Dietary vitamin D: growth, physiological and health consequences in broiler production.

Vitamins are needed in trace amounts in dietary formulations for poultry; however, they are critical for the health, maintenance, and performance of important body organs. Broilers have a lot of leg issues because of their rapid development and lack of exercise. Because of commercial broilers have limited access to direct sunlight, vitamin D supplementation in the feed is critical to reducing the risk of bone deformation and maximizing development. Vitamin D deficiency causes skeletal abnormalities, which may lead also to financial problems. The latest scientific findings on the source, metabolism, mechanisms of action, and functions of vitamin D in broilers are the subject of this review paper.

Growth, sex reversal pattern, and reproductive characteristics of Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) broodstock candidates reared in floating cages.

Sex reversal of male to female is a characteristic of barramundi (Lates calcarifer), which is affected by several factors, thereby changing the broodstock population. A study was conducted in floating cages in Langkawi, Malaysia, to determine the weight point at the onset of the sex reversal phenomena. A total of 75 female and 55 male adult individuals (3-4 weeks of age) were sampled from the fish cultured in cages to ascertain their sex at different weights. The water temperature and salinity values were 29.82 °C and 33.12 ppt, respectively. The specimens were classified into twelve bodyweight classes (2.00-8.00 ± 0.5 kg intervals). Female specimen body weight distribution was highest in the 6.01-6.50 kg class (22.6%), followed by the 5.51-6.00 kg and 4.51-5.00 class (13.3%), while male specimen body weight distribution was highest in the 4.51-5.00 kg class (32.1%), followed by the 4.01-4.50 kg class (30.3%). Length-to-weight relationships for females and males of Asian Seabass indicated positive allometric growth. The correlation between body weight and GSI, using Pearson's correlation, for both sexes, for the male and female barramundi, there was a weak correlation between body weight and GSI, which was 37 and 30%, respectively. Based on the present study's findings, it can be concluded that sex reversal from male to female in Barramundi largely occurred at 4.57 kg body weight and 66.8 cm total length.

Influence of dietary L-carnitine and lysine-methionine levels on reproductive performance and blood metabolic constituents of breeder ducks.

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of dietary supplementation of different levels of L-carnitine and/or lysine-methionine (Lys-Met) on reproductive performance of breeder ducks. Three L-carnitine (0, 75 and 150 mg/kg) and three lysine-methionine (100%, 110% and 120% above the NRC (Nutrient requirements of poultry, 1994, National Academy Press) recommendations) levels were fed to 180 breeder ducks (144 females and 36 males) in a completely randomized design for 49 days. Laying performance and reproductive traits were evaluated; additionally, uric acid, total protein total, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were assessed. The Lys-Met above 100% NRC (Nutrient requirements of poultry, 1994, National Academy Press) recommendations with or without L-carnitine improved feed utilization (p < .05). Furthermore, Lys-Met above 100% recommendations without L-carnitine improved egg fertility and hatchability. Fertility and hatchability improved in breeders fed on L-carnitine with 120% Lys-Met (p < .05). Serum glucose increased and total cholesterol reduced on 100% Ly-Met without L-carnitine or 110% Ly-Met with 150 mg L-carnitine (p < .05). Glucose was reduced, while total cholesterol increased on 75 mg L-carnitine and 100% Lys-Met (p < .05). Increasing Lys-Met without L-carnitine reduced serum protein (p < .05). Albumin and ALT increased on 75 mg L-carnitine-100% Lys-Met and reduced on 150 mg L-carnitine-120% Lys-Met (p < .05). There were no interaction effects on globulin, uric acid and AST (p > .05). Thus, based on findings, breeder ducks responded to dietary Lys-Met more efficiently than L-carnitine; however, more research is needed to evaluate also economic aspects related to L-carnitine dietary supplementation.

Thermal stress and high stocking densities in poultry farms: Potential effects and mitigation strategies.

