A Review of Potential Feed Additives Intended for Carbon Footprint Reduction through Methane Abatement in Dairy Cattle.

Eight rumen additives were chosen for an enteric methane-mitigating comparison study including garlic oil (GO), nitrate, Ascophyllum nodosum (AN), Asparagopsis (ASP), Lactobacillus plantarum (LAB), chitosan (CHI), essential oils (EOs) and 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP). Dose-dependent analysis was carried out on selected feed additives using a meta-analysis approach to determine effectiveness in live subjects or potential efficacy in live animal trials with particular attention given to enteric gas, volatile fatty acid concentrations, and rumen microbial counts. All meta-analysis involving additives GO, nitrates, LAB, CHI, EOs, and 3-NOP revealed a reduction in methane production, while individual studies for AN and ASP displayed ruminal bacterial community improvement and a reduction in enteric CH4. Rumen protozoal depression was observed with GO and AN supplementation as well as an increase in propionate production with GO, LAB, ASP, CHI, and 3-NOP rumen fluid inoculation. GO, AN, ASP, and LAB demonstrated mechanisms in vitro as feed additives to improve rumen function and act as enteric methane mitigators. Enzyme inhibitor 3-NOP displays the greatest in vivo CH4 mitigating capabilities compared to essential oil commercial products. Furthermore, this meta-analysis study revealed that in vitro studies in general displayed a greater level of methane mitigation with these compounds than was seen in vivo, emphasising the importance of in vivo trials for final verification of use. While in vitro gas production systems predict in vivo methane production and fermentation trends with reasonable accuracy, it is necessary to confirm feed additive rumen influence in vivo before practical application.

Effects of Choline Supplementation in Diets on Juvenile Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus): Productive Performance, Proximate Composition and Serum Lipid Level.

INTRODUCTION: Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is a Brazilian fish species of high commercial value and has emerged as one of the main species with potential for intensive farming. This study aimed to investigate the impact of choline supplementation on productive performance, visceral fat, hepatosomatic indices, proximate composition, serum biochemical profile, and liver coloration in juvenile pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus). METHOD: The 60-day experiment was conducted in the experimental hatchery of the Study Group of Aquaculture Management - GEMAq of the State University of West Paraná, Brazil. The completely randomized design consisted of five treatments with four replicates each. A total of 200 fish, with an average initial weight and length of 4.25 g and 5.97 cm, were distributed among 20 experimental hapas, resulting in a stocking density of 10 fish per experimental unit. Fish fed a choline-deficient diet exhibited the lowest values for final weight, weight gain, visceral fat, and hepatosomatic index. Conversely, in terms of proximate composition, fish fed choline-deficient diets had the highest moisture content but the lowest crude fat content. Triglyceride levels in juvenile pacu were significantly higher in groups fed diets containing choline (400 to 1200 mg kg-1 ). We also observed significant differences in the cyan color of the liver (P < 0.05). Notably, we observed significant differences in the cyan coloration of the liver (P < 0.05). Other parameters did not exhibit significant changes in response to varying choline levels in the diets. RESULT: Our study demonstrated that choline supplementation in P. mesopotamicus juveniles at an optimal concentration of 400 mg kg-1 significantly impacted growth, metabolism, productive performance, proximate composition, biochemical parameters, and liver color. CONCLUSION: These findings offer crucial guidance for aquaculture professionals, enabling them to enhance growth and health in P. mesopotamicus farming. Further research on choline's influence on lipid metabolism holds potential for more precise dietary recommendations, ultimately improving the efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture practices for this species.

