Dietary Treatment Groups Research Articles

Prickly Ash Seeds Improve the Ruminal Epithelial Development and Growth Performance of Hu Sheep by Modulating the Rumen Microbiota and Metabolome

It is known that the addition of feed rich in bioactive components to animal diets will affect rumen fermentation parameters and flora structure. However, research on the regulatory effects of prickly ash seeds (PASs) during rumen development or on the rumen microbiome and its metabolites in sheep is limited. The current study was designed to explore the effects of PASs on sheep rumen development and growth performance using metagenomics and metabolomics. Eighteen 3-month-old Hu lambs were randomly allotted to three different dietary treatment groups: 0% (basal diet, CK), 3% (CK with 3% PAS, low-dose PAS, LPS), and 6% (CK with 6% PAS, high-dose PAS, HPS) PASs. The lambs were slaughtered to evaluate production performance. Our results showed that dietary PAS addition improved the average daily gain and reduced the F/G ratio of the experimental animals. Additionally, the height and width of the rumen papilla in the treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the CK group. The fermentation parameters showed that the levels of acetate and butyrate were significantly higher in the LPS group than in the CK and HPS groups. The propionate levels in the HPS group were significantly higher than those in the CK and LPS groups. Metagenomics analysis revealed that PAS dietary supplementation improved the abundance of Clostridiales and Bacteroidales and reduced the abundance of Prevotella, Butyrivibrio, and Methanococcus. Metabolomic analyses revealed that increased metabolite levels, such as those of serotonin, L-isoleucine, and L-valine, were closely related to growth-related metabolic pathways. The correlations analyzed showed that papilla height and muscular thickness were positively and negatively correlated with serotonin and L-valine, respectively. Average daily gain (ADG) was positively and negatively correlated with L-valine and several Prevotella, respectively. In addition, muscular thickness was positively correlated with Sodaliphilus pleomorphus, four Prevotella strains, Sarcina_sp_DSM_11001, and Methanobrevibacter_thaueri. Overall, PAS addition improved sheep growth performance by regulating beneficial microorganism and metabolite abundances, facilitating bacterial and viral invasion resistance.

Effects of Prickly Ash Seed Dietary Supplementation on Meat Quality, Antioxidative Capability, and Metabolite Characteristics of Hu Lambs

In China, the processing of prickly ash (PA) produces a large number of by-products, including prickly ash seeds (PASs), which are rich in bioactive components such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds, and which may have an important influence on meat quality and muscle metabolites. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of dietary PAS supplementation on the meat quality, antioxidant activity, and metabolite characteristics of lambs. Eighteen 3-month-old Hu lambs (25.66 ± 3.03 kg body weight) were randomly allotted to three different dietary treatment groups. In the three dietary treatments, 0% (basal diet, CON), 3% (CON with 3% PAS, low-dose PAS, and LPS), and 6% (CON with 6% PAS, high-dose PAS, and HPS) PASs were used. Results indicated significant improvements in the HPS group, including reduced cooking loss and increased fat content. The L* and b* 45 min values were significantly lower in the PAS groups than those in the CON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, dietary PAS supplementation increased in MUFA, PUFA, n-3 PUFA, PUFA/MUFA ratio, NEAA, and FFA compared to the CON group. Furthermore, PAS supplementation significantly improved serum and muscle antioxidant capacity. Metabolomic analyses revealed that increased metabolites, such as tryptophan, leucine, citric acid, adenosine 5′-triphosphate, creatine phosphate, inosine, and α-ketoglutaric acid, were primarily enriched in the biosynthesis of cofactors and nucleotide and purine metabolism pathways. Notably, supplementation with 6% of PASs exhibited the most prominent effect on lamb meat quality in this study. Therefore, the application of PASs as a feed component in lamb production can not only improve meat quality and muscle antioxidant capacity but also save feed costs.

