Feed Ingredients Research Articles

Different sources of alfalfa hay alter the composition of rumen microbiota in mid-lactation Holstein cows without affecting production performance.

Alfalfa hay is a commonly used and important feed ingredient in dairy production. To better expand the alfalfa supply market, it is of great significance to explore the impact of alfalfa hay from different sources on dairy cow production performance. This study compared the effects of imported alfalfa hay from America (AAH) and Spain (SAH) on lactation performance and rumen microbiota of cows. Three hundred and sixty healthy mid-lactation Holstein cows with similar body weight, milk yield, and parity were randomly divided into two groups fed diets based on AAH or SAH for a 70-day experimental period. Each group was composed of four pens, with 45 cows in each pen. Daily records were kept for MY per cow and dry matter intake per pen. Twelve randomly selected cows per group were sampled to collect milk, feces, rumen fluid, and blood. The findings revealed no significant differences between the two groups in terms of production performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, serum biochemical indices, or rumen fermentation parameters. However, rumen microbial composition differed significantly between the two groups of cows based on β-diversity. On the genus level, the relative abundance of Prevotella, Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-002 increased while that of NK4A214_group, Ruminococcus, norank_f_F082 and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group decreased in the SAH group compared with AAH group. There was no significant correlation between these core differential bacteria and the molar proportions of acetate and propionate, the concentration of total volatile fatty acids, and milk yield. In conclusion, the feeding effects of SAH were similar to those of AAH. These findings provided a reference for the application of alfalfa hay from different sources and for the improvement of the economic benefit of dairy farms.

Case-control study on associations of hemorrhagic bowel syndrome in swine with feed characteristics and intestinal pathogens

Haemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) is one of the most common causes of death in fattening pigs worldwide. The objective of this descriptive study was to systematically assess predictors or causal components for the appearance of HBS using case farms (mortality rate caused by HBS ≥ 1.5%) in comparison with control farms (mortality rate caused by HBS ≤ 0.25%), focusing on feed ingredients, feed quality and size, and gastrointestinal pathogens. The inclusion of sugar beet as a feed component in liquid feeding systems was found to be associated (p = 0.03) with farms identified as HBS cases. Another predictive or causal factor found for liquid feeding systems, but only for those using meal, was particle size. A higher percentage of small particles (< 2 mm) in the meal was associated with a higher risk of being an HBS case farm (p = 0.02), while no relevant association was detected for the use of pellets. Sugar beet in the diet was also associated with the incidence of HBS.The microbial quality of the feed in dry feeding systems, specifically the number of total aerobes at the first and last outlet tubes, was associated with a higher incidence of HBS (p = 0.03). Faecal sample analysis showed a difference (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of B. pilosicoli in the herd category (case vs. control herd). In this descriptive study, five predictive or causal factors were identified for an HBS farm with a mortality rate due to HBS ≥ 1.5%. These included the number of aerobes in dry matter samples from the first and last feeders, the particle diameter of the meal used in liquid feeding systems and sugar beet as a component of liquid feeding rations, and the presence of B. pilosicoli as an infectious agent at animal level. Relevant associations reinforce the findings of the previously published Swiss study that HBS is a multifactorial syndrome involving different aspects of pig production and cannot be attributed to a single cause. Further studies are needed to develop evidenced based causal models for HBS in swine.

Microwave Cooking of Some or All High Starch Ingredients of Cattle Feed Concentrate Improves Nutritional Value and In Vitro Bioavailability.

Microwaving has been used to qualitatively improve feed ingredients prior to including them in cattle feed. However, it is not known whether feed ingredients should be microwaved separately or in a mixture before being included in cattle feed concentrates. In the current study, the effects of the partial and full microwaving of high starch ingredients were investigated regarding their impact on the nutritional composition, physicochemical properties, and in vitro digestibility of feed concentrates. The cassava was microwave-irradiated before being mixed with other ingredients (MC, 35% of formulation). A microwave-cooked cassava-corn meal mixture (MCC, 45% of formulation) and a combination of all solid components (MSI, 96% of formulation) were also compared. A feed containing non-microwaved ingredients was formulated and served as the control (NM). Significantly altered proximate compositions and nutritive profiles were observed in all the microwaved components (p < 0.05). The observed modifications in pHs, water absorption capacities, thermal properties (differential scanning calorimetry), diffraction patterns (X-ray diffractometry), and microstructures (scanning electron microscopy) indicated enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis in vitro. A higher cellulase organic matter solubility and digestible organic matter were observed in the MCC and MSIs feeds relative to the control NM (p < 0.05). These findings indicate a combination of components could be added to feedstock before it is microwave processed to potentially include this pretreatment in the feed production process.