Effects of mid-to-late prepartum feed supplementation in Hanwoo beef cows on their performance, blood metabolites, and the carcass characteristics and metabolites of their neonatal calves.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the implications of supplementary nutrition during the mid-to-late pregnancy on various parameters in Hanwoo cows and their subsequent neonatal calves. Materials and methods: Eight Hanwoo cows in their first parity were divided into two groups. The control group (C, 100%) received 3kg of concentrate and 5kg of rice straw throughout the pregnancy period, while the treatment group (T, 150%) increased their diet during mid-to-late pregnancy. Both performance assessments and blood metabolite analyses were performed for the pregnant cows. Neonatal calves were subjected to morphometric evaluations, blood sampling, and detailed morphometric analyses of carcasses and gastrointestinal components. Results: Performance indices of the cows showed that both Pregnancy Period (PregP) and Body Condition Score (BCS) were significantly improved with supplemental feeding (p <0.05). Improvements in Body Weight (BW) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were not statistically significant. Blood metabolite analysis for the cows revealed decreased levels of triglycerides (TGLate), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFALate), and progesterone (P4Late), with a notable increase in glucose (GluLate) levels (p <0.01). In the neonatal calves, anatomical metrics of the gastrointestinal tissues showed increased Omasum Width (OmasWdth) values in the supplemented group (p =0.053). There was significant increase of papillae and villus lengths in the rumen and small intestine (p <0.01 and p <0.05, respectively). Morphometric evaluations displayed longer body lengths (BLnth) and larger chest width (ChestWdth) in the treated calves (p <0.05 and p <0.01, respectively). Carcass characteristics showed no substantial variations between the groups, while blood analysis in the calves revealed decreased GPT levels in the nutritionally supplemented group (p<0.05). Discussion: The findings indicate that supplementing the diets of Hanwoo cows during mid-to-late pregnancy leads to significant changes in select maternal blood metabolites and influences specific anatomical and morphometric features in neonatal calves, all without significant shifts in carcass attributes.

Effects of dietary feed supplementation with heat-treated Lactobacillus sakei HS-1 on the health status, blood parameters, and fecal microbes of Japanese Black calves before weaning.

Background and Aim: Our previous research suggested that heat-killed Lactobacillus sakei HS-1 (HK-LS HS-1) is potentially beneficial for improving intestinal microbes and reducing the number of medical treatments. This study aimed to investigate the effect of HK-LS HS-1 as a supplement in milk replacers (MRs) on clinical health during the 1-month preweaning period. Materials and Methods: Eighteen female calves were randomly assigned to either a group receiving the HK-LS HS-1 supplement (n = 9) or a control group without it (n = 9). We then investigated the effect of including supplementary HK-LS HS-1; 0.2% in MRs twice daily at 09:00 and 16:00 on the health, serum biochemical parameters (measured using an automated biochemical analyzer), and fecal bacteriological changes of preweaning Japanese Black calves at the day of the start of supplementation (before HK-LS HS-1 supplementation; day 0), at weaning (day 30), and at 2 weeks (day 45) and 4 weeks (day 60) after weaning. Results: During the supplementation period (0-30 days), (1) an increase (p = 0.023) was observed in albumin, and there was a tendency of increase in total cholesterol level in the HK-LS HS-1 group but not in the control group; (2) substantial differences were obtained after the weaning period (30-60 days), although no differences were observed from 0-30 days in both groups. The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level was substantially increased after weaning in the control group. No differences were observed in the amounts of Coliform spp. and Staphylococcaceae spp. between the two groups; thus, HK-LS HS-1 supplementation had similar antibacterial effects. A significant reduction was observed in the time to weaning of the HK-LS HS-1 group in the field trial. Conclusion: Supplementation with HK-LS HS-1 from an early stage after birth to weaning is a cost-effective treatment to improve the growth rate of preweaning calves. However, supplementation during only preweaning periods appears to have no beneficial effects on preventing weaning stress, especially in terms of AMH levels.

Dietary supplementation with olive oil co-products rich in polyphenols: a novel nutraceutical approach in monogastric animal nutrition.

