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In recent years, the foods that are used daily in human diet are not only intended to satisfy the requirements in basic nutrients, they are also expected to prevent food-related diseases and help consumers acquire a better immune status. By using specific nutritional strategies, it is possible to produce functional food that, in addition to basic nutrients, also contains components that participate in preserving health and reducing the risk of disease. Selenium, which is used as an additive in vitamin-mineral premixes in feed for laying hens, is present in one of two basic forms: organically bound to amino acids (selenocysteine and selenomethionine) or in the form of an inorganic salt (most often sodium selenite). Deposited selenium in the body is in an inactive state, and in cases of oxidative stress or selenium deficiency in feed, it changes to an active form. The source of selenium in feed mixtures for laying hens has an effect on the selenium content of eggs. By adding organic selenium to laying eggs, amounts of 20-25 μg per egg can be achieved, which is about 30% of the recommended daily intake for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomophagy is not a new phenomenon in the world. Moreover, it is a traditional diet in a large part of the planet. However, in the European framework it belongs to the category of novel food and although the topic is often debated, it represents a growing choice in human and animal nutrition. Edible insects have the potential to serve as a healthy, sustainable alternative to animal protein sources due to their valuable nutritional composition. They may have superior health benefits based on high levels of essential amino acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, fibre and antioxidants. They could offer a myriad of environmental benefits, including overall reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and reduced use of agricultural land and water. Future research should aim to understand the beneficial effects of whole insects or insect isolates compared to traditional foods of animal and plant origin. Although insects have the potential to be used as meat substitutes or dietary supplements, leading to benefits for human health and the environment, this paper does not aim to ultimately propagate their use, but to point out their advantages and qualities, as well as potential dangers and risks, and finally to present ways of placing insects on the European market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Effect of adding Different dosages of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in diet on growth performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal morphology, and gut microflora of broilers. The study was conducted on 270 oneday old chickens (Ross 308) during a 42-day period. Broilers were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments that differed in the content of added yeast: no additional yeast; with 0.25 g/kg; and with 0.65 g/kg of added yeast. Each experimental group contained 90 animals. The results from our study showed that diet supplemented with 0.25 g/kg of yeast resulted in better growth performance and carcass quality (P<0.05), improved intestinal morphology (P<0.001), higher development of beneficial microflora (Lactobacillus spp.) (P<0.01), and reduction of pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli) in guts of broilers than in the group fed only with the basic diet (P<0.05). On the other hand, the group with the highest inclusion of yeast in diet (0.65 g/kg) achieved similar results for the examined parameters as did the group with no added yeast. Therefore, the adequate dose of S. cerevisiae in diet was 0.25 g/kg of yeast, while higher dose of live yeast in broiler diet (0.65 g/kg) did not achieve better results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trial included 100 one-day-old broilers, Cobb 500, of both sexes, divided into the two groups, 50 broilers in each. The experiment lasted 42 days and was conducted in three phases: days 1-7, days 8-21 and days 22-42. The control group of broilers (C) was fed a mixture of standard composition (basal diet), while the experimental group (OI) received the same diet but with the addition of dehydrated housefly larvae in the amount of 5% (% as fed basis) in the starter diet and 4% in grower and finisher diets. Production results (body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption and feed to gain ratio) were determined during the trial. The broilers fed larvae meal achieved statistically higher (p < 0.001) average body weight and daily weight gain with superior feed to gain ratio, compared to the control group, but also higher feed consumption and feed conversion. Meat samples obtained from the broilers fed larvae meal were graded as more acceptable by panelists, in comparison to those obtained from the control group. The achieved results point to the fact that dehydrated housefly larvae meal can be used as an alternative source of proteins in broiler nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is assumed that mycotoxins have been present in feed and food since the beginning of eukaryotic fungi's life on Earth. With the recognition of the symptoms of the first intoxications, the so-called mycotoxicosis, there was a desire to find strategies in the fight against secondary metabolites of different types of fungi. The mycotoxins that most commonly contaminate feed are aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisin B1 (FB1). These mycotoxins can primarily cause hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, and consequently cause adverse effects on animal health and performance. Today, in the 21st century, the need to find a multidisciplinary and integrated plan in the fight against mycotoxins has grown with the realization that mycotoxins cause large-scale damage in livestock. Physical, chemical, biological and nutritional strategies have been developed to combat mycotoxins in the feed industry. Meanwhile, the use of each of these strategies achieves benefits, but also has drawbacks, including being expensive or impractical to apply on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the production of mushrooms for human consumption, the used substrate remains (SMS -- spent mushroom substrate). As much as five kilograms of spent substrate result from the production of one kilogram of mushrooms. Considering