Long story from past to present: calcium, phosphorus, and phytase

Abstract Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), two main elements, have vital physiological and metabolic roles in animal bodies. Accurate comprehension of the interaction of these two elements and their value in various resources helps to obtain their optimal formulation in poultry diets. Hence, in previous studies, the hormonal axes controlling Ca and P homeostasis have been primarily investigated. However, to estimate Ca and P requirements in modern broiler chickens, in addition to growth performance, other parameters such as Ca and P digestibility, bone strength, and excretion into the environment should also be considered. Since a large amount of P in poultry feed ingredients is bound to phytate, phytases are added to poultry diets to release the P from phytate. However, many nutritionists need clarification on what dose of dietary phytase is required to release the maximum phytate P and how phytase activity will be optimized. Therefore, the present review study has attempted to explore the factors that affect the digestibility of different resources of Ca and P. In addition, the effect of excess dietary Ca on phytase activity and studies related to super dosing of phytase in broilers are provided. Finally, the values of phytate P in standard poultry feed ingredients and the latest update of the studies on determining Ca and P requirements are summarized.

Metabolome and Metagenome Integration Unveiled Synthesis Pathways of Novel Antioxidant Peptides in Fermented Lignocellulosic Biomass of Palm Kernel Meal.

Approximately one-third of the entire world's food resources are deemed to be wasted. Palm kernel meal (PKM), a product that is extensively generated by the palm oil industry, exhibits a unique nutrient-rich composition. However, its recycling is seldom prioritized due to numerous factors. To evaluate the impact of enzymatic pretreatment and Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation upon the antioxidant activity of PKM, we implemented integrated metagenomics and metabolomics approaches. The substantially enhanced (p < 0.05) property of free radicals scavenging, as well as total flavonoids and polyphenols, demonstrated that the biotreated PKM exhibited superior antioxidant capacity. Non-targeted metabolomics disclosed that the Lactobacillus fermentation resulted in substantial (p < 0.05) biosynthesis of 25 unique antioxidant biopeptides, along with the increased (p < 0.05) enrichment ratio of the isoflavonoids and secondary metabolites biosynthesis pathways. The 16sRNA sequencing and correlation analysis revealed that Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Pediococcus acidilactici, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Limosilactobacillus fermentum, and polysaccharide lyases had significantly dominated (p < 0.05) proportions in PMEL, and these bacterial species were strongly (p < 0.05) positively interrelated with antioxidants peptides. Fermented PKM improves nutritional value by enhancing beneficial probiotics, enzymes, and antioxidants and minimizing anti-nutritional factors, rendering it an invaluable feed ingredient and gut health promoter for animals, multifunctional food elements, or as an ingredient in sustainable plant-based diets for human utilization, and functioning as a culture substrate in the food sector.

Antiviral Activity of Plant-Based Additives Against African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) in Feed Ingredients.

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the deadliest swine diseases with haemorrhagic symptoms and a high mortality rate. Plant-derived additives are potential antiviral agents against viruses due to their environmental and user-friendly properties. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of plant-based additives (Phyto.A04 and Phyto.B) compared to an organic acid blend (OAB) in inactivating ASF virus (ASFV) in cell culture and feed. ASFV-spiked feed was treated with individual or combined additives such as OAB, Phyto.A04 and Phyto.B. The viability of ASFV after treatment of ASFV-spiked feed with additives was then confirmed by both methods, real-time PCR and cell culture. The results of the in vitro test with cell cultures showed that all three additives (OAB, Phyto.A04 and Phyto.B) exerted a strong virucidal effect on ASFV in porcine alveolar macrophage cells. OAB at a concentration of 0.3% reduced the virus concentration from 4.48 log10 HAD50/mL after 1 day of treatment (day 1) to 3.29 log10 HAD50/mL after 3 days of treatment (day 3) and remained undetected after 7 days of treatment (day 7). In Phyto.A04 with 1%, the virus was only detectable on day 1 (3.53 log10 HAD50/mL). Phyto.B with 0.01% and 0.05% both showed good efficacy in completely inhibiting virus presence on days 3 and 7. All additives, OAB, Phyto.A04 and Phyto.B, were able to inactivate ASFV in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by cell culture and PCR methods. The combination of additives at different concentrations consistently improved the virucidal results.

