Fat deposition, fatty acid profiles, antioxidant capacity and differentially expressed genes in subcutaneous fat of Tibetan sheep fed wheat-based diets with and without xylanase supplementation.

Xylanase, an exogenous enzyme that plays an essential role in energy metabolism by hydrolysing xylan into xylose, has been shown to positively influence nutrient digestion and utilisation in ruminants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of xylanase supplementation on the back-fat thickness, fatty acid profiles, antioxidant capacity, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the subcutaneous fat of Tibetan sheep. Sixty three-month-old rams with an average weight of 19.35 ± 2.18 kg were randomly assigned to control (no enzyme added, WH group) and xylanase (0.2% of diet on a dry matter basis, WE group) treatments. The experiment was conducted over 97 d, including 7 d of adaption to the diets. The results showed that xylanase supplementation in the diet increased adipocyte volume of subcutaneous fat (p < 0.05), shown by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Gas chromatography showed greater concentrations of C14:0 and C16:0 in the subcutaneous fat of controls compared with the enzyme-treated group (p < 0.05), while opposite trend was seen for the absolute contents of C18:1n9t, C20:1, C18:2n6c, C18:3, and C18:3n3 (p < 0.05). Compared with controls, supplementation with xylanase increased the activity of T-AOC significantly (p < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed the presence of 1630 DEGs between the two groups, of which 1023 were up-regulated and 607 were down-regulated, with enrichment in 4833 Gene Ontology terms, and significant enrichment in 31 terms (p < 0.05). The common DEGs were enriched in 295 pathways and significantly enriched in 26 pathways. Additionally, the expression of lipid-related genes, including fatty acid synthase, superoxide dismutase, fatty acid binding protein 5, carnitine palmytoyltransferase 1 A, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor A were verified via quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. In conclusion, dietary xylanase supplementation was found to reduce subcutaneous fat deposition in Tibetan sheep, likely through modulating the expression of lipid-related genes.

Effects of dietary wheat supplementation levels on growth performance, rumen bacterial community and fermentation parameters in Chinese Tibetan Sheep.

The objective of this study was to evaluate various wheat supplementation levels on rumen microbiota and fermentation parameter in Tibetan sheep. A total of ninety ram with an average 12.37 ± 0.92 kg at the age of 2 months were randomly allocated to three treatments: 0% wheat diet (CW, N = 30), 10% wheat diet (LW, N = 30), and 15% wheat diet (HW, N = 30) on a dry matter basis. The experiment was conducted over a period of 127 days, including 7 days of adaption to the diets. Our results showed that sheep fed 10% wheat exhibited optimal average daily gain and feed gain ratio compared with HW group (p < 0.05). The serum alkaline phosphatase concentration was the lowest when fed the 10% wheat diet (p < 0.05), whereas serum aspartate aminotransferase concentration was the highest (p < 0.05). Both acetate and propionate increased with increase in dietary wheat ratio (p < 0.05), while a greater decrease in concentrations of NH3 -N was observed (p < 0.05). In rumen fluid, 3413 OTUs were obtained with 97% consistency. Phylum Firmicutes was the predominant bacteria and accounted for 49.04%. The CW groups supported significantly increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes (p < 0.05), as compared with the HW group. The abundance of Bacteroidales_UCG-001, Ruminococcus, and Mitsuokella possessed a higher relative abundance in HW group (p < 0.05). No differences in the bacterial community and fermentation parameters were observed between the sheep fed 0% and 10% wheat (p > 0.05). Ruminal bacterial community structure was significantly correlated with isobutyrite (r2 = 0.4878, p = 0.035) and valerate (r2 = 0.4878, p = 0.013). In conclusion, supplementation of 10% wheat in diet promoted the average daily gain and never altered microbial community structure and fermentation pattern, which can be effectively replace partial corn in Chinese Tibetan Sheep.

Flavonoid bioactive compounds of hawthorn extract can promote growth, regulate electrocardiogram waves, and improve cardiac parameters of pulmonary hypertensive chickens.

The effect of orally administered hawthorn flavonoid extract (HFE) on growth, electrocardiographic waves, and cardiac parameters of pulmonary hypertensive chickens reared at high altitude (2,100 m above sea level) was examined. A total of 225 one-day-old, mixed broiler chicks (3 treatments with 5 replicates and 15 chicks per each, totally 75 birds/treatment) were assigned to 3 experimental groups: 0, 0.1, and 0.2 ml of HFE per 1 L of drinking water. Birds were administered the drinking water HFE treatments for 42 D. At an age of 28 and 42 D, electrocardiograms were undertaken and cardiac parameters such as the RV:TV, RV:BW, and TV:BW, and indicators of PHS on selected birds were measured. The final BW of chickens receiving the HFE at 0.2 ml/L was greater (2,579 ± 64 g) than that of birds receiving 0.1 ml/L (2,497 ± 62 g) and 0 ml/L (2,323 ± 57 g). Therefore, no supplemented group had a lower final BW than others (P < 0.05). Amplitudes of S and T waves in 0.1- and 0.2-ml/L HFE consumed groups at 28 and 42 D of age decreased compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05). The HFE reduced the heart weight and RV:TV, RV:BW, and TV:BW ratios when supplemented in drinking water at 0.1 and 0.2 mL/L compared with 0 mL/L (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of HFE in drinking water can reduce the PHS and incidence of cardiac disorders. Owing to the positive effect of HFE on cardiac parameters that mediated through flavonoids bioactive compounds, this product can be used to prevent complications of pulmonary hypertension and disarray of electrocardiographic waves in broiler chickens reared at high altitude.

Influence of multi-enzyme preparation supplemented with sodium butyrate on growth performance blood profiles and economic benefit of growing rabbits.

The present study was carried out to explore the impacts of dietary supplementation of enzyme mixture with sodium butyrate on the growth performance, carcass traits, blood profile and economic benefit in two breeds of weanling rabbits adapted to survive in Egypt (New Zealand White and Rex). One-hundred and twenty weaned male rabbits (New Zealand White and Rex) of 6 weeks of age and 770.5 ± 20 g body weight were allotted randomly into four groups in a factorial arrangement. The obtained results indicated that there were non-significant differences in all growth performance traits, blood profile and economic parameters due to the breed effect. However, there were significant differences in most of carcass traits due to the breed effect except total giblets and New Zealand White breed showed the highest value of these parameters including dressing % (p < .01), forequarter and loin % (p < .001) and hindquarter % (p < .003) compared with Rex breed counterparts. The effect of the treatment and its interaction with the breed significantly (p < .05) improved body weight gain, feed consumption and carcass traits (percentage of dressing, forequarter, hind quarter and lion). However, final body weight and feed conversion ratio were not significantly influenced. Supplementing a diet with treatment significantly decreased blood triglycerides, cholesterol and the ratio between albumin and globulin (A/G ratio), while increased blood total protein and globulin. Although higher feed cost and total costs in treated groups than control ones in each breed, they showed higher total return and net return. Rex non-treated rabbit breed showed the lowest profitability measures compared with other groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of multi-enzyme with sodium butyrate is highly recommended in growing rabbits due to their beneficial effects on the growth performance and profitability.