Enriched Feed Research Articles

Next-Generation Sequencing to Determine Changes in the Intestinal Microbiome of Juvenile Sturgeon Hybrid (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii♀ × Acipenser baerii♂) Resulting from Sodium Butyrate, Β-Glucan and Vitamin Supplementation

Background/Objectives: The effect of sodium butyrate (NaB), β-glucan (βG) and vitamins in the diet on gut microbiome, cortisol level, lysozyme activity and growth parameters of juvenile hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii♀ × Acipenser baerii♂) was determined. Methods: Sturgeon hybrids (n = 144) were divided into three groups with enriched feeding (mg/kg of feed): FQV1 (50 NaB; 20 βG; const. vitamins), FQV2 (150 NaB; 20 βG; const. vitamins), FQV3 (50 NaB; 60 βG; const. vitamins) and control (not supplemented), each group in triplicate, 12 fish in each repetition. Rearing was carried out for 30 days in controlled conditions. Gut microbiome was characterized using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of DNA samples isolated from intestinal content. Cortisol level was determined using the ELISA test. Lysozyme activity was measured by turbidimetric test. Results: Based on data obtained from NGS, it was determined that the FQV1 group is characterized by the highest values of diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson and Chao-1) and the largest number of ASVs (Amplicon Sequence Variants). The highest abundance of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus, Lactococcus) was determined in the FQV1 group. The highest cortisol concentration was determined in the control (33.26 ng/mL), while the lowest was in FQV3 (27.75 ng/mL). The highest lysozyme activity was observed in FQV1 (154.64 U/mL), and the lowest in FQV2 (104.39 U/mL) and control (121.37 U/mL) (p < 0.05). FQV2 was characterized by significantly more favorable values of breeding indicators (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The obtained results prove that an appropriate composition of NaB, βG and vitamins can be used in the commercial breeding of juvenile hybrid sturgeons.

Poultry Feed Enrichment Using Covalently Immobilized Partially Purified Alkaline Protease from Newly Isolated Ochrobactrum anthropi KTP9

Poultry Feed Enrichment Using Covalently Immobilized Partially Purified Alkaline Protease from Newly Isolated Ochrobactrum anthropi KTP9

Synergistic Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Sodium Butyrate, β-Glucan and Vitamins on Growth Performance, Cortisol Level, Intestinal Microbiome and Expression of Immune-Related Genes in Juvenile African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus).

The effect of dietary supplementation with sodium butyrate, β-glucan and vitamins (A, D3, E, K, C) on breeding indicators and immune parameters of juvenile African catfish was examined. The fish were fed with unenriched (group C) and enriched feed with a variable proportion of sodium butyrate/β-glucan, and constant content of vitamins (W1-W3). After the experiment, blood and the middle gut were collected. The microbiome of the gut was determined using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Liver tissue was collected for determination of expression of immune-related genes (HSP70, IL-1β, TNFα). W2 and W3 were characterized by the most favorable values of breeding indicators (p < 0.05). The highest blood cortisol concentration was in group C (71.25 ± 10.45 ng/mL), and significantly the lowest in W1 (46.03 ± 7.01 ng/ mL) (p < 0.05). The dominance of Cetobacterium was observed in all study groups, with the largest share in W3 (65.25%) and W1 (61.44%). Gene expression showed an increased number of HSP70 genes in W1. IL-1β and TNFα genes peaked at W3. The W3 variant turns out to be the most beneficial supplementation, due to the improvement of breeding and immunological parameters. The data obtained can be used to create a preparation for commercial use in the breeding of this species.

