Effects of dietary Silybum marianum powder on growth performance, egg and carcass characteristics, immune response, intestinal microbial population, haemato-biochemical parameters and sensory meat quality of laying quails.

The study aimed to assess the effects of different dietary Silybum marianum (SM, milk thistle) powder levels on growth performance, productivity, immunity, small intestine, haemato-biochemical parameters, meat quality, and egg and carcass characteristics of laying quails. The experimental subjects consisted of one hundred and eight 43-day-old quails divided into 3 treatments (0, 0.75, and 1.50% SM) with 4 replicates each. The egg characteristics and growth performance of the quails were evaluated. Quails were euthanized for evaluation of carcasses, microbiota, and sensory characteristics of meat. Blood samples were analyzed for haematology and biochemical profile. SM at 0.75% and 1.50% significantly (P < 0.05) increased feed intake, enhanced egg characteristics (number, weight, width, length, volume, weight of egg yolk, and eggshell thickness), jejunum and ileum length, spleen weight, lactobacillus population, sensory characteristics of meat, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin, erythrocytic indices, concentration of albumin, globulin and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). SM at 0.75% and 1.50% decreased (P < 0.05) carcass weight (abdominal fat, heart, neck, and pancreas), feed conversion ratio (FCR) based on eggs produced, percentages of heterophils and lymphocytes, concentration of lactate dehydrogenase, population of coliforms clostridia, and Escherichia coli. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatine kinase were not significantly (P > 0.05) altered by 0.75% and 1.50% SM. SM at both levels (0.75% and 1.50%) may improve growth, egg characteristics, immune response, intestinal morphology and microbiota, meat quality and erythropoiesis, and also lead to decreased cholesterol in laying quails. Economics can be improved, too. The authors recommend adding 1.0% of SM to quail diet.

Deciphering the role of Moringa oleifera seeds and probiotic bacteria on mitigation of biogas production from ruminants.

Maintaining cleaner and more sustainable ecosystems by mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock through dietary manipulation is in demand. This study was aimed to assess the effect of Moringa oleifera seeds and probiotics (Pediococcus acidilactici BX-B122 and Bacillus coagulans BX-B118) as feed supplements on GHG production and fermentation profile from steers and sheep. The treatments included diets containing 0, 6, 12, and 18% of M. oleifera seeds meal and a mixture of probiotic bacteria (0.2 ml/g of diet). Total biogas production, CH4, CO, and H2S emission from animals (up to 48 h), rumen fermentation profile, and CH4 conversion efficiency were recorded using standard protocols. Results showed interaction among M. oleifera seeds and probiotics on asymptotic biogas production and total biogas production up to 48 h (P < 0.05). The rate of CH4 emission in steers was reduced from 0.1694 to 0.0447 ml/h using 6 and 18% of M. oleifera seeds (P < 0.05). Asymptotic CO and the rate of CO production were increased (P < 0.05) by supplementing different doses of M. oleifera seeds and probiotics. Adding 12% of M. oleifera seeds and probiotics reduced H2S production from 0.0675 to 0.0112 ml H2S/g DM (at 48 h of fermentation) in steers. In sheep, the additives mitigated H2S production from 0.0364 to 0.0029 ml H2S/g DM (at 48 h of fermentation), however there were not interaction (P = 0.7744). In addition, M. oleifera seeds and probiotics reduced the pH level and dry matter degradability (DMD) in steers and sheep (P < 0.0001) showing a positive impact on CH4:ME and CH4:OM (in steers) and CH4:SCFA (in sheep), while the interaction was not significant (P > 0.05) for CH4:SCFA (in steers) and CH4:ME and CH4:OM (in sheep). In conclusion, the interaction of M. oleifera seeds and probiotics in the feeding diet reduced GHG emissions and affected the fermentation profile of steers and sheep.

Effects of Dietary Supplementations of Vitamin C, Organic Selenium, Betaine, and Pomegranate Peel on Alleviating the Effect of Heat Stress on Growing Rabbits.