In recent years, the increased demand for agri-food products to feed livestock species has stimulated research to identify novel solutions for the valorization of natural waste, according to the modern concept of a circular economy. Numerous studies have shown the use of plant-derived and agro-industrial co-products that are sources of bioactive molecules for preparing animal feeds. Supplementation with co-products derived from the extraction of olive oil (i.e., olive pomace, olive mill wastewater, olive cake and olive leaf) in diet has been widely considered in recent decades, because these wastes are produced in high quantity and their re-use represents an innovative economic and environmental strategy. Olive oil co-products are characterized by various bioactive molecules such as polyphenols, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Among them, polyphenols are the nutraceuticals most studied, showing to promote health effects in both humans and animals. Olive oil co-products and their phenolic extracts have shown many beneficial and promising effects when added to the diets of monogastric animals, by improving performance parameters and maintaining the oxidative status of meat and derived products. This review provides an update on the use of olive co-products in monogastric animal (swine, poultry and rabbit) diets and their effects on the productive performance, meat quality characteristics and gut health status.

From Farm to Fork: Persistence of Clinically Relevant Multidrug-Resistant and Copper-Tolerant Klebsiella pneumoniae Long after Colistin Withdrawal in Poultry Production.

Concerns about colistin-resistant bacteria in animal food-environmental-human ecosystems prompted the poultry sector to implement colistin restrictions and explore alternative trace metals/copper feed supplementation. The impact of these strategies on the selection and persistence of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in the whole poultry production chain needs clarification. We assessed colistin-resistant and copper-tolerant K. pneumoniae occurrence in chickens raised with inorganic and organic copper formulas from 1-day-old chicks to meat (7 farms from 2019 to 2020), after long-term colistin withdrawal (>2 years). Clonal diversity and K. pneumoniae adaptive features were characterized by cultural, molecular, and whole-genome-sequencing (WGS) approaches. Most chicken flocks (75%) carried K. pneumoniae at early and preslaughter stages, with a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in meat batches (17%) and sporadic water/feed contamination. High rates (>50%) of colistin-resistant/mcr-negative K. pneumoniae were observed among fecal samples, independently of feed. Most samples carried multidrug-resistant (90%) and copper-tolerant (81%; silA and pcoD positive and with a MICCuSO4 of ≥16 mM) isolates. WGS revealed accumulation of colistin resistance-associated mutations and F type multireplicon plasmids carrying antibiotic resistance and metal/copper tolerance genes. The K. pneumoniae population was polyclonal, with various lineages dispersed throughout poultry production. ST15-KL19, ST15-KL146, and ST392-KL27 and IncF plasmids were similar to those from global human clinical isolates, suggesting chicken production as a reservoir/source of clinically relevant K. pneumoniae lineages and genes with potential risk to humans through food and/or environmental exposure. Despite the limited mcr spread due to the long-term colistin ban, this action was ineffective in controlling colistin-resistant/mcr-negative K. pneumoniae, regardless of feed. This study provides crucial insights into the persistence of clinically relevant K. pneumoniae in the poultry production chain and highlights the need for continued surveillance and proactive food safety actions within a One Health perspective. IMPORTANCE The spread of bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics such as colistin throughout the food chain is a serious concern for public health. The poultry sector has responded by restricting colistin use and exploring alternative trace metals/copper feed supplements. However, it is unclear how and to which extent these changes impact the selection and persistence of clinically relevant Klebsiella pneumoniae throughout the poultry chain. We found a high occurrence of copper-tolerant and colistin-resistant/mcr-negative K. pneumoniae in chicken flocks, regardless of inorganic and organic copper formulas use and a long-term colistin ban. Despite the high K. pneumoniae isolate diversity, the occurrence of identical lineages and plasmids across samples and/or clinical isolates suggests poultry as a potential source of human K. pneumoniae exposure. This study highlights the need for continued surveillance and proactive farm-to-fork actions to mitigate the risks to public health, relevant for stakeholders involved in the food industry and policymakers tasked with regulating food safety.

Effect of feed supplementation with probiotics and postbiotics on strength and health status of honey bee (Apis mellifera) hives during late spring.

