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Simple Summary: For this paper, we investigated the differences in adipose tissue deposition between sheep breeds with fat and thin tails, relying on advanced techniques like meta-analyses and machine learning to analyze gene expression data. Our findings revealed key genes associated with fat metabolism, shedding light on the genetic factors influencing tail fat in sheep. Notably, three specific genes (POSTN, K35, and SETD4) were identified as significant biosignatures related to fat deposition. This innovative approach (combining data analysis and machine learning) enhances our understanding of how to optimize fat deposition in sheep breeds, which holds potential for more efficient animal breeding strategies and carcass fat reduction. It has been shown that tail fat content varies significantly among sheep breeds and plays a significant role in meat quality. Recently, significant efforts have been made to understand the physiological, biochemical, and genomic regulation of fat deposition in sheep tails in order to unravel the mechanisms underlying energy storage and adipose tissue lipid metabolism. RNA-seq has enabled us to provide a high-resolution snapshot of differential gene expression between fat- and thin-tailed sheep breeds. Therefore, three RNA-seq datasets were meta-analyzed for the current work to elucidate the transcriptome profile differences between them. Specifically, we identified hub genes, performed gene ontology (GO) analysis, carried out enrichment analyses of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, and validated hub genes using machine learning algorithms. This approach revealed a total of 136 meta-genes, 39 of which were not significant in any of the individual studies, indicating the higher statistical power of the meta-analysis. Furthermore, the results derived from the use of machine learning revealed POSTN, K35, SETD4, USP29, ANKRD37, RTN2, PRG4, and LRRC4C as substantial genes that were assigned a higher weight (0.7) than other meta-genes. Among the decision tree models, the Random Forest ones surpassed the others in adipose tissue predictive power fat deposition in fat- and thin-tailed breeds (accuracy > 0.85%). In this regard, combining meta-analyses and machine learning approaches allowed for the identification of three important genes (POSTN, K35, SETD4) related to lipid metabolism, and our findings could help animal breeding strategies optimize fat-tailed breeds' tail sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: An investigation of poor aerobic stability in high-moisture total mixed rations (TMRs) for livestock feed was conducted in this study. TMR quality factors were discovered, and prospective approaches to increase its fermentation properties and overall stability were investigated. Using infrared thermography (IRT) measurements, it was suggested that dairy cow feeding methods can be optimized in the field by identifying portions with a higher center temperature and maximum temperature difference values. According to the findings, there is a significant potential for IRT to be used in feed management and preservation processes in the future, resulting in higher levels of productivity for livestock. A major objective of this study is to identify factors influencing the quality of high-moisture total mixed rations (TMRs) for livestock feed and explore possible manipulations that can enhance their fermentation characteristics and stability in order to address the problem of poor aerobic stability. Therefore, the current study utilized infrared thermography (IRT) to assess the aerobic stability of water-added TMRs in the feed bunker. By manipulating the moisture content of freshly prepared TMRs at four different levels through water addition and subjecting it to storage at two consistent temperatures, significant correlations between IRT values (center temperature (CT) and maximum temperature difference (MTD)) and key parameters such as lactic acid bacteria, water-soluble carbohydrates, and TMR pH were established. The first and second principal components together accounted for 44.3% of the variation, with the first component's load influenced by IRT parameters, fermentation characteristics, and air exposure times, while the second component's load was influenced by dry matter content and lactic acid concentration. The results of these studies indicate the possibility that feeding methods can be optimized by identifying portions with higher CT or MTD data using IRT measurements just before feeding dairy cows in the field. As a result, increasing the use of IRT in feed management and preservation processes is projected to have a positive impact on animal productivity in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In addition to proteins and carbohydrates, colostrum contains antibodies. Quails can benefit from the consumption of colostrum as a source of probiotics and as a reduction in antibiotic usage, which helps improve their performance and reduce their environmental impact. In the current study, we found that the continuous use of bovine colostrum (BC) in the diet of laying Japanese quails during the late laying period improved egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status. The present paper aims to evaluate the effect of different levels of bovine colostrum and probiotic dietary supplementation on egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails. For the trial, 240 laying quails, aged between 24 weeks and 30 weeks, were involved in a 3 × 2 factorial experimental design, with 3 levels of bovine fresh colostrum (0, 2, and 4 percent of the total ratio) and 2 levels of probiotics (0 and 0.01 percent of the total ratio) administration. The colostrum supplementation improved the egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status (p < 0.01). Probiotics used without colostrum did not