The effect of adding cod liver oil to the diet on the productivity and blood parameters of broiler chickens

The experiment was performed to evaluate the production performance and blood parameters of broiler chicken fed on cod liver oil enriched feed. A cohort of 96 day-old chickens was allocated at random into four treatment groups, denoted as T0, T1, T2, and T3. Each treatment group consisted of three replicates. In contrast to each replication consisting of eight birds, each treatment group comprises 24 birds. Experimental birds in T1, T2, and T3 were fed rations enriched with cod liver oil at 0.5%, 1%, and 2% by weight, respectively, whereas T0 received only standard feed and was designated as the control group. The findings of this research demonstrated that the final live weight and live weight gain of the birds in group T3 which was provided with feed enriched with 2% cod liver oil was significantly greater (p

Effect of enrichment conditions of secondary feeding on the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by activated sludge

ABSTRACT Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable plastics with great performance and development prospects. However, their traditional anaerobic/aerobic enrichment process requires a high concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO), resulting in high energy consumption. In this study, an anaerobic/oxygen-limited with secondary feeding enrichment mode was used to enhance the synthesis of PHAs while reducing energy consumption. The enrichment process of PHAs-synthesizing bacteria lasted up to 100 days, and the experiment was conducted to investigate the change of the PHAs synthesizing ability of the system in this mode by detecting the PHAs content and community distribution of the activated sludge under different stages. Under these conditions, the system enriched two major genera of PHAs-synthesizing bacteria, Thauera (30.21%) and Thiothrix (21.30%). The content of PHAs in the sludge increased from 4.51% to 30.87% and was able to achieve a concomitant increase in poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHV) monomer content. After nitrogen limitation (C/N = 150) treatment, the content of PHAs reached 63.05%. The results showed that the enrichment mode of anaerobic/oxygen-limited with secondary feeding could enrich more PHAs-synthesizing bacteria and significantly increase the synthesis amount of PHAs, which revealed the great potential of this mode in solid waste value-added and reduce the production cost of PHAs and could provide a theoretical basis for the production of PHAs from activated sludge.

How and why pet cats are fed the way they are: a self-reported owner survey.

This study used an owner-directed online questionnaire to collect data regarding their food and water provision for their pet cats. The survey was conducted in 2019. The anonymous online 30-question survey was available via vetprofessionals.com. A total of 1172 cat owners fully completed the questionnaire. The respondents each owned a median of two cats (range 1-6). They reported being most strongly motivated to feed a particular ration because of palatability, observed and/or expected health benefits, or that the diet was/is perceived as 'natural'. The majority of owners (n = 946, 80.7%) fed their cats exclusively a commercially purchased complete wet food, dry kibble diet or mixture of both. Compared with a previous (unpublished) survey conducted by the same authors in 2013,1 there were substantial increases in the number of owners feeding therapeutic diets (26.6% vs 0.7%) and the inclusion of raw meat in cats' rations (15.6% vs 3.7%). The proportion of respondents providing at least one feeding station per cat was 83.1%, with significant use of enrichment feeding methods (29.1%). Veterinarians need to be aware of changing trends in cat feeding to provide owners with appropriate support. Veterinary advice was frequently sought by owners and can be used as an opportunity to improve cat health and welfare, particularly in multi-cat households, but was not often influential to client decision making.

Selective oxidation of methanol to green oxygenates on vanadium-aluminum phosphate based catalysts

The methanol transformation reaction in the presence of oxygen was carried out in the temperature range of 210–310 ºC, over vanadium catalysts based on vanadium oxide (V2O5) and on vanadium-phosphorus oxide (VPO) calcined at 450 ºC in air. Specifically, the vanadium oxide systems with V2O5 loadings below, above or corresponding to the theoretical monolayer (1–34 wt% of V2O5) were obtained by the impregnation of a mesoporous amorphous aluminum phosphate, AlPO4, calcined at different temperatures (from 350 ºC to 650 ºC) with vanadyl oxalate. Additionally, mechanical mixtures of either VPO or V2O5 with AlPO4 were also employed. Under the experimental conditions employed, with a methanol enriched feed (O2/methanol molar ratio=0.6), formaldehyde and dimethoxymethane were the main products obtained with all the catalysts studied. Vanadyl phosphate (VPO) exhibited slightly lower activity than vanadium oxide, formaldehyde being the main product (SFA ≥ 95%). The conversion of both vanadium oxide and vanadyl phosphate appreciably increased when mixed with the AlPO4, also promoting the formation of dimethoxymethane. The interaction of the vanadium species with the aluminum phosphate surface took place preferentially through the surface Al-OH groups, the vanadium species with less development being the most active in the formation of formaldehyde and dimethoxymethane, per at-g of vanadium.

