Exploring the effects of Hippo signaling pathway on rumen epithelial proliferation.

BACKGROUND: The current understanding to the mechanism of rumen development is limited. We hypothesized that the Hippo signaling pathway controlled the proliferation of rumen epithelium (RE) during postnatal development. In the present study, we firstly tested the changes of the Hippo signaling pathway in the RE during an early growing period from d5 to d25, and then we expanded the time range to the whole preweaning period (d10-38) and one week post weaning (d45). An in vitro experiment was also carried out to verify the function of Hippo signaling pathway during RE cell proliferation. RESULTS: In the RE of lambs from d5 to d25, the expression of baculoviral IAP repeat containing (BIRC3/5) was increased, while the expressions of large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2), TEA domain transcription factor 3 (TEAD3), axin 1 (AXIN1), and MYC proto-oncogene (MYC) were decreased with rumen growth. From d10 to d38, the RE expressions of BIRC3/5 were increased, while the expressions of LATS2 and MYC were decreased, which were similar with the changes in RE from d5 to d25. From d38 to d45, different changes were observed, with the expressions of LATS1/2, MOB kinase activator 1B (MOB1B), and TEAD1 increased, while the expressions of MST1 and BIRC5 decreased. Correlation analysis showed that during the preweaning period, the RE expressions of BIRC3/5 were positively correlated with rumen development variables, while LAST2 was negatively correlated with rumen development variables. The in vitro experiment validated the changes of LATS2 and BIRC3/5 in the proliferating RE cells, which supported their roles in RE proliferation during preweaning period. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the LATS2-YAP1-BIRC3/5 axis participates in the RE cell proliferation and promotes rumen growth during the preweaning period.

Redox balance and immunity of piglets pre- and post-E. coli challenge after treatment with hemp or fish oil, and vitamin E.

This study investigated the influence of polyunsaturated fatty acid composition and vitamin E supplementation on oxidative status and immune responses in weanling piglets pre- and post-E. coli challenge. Suckling piglets (n = 24) were randomly selected from two litters for an oral supplementation (1 mL/day) with fish oil or hemp oil and vitamin E supplementation (60 mg natural vitamin E/mL oil) from day 10 to 28 of age. At day 29 and 30 of age, each piglet was orally inoculated with 6.7 × 108 and 3.96 × 108 CFU of F4 and F18 E. coli, respectively. Blood was sampled from all piglets on day 28 before E. coli challenge and on day 35 of age to investigate immunological and oxidative stress markers in plasma. One week after weaning and exposure to E. coli, a general reduction in the α-tocopherol concentration and activity of GPX1 was obtained. Vitamin E supplementation lowered the extent of lipid peroxidation and improved the antioxidative status and immune responses after E. coli challenge. Hemp oil had the greatest effect on antioxidant enzyme activity. Provision of hemp oil and vitamin E to suckling piglets may reduce the incidence of post-weaning diarrhea.

Impact of cow, buffalo, goat or camel milk consumption on oxidative stress, inflammation and immune response post weaning time.

Milk is a whitish liquid that is secreted from mammary glands; and considered as the primary source of nutrition for newborns since they are not able to digest solid food. However, it contains primary nutrients, as well as growth and immune factors. Early weaning is a critical issue that face women and their babies in developing countries. To avoid infant malnutrition, they tend to use other milk types instead of baby formula. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of cow, buffalo, goat or camel milk consumption on oxidative stress, inflammation and immune response in male and female Sprague Dawley rats post weaning time. The amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins in the tested milk types were evaluated. Animals were divided into 5 groups (control, cow, buffalo, goat and camel milk administrated groups) (10 rats/group); each animal was administrated by 3.4 ml/day. Rats were administered with milk for 6 weeks; at the end of the 5th week, five animals of each group were isolated and the remaining five animals were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) and kept for another week to mount immune response. The effect of different milk types on rats' immune response towards SRBCs was evaluated through pro-inflammatory cytokines, antioxidants, ESR and CRP measurement; together, with the histopathological examination of spleen samples and hemagglutination assay. Camel milk consumption reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in spleen that resulted from SRBCs immunization; in addition to, B cell stimulation that was apparent from the high level of anti-SRBCs antibodies. Camel milk is recommended for newborn consumption, due to its high-water content, unsaturated fatty acids, and vitamin C, as well as low lactose and fat content.