The aim of this study was to investigate the biological activity and sustainable biorefinery development of vitamin C, organic selenium, betaine, and pomegranate peel on the performance, cecal fermentation, and antioxidant status of growing rabbits to alleviate the negative impacts of heat stress. A total of 105 male rabbits at 35 days old with an average weight of 752.55 ± 27.56 g were randomly assigned to five groups (21 rabbits in each). The experimental dietary groups included a control group fed a basal diet without additives (control group) and four treated groups, A, B, C, and D, fed a basal diet supplemented with either a 1000 mg vitamin C/kg diet, a 25 mg organic selenium/kg diet, a 1000 mg betaine/kg diet, or a 20 g pomegranate peel/kg diet, respectively. No negative group (not heat-stressed) was included in the trial. Rabbits given A, B, C, and D supplements showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in growth performance, nutrient digestion, concentration of total volatile fatty acids (VFA), acetic, and propionic acids, and total bacterial count, and a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in NH3-N concentration, Enterococcus, coliforms, and E. coli counts in the cecum of rabbits. Total protein, albumin, globulin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in groups supplemented with A, B, C, and D supplements compared to those in the control group. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, urea, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in groups supplemented with A, B, C, and D supplements compared to those in the control group. In conclusion, the finding showed that the supplementation of vitamin C, organic selenium, betaine, and pomegranate peel played a significant role in alleviating heat stress and had a further beneficial impact on rabbit performance, cecal fermentation and microbiota, and antioxidant status. However, betaine supplementation had a superior positive effect on the nutritional and physiological profile of heat-stressed rabbits.

Influence of Azadirachta indica and Cnidoscolus angustidens aqueous extract on cattle ruminal gas production and degradability in vitro.

Introduction: Mitigation of ruminant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is crucial for more appropriate livestock production. Thus, there is a need of further research evaluating feed supplementation strategies to mitigate enteric GHG emissions and other gases produced within the rumen. Methods: This study was conducted as a completely randomized experimental design to determine the effectiveness of liquid extracts from A. indica (AZI), C. angustidens (CNA), or their combination (Mix. 1:1) at dosages of 0, 36, 72, and 108 mg of liquid extract/g DM substrate incubated in reducing GHG production in vitro, particularly methane (CH4), from the diet of steers during anaerobic incubation in rumen fluid. Total gas production, CH4, CO, H2S, and fermentative characteristics were all measured in vitro. Results: Treatment AZI at a dose of 108 mg of liquid extract/g DM substrate produced the highest (P < 0.05) gas volume at 6 h, whereas CNA at a dose of 72 mg of liquid extract/ g DM substrate produced the least (P < 0.05) at 6 and 24 h, and Mix. at a dose of 72 mg of liquid extract/g DM substrate produced the least (P < 0.05) at 48 h. In addition, CH4 levels at 6 and 24 h of incubation (36 mg/g DM substrate) were highest (P < 0.05) for CNA, and lowest (P < 0.05) for AZI, whereas this variable was lowest (P < 0.05) at 72 mg of liquid extract for CNA at 24 and 48 h. At 6 and 24 h, CO volume was highest (P < 0.05) for AZI at 108 mg of liquid extract and lowest (P < 0.05) for Mix. at 72 mg of liquid extract. Treatment Mix. had a high (P < 0.05) concentration of short chain fatty acids at 72 mg of liquid extract/g DM of substrate. Discussion: In general, herbaceous perennial plants, such as AZI and CNA, could be considered suitable for mitigating enteric GHG emissions from animals. Specifically, the treatment Mix. achieved a greater sustainable reduction of 67.6% in CH4 and 47.5% in H2S production when compared to either AZI. This reduction in CH4 might suggest the potential of the combination of both plant extracts for mitigating the production of GHG from ruminants.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Phytochemicals Found in the Yucca Genus.

