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Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Agaricus blazei polysaccharide (ABP) at varying concentrations on the performance, egg quality, blood biochemistry, intestinal morphology, and microflora of quail. Methods The study involved a total of 2,700 Korean quails, which were randomly divided into three groups. The measured variables encompassed productive performance, egg parameters, carcass parameters, serum metabolites, immune response parameters, antioxidative properties, and gut microbiome. Results The addition of ABP did not have a significant effect on average daily feed intake. However, it was found to increase the average daily egg weight and egg production rate, reduce the feed-egg ratio. There were no significant impacts on egg quality measures such as egg shape index, egg yolk index and color, egg yolk and protein content. However, ABP supplementation significantly increased the Hough unit (p

Abstract Maintaining cleaner and more sustainable ecosystems by mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock through dietary manipulation is in demand. This study was aimed to assess the effect of Moringa oleifera seeds and probiotics (Pediococcus acidilactici BX-B122 and Bacillus coagulans BX-B118) as feed supplements on GHG production and fermentation profile from steers and sheep. The treatments included diets containing 0, 6, 12, and 18% of M. oleifera seeds meal and a mixture of probiotic bacteria (0.2 ml/g of diet). Total biogas production, CH4, CO, and H2S emission from animals (up to 48 h), rumen fermentation profile, and CH4 conversion efficiency were recorded using standard protocols. Results showed interaction among M. oleifera seeds and probiotics on asymptotic biogas production and total biogas production up to 48 h (P 0.05) for CH4:SCFA (in steers) and CH4:ME and CH4:OM (in sheep). In conclusion, the interaction of M. oleifera seeds and probiotics in the feeding diet reduced GHG emissions and affected the fermentation profile of steers and sheep.

Objective Pine needles are rich in many nutrients and exhibit antibacterial and antioxidant biological activities; however, the effects of different production methods of pine needle additives on the growth performance and intestinal flora of broiler chickens are not known. Methods Normal diets were supplemented with pine needle fermentation juice (PNF), pine needle soaking juice (PNS), or pine needle powder (PNP), and the associated effects on growth performance, relative organ weights, intestinal development, intestinal histological morphology, intestinal flora, meat quality, and serum indicators in broiler chickens were observed. Results The results showed that PNF, PNS, and PNP all significantly improved feed utilisation and promoted the growth and development of broilers. All three additives also significantly improved the structure of the intestinal flora, specifically increasing the diversity of bacteria; increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium, Rikenella, and Blautia; and decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria, such as Staphylococcus. The antioxidant properties of pine needles were also found to intensify lipid metabolic reactions in the blood, thus leading to lower triglycerides and total cholesterol. Meanwhile, high doses of PNF reduced jejunum and ileum weights and also increased meat yellowness. Lastly, none of PNF, PNS, or PNP had an effect on relative organ weights or intestinal histological morphology. Conclusion The addition of pine needles to the diet of broiler chickens can effectively promote their growth performance as well as improve their intestinal flora and serum status without side effects; in particular, the dose of 0.2% of either PNF and PNS is expected to have the capacity to replace growth-promoting antibiotics as diet additives.

In broiler nutrition, dietary fibre affects the development of the digestive system, nutrient absorption, intestinal flora and growth performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of orange seed powder (OSP) on growth performance, biochemical parameters, and the caecal bacterial population of broiler chickens. Four hundred and eighty-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were divided into four treatment groups of six replicates. The treatment groups comprised a control group (without OSP supplementation) and three groups with varying levels of OSP supplementation (0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%) over 42 days. All groups supplemented with orange seed powder significantly decreased serum cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations, E. coli, and total coliform population as well as feed conversion ratio and feed intake and significantly increased average weight gain and lactobacillus population on day 21 (p 0.05). On day 42, the triglyceride level was significantly superior (p

Essential oils (EOs) and nature identical compounds (NICs) express different antimicrobial activity (AAc) which can be affected by variability in composition, stability over time, and the carrier employed for their inclusion in feedstuff and products for animal treatments. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the stability over time of the AAc of 8 EOs and 5 NICs, alone and in combination with Tween 20, on four major bacterial livestock pathogens (E. coli, S. Typhimurium, S. aureus and MRSA). For this purpose, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and checkerboard assay (CkA) tests were performed on EOs and NICs at batch first use (T0 – only MIC), and after 12 (T1) and 24 (T2) months. Several EOs showed initial MICs lower than 2% (v/v) and, except for clove bud and cinnamon EOs, reduced their efficacy over time. The best NICs’ AAc was showed at T1 by cinnamic aldehyde (against MRSA), carvacrol (against E. coli), and thymol (except against MRSA), while at T2 the MIC values decreased for most of the NICs. The CkA between EOs and Tween 20 showed different interactions (Fractional Inhibitory Concentration -FIC- index from 0.06 to 32.04) based on bacteria and time. No interactions were found between NICs and Tween 20 (FIC index from 1.0 to 3.0). The AAc of EOs and NICs changes over time. Therefore, the preservation interval of these additives is critical for the AAc of feedstuff and products intended for livestock animals. Moreover, the NICs seem more suitable for the association with Tween 20.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an organic acid blend and essential oils individually and in combination on growth performance, blood biochemical profile, gut health, and nutrient digestibility of broilers fed a higher level of an animal protein concentrate. Five hundred day-old Ross-308 male broiler chicks (average body weight, 39 ± 1.2 g) were randomly assigned to five replicated (5 replicates/treatment; 20 birds/replica) dietary treatments (100 birds/treatment). Birds in these group were given five different experimental diets that were prepared and designated as (i) basal diet (negative control, NC); (ii) basal diet plus Enramycin (positive control, PC), 50 mg/kg feed; (iii) basal diet with the addition of organic acid (OA) at 200 mg/kg feed; (iv) basal diet plus essential oils (EO) at 150 mg/kg feed; (v) basal diet plus combination of OA and EOs 200 and150 mg/kg feed (OA + EO). Experimental diets were prepared and fed in two phases i.e. starter (1–21 d) and finisher (22–42 d) phases of rearing. The findings of the present study revealed that feed intake did not vary significantly among the treatment groups, however, better (p

The productivity of domestic animals and the safety of food products derived from them are jeopardised by mycotoxins in animal feed. To control them, feed additives are used, which limit the absorption of mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract of animals by binding to them. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new in vitro model in experiments on the binding of mycotoxins from buffers and contaminated feed and to confirm the effect of a single sorbent or mixture in binding them.

Global pig production has increased by 140% since the 1960s. The increase in global population, coupled with improving socioeconomic conditions of many countries has led to an increased consumption of meat globally, including pork. To keep up with demand and capitalize on economic opportunities, the countries of China, the United States (US), and the European Union (EU) have become the top 3 pork producers globally. China is of particular interest, as it is the both the largest country in pork production and pig numbers, as well as being the largest importer of pork from other countries. Globally, the efficiency of pork production has improved, in relation to the integration of pig production and the dramatic increase in research efforts in pig nutrition and production. Through integration, large producers can consolidate resources and maximize profits and efficiency. The increased research interest and efforts in pig production have given scientists and producers the opportunity to collaborate to adapt to challenges and identify possible solutions to issues brought on by a volatile global market. Intestinal health (23%), general nutrition and growth (23%), and amino acid nutrition (15%) were the top 3 areas (61%) leading research trends in pig nutrition and production. Major dietary interventions with feed additives evaluated include functional amino acids, feed enzymes, pre-/pro-/post-biotics, and phytobiotics with a common goal to improve the growth efficiency by enhancing nutrient utilization and intestinal health. With increasing global issues with environment, pig producers and the supporting scientists should continue their efforts to improve the production efficiency and to reduce the environmental footprint from pig production.

