In-ovo injection of Bacillus subtilis, raffinose, and their combinations enhances hatchability, gut health, nutrient transport- and intestinal function-related genes, and early development of broiler chicks.

An experiment was conducted to assess the response of chicks to in-ovo injection of Bacillus subtilis (probiotic), raffinose (prebiotic), and their combinations. The study used 1,500 embryonated eggs allotted to 10 groups/ 6 replicates (150 eggs/group). The experimental treatments were: 1) un-injected control (NC); 2) sham (sterile distilled water) (PC); 3) probiotic 4 × 105CFU/egg (LBS); 4) probiotic 4 × 106CFU/egg (HBS); 5) prebiotic 2 mg/egg (LR); (6 prebiotic 3 mg/egg (HR); 7) probiotic 4 × 105CFU + prebiotic 2 mg/egg (LBS+LR); 8) probiotic 4 × 105CFU + prebiotic 3 mg/egg (LBS+HR); 9) probiotic 4 × 106CFU + prebiotic 2 mg/egg (HBS+LR); and 10) probiotic 4 × 106CFU + prebiotic 3 mg/egg (HBS+HR). Results showed that in-ovo inclusion of Bacillus subtilis, prebiotic, and their combinations improved hatchability, yolk-free chick weight, and chick weight compared to the control group. Moreover, the in-ovo treatment reduced residual yolk weight on the day of hatch compared to the control group. Different levels of in-ovo B. subtilis alone or combined with raffinose significantly (P ≤ 0.001) reduced total bacterial count and total yeast and mold count compared to the negative control group. Total coliform and E. coli decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.001) in groups treated with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics with different doses during incubation compared to those in the control. Clostridium spp. was not detected in the groups injected with B. subtilis alone or combined with raffinose. In-ovo probiotics and synbiotics (LBS+LR & LBS+HR) significantly (P ≤ 0.001) increased ileal villus length compared to other groups. In-ovo treatment increased mRNA expression of JAM-2 compared to the control group. The fold change significantly increased in group LBS+HR for genes MUC-2, OCLN, VEGF, SGLT-1, and EAAT-3 compared to the negative control. In conclusion, in-ovo injection of a low dose of B. subtilis plus a high or low dose of raffinose can positively affect hatching traits, cecal microbial populations, intestinal histomorphometry, nutrient transport- and intestinal function-related genes, and chick quality of newly hatched broiler chicks.

Physicochemical and bioactive constituents, microbial counts, and color components of spray-dried Syzygium cumini L. pulp powder stored in different packaging materials under two controlled environmental conditions.

Currently, the demand for functional food items that impart health benefits has been rising. Blackberry (Syzygium cumini L.) fruit has high anthocyanin content and other functional attributes. However, this seasonal fruit is highly perishable, and a large proportion of it goes unharvested and wasted worldwide. Spray drying of the fruit pulp can impart improved shelf life, ensuring long-term availability for consumers to exploit its health benefits. The storage quality varies according to the type of packaging material and the storage environment. Therefore, in this study, the shelf life span of the spray-dried Syzygium cumini L. pulp powder (SSCPP) was investigated during 6 months of storage under three types of packaging materials (i.e., polystyrene, metalized polyester, and 4-ply laminates) in a low-temperature environmental (LTE) and at ambient environmental conditions. The physicochemical stability of bioactive principles (TPC and TAC), microbial counts, and color components were analyzed at 0, 2, 4, and 6 months of storage. There was a significant gradual loss of dispersibility and solubility with an increase in flowability, bulk density, and wettability during the entire storage period for all three packaging materials. The TSS, pH, TPC, TAC, and microbial counts decreased in the SSCPP both at ambient and LTE conditions during the study. Among all the packaging materials, the 4-ply laminate was found to be the most appropriate and safe for storage of spray-dried SCPP at LTE conditions.

A comprehensive review on infant formula: nutritional and functional constituents, recent trends in processing and its impact on infants' gut microbiota.

Human milk is considered the most valuable form of nutrition for infants for their growth, development and function. So far, there are still some cases where feeding human milk is not feasible. As a result, the market for infant formula is widely increasing, and formula feeding become an alternative or substitute for breastfeeding. The nutritional value of the formula can be improved by adding functional bioactive compounds like probiotics, prebiotics, human milk oligosaccharides, vitamins, minerals, taurine, inositol, osteopontin, lactoferrin, gangliosides, carnitine etc. For processing of infant formula, diverse thermal and non-thermal technologies have been employed. Infant formula can be either in powdered form, which requires reconstitution with water or in ready-to-feed liquid form, among which powder form is readily available, shelf-stable and vastly marketed. Infants' gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem and the nutrient composition of infant formula is recognized to have a lasting effect on it. Likewise, the gut microbiota establishment closely parallels with host immune development and growth. Therefore, it must be contemplated as an important factor for consideration while developing formulas. In this review, we have focused on the formulation and manufacturing of safe and nutritious infant formula equivalent to human milk or aligning with the infant's needs and its ultimate impact on infants' gut microbiota.

Feeding of oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) leaves and evaluation for its potential inclusion in the feeding of native heifers of Kumaon Himalaya.

After an initial survey on feeds and feeding practices at Kumaon Himalaya, the potential of oak leaves feeding was evaluated in six native heifers (Bos indicus; 101.5 kg BW, 18-24 months) in a partial switch-over design involving two animals each on each treatment at a time. The feeding treatments involved high and low levels of oak leaves (Quercus leucotrichophora, oak leaves (OL)) supplemented to local mixed grass hay (GH) which were GH (G1), GH + low level (42.5 %) of OL (G2) and GH + high level (63.6 %) of OL (G3). The feeding trial for each treatment was conducted for 40 days that ended with a digestibility trial of 6-day duration. The dry matter (DM) intake (kg/day) was non-significantly higher in G3 (3.52) than G2 (3.11) and G1 (2.96). Intake of crude protein (CP) (g/day) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in both G2 and G3 than G1. The digestibility of DM, CP, organic matter, ether extract and total carbohydrates increased (P < 0.001) linearly in OL-fed groups as compared to control. The total digestible nutrients (TDN) (kg/day) intake was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in G3 compared to G1, but it was comparable between G1 and G2. Intake of DM, CP, digestible CP (DCP) and TDN/metabolizable energy (ME) per kilogram metabolic body weight was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in G3 than G2 which in turn was also higher (P < 0.01) than G1. The animals under G1 had negative gain (-50 g/day) compared to 146 and 306 g/day in G2 and G3, respectively. Feeding of OL reduced serum urea and creatinine level and supported serum protein concentration better in G3 compared to G2. The feeding of cattle on GH alone was lacking in both energy and protein for sustaining minimum levels of production, whereas in combination with OL at 36.4:63.6 ratios supported minimum level of production (ADG 300 g) with near nutritional adequacy for major nutrients (CP, DCP, TDN, ME) but with a caution for the minor nutrients like calcium and phosphorus that need to be supplemented.