The Yucca genus encompasses about 50 species native to North America. Species within the Yucca genus have been used in traditional medicine to treat pathologies related to inflammation. Despite its historical use and the popular notion of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, there is a limited amount of research on this genus. To better understand these properties, this work aimed to analyze phytochemical composition through documentary research. This will provide a better understanding of the molecules and the mechanisms of action that confer such antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. About 92 phytochemicals present within the genus have reported antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects. It has been suggested that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are mainly generated through its free radical scavenging activity, the inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism, the decrease in TNF-α (Tumor necrosis factor-α), IL-6 (Interleukin-6), iNOS (Inducible nitric oxide synthase), and IL-1ß (Interleukin 1ß) concentration, the increase of GPx (Glutathione peroxidase), CAT (Catalase), and SOD (Superoxide dismutase) concentration, and the inhibition of the MAPK (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase), and NF-κB (Nuclear factor kappa B), and the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor) signaling pathway. These studies provide evidence of its use in traditional medicine against pathologies related to inflammation. However, more models and studies are needed to properly understand the activity of most plants within the genus, its potency, and the feasibility of its use to help manage or treat chronic inflammation.

Effect of mango seeds as an untraditional source of energy on the productive performance of dairy Damascus goats.

Eighteen dairy Damascus goats weighing 38-45 kg live body weight and aged 3-4 years were divided into three groups according to their body weight, with six goats in each group. Yellow corn grain in their concentrate feed mixture was replaced with mango seeds (MS) at levels of 0% MS in group 1 (G1, control), 20% MS in group 2 (G2), and 40% MS in group 3 (G3). The digestibility coefficients of the organic matter, dry matter, crude fiber, crude protein, ether extract, nitrogen-free extract, and total digestible nutrients increased (P < 0.05) upon feeding MS to G2 and G3. The amounts of dry matter, total digestible nutrients, and digestible crude protein required per 1 kg 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM) were lower (P < 0.05) in G2 and G3 vs. G1. Actual milk and 3.5% FCM yield increased (P < 0.05) with the increasing MS dietary level. G2 and G3 had the highest significant (P < 0.05) total solids, total protein, non-protein nitrogen, casein, ash, fat, solids not fat, lactose, and calcium contents compared with G1. Replacing yellow corn grain with MS in G2 and G3 significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the cholesterol concentration and AST activity. Feeding MS increased the concentrations of caprioc, caprylic, capric, stearic, oleic, elaidic, and linoleic acids and decreased the concentrations of butyric, laueic, tridecanoic, myristic, myristoleic, pentadecanoic, heptadecanoic, cis-10-Heptadecanoic, cis-11-eicosenoic, linolenic, arachidonic, and lignoseric acids in the milk fat. The results show that the replacement of corn grain with MS improved the digestibility, milk yield, feed conversion, and economic efficiency, with no adverse effects on the performance of Damascus goats.

