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Self-supervised learning models, such as Wav2vec 2.0, extract efficient features for speech processing applications including speech emotion recognition. In this study, we propose a Dimension Reduction Module (DRM) to apply to the output of each transformer block in the Wav2vec 2.0 model. Our DRM consists of an attentive average pooling, a linear layer with a maxout activation function, and a linear layer that reduces the number of dimensions to the number of classes. Subsequently, we propose two methods, classifier combination and feature fusion, to generate the final decision using DRM outputs. In the Classifier Combination method, the outputs of each DRM are fed to a distinct Additive Angular Margin (AAM) softmax loss function. This constructs an individual classifier for each DRM. Then, the outputs of these classifiers are combined using five different statistical methods. In the Feature Fusion method, the outputs of the DRMs are concatenated, and an attention mechanism is applied to them. Then, the attended outputs are fed to an AAM-Softmax loss function, which is used for training all DRMs in addition to the attention mechanism. The proposed models have been evaluated on the EMODB, IEMOCAP, and ShEMO datasets. Our best method, the Attention-based Feature Fusion, has obtained unweighted accuracies of 94.80% on EMODB, 74.00% on IEMOCAP, and 80.60% on ShEMO, which are competitive with the best baseline methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus subtilis is an important probiotic microorganism that secretes a variety of antimicrobial compounds, including lipopeptides, which are a class of small molecule peptides with important application value in the fields of feed additives, food, biopesticides, biofertilizers, medicine and the biological control of plant diseases. In this study, we isolated a novel B. subtilis HF1 strain that is rich in lipopeptide components and homologs, has a strong antagonistic effect on a variety of plant fungi, and is highly efficient in promoting the growth of broilers. The live B. subtilis HF1 and its fermentation broth without cells showed significant inhibitory effects on 20 species of plant fungi. The crude extracts of lipopeptides in the fermentation supernatant of B. subtilis HF1 were obtained by combining acid precipitation and methanol extraction, and the lipopeptide compositions were analyzed by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The results showed that HF1 could produce 11 homologs of surfactin and 13 homologs of fengycin. Among the fengycin homologs, C13-C19 fengycin A and C15-C17 fengycin B were identified; among the surfactin homologs, C11-C17 surfactin A and C13-C16 surfactin B were characterized. C13 fengycin A, C11 surfactin A and C17 surfactin A were reported for the first time, and their functions are worthy of further study. In addition, we found that HF1 fermentation broth with and without live cells could be used as a feed additive to promote the growth of broilers by significantly increasing body weight up to 15.84%. HF1 could be a prospective strain for developing a biocontrol agent for plant fungal diseases and an efficient feed additive for green agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented Chinese medicine (FCM), as a functional feed additive, has been widely recognized to play a significant role in protecting the intestinal health of piglets and enhancing productive performance. However, the relationship between the active components of FCM, gut microbiota, and their beneficial effects on animal performance remains unclear. In this study, metabolomics analysis revealed a significant increase in the main contents of lactic acid and propionic acid in FCM, while most glycosides and their derivatives decreased after three days of microbial fermentation. Subsequently, piglets were fed a basic diet supplemented with 1% FCM, while the control group received only the basic diet. The results indicated a significant increase in feed intake and average daily gain within 14 days (P<0.05) due to FCM supplementation. Additionally, FCM significantly improved feed efficiency from 1.76 to 1.50 (P<0.05), and piglets in the FCM group exhibited significantly lower frequencies of diarrhea and coughing, which indicated improved health condition by FCM. Moreover, high-throughput sequencing analysis revealed higher abundances of Lactobacillus agilis, Megasphaera elsdenii, Ligilactobacillus, and Veillonellaceae in FCM group. In summary, FCM increased the content of active metabolites through microbial fermentation and regulated the intestinal microbiota to improve the health of piglets. FCM offers a promising potential for enhancing production performance and economic efficiency in the livestock industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about knowledge and perceptions of the public and farmers on livestock feed. However, it is important to know their perspectives to find widely accepted and sustainable solutions in agriculture, which account for animal welfare, societal expectations, economy and the environment alike. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess knowledge, perceptions and informational needs regarding livestock feed among the general population and farmers. A German-wide online survey was conducted with n = 1000 participants from the general population (representative for age and gender) and n = 251 farmers. Differences in answers were compared between the general population and farmers as well as between subgroups of the general population. Results indicate that the public is correctly informed about some livestock feeds, although knowledge gaps and misconceptions became evident. The general population rated potatoes, fodder beets, kitchen waste and bread as common feedstuffs for pigs, which was rather a common practice in smallholder "backyard" pig husbandry several decades ago. Ratings of relevant aspects of feed differ between the two groups and partially depend on sociodemographic variables (i.e. gender, rural/urban upbringing, age) in the general population. Farmers were more likely to have heard and know the meaning of the term feed additives and are better informed about the functions that are fulfilled by feed additives. Farmers also expressed higher agreement for use of most alternative feeds than participants from the general population, although no differences of acceptance levels were found for algae, insects, animal by-products and fungi. In the group of the general population, 56% agree with the use of cereals and only 17% with the use of soy as livestock feed. When asked for the level of knowledge on livestock feed, 42% of participants from the general population indicate low or very low knowledge, whereas 97% of farmers judged the knowledge among the public to be low or very low. Both groups rate the need for information on controls of feed highest. Providing more information on livestock feed to the public seems necessary to improve knowledge, increase acceptance of alternative feeds and of sustainable solutions in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Juncao-substrate Ganoderma lucidum Residue (HWE-JGLR) is a dark brown powder. It is obtained by cultivating G. lucidum using mycorrhizae as culture material and extracting it from the remaining culture substrate after G. lucidum harvesting. The application of HWE-JGLR in animal feeds not only reduces the waste of resources but also promotes the reuse of agricultural resources and sustainable development. In our study, HWE-JGLR not only optimised the growth performance of broilers but also enhanced their immune responses. Specifically, dietary supplementation with HWE-JGLR was associated with increased production and gene expression of the immunomodulatory cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10. Meanwhile, levels and gene expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β were significantly reduced. In addition, HWE-JGLR enhanced the intestinal barrier aspect in poultry. The addition of HWE-JGLR upregulated the gene expression of the broiler jejunal mucosal tight junction proteins Claudin-1 and ZO-1. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Hot Water Extract of Juncao-substrate Ganoderma lucidum Residue (HWE-JGLR) on the immune function and intestinal health of yellow-feather broilers. In an animal feeding experiment, 288 male yellow-feather broilers (1 day old) were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with six replicates of 12 birds each. The control (CON) group was fed a basal diet. HJ-1, HJ-2, and HJ-3 were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.25%, 0.50%, and 1.00% HWE-JGLR, respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 63 d. The results showed increased ADFI (p = 0.033) and ADG (p = 0.045) of broilers in HJ-3, compared with the CON group. Moreover, higher contents of serum IL-4 and IL-10 and gene expression of IL-4 and IL-10 in jejunum mucosa and lower contents of serum IL-1β and gene expression of IL-1β in jejunum mucosa in HJ-3 were observed (p < 0.05). Additionally, the jejunal mucosal gene expression of Claudin-1 and ZO-1 in HJ-2 and HJ-3 was higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). As for the microbial community, compared with the CON group, the ACE index, Shannon index, and Shannoneven index of cecal microorganisms in HJ-2 and HJ-3 were elevated (p < 0.05). PCoA analysis showed that the cecal microbial structure of broilers in HJ-2 and HJ-3 was different from the CON group (p < 0.05). In contrast with the CON group, the broilers in HJ-2 and HJ-3 possessed more abundant Desulfobacterota at the phylum level and unclassified Lachnospiraceae, norank Clostridia vadinBB60 group and Blautia spp. at the genus level, while Turicibacter spp. and Romboutsia spp. were less (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with HWE-JGLR can improve growth performance, enhance body immunity and intestinal development, and maintain the cecum microflora balance of yellow-feather broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the growth process of weaned piglets, digestive problems such as gastrointestinal