Production and Evaluation of Encapsulated Zinc Oxide on Performance, Ileal Digestibility and Zinc Transporter Gene Expression in Broiler Chicken.

The present study was undertaken for the production of encapsulated zinc and its evaluation in broiler chicken diet. The process of microencapsulation involved the use of polymers, gum arabic and maltodextrin with a maximum encapsulation of efficiency of 66%. Encapsulated material contained about 20% zinc oxide (ZnO) as core material following the freeze-drying process. One hundred and ninety-two-day-old broiler chicks were distributed in four groups in six replications having eight birds in each. The four groups comprised control (inorganic source of zinc), En-Zn-100 (encapsulated zinc at 100% of control), En-Zn-50 (encapsulated zinc at 50% of control), and Org-Zn-50 (Zn-methionine at 50% of control). The experiment was carried out for 35 days following standard management practices. The live weight gain, feed intake and FCR were comparable among groups. Plasma and muscle zinc (ppm) content was unaffected by the level or source of zinc supplementation. The zinc apparent ileal digestibility coefficient was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in En-Zn-50 fed groups, while crude protein digestibility was not affected by the level or form of Zn supplementation. Bone weight, length, and zinc content were comparable, and bone ash content was significantly different among the groups. Relative expression of ZnT2 was significantly upregulated in encapsulated zinc-fed groups. From the study, it could be concluded that supplementation of zinc either as encapsulated or organic form at 50% of inorganic source (ZnO) could be sufficient to maintain the growth performance, serum, tissue and bone mineral content in broiler chicken.

In vitro production of desired sex ovine embryos modulating polarity of oocytes for sex-specific sperm binding during fertilization.

The present study aimed to modulate the oxidative status-mediated polarity of the oocytes for sex-specific sperm fertilization to generate desired sex embryos. In vitro embryos were produced at different oxidative status, varying O2 concentrations, and without/with L-carnitine in maturation and culture media. The majority of the embryos produced at high oxidative stress were males whereas; low oxidative status favoured female embryos production. Low O2 doubled the proportion of female embryos (10.59 vs 21.95%); however, L-carnitine supplementation in media increased approximately seven-folds of the female embryos (12.26 vs. 77.62%) production. Oocytes matured at high oxidative status were in the repolarized state favouring positively charged Y sperm fertilization to produce significantly more male embryos. Low oxidative status favoured negatively charged X sperm fertilization to the oocytes in the depolarized state to produce more female embryos. Intracellular ROS was significantly low in female embryos than in males; however, female embryos were more stressful than males. The study concluded that the oxidative status-mediated alteration in pH of the medium to modulate the intracellular positive ions is the main critical factor to influence the sex of embryos through sex-specific sperms fertilization to the oocytes as per their polarity.

Nano zinc supplementation in goat (Capra hircus) ration improves immunity, serum zinc profile and IGF-1 hormones without affecting thyroid hormones.

The trial was aimed at evaluating probable superiority, if any of nano zinc (NZn) over inorganic zinc (Zn) on immunity, serum minerals and T3 , T4 , and IGF-1 hormone profiles in goats. NZn was synthesized by using 0.45 M aqueous solution of Zn nitrate and 0.9 M aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (average particle size 74 nm). Twenty-four male goats were grouped into four groups as per their body weight and were supplemented with either a basal diet with concentrate and straw at 50:50 ratio (Negative control, NC) alone or supplemented with 50 mg/kg Zn (Control) from inorganic Zn source, that is ZnO (IZn-50), 50 mg/kg Zn from NZn (NZn-50) or 25 mg/kg Zn from NZn (NZn-25). No change was observed in thyroid hormone status on zero and 90th day of experimental feeding, but NZn supplementation improved (p < 0.05) IGF-1 level on 90th day serum samples. Zn supplementation improved the humoral immunity in all the groups irrespective of the source. Similarly, cell-mediated immunity (CMI) measured by skinfold thickness after injecting Con-A, was also improved in Zn supplemented groups than control at 6, 12 and 48 h of incubation. NZn-50 animals showed highest HI (haemagglutination inhibition) titre as well as skin thickness. The CD 4 + (cluster of differentiation in %) was more (p < 0.05) in Zn supplemented groups. NZn-50 showed higher (p < 0.05) CD 8 + count than NC and similar (p > 0.05) to IZn-50 and NZn-25 groups without affecting (p > 0.05) the ratio of CD 4 + , CD 8 + among the treatment groups. Thus, NZn supplementation at 25 mg/kg had similar immunity and serum T3 , T4 and IGF-1 profiles compared with IZn at 50 mg/kg dose.

Dietary boron supplementation enhances sperm quality and immunity through influencing the associated biochemical parameters and modulating the genes expression at testicular tissue.