A non-invasive tool to collect small intestine content in post weaning pigs: validation study.

The Capsule for Sampling (CapSa) is an ingestible capsule that collects small intestine content while transiting through the natural digestive pathway. In this study, 14 Swiss Large White pigs weighing less than 12 kg (Category < 12 kg) and 12 weighing between 12 and 20 kg (Category [12-20 kg]) were given two CapSas and monitored for three days. The animals were euthanized for post-mortem sampling, allowing us to directly obtain gut microbiota samples from the gastrointestinal tract. This post-mortem approach enabled a direct comparison between the microbial content from the gut and the samples collected via the CapSas, and it also facilitated precise identification of the CapSas' sampling sites within the gastrointestinal tract. For the category under 12 kg, only 2.3% of the administered CapSas were recovered from the feces. In contrast, in the 12-20 kg category, 62.5% of the CapSas were successfully retrieved from the feces within 48 h. Of these recovered CapSas, 73.3%-equating to 11 capsules from eight pigs-had a pH > 5.5 and were therefore selected for microbiome analysis. Bacterial composition of the CapSas was compared with that of the three segments of the small intestine, the large intestine and feces of the corresponding pig. The results were tested using a PERMANOVA model (Adonis) including sample type as a factor, and then pairwise comparisons were made. The bacterial composition found in the CapSas differed from that of the large intestine and feces (P < 0.01), while it did not differ from the first segment of the small intestine (P > 0.10). This study provides evidence that the CapSa effectively samples the intestinal microbiota from the upper section of the small intestine in post-weaning pigs. Furthermore, it was found that the collection of CapSas could only be successfully achieved in pigs classified within the heavier weight category.

Fecal microbiota profiles of growing pigs and their relation to growth performance.

The early gut microbiota composition is fundamentally important for piglet health, affecting long-term microbiome development and immunity. In this study, the gut microbiota of postparturient dams was compared with that of their offspring in three Finnish pig farms at three growth phases. The differences in fecal microbiota of three study development groups (Good, Poorly, and PrematureDeath) were analyzed at birth (initial exposure phase), weaning (transitional phase), and before slaughter (stable phase). Dam Lactobacillaceae abundance was lower than in piglets at birth. Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus amylovorus were dominantly expressed in dams and their offspring. Altogether 17 piglets (68%) were identified with Lactobacillaceae at the initial exposure phase, divided unevenly among the development groups: 85% of Good, 37.5% of Poorly, and 75% of PrematureDeath pigs. The development group Good was identified with the highest microbial diversity, whereas the development group PrematureDeath had the lowest diversity. After weaning, the abundance and versatility of Lactobacillaceae in piglets diminished, shifting towards the microbiome of the dam. In conclusion, the fecal microbiota of pigs tends to develop towards a similar alpha and beta diversity despite development group and rearing environment.

Protecting the piglet gut microbiota against ETEC-mediated post-weaning diarrhoea using specific binding proteins.

Post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) in piglets presents a widespread problem in industrial pig production and is often caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) strains. Current solutions, such as antibiotics and medicinal zinc oxide, are unsustainable and are increasingly being prohibited, resulting in a dire need for novel solutions. Thus, in this study, we propose and evaluate a protein-based feed additive, comprising two bivalent heavy chain variable domain (VHH) constructs (VHH-(GGGGS)3-VHH, BL1.2 and BL2.2) as an alternative solution to manage PWD. We demonstrate in vitro that these constructs bind to ETEC toxins and fimbriae, whilst they do no affect bacterial growth rate. Furthermore, in a pig study, we show that oral administration of these constructs after ETEC challenge reduced ETEC proliferation when compared to challenged control piglets (1-2 log10 units difference in gene copies and bacterial count/g faeces across day 2-7) and resulted in week 1 enrichment of three bacterial families (Prevotellaceae (estimate: 1.12 ± 0.25, q = 0.0054), Lactobacillaceae (estimate: 2.86 ± 0.52, q = 0.0012), and Ruminococcaceae (estimate: 0.66 ± 0.18, q = 0.049)) within the gut microbiota that appeared later in challenged control piglets, thus pointing to an earlier transition towards a more mature gut microbiota. These data suggest that such VHH constructs may find utility in industrial pig production as a feed additive for tackling ETEC and reducing the risk of PWD in piglet populations.

