Improved Growth Performance Research Articles

Supplementation with Complex Phytonutrients Enhances Rumen Barrier Function and Growth Performance of Lambs by Regulating Rumen Microbiome and Metabolome

Complex phytonutrients (CPS) have attracted extensive interest due to their anti-inflammatory effects. This investigation focused on the impact of CPS on rumen health in lambs on high-concentrate diets, emphasizing growth performance, ruminal fermentation, epithelial barrier integrity, ruminal metabolism, and microbial communities. A total of 54 lambs, 3 months old and with a 30.42 ± 0.54 kg body weight, were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, with six replicates per treatment and three lambs per replicate. The lambs received a basal diet (the ratio of concentrate to forage was 75:25) without CPS supplementation (CON) or with the inclusion of 2.5 g/kg (CPS2.5) or 5.0 g/kg CPS (CPS5.0) for a total of 60 days. The CPS groups exhibited increased growth performance and improved rumen fermentation parameters. Mechanistically, CPS enhanced rumen epithelial barrier function, thereby lowering inflammation and inhibiting the overactivation of the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway, and the effect of CPS5.0 was better than that of CPS2.5. Notably, CPS5.0 could optimize the composition of rumen microbiota and increase the levels of Ursolic acid and other metabolites. The strong associations between rumen bacteria and health-related indicators and differential metabolites were further highlighted. Our findings suggest that adding CPS to lambs’ diets has widespread positive impacts, including improved growth performance, reduced inflammation and mRNA relative expression of apoptosis-related genes, enhanced barrier function, and beneficial changes in the rumen microbiome and metabolite profiles.

Dietary Fiber-Rich Spartina anglica Improves Intestinal Health and Antioxidant Capacity of Zhedong White Geese

Spartina anglica (SA), a plant rich in dietary fiber, has demonstrated considerable potential for enhancing gut health and antioxidant capacity in animals. This study investigates the integration of SA as a novel dietary ingredient for Zhedong white geese, with a specific focus on evaluating its effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant capacity, intestinal health, and cecal microbiota composition. A total of 360 1-day-old Zhedong white geese with an average weight of 114.94 ± 0.81 g were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments, with 6 replicates per treatment and 15 geese per pen. The 4 dietary treatments included different SA supplement levels: a control group receiving a basal diet (CON), and three experimental groups supplemented with 3% SA (SA3), 6% SA (SA6), and 12% SA (SA12). Supplementation with 6% SA significantly enhanced the final body weight, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). In contrast, the SA12 group exhibited reduced digestibility of crude protein and ether extract, relative to the SA3 and SA6 groups (p < 0.05). The highest antioxidant capacity was observed in the SA6 and SA12 groups, while the lowest was recorded in the CON group. SA supplementation did not significantly influence serum biochemical parameters or organ indices but increased cecum length (p < 0.05). Notably, SA supplementation markedly improved intestinal morphology, although excessive levels appeared to compromise these benefits. Additionally, SA supplementation significantly enhanced the richness and diversity of cecal microbiota and increased short-chain fatty acid concentrations. In conclusion, SA at an optimal supplementation level of 6% may be effectively utilized in Zhedong white geese diets to improve growth performance, gut health, and antioxidant capacity.

Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis of liver reveals unsynchronized growth mechanisms in blunt-snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