Application of phytobioactive ingredients in compound feed of sturgeon fish

Application of phytobioactive ingredients in compound feed of sturgeon fish

Sustainable Poultry Feeding Strategies for Achieving Zero Hunger and Enhancing Food Quality

As global demand increases for poultry products, innovative feeding strategies that reduce resource efficiency and improve food safety are urgently needed. This paper explores the potential of alternative sustainable poultry feeding strategies aimed at achieving SDG2 (Zero Hunger) while increasing production performance and food quality, focusing on the potential recycling of by-products, plants, and food waste derived from fruits, vegetables, and seeds, which account for up to 35% annually. The paper provides a review analysis of the nutritional (protein, fat, fiber, and ash) and minerals (i.e., calcium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, copper, and iron) content as well as the bioactive compounds (polyphenols, antioxidants, carotenoids, fatty acids, and vitamins) of alternative feed ingredients, which can contribute to resource efficiency, reduce dependency on conventional feeds, and lower production costs by 25%. The nutritional benefits of these alternative feed ingredients, including their effects on poultry production and health, and their potential for improving poultry product quality, are presented. Carrot, paprika, rosehip, and some berry waste represent a great source of carotenoids, polyphenols, and vitamins, while the seed meals (flax, rapeseed, and sea buckthorn) have been reported to enhance the essential fatty acid composition in eggs and meat. Numerous plants (basil, sage, rosemary, and lettuce) are natural reservoirs of bioactive compounds with benefits for both animal and food products. Some challenges in implementing these alternative sustainable feeding strategies, including inconsistencies in quality and availability, the presence of anti-nutrients, and regulatory barriers, are also explored. In conclusion, future research directions in sustainable poultry feeding with alternative feed ingredients should be considered to achieve SDG2.

Drying Methods for Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae as a Feed Ingredient for Pigs Affect In Vitro Nutrient Disappearance

The objective of the present research was to determine the nutrient utilization of full-fat black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens; BSFL), which were processed by various drying methods, using in vitro procedures for pigs. Four sources of BSFL were prepared using various drying methods: (1) hot-air drying at 65 °C for 24 h; (2) microwave drying at 700 W for 5 min, three times; (3) freeze drying at −40 °C for 72 h; (4) infrared drying at medium infrared region (ranged from 2.0 to 6.0 μm) and at 95 °C for 12 min. In vitro ileal disappearance (IVID) of nutrients in the BSFL was measured using a procedure simulating the nutrient digestion and absorption in the stomach and small intestine of pigs. In vitro total tract disappearance (IVTTD) of nutrients in the BSFL was also measured using a procedure that simulated the total intestine of pigs. The contents of dry matter, ether extract, and crude protein in the dried-BSFL ranged from 94.6 to 96.8%, 49.2 to 52.8%, and 30.0 to 36.8%, respectively, on an as-is basis. Microwave drying resulted in a greater (p &lt; 0.05) IVID of dry matter in BSFL, compared with the freeze drying or infrared drying method, which caused the least IVID of dry matter. Hot air-dried BSFL, microwave-dried BSFL, and freeze-dried BSFL had a greater (p &lt; 0.05) IVID of crude protein and a greater (p &lt; 0.05) IVTTD of dry matter and organic matter, compared with infrared-dried BSFL. In conclusion, the hot-air drying, microwave drying, and freeze drying of full-fat black soldier fly larvae resulted in fairly comparable and relatively high nutrient digestibility based on the present in vitro study for pigs. However, the infrared drying method impaired nutrient utilization of full-fat black soldier fly larvae for pigs.

The Application of Fungi and Their Secondary Metabolites in Aquaculture.