Probiotics induce intestinal IgA secretion in weanling mice potentially through promoting intestinal APRIL expression and modulating the gut microbiota composition.

Intestinal infections are strongly associated with infant mortality, and intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) is important to protect infants from intestinal infections after weaning. This study aims to screen probiotics that can promote the production of intestinal IgA after weaning and further explore their potential mechanisms of action. In this study, probiotics promoting intestinal IgA production were screened in weanling mouse models. The results showed that oral administration of Bifidobacterium bifidum (B. bifidum) FL228.1 and Bifidobacterium bifidum (B. bifidum) FL276.1 significantly enhanced IgA levels in the small intestine and upregulated the expression of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and its upstream regulatory factor toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Furthermore, B. bifidum FL228.1 upregulated the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, while B. bifidum FL276.1 increased the relative abundance of Marvinbryantia and decreased Mucispirillum, further elevating intestinal IgA levels. In summary, B. bifidum FL228.1 and B. bifidum FL276.1 can induce IgA production in the intestinal tract of weanling mice by promoting intestinal APRIL expression and mediating changes in the gut microbiota, thus playing a significant role in enhancing local intestinal immunity in infants.

Effects of a Curcumin/Silymarin/Yeast-Based Mycotoxin Detoxifier on Redox Status and Growth Performance of Weaned Piglets under Field Conditions.

The aim of this in vivo study was to investigate the effects of a novel mycotoxin detoxifier whose formulation includes clay (bentonite and sepiolite), phytogenic feed additives (curcumin and silymarin) and postbiotics (yeast products) on the health, performance and redox status of weaned piglets under the dietary challenge of fumonisins (FUMs). The study was conducted in duplicate in the course of two independent trials on two different farms. One hundred and fifty (150) weaned piglets per trial farm were allocated into two separate groups: (a) T1 (control group): 75 weaned piglets received FUM-contaminated feed and (b) T2 (experimental group): 75 weaned piglets received FUM-contaminated feed with the mycotoxin-detoxifying agent from the day of weaning (28 days) until 70 days of age. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), protein carbonyls (CARBs) and the overall antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in plasma as indicators of redox status at 45 and 70 days of age. Furthermore, mortality and performance parameters were recorded at 28, 45 and 70 days of age, while histopathological examination was performed at the end of the trial period (day 70). The results of the present study reveal the beneficial effects of supplementing a novel mycotoxin detoxifier in the diets of weaners, including improved redox status, potential hepatoprotective properties and enhanced growth performance.

Genetic parameters, genetic trends and correlated responses of growth traits considering maternal ability in Nelore cattle.

The growth of Nelore cattle was analysed considering the following performance parameters; the effect of the calving order of cows on the phenotypic expression of birth weight (BW), average daily gain from birth to weaning (BWG), and weaning weight (WW), the estimated genetic parameters for the traits, including the covariance components between direct and maternal genetic effects. Genetic trends and correlated responses were also obtained for the studied traits. The calving order of cows, as well as other fixed effects used to obtain the adjusted phenotypic means, were statistically significant (p < 0.001) for studied traits. Direct heritability was estimated at 0.24 ± 0.01 (BW), 0.15 ± 0.01 (BWG), and 0.18 ± 0.01 (WW), while maternal heritability was 0.06 ± 0.01 (BW), 0.12 ± 0.01 (BWG), and 0.11 ± 0.01 (WW). The correlations between direct and maternal effects within the same trait were negligible. Moderate to higher direct genetic correlations (ranging from 0.54 ± 0.04 to 0.98 ± 0.01) and maternal genetic correlations (ranging from 0.34 ± 0.09 to 0.99 ± 0.002) were estimated between the studied traits. Unlike direct genetic effects, there was no significant change in maternal genetic effects over time (p > 0.05). These results indicated the need for revising selection indexes for enhancing maternal ability. Correlated responses were generally lower compared to direct responses, except for BWG. The selection for BWG, considering the maternal genetic effect, would be more efficient to improve maternal ability of the cows for pre-weaning growth in relation to selection for WW. Our results found that direct genetic merit improves pre-weaning weight and this trait can be incorporated into the breeding goal as reflected in the WW.

