Animal Feed Research Articles

Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) dehydrated envelopes and seed cakes in Coturnix coturnix feed: effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and blood biochemical profiles.

The valorization of agro-industrial byproducts in domestic animal feed has the potential to reduce the cost of animal production. This trial was conducted to determine the effect of incorporating prickly pear byproducts (envelopes and cakes) as a partial substitute for corn and soybean meal in the diet of wheat quails (Coturnix coturnix) during their rearing period. Six hundred-day-old Coturnix coturnix quails of equal sex ratio (1:1), weighing on average 7 ± 0.5g, were randomly distributed into four groups, one control group and three experimental groups, according to the rates of incorporation of prickly pear cakes and envelopes, in sequential or nonsequential mode, in the different rearing phases. Each batch (150 subjects) was subdivided into five packs of 30 animals and randomly distributed according to the rate of incorporation (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) of prickly pear envelopes and cakes. The live weight at 45 days and average daily gain (ADG1 - 45d) increased significantly with the introduction of byproducts in all rearing phases (SFCEPP). The carcass yield increased significantly (p < 0.05) with the introduction of byproducts in the finishing phase (FCEPP) and in all rearing phases (SFCEPP). The mineral content decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in all the experimental groups. The protein content increased significantly by 2 points on average when the two prickly pear byproducts were introduced in all rearing phases. The blood biochemical profile of each experimental batch was not influenced by the incorporated prickly pear byproducts. Prickly pear envelopes and cakes in wheat quail feed improve growth performance and meat quality, particularly when they are introduced in the finishing phase and in all rearing phases.

A robust method for mapping soybean by phenological aligning of Sentinel-2 time series

Soybean is an important crop for food and animal feed. Production and area both continue to increase and expand into new areas and countries. Spatially explicit information on soybean cultivation is essential to crop monitoring, production estimation, and national accounting systems. However, its cultivation in diverse climate conditions, landscapes, and agricultural systems poses challenges to accurately map soybean across different regions and years. We propose an innovative soybean mapping method combining phenological alignment with machine learning (named here RF-DTW), which can be applied to diverse geographies and years by aligning phenological shifts and using distinctive features from Sentinel-2 time-series. The method first uses the dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm to align the growing season between pixels across different sites. Then, based on the harmonized time-series, a set of distinctive features was identified and used to build random forest (RF) models to classify soybean across ten globally distributed sites and multiple years. Results show that the green chlorophyll vegetation index (GCVI), greenness and water content composite index (GWCCI), normalized difference senescent vegetation index (NDSVI), red edge position (REP), and short-wave infrared bands are important inputs for distinguishing soybean from other crops. Spectral-phenological features, particularly the curve slope metrics of GCVI and GWCCI during the peak to late growing season, rank as the most important features for mapping soybean. RF-DTW demonstrates good generalizability across ten study sites, achieving an overall accuracy (OA) of 0.92 and an F1-score of 0.84. F1-scores for eight out of ten sites ranged between 0.82 and 0.98, outperforming a benchmark method, although they were lower (F1-score < 0.60) for the two sites in Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, RF-DTW performs robustly when transferred to untrained regions and years, with most cases showing an F1-score higher than 0.70. Our proposed method, as a combination of phenological alignment and machine learning, can be used to map soybean accurately and efficiently across different regions and years, to provide crucial information for understanding the rapid dynamics of soybean cultivation and its global-scale impacts.

Beneficial effects of AMP Scy-hepc on the gut microbiota contribute to the potential growth of Larimichthys crocea