Effects of Growth Promoter-Enriched Farm-Made Feeds on the Growth, Flesh Quality and Economics of Labeo rohita Culture

Aims: The study compared the effects of three growth promoters enriched farm-made feeds with a commercial carp grower feed on growth, flesh compositions and palatability, and economics of Labeo rohita culture.&#x0D; Study Design: The study was carried out through four treatments with three replications in each treatment. A commercial carp feed was used as control (T1, without growth promoter) and three experimental feeds were formulated by using locally available ingredients with the addition of three growth promoters viz., charger gel (CG), eon fish grower (EG) and aquazyme plus (AP) treated as T2, T3 and T4, respectively. Fifteen juveniles of L. rohita with initial weights ranging from 131.17±9.60g to 133.33±8.84g were stocked in each cage (96ft3) and served a daily ration of 5% body weight.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in 12 cages set in an experiment pond at the Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh for 80 days (June-August, 2022).&#x0D; Methodology: Growth and feed utilization parameters by means of weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and chemical composition viz., crude protein, lipid, carbohydrate, fiber, ash and moisture content of feed and fish flesh along with palatability indicators viz., odor, taste and texture were evaluated according to standard formulae, AOAC methods and organoleptic sensory technique, respectively.&#x0D; Results: CG, EG, and AP enriched feed exhibited significantly better growth performance, feed efficiency, flesh composition and palatability indicators compared to the control feed. Additionally, CG enriched feed was the most economically efficient followed by EG and AP enriched feed in terms of feed cost/kg production.&#x0D; Conclusion: The findings conclude that charger gel enriched farm-made feed is more economical and yields better growth and flesh quality of L. rohita than the selected commercial feed.

Effects of Olea europaea L. Polyphenols on the Animal Welfare and Milk Quality in Dairy Cows.

Here, we evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with an Olea europaea L. extract on the animal welfare and milk quality of dairy cows. Thirty Italian Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in the mid-lactation phase (90 to 210 days) were blocked into experimental groups based on parity class (namely, primiparous (P) (n = 10), secondiparous (S) (n = 10) and pluriparous (PL) (n = 10)) and received, for 60 days, Phenofeed Dry® at 500 mg/cow/day. Milk and blood samples were collected before the start of the treatment (T0), subsequently every 15 days (T1-T4) and at 45 days after the end of treatment (T5). In the serum, glucose and triglycerides, stress, the thyroid, lactation and sex hormones were measured; in the milk, lysozyme content as well as the fatty acid profile were assessed. In the whole animal, the enriched feed helped to maintain hormonal parameters in the physiological range while producing hypoglycemic (T4 vs. T0, for P and PL p < 0.001) and hypolipidemic effects (T4 vs. T0, for P p < 0.001 and for PL p < 0.01). At the milk level, it resulted in a reduction in total fat (T5 vs. T0, for P, S and PL p < 0.001) and in the saturated fatty acids (SFAs)/monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) ratio paralleled by an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (T5 vs. T0, for P, S and PL p < 0.001), protein content (lysozyme (T4 vs. T0, for P and PL p < 0.001)) and lactose (T5 vs. T0, for P, S and PL p < 0.001). Thus, the inclusion of natural bioactive molecules such as O. europaea L. polyphenols in the dairy cow diet may help to improve animal welfare and milk quality.

Vitamin C Enrichment in the Gold Snail (Pomacea canaliculata) Silage: Effects on Biomass and Reproduction Artemia sp. Labolatory Scale

Giving vitamin C to feed is very necessary considering that vitamin C is a multivitamin needed by the body. The purpose of this study was to determine the proper dose of vitamin C in the golden snail silage feed in increasing the biomass and reproduction of Artemia sp. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Water Quality and Aquatic Biology, Department of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Tadulako University. The variables observed were population density, egg/cyst production, hatching rate, survival rate (SR), water quality. The study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with 5 treatments and 4 replications with 20 experimental units A: control , B: vitamin C 12 mg/L, C: vitamin C 18 mg/L, D: vitamin C 24 mg/L, E: vitamin C 30 mg/L. The results showed that vitamin C enrichment with a concentration of 24 mg/L had a very significant effect (p&lt;0.05) on each variable. Improper concentration of vitamin C in feed enrichment can affect the survival of Artemia sp.