Impact of Co-Ensiling of Maize with Moringa oleifera on the Production of Greenhouse Gases and the Characteristics of Fermentation in Ruminants.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the impact of maize co-ensiling with increasing percentages of MOL forage on the kinetics of biogas, methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production, as well as the characteristics of ruminal fermentation and CH4 conversion efficiency, using steers (STI) and sheep (SHI) as inoculum sources. With the STI, the inclusion of MOL reduced (linear: p ≤ 0.0199; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0267) biogas production (mL g-1 DM incubated and degraded), CH4 (mL g-1 DM degraded), CO (mL g-1 DM degraded), and H2S (mL g-1 DM incubated and degraded), without affecting (p > 0.05) the parameters (b = asymptotic gas, c = rate of gas production and Lag = initial delay time before gas production) of CH4 and H2S, and the proportion and production of CH4 per kg of dry matter (DM). In addition, with this inoculum, pH, and dry matter degradation (DMD) increased (linear: p ≤ 0.0060), and although short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and metabolizable energy (ME) decreased (linear: p < 0.0001; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0015), this did not affect (p > 0.05) the CH4 conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, with the SHI, the inclusion of MOL only decreased (linear: p ≤ 0.0206; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0003) biogas per dry matter (DM) degraded and increased (linear: p ≤ 0.0293; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0325) biogas per DM incubated, as well as the production (mL g-1 DM incubated and degraded and g-1 kg DM) and proportion of CH4, and CO per DM incubated and degraded. In addition, it did not impact (p > 0.05) on the CH4 and H2S parameters, and in the H2S by DM incubated and degraded, and although it increased (linear: p ≤ 0.0292; quadratic: p ≤ 0.0325) the DMD, SCFA, and ME, it was inefficient (quadratic: p ≤ 0.0041) in CH4 conversion. It is concluded that regardless of the percentage of MOL, the STI presented the highest values in the production of biogas, CH4, H2S, DMD, SCFA, and ME, and the lowest pH, so it turned out to be the most efficient in CH4 conversion, while with the SHI only the highest production of CO and pH was obtained, and the lowest DMD, SCFA, and ME, so it was less efficient compared to STI.

Effects of Microencapsulated Essential Oils on Equine Health: Nutrition, Metabolism and Methane Emission.

This review examines the available data regarding the positive effects of microencapsulated essential oils (EOs) on the nutrition, metabolism, and possibly the methane emission of horses. A literature review was conducted on the effect of microencapsulated (EOs) on the health of horses. The information comprises articles published in recent years in indexed journals. The results indicate that mixtures of microencapsulated EOs may be beneficial to equine health due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, as well as their effects on enteric methane production, nutrient absorption, and immune system enhancement. Moreover, encapsulation stabilizes substances such as EOs in small doses, primarily by combining them with other ingredients.

Influence of Dietary Selenium on the Oxidative Stress in Horses.

The objective of this review was to analyze the effect of dietary selenium on oxidative stress in horses by considering past and recent bibliographic sources. Some research was done on oxidative stress, related pathologies and how selenium regulates oxidative stress. Oxidizing molecules are molecules that can accept electrons from the substances with which they react. Oxidizing These molecules, of oxidizing, are found naturally in any organism, and there are antioxidant mechanisms that regulate its activity. However, when the body is stressed, oxidizing molecules outperform the antioxidants, causing an imbalance known as oxidative stress. Among antioxidant molecules, selenium can act as an important antioxidant in the body. The antioxidant activity is based on an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase, which depends on selenium and controls the activity of oxidizing molecules.

Influence of Azadirachta indica and Cnidoscolus angustidens Dietary Extracts on Equine Fecal Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

The present study was conducted to investigate the aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica (AZN), Cnidoscolus angustidens (CNA), and their combination (MIX) at dosages of 0-, 0.6-, 1.2-, and 1.8- mL for their ability to reduce greenhouse gases and fermentation profiles in an in vitro study using horse feces and a nutrient-dense diet (as substrate). The quantity of greenhouse gas and fermentation profiles were determined in in vitro incubation for 48 h. Extracts of AZN, CNA, and MIX reduced total gas production of the incubated and degraded substrates in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Production of CH4 was reduced (P < .05) by 4.41% to 54.54% with the incubated substrates and by 1.16% to 61.82% with the degraded substrates. However, AZN and MIX reduced (P < .05) CO by 4.43% to 12.85% with the incubated substrates and by 0.70% to 16.78% with the degraded substrates. In like manner, the plant extracts and combination reduced (P < .05) H2S production in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner by 18.37% to 67.35% with the incubated substrates and by 8.51% to 67.23% with the degraded substrates. Extracts maintained pH within the normal range, reduced dry matter digestibility and metabolizable energy, and improved (P < .05) concentration of short chain fatty acids. Overall, aqueous extracts of AZN and CNA and their combinations had a positive effect on reducing the greenhouse gas production with no deleterious effect on fecal horses' fermentation activities.