Data and descriptive information were gathered from 226 peer-reviewed scientific publications from beef cattle experiments in which enteric methane and other animal response variables were measured. The dataset was based on the bibliography used by Arndt et al. (2022) but expanded to also include more recent studies published from 2019 to 2023. All articles were identified for inclusion in the dataset using the “Web of Science Core Collection”, the “Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (CABI)”, and the “EBSCO Discovery Service” databases with the search terms “methane” and “enteric” in combination with “beef”, “cattle”, “rumen”, and “ruminant”. Additionally, the search term “rumen” was used in combination with “energy balance”, “energy metabolism”, or “energy partitioning”. For dataset inclusion, it was necessary for all studies to be written in English and at a minimum, quantify feed dry matter intake and enteric methane emissions as well as provide measures of variance for these estimates. Studies were primarily designed as completely randomized, randomized block, or crossover experiments. The dataset includes 895 records (rows) and 138 variables (columns). Reported variables include publication information, experimental design, animal description, methane measurement method, diet nutrient composition, and means and measures of variance for feed dry matter intake and enteric methane emissions. Additionally, depending on the study, data reported on rumen fermentation parameters, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen excretion, weight gain, and carbon dioxide and hydrogen emissions were included. This dataset can be used to explore the efficacy of enteric methane mitigation strategies and their impact on beef cattle nutrition and production. Furthermore, the dataset can potentially be used to investigate possible nutrient and feed additive interactions.

Abstract This guidance document is intended to assist the applicant in preparing and presenting an application, as foreseen in Article 7.6 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition. It specifically covers the assessment of the efficacy of feed additives.

Abstract Background Nursery pigs undergo stressors in the post-weaning period that result in production and welfare challenges. These challenges disproportionately impact the offspring of primiparous sows compared to those of multiparous counterparts. Little is known regarding potential interactions between parity and feed additives in the post-weaning period and their effects on nursery pig microbiomes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal parity on sow and offspring microbiomes and the influence of sow parity on pig fecal microbiome and performance in response to a prebiotic post-weaning. At weaning, piglets were allotted into three treatment groups: a standard nursery diet including pharmacological doses of Zn and Cu (Con), a group fed a commercial prebiotic only (Preb) based on an Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, and a group fed the same prebiotic plus Zn and Cu (Preb + ZnCu). Results Although there were no differences in vaginal microbiome composition between primiparous and multiparous sows, fecal microbiome composition was different (R 2 = 0.02, P = 0.03). The fecal microbiomes of primiparous offspring displayed significantly higher bacterial diversity compared to multiparous offspring at d 0 and d 21 postweaning (P

For years, there has been an increasing interest in natural alternatives to the conventional coccidiostats applied as feed additives, which have been used for decades to prevent coccidiosis in poultry and fattening rabbits. This study aimed to compare the possible anticoccidial effects of oregano oil to the established substance diclazuril in growing rabbits. The control group (CG) received a non-supplemented basal compound feed, to which either diclazuril (1 mg/kg; DG) or oregano oil (75 mg/kg; OG) was added. In each of the three trials, subgroups of 50 rabbits each were assigned to one of the three experimental groups (CG, DG and OG). Natural Eimeria infection was monitored weekly by fecal oocyst counts and Eimeria species identification following sporulation. Additionally, the performance parameters were determined at the middle and the end of the trials, and the deceased rabbits were subjected to necropsy. Neither oocyst excretion nor the performance parameters differed significantly between the three experimental groups. Eimeria media, Eimeria magna, Eimeria perforans and Eimeria exigua were identified as the occurring species. The highest animal losses (16.0%) occurred in the OG, while the losses were 12.7% in the DG and 12.0% in the CG. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Overall, neither diclazuril nor oregano oil was superior to the non-supplemented feed. This underlines the importance of diagnostics, as this study’s results indicate that in the absence of the highly pathogenic Eimeria species, economic rabbit rearing and fattening is achievable without the use of coccidiostats.

The term ‘tea polyphenols’ (TPs) comprises a broad range of polyphenol compounds present in tea, demonstrating positive health effects such as antioxidant activity, etc. in animals. This study investigated the effects of TPs supplementation in juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT); Oreochromis niloticus). Fifteen fish (weight: 13.46 ± 1.25 g) were distributed in six tanks and randomly assigned with diets containing graded levels of TPs (mg/kg): 0.00 (control), 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 in quadruplicate for 8 weeks. After the trial, the fish fed 500 mg/kg TPs exhibited a significant reduction (p

Probiotics are commonly used as nutritional supplements and antibiotic substitutes and thus are of great commercial interest. The present study was performed to demonstrate the probiotic potential of Exiguobacterium acetylicum G1–33 isolated from the gut of the hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × E. lanceolatus♂) by integrating genomics and phenotypic traits. In silico genome analysis confirmed its identity as E. acetylicum. Functional annotation of the genome revealed the existence of molecular markers responsible for the functional properties of potential probiotics, such as resistance to the host’s harsh gastrointestinal environment, adhesion and colonization of the intestinal mucosa, competition and inhibition of pathogens, responses to oxidative stress, and biosynthesis of essential amino acids and vitamins. The genomic analysis was validated by in vitro experiments. Effective toxin-encoding genes were not identified in the G1–33 genome, and the safety of the strain was confirmed by in vitro experiments. These results indicate that E. acetylicum G1–33 exhibits excellent probiotic properties and can become a probiotic with high application value in aquaculture.

Medicinal plants are a rich source of secondary metabolites, which can be used in veterinary medicine as growth stimulants and as next-generation antibacterials. Medicinal plants are used in the food, feed, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other industries because of their antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The feed industry has found use for medicinal plants because they contain substances with unique biological (antimicrobial, immunomodeling, anti-stress, growth-stimulating, etc.) properties. The use of synthetic antibiotics and hormones can be reduced by adding phytogenic feed additives in the form of powders or extracts to the feed. This improves the health of the animals and lowers their morbidity and mortality rates. This review aimed to study the role of plant-based preparation (phytobiotics based on extracts of medicinal plants) in the development of animal husbandry and the potential of medicinal plants as a resource for their production. The most important properties of plant extracts are their antibiotic properties, which can significantly reduce the use of feed antibiotics when raising animals and reduce antibiotic resistance in the human body when consuming animal products. The development of plant-based antibacterial agents and their application in animal husbandry are relevant given the high profitability of food production, which is a global trend that benefits both animals' and people's health.

