The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of compound probiotics on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, fecal pathogenic microorganisms, and serum parameters in newborn calves. A total of 48 healthy newborn calves with similar body weights (mean ± SD: 37.0 ± 2.0 kg) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 16 per group). Control group (CON), yeast group (CP1), Bacillus licheniformis + yeast group (CP2). The feeding trial lasted for 60 days. Growth performance, diarrhea incidence, fecal scores, and serum parameters were assessed on days 1, 30, and 60 of the trial, while fecal samples collected on days 15 and 30 were analyzed for pathogenic microorganism positivity. Compared with CON group, calves in the CP2 group had higher body weight (BW; day 30; p<0.05), average daily gain (ADG; days 1-30; p<0.05), and feed efficiency (FE; days 1-30; p<0.05). Compared with CON group, the incidence of diarrhea and fecal scores (days 1-60) were lower in both CP1 and CP2 groups (p<0.05). Fecal samples from these groups also exhibited reduced positive rates of pathogenic microorganisms (rotavirus, coronavirus, cryptosporidium). Notably, compared with CON group, serum antioxidant and immune markers, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels were elevated (p<0.05), whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were decreased (p<0.05), and serum diamine oxidase (DAO) levels were also reduced in the CP1 and CP2 groups (p<0.05). Furthermore, compared with the CON group, calves in the CP2 group exhibited lower serum cortisol (Cor) and higher growth hormone (GH) levels (p<0.05). No interactions between treatment and period were observed. The combined use of Bacillus licheniformis and yeast exerts synergistic effects by promoting growth and development in newborn calves, reducing diarrhea incidence, enhancing antioxidant and immune functions, and improving overall health.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA) on Sertoli cells (SCs) in Tibetan sheep, focusing on its impact on cell proliferation, lactate synthesis, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Primary SCs were isolated from the testes of Tibetan sheep and cultured. The effects of PCA on SCs function were evaluated through in vitro experiments, and its molecular mechanisms were further explored. Meanwhile, both in vivo and in vitro mouse models were employed to validate the regulatory mechanisms of PCA on male reproductive function and SCs. PCA significantly upregulated the expression of proliferation and lactate synthesis-related genes in Tibetan sheep SCs, and increased the intracellular pyruvate and lactate levels. Mechanistically, PCA activated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and inhibited the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, thereby inducing autophagy in SCs. The use of autophagy inhibitors and AMPK inhibitors effectively blocked PCA-induced promotion of SCs proliferation and lactate synthesis. In mouse model studies, PCA improved sperm count, pregnancy rate, and litter size, and reduced sperm abnormality rate. It also elevated activin A levels and decreased inhibin B levels in testicular tissues, increased serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) levels, enhanced testicular antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Furthermore, PCA upregulated the expression of proliferation and lactate synthesis-related proteins in mouse testicular tissues and primary SCs, modulated the AMPK/mTOR pathway, and increased autophagic activity. PCA promotes the proliferation and lactate synthesis in SCs of Tibetan sheep through AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy.

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are promising in target and efficient delivery of bioactive compounds with high loading capacity of bioactives, better physical stability, better encapsulation efficiency, solubility and bioavailability in comparison to the conventional delivery systems for lipophilic and hydrophobic bioactives such as essential oils and phytochemicals as well as functional feed ingredients. There are different types of NLCs combining solid lipid and liquid lipid in a single nanoparticulate matrix that have advantages over other drug delivery systems. The NLCs can be synthesized in form of imperfect, amorphous, oil-enriched, surface modified or functionalized, hybrid or composite and multiple-compartment or double-shell NLCs. Moreover, the synthesized NLCs safety, efficacy, toxicity, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading and releasing capacity, reproducibility in large scale were evaluated. The application of NLCs for the effective and target delivery of bioactive compounds are widely reported in biomedical and therapeutic studies. However, utilization of NLCs for the effective delivery of bioactive compounds is very limited in swine and poultry health. There are some recent studies reported that NLCs with can enhance growth, antioxidant capacity, immunity, gut health and microbiome as well as disease resistance in swine and poultry. This review focuses on recent developments and future prospects of utilizing NLCs in swine and poultry health management. Regardless of the potential beneficial effects of NLCs in nanodelivery of bioactive compounds, further research on long-term field oriented studies in livestock and poultry farms and economic analysis of manufactured NLCs should be carried out.

