Sunflower Oil Supplementation Research Articles

Sunflower oil supplementation in the diets of lactating cows: productive and nutritional performance

Eight Jersey cows (2nd-4th lactation; 483 ± 43 kg body weight; milk yield 21±2.2 kg day-1) were used in a double 4x4 latin square design to evaluate whether the inclusion of increasing levels of sunflower oil in the concentrate up to the limit of 110.0 g kg-1 DM of EE, in replacement to corn grain, has an impact on milk production and composition, feed efficiency, energy balance, intake and digestibility. of diets, and the fatty acid profile of milk fat from Jersey cows. The treatments consisted in lipid supplementation with increasing levels of sunflower oil replacing the corn grain and wheat bran of concentrate, including: CD (control diet), without sunflower oil and with 38 g kg-1 of EE dry matter (DM); and three treatmens with sunflower oil concentrate-included: SF65= 65 g kg-1 DM of EE; SF86=86 g kg-1 DM of EE and SF110=110 g kg-1 DM of EE. The increase of EE in diets did not affect the dry matter intake, neutral detergent fiber or crude protein. There was a linear increase in the digestibility coefficients for organic matter, crude protein, EE, neutral detergent fiber and blood levels of cholesterol. Treatments did not affect milk production, fat content, lactose or total solids. It is possible to use up to a limit of 110.0 g kg-1 DM of EE in the diet, decreasing the concentrate total amount.

Effect of Sunflower Oil Supplementation on Milk Production, Composition, Fatty Acid Profile and Blood Metabolites of Mehsana Buffaloes

Background: In early post-partum buffaloes, feed intake is generally insufficient to meet the energy demand for milk production; as a consequence, body reserves are mobilized which can result in metabolic disorders and poor production performance. In order to enhance energy intake and reduce the detrimental effects of a negative energy balance, buffalo diets may be supplemented with lipids/vegetable oil. Some reported benefits of vegetable oil supplementation include increased energy concentration in the diet, reduced supply of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates, and better productive performance. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important oilseed crop in India. Sunflower seed contains about 48-53 percent of edible oil. Recent studies demonstrated that sunflower oil supplementation improved the milk production and nutritional quality of milk fat which is beneficial to human health. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) oil supplementation on production performance of lactating Mehsana buffalo. Methods: Three experimental groups were as, CON: fed on basal diet (Control), SO125: fed basal diet supplemented with 125 ml of sunflower oil/animal/day and SO250: fed basal diet supplemented with 250 ml of sunflower oil/animal/day for a period of 90 days. Result: There was no difference (P greater than 0.05) in DM intake of lactating buffaloes among the dietary treatments. Dietary inclusion of sunflower oils improved milk yield by 17.9 to 20.7%, 6% FCM yield by 16.4 to 22.9% and ECM yield by 16.0 to 23.0% in SO125 and SO250 groups, respectively as compared to the CON. There were no differences (P greater than 0.05) in milk composition and yields of milk components. The milk fatty acid percentages of C20:0 and C24:0 were significantly decreased due feeding of sunflower oil as compared to the CON. Feeding of sunflower oil did not influence milk fat short chain, medium chain, saturated, unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in lactating Mehsana buffaloes. The serum concentrations of glucose, total proteins, albumin, urea, creatinine, triglycerides, ALT and AST were not affected (P greater than 0.05) by supplementation of sunflower oil, however, serum cholesterol concentration was significantly (P less than 0.01) increased in SO125 and SO250 groups as compared to the CON group.

Proximate Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Fed with Pelvetia canaliculata-Supplemented Diets: An Insight towards the Valorization of Seaweed Biomass.