There is a rapidly growing interest in how the avian intestine is affected by dietary components and feed additives. The paucity of physiologically relevant models has limited research in this field of poultry gut health and led to an over-reliance on the use of live birds for experiments. The development of complex 3D intestinal organoids or “mini-guts” has created ample opportunities for poultry research in this field. A major advantage of the floating chicken intestinal organoids is the combination of a complex cell system with an easily accessible apical-out orientation grown in a simple culture medium without an extracellular matrix. The objective was to investigate the impact of a commercial proprietary blend of organic acids and essential oils (OA+EO) on the innate immune responses and kinome of chicken intestinal organoids in a Salmonella challenge model. To mimic the in vivo prolonged exposure of the intestine to the product, the intestinal organoids were treated for 2 days with 0.5 or 0.25 mg/mL OA+EO and either uninfected or infected with Salmonella and bacterial load in the organoids was quantified at 3 hours post infection. The bacteria were also treated with OA+EO for 1 day prior to challenge of the organoids to mimic intestinal exposure. The treatment of the organoids with OA+EO resulted in a significant decrease in the bacterial load compared to untreated infected organoids. The expression of 88 innate immune genes was investigated using a high throughput qPCR array, measuring the expression of 88 innate immune genes. Salmonella invasion of the untreated intestinal organoids resulted in a significant increase in the expression of inflammatory cytokine and chemokines as well as genes involved in intracellular signaling. In contrast, when the organoids were treated with OA+EO and challenged with Salmonella, the inflammatory responses were significantly downregulated. The kinome array data suggested decreased phosphorylation elicited by the OA+EO with Salmonella in agreement with the gene expression data sets. This study demonstrates that the in vitro chicken intestinal organoids are a new tool to measure the effect of the feed additives in a bacterial challenge model by measuring innate immune and protein kinases responses.

Graphical Abstract

Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are known to improve aquatic animals' growth and health conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of Bacillus sp. KRF-7 (KRF-7), Bacillus sp. PM8313 (PM8313), β-glucooligosaccharide (BGO), and their synbiotics on the growth, digestive physiology, immunity, and gut microbiota of abalone, Haliotis discus hannai. The control diet (CON) was sprayed with 108 CFU/g KRF-7 (PRO1) or PM8313 (PRO2) as probiotics, 0.10% BGO (PRE) as prebiotic, and their combinations (SYN1: PRO1 + BGO; SYN2: PRO2+ BGO) as synbiotic treatments. These diets (triplicates) were given once daily to the abalone (initial body weight: 1.32 ± 0.05 g, initial shell length: 21. 69 ± 0.19 mm) for 12 weeks. The results showed that the PRE diet induced a significant 15% shell length and body weight increase against the CON (SLGR: 45.77% vs. 53.04%; WGR: 182.77% vs. 210.22%), the highest among dietary supplements (P < 0.05). The level of IGF and IGFBP in the cell-free hemolymph, protein expression of IGF signaling, and gene expression of myosin heavy chain in the adductor muscle increased significantly (P < 0.05) following dietary supplementation. Correspondingly, PRE-, PRO1-, and PRO2-fed abalone had the highest trypsin, lipase, and amylase secretion in the hepatopancreas (P < 0.05) and increased histomorphometry (stomach epithelial thickness and intestinal villi height) (P < 0.05). Regarding antioxidative capacity and immunity, the hepatopancreatic expression of SOD, CAT, IRAK-4, NF-Kb, TNF-α, and β-defensin were significantly upregulated in abalone fed with dietary additives compared to the CON (P < 0.05). In terms of gut microbiota profile, PRE-fed abalone had a significant reduction in microbial richness (P < 0.05). The phylum level was similarly occupied, while a diet-specific core microbiota at the genus level was apparent. The findings illustrated that BGO, KRF-7, and PM8313 can be used in abalone aquaculture as growth-promoting and immune-stimulating supplements.

Optimizing growth and feed conversion ratios by improving gut function and health is critial to ensuring cost-effective production in aquaculture, especially in the current context of low fishmeal and low fish oil-based diets. However, the use of practical diets based on high levels of plant-based raw materials as an alternative to traditional marine ingredients has been associated with negative effects on fish performance, feed utilization, and health. Organic acids and their salts have been widely used as functional ingredients not only for their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, but also for their potential to promote animal digestive capacity and gut health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a mixture of formic acid and sodium formate (Amasil NA®, BASF, Germany- AMA diet) at a dietary level of 0.3%, on key performance indicators, gut morphology and disease resistance to Vibrio anguillarum in juvenile gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). The results of the present study showed that fish fed the AMA diet for 8 weeks, performed similar to fish fed the control diet in terms of growth but presented an optimization of 8% in the utilization of a low in fishmeal and high in plant proteins based diet. The AMA-diet also increased the folds length of gilthead sea bream anterior gut, increasing intestinal absorption area, and decreasing the submucosa width and goblet cell size in the posterior gut when included in a high dietary plant protein content diet. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with Amasil NA® at 0.3% increased gilthead sea bream disease resistance against V. anguillarum compared with fish fed the unsupplemented diet. These results highlight the potential of this combination of formic acid and sodium formate based product as a feed efficiency enhancer, and as a gut health promoter in gilthead sea bream plant protein-based diets.

The article defines the peculiarities of the development of the world pet food market. The current state of the pet food market in Ukraine and the world is analyzed, the main market participants and their advantages are highlighted. The results of a sociological survey of Ukrainians on the question of which pets they keep are presented. It was found that 79% of respondents keep cats as pets, and 61% - dogs. The characteristics of the 5 leaders according to the "Top 101 manufacturers of pet food" according to the results of 2020-2021 are given. Mars, Nestle, Ralston Purina, H. J. Heinz, Hill's, etc. are the largest suppliers of compound feed for pets on the world and Ukrainian markets. Data on the dynamics of the global feed market and growth rates based on the results of 2020-2023 are presented. Experts predict that the growth of the compound feed market for pets is facilitated by the stable economic growth predicted in many developed and developing countries, by 2027 the volume will already reach $534.36 billion with an average annual growth of 7.6%. Among the domestic producers of pet food, the main producer is the company "Kormotekh", which produces both dry and wet compound feed for pets. The main advantages and disadvantages of wet compound feed for pets are given. Analyzed changes in the cost of the main fodder and additives for the production of compound feed for pets for the years 2020-2023, as well as the average prices for wet compound feed for pets depending on the class as of 2023, which are within the range of UAH 124...470/kg. The main factors affecting the formation of a solid base for the production of fodder for animals of domestic origin are highlighted. The trends were analyzed and the main directions of further development were determined. It was determined that the existence of many unanswered questions creates an objective necessity for the study of the domestic pet food market and the formation of demand for it. It has been established that the development of a proposal for the formation of a market portfolio of domestic producers of pet food will contribute not only to improving the level of competitiveness of existing enterprises in the industry, but also to the emergence of new domestic enterprises.