Эффективность использования региональных сырьевых ресурсов с целью повышения питательной ценности кормов

Purpose. Scientific and practical substantiation of the positive impact of the developed new feed additives on the metabolism of farm animals and poultry. Materials and Methods. The studies were carried out using traditional scientific methods of collecting information, processing primary material, generalization, and systematization. The analysis of biochemical, zootechnical, morphological, histological, organoleptic, functional and technological indicators was carried out in accordance with the generally accepted normative and technical documentation. Discussion. It has been proven that the use of natural sorbents and minerals (bentonites, diatomites, limestones, various fractions of bischofite), secondary raw materials and food production wastes (cake, meal, pomace) in the composition of feed for cattle makes it possible to reduce the technogenic load on the animal body (in 3-6 times), increase the level of conversion of feed nutrients (16-40%), improve metabolic processes, increase productivity (10-16%) and the level of profitability of the industry (7-14%). At the same time, animals of different breeds and directions of productivity differ in their ability to accumulate ecotoxicants. Inclusion in the diet of a vitamin-mineral complex containing betacarotene, vitamins E, C and selenium in a bioavailable form makes it possible to eliminate the stress factor that occurs during the parenteral administration of a commercial two-component analogue and achieve a more significant physiological effect on the body of lactating cows. The developed protein-mineral preparations containing bioavailable forms of iodine and selenium, feed additives based on lactulose in combination with honey extracts of highly valuable plant materials, biologically active complexes of lactulose and regional natural resources stimulate immune mechanisms, contribute to the formation of the functional properties of livestock products, which is especially important in the prevention of alimentary-dependent conditions in the population. Laying hens that consumed enriched feed used the nutrients of the diet more fully, as a result, more of them were excreted in egg products. So, protein with an egg was excreted more by 10.9-13.2%, fat – by 11.4-14.3%, calcium – by 2.3-2.7%, phosphorus – by 3.5-4.2%. In pig breeding, the results of the work performed have been tested and recommended for implementation in order to activate metabolic processes in the animal body, more complete protein digestion – by an average of 2.0%, an increase in the degree of nitrogen utilization – by an average of 6.0%, which leads to accumulation in the carcass of a higher protein content (on average by 19.2%). It has been established that the use of meat obtained from pigs grown with the use of feed antibiotics by rats leads to an increase in the functional activity of the liver, mainly due to the activation of protein metabolism, and the use of lard in the diet of rats causes an increase in the detoxification function of the liver, which leads to an increase in the activity of transaminases in the blood and tissue of the organ, a change in lipid metabolism and the appearance of fat-modified hepatocytes. The prospects for the use of regional entomoresources in feeding beef cattle are substantiated. As a result of studying the chemical composition and nutritional value of the extruded locust additive, its effect on the digestibility and use of dietary nutrients, the dynamics of morphological and biochemical blood parameters, the linear and weight gain of experimental calves, meat productivity, slaughter parameters of calves and the quality of raw meat, a economic efficiency of beef production, the expediency of further implementation of the development has been experimentally confirmed. Conclusion. Highly effective approaches have been developed to realize the genetic potential of regional breed resources by increasing the level of nutrient conversion of feed and diets.

Enrichment Moina sp. with fish meal improved growth performance of Colossoma macropomum larvae

Colossoma macropomum is freshwater fish which has a great demand in Indonesia. However, cultivation of C. macropomum is still developing. C. macropomum cultivation requires a good quality seeds to support the success of aquaculture. The exhausted egg yolks of C. macopomum larvae require appropriate and high-nutrient feed intake through enrichment of feed with the addition of natural feed nutrients (Moina sp.). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of additional Moina sp. enriched with fish meal on the survival and growth of C. macropomum. This study was structured using a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 4 treatments with 3 replications, namely: treatment A (Moina sp. without enriched with fish meal), treatment B (Moina sp. enriched with fish meal 4 gr/L), treatment C (Moina sp. enriched with fish meal 6 gr/L), and treatment D (Moina sp. enriched with 8 gr/L fish meal). The results showed that the additional of Moina sp. enriched with fish meal had a significant effect on the absolute length growth, absolute weight growth, and specific growth rate but had no significant effect on survival of C. macropomum. The highest value was obtained in treatment C (Moina sp. enriched with fish meal 6 gr/L) with the absolute length growth of 0.46 cm, absolute weight growth of 0.010 gr, and specific growth rate of 3.184%/day.

