Urea molasses mineral block under various feeding systems improved nutrient digestibility, productive performance and blood biochemical profile of Yaks.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to investigate the effect of urea molasses mineral blocks (UMMB) on nutrient digestibility, productive performance and blood biochemical profile of indigenous yaks under various feeding systems. A total of sixteen yaks were randomly divided into four groups (n = 4 animal per group) and offered the, following feeding systems: (A) stall feeding, (B), urea molasses mineral block (UMMB) + stall feeding, (C) yard feeding and (D) UMMB + yard feeding. Trial lasted for 40 days. RESULTS: Results showed that nutrients intake (g) and nutrient digestibility (%) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and crude fiber (CF) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in stall and yard feeding groups with UMMB licking. Blood zinc, cobalt, hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), glucose and serum glutamate private transaminase (SGPT) significantly (p < 0.05) increased in stall and yard feeding with UMMB licking. Milk yield, Ca and monounsaturated fatty acid except milk composition improved significantly (p < 0.05) in stall and yard feeding groups with UMMB licking. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that feeding of UMMB improved utilization of low-quality roughages and best results were obtained from stall and yard feedings with UMMB licking as compared to other groups.

Use of zinc oxide nanoparticles in the growing rabbit diets to mitigate hot environmental conditions for sustainable production and improved meat quality.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the modulatory effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) supplementations on the productive performance, blood biochemistry, carcass criteria, and meat quality of White New Zealand rabbits reared under hot conditions. A total of 125 White New Zealand male rabbits (body weight, "650 ± 11", 30 days old) were assigned to five treatment diets: basal diets supplemented with ZnO-NPs at 0, 20, 40, 60, or 80 mg/kg for 60 days. Each treatment was replicated 25 times with one rabbit each. RESULTS: The body weight (BW), BW gain, and feed intake linearly increased with zinc oxide nanoparticle supplements. Supplementation of ZnO-NPs at 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg significantly improved (linear, P < 0.05) the feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. Moreover, supplementation of ZnO-NPs at these inclusions 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the serum cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and urea compared to control group. The lipid oxidation was lower, and the water holding capacity of rabbit meat was improved (P < 0.001) in rabbits fed on 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg ZnO-NPs supplemented diets compared to control. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that dietary supplementation of ZnO-NPs (20-80 mg/kg) can mitigate the negative impacts of heat stress on rabbit performance and health. Its supplementation improved growth performance and meat physicochemical properties, and blood biochemistry parameters of White New Zealand rabbits.

Evaluation of biological and chemical additives on microbial community, fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, and in vitro gas production of SuMu No. 2 elephant grass.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of biological and chemical additives on microbial community, fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, and in vitro gas production of SuMu No. 2 elephant grass. RESULTS: Aerobic bacteria and yeast were not affected on days 5 and 7 but were significantly (P < 0.224) reduced on days 14, 30, and 60, whereas lactic acid and lactic acid bacteria were significantly (P > 0.001) higher in all ensiling days within all treatment groups. During the ensiling days, the pH, acetic acid, butyric acid, and yeast were decreased in all treatment groups, whereas the Lactobacillus plantarum group and L. plantarum + natamycin group were highly significantly (P > 0.001) decreased. During air exposure, the water-soluble carbohydrates, ammonia nitrogen, lactic acid, and acetic acid were not affected on days 1-4, whereas pH and aerobic bacteria (were significantly (P < 0.05) increased on days 2-4. The addition of Lactobacillus plantarum and natamycin increased the gas production, in vitro dry matter digestibility, and in vitro neutral detergent fiber of SuMu No. 2 elephant grass silages. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of biological and chemical additives, such as L. plantrum alone and the combination with natamycin, affected the undesirable microbial community, fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, and in vitro gas of SuMu No. 2 elephant grass. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ensiling of whole-plant hybrid pennisetum with natamycin and Lactobacillus plantarum impacts on fermentation characteristics and meta-genomic microbial community at low temperature.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current research was to clarify the impacts of the ensiling of whole-plant hybrid pennisetum with natamycin and Lactobacillus plantarum on fermentation characteristics and the meta-genomic microbial community at low temperatures. RESULTS: During the ensiling process, lactic acid (LA) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) significantly (P < 0.05) increased and acetic acid (AA), water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC), ammonia total nitrogen (NH3-N), and yeast significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in treatments as compared to controls. Different treatments and different ensiling days led to variations in the bacterial community at family and genus levels. The family Lactobacillaceae and genera Lactobacillus and Pediococcus are dominant communities in treatment silage. The family and genus levels bacterial ecology and fermentation quality were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). The PCO1, and PCO2 can be explained by 10.81% and 72.14% of the whole variance regularly, similarly in PCO1 and PCO2 can be explained 24.23% and 52.06% regularly. The core bacterial micro-biome operational taxonomic unit (OTU) numbers increased in treatments, as compared to controls, on different hybrid pennisetum ensiling days. CONCLUSIONS: The inoculation of L. plantarum alone and combined with natamycin influenced the fermentation quality and reduced undesirable microorganisms during the fermentation of hybrid pennisetum silage. Natamycin alone did not significantly enhance the concentration of organic acid but numerically enhanced in treatments group as compared to control. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Spirulina inclusion levels in a broiler ration: evaluation of growth performance, gut integrity, and immunity.