BackgroundMegalobrama amblycephala presents unsynchronized growth, which affects its productivity and profitability. The liver is essential for substance exchange and energy metabolism, significantly influencing the growth of fish.ResultsTo investigate the differential metabolites and genes governing growth, and understand the mechanism underlying their unsynchronized growth, we conducted comprehensive transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of liver from fast-growing (FG) and slow-growing (SG) M. amblycephala individuals. A total of 2,097 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between FG and SG, with 830 genes exhibiting significantly higher expression level in FG. KEGG and GO enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs with higher expression level were significantly correlated with insulin signaling pathway, steroid hormone and lipid metabolism related pathway (PPAR signaling pathway and fatty acid degradation). In the metabolomic analysis, 224 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were detected, of which 128 were significantly more abundant in FG. These more abundant DEMs were prominently enriched in pathways associated with cell proliferation and energy metabolism (Oxidative phosphorylation, mTOR signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway). In addition, DEGs and DEMs in adenosine diphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis activity and associate with fatty acid metabolism, glucose metabolism, and amino acid metabolism pathways were both found in the transcriptomic and metabolomic integrated data. These findings suggest that the large amounts of energy generated by fatty acid, glucose metabolism and other energy metabolism pathway promote the rapid growth of FG.ConclusionsThis research is the first to integrate metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of liver to identify key genes, metabolites, and pathways to uncover the molecular and metabolic mechanisms of unsynchronized growth in M. amblycephala. The identified metabolic and genes can be potential targets for selective breeding programs to improve growth performance in aquaculture.

Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 improves growth performance and liver health via regulating gut microbiota in golden pompano

Probiotics as green inputs have been reported to regulate metabolism and immunity of fish. However, the mechanisms by which probiotics improve growth and health of fish are unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1, an indigenous probiotic isolated from fish, on growth performance, host lipid metabolism, liver inflammation and gut microbiota of golden pompano. 160,000 golden pompanos with the initial body weight of 93.6 ± 5.0 g was randomly assigned to two dietary groups: Control and HGCC-1 (control diet supplemented with 0.3 g/kg Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 fermentation product), and after three weeks of feeding, 26 golden pompanos were randomly collected from each group for gut microbiome and host phenotype analysis. Dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 significantly promoted growth performance (P < 0.05) and enhanced feed utilization. Besides, HGCC-1 improved liver health and alleviated hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Furthermore, Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 enhanced intestinal lipid absorption, promoted hepatic utilization of dietary fat by improving hepatic lipid uptake/transport and fatty acid β-oxidation to provide energy, and reduced hepatic TG level (P < 0.05), which may be the potential mechanism of Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1-mediated growth promotion. Finally, Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 significantly altered the structure and function of gut microbiota (P < 0.05), leading to enrichment of beneficial taxa such as Bacillus (P < 0.0001) and increased of the ratio of “Functional Group 2/Functional Group 1” (P = 0.00092). Interestingly, the ratio of “Functional Group 2/Functional Group 1” was linked to the growth traits (Spearman, P < 0.05), while the intestinal abundance of Bacillus was correlated with serum TG in fish (Spearman, R = 0.47, P = 0.00091), suggesting a role of the intestinal microbiota in HGCC-1 mediated effect on growth and lipid metabolism. In summary, Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 promotes growth performance, alleviate hepatic steatosis and enhances liver health via regulating gut microbiota in golden pompano, which ultimately showed as beneficial effect of fish growth and health.

Phenotypic Variabilities in Strain and Sex of Two-Broiler Chickens at Different Ages

Owing to the growing number of animal breed development centres around the world and the profitability of their production, comparative studies to evaluate superior strain and sex performance in breeders became an important endeavour for researchers. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of strain and sex on body weight and linear body morphometric traits of 2-broiler chickens during the starter and finisher phases. Arbor-Acre and Cobb-500 chicks (n=192) were raised under controlled conditions and monitored over 56 days. Weekly measurements of body weight and linear body traits were recorded. Data subjected to multivariate analysis using the SPSS package revealed that strain significantly (p&lt;0.05) influenced growth, with Arbor-Acre broilers exhibiting superior body weight performance, particularly during the starter phase, weighing 799.50g compared to 669.11g for Cobb-500. This result implied that selecting for improved growth performance during the starter phase (week four) was an important consideration for breeding farms. However, the sex and age factors, as well as the linear body traits in both strains, yielded similar economic results at 8 weeks. Male broilers consistently outperformed their female counterparts in body morphometric traits during both phases. The sex-based differences observed in this study varied across developmental stages, emphasizing the importance of sexual dimorphism in broiler management. These findings recommended that strain and sex were important factors to consider in optimizing broiler production, providing critical insights for broiler breeders and farmers to enhance production efficiency through strategic selection of strains, sex, and other environmental factors.