Effect of Mid-Term Dietary Administration of the Caesalpinia coriaria Extract on the Sustainable Mitigation of Equine Fecal Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Sulfide Production.

This study aimed to evaluate the dietary administration of the Caesalpinia coriaria (CC) extract for 30 days on in vitro fecal greenhouse gases production. Fecal samples, as inoculums, were collected from horses given daily 0- (Fecal 0), 60- (Fecal 60) and 120- (Fecal 60) mL CC aqueous extract per animal. The extract dose was mixed with the morning feeding diet at 6:00 h for each horse. During incubation, 0-, 0.6-, 1.2- and 1.8-mL CC extracts were added to the basal diet which was fed to horses (as subtract) and evaluated with each fecal type. Feces from the horses given no CC extract produced the lowest (P = .0014) methane while the fecal from horses given CC produced more methane . It was also observed that all CC doses linearly (P = .0457) produced more methane than the control. Furthermore, Fecal 0 was more efficient and produced less methane for every unit of metabolizable energy, organic matter, and short chain fatty acids while Fecal 60 was the least efficient. Production of H2S showed that feces of equine orally give 60 mL/day CC produced the highest while Fecal 0 and Fecal 120 were similar. Fecal type x dose showed that 0 mL/g DM produced the highest H2S while 1.8 mL/g DM produced the lowest. Thus, based on gas production, H2S, CO and CH4, feeding horses with 60 mL/day of CC with or without 0.6 mL/g DM of CC extract is recommended for the sustainable mitigation of greenhouse gases emission in horses.

Anti-Methanogenic Traits of Safflower Oil Compounds Against Methyl-Coenzyme M Reductase Receptor in Equines: An In Silico Docking Analysis.

Greenhouse gases emission from livestock is the major concern for the ecosystem. Despite the lower contribution of non-ruminants towards greenhouse gas emission as compared to the ruminants, the emission of methane (CH4) gas from equines is expected to be increased in future due to its increasing population. Thus, it is essential to find or screen potential anti-methanogenic agent in a cost-effective and quicker manner. Considering this, the present investigation was aimed to analyze anti-methanogenic characteristic of bioactive compounds of safflower oil by targeting methanogenesis catalyzing enzyme (Methyl-coenzyme M reductase; MCR) via in silico tool. Initially, a total of 25 compounds associated with safflower oil were selected and their drug-likeness traits were predicted through Lipinski's rule of 5. Of 25 compounds, 9 compounds passed all the parameters of Lipinski's rule of five. These 9 ligands were further submitted for ADME traits analysis using Swiss ADME tool. Results revealed the absence of Lipinski's violation and approval of drug-likeness attributes of methyl tetradecanoate, 3-isopropyl-6-methylenecyclohex-1-ene, trans-2,4-decadienal, cis-6-nonenal, limonene, syringic acids, matairesinol, acacetin, and 2,5-octanedione. Molecular docking analysis was performed for analyzing the affinity between the selected 9 ligands and MCR receptor using FRED v3.2.0 from OpenEye Scientific Software and Discovery Studio client v16.1.0. Results showed maximum binding interaction of acacetin with MCR with the chemguass4 score of -13.35. Other ligands showed comparatively lower binding affinity in the order of matairesinol (-12.43) > methyl tetradecanoate (-9.25) > cis-6-nonenal (-7.88) > syringic acids (-7.73) > limonene (-7.18) > trans-2,4-decadienal (-7.07) > 3-isopropyl-6-methylenecyclohex-1-ene (-7.01) > 2,5-octanedione (-7.0.). In a nutshell, these identified compounds were observed as potential agents to reduce CH4 production from equines by targeting MCR. This in silico study emphasized the role of safflower-associated compounds in developing anti-methanogenic drug for equines in future.