Seaweeds are a sustainable source of protein and lipids that may be used to replace fish by-products in aquaculture feed. This study aimed at using the macroalgae Pelvetia canaliculata as an ingredient in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) feed, either as freeze-dried powder or as algae residue (waste) that was obtained after the supplementation of sunflower oil. The formulated diets and the fish muscle were analyzed concerning the proximate composition and the fatty acid profile. The health lipid indices hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic (h/H), atherogenic (AI), thrombogenic (TI), as well as n-3/n-6 and polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (PUFA/SFA) ratios were calculated. Additionally, the peroxidizability index (PI) was determined. No differences were observed in the proximate composition of fish muscle regardless of the diet used. Fish fed a diet supplemented with 10% of algae waste (W10) stand out for the highest content in oleic acid (C18:1 n-9), and the lowest in both linoleic (C18:2 n-6) and palmitic (C16:0) fatty acids. All fish samples showed values of health lipid indices within the limits recommend for a nutritional balanced diet. These results highlight that fish fed diets supplemented with P. canaliculata are sources of healthy lipids that might be consumed on a regular basis to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Effect of sunflower oil supplementation on milk production, fatty acid profile and nutrient digestibility in kankrej cows

Effect of sunflower oil supplementation on milk production, fatty acid profile and nutrient digestibility in kankrej cows

Pelvetia canaliculata as an Aquafeed Supplement for Gilthead Seabream Sparus aurata: A Biorefinery Approach for Seaweed Biomass Valorisation

For sustainable and economically viable aquaculture, it is necessary to search for alternative sources of aquafeeds. Algae have been studied because of their bioactive compounds with several activities such as antioxidants. The direct incorporation of the macroalgae Pelvetia canaliculata in sunflower oil to increase oxidative stability and biological value results in waste with high nutritional value that may be used as an ingredient in aquaculture feed. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of incorporating algae powder (PEL 1%, PEL 10%) and algae waste obtained after sunflower oil supplementation (WO 1%, WO 10%) in aquafeeds for gilthead seabream. We studied the growth performance, haematological profile, oxidative stress and metabolic parameters, and intestine histomorphology. Experimental diets did not influence growth performance or somatic indexes, and barely affected the haematological profile. Catalase showed higher activity in seabream fed with PEL10 than with control diet. Total glutathione had a higher activity in fish fed with both WO diets. Plasmatic levels of cholesterol were higher in PEL1 and WO10. Triglyceride levels were higher in WO1 and total lipids were higher in both WO diets. The histomorphology of the intestine was slightly modulated by experimental diets but was not affected negatively. In general, supplementation with Pelvetia powder and algal waste oil may be used as an aquafeed for gilthead seabream according to the results obtained for growth, some haematological parameters, catalase and total glutathione, intestinal villi length, and the number of total and acid goblet cells.

Flaxseed and sunflower oil affect egg production and quality in hens exposed to stress

This experiment was performed to investigate the effect of flaxseed oil and sunflower oil supplementation on the production performance, egg quality, and egg sensory characteristics in laying hens under density stress. A totaly of 144 Atak-S hens were used. The animals were assigned into 2 groups as stressed and unstressed. These were allocated into three subgroups as those who were fed with basal diet, diets containing 2% sunflower oil, and 2% flaxseed oil. Density stress was applied to those in the stress group by providing an area of 357 cm2 per hen. Egg production performance, average egg weight and egg mass, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness, eggshell strength, Haugh unit, albumen height, yolk color and sensory carateristics of the eggs were measured. Flaxseed oil reduced egg production and egg mass in those who are unstressed. On the contrary, it increased egg production and egg mass in the stressed groups. Sunflower oil was found to increase the average egg weight and egg mass in all groups. It was observed that when sunflower oil was added to the diets of the stressed chickens, the yolk color index decreased. In addition, it was determined that the eggs of the nostressed hens taste better than the stressed chickens. It was determined that flaxseed oil added to the diets increased the sensory quality of the eggs in both stressed and non-stressed groups. Therefore, incorporation of flaxseed and sunflower oil into the diets of layer hens can be recommended.

Goat Milk Foodomics. Dietary Supplementation of Sunflower Oil and Rapeseed Oil Modify Milk Amino Acid and Organic Acid Profiles in Dairy Goats.