Salinity-dependent effects of integrated biofloc technology on reproductive performance, biological responses, and offspring quality in red tilapia aquaculture

The study aims to evaluate the reproductive performance, serum biochemical indices, growth, antioxidant capacity, and immune response of Florida Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) progeny reared at different salinity levels within biofloc technology (BFT) systems, focusing on egg production, fertilization rates, tolerance to oxidative stress, and offspring performance. Broodstock reared in biofloc systems (BF) were compared to those in clear water (Without biofloc, WBF) across three salinity levels (18, 28, and 36‰) over a 7-month period. The study also assessed the tolerance of fry reared in biofloc systems to direct transfer to high salinity (36‰) without prior acclimatization. A total of 216 females (initial body weight: 182 ± 1.8 g) and 72 males (initial body weight: 201 ± 0.88 g) were randomly assigned to 18 concrete tanks (2 × 6 × 1 m) to investigate the effects of BFT on spawning performance and larval survival under high-salinity conditions. The findings indicated that appropriate salinity (18‰) in BFT systems positively affected reproductive efficiency, enhanced immunological parameters, and improved growth performance, but elevated salinity levels (36‰) led to reduced reproductive success and hindered growth performance. Florida red tilapia thrive in water quality conditions that are within acceptable limits. High salinity environments led to increased dissolved oxygen but reduced pH, especially in BFT ponds. BFT improved reproductive performance, reduced spawning time, and increased egg production. It also improved hatchability, larval quality, and yolk sac absorption. The BFT broodstock showed higher levels of key proteins (total protein, albumin, and globulin) and improved immune parameters, which helped counteract the negative effects of elevated salinity and enhanced their overall health and stress tolerance. In high-salinity environments, offspring in BFT systems showed higher survival rates and growth rates. In conclusion, BFT improves the reproductive performance, growth, and immune response of Florida red tilapia under high salinity. It enhances egg production, hatchability, and larval survival, while also improving water quality and immune function, making it a sustainable solution for tilapia aquaculture in saline environments.

Assessing clenbuterol’s modulation of metabolic and inflammatory pathways in Nile tilapia (Oreochromas niloticous) fed high fat diet

This study was performed to reveal the metabolic effects and molecular mechanisms that govern the dietary incorporation of clenbuterol on growth performance, haemato-biochemical changes, histological alteration, and gene expression regulating glucose and lipid metabolism in normal and high-fat diets fed in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Six experimental diets were formulated, incorporating different concentrations of clenbuterol. The 1st three groups were supplemented with a diet comprising 6% fat, with clenbuterol of 0, 5, and 10 g/kg diet was designated as F6 clenb0, F6clenb5, and F6clenb10, respectively. The other treatment groups were fed a diet of 12% fat, with clenbuterol 0, 5, and 10 g/kg diet, respectively termed F12 clenb0, F12 clenb5, and F12 clenb10. The results revealed that compared to the control group, HFD exhibited a marked reduction in FBW, BWG, PER, and body protein percent but significantly increased the FCR, IPF, liver fat percent, and body ash percent with altered hematological parameters, raised serum biomarkers of hepatic and renal injury. HFD signally raised mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and declined nrf2 and antioxidative function-related genes. Also increased mRNA expression of lipogenic genes as FAS and SREBP-1c and gluconeogenic genes as pepck and g6pc while downregulated, pparα, cpt1, acox1. Nevertheless, clenbuterol supplementation significantly reversed the aforementioned findings induced by HFD. Clenbuterol inclusion significantly improves growth performance and antioxidant defenses by modulating nrf2 signaling and reducing inflammatory response, reduces fatty acid synthesis, and enhances mitochondrial β-oxidation not only functioning as a lipid regulator and effectively alleviating fat accumulation in the liver but playing an essential role in the control of glucose metabolism by reducing hepatic glucose production in high-fat diet-fed Nile tilapias well.

