in combination with synbiotics lowered (p&lt;0.05) the caecum’s pH values. Synbiotic plus selenium or betaine enhanced (p&lt;0.05) the numbers of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), but did not reduce the colonies of Escherichia coli in the caecum of ducks. Crude protein and crude fiber digestibility in Tegal ducks were considerably (p&lt;0.05) improved by the administration of synbiotics, synbiotics plus selenium, or synbiotics plus betaine as compared to control. The Syn+Bet treatment, in contrast to the Syn and Syn+Se treatments, substantially (p&lt;0.05) enhanced N and Ca retention. The Syn+Se and Syn+Bet groups had higher (p&lt;0.05) carcass and thigh proportions than the control and Syn groups. The Syn+Se and Syn+Bet groups had higher (p&lt;0.05) meat weights than the control and Syn groups. The treatment groups had less (p&lt;0.05) abdominal fat than the control. Total cholesterol of meats was lower (p&lt;0.05) in ducks treated with synbiotics or a combination of synbiotics with seleni-um or betaine. In conclusion, dietary administration of synbiotic plus selenium resulted in improved body weight, FCR, intestinal ecology, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, meat weight and total cho-lesterol in meats of Tegal ducks.

Although dietary fiber (DF) negatively affects energy and nutrient digestibility, there is growing interest for the inclusion of its fermentable fraction in pig diets due to their functional properties and potential health benefits beyond supplying energy to the animals. This paper reviews some of the relevant information available on the role of different types of DF on digestion of nutrients in different sections of the gut, the fermentation process and its influence on gut environment, especially production and utilization of metabolites, microbial community and gut health of swine. Focus has been given on DF from feed ingredients (grains and coproducts) commonly used in pig diets. Some information on the role DF in purified form in comparison with DF in whole matrix of feed ingredients is also presented. First, composition and fractions of DF in different feed ingredients are briefly reviewed. Then, roles of different fractions of DF on digestion characteristics and physiological functions in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are presented. Specific roles of different fractions of DF on fermentation characteristics and their effects on production and utilization of metabolites in the GIT have been discussed. In addition, roles of DF fermentation on metabolic activity and microbial community in the intestine and their effects on intestinal health are reviewed and discussed. Evidence presented in this review indicates that there is wide variation in the composition and content of DF among feed ingredients, thereby their physico-chemical properties in the GIT of swine. These variations, in turn, affect the digestion and fermentation characteristics in the GIT of swine. Digestibility of DF from different feed ingredients is more variable and lower than that of other nutrients like starch, sugars, fat and CP. Soluble fractions of DF are fermented faster, produce higher amounts of volatile fatty acid than insoluble fractions, and favors growth of beneficial microbiota. Thus, selective inclusion of DF in diets can be used as a nutritional strategy to optimize the intestinal health of pigs, despite its lower digestibility and consequential negative effect on digestibility of other nutrients.

This study aimed to determine supplemental effects of xylanase (endo-β-1,4-xylanase, CJ BIO, Korea) and its optimal supplementation level on viscosity of jejunal digesta, nutrient digestibility, intestinal health, and growth performance of pigs. Sixty weaned pigs (6.9 ± 0.8 kg BW) were randomly allotted to 5 treatments based on a RCBD with initial BW and sex as block and fed in 3 phases (P1/2/3 for 10/14/14 d, respectively). Dietary treatment were the supplementation levels of xylanase providing (0, 220, 440, 880, and 1,760 XU/kg feed). Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to P3 diets as an indigestible marker to measure AID. On d 38, all pigs were euthanized to collect ileal and jejunal digesta to measure AID and viscosity, respectively; jejunal mucosa and tissue to measure intestinal health parameters. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4. Xylanase supplementation from 0 to 350 XU/kg increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) ADG (596 to 746 g/d) during the last week, whereas there was no effect by xylanase on the overall growth performance. Increasing xylanase supplementation reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) digesta viscosity (1.91 to 1.48 mPa.s); increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) the AID of EE (83.9 to 89.5%), NDF (52.9 to 56.9%) and ADF (35.3 to 39.3%); tended to reduce Cupriavidus (P = 0.073; 1.33 to 0.63%) and Megasphaera (P = 0.063; 1.26 to 0.23%); and tended to increase Succinivibrio (P = 0.076; 1.10 to 2.71%) and Pseudomonas (P = 0.060; 4.89 to 13.29%). Xylanase supplementation from 0 to 520 XU/kg reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) jejunal MDA (0.99 to 0.58 µmol/mg protein). In conclusion, xylanase supplementation showed benefits on intestinal health by reducing digesta viscosity, oxidative stress status, and harmful bacteria in the jejunal mucosa and by increasing the AID of nutrients. Xylanase supplementation at a range of 350 to 520 XU/kg feed provided the most benefits.