The rumen microbiota plays a pivotal role in fermenting plant biomass, which is essential for nutrient conversion. Although extensive research has examined the intestinal microbiome of Tibetan livestock, the rumen microbiota of semi-fine wool sheep (SF-sheep) remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to profile age-related changes in the rumen microbiota and fermentation parameters of SF-sheep to uncover potential microbial-mediated adaptations to different growth stages. Full-grazing male SF-sheep were randomly assigned into three age groups: two-month-old lambs, yearling sub-adults, and approximately 50-month-old adults. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to analyze the rumen microbiota composition and short-chain volatile fatty acids (SCVFAs). Age-dependent differences were observed in ruminal NH₃-N concentrations, with sub-adult sheep exhibiting higher levels than young and adult individuals, whereas SCVFAs concentrations remained relatively stable. With age, the rumen microbial community structure tended to become more homogeneous, whereas microbial diversity and complexity showed a marked increase during adulthood. At the phylum level, Saccharibacteria and Succiniclasticum were enriched in sub-adults, whereas Euryarchaeota and Prevotellace_UCG_001 were more abundant in adults; no microbial biomarkers were detected in young sheep. Correlation analyses indicated that age and NH₃-N concentrations were the primary factors shaping the rumen microbiota. SCVFAs, including acetate, butyrate, and propionate, were positively associated with fibrolytic and polysaccharide-degrading bacteria such as Prevotella_1, Treponema_2, and Selenomonas_1. The rumen microbial communities were classified into two enterotypes. Enterotype 1, predominantly observed in young SF-sheep, showed higher abundances of KEGG Orthologs (e.g., K00656, K00239, K01966) associated with acetate, propionate, and butyrate synthesis. The rumen microbial ecosystem of SF-sheep undergoes pronounced age-dependent restructuring in microbial composition and diversity, accompanied by nitrogen metabolism. These changes reflect dynamic microbial adaptation to the host's physiological state and potential developmental shifts in nutrient requirements, offering valuable insights for age-specific nutritional management strategies.

Amino acid (AA) requirements reported in previous literature, such as those of the National Research Council (NRC) published in 2012 based on pre-2010 data, do not adequately reflect the improved genetic potential of pigs and thus require updating. Accordingly, this review aimed to provide recent updates on the AA requirements of pigs based on the standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) to net energy (NE) ratio (SID Lys:NE) and the ideal ratios of SID methionine (Met), threonine (Thr), tryptophan (Trp), valine (Val), and isoleucine (Ile) to SID Lys (SID AA:Lys), derived from meta-analyses for average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio. The optimal SID Lys:NE for ADG in this review are consistently greater than the ratios reported by the NRC across different phases, indicating that the improved genetic potential for lean growth requires greater optimal SID Lys:NE. The optimal SID Met:Lys, SID Trp:Lys, and SID Ile:Lys for ADG remain constant with increasing body weight (BW) of pigs, but the ratios are also greater than those reported by the NRC. However, the optimal SID Thr:Lys for ADG increases as BW of pigs increases, likely due to the increasing proportion of maintenance requirement relative to the total Thr requirement. The optimal SID Val:Lys for ADG is greater in the nursery phase than in the grower phases, suggesting that weaning-associated intestinal and immune challenges would increase requirement for Val. Both optimal SID Thr:Lys and SID Val:Lys are greater than the ratios reported by the NRC. In conclusion, these results suggest that the optimal SID Lys:NE and SID AA:Lys in pig diets are greater than the ratios reported by the NRC, and different ratios of SID Thr:Lys and SID Val:Lys should be applied for pigs with different BW.

