Effects of microencapsulated plant essential oils on growth performance, immunity, and intestinal health of weaned Tibetan piglets.

Introduction: Plant essential oils (PEOs) have received significant attention in animal production due to their diverse beneficial properties and hold potential to alleviate weaning stress. However, PEOs effectiveness is often compromised by volatility and degradation. Microencapsulation can enhance the stability and control release rate of essential oils. Whether different microencapsulation techniques affect the effectiveness remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PEOs coated by different microencapsulation techniques on growth performance, immunity, and intestinal health of weaned Tibetan piglets. Methods: A total of 120 Tibetan piglets, aged 30 days, were randomly divided into five groups with four replicates, each containing six piglets. The experimental period lasted for 32 days. The groups were fed different diets: a basal diet without antibiotics (NC), a basal diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg tylosin and 50 mg/kg colistin sulfate (PC), 300 mg/kg solidified PEO particles (SPEO), 300 mg/kg cold spray-coated PEO (CSPEO), or 300 mg/kg hot spray-coated PEO (HSPEO). Results: The results showed that supplementation with SPEO, CSPEO, or HSPEO led to a notable decrease in diarrhea incidence and feed to gain ratio, as well as duodenum lipopolysaccharide content, while simultaneously increase in average daily gain, interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels and the abundance of ileum Bifidobacterium compared with the NC group (p < 0.05). Supplementation with SPEO, CSPEO, or HSPEO significantly elevated serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and concurrently reduced serum lipopolysaccharide and interferon γ levels compared with the NC and PC groups (p < 0.05). Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels in the SPEO and HSPEO groups significantly increased compared with the NC group (p < 0.05). Additionally, CSPEO and HSPEO significantly reduced jejunum pH value (p < 0.05) compared with the NC and PC groups (p<0.05). Additionally, Supplementation with HSPEO significantly elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), abundance of ileum Lactobacillus, along with decreased serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) levels compared with both the NC and PC groups. Discussion: Our findings suggest that different microencapsulation techniques affect the effectiveness. Dietary supplemented with PEOs, especially HSPEO, increased growth performance, improved immune function, and optimized gut microbiota composition of weaned piglets, making it a promising feed additive in piglet production.

Potassium diformate affects the growth and development of broilers by improving intestinal function and digestive enzyme activity.

Gut health of broiler chickens is essential for production performance. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary supplementation with potassium diformate (KDF) on growth performance and intestinal health in broiler chickens. A total of 180 Arbor Acres (AA) broiler chickens were randomly allocated into 3 treatments, with 6 replicates, containing 10 chicks in each replicate. The treatment groups were: control group (CON) was fed a basal diet; KDF-4 groups fed the basal diet with 4 g/kg KDF; KDF-8 groups fed the basal diet with 8 g/kg KDF. The experiment period lasted for 42 d. During the starter phase, the ADFI and F/G of broilers in KDF groups were lower (P < 0.05) compared to the CON group. Furthermore, the BW and ADG in KDF-4 group was improved (P<0.05). The treatment groups exhibited a significant increase (P < 0.05) in both ADG and ADFI during the grower and overall phase. Moreover, the F/G in KDF-4 group was lower (P < 0.05) compared to the CON and KDF-8 groups. The semi-eviscerated weight rate (SEWR), eviscerated carcass weight rate (ECWR), pectoral muscle rate (PMR), and leg muscle rate (LMR) of broilers were improved (P < 0.05) in KDF groups. The serum levels of glucose (GLU) and UREA (UA) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in KDF-8 group. Additionally, the nutrient apparent utilization rate of dry matter (DM), energy (EE), and crude protein (CP) were improved (P < 0.05) in KDF-4 group. The villus height (VH) and villus height to crypt depth ratio (V/C) of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were higher (P < 0.05) in KDF groups compared to the CON group, while crypt depth (CD) was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The digestive enzyme activities of lipase (LIP), amylase (AMS), or trypsin (TPS) were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) in the intestinal chyme, while the total bacterial count, Escherichia coli, Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, and Bacillus were reduced (P < 0.05) in the ileum. This study demonstrates that the inclusion of KDF in the diet of broilers leads to improvements in growth, slaughter performance, nutrient utilization rate, and maintenance of intestinal health.

Effects of Fermented Navel Orange Pulp on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, Meat Nutritional Value, and Serum Biochemical Indicators of Finishing Tibetan Pigs.