Environmental changes pose significant threats to agricultural activities particularly animal production. These changes have induced major concerns which will negatively affect the poultry health and productivity under the current climate changes. Moreover, they also alter the immunological status of the exposed birds and make them susceptible to different diseases. The adverse effects of environmental stress also include poor performance of birds (reduced feed intake, growth, feed efficiency, immunity, and egg production) and inferior product quality. The adverse effect of heat stress on different quail breeds like Japanese quail, bobwhite quail, scaled quail, and Gambel's quail ranged from decreased growth rates (11.0-14.5%), body weight (7.7-13.2%), feed intake (6.1-21.6%), feed efficiency (4.3-8.6%), and egg production (6.6-23.3%). Also, birds reared under heat stress (34 °C) had significantly decreased Haugh units by 10.8% and egg weight by 14.3% in comparison with the control group (reared at 22 °C). On the other hand, increasing stoking density from 30 to 45 kg/m2 also negatively affected the feed intake and body weight. Recent studies have focused on evaluating the potential adverse effects of different environmental stresses on poultry performance, behavior, welfare, and reproduction. It is imperative to understand better the interaction of different environmental factors and their subsequent effects on avian physiology, to spotlights on the effective management and nutritional strategies to alleviate the adverse effects of different stresses in poultry. This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of physiological manifestations of major environmental stresses including thermal stress (heat and cold stress) and high stocking densities on poultry health and production. Moreover, we have also critically evaluated the scope and efficacy of some potential strategies to mitigate the influences of these environmental stressors in different poultry species.

The Neurocognitive Correlates of Human Reasoning: A Meta-analysis of Conditional and Syllogistic Inferences.

Inferring knowledge is a core aspect of human cognition. We can form complex sentences connecting different pieces of information, such as in conditional statements like "if someone drinks alcohol, then they must be older than 18." These are relevant for causal reasoning about our environment and allow us to think about hypothetical scenarios. Another central aspect to forming complex statements is to quantify about sets, such as in "some apples are green." Reasoning in terms of the ability to form these statements is not yet fully understood, despite being an active field of interdisciplinary research. On a theoretical level, several conceptual frameworks have been proposed, predicting diverging brain activation patterns during the reasoning process. We present a meta-analysis comprising the results of 32 neuroimaging experiments about reasoning, which we subdivided by their structure, content, and requirement for world knowledge. In conditional tasks, we identified activation in the left middle and rostrolateral pFC and parietal regions, whereas syllogistic tasks elicit activation in Broca's complex, including the BG. Concerning the content differentiation, abstract tasks exhibit activation in the left inferior and rostrolateral pFC and inferior parietal regions, whereas content tasks are in the left superior pFC and parieto-occipital regions. The findings clarify the neurocognitive mechanisms of reasoning and exhibit clear distinctions between the task's type and content. Overall, we found that the activation differences clarify inconsistent results from accumulated data and serve as useful scaffolding differentiations for theory-driven interpretations of the neuroscientific correlates of human reasoning.

Enhancing spatial reasoning by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the right posterior parietal cortex.

Spatial reasoning is essential for an agent's navigation and the cognitive processing of abstract arrangements. Meta-analyses of neuroimaging data reveal that both the right posterior parietal cortex and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PPC and DLPFC, respectively) show increased activation during spatial relational reasoning. To investigate whether participants' reasoning performance can be modified and potentially enhanced, anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was applied over either region. 51 healthy adult participants solved spatial reasoning problems after the application of either anodal tDCS over the right PPC, the left DLPFC or a sham stimulation. We expect anodal stimulation to enhance cortical excitability which would be reflected by enhanced reasoning performance in participants receiving stimulation. The results demonstrate that anodal stimulation applied over the right PPC enhances participants' performance in indeterminate reasoning problems, compared to sham and anodal stimulation over the left DLPFC. This finding is highly relevant for clarifying the cognitive mechanisms of relational reasoning and for clinical applications, e.g., enhancing or restoring higher cognitive functions for spatial representation and reasoning.

Meat quality and lipid fatty acid profile from wild thrush (Turdus philomelos), woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) and starling (Sturnus vulgaris): a preliminary comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional proximate composition, some qualitative traits and fatty acid profile of meat from wild thrush, woodcock and starling hunted in Southern Italy in 2017 and 2018. METHODS: Nutritive composition and physical traits of meat and lipid fatty acid profile were evaluated in breast muscle (Pectoralis major) of gamebirds. RESULTS: From findings, the meat pH was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in starling when compared to the other two species. Thrush meat was significantly (P = 0.002) darker and had higher redness (P < 0.001) and yellowness (P = 0.004) in comparison to starling and woodcock. Thrush breast muscle showed the highest (P < 0.001) level of lipids and lowest (P < 0.001) protein content. Meat from thrush showed the best lipid fatty acid profile based on the higher (P < 0.001) monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and lower (P < 0.001) saturated fatty acids (SFA) concentrations. Starling breast muscle reported the highest (P = 0.002) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) level compared to both thrush and woodcock, whereas no differences were detected on total n-3. The ratio n-6/n-3 was higher (P = 0.001) in starling muscle. Thrush breast muscle had the lowest (P < 0.001) atherogenic and thrombogenic indices compared to the other gamebirds. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that meat from the three investigated gamebirds species may represent a healthily lipid food source for human consumption in relation to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