Dietary vitamin C in pre-parturient dairy cows and their calves: blood metabolites, copper, zinc, iron, and vitamin C concentrations, and calves growth performance.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin C supplementation on blood parameters of pre-parturient (PP) dairy cows and growth performance and immune system of their newborn calves. Forty PP cows (at approximately 21 days before calving and an average weight 791 ± 50 kg) were allocated into two experimental treatments: (1) basal diet without vitamin C supplementation (CO) and (2) basal diet with 20 g of vitamin C supplementation from 21 days before calving to parturition (VC). After parturition, the experiment continued by grouping the calves into four dietary treatments with 8 calves in each treatment. The experimental treatments were (1) control calves with no vitamin C supplementation and from cows that received no vitamin C supplement (CON), (2) calves supplemented with 600 mg of vitamin C per day and from cows that received no vitamin C supplement (CVC), (3) calves supplemented with no vitamin C and from cows that received 20 g of vitamin C per day (MVC), and (4) calves supplemented with 600 mg of vitamin C per day and from cows that received 20 g of vitamin C per day (CMVC). Serum concentrations of glucose, HDL and LDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, and albumin of cows were not affected by vitamin C supplementation during pre-parturient period. However, cows that received VC diet had lower (P < 0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations, higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and vitamin C concentration in their blood compared to CO cows. Vitamin C supplementation had no effect on plasma iron, copper, and zinc concentrations of PP cows. Similarly, vitamin C supplementation had no effect on total feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of suckling calves. However, calves in the CMVC group had higher (P < 0.05) overall daily weight gain compared to the other groups. Calves in the CVC and CMVC groups had lower (P < 0.05) blood MDA concentration on days 7 and 21. The highest (P < 0.05) blood TAC level was recorded in CMVC calves. Control group calves had lower (P < 0.05) blood superoxide dismutase activity compared to the other calves. Blood levels of alanine aminotransferase on days 7 and 21 and aspartate aminotransferase on day 7 were higher (P < 0.05) for calves in the CON and MVC groups. Based on the results, vitamin C supplementation had positive health effects on the oxidative parameters of PP dairy cows and also improved the performance and health status of the calves.

Dietary Supplements of Vitamins E, C, and ß-Carotene to Reduce Oxidative Stress in Horses: An Overview.

Oxidative stress is the excess generation of free radicals and/or a decrease in the response of the antioxidant system. It is known to cause damage to the equine health by unbalancing the stable molecules. The dietary supplementation of vitamins E, C, and ß-carotene cause beneficial effect on horses' health. These supplements could transform free radicals into the stable radicals, thereby showing importance in the prevention of diseases associated with oxidative stress. Adding vitamins E, C, and ß-carotene to the horses' diets in stressful conditions could decrease the production of free radicals that cause inflammation and tissue damage, the typical characteristics that have been associated with oxidative stress. This review spotlights the available evidence of the benefits of dietary supplements of vitamins E, C, and ß-carotene towards the reduction of oxidative stress in horses.

Beneficial and adverse effects of medicinal plants as feed supplements in poultry nutrition: a review.

Medicinal plants exhibit colossal impact on poultry industries by improving its performance and productivity. However, some of these plants show adverse influence too by decreasing egg production percentage, egg mass, and microbiota counts. Green tea, nettle, pennyroyal, yarrow, and alfalfa in the form of seed, powder, and extract had vast potentiality to improve immunity, reduce the growth of pathogenic microbes, and improve the viable counts of lactic acid bacteria. Lavender, Alfalfa, and Nettle powder were able to improve egg yolk color. Furthermore, ginger reduced fat content in meat and increased color intensity. Flax seed increased alpha linolenic acid content in tissue, and increased n-3 fatty acid content in breast as well as thigh tissue. Physiological assessment showed that green tea, lavender, nettle, pennyroyal, and yarrow improved poultry immunity. Lavender and nettle improved internal organ traits. Interestingly, the use of flaxseed improved quail egg hatchability. Plants metabolites, particularly carvacrol and thymol showed its pivotal role as natural growth promoters by affecting growth performances, nutrient bioavailability, and immunity of broiler chickens. Additionally, in recent years, micro-encapsulation or nano-encapsulation of plant extracts and its metabolites improved growth performances of broiler chickens, thereby suggested wide utilization of this technique as a potential alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in future. This review sheds a light on beneficial as well as no adverse effects of some of the direct-fed important medicinal plants and its metabolites in poultry nutrition in order to suggest its key role in future poultry enterprise.