Effect of feeding toy and the presence of a dog owner during the feeding time on dog welfare

Background and Aim: A conventional feeding bowl is the primary method that dog owners use to feed their dogs, but this may not encourage natural behaviors and may even exacerbate unwanted behaviors. This study aimed to compare a conventional feeding bowl to a feeding toy in relation to behavior, cortisol levels, and heart rate variability (HRV). Materials and Methods: The behaviors of four dogs were recorded and analyzed while being fed using either a stainless bowl (B) or a feeding toy (T) and either alone (A) or accompanied by a dog owner (O) for 30 min with each treatment (BA, BO, TA, and TO treatments). The dogs that were fed alone with the stainless bowl (BC) or the feeding toy (TC) were fed for 15 min/day for 7 days with their treatment, and serum cortisol levels measured on the first and last days of treatment. The dogs fed by the stainless bowl (BH) or the feeding toy (TH) with the owner present for 15 min for each treatment had their heart rate (HR) and HRV recorded by Polar® H10 during feedings The results were compared using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measure ANOVA, and Student’s t-test. Results: The dogs spent more time eating and interacting with the feeding toys than stainless bowls. The activity of the dogs was higher when using feeding toys, particularly with the TO treatment. Cortisol levels were significantly lower on day 7 than on day 1 of the TC treatment. The dogs’ HR was higher during TH treatment than during BH treatment. All HRV parameters were decreased significantly when feeding the dog with the toys. Conclusion: The results of this study support the idea that feeding enrichment supports the natural feeding behaviors of dogs as they mimic hunting and playing behaviors. This reduced unwanted behavior, cortisol levels, and HRV, and increased food consumption, eating duration, and active behaviors. The presence of the dog’s owner is important because it can enhance feeding and active behaviors, and feeding enrichment can improve the dog’s welfare and the dog-human relationship. Keywords: cortisol, dog behavior, dog welfare, dog-human relationship, feeding toy, heart rate variability.

Effect of feeding toy and the presence of a dog owner during the feeding time on dog welfare.

A conventional feeding bowl is the primary method that dog owners use to feed their dogs, but this may not encourage natural behaviors and may even exacerbate unwanted behaviors. This study aimed to compare a conventional feeding bowl to a feeding toy in relation to behavior, cortisol levels, and heart rate variability (HRV). The behaviors of four dogs were recorded and analyzed while being fed using either a stainless bowl (B) or a feeding toy (T) and either alone (A) or accompanied by a dog owner (O) for 30 min with each treatment (BA, BO, TA, and TO treatments). The dogs that were fed alone with the stainless bowl (BC) or the feeding toy (TC) were fed for 15 min/day for 7 days with their treatment, and serum cortisol levels measured on the first and last days of treatment. The dogs fed by the stainless bowl (BH) or the feeding toy (TH) with the owner present for 15 min for each treatment had their heart rate (HR) and HRV recorded by Polar® H10 during feedings The results were compared using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measure ANOVA, and Student's t-test. The dogs spent more time eating and interacting with the feeding toys than stainless bowls. The activity of the dogs was higher when using feeding toys, particularly with the TO treatment. Cortisol levels were significantly lower on day 7 than on day 1 of the TC treatment. The dogs' HR was higher during TH treatment than during BH treatment. All HRV parameters were decreased significantly when feeding the dog with the toys. The results of this study support the idea that feeding enrichment supports the natural feeding behaviors of dogs as they mimic hunting and playing behaviors. This reduced unwanted behavior, cortisol levels, and HRV, and increased food consumption, eating duration, and active behaviors. The presence of the dog's owner is important because it can enhance feeding and active behaviors, and feeding enrichment can improve the dog's welfare and the dog-human relationship.

