Copper sulphate forms in piglet diets: Microbiota, intestinal morphology and enteric nervous system glial cells.

The objective of this study was to evaluate dietary supplementation with different copper sulphate (CuSO4 ) forms on small intestine microanatomy and large intestine microbiota. Ninety weaned piglets were divided into three experimental groups: control diet (CTR), with no added CuSO4 and diets supplemented with 150 ppm of CuSO4 in protected (150P) and unprotected form (150UP). After 18 days of dietary treatment, six piglets per treatment were randomly selected and sacrificed. Duodenum villi length and crypt depths were higher (P < 0.001) in the animals fed 150UP than other groups. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker for enteric glial cells, was unaffected by dietary treatments. The total bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria counts were lower (P < 0.05) in cecum of animals fed 150P in comparison with the other two groups. In the colon the Streptococci spp were lower (P < 0.001) in both CuSO4 supplemented groups than controls. The obtained results revealed a modulation of intestinal structure and microbiota exerted by the studied CuSO4 dietary supplementation. The present data show that dietary supplementation with 150UP in the first period post-weaning may assist in restoring the gut morphology, improving duodenal structure.

Effect of dietary plant extract on meat quality and sensory parameters of meat from Equidae.

BACKGROUND: Plant extracts as Lippia spp. have been proven antioxidant properties. Recent studies have been shown that dietary supplementation with plant extracts is able to enhance meat quality parameters. Studies regarding meat quality in Equidae are limited. RESULTS: The effect of dietary plant extract (PE), containing verbascoside, on meat quality, oxidative stability and sensory parameters of Longissimus Lumborum (LL) muscle in Equidae was studied. Dietary treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) pH, colour indices and chemical parameters of muscle in both donkey and horse. Dietary PE improved (P < 0.01) oxidative stability in donkey muscle during refrigerated storage. Sensory characteristics of LL muscle were positively affected (P < 0.05) by dietary PE in both donkey and horse. In particular, colour, taste and texture were enhanced in LL muscle from animals fed PE. Oxidative stability was lower (P < 0.05) in LL muscle of horse than that of donkey. CONCLUSION: Dietary plant extract, containing verbascoside, can be considered as a natural source of antioxidants, and is also able to improve oxidative stability of donkey meat and to affect the sensory attributes of Equidae meat. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.