Influence of microbial probiotics on ruminant health and nutrition: sources, mode of action and implications.

Globally, ruminant production contributes immensely to the supply of the highest quality and quantity of proteins for human consumption, sustenance of livelihoods, and attainment of food security. Nevertheless, the phasing out of antibiotics in animal production has posed a myriad of challenges, including poor growth, performance and nutrient utilization, pathogen colonization, dysbiosis, and food safety issues in ruminants. Probiotics (direct-fed microbials), comprising live microbial strains that confer health and nutritional benefits to the host when administered in appropriate quantities, are emerging as a viable, safe, natural and sustainable alternative to antibiotics. Although the mechanisms of action exerted by probiotics on ruminants are not well elucidated, dietary probiotic dosage to ruminants enhances development and maturation, growth and performance, milk production and composition, nutrient digestibility, feed efficiency, pathogen reduction, and mitigation of gastrointestinal diseases. However, the beneficial response to probiotic supplementation in ruminants is not consistent, being dependent on the microbial strain selected, combination of strains, dose, time and frequency of supplementation, diet, animal breed, physiological stage, husbandry practice, and farm management. Nonetheless, several studies have recently reported beneficial effects of probiotics on ruminant performance, health and production. This review conclusively re-iterates the need for probiotics inclusion for the sustainability of ruminant production. Considering the role that ruminants play in food production and employment, global acceptance of sustainable ruminant production through supplementation with probiotics will undoubtedly ensure food security and food safety for the world. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Use of Antibiotics in Equines and Their Effect on Metabolic Health and Cecal Microflora Activities.

In the race against deadly diseases, multiple drugs have been developed as a treatment strategy in livestock. Each treatment is based on a specific mechanism to find a suitable drug. Antibiotics have become a fundamental part of the equine industry to treat bacterial diseases. These antibiotics have specific doses and side effects, and understanding each parameter allows veterinarians to avoid or limit the adverse effects of such drugs. Use of antibiotics causes microbial imbalance, decreased microbial diversity and richness in both cecal and fecal samples. Antibiotics reduced metabolites production such as amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and vitamins, increased multi-resistant microbes, and gives opportunity to pathogenic microbes such as Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella spp., to overgrow. Therefore, appropriate use of these antibiotics in equine therapy will reduce the adverse consequence of antibiotics on cecal microbiota activities.

Impact of varied time of feeding on the lactation and growth performance of West African Dwarf goat.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of time of feeding on production performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Two experiments involving twenty-seven goats (15 bucks and 12 gravid does) were conducted. In Experiment I, the bucks were randomly allocated into three treatments of five replicates and fed for 115 days. In experiment II, pregnant goat-does were randomly allocated into three experimental treatments of four replicates per treatment  1 month to kidding. Goats were either fed in the morning (06:00 h), afternoon (12:00 h), or evening (18:00 h) respectively under natural light cycles. In experiment I, dry matter intake, weight gain, carcass characteristic, and meat chemical composition were not affected (P > 0.05) by time of feeding. In experiment II, data collection on feed intake, feed efficiency (FE), and milk yield spanned 6 weeks and were analyzed. From the results, milk yield in morning-fed goat-does was higher than evening-fed does while afternoon-fed does have the lowest yield at P < 0.001. Energy corrected milk in evening-fed does was higher (P = 0.006) than other treatments. Feed efficiency for milk yield and energy corrected milk yield (P < 0.001) in evening-fed does were higher than morning and afternoon-fed does. Milk component yield (g/day) for lactose (P = 0.002) was the highest in morning-fed does; evening-fed does had the highest (P = 0.001) crude fat while afternoon-fed does had the lowest yield for all milk component parameters. Conclusively, feeding in the morning and evening is recommended for milk production and component yield per day. However, for improved energy corrected milk yield and feed efficiency in lactating goats, feeding in the evening is recommended. It is recommended that further studies should be conducted on improving milk productivity in evening-fed goats due to the advantage it had over other feeding regimes. Thus, altering time of feeding could be a suitable alternative feeding strategy in a changing climate with a potential to improve production efficiency, especially in the tropics.