affect the investigated traits of laying Japanese quails (p > 0.05), but a synergistic effect was observed when combined with colostrum. The overall results recommended that using 4% of bovine colostrum in laying Japanese quails, with the addition of 0.01% of probiotic feed additive results in positive effects on egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails in the late laying period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Several studies have reported the absolute weight and concentration of minerals in hen and turkey yolks during incubation. However, there is limited information about some minerals in goose egg yolks during the incubation period. The incubation period of goose chicks is 30 days, and the chicks emerge after this period. As a result of mineral transfer between the ovary, yolk, albumin and shell, egg yolk mineral content increases during incubation. We studied whether the mineral reserves of goose egg yolk changed, and whether mineral deficiency in goose embryos resulted in skeletal, cardiovascular and immune weakness. According to the present study, except for calcium, the content of all the examined minerals decreases during incubation. This study evaluated the changes in calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn) values in goose egg yolk during the incubation period. This study was conducted on a completely random selection using 200 fertile eggs from a local flock of geese. A selection of 30 fertile eggs were randomly sampled on days 0, 9.5, 19.5, 25 and 30 of incubation (total: 150 eggs), and the yolks of 5 eggs in each replicate were mixed together and considered as one replicate (six replicates in each incubation period). The mineral content of the yolks was measured using the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy method. The results of this study show that, during the incubation of goose eggs from 0 to 30 days of embryo growth, except for Ca, the yolk content (absolute weight) of all the measured minerals, including Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sr and Zn, on day 30 of incubation were statistically significantly lower than on day 0 of incubation. Additionally, the yolk concentrations of Fe, K, Mg, Na, P and Zn declined, the yolk concentrations of Ca and Sr increased, and the yolk concentrations of Cu and Mn were unchanged on day 30 compared to the first day of incubation. The results of the current study demonstrate that goose egg yolks' mineral concentrations change in absolute value during the incubation period, which could be the basis for further studies on chick feeding during the embryonic and post-embryonic phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Forage plants are important for ruminant nutrition, so identifying their quality and nutritional value is effective in describing animal nutrition. A ruminal microbe attaches itself or is within close proximity to the surfaces of particulate substrates (primarily the inner surfaces) to digest them. However, incubation in the rumen can result in significant changes in the number of attached microbes. Nonlinear models may provide more accurate and comprehensive descriptions of feed fermentability. Improving the model suitability and validating the model are enhanced with low iterations. However, particle swarm optimization is the novelty of this study since it has never been used to study the digestive process with the above models. The modeling process has a wide range of applications in animal nutrition. The purpose of this work is to determine whether particle swarm optimization (PSO) could be used to explain the fermentation curves of some legume forages. The model suited the fermentation data with minor statistical differences (R2 > 0.98). In addition, reducing the number of iterations enhanced this method's benefits. Only Models I and II could successfully fit the fermentability data (R2 > 0.98) in the vetch and white clover fermentation curve because the negative parameters (calculated in Models III and IV) were not biologically acceptable. Model IV could only fit the alfalfa fermentation curve, which had higher R values and demonstrated the model's dependability. In conclusion, it is advised to use PSO to match the fermentation curves. By examining the fermentation curves of feed materials, animal nutritionists can obtain a broader view of what ruminants require in terms of nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Grazing in arid and semi-arid regions causes ewes to suffer from feed shortages to some degree. This is particularly problematic in late pregnancy, when maximum fetal growth has been reached and the nutritional requirements of the growing fetus exceed maternal nutrient intake. The result is weaker offspring with lower birth weights and survival rates, which in turn affects livestock profitability. Finding an alternative to improve the supply of necessary nutrients to dams during pregnancy will help farm managers achieve healthy lambs with higher survival rates. Using additives involved in the energy status of animals, this study has shown that administration of these additives during late gestation reverses the debilitating effects of feed restriction and improves placental efficiency, thereby enhancing nutrient delivery to the growing fetus, such that lambs from ewes offered diets containing these additives had higher birth weights and subsequently higher survival rates. These results will help livestock producers in arid and semi-arid regions to benefit from the combined administration of the three substances, namely propylene glycol, rumen-protected choline chloride, and monensin sodium, when feeding pregnant ewes. To evaluate the effects of supplementation of feed additives in the last trimester of pregnancy on placental characteristics and offspring performance, this study was conducted with 48 estrous-synchronized Ghezel ewes that had randomly