Effects of Krill Oil and Coconut Oil on Behavioral Changes and Inflammatory Markers in Rats with Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Induced Depression Model.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of two different types of fat (krill oil [KO] and coconut oil [CO]) on obesity, behavioral tests, and some inflammatory markers when consumed with a high-fat or control diet in rats with depression. The study was conducted mainly in two phases: the induction of depression (37 days) and the dietary intervention (60 days). After the induction of depression by chronic unpredictable mild stress, dietary intervention started. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups with 10 rats in each group: (1) standard diet (SD), (2) SD + 5% KO, (3) SD + 5% medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)* (*CO to contain 5% MCT), (4) high-fat diet (HFD), (5) HFD + 5% KO, and (6) HFD + 5% MCT*. The open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and sucrose preference test were performed at baseline, end of the depression induction, and dietary intervention to observe behavioral changes in rats. After the final behavioral test, animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses C-reactive protein (milligram per liter), cortisol (microgram per deciliter), and insulin (micro-international units per milliliter) to assess inflammatory changes in the blood. All data were analyzed under two headings: baseline, end of depression induction, end of dietary intervention, and dietary intervention groups. Body weight gain was highest in the SD+KO and lowest in the SD+MCT group (P < .05). When behavioral tests were evaluated according to dietary intervention, it was found that the SD+MCT group spent the most time in the center, the least time in the periphery, and the lowest immobilization time (P < .05). In FST, the SD+KO with the highest weight gain was the most immobile group (P < .05). The study indicates that the weight-reducing effects of MCTs resulted in positive behavioral responses, particularly in OFT and FST. Through these properties, MCTs can be used medicinally in the prevention and treatment of behavioral changes due to depression.

Mediterranean Diet-Based Sustainable Healthy Diet and Multicomponent Training Combined Intervention Effect on Body Composition, Anthropometry, and Physical Fitness in Healthy Aging

Background: Diet and exercise interventions have been associated with improved body composition and physical fitness. However, evidence regarding their combined effects in older adults is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a combined 12-week Mediterranean diet-based sustainable healthy diet (SHD) and multicomponent training (MT) intervention on body composition, anthropometry, and physical fitness in older adults. Methods: Diet intervention groups received a weekly SHD food supply and four sessions, including a SHD culinary practical workshop. The exercise program included MT 50 min group session, three times a week, on non-consecutive days. Body composition and physical fitness variables were assessed through dual X-ray absorptiometry, anthropometric measurements, and senior fitness tests. Repeated measures ANOVA, with terms for group, time, and interaction, was performed. Results: Our results showed that a combined intervention significantly lowered BMI and total fat. Also, significant differences between assessments in all physical fitness tests, except for aerobic endurance, were observed. Adjusted models show significant differences in BMI (p = 0.049) and WHR (p = 0.037) between groups and in total fat (p = 0.030) for the interaction term. Body strength (p &lt; 0.001), balance tests (p &lt; 0.001), and aerobic endurance (p = 0.005) had significant differences amongst groups. Considering the interaction term, differences were observed for upper body strength (p = 0.046) and flexibility tests (p = 0.004 sit and reach, p = 0.048 back scratch). Conclusions: Our intervention study demonstrates the potential of implementing healthy lifestyle and sustainable models to promote healthy and active aging.

Effect of dietary supplementation of postbiotics derived from Lactobacillus plantarum on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken

A study was conducted at Avian Research Station, Thiruvazhamkunnu to study the effects of dietary supplementation of postbiotics derived from probiotic culture of Lactobacillus plantarum on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken from day-old to 42 days of age. A total number of 180, day-old chicks were randomly allotted into six dietary treatment groups, viz., T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 having three replicates of ten birds each, in a completely randomised design. The birds in control group (T1) were fed with a standard broiler ration (SBR) formulated as per BIS (2007).The treatment group T2 were fed with the SBR containing chlortetracycline. Diets for T3 to T6 were formulated by inclusion of 0.15 per cent postbiotic (T3), 0.3 per cent postbiotic (T4), 0.45 per cent postbiotic (T5) and 0.6 per cent postbiotic (T6), respectively.Supplementation of 0.45 per cent postbiotic exhibited significantly (p&lt;0.01) higher body weight, bodyweight gain and cumulative bodyweight gain than control group at six weeks of age. The feed intake, feed conversion ratio and carcass characteristics showed no significant change among the treatment groups. Keywords: Postbiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum, body weight, carcass

Effect of various levels of standardized ileal digestible branched-chain amino acids on lactating sow and litter performance.