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum as a feed additive: modulating gut microbiota for enhancing nutritional transport and growth performance in Jinhua yellow chickens.

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (TH) has attracted much attention for its heat clearing and detoxification effects, but whether it can become an effective feed supplement in chickens remains unclear. Herein, a total of 120 male Jinhua yellow chickens (two-mth-old) were randomly divided into into four groups (CON, TH-L, TH-M, and TH-H) for a 56-day feeding trial to explore its effects on growth performance and underlying mechanism. Results revealed that dietary TH notably increased the average daily growth (ADG), and decreased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in TH-H group during 29-56 days. Meanwhile, dietary TH improved the development of duodenum and notably increased the contents of essential amino acids and flavor amino acids, while the serum oxidation stress index as well as abdominal fat deposition were not affected in Jinhua yellow chickens. Additionally, TH supplementation notably increased gut microbiota richness, then selectively increased the colonization of potential probiotics and the microbial abundance associated to amino acid synthesis and metabolic pathways in duodenum. Furthermore, qPCR analysis results preliminarily verified that dietary TH not only enhanced intestinal amino acids (rBAT and EAAT3) and peptides (PepT1 and APN) transport but also alleviated the inflammation (IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ), thus thereby improved intestinal development and growth performance in Jinhua yellow chickens. These findings demonstrated that TH is a feed additive that can improve growth performance, muscle amino acids composition and intestinal development.

Intestinal mucosal morphology and microbial flora population in Arianstrain broilers fed with Spirulina platensis supplemented drinking water

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of different levels of Spirulina platensis supplementation on the mucosal morphology of the intestine of broiler chickens. Spirulina, a single-celled algae, has been recently categorized as a filamentous, gram-negative Cyanobacterium, which offers significant benefits in broiler nutrition by improving growth performance through its high protein content, enhancing immune function, boosting feed conversion efficiency, and supporting gut health. A total of 375 one-day-old male Arian broilers were included in a 6-week trial. The chicks were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, each with five replicates of 15 birds, received different concentrations of Spirulina in their drinking water: Group A (5 g/L), Group B (2.5 g/L), and Group C (1 g/L), while the control groups received either no additive or an antibiotic (Fosbac Biotic®). This study examined the effects of dietary Spirulina platensis supplementation on cecal, the height of intestinal villi, and the depth of crypts in Arian strain broiler chickens examined. The results indicated Spirulina increased villus height, reduced crypt depth, and improved the villus-to-crypt ratio in the duodenum jejunum and ileum, suggesting enhanced nutrient absorption. Moreover, Spirulina supplementation increased beneficial bacteria (lactobacilli) and reduced harmful bacteria (coliforms), improving overall gut health and reducing digestive problems. Further research is advised to explore the economic benefits of using Spirulina in the poultry industry.

Alleviation of cadmium stress and improved growth performance of periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus L.) by foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles

Cadmium (Cd) is a nonessential and very toxic element that confines the growth of ornamental plants worldwide. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been used as a novel approach to act as nano-fertilizers and directly alleviate the Cd stress. However, its defensive mechanisms are not well understood in ornamental/medicinal plants, especially Catharanthus roseus (periwinkle). The objectives of the current experiment are intended to examine the impacts of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs; 25 mg l-1) on the reduction of oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant activities, physiological improvements, and elemental status in periwinkle plant parts under Cd stress (0.5 mM). The periwinkle plants were transplanted and exposed to Cd stress one week later by soil drenching, whereas, ZnONPs were applied after 14 days by foliar supplementation. The Cd toxicity significantly reduced the morphological traits, negatively affected the pigments and photosynthetic apparatus, abridged antioxidant enzyme activities, and Cd accrual in periwinkle plants. However, exogenous ZnONPs supplementation produced elevated plant height, flower numbers, root length, plant fresh and dry biomass, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents in Cd-stressed plants. Likewise, the ZnONPs have also regulated the gaseous exchange rates, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX), soluble protein, and free proline contents in Cd-polluted periwinkles. The application of ZnONPs also considerably reduced the hydrogen peroxide (−25 %) and malondialdehyde (−47 %), activated by Cd stress. Furthermore, the Zn and Cd contents were also elevated and reduced, respectively, in ZnONPs supplied Cd-stressed plants. The present experiment recommends that the exogenous supplementations of ZnONPs are a feasible and sustainable strategy for enhancing the growth attributes and reducing the Cd levels in periwinkle plants in metal-hoarded soil conditions.