BackgroundIn light of the global ban on antibiotics in animal feed, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a compelling substitute, garnering considerable interest for their potential as feed additives. Our previous study revealed that the extended (one-year) daily administration of the AMP Scy-hepc substantially boosted the growth of Larimichthys crocea. However, the exact influence of dietary supplementation with AMPs on the gut microbiota and the potential beneficial mechanisms remain unclear. Inspired by this, the present study endeavors to examine the alterations in gut microbiota at various gut sites in L. crocea following a 60-day Scy-hepc feeding regimen, building upon our prior research efforts.ResultsUtilizing 16S rRNA sequencing, we found that dietary supplementation with Scy-hepc significantly promoted the growth of L. crocea, which may be caused by the remarkable changes in the microbial communities within the foregut and midgut. Notable changes were observed in Tenericutes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Spirochaetes. The bacterial load trends in both the foregut and midgut demonstrated a notable increase following a 60-day Scy-hepc feeding, as determined by absolute quantitative PCR analysis. Moreover, Scy-hepc supplementation increased the abundance of potential probiotics (Rhodobiaceae and Planococcaceae) and reduced the abundance of opportunistic pathogens (Flavobacteriia and Mollicutes). This led to a more intricate microbial network with enhanced metabolism-related functions, especially in lipid transport and metabolism, signal transduction mechanisms, and coenzyme transport and metabolism. And the microbial resistance (Rs) exhibits no significant change between the Scy-hepc and control groups, indicating a minimal level of toxicity to the gut microbiota of L. crocea.ConclusionsIn summary, this study provides compelling evidences supporting the beneficial alteration of gut microbiota in the foregut and midgut as an underlying mechanism by which Scy-hepc feeding promotes host growth. These findings offer a novel perspective for investigating the advantageous effects of AMPs on fish health and the advancement of aquaculture.

Supplementing exogenous xylanase improves the liver antioxidant capacity and immune response of Tibetan sheep fed wheat-based diets

Xylanase is a heteropolysaccharide found in the plant cell wall, which aids in the absorption and utilisation of nutrients. When embedded in animal feed, it enhances nutrient availability, leading to improved animal performance. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of xylanase supplementation in wheat-based feeds on the hepatic development, antioxidant capacity, and immune response in Tibetan sheep. Sixty healthy, weaned, non-neutered male lambs (19.35 ± 2.18 kg) were randomly assigned to two equal groups (n = 30 per group). Dietary treatments were: basal diet (H group), and basal diet with 0.2% xylanase supplementation (E group). After a 10–day adaptation period, the feeding trial was carried out for 90 days. The live weight, morphology, antioxidant capacity and immune response were measured. The differential genes in liver were identified by RNA-sequencing. Our results showed that the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) were significantly higher in E group than in H group (p < 0.05). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed that immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgM, and IgG were significantly higher in E group than in H group (p < 0.05). The hepatocytes of sheep fed xylanase diet showed arranged radially into hepatic plates cantered around the central vein, and the plates linked with each other to form a lost-like structure. A total of 4,509 differential genes (DEGs) were identified, among which 4,427 were up-regulated and 82 down-regulated. Additionally, the expression of antioxidant-related genes in cluding catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), oxidation resistance 1 (OXR1) and glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2), and immunity-related gene including mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 5B (STAT5B), janus kinase 3 (JAK3) and jun proto-oncogene (JUN) were verified using the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Conclusion: In conclusion, dietary 0.2% xylanase supplementation promoted hepatic antioxidant capacity and immune response via modulating the expression of functional genes in Tibetan sheep.

BSFL As Alternative Halal Animal Feed

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as a bioconversion agent in converting organic waste into nutrient-rich biomass makes it a valuable alternative and sustainable protein source for animal feed formulation, addressing the high cost of traditional protein sources. Despite its nutritional benefits, the halal status of animals fed with BSFL is primarily concerned due to the impurity of larvae consumption. This study discusses the halal implications of feeding livestock with BSFL according to the Islamic jurisprudence. Findings suggest that animals predominantly fed with BSFL could be classified as al-Jallalah as feed of these animals are filth, requiring a quarantine process to eliminate any unpleasant effects on the animal’s meat or milk. If these effects are removed, the animals are permissible for consumption. The study concludes that while BSFL consumption is forbidden for mankind, its use as animal feed is permissible under the Islamic law, with necessary precautions are taken to maintain the halal status of the animals.

