Pharmacological validation of an attention bias test for conventional broiler chickens.

Fear and anxiety are considered concerns for animal welfare as they are associated with negative affective states. This study aimed to pharmacologically validate an attention bias test (ABT) for broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) as a cognitive bias test to determine anxiety. Two-hundred-and-four male Ross 708 broiler chickens were arbitrarily allocated to either the anxiogenic or control treatment at 25 days of age (n = 102/treatment). Birds from the anxiogenic group were administered with 2.5 mg of ß-CCM (ß-carboline-3-carboxylic acid-N-methylamide [FG 7142]) per kg of body weight through an intraperitoneal injection (0.1 ml/100 g of body weight). Birds from the control group were administered with 9 mg of a saline solution per kg of body weight. During ABT, birds were tested in groups of three (n = 34 groups of three birds/treatment) with commercial feed and mealworms as positive stimuli and a conspecific alarm call as a negative stimulus. Control birds were 45 s faster to begin feeding than anxiogenic birds. Birds from the control group vocalized 40 s later and stepped 57 s later than birds from the anxiogenic group. The occurrence of vigilance behaviors did not differ between treatments. This study was successful in pharmacologically validating an attention bias test for fast-growing broiler chickens, testing three birds simultaneously. Our findings showed that latencies to begin feeding, first vocalization, and first step were valid measures to quantify anxiety.

Carcass and meat characteristics of Nellore young bulls fed diet using cottonseed cake as a replacer of the forage fiber source.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of substituting traditional forage fiber sources with cottonseed cake in the diet on both the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carcass and meat in Nelore young bulls. Twenty-four Nelore steers starting with an average weight of 377.8 ± 43.5 kg, were individually housed in stalls and provided with individualized feeding over a 112-day confinement period. The study followed a completely randomized design with two treatments and 12 replications. The diets incorporated either whole plant corn silage (WPCS) and, cottonseed cake (CSC) as fiber sources, at a rate of 300 g/kg of dry matter. The CSC diet promoted higher carcass weight. Aging animal meat for seven days significantly decreased the shear force from 83.4 to 71.6 N. Although diets did not influence meat composition, WPCS diet provided higher concentrations of C16:1, C18:1n9c, C18:3n3, and C22:2 acid, and CSC diet higher concentrations of C15:0, C18:1n9t, C18:2n6c, and 20:3n3. The WPCS diet provided higher concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids and ω9, and the CSC diet had higher concentrations of ω6 and ω6:ω3 ratio in meat. Cottonseed cake used as a fiber source increases the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids and ω6 fatty acids in the meat of young bulls finished in feedlot.

Differential responses of rumen and fecal fermentation and microbiota of Liaoning cashmere goats after 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester supplementation.

The 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi), a rumen protective methionine, has been extensively studied in dairy cows and beef cattle and has been shown to regulate gastrointestinal microbiota and improve production performance. However, knowledge of the application of HMBi on cashmere goats and the simultaneous study of rumen and hindgut microbiota is still limited. In this study, HMBi supplementation increased the concentration of total serum protein, the production of microbial protein in the rumen and feces, as well as butyrate production in the feces. The results of PCoA and PERMANOVA showed no significant difference between the rumen microbiota, but there was a dramatic difference between the fecal microbiota of the two groups of Cashmere goats after the HMBi supplementation. Specifically, in the rumen, HMBi significantly increased the relative abundance of some fiber-degrading bacteria (such as Fibrobacter) compared with the CON group. In the feces, as well as a similar effect as in the rumen (increasing the relative abundance of some fiber-degrading bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group and ASV32), HMBi diets also increased the proliferation of butyrate-producing bacteria (including Oscillospiraceae UCG-005 and Christensenellaceae R-7 group). Overall, these results demonstrated that HMBi could regulate the rumen and fecal microbial composition of Liaoning cashmere goats and benefit the host.

Feed characteristics of dried corn grain and corn grain silage produced in Japan compared with imported corn grain.