that the global production of mushrooms in the world has increased in recent decades, the amount of spent substrate has also increased sharply, which can lead to an unfavourable impact on the environment. The assumptions are that the amount of consumed substrate will exceed the value of 6 tonnes of SMS per km² of global land surface. This data points to the need for thinking and scientific research on how to reuse SMS. Various studies have established that SMS can first be used as a material from which to extract enzymes that remain after the production of mushrooms. Then, SMS can be used to grow one or two more production batches of mushrooms. Finally, SMS can be used as raw material for feed, as compost for plant growth and as biofuel. Research into the use of SMS as feed is particularly interesting, where its effect in the diet of various ruminant and non-ruminant species was examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yeast and yeast derivatives are used as nutrients and as feed additives. Live yeast cells (LYC) (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) belong to a group of potent microorganisms that are used as an additive in animal feed and represent an alternative to antibiotics that until recently were used in animal nutrition as growth stimulators. The role of yeast as a growth promoter is due mainly to mannanoligosaccharide and β-glucans, isolated from the outer cell wall of yeast, whose role is known in stimulating the body's immune response. Dietary supplementation with whole yeast or yeast cell wall at 1.0-1.5 g/kg can improve growth performance, improve digestion and absorption of nutrients by modulating gut structure, inhibiting pathogenic bacteria and lowering gut pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of benzoic acid and chelates in which copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) were bound to methionine hydroxy analogue on growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal microbiota and digesta pH value of post-weaning piglets at 28 days of age. The experiment was conducted on 96 piglets randomly assigned to one of four treatments (6 replicate pens of 4 piglets each): 1) control (C) – microminerals were provided as sulfates of Cu, Zn and Mn at 130 (80 at second phase), 100, 120 mg/kg in the first phase, respectively; 2) chelates (CTM), microelements were provided as chelates of Cu, Zn and Mn at 130 (80 in second phase), 60, 60 mg/kg in the first phase, respectively; 3) benzoic acid (BA), with the addition of 2500 mg/kg during both periods; 4) chelates + benzoic acid (CTM + BA), microelements were provided as chelates of Cu, Zn and Mn at 130 (80 in second phase), 60, 60 mg/kg in the first phase, respectively, and 2500 mg/kg of benzoic acid during both periods. Results showed that chelates and benzoic acid supplementation not only improved the final body weight (p<0.05), average daily gain (p<0.05) and feed conversion ratio (p<0.05), but also increased the morphology performance and decreased the number of E. coli in the jejunum and ileum in the treated groups (p<0.05). This study provides the evidence that dietary supplementation has beneficial effects on the intestinal morphology and microflora of weaned pigs, which can partly explain why growth performance of the piglets was improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of using phytobiotics in broiler feed on the economic efficiency parameters of fattening. The study was conducted on 240 broilers originating from a commercial incubator station, and the dietary trial was based on the group-control principle and lasted for 42 days (control group C -- without the addition of phytogenic additives; experimental OI group -- with the addition of phytogenic additive containing thymol and cinnamaldehyde, 100 g/t of food; experimental OII group -- with the addition of phytogenic additive containing cumin, mint, cloves and anise, 150 g/t of food and; experimental OIII group -- with the addition of phytogenic additive containing thymol, 750 g/t of food). The production results (body weight, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio) and economic efficiency parameters of broiler fattening were calculated for three intervals (1-10, 1-20 and 1-42 days). All production results in each interval were significantly better (p<0.01) in experimental broilers than in the control broilers. The best values of European factor of production efficiency and European broiler index were recorded in experimental groups that received feed with added phytobiotics (values were significantly higher, p<0.01, than in the control broilers). Also, the results obtained were compared with standard values for COBB 500 hybrids. The values obtained in this research were significantly lower (p<0.05) than standard values for Cobb 500. Analysing the data obtained from our study, the positive effects of including phytogenic additives in broiler feed mixtures were measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the influence of different concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) found in the feed and water provided to bulls on the concentrations of these metals in cryopreserved bull semen, and to determine their influence onto semen quality parameters. Correlations between heavy metal concentrations in the semen and the quality parameters of semen as estimated by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry (FC) methods were determined. A total of 40 cryopreserved semen samples originating from bulls housed in 4 different centers for artificial insemination (A, B, C and D) were examined, making a total of 160 samples. The concentrations of metals and semen quality parameters were determined in cryopreserved semen of 10 bulls from each center, namely 4 samples from each bull. Concentrations of Zn, Pb, Hg and Cd in hay and concentrated feed were within the allowed limits as proposed by the National Research Council (NRC, 2000). A strong negative correlation was detected between curvilinear velocity (VCL) and Zn concentrations in the semen (P < 0.01; r = -0.772) in group D, and a positive correlation of VCL with Pb concentrations (P < 0.05 and r = 0.718) in group B. Mercury concentrations in cryopreserved semen correlated negatively to the percent of live sperm cells with intact acrosomes (V/IA: P < 0.05; r = -0.640) and positively with the percent of dead sperm cells with damaged acrosomes (D/DA: P < 0.01; r = 0.766) in group D. This