Currently, beekeeping faces many risks, such as deteriorating health of honeybees in hives, which results in high mortality rates, mainly during winter. An important consequence is the emergence/re-emergence of communicable diseases such as varroosis or nosemosis. These diseases jeopardize the continuity of the sector because of the absence of effective treatments and harmful residues that they can be retained on wax or honey. This study aimed to evaluate how feed supplementation with probiotic and postbiotic products derived from lactic acid bacteria affected the strength, dynamic population, and sanitary parameters of honey bees. Three groups of 30 hives were established and fed with feed supplemented with control, probiotic, or postbiotic products, with a total of nine applications over two months in late spring. Two monitoring tests were conducted to evaluate the strength and health status of hives. Hives that consumed postbiotic products enhanced their strength, increased bee population and egg laying of the queen, and maintained their reserves of pollen, whereas these parameters decreased in hives belonging to other groups. Furthermore, although the results suggested a favorable effect of postbiotic products on the trend of N. ceranae infection levels, probiotics showed intermediate results. While awaiting long-term results regarding V. destructor infestation, which showed similar trends in all groups, feed supplementation with postbiotics could be an important tool for beekeepers to enhance the strength and health status of their hives.

Improving vitamin D content in pork meat by UVB biofortification.

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide and identification of alternative food-based strategies are urgently warranted. In two studies, 12-week old crossbred pigs (Duroc x (Large White x Landrace)) were exposed daily to narrowband UVB radiation for ∼10 weeks or control (no UVB exposure) until slaughter. In Study 1 (n = 48), pigs were exposed to UVB for 2 min and in Study 2 (n = 20), this duration was tripled to 6 min. All pigs were fed the maximum permitted 2000 IU vitamin D3/kg feed. Loin meat was cooked prior to vitamin D LC-MS/MS analysis. In Study 1, pork loin vitamin D3 did not differ between groups. Study 2 provided longer UVB exposure time and resulted in significantly higher loin vitamin D3 (11.97 vs. 6.03 µg/kg), 25(OH)D3 (2.09 vs. 1.65 µg/kg) and total vitamin D activity (22.88 vs. 14.50 µg/kg) concentrations, compared to control (P < 0.05). Pigs remained healthy during both studies and developed no signs of erythema. Biofortification by UVB radiation provides an effective strategy to further safely increase the naturally occurring vitamin D content of pork loin, alongside feed supplementation.

Feed Supplementation Detection during the Last Productive Stage of the Acorn-Fed Iberian Pig through a Faecal Volatilome Analysis.

The acorn-fed Iberian pig is known worldwide due to the quality of the resulting products commercialized after a natural and free grazing period of fattening in the dehesa agroforestry ecosystem. The quality regulation of the pig breed reserves "acorn" denomination for only those products obtained from animals exclusively fed grazing acorns and other natural resources; however, sometimes, feed supplementation of the pig's diet is fraudulently employed to reach an earlier slaughtering weight and to increase pig stocking rate, a strategy called postre (meaning "feed supplement"). In this sense, although many studies focused on Iberian pig diet have been published, the field detection of feed use for acorn-fed pig during the last finishing stage foraging in the dehesa, a practice which clashes with the official regulation, has not been explored yet. The present study employs a volatilome analysis (gas chromatography coupled to ion mobility spectrometry) of a non-invasive biological sample (faeces) to discriminate the grazing diet of only natural resources, that acorn-fed Iberian pigs are supposed to have, from those pigs that are also supplemented with feed. The results obtained show the suitability of the methodology used and the usefulness of the information obtained from faeces samples to discriminate and detect the fraudulent use of feed for acorn-fed Iberian pig fattening: a classification success ranging between 86.4% and 100% was obtained for the two chemometric approaches evaluated. These, together with the results of discriminant models, are discussed, in addition to the importance that the methodology optimized implies for the Iberian pig sector and market, which is also introduced. This methodology could be adapted to control organic farming animals or other upstanding livestock production systems which are supposed to be fully dependent on a natural grazing diet.

The future is bright: Biofortification of common foods can improve vitamin D status.