Effect of Ultrasonic Waves on Aspire Biodiesel and Comparison of Its Properties with Petroleum Diesel

This study aimed to determine the effect of ultrasonic sound waves on modifying the chemical structure of biodiesel to bring its physical properties closer to petroleum diesel. In this direction, safflower oil was selected because its fatty acid composition is similar to fatty acid esters of petroleum diesel and is a sustainable source. Refined safflower oil, the free fatty acid content of which was determined, was reacted with methanol under NaOH catalyst to perform the transesterification reaction. After biodiesel production, samples were incubated in an ultrasonic bath for 60, 120, and 180 minutes. FTIR, density, free fatty acid content, flash point, viscosity, and cloud point analyses investigated the effect of incubation times on biodiesel's chemical structure and properties. FTIR spectra showed that ultrasonic sound waves partially decomposed fatty acid methyl esters and increased the number of volatile components in biodiesel. The flash point of biodiesel has been associated with a decrease of 89°C, and the low flash point is expected to increase fuel efficiency. Kinematic viscosity values were measured in the 3.4583-3.5115 mm²/s range, and density values were measured in the 0.8820-0.8872 g/ml range. These values show that biodiesel complies with national and international standards. As a result, the ultrasonic bath process applied to biodiesel showed a similar result to chemical modification methods by affecting the structure of fatty acid chains. Thus, it brought the physical properties of biodiesel closer to petroleum diesel. It is seen that this method is a more efficient alternative for biodiesel production because it does not use additional chemicals, and the process is faster. In conclusion, by increasing the production of the drought-resistant safflower plant, sustainable energy resources will be contributed, while its waste can be evaluated as animal feed. Ultrasonicated safflower biodiesel can also be used as an efficient, environmentally and mechanically friendly alternative fuel source.

Effects of Different Irrigation and Fertilization Levels on the Yield and Quality of Wet Sugar Beet Pulp Used as Animal Feed

Effects of Different Irrigation and Fertilization Levels on the Yield and Quality of Wet Sugar Beet Pulp Used as Animal Feed

Prone to loss: Senescence-regulated protein degradation leads to lower protein extractability in aging tomato leaves

The utilization of proteins extracted from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaves as cost-effective resources for human consumption or animal feed has gained interest. Thus, increasing protein extractability from tomato leaves became a new breeding target. However, the genetic factors influencing this trait remains poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed changes in leaf protein content, protein composition, and extraction yield across developmental stages, which are vegetative growth, flowering, fruit-forming, and mature fruit. Moreover, tomato gene expression across developmental stages was also studied, to identify genes underlying variability in leaf protein extraction. Protein extraction yield decreased from 0.51 g/g to 0.01 g/g leaf protein from the vegetative to mature stage. However, total protein content inferred with Dumas combustion analysis did not change over the developmental stages tested, while the protein-to-peptide ratio decreased significantly. To further analyze potential causes underlying the decline of protein-to-peptide ratio, the enzymatic activity of proteases – i.e. the enzymes responsible for protein degradation – and the expression of genes encoding these enzymes was studied along plant development. The overall specific activity of proteases did not change significantly throughout plant development. On the contrary, the gene expression of distinct members of the aspartic, cysteine, and subtilase protease families increased. Overall, our findings suggest that extraplastidic protein degradation likely underlies the protein degradation observed during senescence. In the future, the reduction of the activity of extraplastidic proteases through biotechnology could represent an effective strategy to develop tomato varieties with improved protein extraction yields.

Determination of 40K radionuclide concentration and elements content in some animal feeds

AbstractThe study of radionuclide concentrations is significant for the exposure of the radiation on the livings from these radionuclides and they are transferred from plants, animals to livings, and this is important for the health of livings. In this paper, 40K concentration and elements content of wheat, barley, corn, and chick feeds, which are used as animal feed using gamma‐ray spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) were examined. The animal feeds were obtained from two different sellers for representative and to be able to compare the obtained results from studied animal feeds. The mean value of 40K radionuclide concentration for wheat, barley, and corn is smaller than the world mean value whereas it is higher for chick feeds than the world mean value. The Hin, Hex, and Iγ of studied animal feeds are lower than limit value reported in the scientific report. There are positive and significant correlations between K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, P, and 40K at the 0.01 level and between Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, and 40K at 0.05 level.