The Neural Correlates of Relational Reasoning: A Meta-analysis of 47 Functional Magnetic Resonance Studies.

It is a core cognitive ability of humans to represent and reason about relational information, such as "the train station is north of the hotel" or "Charles is richer than Jim." However, the neural processes underlying the ability to draw conclusions about relations are still not sufficiently understood. Central open questions are as follows: (1) What are the neural correlates of relational reasoning? (2) Where can deductive and inductive reasoning be localized? (3) What is the impact of different informational types on cerebral activity? For that, we conducted a meta-analysis of 47 neuroimaging studies. We found activation of the frontoparietal network during both deductive and inductive reasoning, with additional activation in an extended network during inductive reasoning in the basal ganglia and the inferior parietal cortex. Analyses revealed a double dissociation concerning the lateral and medial Brodmann's area 6 during deductive and inductive reasoning, indicating differences in terms of processing verbal information in deductive and spatial information in inductive tasks. During semantic and symbolic tasks, the frontoparietal network was found active, whereas geometric tasks only elicited prefrontal activation, which can be explained by the reduced demand for the construction of a mental representation in geometric tasks. Our study provides new insights into the cognitive mechanisms underlying relational reasoning and clarifies previous controversies concerning involved brain areas.

TMS applied to V1 can facilitate reasoning.

Visual mental imagery is the subjective experience of seeing objects or events in front of the 'inner eye', although they are not actually present. Previous research indicates that (1) visual images help to remember what has been experienced in the past or when objects need to be inspected or manipulated, and (2) visual images are correlated with neural activity in early visual cortices, demonstrating a possible overlap between visual imagery and visual perception. However, recent research revealed that visual imagery can also disrupt cognitive processes and impede thinking. In this transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) experiment, participants had to solve relational reasoning problems that varied in their imageability (easy or difficult to visualize as a mental image). While solving the problems, eight 10 Hz pulses were either applied to primary visual cortex (V1) or a control site (Vertex). Our findings suggest a causal link between mental imagery, primary visual cortex, and reasoning with visual problems. Moreover, participants exhibited much lower error rates when TMS was applied to V1. We conclude that the disruption of visual images in primary visual cortex can facilitate reasoning.

Uncertain relational reasoning in the parietal cortex.

The psychology of reasoning is currently transitioning from the study of deductive inferences under certainty to inferences that have degrees of uncertainty in both their premises and conclusions; however, only a few studies have explored the cortical basis of uncertain reasoning. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we show that areas in the right superior parietal lobe (rSPL) are necessary for solving spatial relational reasoning problems under conditions of uncertainty. Twenty-four participants had to decide whether a single presented order of objects agreed with a given set of indeterminate premises that could be interpreted in more than one way. During the presentation of the order, 10-Hz TMS was applied over the rSPL or a sham control site. Right SPL TMS during the inference phase disrupted performance in uncertain relational reasoning. Moreover, we found differences in the error rates between preferred mental models, alternative models, and inconsistent models. Our results suggest that different mechanisms are involved when people reason spatially and evaluate different kinds of uncertain conclusions.

The evaluation of the consistency of quantified assertions.

Consistency is a hallmark of rationality, and this article reports three experiments examining how reasoners determine the consistency of quantified assertions about the properties of individuals-for example, All of the actors are waiters. The mental model theory postulates that reasoners determine consistency by trying to construct a model of all of the assertions in a set. As the theory predicts, consistency is easier to establish when many different sorts of individuals satisfy the assertions (Exp. 1), when the predicted initial mental model satisfies them (Exp. 2), and otherwise when the model satisfying them is not too distant from the initial model, according to Levenshtein's metric (Exp. 3).

Reasoning about possibilities: Modal logics, possible worlds, and mental models.