Quantification of play behaviour in calves using automated ultra-wideband location data and its association with age, weaning and health status.

Play behaviour can act as an indicator of positive animal welfare. Previous attempts to predict play behaviour in farmed calves are limited because of the classification methods used, which lead to overestimation, and the short time periods that calves are observed. The study aimed to automatically classify and quantify play behaviour in farmed calves using location data from ultra-wide band sensors and to investigate factors associated with play behaviour. Location data were collected from 46 calves in three cohorts for a period of 18 weeks. Behavioural observations from video footage were merged with location data to obtain a total of 101.36 h of labelled data. An AdaBoost ensemble learning algorithm was implemented to classify play behaviour. To account for overestimation, generally seen in low-prevalence behaviours, an adjusted count technique was applied to the outputs of the classifier. Two generalized linear mixed models were fitted to investigate factors (e.g. age, health) associated with duration of play and number of play instances per day. Our algorithm identified play behaviour with > 94% accuracy when evaluated on the test set with no animals used for training, and 16% overestimation, which was computed based on the predicted number of samples of play versus the number of samples labelled as play on the test set. The instances and duration of play behaviour per day significantly decreased with age and sickness, whilst play behaviour significantly increased during and after weaning. The instances of play also significantly decreased as mean temperature increased. We suggest that the quantification method that we used could be used to detect and monitor other low prevalence behaviours (e.g. social grooming) from location data, including indicators of positive welfare.

Coprophagia in early life tunes expression of immune genes after weaning in rabbit ileum.

Coprophagia by suckling rabbits, i.e. ingestion of feces from their mother, reduces mortality after weaning. We hypothesized that this beneficial effect of coprophagia is immune-mediated at the intestinal level. Therefore, this study investigated immune development after weaning by analyzing the ileal transcriptome at day 35 and 49 in rabbits with differential access to coprophagia in early life. Rabbit pups had access between day 1 and 15 to (i) no feces (NF) or (ii) feces from unrelated does (Foreign Feces, FF) or (iii) feces from unrelated does treated with antibiotics (FFab). 350 genes were differentially expressed between day 35 and day 49 in suckling rabbits with access to coprophagia. These genes coded for antimicrobial peptides, a mucin, cytokines and chemokines, pattern recognition receptors, proteins involved in immunoglobulin A secretion and in interferon signaling pathway. Strikingly, prevention of coprophagia or access to feces from antibiotic-treated does in early life blunted immune development between day 35 et 49 in the ileum of rabbits. Thus, coprophagia might be crucial for the maturation of intestinal immunity in rabbits and could explain why this behavior improves survival.

Ivabradine restores tonic cardiovascular autonomic control and reduces tachycardia, hypertension and left ventricular inflammation in post-weaning protein malnourished rats.

Malnutrition results in autonomic imbalance and heart hypertrophy. Overexpression of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (HCN) in the left ventricles (LV) is linked to hypertrophied hearts and abnormal myocardium automaticity. Given that ivabradine (IVA) has emerging pleiotropic effects, in addition to the widely known bradycardic response, this study evaluated if IVA treatment could repair the autonomic control and cardiac damages in malnourished rats. AIM: Assess the impact of IVA on tonic cardiovascular autonomic control and its relationship with hemodynamics regulation, LV inflammation, and HCN gene expression in post-weaning protein malnutrition condition. MAIN METHODS: After weaning, male rats were divided into control (CG; 22 % protein) and malnourished (MG; 6 % protein) groups. At 35 days, groups were subdivided into CG-PBS, CG-IVA, MG-PBS and MG-IVA (PBS 1 ml/kg or IVA 1 mg/kg) received during 8 days. We performed jugular vein cannulation and electrode implant for drug delivery and ECG registration to assess tonic cardiovascular autonomic control; femoral cannulation for blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) assessment; and LV collection to evaluate ventricular remodeling and HCN gene expression investigation. KEY FINDINGS: Malnutrition induced BP and HR increases, sympathetic system dominance, and LV remodeling without affecting HCN gene expression. IVA reversed the cardiovascular autonomic imbalance; prevented hypertension and tachycardia; and inhibited the LV inflammatory process and fiber thickening caused by malnutrition. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that ivabradine protects against malnutrition-mediated cardiovascular damage. Moreover, our results propose these effects were not attributed to HCN expression changes, but rather to IVA pleiotropic effects on autonomic control and inflammation.