We compared the in situ dry matter degradability (ISDMD) and crude protein degradability (ISCPD) of high-moisture corn grain silage and dried corn grains produced in Japan (JHC and JDC, respectively) with corn grains imported from the United States (USC), Brazil (BRC), and South Africa (SAC). The ISDMD values of USC, BAC, and SAC were between those of JHC and JDC, but ISDMD did not differ significantly between USC and SAC. In contrast, ISDMD was lower for BAC than USC and SAC. Overall, our results indicate that ISDMD and ISCPD in the rumen differ between corn grains sources (domestic compared with imported and between production locations), primarily due to differences between the corn varieties represented. In particular, the ISDMD and ISCPD of JHC were greater than those of JDC, and this difference in degradability needs to be considered when using high-moisture corn grain silage as a substitute for dried corn grain as a feed for dairy cattle.

Non-encapsulated, encapsulated, and lyophilized probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri SW23 influenced the growth and gut health in calves.

The present study was conducted to assess the impact of non-encapsulated, air-dried microencapsulated, and lyophilized microencapsulated probiotics in indigenous cattle calves (Bos indicus). Twenty-four (5-7 days old) indigenous cattle calves were selected and assigned into four groups, with six calves in each as follows: control (CON), fed milk and basal diet alone, and treatment groups supplemented with non-encapsulated (NEC), air-dried microencapsulated (AEC) and lyophilized microencapsulated (LEC) probiotic L. reuteri SW23 at 108 CFU/head/day in skim milk as a carrier provided for 60 days. The animals were divided into four groups, adopting a complete randomized design, and the effects were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05. Probiotics supplementation increased (p < 0.05) body weight gain (kg), average daily gain, and structural growth measurements in calves of all treatment groups. Dry matter intake (g/d), feed conversion efficiency, and fecal counts of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria were also increased in the treatment groups compared to CON. The fecal consistency index was highest in CON (0.70 ± 0.03), followed by NEC (0.68 ± 0.01), AEC (0.66 ± 0.02), and LEC (0.65 ± 0.02). Fecal pH and ammonia levels were reduced (p < 0.05) in the probiotic-fed groups compared to CON, with a concomitant increase in fecal lactate, acetate, and propionate levels. In addition, cell-mediated and humoral immunity were significantly increased in supplemented groups as compared to CON. Thus, it can be concluded that supplementation of the probiotics in microencapsulated/non-encapsulated forms to neonatal calves had a variety of positive effects on their health, including better performance, improved gut health, and a lower fecal consistency index. Moreover, among all supplemented groups, the lyophilized microencapsulated group outperformed air-dried microencapsulated and non-microencapsulated groups in terms of ADG, DMI, and gut health.

Essential oil supplementation in milk replacers: short- and long-term impacts on feed efficiency, the faecal microbiota and the plasma metabolome in dairy calves.

Early supplementation with oregano essential oil (EO) in milk replacer (MR) may improve growth, immune responses, the microbiota and the metabolome in dairy calves during pre-weaning and in adulthood. Sixteen female dairy calves (3 days of age) were divided in two groups (n = 8/group): the control group (no EO) and the EO group (0.23 ml of EO in MR during 45 days). After weaning, calves were kept in a feedlot and fed ad libitum. The animals were weighed, and blood and faecal samples were collected on days 3 (T0), 45 (T1) and 370 (T2) to measure the biochemical profile and characterise peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs; CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD21+ and WC1+), the metabolome and microbiota composition. The EO group only had greater average daily weight gain during the suckling (EO supplementation) period (P = 0.030). The EO group showed higher average CD14+ population (monocytes) values, a lower abundance of Ruminococcaceae UCG-014, Faecalibacterium, Blautia and Alloprevotella and increased abundances of Allistipes and Akkermansia. The modification of some metabolites in plasma, such as butyric acid, 3-indole-propionic acid and succinic acid, particularly at T1, are consistent with intestinal microbiota changes. The data suggest that early EO supplementation increases feed efficiency only during the suckling period with notable changes in the microbiota and plasma metabolome; however, not all of these changes can be considered desirable from a gut health point of view. Additional research studies is required to demonstrate that EOs are a viable natural alternative to antibiotics for improving calf growth performance and health.