Besides its primary role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, the intestine also interacts with a complex external milieu, and is the first defense line against noxious pathogens and antigens. Dysfunction of the intestinal barrier is associated with enhanced intestinal permeability and development of various gastrointestinal diseases. The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are important nutrients, which are the essential substrates for protein biosynthesis. Recently, emerging evidence showed that BCAAs are involved in maintaining intestinal barrier function. It has been reported that dietary supplementation with BCAAs promotes intestinal development, enhances enterocyte proliferation, increases intestinal absorption of amino acids (AA) and glucose, and improves the immune defenses of piglets. The underlying mechanism of these effects is mediated by regulating expression of genes and proteins associate with various signaling pathways. In addition, BCAAs promote the production of beneficial bacteria in the intestine of mice. Compelling evidence supports the notion that BCAAs play important roles in both nutrition and intestinal health. Therefore, as functional amino acids with various physiological effects, BCAAs hold key roles in promoting intestinal development and health in animals and humans.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of reducing metabolizable energy (ME) below the requirement by reducing supplemental fat on intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs. One hundred and ninety-two newly weaned pigs at 7.3 ± 0.6 kg BW were allotted in a RCBD with sex and initial BW as blocks. Pigs were assigned to one of 8 dietary treatments with varying ME levels (3,400, 3,375, 3,350, 3,325, and 3,300 kcal/kg ME) by reducing supplemental fat and increasing xylanase (X0: 0, X40: 1,200, X80: 2,400 and X120: 3,600 XU/kg of feed) in ME deficient diets by 100 kcals/kg. Pigs were fed diets for 35 d in 2 phases (14 d and 21 d, respectively) and growth performance was measured at the end of each phase. Phase 2 diet had titanium dioxide (0.4%) as indigestible external marker to measure ileal digestibility of nutrients. At d 35, a pig representing the median BW within each pen from 3 dietary treatments (ME at 3,400 and 3,300 kcal/kg ME with or without xylanase) were euthanized for sampling jejunal mucosa, jejunal tissue, and ileal digesta to analyze intestinal health parameters, mucosa associated microbiota, and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients. Data were analyzed using Mixed procedure of SAS 9.4. Overall, reducing ME level had no effect on growth performance of nursery pigs. However, reducing ME by 100 kcal/kg ME below the requirement increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) digesta viscosity (1.7 to 2.2 cP) and protein carbonyl (0.18 to 0.40 nmol/mg), tended to change the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae (P = 0.062, 49 to 23%) and Lactobacillaceae (P = 0.086, 7 to 19%), reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) villus height (467 to 433 µm) and villus height to crypt depth ratio (1.80 to 1.64) in the jejunum, and reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) AID of DM (59.5 to 47.3%), gross energy (59.1 to 43.0%), crude protein (63.4 to 44.6%), and ether extract (67.7 to 55.2%). Xylanase supplementation decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) digesta viscosity (2.2 to 1.82 cP) and protein carbonyl (0.40 to 0.17 nmol/mg), increased the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae (20.22 to 61.56%), increased villus height (433 to 462 µm) and villus height to crypt depth ratio (1.64 to 1.99) in the jejunum, and increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) AID of DM (47.3 to 58.7%), and gross energy (42.9 to 56.0%). In conclusion, reducing ME (100 kcal/kg below the requirement) by reducing supplemental fat (by 2% unit) impaired intestinal health, reducing ability of the pigs to digest feeds whereas xylanase supplementation appeared to mediate some of the negative effects seen by energy reduction by improving intestinal morphology, reducing oxidative damage products, and diversity of the mucosa-associated microbiota.