The dietary supplementation of vegetable oils is known to improve the dietary energy density as well as milk fatty acid profile; however, the impacts on the milk foodome is largely unknown. This study investigated the effect of two different sources of unsaturated fatty acids, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil, as a feeding supplement on the milk foodome from dairy goats. Nine Danish Landrace goats at 42 ± 5 days in milk were allocated to three treatment groups for 42 days with three animals per group. A control group received a basal diet made of forage and concentrate at an 85:15 ratio. On top of the basal diet, the second and third groups received rapeseed oil or sunflower oil supplements at 4% of dry matter, respectively. Goat milk was sampled on days 14, 21, and 42. The milk foodome was measured using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The milk levels of 2-hydroxyisovaleric acid, oxaloacetic acid, and taurine were higher in the milk from goats fed with sunflower oil compared to the control group. More glucose-1-phosphate was found in the milk from goats fed with rapeseed oil compared to the control group. Amino acids, valine and tyrosine, and 2-hydroxyisovaleric acid and oxaloacetic acid were higher in the sunflower group compared to the rapeseed group, while the milk from the rapeseed-fed goats had greater levels of ethanol and 2-oxoglutaric acid compared to the sunflower group. Thus, results show that foodomics is suitable for studying how milk chemistry changes as a function of feeding regime.

Milk biofortification through dietary supplementation of combined selenium, vitamin E and sunflower oil

• dietary sunflower oil and antioxidants increased selenium and alpha-tocopherol levels in milk from Jersey cows. • milk biofortification achieved by dietary supplements of antioxidants and sunflower oil. • increased selenium and alpha-tocopherol levels in milk increase nutritional value for humans. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of selenium and vitamin E (antioxidants) and sunflower oil added to the diet of lactating cows to improve the milk nutrient profile. The trial had a completely randomized block design carried out with 32 Jersey cows distributed into four treatments: Control; Antioxidants (3.5 mg of organic selenium/ kg in dry matter (DM) + 2000 IU of vitamin E/day); Sunflower oil (SFO, 4% of sunflower oil/kg in DM); Antioxidants + SFO (3.5 mg of organic selenium/ kg in DM + 2000 IU of Vit. E /day + 4% of sunflower oil/ kg in DM, for 76 days. Antioxidants additives added to the diet of cows tended to decrease energy intake and increase selenium and vitamin E intake. SFO increased the ether extract intake and tended to decrease the protein content in milk. The selenium content in milk and serum selenium ratio was increased with the addition of antioxidants and tended to decrease with the addition of SFO. SFO increased α-tocopherol content in serum and tended to decrease it in milk. SFO increased cholesterol, HDL, and LDL in the serum of cows. Milk with the most desirable nutritional profile for human nutrition and health was produced by cows supplemented with antioxidants and sunflower oil, with higher selenium and alpha-tocopherol levels compared to milk commonly produced, without affecting animal productivity.

Enrichment of Sunflower Oil with Ultrasound-Assisted Extracted Bioactive Compounds from Crithmum maritimum L.

Crithmum maritimum L., or sea fennel, is an edible halophyte plant, rich in phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, that naturally grows in Mediterranean coasts. This study aims to incorporate bioactive compounds extracted from lyophilized Crithmum maritimum to sunflower oil assisted by ultrasounds (UAE), to improve its biological value and oxidative stability. UAE conditions were optimized as a function of time (5–20 min) and lyophilized plant concentration (5–20% m/v). The experiments were dictated by a central composite rotatable matrix. Oxidation products were not influenced by UAE conditions. Acidity, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents were affected by both factors, while total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (FRAP method) only increased with plant concentration. Response surfaces were fitted to these experimental results. Flavonoids were highly related with oil antioxidant activity. No sensory defects were detected in supplemented oil (12.5% m/v plant/5 min UAE). The oxidative stability of this oil was evaluated at 60 °C/12 days. Chlorophylls, phenols, radical scavenging (DPPH), and antioxidant activities decreased over time but were always higher than the values in non-supplemented oil (8.6 and 7-fold with FRAP and DPPH, respectively). C. maritimum presented high amounts of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity, adequate for sunflower oil supplementation by UAE.