Effects of different ratios of nitrogen base fertilizer to topdressing on soil nitrogen form and enzyme activity in sugar beet under shallow drip irrigation

Sugar beets account for 30% of global sugar production each year, and their byproducts are an important source of bioethanol and animal feed. Sugar beet is an important cash crop in Inner Mongolia, China. To achieve high yields and sugar content, it is essential to supply nitrogen fertilizer in accordance with the growth characteristics of sugar beet, thereby enhancing the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer utilization. A two-year experiment was carried out in the experimental field of the Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural &amp; Animal Husbandry Sciences. The impact of varying ratios of nitrogen-based fertilizer to topdressing on nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen levels in the 20–60 cm soil layer, as well as the activities of protease, urease, catalase, and sucrose in the 20–40 cm soil layer were investigated during the rapid leaf growth period and root and sugar growth period. Results indicated that different ratios of nitrogen-based fertilizer to topdressing significantly influenced the levels of nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen, and the activities of protease and urease in the 0–20 cm soil layer, with these effects diminishing as soil depth increased. The activities of catalase and sucrose were minimally impacted. Nitrogen was applied at 150 kg/ha during the growth period of sugar beet, according to the growth characteristics of sugar beet to maximize nitrogen utilization efficiency. Topdressing was completed with irrigation at the rapid growth stage. The nitrogen-based fertilizer to topdressing ratio of 6:4 resulted in optimal crop yield and sugar yield of sugar beet under shallow drip irrigation. Additionally, the activities of protease and urease in different soil treatments were significantly different, and the activities of protease and urease in the 0–40 cm soil layer were identified as useful soil physiological indicators for nitrogen utilization in sugar beet.

Animal breeding and feeding tools may close human nutrition gaps

The last century has witnessed many innovations in agriculture and food technologies that have ensured the production of sufficient quantities of good hygienic food. Animal scientists have contributed substantially to efficient breeding and feeding practices by adapting animals for faster growth and improving feed efficiency and utilization. Breeding goals and feeding recommendations have been proposed with a primary focus on profitability to promote significant changes in the macronutrient content, i.e., animal body protein and fat reduction. However, improving the nutritional quality of meat was not included in the profit assessment. Increasing the lean meat fraction is consistent with the goal of public dietary guidelines for human nutrition proposed in 1980, emphasizing the importance of reducing the consumption of animal fat, particularly saturated fat. The application of breeding and feeding tools to modify and improve the fatty acid composition has been partly implemented in pigs and broiler chickens to supplement the dietary recommendations for humans. The health benefits of lean “red meat” have been questioned in recent years, with dietary guidelines and upper limits being introduced for human intake. Animal breeding indirectly reduces the total and heme iron (the redness generator) content in meat, due to covariation with priority breeding goals. Two micronutrients play important roles in the human diet and are derived largely from meat (selenium) and milk (iodine) if the amount provided and absorbed is sufficient and predictable. The iodine content can be highly dependent on the use of novel (more sustainable) feeds. The micronutrients discussed in this study (Fe, Se, I, and vitamin D) highlight opportunities for the utilization of breeding and feeding knowledge to adjust their levels to procure meat with a high nutrient density. The gaps in micronutrient levels in humans must be addressed by navigating within approved animal feeding levels. Animal scientists must recognize the nutritional impact of breeding and feeding and advertise them. In addition, human nutritionists must acknowledge the existing and potential changes in animal production to meet the dietary guidelines. Sustainable food production within the “One Health” concept can only be achieved through cooperation.

Harnessing Bacillus subtilis QY5 PP784163 for Bioethanol Production from Potato Peel Waste and Nutrient Recovery for Animal Feed: Maximizing Resource Efficiency

The present work focuses on the utilization of potato peel waste for the production of bioethanol. In the present study, extensive screening was undertaken to isolate amylolytic and cellulolytic microbes using starchy biomass. After confirming the chemical composition of potato peel waste (PPW), several trials were performed to enhance the amylase and cellulase production from Bacillus subtilis to hydrolyze the PPW in submerged fermentation. Optimization of physical parameters was performed using both commercial and indigenous media from enzymatically hydrolyzed PPW. Different routes of various combinations were designed to enhance bioethanol production. The maximum ethanol titer of 0.50% and 0.41% was recorded in Route B and A, i.e., separate saccharification and ethanol fermentation and consolidated fermentation. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) also measured a good ethanol yield of 0.46%. The fermented residual cake was checked for nutritional components and showed a high content of protein and amino acids because of the addition of unicellular yeasts. This cake can be utilized as an animal feed supplement.