Salmonella Thompson is a major cause of large-scale foodborne disease outbreaks worldwide; however, research on S. Thompson remains limited. This study investigates the development of a predictive model for the growth of S. Thompson in unpasteurized liquid egg products, such as liquid egg white, liquid egg yolk, and liquid whole egg, to understand the associated health risks. Unpasteurized liquid egg products, confirmed to be free of Salmonella spp., were inoculated with S. Thompson and incubated at various temperatures. Growth kinetic parameters were estimated using both primary and secondary predictive models, including the Baranyi and Roberts model and second-order polynomial models. The effects of environmental factors on S. Thompson growth were analyzed to establish a comprehensive risk assessment framework. The growth curves of S. Thompson exhibited a typical bacterial sigmoidal pattern characteristic of bacterial proliferation, with the Baranyi model providing the best fit for describing the growth kinetics. The secondary model accurately predicted the effect of temperature on growth rate, demonstrating that S. Thompson proliferates rapidly under specific environmental conditions. Model validation indicated high accuracy, confirming the reliability of the developed model for risk assessment applications. The established predictive model enables quantitative assessment of the growth behavior of S. Thompson in unpasteurized liquid egg products. This model can be used in risk assessment and food safety management strategies to mitigate the risk of foodborne pathogen contamination in the food industry.

The objective of this study is to investigate the nutritional metabolism and growth development of broiler chickens under different methionine (Met):cysteine (Cys) ratios, with a focus on proteomic alterations in the hypothalamus and ileum to elucidate potential regulatory mechanisms. A total of 216 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomized into three groups: low (LMCR, 0.34%:0.56%), medium (MMCR, 0.45%:0.45%), and high (HMCR, 0.53%:0.37%) Met:Cys ratios, with total sulfur amino acids fixed at 0.9%. Each group comprised 6 replicates of 12 chicks, and the experiment spanned 21 days. Results demonstrated that HMCR significantly improved average daily gain (ADG, p< 0.05), reduced feed conversion ratio (F:G, p<0.05), and enhanced protein/lipid utilization efficiency. Mechanistically, HMCR promoted hypothalamic neurodevelopment, downregulated key components of the protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway (P< 0.05) and leptin expression (p< 0.001), while upregulating growth hormone and gastrointestinal hormone secretion. Through the hypothalamic-hormonal-ileal axis, HMCR modulated ileal cell physiology by upregulating inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3R, P< 0.05) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K,p< 0.05), thereby enhancing ileal villus morphology and nutrient absorption capacity. The improved ileal structure further augmented energy utilization efficiency (p< 0.05). In conclusion, a dietary Met:Cys ratio of 0.53%:0.37% optimizes broiler growth performance by coordinately regulating metabolic pathways in the hypothalamus and ileum, as well as modulating brain-gut peptide signaling. These findings provide a scientific foundation for formulating sulfur amino acid-optimized diets to enhance poultry productivity and feed efficiency.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of fermented rice bran extract (FRB) with multi-microbial species on intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs. Thirty weaned pigs (initial body weight = 6.8±0.8 kg) were allocated to 3 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design (n = 10 per treatment) and fed for 25 d in 2 phases (7 and 18 d, respectively). Pigs were housed individually in pens equipped with a feeder and a nipple drinker. Pigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.5%, or 1.0% FRB. The main feedstuffs of the basal diet were corn, soybean meal, whey permeate, and blood plasma. The FRB was prepared by fermenting rice bran with Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and contained at least 1×107 CFU/g. On d 25, pigs were euthanized to collect intestinal tissues and mucosa for intestinal health. The supplementation of FRB decreased (p<0.05) the abundance of Desulfovibrio piger in the jejunal mucosa. Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl in the duodenum linearly decreased (p<0.05) and the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum linearly increased (p<0.05) with increasing FRB supplementation. The apparent ileal digestibility of gross energy and crude protein tended to linearly increase (p = 0.084 and p = 0.098, respectively). Body weight on d 25 and overall average daily gain tended to show quadratic responses (p = 0.084 and p = 0.095, respectively) with increasing FRB supplementation. The gain to feed ratio (G:F) was maximized when the FRB intake was 2.7 g/d (0.48%) during d 7 to 25. Dietary supplementation with FRB with multi-microbial species improved intestinal health based on immune response, oxidative stress, and morphology. The growth performance of nursery pigs showed quadratic responses with increasing FRB supplementation. Specifically, the G:F was maximized with supplementation of FRB at 0.48%.