Extracts of herbs and spices as feed additives mitigate ruminal methane production and improve fermentation characteristics in West African Dwarf sheep.

The study aims to evaluate the effect of aqueous and methanolic extracts of three herbs, namely, neem (Azadirachta indica), drumstick (Moringa oleifera) and scent (Ocimum gratissimum), and three spices garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and onion leaflets (Allium cepa) on ruminal methane production and fermentation characteristics. The feed samples (200 mg substrates plus extracts of the selected herbs and spices) were incubated with rumen liquor taken from three mature West African dwarf ewes at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 h. The results show that extracts of the selected herbs and spices increased the gas produced, from the insoluble fraction, degradability rate, volume of gas produced at time and time of most rapid change in gas produced. The organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME) and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents of aqueous extracts of the selected herbs and spices (1 ml/200 mg substrates samples) were between 32.82 and 71.34 g/100 g OM, 4.10 and 10.25 MJ/kg DM and 0.28 and 1.31 µmol, respectively. Furthermore, the OMD, ME and SCFA contents of methanolic extracts of the selected herbs and spices (1 ml/200 mg substrates samples) were between 32.82 and 99.50 g/100 g OM, 4.10 and 14.37 MJ/kg DM and 0.28 and 2.07 µmol, respectively. Methane produced from the methanolic extracts of the herbs and spices highly differed (P < 0.05). This study suggests that extracts of the selected herbs and spices have the potential to affect rumen fermentation and also to reduce the methane production in sheep.

Assessment on bioactive role of Moringa oleifera leaves as anthelmintic agent and improved growth performance in goats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioactive effect of Moringa oleifera leaves hydroalcoholic extract as a dietary feed additive on helminths load and growth performances of goats. Initially, the availability of bioactive compounds in M. oleifera hydroalcoholic extract was analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which showed the presence of heneicosane (35.69%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (22.89%), heptacosane (18.26%), pentatriacontane (4.77%), and hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester (3%) as predominant compounds in the leaves extract. The anthelmintic effect of M. oleifera extract (0 and 60 mL of extract animal-1) was evaluated against disparate nematodes using standard methodology. M. oleifera leaves extract exhibited significant (P = 0.002) anthelmintic activities against Trichuris sp. and Ostertagia sp. with reduced counts of eggs. A completely randomized experiment of 3 treatments comprised of 10 goats in each treatment was designed for the growth performance study. Treatments used in the present experiment were as follows: treatment 1 (T1), 0 mL of extract animal-1; treatment 2 (T2), 30 mL of extract animal-1; and treatment 3 (T3), 60 mL of extract animal-1. Growth performance parameters (body weight, daily weight gain, and feed intake values) of goats fed varied concentrations of M. oleifera extract were estimated as per standard protocols. The T2 and T3 groups' goats offered significant (P < 0.05) increment in body weight. Daily weight gain of the T2 and T3 groups' goats was also increased. Group T3 exhibited maximum feed intake value of 588, 678, 652, and 678 g d-1 at 0, 30, 45, and 60 days, respectively. Feed conversion efficiency was increased for T2 and T3 groups' goats versus T1. Findings of this study concluded that M. oleifera hydroalcoholic extract can be used not only as an effective anthelmintic agent against disparate nematodes but also as a prominent feed additive to improve growth performances of goats.