Everyone reasons about possibilities. This article explains how they could do so using mental models. The theory makes four major claims: 1. Correct inferences are necessary, referring only to facts or possibilities to which the premises refer and not ruling any of them out, for example: She left or hid; Therefore, it's possible that she left and possible that she hid. 2. A possibility such as that she hid, which is represented in an intuitive model, presupposes the possibility that it did not occur, she did not hide, which, if reasoners deliberate, is represented in the resulting model. 3. Reasoners condense consistent possibilities, such as the earlier pair, into one possibility: it is possible that she left and she hid. 4. Inconsistencies, such as she left or hid, and she neither left nor hid, refer to no possibilities whatsoever - they have an empty model - and so their only effects are local. Hence, any inference can be withdrawn with impunity if there is knowledge to the contrary. Experiments have corroborated each of these principles. They are incompatible with four essentials of standard modal logics, which concern deductions based on "possible" or "necessary". Their formal deductions correspond to valid inferences, which have no counterexamples in which the premises are true but the conclusion is false. And so the article examines the differences between the two approaches, and explores the adaptation of a modal logic to account for correct human reasoning. Its feasibility is an open question.

The Presence of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Song Thrushes (Turdus philomelos) Wintering in Apulia (Southern Italy)-Preliminary Results.

The term microplastics (MPs) describes a heterogeneous mixture of particles that can vary in size, color, and shape. Once released into the environment, MPs have various toxicological and physical effects on wildlife. The Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) is a migratory species, staying in Italy in late autumn and winter. The aim of this study is to assess, quantify, and characterize the presence of microplastics in Song Thrushes hunted in the Apulia region of Italy. The birds (n = 360) were hunted in the Bari countryside and donated for research purposes by hunters. MPs were classified in relation to their shape in fibers, films, fragments, and pellets; then, they were divided according to their color and the length of the particles was measured. Nikon image analysis software was applied to the litter size measurements. Of the total of 360 birds, MPs were detected in the stomachs of 129 birds shot in December and 128 birds shot in January. The majority of ingested MPs were fibers that were observed in all contaminated birds. Film fragments were observed in every contaminated specimen. Among all the MPs found, 31.75% were red, 30.13% were black, and 25.91% were blue, while the other colors were less represented. This study provides the first analysis of MPs bioaccumulation in Song Thrushes wintering in the Apulia region, and the high contamination of thrushes confirmed the ubiquity of MPs in terrestrial ecosystems.

Effects of grazing on grassland or wood-pasture, slaughtering age and ageing time on meat production and quality in Podolian young bulls.

Podolian cattle is an autochthonous breed well adapted to the harsh semi-arid environments of the Southern Italy regions; the extensive rearing system used for these indigenous animals is based on grazing on spontaneous pastures, such as grasslands or wood pastures These grazing systems respect animal welfare and enrich animal products with characteristics closely related to the feeding system and the farming environment. The aim of the present study was to characterize the nutritional value of a forage crop and a wood-pasture and to evaluate the effects of grazing by Podolian young bulls on the performances and meat quality in relation to the age at slaughter (14 or 18 months) and to the ageing time of meat (3, 9 or 14 days). The metabolizable energy and the gas production were greater in April and June for both pasture systems. Young bulls raised on the grassland showed greater slaughter weights (p < 0.05) as compared to those fed on the woodland system, at both the slaughtering ages. The Warner Bratzler Shear (WBS) force values for raw and cooked meat were not influenced by the pasture system but they significantly (p < 0.01) decreased in relation to the ageing time in all the groups. Ageing markedly (p < 0.05) increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration from 3 to 14 days of storage, regardless of the pasture system and the slaughtering age. The n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio of meat was markedly lower in grassland animals, regardless of the age of slaughter. In conclusion, 18 months old grassland beef showed better performances and yield of meat cuts. Ageing for 9 days positively affected meat WBS without increasing MDA concentration.