This study aims to investigate the effects of time and light variation on the growth and reproductive performances of breeder geese. A total of 32 ganders and 96 dames in their first laying season, with an average age of 10 months, were assigned to eight rooms, each containing four ganders and twelve dams. A split-plot design was used, incorporating two prelay photoperiod treatments: a 7-hour light period (P7H), and a gradually decreasing light (GDL) group. Two variable photoperiod schedules were applied as sub-treatments and randomized across the rooms. In one treatment, the egg production rate in breeder geese decreased to an average below 30%, after which the photoperiod increased by 15 minutes each week (change time). A fixed photoperiod of nine hours was maintained (fixed time) until the end of the egg-laying period. Geese in the GDL light group had a longer laying duration than P7H light group (243.75 vs 191.75 days; p<0.01). Number of eggs per goose in the GDL light group showed a trend toward higher values than P7H light group (81.82 vs 55.45 egg/bird; p = 0.0779). However, the fertility and hatchability in GDL light group were significantly lower than the P7H light group at all periods, respectively (48.35 vs. 62.57% and 42.80 vs. 53.17%; p<0.05). Income over feed cost for the GDL and P7H light groups was 3,069.6 and 2,535.5 NT$/bird, respectively. Geese exposed to a 12-hour light (12L:12D) regimen during the pre-laying period exhibited a longer laying duration and higher egg production per bird. However, maintaining a fixed lighting schedule of 9 hours of light and 15 hours of darkness (9L:15D) after the peak laying period is recommended to optimize production profitability by supporting better fertility and hatchability.

This study evaluates the effect of a flushing ration containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and jackfruit leaf extracts (JLEs) on the follicle growth, reproductive hormone profiles and oxidative stress state of doelings. Fifteen primiparous Boer×Jawarandu doelings (23.21±3.57 kg body weight, 10- 11 months old) were divided into three groups: control (PUFA flushing ration), control+JLE (200 mg/kg dry matter intake [DMI]), and control+Ca-soap (calcium soap)+JLE (200 mg/kg DMI). The following parameters were measured: production performances, follicle development, blood metabolites, antioxidant status, estradiol, and progesterone concentration. The doelings' glucose levels showed significant differences (p<0.05) during the post-flushing phase, on days 19, and day 21 after estrus. An increase in glucose level was observed following the administration of the control+Ca-soap+JLE ration. However, on day 21 after estrus, the highest glucose level was detected in the control+JLE treatment group (p<0.05). In addition, the doelings' cholesterol levels were elevated on days 19 and 21 with the administration of the control+JLE ration. These changes in glucose and cholesterol levels between phases are presumed to be associated with the increased demand for hormone synthesis and follicular development. JLE supplementation reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels across all phases (p<0.05), indicating lower oxidative stress. Moreover the administration of the control+JLE flushing ration resulted in the highest estradiol hormone level on day 19 after estrus compared to other treatments. This finding is consistent with the greater number of medium-sized follicles observed in doelings receiving the same treatment. Additionally, including JLE in the flushing ration also resulted in increased doelings' progesterone hormone levels during the luteal phase. JLE can mitigate oxidative stress by reducing blood MDA levels during the pre-mating phase. Follicle formation, especially of larger and medium-sized follicles, may be accelerated when a flushing proportion of PUFA is combined with JLE.