Three hundred and sixty sows were used to investigate the effect of various dietary branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) levels on sow lactation and piglet growth performance. On day 112 ± 1.4 of gestation, sows were blocked by the parity group (P1, P2, P3+) and randomly assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments containing various levels of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Leu, Ile, and Val. The experimental diets were formulated to the desired levels of BCAA by replacing cornstarch in a basal diet with l-leucine, l-isoleucine, and l-valine. Dietary BCAA levels relative to SID Lys were 114% or 180% for Leu, 56% or 64% for Ile, and 64% or 120% for Val. Diets were formulated to be isocaloric (3.23 Mcal ME/kg) and met or exceeded all other NRC (2012) essential amino acid and vitamin and mineral recommendations. Sow body weight (BW) and backfat thickness were measured at the time of entry into the farrowing room and at weaning. Piglet litter weights were recorded after cross-fostering and weaning to calculate the litter growth rate. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models with fixed effects of dietary treatment and parity group and a random effect of lactation group. The models were fit using R (v4.4.1; R Core Team, 2024). The sow and her litter were the experimental unit, and results were considered significant if P < 0.05. On average, sows nursed their litters for 21.3 d (P = 0.998). The mean parity by treatment ranged from 3.8 to 3.9 (P = 0.999). After farrowing, the mean sow BW was 220kg with a range between treatments of 216 to 222kg (P = 0.523). On average, sows gained 2.3% of their BW (P = 0.740) with an average daily feed intake of 8.74kg/d (P = 0.903). As expected, sow Leu, Ile, and Val intakes were different across treatments (P ≤ 0.001) and corresponded to the varying dietary levels of BCAA. Sows entered farrowing with an average backfat thickness of 11.50mm (P = 0.919) and lost 6.5% backfat through lactation (P = 0.880). Sows started the trial with an average of 14.1 piglets/sow (P = 0.967) and weaned 12.7 piglets/sow (P = 0.995) with a piglet ADG of 0.22kg/d (P = 0.280) and a daily litter growth rate of 2.90kg/d (P = 0.547). In conclusion, there was no evidence of an effect of the various leucine, isoleucine, and valine levels evaluated in this study on lactating sow and piglet performance.

Effect of selenium-enriched yeast diet on performance, biochemistry, and selenium concentration in meat and egg contents of laying Japanese quails

Abstract. This study was conducted to determine the effect of a selenium (Se)-enriched yeast-based diet on the performance; blood biochemistry; and Se concentration in the eggs, breast muscle, and some internal organs of laying Japanese quails. A total of 320 healthy female quails were randomly selected and assigned to four dietary groups. The dietary treatment groups consisted of a standard basal diet (control) without supplementation of Se-enriched yeast (SY) and other groups in which Se was supplemented at 1.5 mg (SY-1.5), 2.5 mg (SY-2.5), and 3.5 kg−1 (SY-3.5). Results showed that quails in SY-3.5 had high (p&lt;0.05) body weight gain. Egg production was improved in SY-2.5 and SY-3.5 groups compared to in the control. Significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher contents of Se in yolk and albumen were observed in the SY-3.5 group. The Se concentration of the breast muscle was higher (p&lt;0.05) in quails of the SY-3.5 group, whereas the liver, kidney, and heart had a high Se content in the SY-2.5 and SY-3.5 groups. Intestinal histological features were improved (p&lt;0.05) in the SY-3.5 group. Overall, this study suggests that adding SY-3.5 to the diet of quails improved their growth and health, as well as the Se content in eggs and meat.

Effects of xylo-oligosaccharide supplementation on the production performance, intestinal morphology, cecal short-chain fatty acid levels, and gut microbiota of laying hens

This study investigated the effects of xylo-oligosaccharide supplementation on the production performance, intestinal morphology, cecal short-chain fatty acid levels, and gut microbiota of laying hens. A total of 800 Lohmann pink layers, each 48 wk old, were randomly divided into 5 dietary treatment groups, namely XOS at 0 (CON), 100 (XOS1), 200 (XOS2), 300 (XOS3) and 400 (X0S4) mg/kg. The experimental period was 24 wk. The results revealed that the egg production rate and the number of eggs laid by each layer between 1 to 12 wk increased as the XOS concentration increased (Plinear < 0.05). The sand-shell egg percentage decreased significantly from 1 to 12 wk in the XOS1, XOS2, and XOS3 groups (PANOVA < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the 4 XOS dosage groups presented significant increases in the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum (PANOVA < 0.05), whereas a linear decrease in jejunal crypt depth (Plinear < 0.05) was noted. In addition, XOS supplementation significantly increased the concentrations of butyric acid and isovaleric acid in the caeca (PANOVA < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA revealed that dietary XOS supplementation influenced the cecal microbiota. The alpha diversity analysis indicated that the richness of cecal bacteria was greater in the laying hens fed XOS. The modulation of the cecal microbiota composition upon the addition of XOS was characterized by an increased abundance of Firmicutes and Bifidobacteriaceae, and decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes. At the genus level, dietary XOS supplementation resulted in decreases in the abundances of Bacteroides and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and an increase in the abundance of Lactobacillus. In conclusion, dietary XOS supplementation improved the production performance of laying hens by increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids and improving their intestinal morphology, which was achieved mainly through changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota. The recommended level of XOS in the diet of laying hens is 200 mg/kg.