The addition of curcumin to the diet of post-weaning dairy calves: effects on ruminal fermentation, immunological, and oxidative responses.

Incorporating Curcumin into animal diets holds significant promise for enhancing both animal health and productivity, with demonstrated positive impacts on antioxidant activity, anti-microbial responses. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether adding Curcumin to the diet of dairy calves would influence ruminal fermentation, hematologic, immunological, oxidative, and metabolism variables. Fourteen Jersey calves were divided into a control group (GCON) and a treatment group (GTRA). The animals in the GTRA received a diet containing 65.1 mg/kg of dry matter (DM) Curcumin (74% purity) for an experimental period of 90 days. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 15, 45, and 90. Serum levels of total protein and globulins were higher in the GTRA group (P < 0.05) than the GCON group. In the GTRA group, there was a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and IL-6) (P < 0.05) and an increase in IL-10 (which acts on anti-inflammatory responses) (P < 0.05) when compared to the GCON. There was a significantly higher (P < 0.05) concentration of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the serum of the GTRA than the GCON. A Treatment × Day interaction was observed for haptoglobin levels, which were higher on day 90 in animals that consumed Curcumin than the GCON (P < 0.05). The catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in GTRA, reducing lipid peroxidation when compared to the GCONT. Hematologic variables did not differ significantly between groups. Among the metabolic variables, only urea was higher in the GTRA group when compared to the GCON. Body weight and feed efficiency did not differ between groups (meaning the percentage of apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). There was a tendency (P = 0.09) for treatment effect and a treatment x day interaction (P = 0.05) for levels of short-chain fatty acids in rumen fluid, being lower in animals that consumed curcumin. There was a treatment vs. day interaction (P < 0.05) for the concentration of acetate in the rumen fluid (i.e., on day 45, had a reduction in acetate; on day 90, values were higher in the GTRA group when compared to the GCON). We conclude that there was no evidence in the results from this preliminary trial that Curcumin in the diet of dairy calves interfered with feed digestibility. Curcumin may have potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune effects that may be desirable for the production system of dairy calves.

Circular RNAs Mediate the Effects of Dietary Tryptophan on the Transformation of Muscle Fiber Types in Weaned Piglets.

The nutritional composition of the diet significantly impacts the overall growth and development of weaned piglets. The current study aimed to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of dietary tryptophan consumption on muscle fiber type transformation during the weaning period. Thirty weaned piglets with an average body weight of 6.12 ± 0.16 kg were randomly divided into control (CON, 0.14% Trp diet) and high Trp (HT, 0.35% Trp) groups and maintained on the respective diet for 28 days. The HT group of weaned piglets exhibited highly significant improvements in growth performance and an increased proportion of fast muscle fibers. Transcriptome sequencing revealed the potential contribution of differentially expressed circular RNAs toward the transformation of myofiber types in piglets and toward the regulation of expression of related genes by targeting the microRNAs, miR-34c and miR-182, to further regulate myofiber transformation. In addition, 145 DE circRNAs were identified as potentially protein-encoding, with the encoded proteins associated with a myofiber type transformation. In conclusion, the current study greatly advances and refines our current understanding of the regulatory networks associated with piglet muscle development and myofiber type transformation and also contributes to the optimization of piglet diet formulation.

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.