This paper aims to monitor the impact of Lactobacillus sporogenes (LS), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), the combination thereof Lactobacillus sporogenes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CLS) on the health status and the live weight gain in calves compared to a control group (C). The experiment took place in the period from March 2022 to March 2023. 100 Holstein heifers in the age from 1 to 56 days were included in the experiment. The differences in live weight gain were significant when the live weight gains were compared in the first 14 days after birth between the CLS vs C group (63,36.72 ± 4.81 vs 59.55 ± 4.55, P < 0,05) and in 56 days after the birth between the CLS vs C group, LS vs C group and SC vs C group (87,34 ± 4.95 kg vs 83.15 ± 5.32 kg, P < 0,01; 86.41 ± 5.34 kg vs 83.15 ± 5.32 kg, P < 0.05 an 85.92 ± 5.86 kg vs 83.15 ± 5.32 kg, P < 0.05). The differences in live weight gain between the experimental groups were not proved statistically P > 0.05. The impact on decrease and duration of diarrhea was not proved statistically P = 0.0634. However, a tendency to decrease the occurrence and duration thereof was proved. The impact of feed additives on the transmission of passive immunity in calves in their first week of life was not proved as statistically significant.

The effects of the inclusion of a selected herbal mixture consisting of fenugreek, garlic and coriander (FGC) in different levels of growth performance, digestibility of nutrients and blood biochemicals in broiler chickens (Cobb 500) were studied in a 42-day experiment on 360 broilers, which were grouped into 4 treatments. The dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (control) and the same diet with the addition of FGC at rates of 1%, 2%, and 3%. The results showed that the treatment groups exhibited a significantly lower feed intake (P

This study was conducted to assess the effects of dietary monoglycerides and tributyrin on performance, blood metabolites, and intestinal health function in nursery piglets. A total of 96 crossbred entire male piglets (7.70 ± 0.49 kg) were allotted for 35 d in a complete block design to one of four treatments: (1) negative control (NC): no feed additive, (2) positive control (PC) containing 60 mg halquinol/kg diet, (3) diet containing 2 g monoglyceride blend/kg diet (MGD), and (4) diet containing 2 g tributyrin/kg diet (TBT). The growth phases were defined as pre-starter (day 0–20), and starter (day 20–35). No treatment effect on performance was observed. Pre-starter piglets fed NC showed higher diarrhoea occurrence (DO) than those fed PC and TBT (p

With the prohibition of antibiotics in animal feed, the livestock industry faces significant challenges, including increased morbidity and mortality rates and reduced farming efficiency. Developing green, natural, and safe antibiotic alternatives has become a research hotspot. This study evaluated the effects of octapeptin as a feed additive on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, serum biochemistry, serum immune factors, and gut microbiota of weaned piglets. Seventy-two weaned piglets were randomly assigned to three groups based on body weight and sex, with each group receiving different dietary treatments: a negative control group (CON, basal diet), a positive control group (MC, basal diet + 5 mg/kg Microcin C7), and an octapeptin supplement group (OP, basal diet + 40 mg/kg octapeptin). After 28 days of feeding experimental diets, the results demonstrated that supplementing the diet of weaned piglets with octapeptin significantly improved the feed conversion ratio compared to the control group (p < 0.05) over the entire experimental period. Furthermore, a reduction in diarrhea incidence was observed during the late nursery period (14–28 d), resulting in an overall improvement in diarrhea compared to the other two groups (p < 0.01). Serum biochemical analysis results revealed a trend towards decreased alanine aminotransferase level in the octapeptin group, with no significant differences in other indicators, suggesting potential improvements in liver function without causing liver damage. In addition, compared to the control group, octapeptin enhanced mucosal immunity by decreasing TNF-α level (p < 0.05). Fecal microbiota analysis results showed a significant increase in beneficial bacteria such as Collinsella and Olsenella in the octapeptin group compared to the other two groups (p < 0.05), indicating a positive impact on gut health. These findings supported the potential of octapeptin as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in weaned piglets’ diets.

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of Clostridium butyricum probiotic feed additive on sow and piglet performances, together with alterations in the lipidomic and metabolomic profiles of sow milk. Sixty-four Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred sows and 794 piglets were included. Sows were divided into two groups; i.e., (i) conventional gestation diet (control; n = 35) and (ii) conventional diet added with 10 g/sow/day of probiotic C. butyricum spores (treatment; n = 29) from one week before the estimated farrowing day until weaning (29.6 ± 4.8 days). The sow and piglet performances and incidence of piglet diarrhea were recorded. Changes in gross chemical composition, fatty acid and non-volatile polar metabolite profiles of sow colostrum, transient milk and mature milk were evaluated. The results showed that relative backfat loss in the treatment group (−2.3%) was significantly lower than in control group (11.6%), especially in primiparous sows (p = 0.019). The application of C. butyricum probiotics in sows significantly reduced the incidence of diarrhea in piglets (p < 0.001) but no other effect on piglet performance was found. Lipidomic and metabolomic analyses revealed variations in sow colostrum and milk biomolecular profiles, with indicative compounds significantly altered by feeding with the C. butyricum probiotics. In conclusion, the use of C. butyricum probiotics in sows may improve sow body condition and reduce diarrhea incidence in piglets, with underlying changes in milk composition that warrant further investigation. These findings support the potential of C. butyricum as a beneficial feed additive in swine production.

The study evaluated the impact of lemon peel fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum (FLP) being a practical feed additive, and its effects on growth performance, non-specific immune indicators, and disease resistance for whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The FLP was incorporated into the control diet at a graded level of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%. Four experimental feeds were randomly assigned to 4 replicates of L. vannamei with average weight of 2.37 g in a recirculation system for 56 days. Shrimp fed the four diets revealed similar (p > 0.05) weight gain percentage (489.01%−520.25%), feed conversion rate (2.46–2.70), protein efficiency ratio (1.05–1.14), and survival (78.75%−90.00%) after the feeding trial. Total hemocyte count (THC) was higher in shrimp delivered feeds containing 1% and 2% FLP whereas the phenoloxidase (PO) activity was advanced in shrimp fed the feed containing 2% FLP comparing with the FLP-free control group. In the V. alginolyticus challenge test, final survival after 72 h injection was higher in shrimp delivered feeds containing 2% and 3% FLP (66.67%−70.00%) than that in the control group (43.33%). The findings emphasize that fermented lemon peel is a potential functional feed additive on improving immunity and disease resistance for whiteleg shrimp, and showing no negative effects on growth and hepatopancreas morphology. An inclusion rate of 2% FLP is suggested for whiteleg shrimp to maximize the THC and PO activity and resistance ability to V. alginolyticus.

