Differences in Chemical Composition, Polyphenol Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, and In Vitro Rumen Fermentation among Sorghum Stalks.

The aim of the study was to examine the differences in the chemical composition, polyphenol compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vitro rumen fermentation among six varieties of sorghum stalks. The results show that maoliangnuo 1 (M1) contained a higher (p < 0.05) level of dry matter, and jinzhong 405 (J4) contained a higher (p < 0.05) level of crude protein content. The concentrations of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and cellulose were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in stalk jinliangnuo (JN). The levels of chlorogenic acid, homoorientin, isovitexin, vitexin, rhoifolin, genistin, quercetin, apigenin, aloe emodin, emodin, and total polyphenols were all significantly (p < 0.05) higher in maohongnuo 6 (M6) than in the other stalks. Moreover, stalk M6 contained higher (p < 0.05) levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging capacity. There were significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations between total polyphenols and TAC, superoxide dismutase, GPX, CAT, and DPPH free-radical scavenging capacity. The total gas production was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the sorghum stalk variety and incubation time. Stalk J4 displayed higher values for the (p < 0.05) immediately soluble fraction and the potential extent of gas production, while stalk M6 exhibited a significantly lower (p < 0.05) insoluble fraction level. Furthermore, stalk M6 exhibited a significantly higher level of (p < 0.05) ruminal fluid propionic acid, but its level of butyric acid and its ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid were both significantly lower (p < 0.05). Taken together, the results reported in this paper indicate that the chemical composition, polyphenol compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vitro rumen fermentation all vary greatly among different varieties of sorghum stalks.

Effects of Rosa roxburghii Tratt seed on the growth performance, meat quality, and sensory evaluation characteristics in growing rabbits.

The objective of this study was to observe the effects of Rosa roxburghii Tratt seed (RRTS) on growth performance, meat quality, and sensory characteristic parameters in rabbits. Ninety-six New Zealand White rabbits were allotted to four dietary treatments containing 0 (CON), 120 (LR), 240 (MR), and 360 mg/kg (HR) RRTS. The experimental period lasted for 11 weeks. Thirty-two fattened rabbits were slaughtered, and the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle was used for analyses. The feeding of RRTS was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR). pH45min, pH24h, lightness, redness, drip loss, and percentage of water loss were unaffected (P > 0.05) by dietary treatments, whereas MR and HR treatments resulted in lower (P < 0.05) levels of yellowness and higher (P < 0.05) levels of shear force. LR showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) meat polyphenol compounds and vitamin E relative to the CON. Moreover, compared to the CON, HR treatment showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) vitamin C and glutathione peroxidase, and LR and MR displayed lower (P < 0.05) superoxide anion radicals, and all treatments had higher levels catalase (CAT). C18:2n-6 t, C20:2, C20:3n-6, C20:4n-6, C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3, and C22:6n-3 in LTL meat were higher (P < 0.05) in MR than CON rabbits. Moreover, the LTL muscle sensory evaluation parameters of appearance and fibrousness were improved (P < 0.05). Overall, dietary supplementation with RRTS is a valid strategy for decreasing FCR, and improving meat CAT concentration, C20:5n-3 and C22:5n-3 profiles, and sensory characteristics parameters of rabbits.

Differentially Expressed Genes and Signalling Pathways Regulated by High Selenium Involved in Antioxidant and Immune Functions of Goats Based on Transcriptome Sequencing.

The objective of this study is to observe the effect of high selenium on the antioxidant and immune functions of growing goats based on transcriptome sequencing. Eighteen goats were randomly divided into three groups: (1) the control (CON) group was fed a basal diet, and (2) the treatment 1 group (LS) and treatment 2 group (HS) were fed a basal diet with 2.4 and 4.8 mg/kg selenium-yeast (SY), respectively. The results indicate that HS treatment significantly (p < 0.05) increased the apparent digestibility of either extract and significantly increased (p < 0.05) total antioxidant capacity, whereas it significantly (p < 0.05) decreased plasma aspartate aminotransferase and malondialdehyde relative to the control group. The LS treatment had significantly (p < 0.05) increased glutathione S-transferase and catalase compared to CON. A total of 532 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the CON and HS were obtained using transcriptome sequencing. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis identified upregulated (p < 0.05) DEGs mainly related to vascular smooth muscle contraction, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, the VEGF signalling pathway, and proteoglycans in cancer; downregulated (p < 0.05) DEGs mainly related to the NOD-like receptor signalling pathway, influenza A, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, haematopoietic cell lineage, and African trypanosomiasis. Ontology analyses of the top genes show that the identified DEGs are mainly involved in the regulation of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor production for biological processes, the external side of the plasma membrane for cellular components, and carbohydrate derivative binding for molecular functions. Seven genes are considered potential candidate genes for regulating antioxidant activity, including selenoprotein W, 1, glutathione peroxidase 1, glutathione S-transferase A1, tumour necrosis factor, tumour necrosis factor superfamily member 10, tumour necrosis factor superfamily member 8, and tumour necrosis factor superfamily member 13b. The experimental observations indicate that dietary supplementation with 4.8 mg/kg SY can enhance antioxidant and immune functions by improving muscle immunity, reducing the concentrations of inflammatory molecules, and modulating antioxidant and inflammatory signalling pathways in growing goats.

