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Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the effects of Broussonetia papyrifera L. (B. papyrifera) silage on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, meat quality, and meat amino acids and fatty acids compositions in beef cattle. Methods: Sixty-four male Angus beef cattle were assigned to 4 groups with 4 pens in each group and 4 beef cattle in each pen, and fed with the total mixed ration supplemented with 0%, 5%, 10%, or 15% B. papyrifera silage for 100 days (control group, 5% group, 10% group and 15% group) separately. Results: Beef cattle had significantly higher final body weight (BW) in 15% group, higher average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter intake (DMI) in 5% group, 10% group and 15% group, and higher feed conversion ratio (FCR) in 10% group and 15% group. Significantly higher blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration was noted in 15% group, higher blood total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in 10% group and 15% group, lower 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in 15% group. Meat had lower pH in 15% group, higher Commission International DeI'Eclairage (CIE) L* in 5% group, 10% group, and 15% group, and lower drip loss in 15% group. Greater concentration of meat polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was observed in 10% group and 15% group, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in 15% group. Conclusion: Diet with 15% B. papyrifera silage could improve performance and increase final BW, ADG, DMI, and FCR, enhance the antioxidant functions by decreasing blood 8-OHdG and MDA and increasing blood SOD and TAC, improve the meat quality by lowing pH and drip loss and increasing CIE L*, increase the meat PUFA and DHA concentration. Polyphenols and flavonoids might be the main components responsible for the antioxidant activity and anti-biohydrogenation in the B. papyrifera silage. And B. papyrifera silage could be used as a new feedstuff in beef cattle nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 144 cross-bred (Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire) finishing pigs with a similar initial weight (65.4 ± 1.03 kg) were used to investigate the effect of moringa leaf meal on growth performance, meat quality, fatty acid composition, and amino acid profile. The moringa leaf meal-inclusion rates were 0% (M0 or control), 3% (M3), 6% (M6) and 9% (M9). The results showed that supplementing moringa leaf meal significantly increased the daily weight gain of finishing pigs, but had a minor impact on pork quality indicators and the amino acid profile in the Longissimus dorsi. The fatty acid profile in the Longissimus dorsi was significantly modified when pigs were fed moringa leaf meal diets. The relative percentage of total unsaturated fatty acid and monounsaturated fatty acid was higher in the meat of pigs fed a 6% moringa leaf meal diet than in the meat of those receiving the control diet. In contrast, the percentage of total saturated fatty acids was lower in the meat of pigs fed the moringa leaf meal diets. Moreover, the omega-6/omega-3 ratio decreased with moringa leaf meal supplementation. Addition of the moringa supplement into the diet of pigs improved growth performance and modified pork fatty acid profile positively. The results suggest that moringa leaf meal could be used as a diet supplement for producing healthier pork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the possible application of Broussonetia papyrifera (B. papyrifera) silage as a functional feeding stuff in dairy cattle. Methods: Seventy-two Holstein cows were divided into four groups randomly and allocated to 6 pens with 3 individuals in each group and fed the original total mixed ratio (TMR) in the dairy farm or the new TMR with 5%, 10%, and 15% B. papyrifera silage, separately. Feed intake were recorded, milk and blood samples were collected, and milk composition, blood metabolites and milk fatty acids composition were measure at the end of the experiment. Results: Dry matter intake of cows decreased when they fed on diet with B. papyrifera, but no differences were observed in body condition score, milk yield, milk protein and lactose, feed efficiency and serum metabolites between groups. Both 10% or 15% of B. papyrifera silage in the diet significantly increased the immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG in serum, 15% of B. papyrifera silage increased the content of serum catalase, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, and decreased the content of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine. Furthermore, 10% or 15% of B. papyrifera silage resulted in a significant decrease in the milk somatic cell count, and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acids content in the milk. Conclusion: The diets with 10% to 15% of B. papyrifera silage might enhance the immune and antioxidant function of dairy cows and increase the polyunstaturated fatty acid concentration in the milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Garlic extracts have been reported to be effective in reducing methanogenesis. Related mechanisms are not well illustrated, however, and most studies have been conducted in vitro. This study investigates the effects of supplementary allicin (AL) in sheep diet on in vivo digestibility, rumen fermentation, and shifts of microbial flora. Methods: Two experiments were conducted using Dorper x thin-tailed Han crossbred ewes. In experiment 1, eighteen ewes (60.0 ± 1.73 kg BW) were randomly assigned for 29 days to either of two dietary treatments: a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 2.0 g AL/head⋅day to investigate supplementary AL on nutrient digestibility and methane emissions. In experiment 2, six ewes (65.2 ± 2.0 kg BW) with ruminal canulas were assigned to the same two dietary treatments as in experiment 1 for 42 days to investigate supplementary AL on ruminal fermentation and microbial flora. The methane emissions were determined using an open-circuit respirometry system and microbial assessment was done by qPCR of 16S rRNA genes. Results: Supplementary AL increased the apparent digestibility of organic matter (P < 0.001), nitrogen (P = 0.006), neutral detergent fiber (P < 0.001), and acid detergent fiber (P = 0.002). Fecal nitrogen output was reduced (P = 0.001) but urinary nitrogen output was unaffected (P = 0.691), while nitrogen retention (P = 0.077) and nitrogen retention/nitrogen intake (P = 0.077) tended to increase. Supplementary AL decreased methane emissions scaled to metabolic bodyweight by 5.95 % (P = 0.007) and to digestible organic matter intake by 8.36 % (P = 0.009). Ruminal pH was unaffected (P = 0.601) while ammonia decreased (P = 0.024) and total volatile fatty acids increased (P = 0.024) in response to supplementary AL. Supplementary AL decreased the population of methanogens (P = 0.001) and tended to decrease that of protozoans (P = 0.097), but increased the populations of F. succinogenes (P < 0.001), R. flavefaciens (P = 0.001), and B. fibrisolvens (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Supplementation of AL at 2.0 g/head⋅day effectively enhanced OM, N, NDF, and ADF digestibility and reduced daily methane emissions (L/kg BW0.75) in ewes, probably by decreasing the population of ruminal protozoans and methanogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]