Vitamin D deficiency is a global concern, linked to suboptimal musculoskeletal health and immune function, with status inadequacies owing to variations in UV dependent cutaneous synthesis and limited natural dietary sources. Endogenous biofortification, alongside traditional fortification and supplement usage is urgently needed to address this deficit. Evidence reviewed in the current article clearly demonstrates that feed modification and UV radiation, either independently or used in combination, effectively increases vitamin D content of primary produce or ingredients, albeit in the limited range of food vehicles tested to date (beef/pork/chicken/eggs/fish/bread/mushrooms). Fewer human trials have confirmed that consumption of these biofortified foods can increase circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations (n = 10), which is of particular importance to avoid vitamin D status declining to nadir during wintertime. Meat is an unexplored yet plausible food vehicle for vitamin D biofortification, owing, at least in part, to its ubiquitous consumption pattern. Consumption of PUFA-enriched meat in human trials demonstrates efficacy (n = 4), lighting the way for exploration of vitamin D-biofortified meats to enhance consumer vitamin D status. Response to vitamin D-biofortified foods varies by food matrix, with vitamin D3-enriched animal-based foods observing the greatest effect in maintaining or elevating 25(OH)D concentrations. Generally, the efficacy of biofortification appears to vary dependent upon vitamer selected for animal feed supplementation (vitamin D2 or D3, or 25(OH)D), baseline participant status and the bioaccessibility from the food matrix. Further research in the form of robust human clinical trials are required to explore the contribution of biofortified foods to vitamin D status.

Effects of Red Yeast (Sporidiobolus pararoseus) on Growth, Innate Immunity, Expression of Immune-related Genes and Disease Resistance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of red yeast (Sporidiobolus pararoseus) produced from crude glycerol, as a by-product of the biodiesel production process, on the growth, innate immunity, expression of immune-related gene, and resistance of Nile tilapia against challenge with Streptococcus agalactiae. Fish were fed diets supplied with different concentrations of S. pararoseus dried cells at 0.0 (control; T1), 5.0 (T2), 10.0 (T3), and 20.0 (T4) g kg-1 diets for 90 days. The results showed that final body weight, weight gain, and average daily gain were significantly higher in fish fed T3 and T4 compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Likewise, significant (p < 0.05) increases in total carotenoid content, liver superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and serum lysozyme and albumin were observed in Nile tilapia fed S. pararoseus, with the highest (p < 0.05) values displayed in fish fed the T4 diet. Moreover, up-regulation of IL-1ß transcription in Nile tilapia spleen and liver was observed in fish feeding group T4. In a challenge test against S. agalactiae, the fish survival rate was significantly higher in fish fed red yeast compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The highest bactericidal activity found in the T4 group (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in hematology, blood chemical, malondialdehyde (MDA), body chemical composition, organosomatic indices, and myeloperoxidase (p > 0.05) in all treatments. The present results suggested that red yeast S. pararoseus (20.0 g kg-1) can be used as a potential supplementation on growth, immune response, and disease resistance of Nile tilapia.

Antimicrobial Peptides Controlling Resistant Bacteria in Animal Production.

In the last few decades, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been a worldwide concern. The excessive use of antibiotics affects animal and human health. In the last few years, livestock production has used antibiotics as food supplementation. This massive use can be considered a principal factor in the accelerated development of genetic modifications in bacteria. These modifications are responsible for AMR and can be widespread to pathogenic and commensal bacteria. In addition, these antibiotic residues can be dispersed by water and sewer water systems, the contamination of soil and, water and plants, in addition, can be stocked in tissues such as muscle, milk, eggs, fat, and others. These residues can be spread to humans by the consumption of water or contaminated food. In addition, studies have demonstrated that antimicrobial resistance may be developed by vertical and horizontal gene transfer, producing a risk to public health. Hence, the World Health Organization in 2000 forbid the use of antibiotics for feed supplementation in livestock. In this context, to obtain safe food production, one of the potential substitutes for traditional antibiotics is the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In general, AMPs present anti-infective activity, and in some cases immune response. A limited number of AMP-based drugs are now available for use in animals and humans. This use is still not widespread due to a few problems like in-vivo effectiveness, stability, and high cost of production. This review will elucidate the different AMPs applications in animal diets, in an effort to generate safe food and control AMR.