Use of different dry materials to control the moisture in a black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) rearing substrate.

Background: Controlling the substrate moisture is a significant challenge in black soldier fly (BSF) farming. Many substrates have a high moisture content, which results in a low BSF biomass and a high mortality. One potential solution involves incorporating dry substrates into the food mix to mitigate the excessive moisture. However, little information about the types and quantities of dry substrates is available. Methods: Six different dry materials-rice husk (RH), rice bran (RB), rice husk ash (RHA), coconut coir dust (CC), rubberwood sawdust (RSD), and spent coffee grounds (SCGs)-were evaluated by combining with pure minced mixed vegetables in varying proportions (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, and 50% by weight). This study encompassed both small-scale and medium-scale experiments to comprehensively assess the effects of the addition of each of these different dry substrates and their quantities on aspects of the development of BSF, such as BSF biomass, larval duration, mortality rates, adult sex ratio, and the moisture removal efficiency of each substrate mixture. Results: Each dry substrate had specific properties. Although RB emerged as a favorable dry substrate owing to its nutritional content and substantial water-holding capacity, excessive use of RB (>15% by weight) resulted in elevated temperatures and subsequent desiccation of the substrate, potentially leading to larval mortality. In contrast, RH demonstrated the ability to support improved larval duration and growth, permitting its utilization in higher proportions (up to 50%). On the other hand, CC, RHA, and SCG are better suited for inclusion in BSF larval substrates in smaller quantities. Discussion: Some dry substrates require a pretreatment process to eliminate toxic substances prior to their incorporation into substrate mixtures, such as CC and SCG. A potential alternative solution involves employing a combination of various dry substrates. This approach aims to enhance the substrate moisture control and subsequently improve the BSF rearing performance.

Economic analysis of banana peel and sweet potato vines in diets for rabbits.

This study aimed to evaluate the costs of using banana peel (BP) and sweet potato vine (SPV) in rabbit diets. BP and SPV were chosen to replace maize and alfalfa hay, because, in addition to the ingredients having similar nutritional characteristics, they are among the most expensive ingredients in rabbit diets. Data were obtained through a biological assay carried out in the Cuniculture Laboratory of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Fifty New Zealand white rabbits, weaned at 35 days of age, were fed during the growth phase (35 to 84 days) with increasing levels of BP and SPV, replacing maize and alfalfa hay (T0, T25, T50, T75 and T100% replacement). A diet containing 100% replacement (T100) had the lowest cost per kilogram, which was R$ 1.18/kg, while the controlled diet was 57% more expensive, costing R$ 2.08/kg. The total operating cost to produce a rabbit with control treatment was R$10.93/head and at T100, it was R$6.51/head. The animal income for a live rabbit was R$ 24.08 and R$ 23.95 in treatments T0 and T100, respectively. Regarding the gain margin per animal (GMA), in TO it was R$ 13.16 while in T100 it was R$ 17.44, therefore the GMA was 32.55% higher when using the T100 diet. In conclusion, it is more economical and feasible to feed rabbits with diets containing 100% BP and SPV, replacing maize and alfalfa hay.

Relationship between feed efficiency and gut microbiota in laying chickens under contrasting feeding conditions.

The gut microbiota is known to play an important role in energy harvest and is likely to affect feed efficiency. In this study, we used 16S metabarcoding sequencing to analyse the caecal microbiota of laying hens from feed-efficient and non-efficient lines obtained by divergent selection for residual feed intake. The two lines were fed either a commercial wheat-soybean based diet (CTR) or a low-energy, high-fibre corn-sunflower diet (LE). The analysis revealed a significant line x diet interaction, highlighting distinct differences in microbial community composition between the two lines when hens were fed the CTR diet, and more muted differences when hens were fed the LE diet. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that a richer and more diverse microbiota may play a role in enhancing feed efficiency, albeit in a diet-dependent manner. The taxonomic differences observed in the microbial composition seem to correlate with alterations in starch and fibre digestion as well as in the production of short-chain fatty acids. As a result, we hypothesise that efficient hens are able to optimise nutrient absorption through the activity of fibrolytic bacteria such as Alistipes or Anaerosporobacter, which, via their production of propionate, influence various aspects of host metabolism.