Substituting imported soybean meal with locally produced novel yeast protein in concentrates for Norwegian Red dairy cows: implications for rumen microbiota and fatty acid composition.

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that substituting soybean meal with locally produced yeast protein from Cyberlindnera jadinii in barley-based concentrates for Norwegian Red (NR) dairy cows does not have adverse effects on milk fatty acid (FA) composition, rumen microbiota and sensory quality of milk. As soybeans also represent valuable protein sources for human consumption, alternative protein sources need to be investigated for animal feed. A total of 48 NR dairy cows were allocated into three feeding treatments, with the same basal diet of grass silage, but different concentrates. The concentrates were all based on barley, but 7% of the barley in the barley-concentrate (BAR; negative control) was replaced by either soybean meal (SBM; conventional control) or yeast microbial protein (YEA). The experiment lasted for a total of 10 weeks, including 2 weeks of adaptation with the soybean meal concentrate. Analysis of the feed revealed some differences in the FA composition of the YEA concentrate compared to the SBM and BAR concentrates. In milk, only two FAs (C17:1n-8cis9 and an unidentified isomer of C18:3) were significantly different between the YEA- and SBM-group, while six FAs differed between the BAR- and SBM-group. However, the amount of these FAs was low compared to the entire FA profile (<0.7 g/100 g). The experimental diets did not affect rumen microbiota nor the milk sensory quality. This study shows that C. jadinii can replace soybean meal as a protein source in concentrates (7% inclusion) for NR dairy cows fed a diet composed of grass silage and concentrates without any effects on rumen microbiota, and without compromising the FA composition or sensory quality of milk.

Protective and Detoxifying Effects of Resveratrol on Zearalenone-Mediated Toxicity: A Review

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium spp. fungi and is widely found in moldy corn, wheat, barley, and other grains. ZEA is distributed to the whole body via blood circulation after metabolic transformation in animals. Through oxidative stress, immunosuppression, apoptosis, autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction, ZEA leads to hepatitis, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, abortion, and stillbirth in female animals, and decreased sperm motility in male animals. In recent years, due to the influence of climate, storage facilities, and other factors, the problem of ZEA pollution in global food crops has become particularly prominent, resulting in serious problems for the animal husbandry and feed industries, and threatening human health. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural product with therapeutic activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. RSV can alleviate ZEA-induced toxic effects by targeting signaling pathways such as NF-κB, Nrf2/Keap1, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR via attenuating oxidative damage, inflammatory response, and apoptosis, and regulating cellular autophagy. Therefore, this paper provides a review of the protective effect of RSV against ZEA-induced toxicity and its molecular mechanism, and discusses the safety and potential clinical applications of RSV in the search for natural mycotoxin detoxification agents.

Experiences of participants in an agricultural livelihood support initiative for people living with HIV in central Uganda

This study aimed at assessing the experiences of people living with HIV who participated in an agricultural livelihood support initiative in selected districts of Uganda. The initiative, implemented from 2017 to 2018, involved the provision of agricultural inputs such as beans, cassava cuttings, goats, chickens, and pigs to participants. In-depth interviews were conducted with 37 people (28 women and 9 men) from the districts of Kampala, Masaka and Wakiso (specifically Entebbe) in central Uganda, who had participated in the project. Data were analysed thematically focusing on facilitators, challenges and outcomes from the project. The following themes emerged as facilitators: access to land and animal feed, prior farming experience and supportive family and friends. Some participants experienced challenges including animal/poultry diseases, livestock theft, “low quality” agricultural inputs, unfavourable weather conditions, limited finance and land to support livelihood activities and difficulties working in groups. Several participants reported positive livelihood outcomes including improved food security, better nutrition, increased income and improved mental health. However, some participants reported negative outcomes which took the form of a loss of money and time invested when their livestock died from disease. Although participants in the agricultural livelihood initiative faced challenges which reduced the profitability of their projects, the initiative was regarded as beneficial and worthwhile. These findings have relevance to the broader field of livelihoods programming. Future interventions can draw from the experiences of our participants while also taking seriously into consideration the different circumstances of individuals in a targeted population so as to increase the chances of producing more positive outcomes.