Ochratoxin A and Kidney Oxidative Stress: The Role of Nutraceuticals in Veterinary Medicine-A Review.

The problem of residues of toxic contaminants in food products has assumed considerable importance in terms of food safety. Naturally occurring contaminants, such as mycotoxins, are monitored routinely in the agricultural and food industries. Unfortunately, the consequences of the presence of mycotoxins in foodstuffs are evident in livestock farms, where both subacute and chronic effects on animal health are observed and could have non-negligible effects on human health. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a common mycotoxin that contaminates food and feeds. Due to its thermal stability, the eradication of OTA from the food chain is very difficult. Consequently, humans and animals are frequently exposed to OTA in daily life. In this review article, we will devote time to highlighting the redox-based nephrotoxicity that occurs during OTA intoxication. In the past few decades, the literature has improved on the main molecules and enzymes involved in the redox signaling pathway as well as on some new antioxidant compounds as therapeutic strategies to counteract oxidative stress. The knowledge shown in this work will address the use of nutraceutical substances as dietary supplements, which would in turn improve the prophylactic and pharmacological treatment of redox-associated kidney diseases during OTA exposure, and will attempt to promote animal feed supplementation.

Efficacy of dietary supplementary probiotics as substitutes for antibiotic growth promoters during the starter period on growth performances, carcass traits, and immune organs of male layer chicken.

Background and Aim: With the increased concerns about global protein supply, chicken meat, especially from male layer chicken, constitutes an alternative in terms of quality and carcass traits. Probiotics have been proposed for replacing antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs), which have been prohibited as poultry supplement feeds. The present study aimed to determine the efficacy of dietary supplementary probiotics during the starter period on growth performances, carcass traits, and immune organs of male layer chicken. Materials and Methods: In this study, one hundred and eighty 1-day-old male chicks from the strain ISA brown were used. They were divided into six groups according to the feed: 100% basal feed (T0), basal feed+2.5 g AGP/kg feed (T1), basal feed+probiotics 1 mL/kg feed (T2), basal feed+probiotics 3 mL/kg feed (T3), basal feed+probiotics 4 mL/kg feed (T4), and basal feed+probiotics 5 mL/kg feed (T5). Probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Bifidobacterium spp.) were given at a concentration of 1.2×109 colony-forming unit/mL. Virginiamycin was used as AGP. ISA brown layer chicken was treated for 21 days. Growth performances (body weight, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio [FCR]), carcass traits (weight at slaughter, weight of the carcass, breast muscles, liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart), immune organs (spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius), and non-edible organs (head, legs, and wings) were analyzed. Results: Probiotic supplementation at 4 and 5 mL/kg feed (T4 and T5) during the starter phase improved the body weight, FCR, and feed consumption. The weight at slaughter, weight of the carcass, breast muscles, and liver from the T4 and T5 groups were significantly greater than those in the other treatment groups. In addition, the weight of the heart, lungs, and kidneys was increased in the T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 groups compared with that measured in the T0 group. Furthermore, there were significant differences regarding the immune organs between the T0 and the other treatment groups. The weight of the head, legs, and wings was also greater in the probiotic and AGP supplementation groups (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5) than that in the basal feed group (T0). Conclusion: Probiotic (L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, and Bifidobacterium spp.) supplementation at 4 and 5 mL/kg feed during the starter period can be used to improve the growth, carcass traits, and weight of immune organs in male layer chicken.

Analysis of dairy farming systems in the Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso.