Dietary yeast hydrolysate improves growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity, and intestinal microbiota of juvenile giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Dietary yeast hydrolysate improves growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity, and intestinal microbiota of juvenile giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Beneficial effects of ε-polylysine on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota in broilers fed a lysine-deficient diet.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary ε-polylysine supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota in broilers fed a lysine-deficient diet. A total of 960 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly allocated into six groups with eight replicates and 20 birds per replicate. Birds in the six groups were fed a lysine-deficient basal diet (-0.20 % lysine, NC) or basal diets supplemented with 0.20 % L-lysine hydrochloride (normal lysine level, PC) or varying levels (0.10 %, 0.20 %, 0.30 %, or 0.40 %) of ε-polylysine hydrochloride for 10 weeks. Results showed that compared with the NC group, dietary supplementation with 0.10 % and 0.20 % of ε-polylysine improved growth performance, meat quality and intestinal morphology, evidenced by increased average daily gain, decreased feed-to-gain ratio, increased water holding capacity of breast muscle, and increased jejunal and ileal villus height in ε-polylysine-treated broilers (P < 0.05). In addition, 0.10 % and 0.20 % of ε-polylysine supplementation improved serum nitrogen metabolism, immune and antioxidant capacity to varying degrees. No significant diffrences in growth performance, meat quality, or intestinal morphology were observed among PC and ε-polylysine-supplemented groups (P > 0.05). Interestingly, compared with the PC group, dietary 0.10 % of ε-polylysine positively altered the microbiota composition of broilers, evidenced by the increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Faecalibacterium and Phascolarctobacterium) and decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria (e.g., Lachnoclostridium and Peptococcus). In conclusion, diets supplemented with ε-polylysine have beneficial effects on growth performance, meat quality, and gut health of broilers via replenishing lysine or favorably altering immune and antioxidant capacity and gut microbiota. The recommended supplemental amount of ε-polylysine in lysine-deficient diets (L-lysine content in the starter and growing diet is 0.95 % and 0.80 % of the basal diet, respectively) is 0.10 %-0.20 %.

Effect of fermentation of herbal products on growth performance, breast meat quality, and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens: a meta-analysis

Although it has widely been applied in human applications for therapeutic purposes, the use of fermented herbal products to improve growth performance in broiler chickens is still disputable. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of fermented versus unfermented herbal products in improving the growth performance, breast meat quality, and small intestinal morphology of broiler chickens and to determine the optimal conditions according to meta-analysis and response surface methodology. The database was developed based on 23 articles comprising 123 data points collected in 2023. The metadata was analysed using OpenMEE and R, with the inclusion of fermented herbal products as fixed factors and individual studies as random factors. The optimal dosage was determined using response surface methodology (RSM). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was detected between unfermented and fermented herbal products in terms of broiler body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the starter phase. The principal notable impact is associated with the utilisation of Zingiber officinale and fermenting agents, such as Lactobacillus sp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Both treatments resulted in a substantial reduction (p < 0.01) in the FCR. According to the meta-regression, growth performance exhibited a consistent pattern with the results of the meta-analysis, including overall production parameters during the starter phase (p < 0.05), such as body weight, average daily gain, and daily feed intake. Significant differences were detected in breast meat quality, particularly in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.05), as well as in the morphology of the digestive tract, such as duodenum crypt depth, villus height, and their ratio (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that fermenting dietary herbs can enhance the growth, breast meat quality, and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens, particularly during their initial growth phase. It is envisaged that broiler producers ferment herbs before adding them to chicken feed at ∼26.3 g/kg.