Diagnostic survey of analytical methods used to determine bone mineralization in pigs.

Pigs from 64 commercial sites across 14 production systems in the Midwest United States were evaluated for baseline biological measurements used to determine bone mineralization. There were three pigs selected from each commercial site representing: 1) a clinically normal pig (healthy), 2) a pig with evidence of clinical lameness (lame), and 3) a pig from a hospital pen that was assumed to have recent low feed intake (unhealthy). Pigs ranged in age from nursery to market weight, with the three pigs sampled from each site representing the same age or phase of production. Blood, urine, metacarpal, fibula, 2nd rib, and 10th rib were collected and analyzed. Each bone was measured for density and ash (defatted and non-defatted technique). A bone × pig type interaction (P < 0.001) was observed for defatted and non-defatted bone ash and density. For defatted bone ash, there were no differences among pig types for the fibulas, 2nd rib, and 10th rib (P > 0.10), but metacarpals from healthy pigs had greater (P < 0.05) percentage bone ash compared to unhealthy pigs, with the lame pigs intermediate. For non-defatted bone ash, there were no differences among pig types for metacarpals and fibulas (P > 0.10), but unhealthy pigs had greater (P < 0.05) non-defatted percentage bone ash for 2nd and 10th ribs compared to healthy pigs, with lame pigs intermediate. Healthy and lame pigs had greater (P < 0.05) bone density than unhealthy pigs for metacarpals and fibulas, with no difference observed for ribs (P > 0.10). Healthy pigs had greater (P < 0.05) serum Ca and 25(OH)D3 compared to unhealthy pigs, with lame pigs intermediate. Healthy pigs had greater (P < 0.05) serum P compared to unhealthy and lame pigs, with no differences between the unhealthy and lame pigs. Unhealthy pigs excreted significantly more (P < 0.05) P and creatinine in the urine compared to healthy pigs with lame pigs intermediate. In summary, there are differences in serum Ca, P, and vitamin D among healthy, lame, and unhealthy pigs. Differences in bone mineralization among pig types varied depending on the analytical procedure and bone, with a considerable range in values within pig type across the 14 production systems sampled.

There is little literature or data comparing bone diagnostic results for healthy, lame, and unhealthy pigs. Typically, diagnosticians assessing clinical lameness cases in pigs will measure bone mineralization along with histopathological evaluation to diagnose and assess the severity of metabolic bone disease. Bone ash is the primary method to determine bone mineralization, with the removal of the lipid in the bone (defatting) before the bone is ashed, compared to not removing the lipid before the ashing (non-defatted). Defatting the bone reduces the amount of variation across the bones compared to non-defatting. In this diagnostic survey, there was no difference among the healthy, lame, or unhealthy pigs when comparing defatted bone ash, however, unhealthy pigs had an increased bone ash percentage compared to the healthy and lame pigs when the bones were assessed using the non-defatted procedure. There was variation across production systems and pig types for serum vitamin D. When comparing the pig types, healthy pigs had increased serum Ca, P, and vitamin D [25(OH)D3] compared to the unhealthy pigs, with the lame pigs intermediate.