Effects of purple sweet potato polysaccharide on performance, egg quality characteristics, jejunal morphology, and gut microbiota of Hy-Line Brown laying hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary purple sweet potato polysaccharide (PSPP) supplementation on production performance, egg quality characteristics, jejunal morphology, and gut microbiota modulation of Hy-line Brown laying hens. A total of 288 23-wk-old Hy-line Brown laying hens were randomly divided into 1 of the 4 dietary treatment groups, with 6 replicates and 12 laying hens per replicate. The 4 groups were fed basal diet supplemented with varying concentrations of PSPP (0, 1, 2, or 4 g/kg) for 6 wks. At the end of the feeding trials, eggs were collected for egg quality analysis, jejunal samples were collected for morphology assessment, and cecal content was analyzed by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to determine intestinal microbiota. Experimental treatments did not differ regarding laying performance and egg quality. However, polynomial contrast analysis showed that there was a linear decrease (P = 0.042) in yolk color. The jejunal morphology did not differ among the treatment groups. The alpha and beta diversity were not different between the treatment groups. The cecal microbiota was dominated by Bacteroidota and Firmicutes at the phylum level and Bacteroides at the genus level. The relative abundance of Firmicutes was increased (P = 0.012) and Bacteroidota was decreased (P = 0.009) in the cecal content of PSPP2. Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio increased (P = 0.005) in the PSPP2 group. Polynomial contrast analysis showed that PSPP had a quadratic effect on Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio (P = 0.004) and on the relative abundance of Firmicutes (P = 0.006) and Bacteroidota (P = 0.006). At the genus level, increasing PSPP level showed a pattern of linear increase (P = 0.046) in [Ruminococcus]_torques_group and linear decrease (P = 0.015) in the Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group. It can be concluded that PSPP altered the gut microbiota, but did not influence jejunal morphology or laying performance and egg quality of laying hens. Further research is recommended to fully understand the potential and determine the optimal level of PSPP in laying hens.

Effects of cassava root meal on the growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, organ and intestinal indices, and slaughter performance of yellow-feathered broiler chickens.

With the global population growth and shortage of food, the competition between humans and animal for food will become increasingly fierce. Therefore, the development of unconventional energy feed cassava feed is of great significance. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cassava root meal (CRM) on the growth performance, apparent digestibility, and organ and intestinal indices of broiler chickens. A total of 140 one-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatment groups [control diet (CT), 15% CRM (CRM15), 30% CRM (CRM30), and 45% CRM (CRM45)] with five replicates of seven birds per replicate. The results showed that the body weight of broiler chickens fed diets containing CRM were significantly lower than that in the CT group at 21 and 42days of age, the average daily gain and average daily feed intake in the CRM group were significantly lower than those in the CT group from 1 to 21days of age. However, from days 22 to 42, there were no significant differences between CRM15 and CT birds regarding average daily gain and average daily feed intake. but there was no difference in feed conversion rate between the CRM15 and CT groups. At 42days of age, there were no significant differences between CRM15 and CT birds in in body measurements, the slaughter performance and the percentage of semi-eviscerated yield. The addition of CRM reduced the proportion of breast and thigh muscles during the feeding period, although we detected no significant difference between CRM15 and CT regarding the apparent digestibility of nutrients. Collectively, our findings indicate that 15% cassava was the optimal proportion for supplementing diets for broiler chicken production.

PSII-26 Effects of diquat injection on growth performance and blood and liver redox status in growing pigs