The insufficiency and variability of pasture production is a determining factor in milk production, particularly in the Sahelian zone. The objective of this study was to characterize dairy production systems and their relationship with crops to meet livestock needs. It consisted of surveys of 120 farmers in four communes in the Séno province. The results show three groups of dairy farmers that are essentially differentiated by the main activity and the sex of the farmers as well as the size of the cattle herd on the farm. The first group is made of male agropastoralists, with herds averaging 12 cattle. Group 2 consists of male agropastoralists with an average of 22 cattle. Group 3 consists of female pastoralists (96.15%), with a herd size of about 19 head. The cows are fed on pasture and supplemented with crop residues and cottonseed cake. The supplementation is more important in group 2, where more farmers have hayloft for fodder conservation and manure pits compared to the other two groups. Crop residues are used primarily as feed in all groups from January to May. This supplementation allows the maintenance of milk production in the dry season and group 2, with more dairy cows, records more milk milked (6.5 and 3.8 l) and consumed in wet and dry seasons compared to the other two groups. The results suggest that the farmers in the area have low technical level and need capacity building in improved agro-pastoral production techniques to increase their production.

Vitamin D Biofortification of Pork May Offer a Food-Based Strategy to Increase Vitamin D Intakes in the UK Population.

Hypovitaminosis D is prevalent worldwide, with many populations failing to achieve the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) for vitamin D (10-20 µg/day). Owing to low vitamin D intakes, limited exposure to ultraviolet-B (UVB) induced dermal synthesis, lack of mandatory fortification and poor uptake in supplement advice, additional food-based strategies are warranted to enable the UK population to achieve optimal vitamin D intakes, thus reducing musculoskeletal risks or suboptimal immune functioning. The aims of the current study were to (1) determine any changes to vitamin D intake and status over a 9-year period, and (2) apply dietary modeling to predict the impact of vitamin D biofortification of pork and pork products on population intakes. Data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (Year 1-9; 2008/09-2016/17) were analyzed to explore nationally representative mean vitamin D intakes and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations (n = 13,350). Four theoretical dietary scenarios of vitamin D pork biofortification were computed (vitamin D content +50/100/150/200% vs. standard). Vitamin D intake in the UK population has not changed significantly from 2008 to 2017 and in 2016/17, across all age groups, 13.2% were considered deficient [25(OH)D <25 nmol/L]. Theoretically, increasing vitamin D concentrations in biofortified pork by 50, 100, 150, and 200%, would increase vitamin population D intake by 4.9, 10.1, 15.0, and 19.8% respectively. When specifically considering the impact on gender and age, based on the last scenario, a greater relative change was observed in males (22.6%) vs. females (17.8%). The greatest relative change was observed amongst 11-18 year olds (25.2%). Vitamin D intakes have remained stable in the UK for almost a decade, confirming that strategies are urgently required to help the population achieve the RNI for vitamin D. Biofortification of pork meat provides a proof of concept, demonstrating that animal-based strategies may offer an important contribution to help to improve the vitamin D intakes of the UK population, particularly adolescents.

Effects of Feed Supplementation on Nesfatin-1, Insulin, Glucagon, Leptin, T3, Cortisol, and BCS in Milking Ewes Grazing on Semi-Natural Pastures.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of feed supplementation on body condition score (BCS) and different metabolic hormones concentration in lactating sheep reared in Italian Central Apennine pastures during the grazing summer period. In this study, 24 Comisana x Appenninica pluriparous ewes from June until August were divided into two homogenous groups: the control group (UNS) was free to graze, while the other group (SUP), in addition to grazing, was supplemented with 600 g/day/head of cereals. At the start of the supplementation and at an interval of 9-10 days until the end of experimentation, BCS evaluation and blood withdrawal to assay nesfatin-1, insulin, glucagon, leptin, triiodothyronine and cortisol levels were performed. Univariable analysis showed no remarkable differences between the groups, while multivariable analysis suggested that the UNS group was characterized by a lower BCS and greater nesfatin-1 than the SUP group. These findings can be considered in relation to milk production, which shows a clear better persistence in the SUP group. Our results indicate that nutritional supplementation has protected ewes from the usual lowering of the body state linked to lactation and provides a good maintenance of milk production, determining also a better overall body and metabolic state of the animals, which is important at the beginning of the sexual season.

Diversity and nutritional values of leaves of trees and shrubs used as supplements for goats in the sub-humid areas of Benin (West Africa).