Relationship between Fat Status, Stage of Gonadal Maturity and Hormonal Variation of Turdus philomelos (C.L. Brehm, 1831) Wintering in Apulia during 2018-2020.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the development of the fattening condition and the reproductive status of the song thrush from December to February. For this purpose, the chemical and fatty acid compositions of the pectoral muscle were analyzed in relation to the fattening state of the birds. Moreover, their reproductive activity was evaluated via the anatomical and pathological examination of tissues and through the assessment of sex steroid profiles. One hundred ninety-five thrushes captured by local hunters during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 hunting seasons in different provinces of the Apulia region in Italy were used. The first step was the measurement of bird body mass, and the amount of subcutaneous body fat was estimated visually. During post-mortem examinations, the pectoral muscle was excised and used for chemical and fatty acid analysis and a hormone assay, respectively. Moreover, ovaries and testicles were evaluated to determine the degree of maturation and thus the reproductive status of the birds. The results regarding fattening status and fatty acid profile confirmed that in January-February, thrushes change their diet, increasing their intake of oleic acid, likely to better cope with low temperatures and prepare for long-distance migration. In both male and female thrushes, the concentrations of sex hormones confirmed a phase of reproductive quiescence from December to February, which was also confirmed through histological examination of the gonads.

Egg Quality, Sensory Attributes, and Protein Metabolites of Laying Hens Fed Whole Flaxseed, Fish Oil, and Different Sources of Trace Elements.

This study evaluated the effects of whole flaxseed (WFS), fish oil (FO), and different sources of Se, Zn, and Fe (inorganic, organic, and nano-source) on egg production, quality, sensory attributes, and serum protein metabolites in laying hens. A total of 144 hens were divided into six groups with six replicates of four hens each. Hens were fed six diets as follows: 1) control diet; 2) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO; 3) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg vitamin E (VE); 4) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg VE + inorganic sources of Se, Zn, and Fe (ISeZnFe); 5) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg VE + organic sources of Se, Zn, and Fe (OSeZnFe); 6) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg VE + nano-source of Se, Zn, and Fe (NSeZnFe) from 40-50 weeks of age. Laying hens fed 7.5% WFS, 1.5% FO, and different sources of trace elements in their diets had no negative effects on laying rate, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, body weight change, or survival rate compared to that of hens fed the control diet. Dietary treatments did not negatively affect the external and internal egg characteristics or egg sensory attributes. Feeding 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+VE+ISeZnFe positively influenced yolk color in fresh eggs. Dietary treatments had a significant impact on egg nutritional composition, with the highest levels of macronutrients found in eggs from hens fed the 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+VE+NSeZnFe treatment. The highest plasma globulin concentrations were observed in hens fed organic and nano-source trace elements. The same diets reduced plasma uric acid levels. Based on these findings, the inclusion of organic or nano-source trace minerals in diets containing WFS and FO positively affected egg quality and hen protein metabolites.

Effects of Dietary Red Grape Extract on the Quality Traits in Juvenile European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.).

Intensive fish farming is responsible for the occurrence of various stressors that negatively affect the health of cultured animals. Polyphenols are plant-derived compounds with biological activities and positive influences on the performances and immunity of fish. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of a polyphenol extract obtained from Nero di Troia red grape on the quality of farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillets. Three diets were tested: control (n = 90) received a conventional feed, whereas the two experimental groups (n = 90 each) received the control feed supplemented with the red grape polyphenol extract (GPE) at the concentration of 100 (GPE 100) or 200 mg/kg (GPE 200). The two GPE diets lowered (p < 0.05) the red (a *) and yellow (b *) indexes, fillet hardness, and total lipid content. Chewiness, concentration of saturated fatty acids, and the Atherogenic Index were higher (p < 0.05) in the control group; GPE diets increased (p < 0.05) the polyunsaturated fatty acids content. Furthermore, the concentration of malondialdehyde was lower (p < 0.05) in fillets of the GPE groups, thus confirming the antioxidant effect of the red grape extract and its effectiveness in preventing lipid oxidation.

Dietary Supplementation with Oregano and Linseed in Autochthonous "Facciuta Lucana" Goats: Effects on Meat Quality Traits in Suckling Kids.

Extruded linseed (Linum usitatissimum) in ruminant diets has been investigated as a strategy to improve the nutritional value and healthiness of meat fat; however, increased polyunsaturated fatty acids may limit the shelf-life of meat. Oregano (Origanum vulgare) has a documented antioxidant activity. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with extruded linseed and oregano on goat milk quality and whether the characteristics of goat milk affect the physical and chemical features, fatty acid profile, meat lipid oxidation, and sensory properties of meat from suckling kids. Thirty-six male kids were weaned and divided into three homogeneous groups (n = 12); each group was either fed a control diet (C), or a diet containing 3% extruded linseed with or without the addition of 0.6% oregano ("L + O" and "L", respectively). The diets containing linseed lowered (p < 0.05) the saturated fatty acid content in meat, and increased (p < 0.05) monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid. Oregano addition to the linseed diet proved to be effective in preserving meat shelf-life, as shown by a significant (p < 0.01) reduction in the malondialdehyde concentration after 10 days of storage, and improved meat succulence, tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptance.