Abstract Oxidative stress, caused by excessive reactive oxygen species generation, impairs health and production performance of pigs. A number of nutrients and feed additives have antioxidative property. Our current research project is to study the antioxidative roles of methionine (a sulfur-containing amino acid) in pigs, and this abstract is to report our setup of an oxidative-stressed model by injection of diquat (dibromide monohydrate), a bipyridyl herbicide, to the pig. Barrows [n = 20, body weight (BW) = 21.5 ± 2.50 kg] were randomly allotted to two treatment groups fed a corn-and-soybean-meal-based diet that met or slightly exceeded the NRC (2012) recommended requirements of nutrients and energy. After 3 wk of feeding (Phase 1), while Group-1 pigs were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mL saline, Group-2 pigs were injected with 10 mg/kg BW diquat in 10 mL saline. After the injection, pigs were continually fed for 7 d more (Phase 2). At the end of Phases 1 and 2, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed (G:F) ratios were respectively determined. Blood samples were collected on d 1, 22, and 29 of the experiment, and liver samples were collected on d 29. Commercial assay kits were used to determine the blood and liver redox status, for which the malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) contents, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. The data was statistically analyzed using Student’s t-test. During Phase 1, there were no differences (P &amp;gt; 0.10) in initial BW, final BW, ADFI, ADG, and G:F ratio. There were no differences (P &amp;gt; 0.10) in the serum MDA contents, the serum GPX, SOD, and CAT activities, and the serum TAC and GSH contents between the two dietary treatment groups. By the end of Phase 2, however, the AFDI and ADG in Group 2 were less (P &amp;lt; 0.001) than that in Group 1. The serum MDA content in Group 2 was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) than in Group 1, the serum GPX activity and liver SOD activity in Group 2 was less (P &amp;lt; 0.05) than in Group 1, and the liver GPX activity in Group 2 tended to be greater (P = 0.10) than in Group 1, although there were no differences (P &amp;gt; 0.10) in serum SOD activity, serum TAC, and serum and liver CAT activities between the two treatment groups. In conclusion, the results of this study confirmed that young growing pigs intraperitoneally injected with diquat can lead to oxidative stress and serve as a model for studying antioxidant nutrients or feed additives in pigs.

PSI-8 Inflammatory cytokine concentrations and gene expression in mature and aging sedentary horses

Abstract Chronic inflammation associated with aging, termed “inflamm-aging” may negatively impact overall animal health. However, the mechanisms of inflamm-aging and, therefore, effective interventions, remain unknown. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2; NFE2L2) is a transcription factor that controls antioxidant gene expression and could be a target for promoting anti-inflammatory pathways. To test the hypothesis that supplementation of nonenzymatic derived antioxidants (Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer, LifeVantage Corporation) would activate Nrf2 and mitigate inflammation, 40 mature, sedentary horses [32 mares, 8 geldings; 15.7 ± 4.9 yr of age, body weight (BW) = 519 ± 46 kg] were stratified by age, sex, and BW and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatment groups for 56 d: 1) 0 mg (CON); 2) 675 mg (Pro1); 3) 2,025 mg (Pro3); or 4) 4,050 mg (Pro6) Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer per day (n = 10 per group). Blood samples were collected at d 0 (September, 27°C, 61.6% humidity), d 28 (October, 21.6°C, 55.8% humidity), and d 56 (November, 15.1°C, 73.8% humidity) of supplementation prior to the morning feeding. Plasma cytokine concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were quantified using custom Meso Scale Discovery U-Plex kits and whole blood gene expression of IL-1β, NFE2L2, and heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) were determined using qRT-PCR. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS v9.4 with sex, time, treatment, age (under or over 15 yr), and time × treatment as fixed effects and time as a repeated effect with horse(treatment) as the subject. Day 0 was included as a covariate when treatment groups differed at d 0. Relationships between age and cytokine concentrations or mRNA expression were determined using PROC CORR. Plasma IL-4 (r = 0.4054) concentrations as well as whole blood HMOX1 (r = 0.3437) and NFE2L2 (r = 0.3382) expression on d 0 were positively correlated with age (P ≤ 0.04). Regardless of treatment or age, IL-1β and NFE2L2 expression and IL-4 and IL-8 concentrations decreased from d 0 to 28 (P ≤ 0.03) and remained depressed at d 56 (P ≤ 0.02) while IL-10 was not different from d 0 to 28 but decreased from d 0 to 56 (P = 0.02). TNFα concentrations were not different between treatments or over time. These data corroborate increased inflammatory markers with age and suggest a change in inflammatory status over time potentially due to seasonal environmental factors.

PSII-15 Comparative analysis of equine diets on growth metrics and economic feasibility

Abstract The objective of the study was to assess the impact of two commonly available low non-structural carbohydrate equine diets on growth parameters and economic factors in young growing horses. To do this, young stock type horses n = 11; 6 fillies, 5 colts; body weight (BW) = 380.3 ± 15 kg] were separated into two groups that were balanced by age, sex, and BW. All horses were backgrounded for 14 d on a hay-only diet prior to the beginning of the study. Additionally, each group was assigned to one of two dietary treatments fed at 0.75% BW/d (as fed) twice daily in 12 h intervals for 56 d. Dietary treatments consisted of a leading national brand feed (n = 5) and Thomas Moore Calm and Safe (n = 6). Horses were allowed ad libitum access to Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay and fresh water. For the 56-d period, horses were exercised at a light workload for 30 min/d and 4 d/wk. For all growth measurements, a baseline measurement was recorded per horse. Growth measurements were then recorded at 7 d intervals. Data from these growth measurements were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS v9.4 with the fixed effects of day and diet. Growth metrics increased on all horses throughout the length of the trial regardless of dietary treatment (P ≤ 0.01), which is expected from young growing horses. A Diet x Day trend towards significance (P = 0.075) was observed for BW, as the leading national brand feed dietary treatment group tended to have heavier BW than the Thomas Moore Calm and Safe during the duration of the study. Additionally, body fat percentage was greater (P = 0.04) in the national leading brand feed group compared with the Thomas Moore group. None of the remaining growth metrics had any statistical difference across diets. Furthermore, there was no difference in dietary intake between dietary groups (P &amp;gt; 0.5). These results suggest that the Thomas Moore Calm and Safe concentrate serves as a good alternative and economically friendly for young growing horses when compared with more traditional feeds currently on the market.