Effects of Medium Chain Fatty Acid Supplementation in Broiler Diet on Microbiological Quality of Litter

In our experiment, coconut and palm oil supplementation was added to the diet of broiler chickens to prove the hypothesis that medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) can reduce the occurrence of potential pathogens (Clostridium perfingens, Coliform) in gut microflore and therefore improve bird welfare. Cobb 500 cockerels were divided in five groups. Control birds were fed commercial broiler diet, while birds in the four treatment group diets were supplemented with coconut, palm oil, or a combination of the two, respectively. As a positive control, sunflower oil supplementation was included in the diet of the fifth group. During the 28 days of the study (from 14 to 42 days of life), 5 samplings were scheduled, when excreta samples were taken from the litter to analyse total microbial count and the number of Clostridia, Coliforms, and Salmonella. According to the results of microbiological analysis, coconut oil supplementation led to the continuous decline of Clostridium perfringens numbers until they vanished by the end of the experimental period. A similar but faster decline was found as a result of palm oil and the combined (palm oil+coconut oil) treatment. However, the number of Coliforms and total microbial count changed only slightly by the end of the study. No Salmonella spp. was present in the samples throughout the experiment. Altogether, coconut and palm oil supplementation has a beneficial effect on the microbiological composition of poultry litter.

Dejstvo ekstrakta đumbira (Zingiber officinale) kao prirodnog antioksidansa na smanjenje oksidacionih promena suncokretovog ulja

Oil oxidation is significant for acceptability, nutritional quality, and toxicity of edible oils. Antioxidant supplementation for oil is a common and fundamental strategy for improving its oxidative stability and prolonging induction time. Ginger contains natural antioxidants such as phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Ginger extracts were prepared by extraction with different solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone and water). Ethanolic ginger extract had the highest yield (10.52%), whereas the aqueous extract had the lowest yield (8.10%). Also, the ethanolic extract was the highest in the content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds (75.17 and 19.55 mg/g, respectively), followed by methanolic extract (67.24 and 17.46 mg/g, respectively). Thus, further elaboration focused on the ethanolic extract. The scavenging ability of ginger extract was dose-dependent; it increased with the increase in ginger extract concentration. As expected, the ginger extract had lower DPPH scavenging activity than BHT (synthetic antioxidant). Free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide value (PV), conjugated dienes (CD) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value were used to evaluate the effect of ginger extract as a natural antioxidant on sunflower oil oxidation. The higher the concentration of ginger extract, the lower the magnitude of FFA, PV, CD, and TBA in sunflower oil. According to our findings, the level of sunflower oil supplementation with ginger extract should be below 600 mg/kg. The result of this study suggests that ginger extract can be recommended as a natural antioxidant to retard sunflower oil oxidation.

Dejstvo ekstrakta đumbira (Zingiber officinale) kao prirodnog antioksidansa na smanjenje oksidacionih promena suncokretovog ulja

Oil oxidation is significant for acceptability, nutritional quality, and toxicity of edible oils. Antioxidant supplementation for oil is a common and fundamental strategy for improving its oxidative stability and prolonging induction time. Ginger contains natural antioxidants such as phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Ginger extracts were prepared by extraction with different solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone and water). Ethanolic ginger extract had the highest yield (10.52%), whereas the aqueous extract had the lowest yield (8.10%). Also, the ethanolic extract was the highest in the content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds (75.17 and 19.55 mg/g, respectively), followed by methanolic extract (67.24 and 17.46 mg/g, respectively). Thus, further elaboration focused on the ethanolic extract. The scavenging ability of ginger extract was dose-dependent; it increased with the increase in ginger extract concentration. As expected, the ginger extract had lower DPPH scavenging activity than BHT (synthetic antioxidant). Free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide value (PV), conjugated dienes (CD) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value were used to evaluate the effect of ginger extract as a natural antioxidant on sunflower oil oxidation. The higher the concentration of ginger extract, the lower the magnitude of FFA, PV, CD, and TBA in sunflower oil. According to our findings, the level of sunflower oil supplementation with ginger extract should be below 600 mg/kg. The result of this study suggests that ginger extract can be recommended as a natural antioxidant to retard sunflower oil oxidation.