Spirulina has been used as a food source from many years for human and animals because of its superior profile of nutrition. Spirulina (SPA) having antiviral activities can boost immune system, and better nutritional profile can increase growth performance by improving gut morphology. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of spirulina supplementation in ration on the humoral and cellular immune response, gut histomorphology, and economics of broiler production. A total of 120 day-old chicks were assigned to 4 dietary treatment; SPA0, SPA1, SPA2, and SPA3, each with 3 replicates having 10 birds in each replicate until 42 days of age. Treatment SPA0 was kept as control, and the birds were fed on basal ration, while the other treatments SPA1, SPA2, and SPA3 were supplemented with 1, 1.5, and 2 g spirulina/kg feed, respectively. Dietary supplementation of SPA3 significantly (P < 0.05) improved feed intake (8.95%), weight gain (12.5%), feed conversion ratio, and dressing percentage than that of control. Dietary treatment of SPA had comparatively low level of heterophil and higher level of lymphocytes than the control treatment. Spirulina supplementation had significant (P < 0.05) effect over antibody titer, against ND vaccine. The supplementation of SPA in diet at all levels has a significant effect on lengths of villi, and it increased number of goblet cells. The SPA3 showed significant increase in net and gross return of birds followed by SPA2, SPA1, and SPA0. It was concluded that spirulina improved growth performance, gut integrity, and immunity with better economics in broiler production.

Role of Silver Nanoparticles for the Control of Anthelmintic Resistance in Small and Large Ruminants.

Helminths are considered a significant threat to the livestock industry, as they cause substantial economic losses in small and large ruminant farming. Their morbidity and mortality rates are also increasing day by day as they have zoonotic importance. Anthelmintic drugs have been used for controlling these parasites; unfortunately, due to the development of resistance of these drugs in helminths (parasites), especially in three major classes like benzimidazoles, nicotinic agonists, and macrocyclic lactones, their use is becoming very low. Although new anthelmintics are being developed, the process is time-consuming and costly. As a result, nanoparticles are being explored as an alternative to anthelmintics. Nanoparticles enhance drug effectiveness, drug delivery, and target specificity and have no resistance against parasites. Different types of nanoparticles are used, such as organic (chitosan) and inorganic (gold, silver, zinc oxide, iron oxide, and nickel oxide). One of them, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), has unique properties in various fields, especially parasitology. AgNPs are synthesized from three primary methods: physical, chemical, and biological. Their primary mechanism of action is causing stress through the production of ROS that destroys cells, organs, proteins, and DNA parasites. The present review is about AgNPs, their mode of action, and their role in controlling anthelmintic resistance against small and large ruminants.

Jojoba Seed Oil as Feed Additive for Sustainable Broiler Meat Production under Hot Climatic Conditions.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary addition of jojoba seed oil on productive performance, physicochemical attributes and carcass quality of broiler meat under tropical weather conditions. A total of 384 one-day-old Ross-308 were subdivided into four dietary treatments of jojoba seed oil: 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg of control diet. Each treatment group included twelve replicates with eight birds each. The results showed that dietary supplementation of jojoba seed oil linearly increased (p < 0.01) feed intake, body weight gain and improved (p < 0.01) feed conversion ratio. Interestingly, diets supplemented with jojoba seed oil linearly (p < 0.05) improved the percentage of dressing and reduced abdominal fat percentage compared to the control group. Dietary supplementation of jojoba seed oil showed no effects (p ≥ 0.05) on the weight of internal organs, including liver, heart, gizzard, spleen and pancreas of broiler chickens. Increasing jojoba seed oil levels in the diet decreased (p < 0.001) percentages of cook and drip losses of breast and leg (drumstick and thigh) muscles of broilers. It was concluded that jojoba seed oil used as a feed additive up to 150 mg/kg improves growth performance and meat quality of broiler chickens in tropical weather conditions.