This review highlights the possible hazard of mycotoxins occurrence in foods and feeds in regards to foodborne diseases. The possible management of the risk of contamination of foods and feeds with mycotoxins by using natural feed additives, protecting against deleterious effects of mycotoxins or inhibiting the growth of fungi and mycotoxin production, is deeply investigated in the available literature and some effective measures for safe utilization of mycotoxin contaminated feed/food are proposed. The biological methods of decontamination, degradation or biotransformation of mycotoxins are deeply analyzed and discussed. Some natural antagonists against target fungi are also reviewed and a comparison is made with conventional fungicides for ensuring a safe prevention of mycotoxin contamination. The most common and useful chemical methods of mycotoxins decontamination of agricultural commodities or raw materials are also investigated, e.g., chemical additives inactivating or destroying and/or adsorbing mycotoxins as well as chemical additives inhibiting the growth of fungi and mycotoxin production. The practical use and safety of various kind of feed/food additives or herbal/biological supplements as possible approach for ameliorating the adverse effects of some dangerous mycotoxins is deeply investigated and some suggestions are given. Various possibilities for decreasing mycotoxins toxicity, e.g., by clarifying the mechanisms of their toxicity and using some target antidotes and vitamins as supplements to the diet, are also studied in the literature and appropriate discussions or suggestions are made in this regard. Some studies on animal diets such as low carbohydrate intake, increased protein content, calorie restriction or the importance of dietary fats are also investigated in the available literature for possible amelioration of the ailments associated with mycotoxins exposure. It could be concluded that natural feed additives and bioactive supplements would be more safe and practical approach to combat foodborne mycotoxicoses as compared to chemical additives.

This paper is reviewed with the objective to understand the effect of herbal extracts on animal performance as feed additives. The number of both external and internal factors which affects the production and productivity of animals obviously includes nutrition as a major factor. Feed additives are products used in animal nutrition to increase the quality of feed and animal-derived foods, as well as the performance and the health of animals. Plant extracts as feed additives are described as herbal-derived components added to ration to improve livestock performance and product quality. Many herbal extracts contain chemical components that have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticoccidial and anthelmintic properties to improve ruminal microbial activity, diet palatability and stimulate digestion. Bioactive chemicals found in nature, such as flavonoids and glucosinolates isoprene derivatives, are primarily responsible for the qualities of plant extracts. Plant extracts are commonly added to feed to increase palatability, productivity and to inhibit lipid oxidation. When added to meals, herbal extracts aid to decrease rancidity, delay the generation of hazardous oxidation products, and retain nutritional quality. It is concluded that; herbal extracts are important to improve growth performance and product quality.

ABSTRACT: Endotoxins released from poultry feces have been associated with impaired human health. Because endotoxins are released from gram-negative intestinal bacteria, it was hypothesized that dietary strategies may influence endotoxin excretion via modulation of gut microbiota. We therefore tested dietary strategies that could potentially reduce cloacal endotoxin levels in broiler chickens. One-day-old male Ross 308 (N = 1,344) broilers were housed in 48 pens (N = 8 pens/treatment, 28 chickens per pen) and fed 1 of 6 diets for 35 days (d) in a 3-phase feeding program: a basic diet (CON) that served as the reference diet, or basic diet supplemented with butyrate (BUT), inulin (INU), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) or Original XPC™LS (XPC), or a high-fiber-low-protein (HF-LP) diet. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in cloacal endotoxin concentration at d 35 was observed in BUT as compared to CON. Analysis of cloacal microbiota showed a trend (P < 0.07) for a higher gram-negative/gram-positive ratio and for a higher relative abundance of gram-negative bacteria at d 35 (P ≤ 0.08) in BUT and HF-LP as compared to CON. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in average daily gain (ADG) and improved feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) were observed in MCFA during the grower phase (d 14–28), and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in average daily feed intake (ADFI) was observed in MCFA during d 0 to 28. Broilers fed HF-LP had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher FCR and lower ADG throughout the rearing period. No treatment effects were found on footpad dermatitis, but BUT had worst hock burn scores at d 35 (P < 0.01) and MCFA had worst cleanliness scores at d 21 but not at d 35 (treatment*age P < 0.05), while INU had better cleanliness as compared to CON at d 35 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, especially BUT and HF-LP were able to modulate resident microbiota and BUT also increased cloacal endotoxin levels, which was opposite to our hypothesis. The present study indicates that cloacal endotoxin release can be affected by the diet but further study is needed to find dietary treatments that can reduce cloacal endotoxin release.

The larval waste, exoskeleton shedding, and leftover feed components of the black soldier fly and its larvae make up the by-product known as frass. In this study, we subjected channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to a 10-week feeding trial to assess how different dietary amounts of frass inclusion would affect both systemic and mucosal tissue gene expression, especially in regard to growth and immune-related genes. Fish were divided in quadruplicate aquaria, and five experimental diets comprising 0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 g of frass per kilogram of feed were fed twice daily. At the end of the trial, liver, head kidney, gill, and intestine samples were collected for gene expression analyses. First, liver and intestine samples from fish fed with a no frass inclusion diet (control), low-frass (50 g/kg) inclusion diet, or a high-frass (300 g/kg) inclusion diet were subjected to Illumina RNA sequencing to determine global differential gene expression among diet groups. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) included the upregulation of growth-related genes such as glucose-6-phosphatase and myostatin, as well as innate immune receptors and effector molecules such as toll-like receptor 5, apolipoprotein A1, C-type lectin, and lysozyme. Based on the initial screenings of low/high frass using RNA sequencing, a more thorough evaluation of immune gene expression of all tissues sampled, and all levels of frass inclusion, was further conducted. Using targeted quantitative PCR panels for both innate and adaptive immune genes from channel catfish, differential expression of genes was identified, which included innate receptors (TLR1, TLR5, TLR9, and TLR20A), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β type a, IL-1β type b, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNFα), chemokines (CFC3 and CFD), and hepcidin in both systemic (liver and head kidney) and mucosal (gill and intestine) tissues. Overall, frass from black soldier fly larvae inclusion in formulated diets was found to alter global gene expression and activate innate and adaptive immunity in channel catfish, which has the potential to support disease resistance in this species in addition to demonstrated growth benefits.

ABSTRACT Feed additives, such as β-glucans, nucleotides, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) can improve fish immunity and contribute to enhanced zootechnical performance of the fish. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of vitamin- mineral premix with or without the inclusion of an immunostimulant boost (β-glucans, nucleotides and vitamins C and E) on the zootechnical performance, hemato-immunological parameters, histological changes, and survival of Nile tilapia juveniles. To this end, isocaloric and isoproteic diets were prepared with three different concentrations of vitamin-mineral premix (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 kg ton-1); additionally, the effects of 4% immunostimulant boost in the diet were examined considering six diets (without the immunostimulant boost: 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.2%, and with the immunostimulant boost: 0.1% I, 0.15% I, and 0.2% I). We used 24 experimental units, each including 15 fish. Nile tilapia juveniles (1.88 g±0.25) were fed for 50 d with supplemented diets. Further, zootechnical indexes; histological changes in the liver, spleen, and intestine; intestinal morphology; and hemato-immunological parameters were evaluated. The fish that received supplementation showed higher zootechnical values, compared to those that did not receive the supplementation of immunostimulant reinforcement. Weight gain (30.45g±3.06), daily weight gain (0.60g±0.06), final weight (32.41g±3.15) and feed conversion (0.95±0.06) were higher in tilapia fed with an inclusion concentration of 0.2%. Hematological parameters were not affected by either the pre-mix concentrations or the booster of the immunostimulant. There was an increase in the number of intestinal folds, length of the fold, total area and number of goblet cells in the group supplemented with immunostimulant reinforcement. Supplementation with the immunostimulant promoted growth and improved intestinal morphology and immunological parameters of Nile tilapia juveniles.