Selenium and vitamin E supplementation ameliorates the oxidative stress of lactating cows

Nutrients with antioxidant function play an important role in immune function and assist in animal health. This work aims to verify the effects of selenium, and vitamin E supplementation and inclusion of sunflower oil in the diet of lactating cows on oxidative stress, immune response and mammary gland health. The trial was carried out with 32 Jersey cows distributed into four treatments: Control concentrate; Antioxidants (concentrate with 3.5 mg organic selenium/ kg in dry matter (DM) + 2000 IU vitamin E/day); Sunflower oil (SFO), concentrate with 4% sunflower oil/kg in DM); and Antioxidants + SFO concentrate, for 76 days. Antioxidants in the diet of cows decreased the total antioxidant activity in the plasma and tended to increase glutathione peroxidase throughout the experiment. Antioxidants tended to increase white blood cells and the addition of SFO tended to increase lymphocytes and basophils in the blood of cows. Antioxidants and oil did not alter the phagocytic function and the reactive oxygen species production from defense cells. The somatic cell score showed tendency to decrease in cows with antioxidant supplementation and to increase with oil supplementation. In milk, mastitis pathogens decreased with antioxidant supplementation and increased with the addition of oil in the diet of cows. The supplementation of lactating cows with antioxidants selenium and vitamin E improved oxidative stress parameters, especially when in combination with sunflower oil in the diet, thus improving the animals' organism against possible harmful effects of free radicals. Antioxidant supplementation also increased the amount of defense cells in the body, increased their phagocytosis activity when stimulated with mastitis pathogens and decreased the amount of pathogens in the mammary gland when supplemented together with the sunflower oil. Cows supplemented with 4% sunflower oil in the diet showed worse mammary gland health due to the increase in mastitis pathogens and increase in somatic cell score in milk.

Effects of dietary oil sources (sunflower and fish) on fermentation characteristics, epithelial gene expression and microbial community in the rumen of lambs fed a high-concentrate diet

ABSTRACT The feeding of high-concentrate diets commonly results in lowered pH and ruminal dysbiosis which cause shifts in uptake dynamics of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and altered epithelial function. Therefore, the current study evaluated the effect of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on ruminal fermentation products, gene expression in the ruminal epithelium and the associated changes in ruminal microorganisms in lambs fed a high-concentrate diet. Twenty-six Afshari lambs adapted to a high-concentrate diet during a completely randomised design were fed with a basal diet supplemented with 100 g oil supplement (OS; 60 g sunflower oil and 40 g fish oil) for 10 (OS10), 20 (OS20) and 30 (OS30) d, respectively (n = 6). Lambs with no oil supplementation (OS0, n = 8) were considered as control and slaughtered at d 0 of the experiment, and the remaining lambs were slaughtered at 10, 20 and 30 d on feed. After slaughter, ruminal digesta was collected for evaluating fermentation and microbial community. Ruminal papillae were taken for assessment of epithelial gene expression. Compared with OS0 lambs, supplemental PUFA in OS30 lambs tended to decrease total SCFA concentration with decreased acetic and increased propionic acid concentrations. Acetate:propionate ratios were decreased and ruminal pH was increased in OS20 and OS30 lambs compared to OS0. All groups with included OS had decreased concentrations of iso-valeric and valeric acids compared to OS0. Relative mRNA abundance of monocarboxylate transporter isoforms 1 and 4, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, sterol regulatory element-binding proteins 1 and 2 decreased with increasing OS duration. The relative abundance of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 1 mRNA transcript was higher for OS10 and OS20 lambs relative to OS0 lambs. OS20 and OS30 showed a decrease of lipopolysaccharide binding protein mRNA expression compared with OS0. Feeding supplemental PUFA decreased Ciliate protozoa and increased Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens in OS20 and OS30 lambs, whereas Megasphaera elsdenii was increased in OS30 lambs. In conclusion, combined supplementation of sunflower and fish oil to a high-concentrate diet affects the ruminal microbial community with prominent decreases in ruminal ciliate protozoa and increases in B. fibrisolvens and M. elsdenii. These results lead to a more stabilised ruminal pH and a fermentation shift towards more propionate generation. Consideration of nutrients digestion will help to fully understand the benefits of feeding PUFA with a high-concentrate diet.