Physiological and growth responses of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) fed Croton conduplicatus essential oil and challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila.

This study aimed to assess the effect of Croton conduplicatus essential oil (CCEO) in diets for tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) (14.50 ± 0.07g), a native Amazonian fish. Five diets (29.25% digestible protein; 3063.14kcal digestible energy) were prepared: 0.00 (control), 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 1.50 mL CCEO kg diet-1 and evaluated for 60 days, followed by 14 additional days of bacterial infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish were fed until apparent satiation four times daily and maintained in 1,000-L tanks (n = 15 fish per tank; 5 tanks per treatment; randomized design) in a recirculatory aquaculture system. The main chemical compounds of CCEO were the monoterpenes 1,8-Cineole (20.72%), p-Cymene (12.45%), and α-Phellandrene (11.46%). Animals had no mortality, even after the bacterial infection, and CCEO did not influence the number of lesions in infected fish. According to quadratic regression analysis, feeding fish diets containing 0.85 mL CCEO kg-1 increased their growth parameters and feed intake. The feed conversion ratio was reduced with 0.25 mL CCEO kg diet-1. Before infection, the regression showed that the 1.00 mL CCEO kg diet-1 reduced erythrocytes and increased hemoglobin, hematimetric indices, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, albumin levels, and plasma and liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities. After bacterial infection, quadratic regression analysis showed that the control group had the highest plasma glucose and albumin values, and the treatment 0.50 mL CCEO kg diet-1 increased mean corpuscular volume values and decreased plasma ALT activity. In conclusion, 0.85 mL CCEO kg diet-1 is recommended for tambaqui because it can potentially improve growth performance and hemato-biochemical responses; however, CCEO did not influence responses against aeromoniasis.

Black soldier fly larvae: a one health approach to investigate gut, and organ health and meat quality response in slow-growing chickens

BackgroundThe inclusion of sustainable protein sources in poultry feed has become essential for improving animal welfare in livestock production. Black soldier fly larvae are a promising solution due to their high protein content and sustainable production. However, most research has focused on fast-growing poultry breeds, while the effects on native breeds, such as the Bianca di Saluzzo, are less explored. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of BSFL supplementation in the diet of slow-growing chickens, with a focus on growth, intestinal health and meat quality for final consumers.ResultsThe study demonstrated that Black soldier fly larvae supplementation, both in dehydrated and live form, improved growth performance, with an increase in final weights compared to the control group. No significant differences were found in feed conversion ratio, liver and spleen weight or histomorphometry between groups. Black soldier fly larvae supplementation did not negatively affect immune function or liver metabolism. Higher production propionic acid was detected in the black soldier fly larvae fed groups compared to the control, suggesting an effect on volatile fatty acid production. Gut microbiota analysis showed an increase in beneficial bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium, in the live larvae group. Furthermore, the meat fatty acid profile and atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices did not undergo significant changes, implying a low potential risk to consumers’ cardiovascular health.ConclusionsBlack soldier fly larvae supplementation in the diet of Bianca di Saluzzo improved growth without compromising animal health or meat quality. Moreover, the increase in beneficial volatile fatty acids and the modulation of gut microbiota suggest a positive impact on gut health. Finally, the absence of negative effects on meat lipid profiles confirms nutritional safety for consumers, making black soldier fly larvae a valid alternative in poultry feed. These results offer new perspectives for the use of Black soldier fly larvae in the nutrition of local breeds, contributing to sustainability in line with the One Health approach.