Mulberry branch fiber improved lipid metabolism and egg yolk fatty acid composition of laying hens via the enterohepatic axis.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of mulberry branch fiber (MF), the largest by-product of the sericulture industry, is an important issue. Supplementation with MF as a dietary fiber for poultry may serve as a useful application. However, little is known about the effects of MF on liver lipid metabolism and egg yolk fatty acid composition of laying hens and their underlying mechanisms. In this study, we performed a multi-omics investigation to explore the variations in liver lipid metabolism, egg yolk fatty acid composition, gut microbiota, and the associations among them induced by dietary MF in laying hens. RESULTS: Dietary MF had no harmful effects on the laying performance or egg quality in laying hens. The enzyme activities associated with lipid metabolism in the liver were altered by the addition of 5% MF, resulting in reduced liver fat accumulation. Furthermore, dietary 5% MF induced the variation in the fatty acid profiles of egg yolk, and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content. We observed a significant reduction in the diversity of both gut bacteria and changes in their compositions after the addition of MF. Dietary MF significantly increased the abundance of genes involved in fatty acid biodegradation, and short-chain fatty acids biosynthesis in the gut microbiota of laying hens. The significant correlations were observed between the liver lipid metabolism enzyme activities of hepatic lipase, lipoprotein lipase, and total esterase with gut microbiota, including negative correlations with gut microbiota diversity, and multiple correlations with gut bacteria and viruses. Moreover, various correlations between the contents of PUFAs and monounsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk with the gut microbiota were obtained. Based on partial-least-squares path modeling integrated with the multi-omics datasets, we deduced the direct effects of liver enzyme activities and gut bacterial compositions on liver fat content and the roles of liver enzyme activities and gut bacterial diversity on egg yolk fatty acid composition. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that dietary MF is beneficial to laying hens as it reduces the liver fat and improves egg yolk fatty acid composition through the enterohepatic axis. Video Abstract.

Excessive Tryptophan and Phenylalanine Induced Pancreatic Injury and Glycometabolism Disorder in Grower-finisher Pigs.

BACKGROUND: The increase in circulating insulin levels is associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and the levels of branched-chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids (AAAs) are altered in T2D, but whether AAAs play a role in insulin secretion and signaling remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different AAAs on pancreatic function and on the use of insulin in finishing pigs. METHODS: A total of 18 healthy finishing pigs (Large White) with average body weight of 100 ± 1.15 kg were randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments: Con, a normal diet supplemented with 0.68% alanine; Phe, a normal diet supplemented with 1.26% phenylalanine; and Trp, a normal diet supplemented with 0.78% tryptophan. The 3 diets were isonitrogenous. There were 6 replicates in each group. RESULTS: Herein, we investigated the effects of tryptophan and phenylalanine on pancreatic function and the use of insulin in finishing pigs and found that the addition of tryptophan and phenylalanine aggravated pancreatic fat deposition, increased the relative content of saturated fatty acids, especially palmitate (C16:0) and stearate (C18:0), and the resulting lipid toxicity disrupted pancreatic secretory function. We also found that tryptophan and phenylalanine inhibited the growth and secretion of ß-cells, downregulated the gene expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway in the pancreas and liver, and reduced glucose utilization in the liver. CONCLUSIONS: Using fattening pigs as a model, multiorgan combined analysis of the insulin-secreting organ pancreas and the main insulin-acting organ liver, excessive intake of tryptophan and phenylalanine will aggravate pancreatic damage leading to glucose metabolism disorders, providing new evidence for the occurrence and development of T2D.

Evaluation of biological selenium nanoparticles on growth performance, histopathology of vital organs and genotoxicity in Japanese quails (coturnix coturnix japonica).

Research on the effects of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), particularly in Japanese quails, is lacking, especially regarding the potential for DNA damage. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of administering 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg of Se-NPs on the growth performance, DNA integrity, and histopathological alterations of the liver, lung, kidney, and heart in quails. A total of 480 one-day-old Japanese quails were divided into three experimental groups as follows: Group 1 served as the control and received only basic feed, while Group 2 and 3 received 0.2 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg of Se-NPs via oral gavage. Our results suggested that, birds fed with Se-NPs at both levels significantly (p < .01) reduced feed intake, however, weight gain was significantly (p < .01) increased in quails supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg. Similarly, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly (p < .01) reduced in group supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg Se-NPs. White blood cells increased significantly (P0.01) in 0.4 mg/kg while haemoglobin and red cell distribution width decreased (p < .01) in the same group. Both treatment regimens resulted in DNA damage and histopathological alterations; however, the adverse effects were more prominent in the group receiving the higher dose of 0.4 mg/kg. These findings indicate that the lower dose of 0.2 mg/kg may have beneficial effects on growth. However, the higher dose of 0.4 mg/kg not only negatively impacts growth but also leads to histopathological alterations in major organs of the body and DNA damage as well.