Hepatic fatty acids profile, oxidative stability and egg quality traits ameliorated by supplementation of alternative lipid sources and milk thistle meal.

This study assessed the effects of different levels of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) meal (MTM) on egg quality traits, oxidative stability, blood biochemical parameters and liver health indices in laying hens receiving diets supplemented with lipid from different sources. For this purpose, Leghorn laying hens (Hy-Line W-36) were randomly assigned to 12 experimental treatments with eight replicates of five birds each. Dietary treatments consisted of four dietary fat sources (fish oil, sunflower oil, poultry oil and fat powder, each with different fatty acid profiles) and three levels of MTM (0.0, 15 and 30g/kg) offered through 10days of adaptation and 70days of main recording. Results showed that dietary inclusion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including fish or sunflower oils, reduced serum cholesterol content but increased blood malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration (p<0.05). While fish oil improved the yolk colour index and Haugh unit (p<0.05), it decreased yolk cholesterol concentration (p<0.01). The highest hepatic glycogen content and tissue integrity as well as the lowest liver lipid percentage and MDA content were observed in birds fed diets supplemented with poultry oil. On the other hand, feeding 30g/kg of MTM reduced not only hepatic lipid percentage but also aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities (p<0.01), while it improved eggshell strength and thickness (p<0.05). Supplementation of fat powder enhanced hepatic C16:0 content, while addition of poultry, sunflower or fish oil increased C18:1, C18:2 or C20:5 concentrations respectively (p<0.01); nonetheless, feeding the highest level of MTM reduced hepatic ΣSFA but increased Σn-3 fatty acids (p<0.01). The interaction effects indicated that fish or sunflower oil supplementation increased the MTM level required to reduce not only serum or egg cholesterol concentrations (p<0.05) but also blood or hepatic MDA content (p<0.01). It was concluded that fish oil and MTM (30g/kg) supplements might improve internal egg quality traits and eggshell quality respectively. The hepatic fatty acid profile was also found strongly correlated with dietary fatty acids. Finally, the best hepatic health indices and the highest oxidative stability were achieved when the birds were fed diets supplemented with poultry oil and 30g/kg of MTM.

Effect of the energy level of the diet of Holstein cows in early and mid-lactation on the sanitary and hygienic quality of milk

During the first weeks of lactation, the energy balance of dairy cows is generally negative, allowing for decompensation in a variety of tissues and systems, especially the immune system. The energy levels of a cow's diet during the first third of lactation, in specialized dairying, will modulate the immune system functionality of the mammary glands. The aim of this study was to assess the sanitary quality of milk through the somatic cell score (SCS), the colony-forming units (CFU), and the isolated bacteria of Holstein cows with different energy levels in the diet. Thus, 24 Holstein cows were studied during their first third of lactation, after the lactation peak (50 to 100 lactation days). They were assigned into 4 treatments, taking into account the energy requirements of each animal: Isoenergetic (ISO), Hypoenergetic (HYPO), Hyper energetic (HYPER), and Isoenergetic plus sunflower oil supplementation (OIL). Milk samples were taken for the somatic cell count (SCC) and CFUs, and isolated pathogens in milk were identified by microbiological culture. The diet had a significant effect on SCS with a value p of 0.0331, but not on the CFUs (p&lt; 0.5141). 11 pathogens were identified and in 33.9% of samples, microorganisms were not isolated. The Isoenergetic diet favors the presence of some microorganisms and the increase of SCS.