Dietary impact of West African black pepper (Piper guineense) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) on the growth performance, carcass traits, haemato-biochemical profile, and oxidative stress markers of broiler chickens

This study evaluated the dietary impact of West African black pepper (WABP; Piper guineense) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) on the growth performance, carcass traits, haemato-biochemical profile, and oxidative stress markers of broiler chickens. A total of 200 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to 4 dietary treatment groups (T1, T2, T3, T4) of 5 replicates (10 birds per replicate) in a completely randomised design for a 49-day study. Broiler birds in T1 (control) were fed basal diet (BD), T2 (BD + 5 g turmeric/kg), T3 (BD + 5 g WABP/kg), and T4 (BD + 2.5 g turmeric and 2.5 g WABP/kg). This study found (p < 0.05) that feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly altered during the starter phase, while no significant effect was observed in body weight gain (BWG). BWG, FI, and FCR were not significantly affected (p > 0.05) during the finisher and overall phases. Except for haemoglobin and red blood cell count in the finisher phase, haematological measures were not affected (p > 0.05). During the starter phase, aspartate aminotransferase decreased (p < 0.05) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) increased (p < 0.05) across the treatment groups fed Piper guineense and Curcuma longa compared with those in the control group. In the finisher phase, all the serum biochemistry parameters, except for the serum protein content were significantly (p < 0.05) impacted. Piper guineense and Curcuma longa significantly (p < 0.05) increased superoxide dismutase and reduced (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde during the starter phase across the treatment groups, with no significant (p > 0.05) effect on catalase and glutathione. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione were significantly (p < 0.05) increased while malondialdehyde significantly decreased (p < 0.05) during the finisher phase when compared to the control group. Conclusively, these findings suggest the potential health benefits of these dietary additives in broiler chicken nutrition to enhance overall health and performance.

Effects of Dietary Bio-Fermented Selenium Supplementation on Growth, Immune Performance, and Intestinal Microflora of Chinese Mitten Crabs, Eriocheir sinensis.

Selenium is a vital trace mineral that is crucial for maintaining regular biological processes in aquatic animals. In this study, a four-week dietary trial was carried out to assess the impact of bio-fermented selenium (Bio-Se) on the growth and immune response of Chinese mitten crabs, Eriocheir sinensis. The crabs were randomly allocated to five dietary treatment groups, each receiving a different dose of Bio-Se. The doses included 0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.5, and 3.0 mg/kg and were accurately measured in basal diet formulations. The results showed the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate (SR) in the 1.5 mg/kg Bio-Se group were the highest, and 3.0 mg/kg of Bio-Se has an inhibitory effect on the WGR, SGR, and SR. The activities of the immune enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and acid phosphatase (ACP), of the hepatopancreas were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the 1.5 mg/kg Bio-Se group, while they decreased (p < 0.05) in the 3.0 mg/kg feeding group compared to the 0 mg/kg feeding group. The concentration of maleic dialdehyde (MDA) exhibited the opposite pattern. Similarly, the mRNA expression levels of antimicrobial peptides (ALF-1, Crus-1, and LYS), ERK, and Relish genes were also observed to be the highest in the 1.5 mg/kg Bio-Se group compared with the other groups. Furthermore, the administration of 1.5 mg/kg of Bio-Se resulted in an increase in the thickness of the intestinal plica and mucosal layer, as well as in alterations in the intestinal microbial profile and bacterial diversity compared to the dose of 0 mg/kg of Bio-Se. Notably, the population of the beneficial bacterial phylum Fusobacteria was increased after crabs were fed the 1.5 mg/kg Bio-Se diet. In conclusion, the oral administration of 1.5 mg/kg of Bio-Se improved the growth efficiency, antioxidant capabilities, immunity, and intestinal health of E. sinensis. Through a broken-line analysis of the WGR against dietary Bio-Se levels, optimal dietary Bio-Se levels were determined to be 1.1 mg/kg. These findings contribute valuable insights to the understanding of crab cultivation and nutrition.