Chinese herb ultrafine powder supplementation improves egg nutritional value and quality in laying hens.

This study evaluates the effects of dietary Chinese herb ultrafine powder (CHUP) supplementation in late-phase laying hens on the quality and nutritional values of eggs. A total of 576 Xinyang black-feather laying hens (300-day-old) were randomly allocated into eight groups for a 120-day feeding trial. Each group contained eight replicates with nine hens per replicate. The experimental groups included the control (basal diet) and different levels of CHUP groups (details in 'Materials and methods'). The results showed that the eggshell strength was increased (p < 0.05) in the L, LF, L-LF, L-T, and LF-T groups on day 60 of the trial. In addition, the plasma estradiol level in the L-LF, LF-T, and L-LF-T groups and unsaturated fatty acids concentrations in egg yolk of the CHUP groups (except LF-T group) were increased, whereas total cholesterol (T, L-LF, L-T, and L-LF-T groups) in egg yolk and the atherogenicity (T, L-T, and L-LF-T groups) and thrombogenicity (T, L-LF, L-T, and L-LF-T groups) indexes were decreased (p < 0.05) on day 60 of the trial compared with the control group. Moreover, bitter amino acids in egg albumen were decreased (p < 0.05) in the L-LF group on day 60 and the L-LF-T group on day 120 of the trial. Collectively, these findings indicate that dietary CHUP supplementation could improve eggshell quality and increase plasma reproductive hormone, fatty acid and amino acid composition, and nutritional values of eggs, especially L-LF and L-LF-T.

Significance of dietary quinoa husk (Chenopodium quinoa) in gene regulation for stress mitigation in fish.

The persistent challenges posed by pollution and climate change are significant factors disrupting ecosystems, particularly aquatic environments. Numerous contaminants found in aquatic systems, such as ammonia and metal toxicity, play a crucial role in adversely affecting aquaculture production. Against this backdrop, fish feed was developed using quinoa husk (the byproduct of quinoa) as a substitute for fish meal. Six isonitrogenous diets (30%) and isocaloric diets were formulated by replacing fish meal with quinoa husk at varying percentages: 0% quinoa (control), 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35%. An experiment was conducted to explore the potential of quinoa husk in replacing fish meal and assess its ability to mitigate ammonia and arsenic toxicity as well as high-temperature stress in Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. The formulated feed was also examined for gene regulation related to antioxidative status, immunity, stress proteins, growth regulation, and stress markers. The gene regulation of sod, cat, and gpx in the liver was notably upregulated under concurrent exposure to ammonia, arsenic, and high-temperature (NH3 + As + T) stress. However, quinoa husk at 25% downregulated sod, cat, and gpx expression compared to the control group. Furthermore, genes associated with stress proteins HSP70 and DNA damage-inducible protein (DDIP) were significantly upregulated in response to stressors (NH3 + As + T), but quinoa husk at 25% considerably downregulated HSP70 and DDIP to mitigate the impact of stressors. Growth-responsive genes such as myostatin (MYST) and somatostatin (SMT) were remarkably downregulated, whereas growth hormone receptor (GHR1 and GHRß), insulin-like growth factors (IGF1X, IGF2X), and growth hormone gene were significantly upregulated with quinoa husk at 25%. The gene expression of apoptosis (Caspase 3a and Caspase 3b) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were also noticeably downregulated with quinoa husk (25%) reared under stressful conditions. Immune-related gene expression, including immunoglobulin (Ig), toll-like receptor (TLR), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), and interleukin (IL), strengthened fish immunity with quinoa husk feed. The results revealed that replacing 25% of fish meal with quinoa husk could improve the gene regulation of P. hypophthalmus involved in mitigating ammonia, arsenic, and high-temperature stress in fish.