Ensuring sustainability has increasingly become a significant concern not only in aquaculture but in the general agrifood sector. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate pathways to feed substitutes/best practices to enhance aquaculture sustainability. The application of fungi in aquaculture provides innovative methods to enhance the sustainability and productivity of aquaculture. Fungi play numerous roles in aquaculture, including growth, immunity enhancement and disease resistance. They also play a role in bioremediation of waste and bioflocculation. The application of fungi improves the suitability and utilization of terrestrial plant ingredients in aquaculture by reducing the fibre fractions and anti-nutritional factors and increasing the nutrients and mineral contents of plant ingredients. Fungi are good flotation agents and can enhance the buoyancy of aquafeed. Pigments from fungi enhance the colouration of fish fillets, making them more attractive to consumers. This paper, via the relevant literature, explores the multifaceted roles of fungi in aquaculture, emphasizing their potential to transform aquaculture through environmentally friendly and sustainable techniques. The effectiveness of fungi in reducing fibre fractions and enhancing nutrient availability is influenced by the duration of fermentation and the dosage administered, which may differ for various feed ingredients, making it difficult for most aquaculture farmers to apply fungi approximately. Therefore, the most effective dosage and fermentation duration for each feed ingredient should be investigated.

Applied research note: Black Soldier Fly Larvae Frass is an effective feed ingredient for broiler diets

Applied research note: Black Soldier Fly Larvae Frass is an effective feed ingredient for broiler diets

Dietary Chlorella vulgaris supplementation modulates health, microbiota and the response to oxidative stress of Atlantic salmon

Microalgae are emerging as functional feed ingredients in aquaculture due to their immune-stimulating and stress-modulating properties. We investigated the potential of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris as a feed supplement to improve the health and modulate microbiota and stress responses of Atlantic salmon. Triplicate groups of Atlantic salmon (~ 126 g) were reared in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) at 15 °C and received diets supplemented with 2% (CV2) or 14% (CV14) spray-dried C. vulgaris daily, 14% once weekly (CV14w), or a control diet (CD) for 8 weeks. Subsequently, all groups were exposed to an acute one-hour peracetic acid (CH3CO3H; PAA) treatment, a commonly used disinfectant in RAS. While CV14 increased feed conversion (FCR) significantly, feeding the diets CV2 and CV14w improved protein retention efficiency. CV14 significantly modulated beta-diversity in the intestinal digesta and mucosa, but this effect was already visible in fish fed CV2. Feeding CV14 and, to a lesser degree, CV2 increased the relative abundances of Paenarthrobacter and Trichococcus in the digesta and mucosa, which are able to metabolize complex carbohydrates. However, the same diets reduced the abundance of the lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus and Weissella in the digesta and Floricoccus in the mucosa. Peracetic acid exposure induced systemic stress (increase in plasma glucose and cortisol) and a local immune response in the gill, with the most prominent upregulation of several immune- and stress-regulated genes (clra, cebpb, marco, tnfrsf14, ikba, c1ql2, drtp1) 18 h after exposure in fish fed the control diet. Fish receiving CV14 once a week showed a reduced transcriptional response to PAA exposure. Catalase protein abundance in the liver increased following exposure to PAA, while superoxide dismutase abundance in the gill and liver was increased in response to C. vulgaris inclusion before stress. Overall, the results highlight that a high (14%) inclusion rate of C. vulgaris in feed for Atlantic salmon impairs feed conversion and shifts the intestinal microbiota composition in digesta and mucosa. Weekly feeding of C. vulgaris proves a viable approach in improving protein retention and improving transcriptional resilience towards oxidative stress in increasingly intensive production systems. Thereby this study may motivate future studies on optimizing temporal feeding schedules for health-promoting aquafeeds.

Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Carcass Characteristics and Organoleptic Properties of Broiler Chicken Fed Cocoa Bean Shell