Rosa roxburghii trattresidue: A novel feed resource for cattle indicated by the non-deleterious performance and blood metabolites.

Rosa roxburghii tratt residue (RRTR) is a regional and uncommon byproduct in Guizhou. Little information is available on whether RRTR can be used as feed for ruminants. In this study, the feasibility of using RRTR as a new feed resource for cattle was investigated by chemical composition analysis, in vitro gas production (Trial 1) and animal feeding experiments (Trial 2). In trial 1, compared to the commonly used fruit residues, RRTR had a proximate nutrient level; the in vitro gas production curve and dynamics fell within the normal range. In trial 2, 16 cattle were allocated to the control and treatment groups, with 8 replicates of 1 cattle each. Cattle in the control group were fed a basal diet without RRTR, while those in the treatment group were fed a diet containing 30% RRTR to replace 30% whole corn silage in basal diet. Feeding RRTR had little effect on the growth performance of the control and treatment cattle (P > 0.05). The feed-to-gain ratio was greater in the treatment group than in the control group throughout the trial period (P < 0.05). The plasma urea levels in the treatment group were lower (P < 0.05) than that in control group, and the levels of other plasma biochemical metabolites were not different between the two groups of cattle (P > 0.05). The in vivo rumen fermentation parameters did not differ between the control and treatment groups (P > 0.05). Our findings indicate that RRTR has a nutritional profile (crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude fiber) similar to that of commonly used fruit residues (such as apple, pineapple, and citrus residue et al.); improves plasma protein utilization efficiency; and has no negative impact on growth performance, albeit with limited effects on feed conversion; blood metabolites, and rumen fermentation parameters in cattle. Accordingly, we conclude, based on the above-mentioned result, that RRTR can serve as a novel feed alternative resource when considering the affordability and as a practical choice for low-cost diets for cattle.

The Addition of Hot Water Extract of Juncao-Substrate Ganoderma lucidum Residue to Diets Enhances Growth Performance, Immune Function, and Intestinal Health in Broilers.

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Hot Water Extract of Juncao-substrate Ganoderma lucidum Residue (HWE-JGLR) on the immune function and intestinal health of yellow-feather broilers. In an animal feeding experiment, 288 male yellow-feather broilers (1 day old) were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with six replicates of 12 birds each. The control (CON) group was fed a basal diet. HJ-1, HJ-2, and HJ-3 were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.25%, 0.50%, and 1.00% HWE-JGLR, respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 63 d. The results showed increased ADFI (p = 0.033) and ADG (p = 0.045) of broilers in HJ-3, compared with the CON group. Moreover, higher contents of serum IL-4 and IL-10 and gene expression of IL-4 and IL-10 in jejunum mucosa and lower contents of serum IL-1β and gene expression of IL-1β in jejunum mucosa in HJ-3 were observed (p < 0.05). Additionally, the jejunal mucosal gene expression of Claudin-1 and ZO-1 in HJ-2 and HJ-3 was higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). As for the microbial community, compared with the CON group, the ACE index, Shannon index, and Shannoneven index of cecal microorganisms in HJ-2 and HJ-3 were elevated (p < 0.05). PCoA analysis showed that the cecal microbial structure of broilers in HJ-2 and HJ-3 was different from the CON group (p < 0.05). In contrast with the CON group, the broilers in HJ-2 and HJ-3 possessed more abundant Desulfobacterota at the phylum level and unclassified Lachnospiraceae, norank Clostridia vadinBB60 group and Blautia spp. at the genus level, while Turicibacter spp. and Romboutsia spp. were less (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with HWE-JGLR can improve growth performance, enhance body immunity and intestinal development, and maintain the cecum microflora balance of yellow-feather broilers.