The study aimed to research in vivo changes in the hematological and biochemical parameters of laboratory rats' blood when they were continuously exposed to a moderate dose of lead acetate while receiving humic feed additives made of leonardite and lignite. Two-month-old white rats were used to assess the detoxifying properties of the humic compounds leonardite and lignite. The analog pair approach was used to create four groups of eight animals from 32 male laboratory rats for the study. Rats received a pre-meal injection of lead acetate at a dose of 7 mg/100 g of animal weight (1/110 LD50) using a veterinary feeding needle. By creating solutions from lignite and leonardite at a dosage of 18 and 25 mg/kg depending on the active ingredient, humic feed additives were supplied to animals. It has been demonstrated that lignite- and leonardite-based feed additives may affect the morphological parameters of lead acetate-treated rats' blood, including hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte, and platelet count. These parameters were very near to the levels of the intact rats, which suggests that these humic feed additives may have an anti-anemic impact. The effects of feed additives from leonardite and lignite on laboratory rats in groups that were also exposed to a toxic agent for all 21 days of the experiment led to the normalization of markers of the state of protein metabolism in the group of intact animals (serum protein, albumins, urea, creatinine), particularly activity of the enzyme’s aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. As one of the most crucial indicators of lipid metabolism together with cholesterol, the concentration of triglycerides was slightly lower in the humic substances treated groups than in the intact animals. It was discovered that using a feed supplement made from leonardite in a dosage of 18 mg/kg, which contained more fulvic acids than lignite, led to more favorable blood test results in the research group.

This study aimed to evaluate alfalfa meal's chemical and nutritional composition and effectiveness on broiler chicken thigh meat quality. Alfalfa contains significant content of crude protein and fibre, minerals (iron and zinc), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and antioxidant compounds, especially total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total polyphenols content (TPC). To test its effectiveness on chicken tight meat quality, we developed a trial on 60 Cobb 500 broilers, divided into two groups of 30 animals each and fed during growing-finishing phases (11-42 days) a control diet (C) and an experimental diet (A), in which 5% alfalfa meal was added. At the end of the trial, six animals from each group were selected for slaughter and sampling. The analyses on meat samples revealed that alfalfa significantly affected bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential, such as zinc, vitamin E and TPC, compared with the C samples. The utilisation of 5% alfalfa was also very effective on the fatty acids composition of thigh meat samples in the A group by increasing the concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid and significantly decreasing the n-6/n-3 ratio as well as cholesterol content with 10.41% in experimental samples. Therefore, alfalfa can be a potential alternative to synthetic feed additives in producing healthier chicken meat, with increased content of bioactive compounds and essential fatty acids for human health.

The research aim is to examine the possibilities of including the sodium humate (NaHum) additive derived from freshwater sapropel in feed to identify its effects on growth performance, promote haematopoiesis, and modulate the microbiota of the intestinal tract. The research was done under production conditions, complying with Latvian and European Union legislation on the keeping, feeding, and welfare of farm animals. The research had three replications, and for each of them, two groups of Holstein breeding heifers were established: control (3xn=7) and research (3xn=7). The duration of each replication was 9 days in the adaptation period and 105 days in the research period. The heifers of the research group received the NaHum solution additive with feed from the 1st to 35th day (stage 1) at an intake rate of 0.4 mL/kg of live weight, from the 36th to 70th day (stage 2) at an intake rate of 0.5 mL/kg of live weight, and from the 71st to 105th day (stage 3) at an intake rate of 0.6 mL/kg of live weight. The breeding heifers of the research group, receiving NaHum at an intake rate of 0.6 mL/kg of live weight, achieved a significantly higher live weight gain at stage 3 and an overall numerically higher live weight gain (by 4.8 kg) than the control group during the research period. Consequently, a significantly higher relative growth ratio (0.334) was found in the research group at stage 3, which was 0.028 higher than that in the control group. The Lactobacillus spp. count in faecal samples was steady at the end of the research; a significant difference was found between groups, with the average ranging between 6.95 (control group) and 8.49 log CFU/g (research (NaHum) group). The novelty of the research is that it was scientifically proven that feeding the NaHum additive derived from freshwater lake sapropel to the breeding Holstein heifers up to 5 months of age increased their feed intake and live weight gain, as well as activity and health. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-04-023 Full Text: PDF

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing feed with a functional mixture of immunomodulators, including β-glucans, nucleotides, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol, associated with a diet with lower levels of animal protein (11.5%) and higher levels of soybean meal (43.5%), on the zootechnical performance, health, hematological and immunological parameters, intestinal morphology, centesimal composition, and intestinal microbiome of juvenile Nile tilapia (initial weight 1.88 g ± 0.25 g, mean ± standard deviation). Two isocaloric and isoproteic diets (35% crude protein) were formulated, one with the inclusion of the immunostimulant functional mixture (40 kg·t−1), composed of 150 mg·kg−1 of nucleotides, 1000 mg·kg−1 of β-glucans, 1000 mg·kg−1 of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and 20 mg·kg−1 of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), and another without. The combined supplementation of nucleotides, β-glucans, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol resulted in a 59.95% increase in final weight, 64% weight gain, 66% daily gain, a 21.31% decrease in feed conversion rate, and double the retention of body protein. Supplementation also improved intestinal morphology and modulated the intestinal microbiome, increasing Chao-1 diversity. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that fish fed with both diets exhibited intact intestinal mucosal membranes. Supplementation did not alter the hematological and immunological parameters, suggesting that there was no overstimulation of the fish’s immune system. This work allows us to evaluate the effect of reducing the use of animal protein in the diets of fish, along with the effects of nucleotides, β-glucans, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol. Together, these compounds can provide fish with the necessary tools to achieve optimal health and growth.

The aim of this research is to explore the potential effects of two microalgae-based additives included in finishing feeds on the quality and shelf-life of seabream fillets. In a 41-day feeding trial, seabream specimens were fed with experimental aquafeeds containing 10% of the bioactive supplements. These additives consisted of a blend of Nannochloropsis gaditana and Arthrospira platensis biomass, which was utilized as either raw (LB-CB) or enzymatically hydrolyzed (LB-CBplus). A control group received a microalgae-free diet. The results showed that the functional aquafeeds improved the nutritional profile of seabream fillets, increasing protein and PUFA-n3 contents while reducing the atherogenic index, especially for the LB-CBplus treatment. LB-CBplus also enhanced the texture parameters (hardness and chewiness) of fillets during the initial 5 days under cold storage. Regarding skin pigmentation, fillets showed increased greenish and yellowish coloration compared to control fish, mostly attributed to the inclusion of crude algal biomass (LB-CB). Moreover, diets enriched with microalgae additives effectively delayed muscle lipid oxidation processes under refrigeration for up to 12 days, with LB-CBplus exhibiting higher antioxidant effects. These findings highlight the potential of microalgae-based additives to enhance both the nutritional and organoleptic quality of seabream fillets.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of the M-E complex (xylanase, glucanase, cellulase, and invertase) Optimax E® on the performance of growing lambs, their digestibility, and their rumen microbiota, and to estimate NEm, NEg, and ruminal methane levels. Forty lambs (Katahdin x Dorset; 22.91 ± 4.16 kg) were randomly assigned to dietary concentrations of ME (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8% DM) and fed individually for 77 days. Increasing M-E improved feed conversion (p < 0.05) as well as NEm and NEg (p < 0.05), which were associated with increased in vivo DM and NDF digestion (linear and quadratic p < 0.01). Few microbial families showed abundancy changes (Erysipelotrichaceae, Christensenellaceae, Lentisphaerae, and Clostridial Family XIII); however, the dominant phylum Bacteroidetes was linearly reduced, while Firmicutes increased (p < 0.01), resulting in a greater Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio. Total Entodinium showed a quadratic response (p < 0.10), increasing its abundancy as the enzyme dose was augmented. The daily emission intensity of methane (per kg of DMI or AGD) was reduced linearly (p < 0.01). In conclusion, adding the M-E complex Optimax E® to growing lambs’ diets improves their productive performance by acting synergistically with the rumen microbiota, modifying the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio toward more efficient fermentation, and shows the potential to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from lambs.