The high cost of conventional feed ingredients has forced poultry farmers to concentrate on more accessible and reasonably priced alternative feed sources having considerable nutritional potential. One of these alternative feed sources is cocoa bean shell (CBS), which is widely available, inexpensive, and nutritious. There is limited research on the application of fermentation of bovine rumen filtrate on CBS in poultry production. A feeding trial for 56 days was conducted to investigate the dietary effect of rumen filtrate fermented cocoa bean shell (RFCBS) as partial replacement for maize on the performance of broiler chickens. Fresh cocoa bean shell was mixed with rumen filtrate obtained at ratio 1:1, fermented for 24 hours and then dried. The dried fermented cocoa bean shell (FCBS) was incorporated into the experimental diets at varying levels; 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% respectively to formulate five experimental diets. Ross 308 broiler chicks (n=150) were randomly allotted into five treatments groups of thirty (30) birds per treatment and three replicates containing ten birds each in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data on performance indices, hematological, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and sensory evaluation collected during the experiment were subjected to ANOVA at α = 0.05. Results revealed that fermentation method employed had significant influence (P&lt;0.05) on the chemical composition of cocoa bean shell used in this study. The crude protein (CBS: 8.18% – FCBS: 5.10%), ash (CBS: 10.40% - FCBS: 9.08%), nitrogen free extract (CBS: 57.64% - FCBS: 57.07%) content of the cocoa bean shell reduced after being fermented but increased its crude fibre content from 10.27% to 15.26%. It also helped to improve the phytochemical constituents of CBS. Dietary supplementation up to 10 % FCBS had comparable weight gain, feed intake and the best feed conversion ratio. Birds fed 10% FCBS based diet had improved (P&lt;0.05) nutrient digestibility values when compared with other diets. Birds on 0 (2088.89g/b), 5 (2044.44g/b) and 10 (1944.44g/b) % FCBS had similar dressed weight but recorded significantly the highest value. Birds fed 10% FCBS based diet recorded the highest tenderness (8.33), juiciness (8.37), flavour (8.43), colour (8.30), aroma (8.37) and taste (8.00) values. Results indicated that the cost of the feed per kg (#2178.92 - 2229.23) decreased across the dietary treatments as the FCBS increased. It is concluded that FCBS can be incorporated up to 10 % in broiler chickens’ diet for better output in terms of weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass trait sensory evaluation and better health status of the birds.

Effect of Fermented Mulberry Leaves on Gut Health of Finishing Pigs

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementing fermented mulberry leaves (FML) on intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity, and immune function in the gut of finishing pigs. Eighteen 132-day-old healthy crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) male castrated pigs were randomly divided into two treatment groups with nine replicates per group. The control (CON) group was fed the basal diet, and the FML group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 10% FML. The experiment lasted 69 days. The results showed that 10% FML improved gut health. The apparent total tract digestibility in dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, acidic detergent fiber, ether extract, and crude ash increased in the 10% FML group of finishing pigs compared to the CON group (p &lt; 0.05). Duodenal, jejunal, and ileal intestinal morphology, such as villus height and villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio, increased in the 10% FML group compared to the CON group, whereas crypt depth decreased in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (p &lt; 0.05). Total antioxidant capacity increased in the ileum of the 10% FML group compared with the CON group (p &lt; 0.05). The FML supplementation improved the contents of duodenal immunoglobulin A, jejunal interleukin-1β, interleukin-8, ileal interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interferon-γ, and immunoglobulins A and M compared to the control group (p &lt; 0.05). Moreover, FML downregulated the mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α in the duodenum, Toll-like receptor 4, nuclear factor-κ B-P65, and myeloid differentiation factor 88 in the jejunum, and Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κ B-P65 in the ileum (p &lt; 0.05). The FML also upregulated Montrose uniting church 1 in the duodenum and claudin 2 in the ileum (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 10% FML improved the gut health of finishing pigs and FML is a potential feed ingredient for pig breeding.

Prioritization of chemical food safety hazards in the European feed supply chain.

Extensive monitoring programs of chemical hazards in the animal feed chain are in place, both organized by public and private organizations. The objective of this review was to prioritize chemical hazards for monitoring in the European animal feed supply chain. A step-wise approach was designed for the prioritization, based on: historical occurrence of the chemicals in animal feed ingredients and animal feeds (in relation to European guidance values or maximum limits in feed); information on transfer of the chemical to edible animal products, and; the extent of human dietary intake of the products and possible adverse human health effects of the chemical. Possible prioritization outcomes were: high (H), medium (M), or low (L) priority for monitoring, or classification not possible (NC) because of limited available data on the transfer of the chemical to edible animal tissues. The selection of chemicals included (with results in parentheses): dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (H); brominated flame retardants (H); per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (H); the heavy metals arsenic (H) and cadmium (H) as well as lead (M) and mercury (M); aflatoxins (H), ochratoxin A (NC), and other mycotoxins (L); pyrrolizidine alkaloids (H) and other plant toxins (NC); organochlorine pesticides (H) and other pesticides (L); pharmaceutically active substances (M); hormones (NC); polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (L), heat-induced processing contaminants (NC), and mineral oils (NC). Results of this study can be used to support risk-based monitoring by food safety authorities and feed-producing companies in Europe.