Evaluation of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on chilli (&lt;em&gt;Capsicum annuum&lt;/em&gt; L.) and brinjal (&lt;em&gt;Solanum melongena&lt;/em&gt; L.) growth

This study investigates the potential of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains, isolated from the rhizosphere of Oroxylum indicum, to enhance the growth of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) and brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). With the increasing global demand for sustainable agricultural practices, PGPR offers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The research involved screening ten PGPR strains and their consortia for compatibility, followed by evaluating their effects on plant growth parameters, including plant height, shoot biomass, and root biomass, under controlled conditions. Statistical analysis indicated that both individual and consortia PGPR treatments significantly improved growth performance compared to untreated controls. Results demonstrated that three individual strains (Btr-7, Bcer-24, and Bcer-25) significantly enhanced plant height and biomass in chilli plants. For brinjal plants, the strains Erog-1 and Bcer-21 showed significant growth improvements when applied individually. Additionally, the use of PGPR consortia, specifically Btro-7+Bcer-13, Ptai-40+Sarl-43, Bthu-4+Bcer-24, and Bcer-24+Bcer-25, led to substantial increases in plant height and biomass for both chilli and brinjal plants. These findings highlight the potential of PGPR, both as individual strains and in consortia, to promote sustainable crop production, reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers. Future research should focus on field trials to validate these results under diverse agro-climatic conditions and explore the commercialization potential of effective PGPR strains.

Growth Performance, Digestive Enzymes Activities and Gut Microbiota of Malaysian Mahseer, Tor tambroides Fingerlings Affected by Various Probiotics Concentrations

The most valued freshwater fish in Malaysia is the Malaysian mahseer, Tor tambroides, also known as Empurau. Due to the extended growing period, innovative feeding management is required to maintain fish health. This study looked at the effect of Lacto-sacc, a feed additive and antibiotic replacement made up of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Enterococcus faecium, on T. tambroides fingerlings’ growth performance, digestive enzyme activities and gut microbiota. A total of 600 fingerlings, each weighing 6.53 g ± 0.17 g, were allocated into twelve 650 L tanks, with 50 fingerlings per tank. Over a period of 20 weeks, the fish were fed four different diets: 0% Lacto-sacc as control (A), 0.5% Lacto-sacc (B), 1.0% Lacto-sacc (C), and 1.25% Lacto-sacc (D), with each diet replicated in three tanks. Although statistic revealed no significant differences in growth performance among treatment group (p&gt;0.05), but it is noteworthy that fingerlings of T. tambroides were fed a diet containing 0.5% Lacto-sacc exhibited a trend toward improved growth performance with value higher SGR, along with elevated lipase and protease activities than other groups. Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes were the top four phyla in the gut microbiota of T. tambroides, accounting for more than 95%, with Fusobacteria dominating at around 70% of the gut microbiota. Cetobacterium, ZOR0006, Brevinema, and Aeromonas were the most common genera detected. T. tambroides fed a 0.5% Lacto-sacc (B) diet had lower Fusobacteria abundance while increasing other dominating bacteria compared to other treatments. Although there is no significant difference in gut microbiota, the gut microbiota of T. tambroides fed probiotics was more consistently disturbed and diversified, indicating less species dominance. The addition of Lacto-sacc, particularly at a concentration of 0.5%, appeared to enhance growth performance and increase the activity of digestive enzymes compared to the diet without Lacto-sacc, although the results were not statistically significant.

Replacing yellow maize with Illipe nut (Shorea stenoptera) improves growth performance and meat quality of porker pigs.