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect offenugreek seed powder as feed additive on performance and blood chemistry of broiler chicks. 96 unsexed broiler chicks (hubbard) were divided randomly into four group, each represented a treatment (24 birds/treatment) with 4 replicates in a completely randomized design. The experimental basal rations were formulated to meet requirement for essential nutrients for broiler chicks according to NRC (1994) recommendation. Four graded levels of fenugreek seed powder 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% were used. The experiment lasted for six weeks. Blood chemistry and carcass characteristics were measured. Overall feed intake, live body weight, haven't shown any significant (p>0.05) differences between treatments groups, Weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly affected (P0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments.Blood parameters weren’t significantly (p>0.05) affected, PCV, MCH, MCHC, RBCS and WBC, significant (P0.05) different was recorded in cholesterol level between experimental groups. Inclusion of fenugreek seeds powder has good effect on broiler chicks performance.

Proteomic technologies make it possible to evaluate the composition of meat raw materials at different stages of processing. Proteomic studies of lamb muscle tissue help to expand scientific knowledge about the effect of essential organic microelements on the interaction of lamb muscle tissue proteins. The research objective was to identify and quantify lamb muscle tissue proteins from young sheep grown on feed additives fortified with microelements. The research featured meat from young sheep of the Edilbaev breed aged 7 months that consumed additives Yoddar-Zn and DAFS-25 as part of their diet. The experiment lasted 105 days. The microelement composition of lamb muscle tissue underwent atomic absorption spectrometry. The proteomic profile was identified using O'Farrell’s two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) with isoelectrofocusing in ampholine (IEF-PAGE). Aluminum, iodine, silicon, selenium, and zinc were identified in lamb samples from young sheep that received feed additives Yoddar-Zn and DAFS-25 for 105 days. Major protein fractions included eight with a molecular weight of 12–15 kDa, 42 with 16–30 kDa, and 45 with 35–110 kDa (pI 5.0–8.0). The samples contained glutathione-S-transferase, which is responsible for biotransformation of toxic compounds, maintenance of intracellular homeostasis, and stress resistance. All the experimental samples had triose phosphate isomerase (glycolysis enzyme). The tests also revealed superoxide dismutase, which catalyzes the superoxide radical into peroxides and oxygen, thus protecting body cells from free oxygen radicals. The research provided relevant data on the effect of innovative feed additives on the molecular mechanisms that occur in mutton muscle tissue and affect the proteomic profile of meat proteins and electrophoretic activity. The feed additives with organic microelements proved efficient. The results can be used to model and adjust autolysis in order to obtain meat with the necessary technological properties.

Feed additives belong to a number of climate change mitigation strategies being sought to reduce methane emissions in ruminants. In this study, the effect of biochar or biochar and urea supplementation on dairy cow performance and methane production was assessed. Eighteen cows were used in a 3 × 3 latin square design with three feeding groups: control with no supplementation (CO), biochar supplementation (BC, 200 g/day) and biochar and urea supplementation (BC + U, 200 g/day biochar and 90 g/day urea). All cows were fed a forage mixture ad libitum and 5 kg of concentrates per day on average. Methane emissions were measured in respiration chambers. Biochar as well as biochar and urea supplementation did not affect total dry matter, energy and utilisable protein intake. However, lignin intake was higher in the BC group and crude protein intake was higher in the BC + U group compared to the CO group. Supplementation of feed additives did not affect milk production and milk composition, except for the higher milk urea content in the BC + U group. Feed conversion, diet digestibility and methane production were not affected by feeding strategy. In conclusion, biochar supplementation does not reduce methane emissions, but it does not negatively affect dairy cow performance.

Abstract This guidance document is intended to assist the applicant in the preparation and the presentation of an application, as foreseen in Article 7.6 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition. It specifically covers the assessment of the safety for the users.

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for the renewal of the authorisation of zinc chloride hydroxide monohydrate as a nutritional feed additive for all animal species (3b609). The applicant reported changes in the production process and requested a change in the specification of the additive. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) confirms that the use of the additive under the current authorised conditions of use is safe for the target species and the consumers. The use of the additive in animal nutrition at the proposed use levels for the terrestrial species and land‐based aquaculture systems is considered safe for the environment. The FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the safety of the additive for marine sediment compartment, when it is used in sea cages. The additive is an eye irritant, but not irritant to the skin and not a skin sensitiser. The exposure through inhalation is likely, but in the absence of data, the Panel is not in a position to conclude on the risk of exposure by inhalation. There was no need for assessing the efficacy of the additive in the context of the renewal of the authorisation.

ABSTRACT Emulsifiers and exogenous lipases are feed additives used to increase lipid utilization in broiler diets. A meta-analysis was carried out to quantify the effects of the supplementation of emulsifiers and exogenous lipases on broiler weight gain (BWG, g/broiler/d) and feed conversion ratio (FCR, g/g) during the whole production cycle. Studies were obtained from the PubMed, Scielo, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. A total of 2669 studies were identified, 25 of which composed the database for the meta-analysis, representing data from a total of 14,643 broilers. These results demonstrate that there is evidence in the literature supporting that supplementation with emulsifiers or lipases improves broiler weight gain and feed conversion during the whole production cycle. However, the effect of the additives is influenced by bird sex, lipid source and concentration, type of additive and concentration, energy level of the feed, and bird strains. The isolated use of emulsifiers increases weight gain by 1.62g/day and reduces feed conversion by 0.04. However, there is no evidence that exogenous lipase use alone improves weight gain or feed conversion in broilers during the whole production cycle. The latter result may be due to the small number of studies with the additive in question, rather than its possible effects on weight gain and feed conversion. Therefore, further investigation should be conducted on this topic, especially studies on females fed diets supplemented with lipases.