This study aimed to determine supplemental effects of phytase (VTR BIO-TECH, China) on bone parameters, jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota, intestinal morphology, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of broiler chickens (Ross 308). Newly hatched broiler chickens (360, 44 ± 6 g BW) were randomly allotted in 6 treatments with 10 birds per cage based on CRD and fed for 27 d. Dietary treatments were the supplementation levels of phytase providing (0; 500; 1,000; 2,000; 4,000 FTU/kg feed) and 0.15% less Ca and 0.15% less P than the recommended requirements by ROSS 2019. Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to the diets as an indigestible marker to measure AID. On d 27, 3 birds were randomly selected from each cage and euthanized to collect jejunal mucosa and tissue to measure microbiota diversity and morphology, ileal digesta to measure AID, and left tibia to measure bone parameters. Data were analyzed using SAS. Phytase supplementation tended to increase overall ADG (P = 0.078; 39.7 to 42.2 g/d), whereas without affecting the overall ADFI and G:F. Phytase supplementation reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) Pelomonas (10.01 to 2.64%) and tended to reduce Helicobacter (P = 0.085; 10.67 to 0.88%); Pseudomonas (P = 0.090; 2.02 to 0.31%); Sphingomonas (P = 0.071; 1.03 to 0.19%). Phytase supplementation increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) villus height (884 to 989 µm); the AID of CP (65.4 to 70.6%) and P (36.3 to 43.7%). Increasing phytase supplementation from 0 to 1,296 FTU/kg increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) breaking strength (184 to 213 N) and P content in the tibia (9.5 to 10.0%). In conclusion, phytase supplementation up to 4,000 FTU/kg feed showed benefits on intestinal health by reducing harmful bacteria in the jejunal mucosa, enhancing intestinal morphology and by increasing the AID of nutrients; and on the bone parameters by increasing the breaking strength and P content.

Oral supplementation of β-glucans may be able to improve the health of companion animals. However, little is understood regarding the effects of yeast β-glucan on diet processing and intestinal function. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to determine the carry through of yeast β-glucan during extruded diet production and its impact on diet utilization by dogs. Three diets were formulated to contain increasing levels of a yeast β-glucan blend at 0, 0.012 and 0.023% inclusion. Processing inputs were held constant during extrusion to allow for evaluation of output parameters and physical characteristics of kibble. Yeast β-glucan concentration was analyzed in extruded diets using the glucan enzymatic method, resulting in &amp;gt;100% recovery. Twenty-four Labrador Retrievers were assigned to one of three dietary groups of 8 dogs each with an equal distribution of sex and age. Dogs were fed dietary treatments for 24-d adaption followed by 4-d total fecal collection. Feces were scored on a 1-5 scale, with 1 representing liquid diarrhea and 5 hard pellet-like with a fecal score of 3.5-4 considered ideal. Fresh fecal samples were collected for analysis of short chain fatty acid concentrations. Apparent total tract digestibility was calculated by total fecal collection (TFC) and titanium (TI) marker methods. Data were analyzed using a mixed model procedure in software (version 9.4, SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC). Dry bulk density, kibble diameter, and kibble length did not differ among dietary treatments. Intake was similar among dietary treatments (P &amp;gt; 0.05). Dogs required about 26% more food than estimated [130*BWkg0.75] to maintain body weight among all treatments. Fecal score was not different (P &amp;gt; 0.05) among dietary treatments but was lower than ideal at an average of 2.6. Nutrient digestibility was not affected (P &amp;gt; 0.05) by inclusion of the yeast β-glucan. By method, the TFC procedure resulted in higher (P&amp;lt; 0.05) digestibility values when compared to the TI procedure. In addition, yeast β-glucan did not alter short or branched chain fatty acid proportions. Overall, processing parameters, physical characteristics of kibble, stool quality, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal health in dogs were not affected by the yeast β-glucan blend.

A Bacillus subtilis xylanase improves nutrient digestibility, intestinal health and growth performance of broiler chickens undergoing an intestinal challenge.