Effect of Solid-state Fermentation on Proximate Composition of Rice Bran Meal

Fish farming is often faced with high feed cost comprising approximately 60 to75% of total production costs; these causes decrease in profit margin for the fish farmers. An attempt to upsurge the profit is to minimize the cost of feed as minimal as possible. One way to do this is to explore local feed ingredients that could be used as an alternatives for fish feed. Consequently, farmers use locally available fish feed ingredients including agricultural by-products. These feed ingredients have led to increased pond productivity due to their nutrients constituent and bio-availability. This study evaluate the effect of solid state fermentation on proximate compositions of fermented rice bran meal. Rice bran was collected in three different containers, ground into powder, then sieved and fermented using solid state fermentation procedure. Each sample was solidly fermented at 10% moisture and keep in fermenter at ambient temperature for 24 hours (1 day), 96 hours (4 days), and 168 hours (7 days). Afterward, the fermented samples were oven dried for one hour at 100oC. The fermented samples were taken to the laboratory for proximate analysis. The results obtained from the study shows that, fermenting rice bran for seven days (168hrs) increases the crude protein from 10.53±1.27 to 15.07±1.43 and reduction in crude fibre from 10.74±062 to 7.87±1.71. This study revealed that, solid state fermentation of rice bran meal for one to seven days improved the crude protein and reduces crude fibre and the fermented bran meal can be incorporated as an essential part of the fish feed.

Effect of Solid-State Fermentation on Phytochemical Composition of Rice Bran Meal

In aquaculture, the available feed ingredients are expensive and limited in quantity making it essential to explore fish feed ingredients that are low-cost and locally available. Agro by-products seems to be one of the available source. This study evaluate the effect of solid state fermentation on phytochemical compositions of rice bran meal. Rice bran was collected in three different containers, ground into powder, then sieved and fermented using solid state fermentation procedure. Each sample was solidly fermented (wet at 10% moisture and keep in fermenter at ambient temperature) for 24 hours (1 day), 96 hours (4 days), and 168 hours (7 days). Afterward, the fermented samples were oven dried for one hour at 100oC as described. The fermented samples were taken to the laboratory for phytochemical analysis. The results obtained from this study revealed that fermenting rice bran for seven days (168hrs) using solid state fermentation method reduced the Alkaloid contain from 12.61±1.04 mg/kg to 10.24±1.52 mg/kg, 9.18±0.11 mg/kg and 8.13±0.16 mg/kg. Phytate from 6.73±1.32mg/kg to 4.39±0.82mg/kg, 4.05±0.56mg/kg and 2.15±0.73mg/kg. Tannins from 4.60±0.13 mgTA/kg to 4.11±0.65 mgTA/kg, 3.26±0.47 mgTA/kg and 1.52±0.24 mgTA/kg. Saponins from 2.98±0.54 g/kg to 2.50±0.17 g/kg, 1.88±1.54 g/kg and 1.43±1.17 g/kg. Oxalate from 2.78±1.25 mg∞/100g to 2.47±1.42 mg∞/100g, 2.91±0.31 mg∞/100g and 1.82±0.13 mg∞/100g. However, it increases Flavonoids from 6.94±1.82 mgRutin/kg to 7.90±1.35 mgRutin/kg, 9.03±0.43 mgRutin/kg and 11.18±1.35 mgRutin/kg. Phenols from 1.71±0.32 gGAE/kg to 2.14±0.12 gGAE/kg, 2.91±1.53 gGAE/kg and 3.58±1.65 gGAE/kg. This study establishes the fact that, fermented rice bran meal can be incorporated as an essential part of the feed production in order to reduced cost of production thereby increasing the profit and enhances waste management.