Pseudomonas putida infection induces immune-antioxidant, hepato-renal, ethological, and histopathological/immunohistochemical disruptions in Oreochromis niloticus: the palliative role of titanium dioxide nanogel.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas putida is a pathogenic bacterium that induces great losses in fishes, including Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Currently, the application of nanomaterials in aquaculture practices has gained more success as it endows promising results in therapies compared to traditional protocols. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, the current perspective is considered the first report to assess the anti-bacterial efficacy of titanium dioxide nanogel (TDNG) against Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) in Nile tilapia. METHODS: The fish (n = 200; average body weight: 47.50±1.32 g) were allocated into four random groups (control, TDNG, P. putida, and TDNG + P. putida), where 0.9 mg/L of TDNG was applied as bath treatment for ten days. RESULTS: Outcomes revealed that P. putida infection caused ethological alterations (surfacing, abnormal movement, and aggression) and depression of immune-antioxidant variables (complement 3, lysozyme activity, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione content). Additionally, a substantial elevation in hepatorenal biomarkers (aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and creatinine) with clear histopathological changes and immuno-histochemical alterations (very weak BCL-2 and potent caspase-3 immuno-expressions) were seen. Surprisingly, treating P. putida-infected fish with TDNG improved these variables and obvious restoration of the tissue architectures. CONCLUSION: Overall, this report encompasses the key role of TDNG as an anti-bacterial agent for controlling P. putida infection and improving the health status of Nile tilapia.

Effect of an immune challenge and two feed supplements on broiler chicken individual breast muscle protein synthesis rate.

Optimization of broiler chicken breast muscle protein accretion is key for the efficient production of poultry meat, whose demand is steadily increasing. In a context where antimicrobial growth promoters use is being restricted, it is important to find alternatives as well as to characterize the effect of immunological stress on broiler chicken's growth. Despite its importance, research on broiler chicken muscle protein dynamics has mostly been limited to the study of mixed protein turnover. The present study aims to characterize the effect of a bacterial challenge and the feed supplementation of citrus and cucumber extracts on broiler chicken individual breast muscle proteins fractional synthesis rates (FSR) using a recently developed dynamic proteomics pipeline. Twenty-one day-old broiler chickens were administered a single 2H2O dose before being culled at different timepoints. A total of 60 breast muscle protein extracts from five experimental groups (Unchallenged, Challenged, Control Diet, Diet 1 and Diet 2) were analysed using a DDA proteomics approach. Proteomics data was filtered in order to reliably calculate multiple proteins FSR making use of a newly developed bioinformatics pipeline. Broiler breast muscle proteins FSR uniformly decreased following a bacterial challenge, this change was judged significant for 15 individual proteins, the two major functional clusters identified as well as for mixed breast muscle protein. Citrus or cucumber extract feed supplementation did not show any effect on the breast muscle protein FSR of immunologically challenged broilers. The present study has identified potential predictive markers of breast muscle growth and provided new information on broiler chicken breast muscle protein synthesis which could be essential for improving the efficiency of broiler chicken meat production. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study constitutes the first dynamic proteomics study conducted in a farm animal species which has characterized FSR in a large number of proteins, establishing a precedent for biomarker discovery and assessment of health and growth status. Moreover, it has been evidenced that the decrease in broiler chicken breast muscle protein following an immune challenge is a coordinated event which seems to be the main cause of the decreased growth observed in these animals.

Food and human health applications of edible mushroom by-products.

Mushroom waste can account for up to 50% of the total mushroom mass. Spent mushroom substrate, misshapen mushrooms, and mushroom stems are examples of mushroom byproducts. In ancient cultures, fungi were prized for their medicinal properties. Aqueous extracts containing high levels of ß-glucans as functional components capable of providing prebiotic polysaccharides and improved texture to foods have been widely used and new methods have been tested to improve extraction yields. Similarly, the addition of insoluble polysaccharides controls the glycemic index, counteracting the effects of increasingly high-calorie diets. Numerous studies support these benefits in vitro, but evidence in vivo is scarce. Nonetheless, many authors have created a variety of functional foods, ranging from yogurt to noodles. In this review, we focus on the pharmacological properties of edible mushroom by-products, and the possible risks derived from its consumption. By incorporating these by-products into human or animal feed formulations, mushroom producers will be able to fully optimize crop use and pave the way for the industry to move toward a zero-waste paradigm.