INTRODUCTION: Dietary boron improves immune and antioxidant status and calcium metabolism in mammals. However, till date the effects of dietary boron supplementation on male reproduction, especially on sperm production and sperm quality in farm animals are not documented. OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed to investigate the influence of dietary boron on semen production, semen quality, immunity and molecular changes in the testis, blood and seminal plasma and to assess the interrelationship with other minerals in male goats. METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted in 21 adult male goats divided into 3 groups (control, boron and selenium supplemented groups, n = 7 each). In boron group, boron was supplemented at 40 ppm and in selenium group, selenium was supplemented at 1 ppm over and above the basal level. In control group, only the basal diet was fed without supplementary boron or selenium. The feeding trial was carried out for 60 days. Selenium was taken as a positive control for the dietary boron supplementation experiment. Following feeding trials, the sperm concentration, kinematics and functional attributes, immunity and molecular level changes in the testis, biomolecular changes in the blood and seminal plasma and also interrelationship with other minerals were studied. RESULTS: The average sperm concentration (million/ml) and the total sperm production (million/ejaculate) were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in boron supplemented group when compared to selenium and control groups. The boron levels in blood plasma (r = 0.65) and seminal plasma (r = 0.54) showed a positive correlation with sperm progressive motility. Blood and seminal plasma metabolic biomarker namely, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p < 0.01) was significantly lower in the boron and selenium supplemented group than control, while alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.05) was significantly lower in the boron supplemented group than selenium and control group. There was a significant increase in the mRNA expression of serine proteinase inhibitor (SERPIN) and interferon γ (IFNγ) in the testis of boron supplemented than the control group. Boron supplementation up-regulated the immune-regulatory gene, interleukin 2 (IL2) and antioxidant gene, catalase (CAT) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). On contrary, toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) mRNA expression was significantly (p < 0.05) down-regulated in boron and selenium supplemented groups. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that dietary boron supplementation increased the sperm output, sperm motility and enhanced the immune and antioxidant defense capacity in male goats. The improved semen quality can be attributed to enhanced expression of testicular SERPIN, a crucial protein for the regulation of spermatogenesis process.

Effect of Supplementation of Nano Zinc Oxide on Nutrient Retention, Organ and Serum Minerals Profile, and Hepatic Metallothionein Gene Expression in Wister Albino Rats.

A study was conducted to validate the effects of nano form of zinc (NZn) on nutrient digestibility, zinc retention, organ and serum zinc profile, and hepatic metallothionein gene expression in Wistar albino rats (WAR). Nano zinc (NZn) was synthesized through chemical method, by using 0.45 M zinc nitrate [Zn(NO3)2.6H2O] and 0.9 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The NZn particle in its oxide form was characterized by TEM-EDAX and XRD, and found to be in nano range (below 100 nm. Zinc was supplemented to the Wistar albino rats (WAR) through synthetic semi-purified diet either without Zn, or as inorganic zinc (IZn; 25 mg/kg), or as synthesized NZn (25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125 or 50 mg/kg DM) for 60 days. The zinc content was observed to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in liver, bone, kidney, and serum due to NZn supplementation where NZn-50 had highest zinc content and control had the least, without affecting Fe, Mn, and Cu. NZn at 12.5 mg/kg group rats were either comparable or better than IZn at 25 mg/kg in terms of zinc retention, CP digestibility, zinc level in serum, liver, bone, and kidney suggesting its better bioavailability simultaneously also reduced fecal excretion of zinc to the environment. Metallothionein mRNA expression was upregulated in NZn at 25 mg/kg and NZn at 50 mg/kg than IZn at 50 mg/kg. Thus, in WAR, NZn at half of the ICAR recommendation (25 mg/kg DM) is as effective as inorganic zinc at 100% of recommended dose.

Effect of immobilized fungal phytase on growth performance and bone traits of broilers fed with low dietary calcium and phosphorus.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of phytase which was laboratory produced by Aspergillus foetidus on the growth performance, mineral retention, and bone traits of broilers fed with low dietary calcium and phosphorus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extracellular phytase enzyme secreted into the crude filtrate was concentrated by ammonium sulfate precipitation to obtain an activity of 500 phytase units (FTU). A total of 90 1-day-old chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly divided into three treatment groups with five replicates having six birds each. Dietary treatment, T1, was with 0.45% non-phytate P (NPP) during starter and 0.40% during finisher phase with 1% Ca. Dietary treatment, T2, had 0.37% NPP during starter and 0.32% in finisher phase with 1% Ca and supplemental lab phytase at 500 FTU/kg. Dietary treatment, T3, was similar to T2 with a lower Ca of 0.8%. RESULTS: There was no significant difference among the dietary treatments with regard to body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and Ca retention (p>0.05). However, a significant improvement in retention of P by birds was observed in phytase supplemental groups T2 and T3 (p<0.05). Dry weight of tibia (2.58-2.78 g/kg live weight) and ash content (39.7-41.8%) was comparable among treatments. A similar trend was observed for bone Ca, P, and Mn content. CONCLUSION: The study indicated that 500 FTU/kg phytase can be effectively supplemented in a broiler diet with low phosphorus (0.37% in starter and 0.32% NPP in finisher diet) and low calcium (0.8% in diet) for better growth performance and with successful replacement of dietary P by 0.08 % and reduced P excretion into the environment in broiler chicken.