Weaning buprenorphine in pregnant patients.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes after buprenorphine wean compared to patients maintained on buprenorphine throughout pregnancy. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of pregnant patients with opioid use disorder enrolled in a multidisciplinary treatment program between 2015 and 2022. All patients were offered Medications to treat Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) primarily with buprenorphine. Patients had at least 2 prenatal visits and negative urine drug tests (UDT) prior to weaning. The experimental group underwent a buprenorphine wean greater than 20% of their baseline dose. The control group was maintained on buprenorphine throughout the pregnancy. Relapse was defined as patient reported use or positive UDT during weekly assessments. Mass spectrophotometer was used for detection of drugs in samples. Fisher's exact tests were used to compare outcomes in weaned and control groups. RESULTS: 334 of 456 (73%) patients were treated with buprenorphine during pregnancy, with 39 in the experimental group and 295 in the control group. The mean dose for buprenorphine was similar between the groups (wean: 10.6 mg ± 5.6 vs. control: 10.3 mg ± 4.6, p = 0.76) but was significantly lower at delivery (wean: 4.4 ± 4.6 mg vs. control: 13.0 ± 4.7, p < 0.0001). Mean gestational age at initiation of the buprenorphine wean was 22.7 weeks. 10 of 39 (26%) who weaned were able to completely discontinue buprenorphine prior to delivery. Demographic data was similar between the groups, including overdose history. Overdose history at time of enrollment had a higher trend in the non-weaning group. neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) treatment was significantly lower in the wean group (23 vs. 47%, p = 0.006), as was highest Finnegan score (9.6 ± 4.5 vs. 12.3 ± 4.0, p = 0.0003). Birthweight percentile was significantly higher in the wean group (44.3 ± 29.9 vs. 34.8 ± 24.4, p = 0.03). Gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, and complications (HTN, DM, preterm labor, or short cervix) at delivery did not significantly differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: Despite counseling to stay on buprenorphine, there are patients who desire to wean. The NOWS rate in the weaned cohort was significantly lower than the controls with no observed increase in maternal or neonatal morbidity. There were no maternal overdoses or deaths during the pregnancy. Larger studies are needed to evaluate this approach.

Early detection of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves using sensor based feeding, movement, and social behavioural data.

Previous research shows that feeding and activity behaviours in combination with machine learning algorithms has the potential to predict the onset of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). This study used 229 novel and previously researched feeding, movement, and social behavioural features with machine learning classification algorithms to predict BRD events in pre-weaned calves. Data for 172 group housed calves were collected using automatic milk feeding machines and ultrawideband location sensors. Health assessments were carried out twice weekly using a modified Wisconsin scoring system and calves were classified as sick if they had a Wisconsin score of five or above and/or a rectal temperature of 39.5 °C or higher. A gradient boosting machine classification algorithm produced moderate to high performance: accuracy (0.773), precision (0.776), sensitivity (0.625), specificity (0.872), and F1-score (0.689). The most important 30 features were 40% feeding, 50% movement, and 10% social behavioural features. Movement behaviours, specifically the distance walked per day, were most important for model prediction, whereas feeding and social features aided in the model's prediction minimally. These results highlighting the predictive potential in this area but the need for further improvement before behavioural changes can be used to reliably predict the onset of BRD in pre-weaned calves.

Metabolic imprinting in beef calves supplemented with creep feeding on performance, reproductive efficiency and metabolome profile.

This experiment evaluated the influence of creep feeding supplementation on productive and reproductive performance and on serum metabolome profile in Nelore (Bos indicus) heifers. Female calves were assigned to treatments: Creep (n = 190), with ad libitum access to a nutritional supplement from 70 to 220 days after birth, or Control (n = 140), without supplementation. After weaning (Day 220), both groups followed the same pasture and nutritional management. Body weight (BW) and backfat thickness (BFAT) were measured over time. Blood samples were collected at 220 and 360 days for LC-MS/MS targeted metabolomics. On day 408, during the synchronization timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol, reproductive status (RS: diameter of uterine horn and largest follicle, and presence of CL) was assessed. Creep feeding increased BW and BFAT at weaning, but no differences in BW, BFAT, or RS after weaning were observed. Nonetheless, the pregnancy per AI (P/AI) for 1st service was 28.9% higher in the Creep group. On day 220, 11 significant metabolites influenced five metabolic pathways: Glucose-alanine cycle, alanine, glutathione, phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism, and urea cycle. On day 360, 14 significant metabolites influenced eight metabolic pathways: Malate-aspartate shuttle, arginine and proline metabolism, urea cycle, aspartate, beta-alanine, glutamate metabolism, ammonia recycling and citric acid cycle. In conclusion, creep feeding supplementation improved calf performance and induced metabolic changes at weaning and 360 days of age. Although heifers had similar productive performance and reproductive status, when submitted to TAI, those supplemented with creep feeding had greater P/AI.