DIETARY EFFECTS OF TULSI LEAVES AND BLACK PEPPER EXTRACT ON BROILER GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of the dietary effect of different levels of Tulsi leaves (Ocimum sanctum) and Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) Extract (TBE) on growth performance and carcass traits of commercial broiler. The study was conducted at the Poultry farm of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during the period from 11 April to 08 May, 2019. A total of 96 day old broiler chicks (Lohman Meat) were randomly and equally distributed to 4 groups having 3 replicates of 8 birds each. The birds were grouped as T0, T1, T2 and T3 group with normal water (control group), 1% TBE 1ml /L of drinking water, 2% TBE 2 ml/L of drinking water and 3% TBE 3ml /L of drinking water, respectively. Body weight gains, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), mortality (%) and meat yield traits were recorded. The collected data were analyzed by using ANOVA with SPSS version 22. Feed intake (g/bird) was almost similar (P&gt;0.05) among the dietary treatment groups. Body weight gain (g) and FCR were significantly (P&lt;0.05) differed among the dietary treatment groups. The highest body weight gain (g) was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in T2 (1659.35g±2.19), followed by T1 (1631.05g±2.52), T3 (1590.67g±2.73) and T0 (1472.01g±4.58), respectively. The lowest FCR was found in T2 (1.41±0.00) and the highest FCR in T0 (1.52±0.01), the intermediate in T1 (1.45±0.01) and T3 (1.46±0.01), respectively. It was found that there was significant (P&lt;0.05) difference among the dietary treatment groups in case of live weight (g), carcass weight (g),dressing percentage (%), breast weight (g), liver weight(g), but there was almost similar (P&gt;0.05) among the dietary treatment groups in case of heart weight (g), spleen weight (g), gizzard weight (g), thigh weight (%), head weight (g), intestine weight (g) and shank weight (g). The carcass meat weight, Carcass yield (%), breast weight and breast meat weight (%) was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in treatment T2 group compared to control group T0. Liver weight was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in control group T0 compared to treatment group T2. No mortality was found among the dietary treatment groups during experimental period. Based on the result it could be concluded that 2% Tulsi leaves and Black Pepper Extract (TBE) 2 ml/L of drinking water may be used in broiler diet as growth promoter and it may also serve as an antioxidant.

Flaxseed Oil Attenuates Intestinal Damage by Regulating Ferroptosis Signaling Pathway Following LPS Challenge in Piglets.

Ferroptosis has been demonstrated to play an important role in various tissue injuries and diseases. Flaxseed oil (FO) has been proven to have benefits for intestinal health. This study aims to explore whether FO relieved lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury through modulating ferroptosis signaling pathway. A total of 120 weaned piglets are fed diets with 3% soybean oil (SO) or 3% FO for 4 weeks. At the end of the trial, 24 piglets selected from two dietary treatment groups are used in a 2 × 2 factorial design with oil treatment (3% SO versus 3% FO) and LPS challenge (saline versus LPS). At 4h postinjection with LPS, 24 piglets are slaughtered and intestinal samples are collected. FO improves growth performance of pigs. After LPS treatment, FO mitigates intestinal morphological damage and functional damage. Notably, FO reverses the typical ultra-morphology and biochemical indexes of ferroptosis involving glutathione, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal contents. Mechanistically, FO ameliorates the changes on mRNA or protein abundance of key ferroptosis signals including transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1), recombinant iron responsive element binding protein 2 (IREB2), FTL, HSPB1, ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), SLC7A11, solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and arachidonate-15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15). FO improves growth performance and mitigates intestinal structural and functional damage, which is involved in regulating ferroptosis signaling pathway.

Metabolic pathway and network analysis integration for discovering the biomarkers in pig feces after a controlled fruit-vegetable dietary intervention