In order to identify the most promising browse species for sustaining goat production, the nutritional characteristics of leaves of trees and shrubs and their use in farmers' feeding strategies were assessed in sub-humid areas of Benin. Two hundred and forty (240) goat farmers were surveyed and their uses of different leaves of trees and shrubs for supplementing their goats documented in two vegetation zones, namely the Sudano-Guinean and Guineo-Congolese zones. Then, samples of 32 leaves were collected at the end of rainy season in October-November, just before the long dry season and analyzed for their chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, and tannin content. Principal component and cluster analyses were performed to identify homogenous groups of leaves on the basis of their nutritional characteristics. Free grazing on natural perennial grasses with supplementation with leaves of trees and shrubs was the main goat feeding practice during the dry season in both zones. Agro-processing by-products were used as feed supplements mainly in the Guineo-Congolese zone. Most of the leaves of trees and shrubs elicited by the surveyed goat farmers had a crude protein content higher than 15%, sufficient for their use as feed supplements. However, this potential could be limited by their high tannin content. One non-native (Gliricidia sepium) and five native shrub species (Ficus thonningii, Antiaris africana, Phyllanthus discoideus, Morinda lucida, Mallotus oppositifolius) were identified as the most promising for supplementing goats during dry season in both zones. Our study was useful in identifying some underutilized and neglected leaves of trees and shrubs that could be recommended to smallholder goat farmers in agroforestry systems for enhancing animal productivities in small-scale farms.

Effects of the Appropriate Addition of Antioxidants from Pinus densiflora and Mentha canadensis Extracts on Methane Emission and Rumen Fermentation.

This study aimed to investigate the optimal addition of terpene-based Pinus densiflora and Mentha canadensis extracts, with antioxidant and methane reduction effects, as feed supplements to ruminants. Two cannulated steers (450 ± 30 kg), consuming Timothy Hay and a commercial concentrate (60:40, w/w) twice daily (at 09:00 and 17:30) at 2% of body weight, with free access to water and a mineral block, were used as rumen fluid donors. In vitro fermentation experiments, with Timothy Hay as the substrate, were conducted with P. densiflora and M. canadensis extracts as supplements to achieve concentrations of 30, 50, and 70 mg/L on a Timothy Hay basis. Fibrobacter succinogenes decreased in proportion upon P. densiflora and M. canadensis extract supplementation at 50 mg/L, while the dry matter degradability of the feed was not significantly different (p < 0.05). Methane emission was significantly lower in the 50 and 70 mg/L treatment groups, for both extracts, at 12 h (p < 0.05). Based on methane production and antioxidant activity, our study suggests that 30 mg/L addition is the most appropriate level of supplementation.

Effects of dietary feed supplementation of heat-treated Lactobacillus sakei HS-1 on the health status, blood parameters, and fecal microbes of Japanese Black calves.

This study investigated the effect of heat-killed Lactobacillus sakei HS-1 (HK-LS HS-1) on the health and fecal bacteriological change of suckling Japanese Black calves as a supplement in milk replacers. Twelve calves were separated from dams to calf-hatch after calving for milk replacers feeding. They were randomly assigned to an HK-LS HS-1 supplement or a control without HK-LS HS-1 group in milk replacers. HK-LS HS-1 was administered from separation day to 3 weeks. Blood and fecal samples were examined. Two calves with a haptoglobin concentration of >500 µg/ml on day 0 were excluded from the experiment, and 10 calves were finally included. Glucose and vitamin A levels on day 7 were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the supplement group than in the control group. No significant differences were observed in haptoglobin or serum amyloid A between the groups. The number of Escherichia coli in feces was lower in the control group than in the supplement group on day 21 (P=0.06). No difference was observed in the number of bifidobacteria, but that of lactic acid bacteria was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the supplement group on day 21. The number of medications administered was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the supplement group (5.2 ± 3.9) than in the control group (10.6 ± 5.9) during the experimental period. The results indicated that HK-LS HS-1 is potentially beneficial for improving intestinal microbes and reducing the number of medical treatments.