Selection of Fermentation Supernatant from Probiotic Strains Exhibiting Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Protective Ability and Evaluation of Their Effects on Colitis Mouse and Weaned Piglet Models.

The intestinal epithelial barrier can prevent the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms and food antigens to maintain a consistent intestinal homeostasis. However, an imbalance in this barrier can result in various diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, malnutrition, and metabolic disease. Thus, the aim of this study was to select probiotic strains with epithelial barrier-enhancing ability in cell-based model and further investigate them for their improving effects on colitis mouse and weaned piglet models. The results showed that selected specific cell-free fermentation supernatants (CFSs) from Ligilactobacillus salivarius P1, Lactobacillus gasseri P12, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri G7 promoted intestinal epithelial cell growth and proliferation, strengthening the intestinal barrier in an intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2 model. Further, the administration of CFSs of L. salivarius P1, L. gasseri P12, and L. reuteri G7 were found to ameliorate DSS-induced colitis in mice. Additionally, spray-dried powders of CFS from the three strains were examined in a weaned piglet model, only CFS powder of L. reuteri G7 could ameliorate the feed/gain ratio and serum levels of D-lactate and endotoxin. In conclusion, a new potential probiotic strain, L. reuteri G7, was selected and showed ameliorating effects in both colitis mouse and weaned piglet models.

Dietary monoglyceride supplementation to support intestinal integrity and host defenses in health-challenged weanling pigs.

Frequent incidence of postweaning enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) diarrhea in the swine industry contributes to high mortality rates and associated economic losses. In this study, a combination of butyric, caprylic, and capric fatty acid monoglycerides was investigated to promote intestinal integrity and host defenses in weanling pigs infected with ETEC. A total of 160 pigs were allotted to treatment groups based on weight and sex. Throughout the 17-d study, three treatment groups were maintained: sham-inoculated pigs fed a control diet (uninfected control [UC], n = 40), ETEC-inoculated pigs fed the same control diet (infected control [IC], n = 60), and ETEC-inoculated pigs fed the control diet supplemented with monoglycerides included at 0.3% of the diet (infected supplemented [MG], n = 60). After a 7-d acclimation period, pigs were orally inoculated on each of three consecutive days with either 3 mL of a sham-control (saline) or live ETEC culture (3 × 109 colony-forming units/mL). The first day of inoculations was designated as 0 d postinoculation (DPI), and all study outcomes reference this time point. Fecal, tissue, and blood samples were collected from 48 individual pigs (UC, n = 12; IC, n = 18; MG, n = 18) on 5 and 10 DPI for analysis of dry matter (DM), bacterial enumeration, inflammatory markers, and intestinal permeability. ETEC-inoculated pigs in both the IC and MG groups exhibited clear signs of infection including lower (P < 0.05) gain:feed and fecal DM, indicative of excess water in the feces, and elevated (P < 0.05) rectal temperatures, total bacteria, total E. coli, and total F18 ETEC during the peak-infection period (5 DPI). Reduced (P < 0.05) expression of the occludin, tumor necrosis factor α, and vascular endothelial growth factor A genes was observed in both ETEC-inoculated groups at the 5 DPI time point. There were no meaningful differences between treatments for any of the outcomes measured at 10 DPI. Overall, all significant changes were the result of the ETEC infection, not monoglyceride supplementation.

Infection caused by the bacterium known as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a common disruptor of weaned pigs' health, leading to economic losses for the producers. To determine if nutritional supplementation could help protect against these losses, weaned pigs were assigned to one of three treatments: 1) uninfected and fed a standard nursery pig diet, 2) infected with ETEC and fed the same standard diet, or 3) infected with ETEC and fed the standard diet supplemented with a combination of butyric, caprylic, and capric fatty acid monoglycerides. Growth performance was tracked throughout the 17-d study and health outcomes were measured at the peak and resolution of ETEC infection. At the peak-infection time point, pigs that were infected with ETEC had lower fecal moisture content, greater fecal bacterial concentrations, and elevated body temperatures compared with uninfected pigs. Additionally, infection reduced expression of genes related to inflammation, angiogenesis, and the intestinal barrier during the peak-infection period. Overall, all significant changes were the result of the ETEC infection, and there were no meaningful differences observed between the different treatments.