finding confirms the hypothesis that Hg, even at low concentrations, may cause acrosome damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally occurring radionuclides and toxic elements are ubiquitous in the environment and can pose a great risk to animals' health. Control of these toxic substances in animal diet is essential for animal's welfare, human nutrition risk management as well as environmental protection. Our study addresses these issues by determining a content of natural radionuclides (40K, 238U and 226Ra), and toxic elements (Cd, Cr, As) in total of 108 samples: 36 monocalcium phosphate, 36 complete feed and 36 pig manure samples that were collected from 6 different commercial farms in the Republic of Serbia. In monocalcium phosphate the content of 40K, 238U and 226Ra ranged from 7.6–23.4 Bq kg−1, 13.2–1778 Bq kg−1 and 3.6–13.5 Bq kg−1, respectively. In complete feed samples, 40K ranged from 170 to 306 Bq kg−1, 238U from minimum detectable activity (MDA) to 9.1 Bq kg−1, and 226Ra from MDA-5.5 Bq kg−1, while in pig manure 40K ranged from 146 to 531 Bq kg−1, 238U from MDA-30.1 Bq kg−1, and 226Ra from MDA-10 Bq kg−1. The concentrations of Cd, Cr and As in monocalcium phosphate were 0.26–14.9 mg kg−1, 10.3–497 mg kg−1, and 4.2–5.5 mg kg−1, respectively. In complete feed, the content of Cd, Cr and As ranged from minimum detectable concentration (MDC) - 0.78 mg kg−1, 0.30–7.41 mg kg−1, and 0.09–0.31 mg kg−1, respectively. In pig manure Cd, Cr and As ranged from 0.8–2.3 mg kg−1, 2.3–22.2 mg kg−1, and 0.51–5.45 mg kg−1, respectively. The obtained results showed that Cd concentration in monocalcium phosphate exceeded the maximum permissible legislative concentrations for phosphate additives. Monocalcium phosphate is the main source of 238U and Cr in complete feed, while Cd derives from other sources. For that reason excessive use of monocalcium phosphate can lead to high levels of these pollutants in complete feed and consequently in manure. Unlabelled Image • MCP with high 238U gave complete feed with 238U above the maximum permissible level. • 238U and 226Ra concentrations below MDA in complete feed are detectable in manure. • High 238U in MPC is also reflected in high 238U content in pig manure. • Manure could be a pollutant, thus feed additives should be regulated and controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of dietary fat supplementation with linseed oil and/or pig lard on performance, carcass characteristics, fatty acid profile and serum biochemistry parameters in broiler chickens. In the study, 240 one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomly distributed to one control and three experimental dietary groups: diet supplemented with pig lard; diet supplemented with linseed oil, and; diet supplemented with a 1:1 ratio of lard to linseed oil. The fat sources influenced serum biochemistry parameters and fatty acid profiles of drumsticks with thighs, but had no influence on growth performance or carcass characteristics. With dietary linseed oil, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid increased (P<0.05) in meat from drumsticks with thighs. Supplementation with pig lard significantly (P<0.05) increased the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in drumsticks with thighs. In conclusion, dietary incorporation of linseed oil and pig lard during starter, grower and finisher phases can enrich broiler chickens meat with n-3 PUFA. This study has clearly shown that linseed oil in broiler nutrition provided the best n-6/n-3 ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, a few differing sources of selenium (Se), i.e. inorganic, organic, and nano forms of Se, are used as feed supplements for poultry. Published research indicates that nano-Se and organic Se possess comparable efficiency to inorganic Se in increasing GSH-Px activity of plasma and various tissues, but they deposit at higher rates in various tissues. However, there are principal differences in absorption mechanisms, metabolism, and efficiency of these three forms of Se. The aim of this review was to analyze the available literature on the effects of different Se sources and levels in the diet on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, tissue Se distribution and growth performance in poultry. Higher levels of Se increase GSH-Px activity in the body, but this reaches a plateau even if Se concentrations in diet increase further, while the deposition of Se in tissues increases as Se content in diet increases. In addition, many studies have shown the positive effects of adding Se to diet on growth performance in poultry. Optimal Se supplementation is necessary not only for good poultry health but also to ensure and preserve meat quality during storage and to provide human beings with this microelement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was performed to determine the nutritive value of raw earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) and dried earthworm powder, or earthworm meal (EM). In addition, the effects of a diet in which fish meal was substituted with EM or fresh earthworms on the health and productive performance of broilers were monitored. The experiment, which lasted 42 days, was conducted on one hundred Hybro G broilers divided into four equal groups. The control group was fed a standard feed, whereas, the first and the second one were given diets in which 50% or 100% of fish meal had been substituted with EM. The third experimental group received no fish meal but was given fresh earthworms ad libitum. The results of chemical analyses showed that earthworm meal contained 41.42% proteins (in dry matter) and satisfactory amounts of amino acids. Microbiological examination and tests for heavy metals suggest that earthworm meal and fresh earthworms did not contain heavy metals and harmful bacteria. Therefore, these feeds may be considered suitable for chickens. In the experiment as a whole no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the productive performance between the experimental groups of broiler chickens. These results suggest that dehydrated earthworm meal can be an adequate substitute for fish meal in the broilers' feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to the article "The effects of dietary Selenium-yeast level on glutathione peroxidase activity, tissue Selenium content, growth performance, and carcass and meat quality of broilers" which appeared in the 2018 issue of periodical.