Discus fish dimorphism performance improvement (Symphysodon discus) through daphnia magna (Daphnia sp.) enrichment using seed flour ketapang (Terminal catappa)

Discus fish is an attractive export ornamental fish commodity for cultivation because of the high price. Problems that are often experienced by discus fish farmers, namely the length of time the color appears and the brightness level, slow growth, and the high mortality rate during seed stage become an obstacle in the development of discus fish. Maintenance of discus fish fry that are susceptible to death because of the adaptation process or change of place cultivation container from the feed given. This research aims to study the effect of giving ketapang seed flour in the enrichment of daphnia magna on the performance of discus fish fry dimorphism, and determine the best dose in natural feed enrichment. This research was carried out during ±2 months in the month of june until august 2022. The design used is Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 3 replicates. The dose of ketapang seed flour used is treatment A control, treatment B with dose 3 g/L, treatment C with dose 6 g/L, and treatment D with dose 9 g/L. 30 days maintenance period. Research results show that enrichment of daphnia magna using ketapang seed flour very significant effect on increased discus fish dimorphism. The best concentration of ketapang seed flour is 9 g/L on the increase in discus fish dimorphism in the D treatment.Keywords: Discus; enrichment; Daphnia Magna; Ketapang Seed Flour

'Bowls are boring': Investigating enrichment feeding for pet dogs and the perceived benefits and challenges.

Canine enrichment feeding (CEF) is recommended by canine professionals, yet research into its use by dog owners is absent. This study is the first to investigate who uses CEF and the perceived benefits and barriers. A cross-sectional survey advertised in July and August 2021 received 1750 usable responses about owner and dog demographics, feeding methods used, canine quality of life and behaviour (Mini-Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire [C-BARQ]). Kongs, chews and activity toys were the most popular forms of CEF. CEF was most often used for a treat, delivering meals and keeping dogs busy. Owners not using CEF were more likely to be male and older. Dogs not fed using CEF were more likely to be older, of working type and have lower exercise needs. Furthermore, they were less likely to show meal interest, dog-directed fear or training difficulties. A common perceived benefit was mental stimulation; however, lack of time was commonly perceived to be a barrier. Certain feeding methods were associated with perceptions of reduced hunger and begging. The survey methodology means there is a risk of selection bias and conclusions cannot be drawn about causation. CEF was perceived by most owners to benefit behavioural problems and reduce food seeking. Further research using experimental research designs is required to establish causality.

Anti-hypercholesterolemia, Anti-atherogenic, and Anti-hypertension Effects of Red Beetroot (&lt;i&gt;Beta vulgaris&lt;/i&gt; L.) in Rats Induced by High Fat and Fructose Diet

Metabolic syndrome is associated with abnormalities of lipid levels in the blood such as hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia conditions can increase the risk of atherosclerosis and hypertension. Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is a plant that contains high antioxidants. Beetroot has the potency to be used as a functional food that can reduce the potential for atherosclerosis and blood pressure. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of beetroot-enriched feed on the cholesterol level, atherogenic index and blood pressure of rats (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769) induced by high fat and fructose diet. As many as 25 rats were divided into control, hyperlipidemia, and three treatment groups. The hyperlipidemia and treatment groups were induced to become hyperlipidemia using AIN93-M modified high fat and fructose feed for 8 weeks. The treatment groups were followed by intervention with 6, 9, and 12% beetroot enriched feed for 6 weeks. The feed was prepared by mixing beetroot flour in the pellets. Blood pressure, total cholesterol, and HDL level measurement was conducted after hyperlipidemia induction and after the intervention. The data analyzed with one-way ANOVA, DMRT, and T-Test. The results showed that 6% beetroot intervention have the highest increasing of HDL-cholesterol than other groups. The 9% beetroot intervention significantly decrease total cholesterol lower than normal baseline, and 12% beetroot intervention significantly decrease blood pressure than other groups. The atherogenic index of all treatment group was decreased. The 9% beetroot enriched feed was seen as an optimum dose to reduce total cholesterol, atherogenic index and blood pressure and increase HDL-cholesterol.