Interaction effects of sunflower oil and aflatoxin at graded levels in diet on performance, serum and tissue biochemical profile, organ weights and immuneresponse in broiler chicken.

The dietary supplementation of fat has great potential in countering the toxic effects of aflatoxin (AF) in chickens, but the issue was less researched upon. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of broiler chickens to graded levels of AF B1 (0, 150 and 300 ppb) and sunflower oil (SFO) (0, 1.5 and 3.0%) in the diet in a 3 × 3 factorial manner to understand their interaction effects. A total of 360 broiler chickens divided into 9 equal groups were fed the diets during 0 to 35 days of age, and their response was evaluated in terms of performance, serum biochemical profile, organ weights, liver fat content and bone mineralization. Sunflower oil at 1.5% in diet countered (P ≤ 0.01) the adverse effects of 150 ppb AF on body weight, whereas at 300 ppb AF, such a response was seen at the higher level (3%) of SFO. Aflatoxin decreased (P ≤ 0.01) feed intake by 4 and 11% at 150 and 300 ppb concentration, respectively at 35 days of age, which was increased (P ≤ 0.01) with each incremental level of SFO supplementation (by 3.0 and 8.8%, respectively at 1.5 and 3%, respectively). Serum protein concentration increased (P ≤ 0.01) by SFO supplementation only at the higher concentration (300 ppb) of AF (by 42.4%), whereas total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration, and immune response to SRBC inoculation increased (P ≤ 0.01) with SFO at either level of AF (by 16.8, 18.7 and 75.6% at 1.5% SFO and 33.1, 36.9 and 94.2% at 3.0% SFO, respectively at 35 days of age). Weights of the liver, giblets, kidneys and pancreas increased (P ≤ 0.01) by 23.2, 14.7, 34.2 and 16.9%, respectively, and thymus weight decreased (P ≤ 0.04) by 25.4% with 300 ppb AF, and SFO at 3% in diet countered the effect on weight of the liver and giblets. Fat deposition in the liver increased (P ≤ 0.01) as the concentration of AF increased in diet (by 9.4 and 17.3%, respectively at 150 and 300 ppb AF), which was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) countered by SFO at 3% in diet. Tibia bone Ca content increased by 2.4% (P ≤ 0.01) with SFO supplementation in AF-fed chickens. It is concluded that dietary SFO supplementation countered the adverse effects of AF in broiler chicks in a dose-dependent manner, and higher level of oil (3% in diet) was required at the higher concentration of AF (300 ppb) in diet.

The energy level of the diet in Holstein cows in the first third of lactation alters the expression of immune genes in the mammary gland.

Our goal was to define the effect of the energy intake in Holstein cows' diet in the first third lactation on gene expression profile of immune system in mammary gland through RNA-seq. Twelve Holstein cows were used in the first third of lactation, arranged in four treatments or diets: (a) hypocaloric (HYPO, 85% of the net energy of lactation (NEl) requirements), (b) isocaloric (ISO, 100% of the NEl requirements, control diet), (c) hypercaloric (HYPER, 115% of the NEl requirements) and (d) isocaloric plus sunflower oil supplementation (OIL, 106% of the NEl requirements). A biopsy of mammary gland tissue was carried out after 25days per diet, from which the RNA was extracted and sequenced using the Illumina HiSeqTM 2,500 sequencer. The analysis of reads obtained from the sequencing in the QIAGEN® CLC Genomics Workbench 10.0 bioinformatics software was performed. From 27,368 genes annotated in the reference genome, 17,429 genes expressed in the evaluated treatments were identified. Moreover, 1,743 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found, of which 15 DEGs were found in the ISO vs. OIL comparison, 1,196 DEGs in the ISO vs. HYPO comparison and 532 DEGs in the ISO vs. HYPER comparison. Thus, of the 1,743 DEGs, 401 correspond to genes involved in the functioning of the immune system, encompassing 23% of the total number of DEGs involved in the analysis, and 13.6% of the total number of genes involved in the functioning of the immune system. The energy intake in Holstein cows' diet has impact in the expression of immune genes CXCL13, TRDC among others, present in the regulation of immune system processes. This immune system altered might increase the somatic cells score and therefore reach some diseases. It is recommended to measure the energy intake according to the animals' energy requirements and to cover them the closest to the 100%.