In order to cope with the limited supply of feed for global animal production, there is a pressing need to explore alternative feed resources. Orange pulp, a by-product of agriculture and industry, has shown potential to positively or neutrally impact pig productive performance when included in their diet. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of fermented navel orange pulp (FNOP) on pig growth and productive performance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FNOP as a dry matter substitute on pig's growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, meat nutritional value, and serum biochemical indicators. The experiment involved 128 finishing Tibetan pigs, divided into four feed treatment groups, with varying levels (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) of FNOP replacing dry matter in the basal diet. The results indicate that substituting 5% to 15% FNOP had no adverse effects on pig growth performance. However, at a 15% substitution rate, there was a decrease in serum growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, along with an increase in the feed-to-gain ratio. A 10% FNOP replacement notably increased the loin-eye muscle area of pigs. Additionally, 5% and 10% FNOP substitutions reduced the drip loss of pork. The study also found that substituting 5% to 15% FNOP increased unsaturated fatty acids and umami nucleotide contents in pork and raised serum total protein and uric acid (nucleotide-metabolism-related product) levels. These findings suggest that moderate FNOP substitution might improve meat quality, nutritional value, and maintain growth and productive performance in Tibetan pigs by improving protein synthesis and nucleotide metabolism, while also reducing feed costs. The optimal substitution ratio identified was 10%.

Dietary supplementation with honeycomb extracts positively improved egg nutritional and flavor quality, serum antioxidant and immune functions of laying ducks.

Introduction: Honeycomb is a traditional natural health medicine and has antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antitumor activities. It is currently unclear whether honeycomb extract supplementation has positive effects on the intensive farming laying duck production. This study aims to evaluate the effects of honeycomb extracts on the laying performance, egg nutritional and flavor quality, serum biochemical indexes, and antioxidant and immune status in laying ducks. Methods: A total of 672 healthy 28-week-old Shanma laying ducks with similar laying performance and body weight were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 28 birds. The birds in each treatment were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0 (control group), 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 g/kg honeycomb extracts, respectively. Feed and water were provided ad libitum for 45 days. Laying performance, egg quality, egg nutrition and flavor quality, serum parameters were assessed. Results: The results showed that compared with the control group, honeycomb extracts addition significantly increased the average daily feed intake but did not affect the other laying performance indexes, egg quality or serum biochemical indexes of laying ducks. Dietary supplementation with honeycomb extracts significantly increased crude protein content and decreased the contents of cholesterol and trimethylamine in eggs. Diets supplemented with 1.5 g/kg honeycomb extracts significantly improved egg total amino acids and flavor amino acids contents, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids composition and enhanced the serum antioxidant activity and immune functions of ducks. Discussion: Duck eggs are rich in nutrients and a valuable source of high-quality food for human, while they are rarely consumed directly by consumers because of their stronger fishy odor and lower sensory quality. Many studies have showed that the influence of dietary supplementation on egg components. This study indicated that dietary supplementation with honeycomb extracts positively reduced the contents of egg cholesterol and trimethylamine, improve egg amino acids contents and fatty acid profiles, enhanced serum antioxidant and immune status of laying ducks. The recommended supplemental level of honeycomb extracts was 1.5 g/kg in the diet of laying ducks.

Effects of traditional Chinese herbal feed supplement on growth performance, immunity, antioxidant levels, and intestinal health in chickens: a study on Ningdu yellow chickens.

Traditional Chinese herbs have been widely researched as a green, safe, and effective feed additive for poultry. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of traditional Chinese prescription (TCP) based on various herbs in a specific ratio on the growth performance, carcass traits, immunity, antioxidant level, and intestinal health of Ningdu yellow chickens. A total of 420 female Ningdu yellow chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups, with 6 replicates of 14 each. The chickens were fed with a basal diet supplemented with 0 (CON), 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, or 0.8% TCP from d 43 to 105. Body weight, feed intake, and serum biochemical indicators were recorded at d 70 and 105, intestinal morphology and microflora of the carcass were determined at d 105. Compared to the control group, chickens fed with TCP, particularly at the level of 0.6%, showed improved average daily gain and breast muscle percentage, as well as a lower feed-to-gain ratio with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Between 43 and 70 d of age, chickens fed with TCP exhibited higher levels of serum glutathione peroxidase activity, total antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase, particularly in the group fed with the 0.6% level of TCP (P < 0.05). Between 43 and 105 d of age, feeding chickens with 0.4 and 0.6% TCP resulted in a decrease in serum IL-2 concentration, and increase in the IL-4 content (P < 0.05). Chickens fed with 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8% TCP had significantly higher jejunum villous height (P < 0.05), TCP supplementation also led to a marked increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Collectively, the study suggests that TCP supplementation can enhance immune and antioxidant functions, improve jejunum morphology, and positively impact cecum microflora in chickens. Based on these results, a level of 0.6% TCP could be considered an optimum level as a feed supplement for Ningdu yellow chickens aged 43 to 105 d.