been assigned to one of the following six groups (n = 8): ad libitum feeding (AL); feed restriction (RF; 60% of ad libitum intake); feed restriction + propylene glycol (PG); feed restriction + propylene glycol + monensin sodium (MS); feed restriction + propylene glycol + rumen-protected choline chloride (RPC); feed restriction + propylene glycol + monensin sodium + rumen-protected choline chloride (PMC). Birth weight, body size, and rectal temperature of lambs were determined within 24 h of birth. The presence of lambs at 87 days of age was used as an index of survival to weaning. The outcome of this study was that the average placental weight of ewes in the AL and MS groups was the highest and lowest, respectively, among the treatment groups (p < 0.01). RPC ewes presented higher placental efficiency compared to AL, RF, and MS ewes (p < 0.05). The largest and smallest crown-to-rump lengths (CRLs) were observed in PMC and RF lambs, respectively (p < 0.01). In addition, lambs born from PMC, RPC, and PG ewes had a longer curved crown-to-rump length (CCRL) than those born from AL and RF ewes (p < 0.01). The concurrent administration of propylene glycol and rumen-protected choline chloride resulted in the highest birth weight among treatment groups (p < 0.01). Lambs born to PMC and RPC ewes had a higher survival rate and rectal temperature than those born to RF ewes (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that although dietary restriction does not have adverse effects on lambs' performance compared with ad libitum intake, the combined administration of propylene glycol and rumen-protected choline chloride in the ewes' restricted diet can improve placental characteristics and subsequently amend lambs' birth weight and body size. Therefore, the combined administration of these additives can be practiced during feed restriction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Methane emission from enteric fermentation in ruminants is the single most relevant greenhouse gas source in agriculture, and it is amongst the largest anthropogenic ones. As ruminants are needed globally for meat, milk and other goods production on a huge scale, feed additives could offer an interesting solution to reduce CH4 emissions. Methane emission strategies are investigated to maintaining productivity and the overall health of the animal. Some strategies have shown to reduce the propagation and/or eliminate ruminal flora affecting the health and productivity of the animal. Therefore, identifying beneficial strategies leads to improving productivity and the health of the animal and environment. In ruminants' metabolism, a surplus of hydrogen is removed from the reduction reaction of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) by the formation of methane by methanogenic bacteria and archaea methanogens. The balance of calculations between VFA (volatile fatty acids), CO2, and CH4 indicates that acetate and butyrate play a role in methane production, while the formation of propionate maintains hydrogen and therefore reduces methane production. CH4 formation in ruminant livestock is not desired because it reduces feed efficiency and contributes to global warming. Therefore, numerous strategies have been investigated to mitigate methane production in ruminants. This review focuses on feed additives which have the capability of reducing methane emissions in ruminants. Due to the environmental importance of methane emissions, such studies are needed to make milk and meat production more sustainable. Additionally, the additives which have no adverse effects on rumen microbial population and where the reduction effects are a result of their hydrogen sink property, are the best reduction methods. Methane inhibitors have shown such a property in most cases. More work is needed to bring methane-reducing agents in ruminant diets to full market maturity, so that farmers can reap feed cost savings and simultaneously achieve environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Quail is used in cookery, but mainly for its egg production around the globe, and sustainable poultry farming practices have been searched. The use of colostrum (beestings or first milk from cows) in quails' diet can play an important role in providing probiotics and reducing the need for antibiotics, which, in addition to better quail performance, is effective in reducing environmental impacts. The results of the current research show that the continuous use of bovine colostrum (BC) in laying quails' diets has beneficial effects on their performance, egg traits, blood indexes and antioxidant status. The Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is farmed for its eggs and meat across the globe. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of the permanent or intermittent use of different levels of BC (bovine colostrum) on the egg performance and traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemical and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails. In this study, 200 laying quails were used for a duration of six weeks (week 24 to 30) to measure the selected parameters. Treatments included: (1) control (without BC); (2) 2% continuous BC; (3) 4% BC permanently; and (4) and (5) 2% and 4% BC intermittently (every other week), respectively. According to the results, performance, egg quality, carcass traits, biochemical indices and antioxidant status of BC-fed (continuous and intermittent mode) quails were improved compared to the control-diet-fed birds (p < 0.01). Per our observations, quails fed daily with 4% BC had the highest performance, best egg and carcass quality traits, best blood composition and best antioxidant status of serum, although the same parameters were also improved in birds fed intermittently with 4% BC. The final conclusion is that, although quails fed daily with 4% BC showed the best performance, intermittent feeding exerted comparable effects. Therefore, the intermittent-feeding approach could benefit the birds when colostrum preparation is limited due to the high cost of the related process. This approach could improve the economics of poultry breeding while reducing environmental problems, such as antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ruminants might use process and agricultural by-products to meet their maintenance, growth, and production needs. Generally, feed is the major cost for an animal farm, yet utilization of agro-industrial waste (such as mushroom cultivation substrate) not only reduces these expenses, but could also help with the issue of environmental pollution. Accordingly, mushroom cultivation waste might be used for animal feeding after harvesting, because of its good-quality substrate, which is beneficial for ruminants. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the mushroom-cultivated substrate microscopic surface and its fermentability. Mushroom cultivation led to lower ether extract, acid detergent fiber, and crude fiber level of substrate. Our results show that biological treatment could reduce fiber components while increasing feed digestibility, providing new insight into the use of biological pretreatment to produce ruminant feed. According to the results, biological processing of mushroom cultivation substrate might increase in vitro fermentation. In conclusion, mushroom-cultivated substrate might be used as feed in ruminant diets. The current study was carried out to evaluate the nutritive value of mushroom-uncultivated and -cultivated substrates, and their in vitro gas and methane production. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, and analyzed with GLM using SAS 9.4. Analysis of the structural morphology of mushroom-cultivated substrate was performed using a scanning electron microscope. Mushroom cultivation led to lower ether extract, acid detergent fiber, and crude fiber level of substrate (p < 0.05). Mushroom-cultivated substrate showed higher in vitro cumulative gas production (p < 0.05). Moreover, mushroom cultivation led to a higher sample surface, and improved the microorganisms' access to feed materials, thus stimulating rumen fermentation and increasing methane production (p < 0.05). The organic matter digestibility, metabolizable energy, and net energy lactation values were higher for mushroom-cultivated substrate than uncultivated substrate. The results demonstrate that mushroom-cultivation not only increases the contact surface of cellulose, leading to higher ruminal microorganisms' access to feedstuff, but could also had higher nutritive value; this material might be used in ruminant ration formulation, to reduce environmental pollution and feed costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Most unsaturated fatty acids in the ruminant's diet are hydrogenated in their rumen so that the composition of the fatty acids entering the rumen and their output is significantly different. Therefore, minimizing the ruminal biohydrogenation process of unsaturated fatty acids is one of the most important issues for feed supplements manufacturers and animal nutritionists to increase the availability of these fatty acids in the intestine. In recent years, encapsulation has been used to preserve the active ingredient in livestock; it is a method used to control the release of feed additives during digestion. There is a clear need to find a more effective method by which unsaturated fatty acids present in fat supplements can be protected to bypass rumen environment and its biohydrogenation, without negative effect on digestive efficiency, and be available in lower digestive tracts. For these reasons, this study aims to evaluate the use of natural materials to encapsulate fats and their effect on in vitro fermentation and fatty acid biohydrogenation. The results indicated that the percentage of ruminal saturated fatty acids decreased by encapsulation of flaxseed oil with chitosan (14% and 7%). The percentage of oleic unsaturated fatty acid by encapsulating flaxseed oil with chitosan (14%) had a significant increase compared to the control treatment (p < 0.05). Encapsulation of flaxseed oil with chitosan (14%) reduced the unsaturated fatty acids of ruminal biohydrogenation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using chitosan nanoparticles and calcium alginate in the encapsulation of flaxseed oil on the biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids and in vitro fermentation. The experiments were performed in a completely randomized design with 7 treatments. The experimental treatments included: diets without oil additive (control), diet containing 7% flaxseed oil, diet containing 14% flaxseed oil, diet containing 7% oil encapsulated with 500 ppm chitosan nanocapsules, diet containing 14% flaxseed oil encapsulated with 1000 ppm chitosan nanocapsules, diet containing 7% of flaxseed oil encapsulated with 500 ppm of calcium alginate nanocapsules, diet containing 14% flaxseed oil encapsulated with 1000 ppm calcium alginate nanocapsules. The results showed that encapsulation of flaxseed oil with calcium alginate (14%) had a significant effect on gas production (p < 0.05). The treatment containing calcium alginate (14%) increased the digestibility of dry matter compared to the control treatment, but the treatments containing chitosan caused a significant reduction (p < 0.05). The results indicated that the percentage of ruminal saturated fatty acids decreased by encapsulation of flaxseed oil with chitosan (14% and 7%). The percentage of oleic unsaturated fatty acid by encapsulating flaxseed oil with chitosan (14%) had a significant increase compared to the control treatment (p < 0.05). As a result, encapsulating flaxseed oil with chitosan (14%) reduced the unsaturated fatty acids generated during ruminal biohydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]