The effects of incorporating Illipe nut into the diet of pigs, in replacement of yellow maize, on their growth performance and meat quality was investigated in a 60days feeding trial. Twenty-four male pigs were divided into two treatments and fed diets with 0% (T1) or 15% (T2) Illipe nut inclusion. Feed intake, live weight (LW) and backfat thickness (BFT) were taken and used to calculate average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and increase in backfat (IBF). At the end of the trial, final LW and BFT were measured. Pigs were then slaughtered and hot carcass weight (HCW), pH45mins, pH24hrs and dressing percentage (DP) were determined. Other analysis, including total moisture, thawing loss (TL), cooking loss (CL) and water holding capacity (WHC), were conducted on pork samples. Nutritional content and fatty acid (FA) composition of pork samples were analyzed, and nutritional indices were calculated. Improvements (P < 0.05) in final LW, ADG, final BFT, IBF and FCR were seen in pigs fed the T2 diet. Additionally, the T2 pork was superior (P < 0.05) in HCW, DP, pH24hrs, TL, CL, total moisture and WHC than T1 pork. The FA composition of T2 pork was also improved, with a higher (P < 0.05) PUFA:SFA ratio, indicating lower SFA and higher PUFA levels than T1 pork. Along with this, T2 pork had lower (P < 0.05) index of atheroginicity (IA) and higher (health promoting index) HPI levels, indicating that the T2 pork is a healthier choice for consumption. These findings indicate that the inclusion of 15% Illipe nut into the diet of porker pigs improved their overall growth performance and meat quality.

Development and Evaluation of Non-Antibiotic Growth Promoters for Food Animals.

The widespread utilization of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) boosts the growth rate of food animals and enhances human living standards. Nevertheless, it is accompanied by escalating antibiotic resistance. Consequently, there is an urgent demand to develop novel alternatives to growth promoters. The objective of this study was to develop a non-antibiotic growth promoter (NAGP) for augmenting the growth rate of food animals. The growth-promoting effect of plant-derived NAGPs was assessed in mice and broiler chickens, and its growth-promoting mechanism was initially investigated. The results reveal that a combination of hawthorn (also known as shanzha) and astragalus (also known as huangqi) extracts (SQ) enhanced the growth rate of mice both in vivo and in vitro, attributed to their significant capacity to promote muscle growth and improve immunity (p < 0.05). The composite super energy extract M (CSEE-M), further optimized on the basis of SQ, significantly improved growth performance and feed conversion ratio, and elevated the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes (p < 0.05) in both mice and broilers and reshaped the gut microbiota of broilers. The addition of 0.5% CSEE-M to broiler drinking water significantly increased muscle content and improved carcass quality (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both SQ and CSEE-M hold great promise as NAGPs and serve as effective substitutes to AGPs. This research not only furnishes new solutions for the misuse of antibiotics but presents a fresh perspective for the development of growth promoters.

Supplementation with probiotics co-cultivation improves the reproductive performance in a sow-piglet model by mother-infant microbiota transmission and placental mTOR signaling.

Maternal nutritional supplementation has a profound effect on the growth and development of offspring. FAM® is produced by co-cultivation of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis and has been demonstrated to potentially alleviate diarrhea, improve growth performance and the intestinal barrier integrity of weaned piglets. This study aimed to explore how maternal FAM improves the reproductive performance through mother-infant microbiota, colostrum and placenta. A total of 40 pregnant sows (Landrace × Large White) on d 85 of gestation with a similar parity were randomly divided into two groups (n = 20): the control group (Con, basal diet) and the FAM group (FAM, basal diet supplemented with 0.2% FAM). The experimental period was from d 85 of gestation to d 21 of lactation. The results revealed that maternal supplementation with FAM significantly decreased the number of weak-born litters and the incidence of diarrhea, as well as increasing birth weight and average weaning weight, accompanied by increased levels of colostrum nutrient composition and immunoglobulins. In addition, FAM modulated the structure of mother-infant microbiota and promoted the vertical transmission of beneficial bacteria, such as Verrucomicrobiota and Akkermansia. Furthermore, FAM contributed to improving the expression of GLU and AA transporters in the placenta, and increasing the activity of the mTOR signaling pathway. Collectively, maternal supplementation with FAM during late pregnancy and lactation could improve reproductive performance through the transmission of beneficial mother-infant microbiota and placental mTOR signaling pathway and promote fetal development.