Evaluation of the Chemical Composition, Bioactive Substance, Gas Production, and Rumen Fermentation Parameters of Four Types of Distiller's Grains.

Distiller's grain is rich in natural active ingredients and can be used as an excellent antioxidant feed for goats. The current study aimed to assess the feeding value of four different types of distiller's grains with an in vitro gas production trial. The chemical composition, total phenols, total anthocyanins, dry matter degradability, methane, hydrogen, and rumen fermentation parameters were evaluated. The results indicated that red distiller's grain and glutinous rice distiller's grain had higher (p < 0.05) levels of crude protein than the other two types. There were significantly (p < 0.05) higher concentrations of dry matter, ether extract, hemicellulose, and total carbohydrate in corn distiller's grain than in the other three types of distiller's grain. In addition, red distiller's grain showed a higher (p < 0.05) gas production rate constant (c) and ruminal outflow rate, as well as higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of total phenol, total anthocyanins and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, than the other three types of distiller's grains. In contrast, red distiller's grain displayed the lowest (p < 0.05) immediately soluble fraction (a) and half the time of maximum gas production relative to the other samples. In particular, the levels of methane (%) in white distiller's grain and glutinous rice distiller's grain were greater (p < 0.05) than that in red distiller's grain. Moreover, the ammonia nitrogen content in red distiller's grain was greater (p < 0.05) than that in white distiller's grain and corn distiller's grain. In contrast, red distiller's grain exhibited a lower (p < 0.05) level of ruminal fluid acetic acid relative to that found in white distiller's grain and corn distiller's grain. Taken together, the results showed that red distiller's grain and glutinous rice distiller's grain could be used as protein feed, red distiller's grain had higher levels of total phenols and total anthocyanins and a high DPPH scavenging activity; corn distiller's grain might be considered as an alternative energy source feed, and white distiller's grain exhibited higher total gas production.

The Effects of Purple Corn Pigment on Growth Performance, Blood Biochemical Indices, Meat Quality, Muscle Amino Acids, and Fatty Acids of Growing Chickens.

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with different levels of purple corn pigment (PCP) on the growth performance, blood biochemical indices, meat quality, muscle amino acids, and fatty acids of growing chickens. A total of 288 (8 weeks of age) growing Chishui black-bone chickens (body weight, 940 ± 80 g; mean ± standard deviation) were randomly divided into 4 groups using a completely randomized design. The four diet groups were as follows: (1) control, basal diet; (2) treatment 1, treatment 2, and treatment 3, which were basal diet with 80, 160, and 240 mg/kg PCP, respectively. The results showed that compared with the control group, the feeding of anthocyanins significantly (p < 0.05) increased the average daily feed intake and average daily gain in chickens. Moreover, chickens receiving 80 mg/kg PCP significantly increased (p < 0.05) plasma total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and albumin concentrations relative to the control group. For meat quality, dietary supplementation with PCP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the drip loss and water loss rate in breast muscle. Additionally, chickens receiving PCP tended to increase (p < 0.05) the levels of most individual amino acids, essential amino acids, and umami amino acids in the muscle. Specifically, the addition of 80 mg/kg PCP significantly improved (p < 0.05) total polyunsaturated fatty acids in chicken muscle. Accordingly, the consumption of anthocyanin-rich PCP by the growing chickens had the potential to increase the growth performance, enhance antioxidant and immune capacities, increase meat quality, and improve essential and umami amino acids as well as unsaturated fatty acids in the muscle.

Effect of purple corn extract on performance, antioxidant activity, egg quality, egg amino acid, and fatty acid profiles of laying hen.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of anthocyanin-rich purple corn extract (PCE) on performance, antioxidant potential, egg quality, egg amino acid and fatty acid profiles of laying hens during the late laying period. A total of 360 88-wk-old laying hens were randomly divided into 4 groups, and fed a basal diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 120 (LP), 240 (MP), and 360 mg/kg (HP) PCE, respectively. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed in the ADFI or average egg weight among the groups. However, the mean feed to egg ratio was quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) in the LP and HP treatments. The mean TAC was linearly and quadratically increased (P < 0.05) in all PCE supplemented treatments. The mean SOD was linearly and quadratically increased (P < 0.05) in the HP treatment compared with CON and MP groups. The GPX was linearly and quadratically lower in the HP treatment compared to the CON and LP groups. Differently, the MDA was linearly and quadratically lower (P < 0.05) in the PCE treatments compared with the CON. The eggshell thickness value in MP and HP treatments were linearly and quadratically higher (P < 0.05) than that of the CON and LP groups. Hens fed PCE was linearly and quadratically increased (P < 0.05) most individual amino acids, essential amino acid and umami amino acid profiles in egg. The PCE treatments showed linearly and quadratic (P < 0.05) effect on the myristoleate, heptadecenoic acid, elaidic acid, eicosenoic acid, heneicosanoic acid, and eicosatrienoic acid concentrations. Moreover, dietary supplementation of PCE was quadratically increased egg stearic acid, oleic acid, arachidic acid, linolenic acid methyl ester, arachidonic acid, diphenylamine, docosahexaenoic acid, monounsaturated fatty acid, and polyunsaturated fatty acid compared to the CON. Therefore, dietary anthocyanin-rich PCE can enhance plasma antioxidant potential, is beneficial to egg production, and improves amino acids and fatty acids in hen eggs during the late laying period.