Comparative Study of Growth and Survival of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) on Different Feed Types

This study aimed to compare the growth and survival of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed with three different feed types: homemade feed (control), commercial feed, and earthworm-enriched feed. A total of 135 Nile tilapia with an average weight of 6.2 g and length of 6.5 cm were stocked in 9 hapas, with 15 fish per hapa. The fish were reared for 62 days, and growth performance, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. The results showed that the final average weight and length of Nile tilapia fed with earthworm-enriched feed were higher than those fed with homemade and commercial feed. The highest mean weight gain (18.45 g) and mean length gain (4.7 cm) were observed in Nile tilapia fed with earthworm-enriched feed (T3R1). The FCR of Nile tilapia fed with earthworm-enriched feed (1.65) was lower than that of the other two groups. Moreover, the survival rate of Nile tilapia fed with earthworm-enriched feed was 100%, while the survival rate of Nile tilapia fed with homemade and commercial feed was 93.3% and 66.7%, respectively. In conclusion, earthworm-enriched feed showed superior performance in terms of growth and survival rate of Nile tilapia. This feed type can be considered as a potential alternative to the traditional homemade and commercial feed in the aquaculture industry. Further studies on the economic feasibility of using earthworm enriched feed for Nile tilapia are recommended.

Plasma fatty acid profile in Italian Holstein-Friesian dairy cows supplemented with natural polyphenols from the olive plant Olea Europaea L.

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing with natural functional feed on the plasma fatty acid profile of lactating Italian Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Thirty cows in mid-lactation received the natural olive extract PHENOFEED DRY (500 mg/cow/day) which mainly comprises hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and verbascoside. The total content of polyphenols and the antioxidant power of standard feed, enriched feed and pure extract was evaluated respectively by Folin-Ciocalteu and DPPH assay, and a characterization in HPLC-UV (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ultraviolet) of bioactive molecules present in the extract PHENOFEED DRY was performed. PHENOFEED DRY was provided for 60 days, and the plasma profile of fatty acids was determined by Gas Chromatography. The administration of enriched feed resulted in an increase in the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from 3:1 to 4:1 (p<0.001). This was not influenced by the calving order. The addition of polyphenols helped to keep monounsaturated (MUFA) and saturated (SFA) levels constant and results in a significant increase in polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acid after 15 days of administration. The Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio was in the optimal range. The findings show that inclusion of natural functional food such as plant polyphenols helps to maintain a healthy blood fatty acid profile in lactating dairy cows.

The development of premix technology with vermiculite filler

In achieving a high level of biological usefulness of feeding poultry, the enrichment of compound feed with a complex of biologically active additives – premixes is of decisive importance. The organization of the production of high-quality premixes is an important direction in the development of the domestic feed industry. Vermiculite is one of the mineral raw materials mined on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, suitable for use in agriculture, in the production of premixes. Kazakhstan has large resources of vermiculites. The aim of the study is to determine the feasibility of using the natural mineral vermiculite from the Kulantau deposit as a filler in the production of premixes and a component in the production of animal feed. The physicochemical parameters of the natural mineral vermiculite have been determined. The analyzes of the study were carried out in the research laboratory for assessing the quality and safety of food products of the Almaty Technological University. Studies have been carried out on the use of vermiculite from the Kulantau deposit as a filler-diluent in the production of premixes. It was found that the natural mineral vermiculite has good flowability, low humidity, does not cake, so the use of vermiculite in the production of premixes helps to increase the safety of biologically active substances. The optimal time for preliminary mixing of microcomponents with vermiculite filler has been determined. With the addition of vermiculite after the third minute of mixing, the coefficient of variation is 6,63%. The introduction of the vermiculite mineral into the premix has a positive effect on the mixing process and the uniformity of the finished product. The mineral vermiculite reduces the humidity of the premix, has good flowability, and prevents the separation of the premix components during transportation. The total mixing time of the premixes is reduced to 4 minutes. The study of the vermiculite mineral in the composition of the premix, the improvement of the technological scheme for the production of the premix, will allow the production of high-quality domestic premix.