Tilapia species are among the most cultivated fish worldwide due to their biological advantages but face several challenges, including environmental impact and disease outbreaks. Feed additives, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and other microorganisms, have emerged as strategies to protect against pathogens and promote immune system activation and other host responses, with consequent reductions in antibiotic use. Because these additives also influence tilapia’s gut microbiota and positively affect the tilapia culture, we assume it is a flexible annex organ capable of being subject to significant modifications without affecting the biological performance of the host. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of probiotics and other additives ingested by tilapia on its gut microbiota through a meta-analysis of several bioprojects studying the tilapia gut microbiota exposed to feed additives (probiotic, prebiotic, biofloc). A total of 221 tilapia gut microbiota samples from 14 bioprojects were evaluated. Alpha and beta diversity metrics showed no differentiation patterns in relation to the control group, either comparing additives as a group or individually. Results also revealed a control group with a wide dispersion pattern even when these fish did not receive additives. After concatenating the information, the tilapia gut core microbiota was represented by four enriched phyla including Proteobacteria (31%), Fusobacteria (23%), Actinobacteria (19%), and Firmicutes (16%), and seven minor phyla Planctomycetes (1%), Chlamydiae (1%), Chloroflexi (1%), Cyanobacteria (1%), Spirochaetes (1%), Deinococcus Thermus (1%), and Verrucomicrobia (1%). Finally, results suggest that the tilapia gut microbiota is a dynamic microbial community that can plastically respond to feed additives exposure with the potential to influence its taxonomic profile allowing a considerable optimal range of variation, probably guaranteeing its physiological function under different circumstances.

Horse breeding is one of the rapidly developing branches of animal husbandry in Yakutia. Horses of the Yakut breed are only type of farm animals that are kept year-round in harsh conditions of the sharply continental climate of Yakutia. In winter, animals experience a significant lack of nutrients and minerals. This is due to fact that basic diet consists of natural feed winter pasture and hay. Therefore, the goal was to study the effect of complex feed additives from local natural raw materials on the change in live weight and biochemical composition of the blood of animals. This study used standard animal research methods. The use of non-traditional feed additives in feeding of horses contributed to an increase in the supply of nutrients and minerals to the rations. Improving feeding conditions affected the live weight of horses (live weight loss was 5.75 % и 5.45 %). The change caused by inclusion of non-traditional feed additives in the diets of horses had a positive effect on the morphological and biochemical composition of the blood animals. In horses from the experimental groups, an increase was found in the blood in total protein by 0.50 % and 0.30 %, albumin by 0.36 and 0.20 %, globulin by 0.13 and 0.10 %, hemoglobin by 2.91 and 1.33 %, calcium by 3.56 and 1.29%, phosphorus by 5.71 and 1.90 %. Thus, use of experimental non-traditional feed additives in feeding horses in winter contributes to the best preservation of live weight. This is due to the improvement of mineral and vitamin nutrition in a difficult period of deficiency of macro- and microelements, vitamins in the diets of horses. This improves metabolism, which is reflected in the morphological and biochemical composition of blood of horses.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of chemical elements that include lanthanides as well as scandium and yttrium. Today REEs are used in various industries, such as agriculture where they are used as micro fertilizers and feed additives, the latter being used in medicine as well. There is no indication that REEs might be essential for any form of life. At lower concentrations, they can favorably influence certain physiological processes of plants (enzyme activity, hormone content, photosynthesis, seed germination, plant growth, etc.). They may induce an increase in some antioxidant systems and thereby increase the tolerance of plants to environmental stressors caused by high concentrations of heavy metals, herbicides, lack of water and essential nutrients, UV radiation and oxidative stress. Thus, their favorable effect was documented regarding the yield of cultivated species as well as the effect of their chemical composition on the content of vitamin C, soluble sugars and essential elements, reduction of the concentration of toxic heavy metals, improvement of the quality of wheat kernel for different uses. REEs have been commonly used as feed additives in organic and inorganic forms in livestock production. The available literature on the use of REEs as feed additives in livestock suggests positive outcomes (affected various physiological processes, increase in milk, egg and meat production, promoted growth and reproductive performance), but further investigation and results are needed before extending their use to zootechnical purposes.

This study assessed the effects of hydroxytyrosol (HT) on 8- to 20-day-old broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS); 180 Cobb500™ male chicks were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups, each comprising 10 replicates with 6 birds per replicate. Treatments included a control diet (CON), CON with LPS administration, and CON + LPS supplemented with 10 mg of HT/kg of feed. LPS was administered intraperitoneally on days 14, 16, 18, and 20. Body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. On day 20, ten birds per treatment were slaughtered for analysis. Bursa, spleen, and liver were collected, and their respective relative weight was determined. The jejunum was destined for morphological analyses of villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and their ratio (VH:CD), and for mRNA expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and interleukins 10 (IL-10), 1 beta (IL-1β), and 8 (IL-8). HT improved BW, BWG, and FCR, and reduced crypt depth (CD) while increasing the VH:CD ratio in the jejunum. Moreover, HT downregulated mRNA expression of CAT, GPx, IL-10, and IL-1β. In conclusion, HT enhances broiler growth performance, mitigates jejunal mucosa damage from LPS, and modulates antioxidant and immune responses.

This review presents several alternatives to replace antibiotic therapy and make the European aquaculture industry more friendly and environmentally sustainable. The first part of this review highlights the growing importance of the aquaculture industry worldwide for its ability to supply low-cost proteins and lipids. The second part discusses different strategies for these replacements, from recombinant vaccines to diets with low environmental impact and rich in bioactive molecules that can benefit other species. Specifically, the beneficial effects of bioactive compounds present within insect meals are discussed. In addition, particular focus is placed on the importance of adopting sustainable protocols for fish farming, including supplements such as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics capable of modulating the gut microbiota as the second brain. Those feed additives can stimulate European farmed species’ immunological systems, growth, and welfare.

In order to understand the effects of fermented Astragalus membranaceus (FAM) on the liver and intestinal health of tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus), this study was conducted. This study evaluates the effects of different levels of FAM on liver and intestinal tissue structure, serum biochemical parameters, intestinal digestive enzyme, and microbiota structure of tiger grouper. Fish were fed with diets (crude protein ≥ 48.0%, crude fat ≥ 10.0%) with five levels of FAM (L1:0.25%, L2: 0.5%, L3: 1%, L4: 2% and L5: 4%) in the experimental groups and a regular diet was used as the control (L0: 0%) for 8 weeks. Compared with AM, the protein content of FAM was significantly changed by 34.70%, indicating that a large amount of bacterial protein was produced after AM fermentation, and its nutritional value was improved. FAM had significant effects on the growth performance of tiger grouper (p < 0.05). The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was highest in L4 group, being significantly different from L0 group. The area and diameter of hepatocytes were lowest in L3 and L4, and the density of hepatocyte was highest in L4 group and relatively decreased in L5 group. The mucosal height and muscular thickness were highest in L3 group. The intestinal microbiota structure of tiger grouper was changed under the intervention of FAM. The lower abundance of potential pathogenic bacteria and higher abundance of probiotics colonization in the L4 group showed that the dose of FAM had the best effect on improving the health of intestinal microbiota. This study indicates that the addition of FAM in the feed contributes to liver health, improves intestinal morphology, and regulates the intestinal microbiota of tiger grouper. The addition ratio of 1%–2% is better for intestinal and liver health, and a high addition ratio will cause liver damage. Our work will provide a reference for the addition and management of FAM in the aquaculture industry.