INFLUENCE OF ADDING LINSEED OR SUNFLOWER OILS TO DIETS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS

The present study was carried out in a private commercial broilers farm at Berket EL-Saab city, Menoufia governorate, Egypt, during the period from May to June 2019. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of adding two vegetable oils, linseed or sunflower, in broiler diets, on growth performance, some blood components, some carcass traits, immunity and economic efficiency. A total number of one hundred and eighty, one day old unsexed Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used in this study. Chicks were individually weighed, wing banded and randomly assigned to three treatments (T1, T2 and T3), 3 replicates pens of 20 birds each nearly similar in average body weight (42g). Two vegetable oils, linseed or sunflower, were added at the level of 3% in broiler diets. The experimental groups were as follows: T1: Control (basal diet without oil), T2: basal diet with 3% linseed oil and T3: basal diet with 3% sunflower oil. Results revealed that body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and performance index were significantly improved (P ≤ 0.05) with the addition of vegetable oils from 1 - 35 days of age compared to the control birds. Birds fed linseed oil had higher values of white blood cells (WBCs), total cholesterol, triglyceride and high density lipo-protein (HDL), while low density lipo-protein (LDL) was the lowest value compared to the other groups. Linseed or sunflower oils addition significantly and liver %, while dressing percentage, heart and gizzard % were not affected. Immune organs proportion (spleen, thymus and bursa %) were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased when birds received linseed oil supplement compared to birds fed sunflower oil supplement or basal diet (control). Chicks fed linseed oil treatment recorded the highest relative economic efficiency (108.20 %), followed by chicks fed sunflower oil (103.28), considering the control group as 100%.  It could be concluded that supplementation of 3% linseed oil to the broiler diets can be used with no adverse effects, and with improving body weight, feed conversion ratio, performance index and increasing the proportion of immune organs and relative economical efficiency.

Efficacy of Sunflower Oil in Modulating Rumen Functions and Reducing Enteric Methane Production in Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Enteric methane emission from ruminant livestock reduces the efficiency of feed energy utilization and contributes to global warming. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of sunflower (SFL) oil supplementation on methanogenesis, volatile fatty acids composition and feed fermentation pattern by in vitro gas production (IVGP) test. SFL oil was examined at three concentrations (0, 0.4 and 0.8 ml/ 30 ml buffered rumen fluid). In vitro incubation was carried out with sorghum hay (200 ± 5 mg) as substrate in 100 ml calibrated glass syringes following standard IVGP protocol. Addition of SFL oil resulted in increase (p &lt; 0.05) in total gas production and decrease (p &lt; 0.05) in methane concentration in head space gas, irrespective of level of inclusion. Linear decrease (p &lt; 0.001) in feed degradability was evident with increasing doses of oil. Acetate production decreased (p &lt; 0.05) without affecting propionate, however, butyrate production increased (p &lt; 0.05) with addition of oil, irrespective of doses. The ratio of acetate to propionate was reduced (p &lt; 0.01) with addition of oils. It is concluded that sunflower oil supplementation exerted inhibitory effects on methane production; however, dry matter degradability was also reduced. Further studies need to be carried out with lower dose levels for their practical application in animal feeding practices.