Aflatoxin B1 in compound feed and feed ingredients from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

ABSTRACT A large-scale study was conducted to explore AFB1 contamination in feed samples using Thin Layer Chromatography, following an AOAC protocol. Samples were identified which were not compliant with the maximum limits for AFB1 as regulated in the United States and Pakistan. Of a total of 923 samples, 51 samples (5.5%) were not compliant according to Pakistan and 267 (28.9%) were not compliant with US-FDA standards. The overall prevalence of non-compliant samples of compound feed was 26.2% (n = 117) according to US-FDA standards, while none of the samples were non-compliant according to Pakistan standards. Among feed ingredients, the overall prevalence of non-compliant samples was 10.7% (n = 51) and 31.4% (n = 150) according to Pakistan and USFDA standards, respectively. Non-compliant feed with respect to AFB1 contamination was highly prevalent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, posing a serious threat to production performance and animals health.

Effects of high α-linolenic acid transgenic rapeseed oil diet on growth performance, fat deposition, flesh quality, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).

Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LC-PUFA) increases in aquatic products contributes to improving meat quality, thereby positively impacting human health. Different from marine fish which primarily obtain n-3 LC-PUFAs directly from zooplankton and algae, freshwater fish mainly utilize dietary linolenic acid (ALA) as a substrate to synthesize n-3 LC-PUFAs. Our team has successfully created a transgenic rapeseed oil (TRO) with high ALA content. Therefore, we here assessed the impacts of four different diets (LR, low-fat rapeseed oil (RO) diet; HR, high-fat RO diet; LTR, low-fat TRO diet; HTR, high-fat TRO diet) on growth performance, lipid accumulation, fatty acid composition, antioxidant capacity, immunity and serum biochemical indexes of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), an economically valuable freshwater fish. The results showed no significant difference in survival rate among the four dietary groups. No significant differences in body weight gain and final weight were found between the LR and LTR groups, as well as between HR and HTR groups. No matter if it was a high-fat or low-fat diet, compared with the RO diet, TRO diets significantly increased the content of n-3 LC-PUFA, improved meat quality, effectively alleviated lipid accumulation in livers and muscles of juvenile largemouth bass. In addition, using high-fat diets, TRO diet improved the antioxidant capacity and immune ability of juvenile largemouth bass, thereby promoting the overall health of fish. This study provides novel insights for fish feed formulation optimization from the perspective of genetically modified feed ingredients, and high-quality aquatic products for human consumption.

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Protein Digestibility of Duckweed and Feed Ingredients

Duckweed is an aquatic floating plant with the potential to be used as animal feed due to its richness in protein, amino acids, starch, vitamin and minerals. Furthermore, duckweed has a high growth rate and reproducibility. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the chemical composition and in vitro protein digestibility of duckweed (Lemna, Wolffia and Spirodela) in comparison to other feed ingredients. The chemical composition was determined through proximate analysis including dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude fiber (CF), ash and nitrogen free extract. The in vitro protein digestibility procedure simulates conditions similar to those in the swine digestive tract using synthetic enzymes to control pH, temperature and digestion time. In the results of chemical composition, Lemna and Wolffia were classified as protein sources, with high CP content (221.87 and 442.65 g/kg DM, respectively) and low CF content (63.30 and 109.11 g/kg DM), whereas Spirodela had low CP content (179.64 g/kg DM) and CF content (170.57 g/kg DM). The EE content in duckweed amounted to 16.74, 46.23 and 52.47 g/kg DM for Wolffia, Spirodela and Lemna, respectively. Additionally, high ash content was observed in Spirodela (212.40 g/kg DM), Wolffia (149.34 g/kg DM) and Lemna (142.06). For standardized ileal digestibility (SIDCP), the SIDCP of all feed ingredients were within the range of 32 to 96 %. With regard to duckweed, Lemna (72 %) showed significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) SIDCP compared to Wolffia (69 %) and Spirodela (39 %) due to the low contents of CF and ash. Based on nutritional values, Lemna and Wolffia were grouped with corn DDGS and brewer’s grain, indicating their potential as animal feed for sustainable livestock production. HIGHLIGHTS Duckweed exhibited high protein content, ranging from 179.64 to 65 g/kg dry matter. For in vitro protein digestibility, Lemna and Wolffia had high true digestibility, amounting to 79 and 75 %, respectively. Based on nutritional values, Lemna and Wolffia were grouped with corn DDGS and brewer’s grain, indicating their potential as animal feed for sustainable livestock production. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT