Effects of substitution of crude palm oil with palm-pressed fibre oil on the laying hen's performance, egg production and egg quality traits.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of substituting a crude palm oil (CPO) diet with palm-pressed fibre oil (PPFO) on laying hens' performance, egg production, carcass characteristic and egg quality. A total of 150 Hisex Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to five treatments: a basal diet containing 4% CPO (T1-control) and basal diets in which CPO was substituted by 25% (T2), 50% (T3), 75% (T4) or 100% (T5) PPFO. These diets were fed to laying hens ad libitum for 16 weeks. Compared to the T1 diet, dietary treatments T2, T3 and T4 had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, egg number, egg production, egg weight and egg mass of the laying hens during the entire experimental period. Nonetheless, a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in feed intake, egg number, egg production and egg mass were observed in hens fed T5 compared to those fed the T1 (control) diet. Except for heart and spleen weights, other carcass characteristics were not affected by treatment (P < 0.05). Skin yellowness and breast meat redness increased significantly (linearly, P < 0.05) with increasing proportions of PPFO. Likewise, yolk colour scores increased in proportion to the dietary level of PPFO (linearly, P < 0.05). These findings suggest that PPFO can be used as a novel, cost-effective lipid source at a level of 3% in layer diets as a substitute for CPO to improve eggs' quality parameters without any harmful effects on laying performance.

Comparative effects of zinc hydroxy chloride, zinc sulfate, and zinc-methionine on egg quality and quantity traits in laying hens.

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different levels of zinc supplements on egg quality and quantity traits as well as egg enrichment with zinc in laying hens from 40 to 50 weeks of age. A total of 240 Hy-line laying hens were distributed among eight treatments and five replications (six birds per replication). The control group received no zinc diet, while the other treatments were supplemented with varying levels of zinc sulfate (80, 120, and 160 mg/kg) or zinc hydroxy chloride (50, 75, and 100 mg/kg). An additional group of zinc-methionine supplement at 124 mg/kg was also included. Results showed that different levels of zinc supplementation caused a significant improvement in eggshell resistance, eggshell percentage, feed conversion ratio, and Haugh unit compared to the control group. Adding organic and hydroxy sources of zinc significantly increased zinc contents in egg yolk, tibia bone, and blood. In addition, the treatments containing zinc supplements caused an increase in the antibody level against the Newcastle disease compared to the control (P < 0.05). Different levels and sources of zinc had no significant effect on eggshell thickness, specific gravity, and egg mass. Results showed that adding zinc in hydroxy chloride form at 100 mg/kg could improve performance indices, safety, and egg enrichment with zinc.

Moisture sorption isotherm and thermodynamic analysis of egg powders dried by foam-mat-assisted refractance window drying.

BACKGROUND: In the designed study, the moisture sorption isotherm and thermodynamic properties of refractance-window-dried egg white powder (EWP), egg yolk powder (EYP) and whole egg powder (WEP) were determined. RESULTS: The adsorption isotherm of egg powders was classified as type II, giving a sigmoidal shape. Peleg showed the highest goodness of fitting for egg powder. The monolayer moisture content of egg powders varied between 0.02 and 0.09 g g-1. According to the thermodynamic analysis, an increase in moisture content led to a decrease in net isosteric heat of sorption (qst), and the highest decrease was observed in EWP. The qst of EWP was calculated as 18 637 kJ mol-1, while it decreased to 3104 kJ mol-1 at 0.2 g g-1 moisture content. Like qst, sorption entropy decreased from 52.07 to 7.14 J mol-1 K-1 with increasing water activity (aw) for EWP. Increasing temperature caused a decrease in spreading pressure and was higher in EWP samples. Increasing moisture content and temperature also decreased Gibbs free energy level. CONCLUSION: Moisture sorption isotherm (MSI) is used to predict the amount of bound water in a material at a specific relative humidity and temperature. To inhibit chemical and microbiological spoilage, the drying process must continue until the monolayer moisture content is reached. In this study, the monolayer moisture content of powdered eggs for safe storage was demonstrated by MSI. Additionally, by determining the thermodynamic functions of egg powder, valuable information was obtained related to predicting the energy requirement in drying processes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Unveiling the Nutritional Quality of Terrestrial Animal Source Foods by Species and Characteristics of Livestock Systems.

Background. It is well-established that a range of macronutrients, micronutrients and bioactive compounds found in animal-source foods play unique and important roles in human health as part of a healthy diet. Methods. This narrative review focuses on terrestrial animal source foods (TASFs). It particularly analyzes five groups: poultry eggs, milk, unprocessed meat, foods from hunting and wildlife farming, and insects. The objectives were as follows: (1) examine the nutrient composition of TASFs within and across livestock species, drawing on the country and regional food composition databases; (2) analyze the influence of intrinsic animal characteristics and production practices on TASF nutritional quality. Results. TASFs are rich in high-quality proteins and fats, as well as micronutrients such as vitamin B12, iron or zinc. This study found differences in the nutritional quality of TASFs by livestock species and animal products, as well as by characteristics of livestock production systems. Our findings suggest that there may be public health opportunities by diversifying TASF consumption across species and improving certain aspects of the production systems to provide products that are both more sustainable and of higher quality. Conclusions. Future research should adopt a more holistic approach to examining the food matrix and the dietary patterns that influence TASF digestibility. It is necessary to include meat from hunting and wildlife farming and insects in global food composition databases, as limited literature was found. In addition, scarce research focuses on low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the need for further exploration of TASF food composition analysis and how intrinsic animal characteristics and livestock production system characteristics impact their nutritional value.

Heavy metal contamination in eggs on poultry farms and ecological risk assessment around a gold mine area in northern Thailand.

The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the Hg, Pb, Cd, and Mn levels in egg feed, soil, and water among laying hens, laying ducks, and free-grazing duck farms in contaminated and uncontaminated areas. This study revealed that the Hg concentration in the eggs of free-grazing ducks was significantly greater than that in the eggs of laying hens and ducks in both contaminated and uncontaminated areas. However, the Pb and Mn levels in the eggs of laying ducks and free-grazing ducks were significantly greater than those in the eggs of laying hens in the contaminated area. Unfortunately, the Hg, Pb, Cd, and Mn concentrations in the feed, soil, and water from these three farms in both areas were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Hg and Cd were confirmed to be enriched in the egg albumin fraction, while Pb and Mn were found mainly in the egg yolk. However, egg consumption from free-grazing duck farms was the riskiest to Hg, Pb, and Mn contamination in the contaminated area. Additionally, the ecological risk factor (ER) in the soil revealed that all the farms were at considerable to high environmental risk for Cd except for Hg and Pb. Although the potential ecological risk index (RI) indicated a moderate risk for all farms in both contaminated and uncontaminated areas, these results were not consistent with our hypothesis. Therefore, the information gained in this study could be useful for setting up mitigation strategies and making decisions about public health concerns related to health hazards, especially for ecological risk assessments of heavy metal contamination.

Changes of Potent Odorants in Salted Duck Egg Yolk before and after Roasting.

As the second most widely consumed eggs, duck eggs are made into preserved eggs, salted duck eggs, and roasted duck eggs to extend their shelf-life. To investigate the differences in potent odorants (POs) between salted duck egg yolk (SDEY) and roasted duck egg yolk (RDEY), the volatiles in SDEY and RDEY were extracted through solvent extraction coupled with solvent-assisted flavor evaporation and were assayed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry. A total of 45 volatiles were identified in two samples, 24 odor-active compounds (OACs) were screened, and more OACs were in RDEY. The flavor-dilution (FD) factors of OACs were obtained by aroma extract dilution analysis and ranged from 3 to 6561. Twenty-two OACs with FD factors ≥ 9 were quantitated, and the results indicated the concentrations of OACs in yolk increased greatly after salted duck eggs were roasted. Based on the concentrations and thresholds, odor activity values (OAVs) were determined; 17 odorants with OAVs ≥ 1 were determined as POs. Acetoin was the most PO in SDEY; there were more POs in RDEY, including 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine, acetoin, 2-acetyl-3-methylthiophene, dihydro-4-hydroxy-2(3H)-furanone, etc. The outcomes obtained have reference values for making better use of duck eggs in the food industry.

Levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, metals and rare earth elements in eggs and vegetables from areas with different environmental contamination impacts in the Campania region (Southern Italy).

Studying the links between environmental pollution and the levels of contamination in food is an important challenge to ensure human health. Matched samples of eggs from free-range hens and vegetables were analysed to investigate the bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, metals and rare earth elements. Only two egg samples resulted above the limit fixed for PCDD/Fs and the action level set for DL-PCBs. The highest concentrations were found in the eggs from an area situated in a big city affected by strong urbanisation. Although eggs and vegetables were subjected to the same environmental pollution, the PCDD/F and PCB bioaccumulation that occurred in the eggs was much higher than those in vegetables (p < 0.01). In vegetables, the highest PCDD/F and PCB concentrations were found in lettuce and potatoes grown on contaminated soil. Higher bioaccumulation of Fe and Zn occurred in eggs compared to vegetables; La, Pr, Nd, Sm and Eu were found only in lettuce samples. The results of this study may provide important data useful in the risk assessment of human exposure through diet in accidents involving dangerous chemicals. Furthermore, the estimated weekly intakes calculated for PCDD/Fs and PCBs highlighted that, although vegetables accumulate very low concentrations of these contaminants, they contribute more than eggs to human exposure.

Temporal trends (1972-2017) and spatial differences of persistent halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons in osprey eggs in Finland.

Time trends and regional differences of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), DDTs, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (BDEs) were studied in unhatched osprey eggs collected by bird ringers in 1972-2017 from four areas in Finland. Two study areas were from Baltic Sea, Northern Quark and Finnish Archipelago Sea, while the two others were inland lake areas, eutrophicated Lake Vanajanselkä affected by industrial emissions, and Pristine SW Lake Area. The highest concentrations of most compound groups were in Lake Vanajanselkä consistent with high emissions, the predominance of bream as a prey, and higher concentrations in bream compared to other prey fish. Concentrations of all chlorinated compounds decreased significantly in all study areas. Average annual decreases were ∑PCDD/F 2.3-4.9%, ∑PCB 2.2-4.2%, ∑PCN 2.6-7.0% and ∑DDT 7.1-9.5%, primarily in line with decreased levels in prey fish. From 1972 PBBs and BDEs increased significantly until 1990s declining rapidly thereafter. PCDD/F congener profile was dominated by 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, except in Lake Vanajanselkä by 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD. PCB congener profile was dominated by PCB 153 in all study areas, followed by PCB 180 and PCB 138. Among dioxin-like compounds PCBs contributed 82%, PCDDs 14% and PCDFs 4% to toxic equivalent quantity (∑TEQ). PCB 126 contributed most to ∑TEQ, followed by 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD. BDE 47 being the dominant BDE congener, followed by BDE 100. ∑DDT concentrations were relatively similar across all study areas, with DDE contributing about 90%. Productivity of chicks per active nest was significantly decreased in Lake Vanajanselkä, and the likely explanation is embryotoxicity of dioxin-like compounds. It is plausible that dioxin-like compounds influenced embryonic survival among highly exposed ospreys prior to 2010, especially in Lake Vanajanselkä and Northern Quark. However, decreased survival due to DDE-induced eggshell thinning seems unlikely after 1985, and BDE levels were below those potentially causing adverse effects.

Determining the optimal level and the effect of different zinc sources on performance, egg quality and the immune system of laying hens at the end of the production period.

BACKGROUND: Trace elements, such as zinc, magnesium and copper, are essential for improving the performance and health of broiler breeders and the development of chicken embryos. These elements are integral to various proteins involved in metabolism, hormone secretion and the immune system, necessitating their inclusion in small amounts in poultry diets. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the optimal level and effect of different zinc sources on performance, egg quality and the immune system of laying hens at the end of the production period. METHODS: The experiment involved 520 Lohmann LSL laying hens, aged 80 weeks, divided into 13 treatments with 5 replications and 8 birds per replication. The hens were fed diets supplemented with 40, 60 and 80 mg/kg of zinc from various sources: mineral zinc oxide, mineral zinc sulphate, organic zinc chelated with glycine and organic zinc chelated with an organic acid. Key parameters measured included body weight, egg weight and immune response. RESULTS: The basal diet contained 63.58 mg/kg of zinc, with the requirement per the Lohmann LSL guideline being 80 mg/kg. Zinc supplementation significantly increased body weight in the second month, with 80 mg/kg being the optimal dose. Zinc oxide notably increased egg weight compared to the control. The hens utilized zinc from all sources, resulting in weight gain and improved parameters such as egg quality. Immune parameters were also positively influenced by zinc supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc supplementation at appropriate levels enhances the performance and egg quality of laying hens, particularly at the end of the production period. It improves bioavailability, enriches eggs and mitigates age-related declines in productivity.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran contamination of free-range eggs: estimation of the laying hen's soil ingestion based on a toxicokinetic model, and human consumption recommendations.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) are ubiquitous in the environment. The main route of human exposure is through food consumption. Soil contamination can be problematic for sanitary safety depending on the usage of the soil, such as farming. In case of environmental soil contamination with PCDD/Fs, hen's eggs may be contaminated due to soil ingestion by hens. For this reason, it is important to understand the parameters that influence eggs' contamination when hens are raised in contaminated areas. After the discovery of a contaminated area in Lausanne (Switzerland), we collected hens' eggs from ten domestic-produced eggs and one farm. Based on PCDD/F measurements of eggs and soil, and a toxicokinetic model, we estimated individual hen's soil intake levels and highlighted appropriate parameters to predict the dose ingested. Recommended weekly consumption for home-produced eggs was calculated based on the tolerable weekly intake proposed by EFSA in 2018. The most important parameter to assess the soil ingestion does not seem to be the soil coverage by vegetation but rather the hen's pecking behaviour, the latter being difficult to estimate objectively. For this reason, we recommend using a realistic soil ingestion interval to assess the distribution of egg PCDD/F concentration from free-range hens reared on contaminated soil. The addition of soil contamination in the toxicokinetic model can then be used to recommend to the general population weekly consumption of eggs. The consumption by adults of free-range eggs produced on land with soil containing >90 ng toxic-equivalent (TEQ)/kg dry soil should be avoided. Even with a low level of soil contamination (1-5 ng TEQ/kg dry soil), we would recommend consuming not more than 5 eggs per week for adults and no more than 2 eggs for children below 4 years old.

Modification of the Protein Amino Acid Content in Hen Eggs as a Consequence of Different Concentrations of Lupine and Soy in Feed.

The effect of the diet modification (soybean and lupine addition) on the content of protein and amino acids (AA) in eggs was studied. Both the sampling day and the diet influenced the total protein content. In albumen, the lowest protein content (10.6%) was noted after administering a diet containing 25% lupine; in the same egg the yolk contained the most proteins (16.7%). In the content of nonessential AA (NAA) in egg yolks, differences were noted only for cysteine, with its the highest content in the yolks of the control group. The stable content of essential yolk amino acids (EAA) was observed only for isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan and phenylalanine. The highest contents of EAA and NAA were recorded in the yolks of the control group (~47 and ~53 g/100 g of protein, respectively) and in the group with 25% additions of lupine (~42 and ~51 g/100 g of protein, respectively). AA with constant content in the tested albumens were methionine, tryptophan and alanine. The highest content of EAA (>~42 g/100 g of protein) and NAA (>~62 g/100 g of protein) were determined in albumen of eggs determined in the group with at least 20% additions of lupine. The highest content of EAA for humans delivered eggs from groups 4-6 (with the addition of soy into the diet ≤5%). The protein sources used in the hen diet significantly influenced the content of protein and individual AA in the produced eggs.

Effects of full-fat high-oleic soybean meal in layer diets on performance, egg quality and chemical composition.

The utilization of full-fat high-oleic soybean meal in layer diets could lead to value-added poultry products. To test this idea, 336 hens were randomly assigned to 4 isonitrogenous (18.5% CP) and isocaloric (2,927 kcal/kg) formulated diets and fed the following diets for eight weeks: conventional control solvent-extracted defatted soybean meal (CON); extruded-expelled defatted soybean meal (EENO); full fat normal-oleic soybean meal (FFNO); or full fat high-oleic soybean meal (FFHO). Body weights (BW) were collected at week 0 and week 8. Eggs were collected daily, and the totals counted each week. Feed consumption was measured weekly, and egg quality was measured bi-weekly. Eggs were collected at wk 0 and wk 8 for fatty acid analysis. There were no significant treatment differences in any of the production parameters measured, BW, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio or egg production (P > 0.05). Eggshell strength was significantly greater in eggs produced from the EENO group as compared to the control (P < 0.01), while egg yolk color was significantly darker in eggs of the control and EENO treatment groups relative to the FFNO and FFHO treatments (P < 0.0001). Eggs produced by hens fed the FFHO diet had a 52% increase in monounsaturated n-9 oleic acid content (P < 0.0001) and reduced palmitic (P < 0.01) and stearic (P < 0.0001) saturated fatty acid levels as compared to the conventional controls. These results validate the utilization of FFHO as a value-added poultry feed ingredient to enrich the eggs and/or poultry meat produced.

Simultaneous detection of enrofloxacin and florfenicol in animal-derived foods based on fluorescence quenching BELISA and a nanozyme catalytic strategy.

Enrofloxacin (ENRO) and florfenicol (FF) are animal-specific drugs, but they present great harm to human health. Therefore, it is essential to rapidly and accurately detect ENRO and FF in animal-derived foods simultaneously. Herein, dual-template molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) with specific recognition of ENRO and FF were prepared, meanwhile, the molar ratios of templates to monomer and cross-linker were optimized and then applied as a bionic antibody to experiment. Based on the principle that the fluorescence of QDs could be efficiently quenched by the enzymatic fabrication of Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs), a novel and sensitive fluorescence quenching biomimetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BELISA) was established for simultaneous detection of ENRO and FF by the conversion of the absorption signal into fluorescent signals. Under optimal conditions, the detection limit (IC15) was 4.64 ng L-1 for ENRO and 1.33 ng L-1 for FF. Besides, matrix interference of chicken, eggs, milk and shrimp samples, was investigated in our study, and the result indicates that all of the sample matrices had a profound impact on the fluorescence of QDs, especially for milk samples (with Im of 94.10 %). After performing the matrix-elimination experiments, chicken, eggs, milk and shrimp samples spiked with ENRO and FF were extracted and detected by this proposed method, with recoveries ranging from 82.70 to 113.48 %. The results correlated well with those obtained using HPLC. In conclusion, the developed method could be an alternative and sensitive method for the simultaneous detection of ENRO and FF in animal-derived foods.

Effects of adding different levels of fructooligosaccharide to diet on productive performance, egg quality traits, immune response and blood metabolites in commercial laying hens.

BACKGROUND: A prebiotic is defined as an indigestible feed substance that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the large intestine, thereby improving host health and products. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing prebiotic fructooligosaccharide (FOS) to the diets of Hy-Line W-36 laying hens. METHODS: A total of 168 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens were allocated to four dietary levels of FOS (0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 g/kg diet), 6 replicates of 7 birds each during 63-74. The experiment was performed using a completely randomized design. RESULTS: Productive performance was not significantly affected by the FOS supplementation. Body weight gain was linearly decreased with increasing FOS levels in the diet (p < 0.01). However, eggshell strength, shell thickness and Ca and p percentages were not significantly affected, as were anti-sheep red blood cell titres, blood parameters and blood metabolites. In the first period of the experiment (63-65 weeks), shape index and Haugh unit at the dose of 3.0 g/kg FOS were significantly increased and decreased in comparison with control, respectively (p < 0.05). In the third and fourth periods (69-71 and 72-74 weeks of age), the FOS had no significant effect on the internal egg quality traits. Furthermore, FOS had a linear decrease in the most saturated fatty acids (SFAs), including myristic, palmitic, margaric and stearic fatty acids; some of the mono-un-SFA (MUFA; palmitoleic and ginkgolic acids), and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (γ-linolenic and eicosatrienoic). CONCLUSIONS: Supplementing different levels of FOS to the diet of commercial laying hens had no significant effect on the layers' performance, immune response and blood parameters, whereas there was a significant effect on some of the internal egg quality traits and egg yolk fatty acid contents.

A triple-channel sensor array utilizing fluorescent carbon dots for simultaneous discrimination and detection of multiple fluoroquinolones.

The presence of fluoroquinolones (FQs) residues in food and the environment has prompted concerns regarding food safety and public health. Consequently, it is of great significance to analyze the types and levels of FQs present. However, the majority of studies have concentrated on the specific detection of individual FQs, with a notable absence of high-throughput and rapid analysis methods for the simultaneous detection of multiple FQs that may coexist in food and the environment. Hereon, a triple-channel sensor array was successfully constructed utilizing fluorescent carbon dots (TA-CDs), with the assistance of Cu2+ and Fe3+, for the qualitative discrimination and quantitative detection of eight types of FQs. The sensor array can distinguish between different concentrations of FQs and various mixtures of FQs, as well as 100 % accuracy in the discrimination of unknown samples. Impressively, the sensor platform can quantitatively detect FQs in animal-derived foods, such as honey, milk, eggs, and pork, as well as in water samples. This research has the potential to be extended to other analytes with similar chemical structures or properties.

The revelation of characteristic volatile compounds in egg powder and analysis of their adsorption rules based on HS-GC-IMS technology.

The study constructed fingerprints and analyzed adsorption rules of volatile compounds (VOCs) in egg powder (EP) under different production processes, including egg white powder (EWP), egg yolk powder (EYP) and whole egg powder (WEP) by HS-GC-IMS. The 29 VOCs identified were primarily ketones and aldehydes. Characteristic VOCs responsible for flavor differences were clarified by difference comparison, clustering and PCA analysis. Additionally, variations in lipid and protein were the primary causes of the VOCs differences in EP through microscopy imaging, infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy. EWP's stretched structure favored fishy-smelling VOCs adsorption but limited total aldehyde binding due to strong hydrophobic interaction. EYP's higher ß-sheet ratio and fewer hydrogen bond sites weakened its alcohol VOCs binding capacity. The abundance of ketone VOCs in EP was linked to their low steric hindrance. Therefore, this study elucidated the flavor differences reasons among EWP, EYP and WEP, laying foundation for EP applications in food industry.

Impact of different range areas on behavior, welfare, and performance of Naked Neck chickens.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different environmental enrichment tools on behavior, welfare, productive performance, and egg quality traits of Naked Neck chickens. A total of 1080 Naked Neck female chickens (30 weeks old) were used in the present study. A completely randomized experimental design, with 3 treatments having 4 replicates of 90 birds each, was applied. Treatments consisted of 3 different range areas A (121.9 m2), B (152.4 m2), and C (190.5 m2). Behavior (walking, feeding/foraging, sitting, aggressiveness wing flapping, perching, dust bathing, and range use), welfare (foot pad dermatitis, lameness, gait score, and feather pecking), productive performance (egg weight, egg production %, egg mass, and feed intake), egg quality traits (morphometry, egg weight, shell, albumen, and yolk characteristics) were evaluated. There was no influence (P > 0.05) of different range area on bird's behavior, and egg quality traits except walking and rang usage. The range area C promoted productive performance including egg weight, egg production %, egg mass and feed intake, but it did not influence welfare traits. It might be concluded that Naked Neck chicken when reared in free range with different range enrichments did not reveal any difference regarding behavioral parameters, egg morphometry, and egg quality traits. The range area within minimum length and effectively used environmental enrichments (perching and dust bathing area) should be used for backyard poultry to obtain ideal performance.

Hemoglobin polymorphism and its association with morphometric and egg production traits in Ethiopian indigenous and Sasso chicken breeds.

The present study investigated the biochemical polymorphism of hemoglobin (Hb) and its relationship with performance traits of Ethiopian indigenous and Sasso chicken breeds. A total of 284 chickens reared in three agro-ecologies were examined for genetic diversity and associations with productive traits at Hb locus using agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed that the HbA allele was dominant in both breeds, and a higher proportion of male chickens were HbAA genotypes, while females were predominantly HbBB types. In the highland agro-ecology, chickens with the HbAA genotype were the most dominant, whereas in mid- and low-land agro-ecologies, chickens with HbBB and HbAB genotypes were found to be more frequent. A moderate level of expected heterozygosity was obtained with 0.47 and 0.445 for indigenous and Sasso chickens, respectively, with an average effective number of alleles per locus of 1.89 and 1.80. Moreover, chickens with HbAA genotypes showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher body weight and linear body measurements than those of HbAB and HbBB genotypes. However, for appendage body structures (comb and wattle dimensions), chickens with the HbAB and HbBB genotypes had higher mean values. Additionally, clutch size (14.2 ± 0.4), clutch length (21.8 ± 0.7), and eight-month egg production (84.1 ± 1.2) were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher for hens with HbBB genotypes, followed by those with HbAB-types. Therefore, the considerable hemoglobin variability and significant associations of Hb variants with the performance traits can be sought as guiding information for further genetic improvement interventions in the chicken breeds under investigation. Further microsatellite marker-based genotyping is recommended to validate the higher morphometric values for HbAA genotypes and the better egg production for HbBB and HbAB genotypes.

A nationwide characterization of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in livestock and poultry food products across China: Residual levels, origin and the associated health risks.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are still occurring in various foodstuffs after the ban on their use. However, it remains unclear concerning the contamination source of OCPs in livestock and poultry food products and associated health risks. To fill this gap, we characterized the residual levels of 19 OCPs in multiple types of meats and eggs, which were sampled across China within the same period. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) were dominant in eggs, with the mean levels being 0.76 and 2.03 µg/kg for chicken eggs and duck eggs, respectively. By contrast, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) were the top one OCP in beef and lamb, with its mean levels being 0.51 and 0.65 µg/kg, respectively. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was rather detected in the poultry products. The componential ratio analysis implicated recent inputs of several banned OCPs including technical HCH and DDT, HCB and aldrin in multiple regions, which may origin from local industrial activities or possible illegal use. Risk assessment based on the risk quotient method suggested that daily consumption of cooked meats and eggs contaminated by dieldrin may pose a carcinogenic risk in adult residents of Jiangsu province. We concluded that OCPs remain present in meats and eggs at levels of health concern regionally in China.

Detection of foodborne methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus via fluorescence-encoded microsphere and Argonaute-mediated decoding.

Molecular diagnosis of foodborne methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is crucial for controlling its dissemination and ensuring food safety. However, existing genetic methods are limited by susceptibility to aerosol contamination and restricted to single-gene detection. Herein, a fluorescent biosensor employing fluorescence-encoded microspheres and Argonaute-mediated decoding is developed, enabling ultrasensitive, accurate, and duplex detection of MRSA genes. This assay utilizes a target-triggered polymerization/nicking reaction to cyclically produce specific guide DNA, guiding Argonaute protein to site-specifically cleave the molecular beacon on the microsphere, thereby decoding a fluorescent signal. Notably, the fluorescence-encoded microsphere, designed via on-tetrahedron rolling circle amplification, achieves high fluorescence loadings in a unit area. This biosensor demonstrates simultaneous detection of two unamplified MRSA genes, mecA and femA, at concentrations as low as 0.63 fM and 0.48 fM, respectively. Moreover, the method exhibited excellent recoveries in milk, egg, and pork samples ranging from 73% to 112%, highlighting its practicability in real scenarios.