The prevalence, risk factors analysis and evaluation of two diagnostic techniques for the detection of Cryptosporidium infection in diarrheic sheep from Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidium spp. is recognized as an opportunistic zoonotic parasite that infects humans as well as wild and domestic animals. This enteric protozoan is a major cause of diarrhea in humans and animals and often result in death due to severe dehydration. The present study was designed to investigate the prevalence, identification of various risk factors and evaluation of sensitivity of the two diagnostic techniques for rapid and correct detection of Cryptosporidium infection in diarrheic sheep in Pakistan. METHODS: A total of 360 fecal samples were collected and processed for detection of Cryptosporidium infection after proper preservation. These samples were properly stained with modified Ziehl-Neelsen acid staining and then examined under simple microscope at 100x magnification for confirmation of Cryptosporidium oocysts. The same samples were again processed through simple PCR for confirmation of the Cryptosporidium spp. RESULTS: The age wise prevalence was detected through simple microscopy and PCR. We found highest prevalence at the age of ≤1 year followed by 1-2 years of age while the lowest prevalence was recorded at the age of ≥ 2-3 years of sheep and found significant difference between different ages (P<0.05). The sex wise prevalence showed the highest prevalence in male (♂) animals detected compared to female (♀). The overall prevalence was detected 27.08% and 18.80% through PCR and simple microscopy, respectively, and significant difference between two diagnostic techniques were observed (P<0.05). Considering the seasonality, the highest prevalence was recorded through simple microscopy in autumn, summer, and spring, while the lowest in winter. These results were confirmed through PCR. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that molecular detection is the most efficient, specific and sensitive technique for detection of Cryptosporidium infection than simple microscopy. Moreover sheep is the major potential source of infection to other wild and domestic animals including humans.

Single or Combined Applications of Zinc and Multi-strain Probiotic on Intestinal Histomorphology of Broilers Under Cyclic Heat Stress.

Two-hundred-eighty-day-old broiler chicks were divided into seven groups. The groups were designated as T1, thermoneutral zone; T2, heat stressed (HS); T3, HS + zinc (Zn) supplementation (30 mg/kg); T4, HS + Zn (60 mg/kg); T5, HS + probiotic (0.1 g/kg); T6, HS + probiotic (0.1 g/kg) + Zn (30 mg/kg); and T7, HS + Zn (60 mg/kg) + probiotic (0.1 g/kg). Significant decrease (p < 0.05) was observed in villus height (VH), VH to crypt depth ratio, and villus surface area of all intestinal segments in the T2 group when compared with the T1 group. The same parameters had significantly higher (p < 0.05) values in the jejunum and ileum of the Zn- and probiotic-supplemented groups (alone + combination) when compared with the T2 group. The birds exposed to HS showed fewer (p < 0.05) intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the jejunum and ileum than the T1 group, while their count increased in the jejunum and ileum with dietary treatments. In conclusion, Zn and probiotic positively modulated the intestinal microstructures of broilers kept under high environmental temperature.

Combined Supplementation of Nano-Zinc Oxide and Thyme Oil Improves the Nutrient Digestibility and Reproductive Fertility in the Male Californian Rabbits.

The present study aimed to determine the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), thyme oil (THO), or their combination on the nutrient digestibility coefficients, reproductive parameters, and some blood metabolites of male Californian rabbits. One hundred rabbits, 29-weeks of age (initial body weight 3.48 ± 0.08 kg) were randomly distributed into four groups, 25 rabbits each. Treatment groups were fed a control diet, a control diet supplemented with ZnO-NPs (100 mg/kg), THO (500 mg/kg), or combination of ZnO-NPs (100 mg/kg) and THO (500 mg/kg). The feeding trial lasted for 35 days. Results showed improvements in dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and crude fiber in ZnO-NPs, THO, and their combination treated groups compared to those of control. Furthermore, semen volume, sperm motility, vitality, and morphology were significantly improved (p < 0.01) in ZnO-NPs and THO groups rather than the control. Both ZnO-NPs and THO, as either individual or combined treatments significantly improved the serum alanine amino-transferase (ALT), aspartate amino-transferase (AST), urea, and creatinine compared to the control. Moreover, serum concentrations of testosterone were significantly increased in rabbits supplemented with ZnO-NPs, THO, or their combination compared to those of control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ZnO-NPs, THO, or their combination improved the digestibility of nutrients, liver/ kidney functions, semen characteristics, and testosterone concentration in male rabbits.

Ochratoxin A in ruminants−A review on its degradation by gut microbes and effects on animals.

Ruminants are much less sensitive to ochratoxin A (OTA) than non-ruminants. The ruminal microbes, with protozoa being a central group, degrade the mycotoxin extensively, with disappearance half lives of 0.6-3.8 h. However, in some studies OTA was detected systemically when using sensitive analytical methods, probably due to some rumen bypass at proportions of estimated 2-6.5% of dosage (maximum 10%). High concentrate proportions and high feeding levels are dietary factors promoting the likeliness of systemic occurrence due to factors like shifts in microbial population and higher contamination potential. Among risk scenarios for ruminants, chronic intoxication represents the most relevant.