Postharvest Diseases of Pomegranate: Alternative Control Means and a Spiderweb Effect.

The pomegranate is a fruit known since ancient times for its beneficial properties. It has recently aroused great interest in the industry and among consumers, leading to a significant increase in demand. Consequently, its cultivation has been boosted all over the world. The pomegranate crop suffers considerable yield losses, especially at the postharvest stage, because it is a "minor crop" with few permitted control means. To control latent (Alternaria spp., Botrytis spp., Coniella spp., Colletotrichum spp., and Cytospora spp.) and wound (Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Talaromyces spp.) fungal pathogens, different alternative compounds, previously evaluated in vitro, were tested in the field on pomegranate cv. Wonderful. A chitosan solution, a plant protein hydrolysate, and a red seaweed extract were compared with a chemical control treatment, all as preharvest (field application) and postharvest treatments and their combinations. At the end of the storage period, the incidence of stamen infections and external and internal rots, and the severity of internal decay were evaluated. Obtained data revealed that pre- and postharvest application of all substances reduced the epiphytic population on stamens. Preharvest applications of seaweed extract and plant hydrolysate were the most effective treatments to reduce the severity of internal pomegranate decays. Furthermore, the influence of spider (Cheiracanthium mildei) cocoons on the fruit calyx as a possible barrier against postharvest fungal pathogens was assessed in a 'Mollar de Elche' pomegranate organic orchard. Compared to no-cocoon fruit (control), the incidence of infected stamens and internal molds in those with spiderwebs was reduced by about 30%, and the mean severity of internal rots was halved. Spiderwebs analyzed via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) disclosed a layered, unordered structure that did not allow for the passage of fungal spores due to its mean mesh size (1 to 20 µm ca). The aims of this research were (i) to evaluate alternative compounds useful to control postharvest pomegranate decays and (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of spiders in reducing postharvest fungal infections by analyzing related mechanisms of action. Alternative control means proposed in the present work and calyx spider colonization may be helpful to reduce postharvest pomegranate diseases, yield losses, and waste production in an integrated control strategy, satisfying organic agriculture and the planned goals of Zero Hunger Challenge launched by the United Nations.

Betaine as an alternative feed additive to choline and its effect on performance, blood parameters, and egg quality in laying hens rations.

This research aimed to evaluate how using betaine levels as a choline substitute affects productive performance, egg quality parameters, fatty acids profile, and antioxidant status in laying hens. One hundred and forty brown chickens, 45 wk old, were divided into 4 groups, each group of 7 replicates with 5 chickens per replicate. The first group of diets with choline has control (A) 100% choline, the second group (B) 75% choline + 25% betaine, the third group (C) 50% choline + 50% betaine, and the fourth group (D) received 100% betaine. No significant effects were observed in final body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), egg production (EW), and feed intake (FI) for laying hens. In the diet in which betaine was replaced choline, egg mass (EM) and egg weight (EW) increased compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Also, after 12 wk of feeding, the egg quality parameters were not influenced; however, yolk color was increased significantly compared with the control group. Serum total cholesterol, LDL-lipoprotein, HDL-lipoprotein, triglyceride, glucose, aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) were not affected by replacing choline with betaine. Furthermore, liver malondialdehyde (MDA) content, yolk vitamin E, and fatty acid levels were not significantly affected by replacing choline with betaine. Moreover, hens fed betaine displayed an increased antibody titer of the Newcastle disease (ND) virus. EW and EM were increased by 3.50% and 5.43% in 100% betaine group (D) when compared to the control group. Isthmus weight was decreased by 48.28 % in 50% choline + 50% betaine group (C) when compared to the control group. ND was increased by 26.24% in 100% betaine group when compared to the control group. In conclusion, betaine supplementation positively affected productive performance, egg quality measurements, and immunity response in Bovans brown laying hens.