Thermal Properties of Seed Cake Biomasses and Their Valorisation by Torrefaction

Seed cakes, by-products from the cold press extraction of vegetable oils, are valuable animal feed supplements due to their high content of proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals. However, the presence of anti-nutrients, as well as the rancidification and development of aflatoxins, can impede their intended use, requiring alternative treatment and valorisation methods. Thermal treatment as a procedure for the conversion of seed cakes from walnuts, hemp, pumpkin, flax, and sunflower into valuable products or energy has been investigated in this paper. Thermogravimetry shows the particular behaviour of seed cakes, with several degradation stages at around 230–280 and 340–390 °C, before and after the typical degradation of cellulose. These are related to the volatilisation of fatty acids, which are either free or bonded as triglycerides, and with the thermal degradation of proteins. Torrefaction at 250 °C produced ~75–82 wt% solids, with high calorific values of 24–26 kJ/g and an energy yield above 90%. The liquid products have a complex composition, with most parts of the compounds partitioning between the aqueous phase (strongly dominant) and the oily one (present in traces). The structural components of seed cakes (hemicelluloses, cellulose, and lignin) produce acetic acid, hydroxy ketones, furans, and phenols. In addition to these, most compounds are nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds from the degradation of protein components, which are highly present in seed cakes.

Extraction and Nutritional Value of Soybean Meal Protein Isolate

The increasing protein demand driven by global population growth necessitates the search for an alternative protein source. Soybean meal (SM), with approximately 47–49% proteins, is a viable option. Soymeal protein isolate (SMPI) is a cost-efficient protein source with a well-balanced amino acid profile, making it suitable for addressing this demand. This study attempts to address the lack of information regarding the extractability and nutritional potential of SMPI obtained utilizing a weak base and recoverable solvent. In this work, the structural and compositional studies of SMPI, as well as the aqueous extractability of ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), are investigated. Furthermore, we examined the effects of heat treatment during oil extraction, where a comparison between protein isolates from soymeal and whole soybeans was carried out. The maximum extraction yield of 24.1% was achieved by increasing the concentration of NH4OH from 0.25–1%. In comparison to the soy protein isolate from whole soybeans (SPI), the compositional analysis report revealed that SMPI had higher levels of crude protein, moisture, and ash content, but lower levels of fat and carbohydrates. Furthermore, the examination of the amino acid composition confirms the existence of vital amino acids in SMPI. The amino acid score indicates that methionine, lysine, and threonine are the limiting amino acids. SMPI and SPI share structural and functional group similarities, as demonstrated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Gel electrophoresis using sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide shows that the protein molecular weight distributions of SPI and SMPI are similar. This in-depth evaluation emphasizes the advantages of SM by advocating its application in other sectors beyond conventional animal feed, such as nutritional supplements and bio-based products, and by improving the environmental sustainability and global food chains.

Promising Phytogenic Feed Additives Used as Anti-Mycotoxin Solutions in Animal Nutrition.

Mycotoxins are a major threat to animal and human health, as well as to the global feed supply chain. Among them, aflatoxins, fumonisins, zearalenone, T-2 toxins, deoxynivalenol, and Alternaria toxins are the most common mycotoxins found in animal feed, with genotoxic, cytotoxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects that concern the animal industry. The chronic negative effects of mycotoxins on animal health and production and the negative economic impact on the livestock industry make it crucial to develop and implement solutions to mitigate mycotoxins. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the mycotoxicosis effect in livestock animals as a result of their contaminated diet. In addition, we discuss the potential of five promising phytogenics (curcumin, silymarin, grape pomace, olive pomace, and orange peel extracts) with demonstrated positive effects on animal performance and health, to present them as potential anti-mycotoxin solutions. We describe the composition and the main promising characteristics of these bioactive compounds that can exert beneficial effects on animal health and performance, and how these phytogenic feed additives can help to alleviate mycotoxins' deleterious effects.