Processing of corn-based dog foods through pelleting, baking and extrusion and their effect on apparent total tract digestibility and colonic health of adult dogs.

Different food processing parameters may alter starch granule structure and its cooking degree. With lower thermomechanical energy, more resistant starch (RS) is retained in the food, which may benefit gastrointestinal (GI) health. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of food processing on dietary utilization and dog gut health. Experimental diets containing 56% corn as the sole starch source were produced through pelleting, baking, and extrusion and compared to a baked control diet in which the corn was replaced with dextrose. The extruded diet resulted in the highest level (P < 0.05) of in vitro starch cook and lowest RS, while baked was intermediate and pelleted had the lowest starch cook and highest RS. To evaluate the in vivo effects of these treatments, 12 dogs were adapted to foods for 9 d, and feces were collected for 5 d in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Feces were scored for consistency using an ordinal scale, and parametric data included apparent digestibility (ATTD), parameters indicative of gut health, and the microbial composition, which was centered log-ratio transformed before operational taxonomic unit (OTU) analyses. Fecal scores were analyzed by ordinal logistic regression, and parametric data were analyzed as mixed models. Overall ATTD was greater (P < 0.05) in extruded, followed by baked and pelleted. Dogs fed the control had osmotic diarrhea, whereas dogs fed the other treatments had mostly acceptable fecal scores, with extrusion leading to the best fecal quality. The control also led to high fecal pH and low SCFAs, indicating dysbiosis. All corn foods had similar (P > 0.05) fecal SCFAs and extruded tended (P = 0.055) to promote higher fecal butyrate than baked and pelleted. The microbiome of dogs fed the corn foods had similar α diversity indices, and OTUs at the species and phyla levels were mostly alike and different from the control. In conclusion, the higher levels of in vitro RS did not translate into a better in vivo fermentation profile, and extruded kibble performed best regarding fecal quality, ATTD, and fecal SCFAs.

Dog foods were produced via extrusion, baking, and pelleting to yield increasing amounts of starch resistant to digestion (resistant starch [RS]). The foods were compared to a negative dextrose control that contained dextrose in place of starch. Amounts of cooked starch and RS were confirmed by in vitro methodologies. These foods were fed to healthy adult dogs in a Latin square design. Feces were scored for quality and collected to calculate apparent digestibility. Fresh feces were also collected for fecal short-chain fatty acids and microbiome evaluations. The corn-based extruded kibble was more digestible, followed by the baked and pelleted treatments. The extruded treatment produced stools closest to the ideal, but dogs fed the pelleted and baked also produced acceptable feces. The SCFA composition in the feces of dogs fed extruded was like the pelleted treatment, with a higher tendency to produce butyrate. Changes in fermentation were not a consequence of differences in microbiome composition among dogs fed corn-based foods. Dogs fed the control had osmotic diarrhea, with a higher fecal pH and higher proportions of branched-chain fatty acids, which was undesirable. The extruded food performed better overall than baked and pelleted, but they were all acceptable as food forms for dogs.

Former foodstuffs in feed: a minireview of recent findings.

The sustainability of all productive activities, including livestock farming, becomes a fundamental challenge in the current scenario. Livestock production faces both old and new challenges related to climate change, food safety, and feed-food competition. The latter aspect has recently become a hot topic, and many researchers are turning their attention to this issue. According to circular economy principles, former foodstuffs have characteristics that make them a promising source of raw material for animal feed. The main objective of the present review is to provide a brief overview of the most recent studies (published between 2016 and 2022) addressing the dietary inclusion of former foodstuffs for livestock. The articles analyzed cover key findings from both in vitro and in vivo studies of former foodstuffs included in the diets for pigs, cows, and broilers, and assess the associated safety aspects. The articles provide information on livestock performances and product quality, as well as feed digestibility, fecal microbiota, and blood analysis. Although the evidence supports the inclusion of former foodstuffs in livestock diets as a safe, effective, and sustainable ingredient, this analysis of the most recent literature also highlights gaps in our knowledge that need to be filled. The present overview will help researchers plan future research and standardize and promote the inclusion of former food products in livestock diets.