This study aimed to establish a strategy for identifying dietary intake biomarkers using a non-targeted metabolomic approach, including metabolic pathway and network analysis. The strategy was successfully applied to identify dietary intake biomarkers in fecal samples from pigs fed two doses of a polyphenol-rich fruit and vegetable (FV) diet following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations. Potential biomarkers were identified among dietary treatment groups using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) based on a non-targeted metabolomic approach with metabolic pathway and network analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) results showed significant differences in fecal metabolite profiles between the control and two FV intervention groups, indicating a diet-induced differential fecal metabolite profile after FV intervention. Metabolites from common flavonoids, e.g., (epi)catechin and protocatechuic acid, or unique flavonoids, e.g., 5,3′,4′-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone and 3,5,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone, were identified as highly discriminating factors, confirming their potential as fecal markers for the FV dietary intervention. Microbiota pathway prediction using targeted flavonoids provided valuable and reliable biomarker exploration with high confidence. A correlation network analysis between these discriminatory ion features was applied to find connections to possible dietary biomarkers, further validating these biomarkers with biochemical insights. This study demonstrates that integrating metabolic pathways and network analysis with a non-targeted metabolomic approach is highly effective for rapid and accurate identification and prediction of fecal biomarkers under controlled dietary conditions in animal studies. This approach can also be utilized to study microbial metabolisms in human clinical research.

Impact of a 12-Week Dietary Intervention on Adipose Tissue Metabolic Markers in Overweight Women of Reproductive Age.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in women of reproductive age leads to significant health risks, including adverse metabolic and reproductive outcomes. Effective dietary interventions are critical to improving health outcomes in this population. This study investigates the impact of a 12-week diet intervention on metabolic markers of adipose tissue in overweight women of reproductive age, determining whether calorie restriction or low-starch diets are more effective, while also accounting for salivary amylase activity. A total of 67 overweight women of reproductive age were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants were divided into high-salivary-amylase (HSA) and low-salivary-amylase (LSA) groups based on baseline salivary amylase activity measured using a spectrophotometric method. Each group was further subdivided into two dietary intervention groups: calorie restriction (CR) and low starch (LS), resulting in four subgroups (HSA-CR, HSA-LS, LSA-CR, LSA-LS), along with a control group (CTR) of normal-weight individuals (no intervention). Participants were assigned to a calorie-restricted diet or a low-starch diet for 12 weeks. Key metabolic markers of adipose tissue, including insulin sensitivity, adipokines, cytokines, and lipid profiles, were measured at baseline (T0), 30 min after consuming starch-containing muesli (T1), and 12 weeks after intervention (T2). Active GLP-1, glucagon, and C-peptide levels were assessed to clarify the hormonal mechanisms underlying the dietary effects. Salivary amylase activity was also measured to examine its role in modulating glucose and GLP-1 responses. Both diet interventions led to significant improvements in metabolic markers of adipose tissue, though different ones. Calorie restriction improved insulin sensitivity by effectively reducing visceral fat mass and enhancing insulin signaling pathways. In contrast, the low-starch diet was linked to a reduction in the coefficient of glucose variation influenced partly by changes in GLP-1 levels. Our findings highlight the importance of personalized diet strategies to optimize metabolic health in this demographic.

Effect of enhanced plane of nutrition in early life on the transcriptome and proteome of the anterior pituitary gland in Angus heifer calves

BackgroundEnhanced nutrition during the early calfhood period has been shown to lead to earlier pubertal development in heifer calves. This is of interest as earlier pubertal onset can subsequently facilitate earlier calving which can economically benefit production systems. Reproductive development in heifers is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian signalling pathway. In particular the anterior pituitary gland is central to reproductive development, through the dynamics of gonadotropic pulsatility. However, despite clear knowledge of the influence of enhanced dietary intake on subsequent reproductive development, the molecular control governing this response in the pituitary gland within the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian signalling axis in heifer calves is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of an enhanced plane of nutrition during early life on the anterior pituitary gland of heifer calves through both transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Between 3 and 21 weeks of age, heifer calves were offered either a high (HI, n = 14) or moderate (MOD, n = 14) plane of nutrition, designed to elicit target growth rates of 1.2 and 0.5 kg/d for HI and MOD groups, respectively. All calves were euthanised at 21 weeks of age and anterior pituitary tissue harvested for subsequent use in global transcriptomic and proteomic analyses.ResultsAverage daily gain was affected by diet (P < 0.001) and was 1.18 and 0.50 kg/day, for HI and MOD calves, respectively. RNAseq analysis resulted in the identification of 195 differentially expressed genes (Padj<0.05; fold change > 1.5), with 277 proteins identified as differentially abundant (Padj<0.05; fold change > 1.5) between contrasting dietary treatment groups. Biochemical pathway analysis of differentially affected genes and proteins revealed an enrichment for both growth hormone and GnRH signalling pathways (Padj.<0.05). Additionally, pathway analysis predicted an effect of enhanced dietary intake on endocrine function within the anterior pituitary gland as well as on reproductive system development and function (Padj.<0.05).ConclusionsResults from this study show that an enhanced dietary intake during early calfhood affected the molecular control of the anterior pituitary gland in heifer calves in early life.