disorders and diarrhea are common. Farmers usually use antibiotics to help piglets grow smoothly. However, the overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance issues. Therefore, this study chose to use plant extracts as feed additives to explore their potential as alternatives to antibiotics. Additionally, Tilmicosin was used as the antibiotic because it is widely used in treating respiratory infections in piglets. Since traditional Chinese medicine often uses natural products, we selected Guizhi Li-Zhong (GLZ) extract as an alternative to antibiotics. The experiment involved 126 piglets, each 4 weeks old, which were randomly assigned to one of four groups: the sham group (basal diet without supplements, 10.3 ± 0.4 kg, n = 31), the low-dose GLZ group (basal diet with 0.05% GLZ, 10.9 ± 0.4 kg, n = 32), the regular-dose GLZ group (basal diet with 0.2% GLZ, 10.6 ± 0.4 kg, n = 32), and the regular-dose Tilmicosin antibiotic group (basal diet with 0.2% Tilmicosin, 10.2 ± 0.3 kg, n = 31). We recorded and compared the survival rate, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and diarrhea incidence among four groups of weaned piglets from the 4th to the 10th weeks of age. Then, we examined the oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in small intestine tissue (jejunum and ileum) through immunohistochemistry and Western blot and compared the gut microbiota in large intestine tissue (colon and rectum) through a next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis. Our results showed that weaned piglets supplemented with 0.05% and 0.2% GLZ had better survival rates, growth rates (p < 0.01), and feed conversion ratios (p < 0.01) compared to those receiving sham treatment. Even weaned piglets supplemented with 0.2% GLZ performed better than those supplemented with 0.2% Tilmicosin antibiotics (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the incidence of diarrhea and small intestine injury (indicated by oxidative stress-, inflammation-, and apoptosis-related proteins) in piglets supplemented with 0.05% and 0.2% GLZ was lower than in piglets receiving sham treatment (p < 0.05). Even piglets supplemented with 0.2% GLZ had less injury than those supplemented with 0.2% Tilmicosin antibiotics (p < 0.05). The NGS results further showed that GLZ treatment significantly improved beneficial bacteria in weaned piglets (p < 0.05), while antibiotic treatment reduced beneficial bacteria (p < 0.05). In summary, we recommend adding GLZ to the feed as an alternative to antibiotics. This not only effectively reduces intestinal damage but also improves the gut microbiota, thereby promoting the growth of weaning piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In the swine industry, there is a strong need to replace an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) used as feed additives in weaned piglets to enhance nutrient utilization in their diets and improve growth performance. Lactobacillus sakei HS‐1 strain is a microbial preparation isolated from pickles. The study aim is to investigate the effectiveness of heat‐treated L. sakei HS‐1 strain (HT‐LS) as a growth promoter in weaned piglets compared to colistin (CS), a widely used AGP. Eighteen crossbred weaned piglets (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) of 21 days (average body weight [BW]: 7.06 ± 0.59 kg) were divided into three groups: fed the control diet (CT group), fed a diet supplemented with 30 ppm colistin sulphate (CS group), fed a diet supplemented with HT‐LS at a concentration of 2.0 × 105 cells/g (LS group) until 49 days. The results indicated that LS group exhibited significantly higher average daily gain (p < 0.05) and higher BW (p < 0.1) compared with CT group, even higher than CS group. CS group showed higher growth performance compared to CT group but the differences were not statistically significant. In addition, LS group had higher (p < 0.05) or tended to higher (p < 0.1) concentrations of several plasma amino acids than the other two groups at 35 and 49 days. Faecal acetate concentration was higher (p < 0.1) in LS group than in CT group at 35 days. Blood immunoglobulin G concentration in LS group was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in CT group at 35 and 49 days, and blood immunoglobulin A tended to be lower (p < 0.1) at 35 days than in CT group. LS group showed an increased abundance of g_Prevotella 7, g_Streptococcus and g_Lactobacillus (linear discriminant analysis [LDA] score ≥ 2.0). Predictive metagenomic analysis revealed an enrichment of the mixed acid fermentation pathway (LDA score ≥ 2.0). Furthermore, several gut microbes exhibited correlations with plasma amino acids (p < 0.01) and short‐chain fatty acids in faeces (p < 0.01). These findings demonstrate that HT‐LS improves the growth performance of weaned piglets by enhancing the efficient utilization of nutrients through gut microbiota modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of supplementation of Malva sylvestris leaf powder (MSLP) on the production performance of broiler chicken. Ven Cobb broiler chicks (240 day-old male chicks) were distributed randomly into four treatments, each replicated four times, with 15 birds per replicate. The diets formulated were T1 (control) given basal diet only, T2 (basal diet +1.0% MSLP), T3 (basal diet +1.5% MSLP), and T4 (basal diet +2.0% MSLP). The highest improvement of 3.83% in the average daily gain (ADG) was recorded in the T3 group fed 1.5% Malva powder in the diet compared to the control (P = 0.009). The average daily feed intake (ADFI) tended to decrease with an increase in the dose of MSLP in the diet, with the lowest feed intake in the T4 group fed 2% MSLP. During the overall period (7–42 days), the feed/gain (F/G) ratio reduced significantly (P = 0.048) in the T3 and T4 groups compared to the control. The dressed and breast meat yield was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the T3 group, with no significant change (P > 0.05) in the thigh yield. The changes in the pH and water-holding capacity (WHC) of breast meat were found to be non-significant (p > 0.05) between the control and various other treatments. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the T3 and T4 groups. There was no negative effect of including MSLP in the diet on the color coordinates of breast meat among different treatments. Compared to the control, the serum immunoglobulin values increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the T3 and T4 groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed no difference between various treatments; however, malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) according to dietary treatments. Serum cortisol increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the T4 group compared to other treatments. The inclusion of Malva powder in the diet at the 2% level significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the coliform count compared to the control birds. Supplementation with Malva powder resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the villus height-to-crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio of broiler birds in the T3 and T4 groups. In conclusion, MSLP supplementation at 1.5% and 2% resulted in improved production performance of broiler chicken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of dietary garlic powder and fermented garlic powder supplementation at 1% and 2% levels on growth performance, digestive tract efficacy, blood biochemistry, immunity, and antioxidant status of Liza ramada (n = 225 fish; 86.00 ± 0.42 g) over a 60-day period. Fish fed diets supplemented with both forms of garlic at both levels exhibited significantly improved final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. Digestive enzyme activities (amylase, lipase, and protease) were significantly enhanced in all supplemented groups. Blood biochemical analysis revealed reduced glucose levels and increased total protein in garlic-supplemented groups, with no adverse effects on liver or kidney function markers. Immune parameters, including lysozyme activity, bactericidal activity against Streptococcus agalactiae, alternative complement pathway (ACP), and respiratory burst (NBT), were significantly enhanced in garlic-supplemented groups, with fermented garlic showing more pronounced effects. Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, and GPx) were also significantly increased in all supplemented groups, particularly in those fed fermented garlic. No significant differences in survival rates were observed among treatments. The results suggest that both garlic powder and fermented garlic powder supplementation, especially at the 2% level, can effectively improve growth, feed utilization, immune function, and antioxidant status in L. ramada. Fermented garlic generally demonstrated superior effects, indicating its potential as a beneficial feed additive in aquaculture. Based on these findings, it is recommended to incorporate fermented garlic powder at a 2% level in L. ramada diets to optimize growth performance and health status. Further research is warranted to investigate the long-term effects and cost-effectiveness of this supplementation strategy in commercial aquaculture settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring sustainability has increasingly become a significant concern not only in aquaculture but in the general agrifood sector. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate pathways to feed substitutes/best practices to enhance aquaculture sustainability. The application of fungi in aquaculture provides innovative methods to enhance the sustainability and productivity of aquaculture. Fungi play numerous roles in aquaculture, including growth, immunity enhancement and disease resistance. They also play a role in bioremediation of waste and bioflocculation. The application of fungi improves the suitability and utilization of terrestrial plant ingredients in aquaculture by reducing the fibre fractions and anti-nutritional factors and increasing the nutrients and mineral contents of plant ingredients. Fungi are good flotation agents and can enhance the buoyancy of aquafeed. Pigments from fungi enhance the colouration of fish fillets, making them more attractive to consumers. This paper, via the relevant literature, explores the multifaceted roles of fungi in aquaculture, emphasizing their potential to transform aquaculture through environmentally friendly and sustainable techniques. The effectiveness of fungi in reducing fibre fractions and enhancing nutrient availability is influenced by the duration of fermentation and the dosage administered, which may differ for various feed ingredients, making it difficult for most aquaculture farmers to apply fungi approximately. Therefore, the most effective dosage and fermentation duration for each feed ingredient should be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concerns about the possible adverse effects of synthetic feed additives in livestock production world-wide has led producers to search for alternative natural feed additives. Propolis (bee glue) is a mixture of natural viscous substances that are collected by honeybees from plants. This natural product consists of about 200–300 compounds with high biological and pharmacological properties. Propolis induces an improvement in growth parameters, feed utilization, and meat quality. It also exerts antioxidant, anti-stress, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory as well as immuno-modulatory and hepatic and cardiac protective effects. The presence of a huge amount of polyphenols such as flavonoids, phenolic acid esters, triterpenes, aromatic acids, diterpenic acids, and lignans are responsible for the biological properties of propolis. Therefore, propolis shows potential promising effects when applied in livestock and poultry production system. Accordingly, this review article is aimed to highlight the influences of propolis on the general health conditions of poultry and rabbits regarding the performance parameters and carcass characteristics, as well as the antioxidant, anti-stress, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and the immuno-potentiation potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study examined the effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on largemouth bass's growth, immunity, and antioxidant status. Over eight weeks, fish were fed diets with varying CGA levels. In this study, CGA improved the growth performance and lowered the FCR. In addition, CGA enhanced the antioxidant capacity and regulated the expression of genes related to immune responses, thereby strengthening immunity. Overall, the addition of CGA positively impacted the health and growth of largemouth bass. This experiment evaluated the function of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in the growth, health status, and inflammation of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Over eight weeks, CGA supplementation was designed at five levels: 0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 mg/kg. The 180 and 240 mg/kg CGA-supplemented groups showed significant improvements in the FBW, SGR, and WGR compared to the control group (0 mg/kg) (p < 0.05). All the CGA-supplemented groups exhibited a significant reduction in the FCR (p < 0.05), with the 180 mg/kg CGA group showing the lowest FCR. Nonetheless, there were no appreciable differences in the plasma concentrations of TP, ALT, or AST among the treatments (p > 0.05). Compared to the control group, the 180 mg/kg CGA group exhibited significantly lower TC and TG levels (p < 0.05). The ALP levels showed no significant differences from the control group (p > 0.05). In terms of antioxidant parameters, CGA supplementation considerably reduced the MDA content (p < 0.05) and increased the GSH levels, while decreasing the CAT, SOD, and GPx activity levels Meanwhile, CGA supplementation resulted in reduced mRNA levels of SOD, CAT, Nrf2, Keap1, and NF-κB compared to the control group. In contrast, the mRNA levels of GPx, IL-8, TLR2, and RelA were elevated in the liver. Our findings indicated that CGA supplementation improved the growth performance and antioxidant status and weakened the inflammatory response of largemouth bass. These findings suggest that CGA could be a valuable dietary supplement for enhancing the health and growth of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper provides an overview of the key issues concerning the use of yeast products as an alternative protein source and feed additives to develop a more sustainable and environmentally friendly aquaculture. The use of yeast is presented in detail, with a particular focus on its use as a primary protein source and as a supplement (such as probiotics and immune stimulants). Additionally, the digestibility of yeasts and their use in live aquafeed culture are discussed in detail. The aquafeed industry increasingly relies on using sustainable and appropriate protein sources to ensure the long-term sustainability and financial viability of intensive aquaculture. Yeast has emerged as a viable substitute protein source in the aquaculture sector due to its potential as a nutritional supplement. A substantial body of evidence exists to suggest that yeast has the potential to act as an effective immune-stimulating agent for a range of aquaculture fish species. Furthermore, the incorporation of yeast supplements and feed additives has the potential to bolster disease prevention, development, and production within the aquaculture sector. Except for methionine, lysine, arginine, and phenylalanine, which are typically the limiting essential amino acids in various fish species, the various yeast species exhibit amino acid profiles that are advantageous when compared to fishmeal. The present review considers the potential nutritional suitability of several yeast species for fish, with particular attention to the various applications of yeast in aquaculture nutrition. The findings of this study indicate that the inclusion of yeast in the diet resulted in the most favorable outcomes, with improvements observed in the overall health, growth performance, and nutritional condition of the fish. Digestibility, a key factor in sustainable feed development, is discussed in special detail. Additionally, this review addresses the utilization of yeast as an immunostimulating agent for fish and its digestion in fish. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the necessity of large-scale production of yeast as a substitute for fishmeal in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid growth of the world's population, the demand for food is also increasing. Poultry accounts for 40% of the global meat sector and therefore represents a significant area for further growth. One starting point for increasing production is to refine the composition of feed to improve the efficiency of growth and nutrient utilization, prevent disease and at the same time reduce environmental impact. Similar considerations have led to the long‐standing sub‐therapeutic use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal husbandry, which is associated with the threat of rising antimicrobial resistances and the resulting consequences for human and animal health. In order to circumvent these drawbacks, an increasing number of alternative feed additives are becoming more prevalent. The use of phytogenic feed additives, which includes hops (Humulus lupulus), is regarded as a viable alternative. In addition to its natural availability, hops have been demonstrated to exhibit antimicrobial effects and there is increasing evidence of growth‐promoting effects in vivo. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To develop an accessible ruminant immune challenge model for rapid in vivo assessments of feed additives. ANIMALS 60 hair-breed ram lambs. METHODS Sheep were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: treatment 1, not immunosuppressed, control fed (n = 12); treatment 2, immunosuppressed, supplemented with a yeast and botanical extract (n = 18); treatment 3, immunosuppressed, supplemented with a blend of natural aluminosilicates and yeast components (n = 18); and treatment 4, immunosuppressed, control fed (n = 12). Twice-daily injections of dexamethasone (Dex; 0.1 mg/kg bodyweight, SC) were used to induce immunosuppression throughout the study (from September 25, 2020, to November 2, 2020). All sheep were immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) on days 0 and 14 and injected with heataggregated KLH, ID, to induce a skin induration on day 15. Measurements included body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), CBC, and skin induration diameter. RESULTS Dex treatment resulted in reduced BW and ADG that was not mitigated by either feed additive. Dex reduced lymphocyte percentage, RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and skin induration diameter and increased concentrations of granulocytes and granulocyte percentage. Effects on hematocrit, hemoglobin, RBC, and skin induration diameter were mitigated with the addition of feed additives. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The described model is a tool to evaluate the ability of feed additives to mitigate the immunosuppressive effects of Dex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different anti-mycotoxin feed additives on the concentration of mycotoxins in milk, urine, and blood plasma of dairy cows fed diets artificially contaminated with mycotoxins. Secondarily, performance, total-tract apparent digestibility of nutrients, and blood parameters were evaluated. Twelve multiparous cows (165 ± 45 DIM, 557 ± 49 kg BW, and 32.1 ± 4.57 kg/d milk yield at the start of the experiment) were blocked according to parity, milk yield, and DIM and used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment with 21-d periods, where the last 7 d were used for sampling and data analysis. Treatments were (1) mycotoxin group (MTX), basal diet (BD) without anti-mycotoxin feed additives; (2) hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCA), HSCA added to the BD at 25 g/cow per day; (3) mycotoxin deactivator (MD; Mycofix Plus, dsm-firmenich) added to the BD at 15 g/cow per day (MD15); and (4) MD added to the BD at 30 g/cow per day (MD30). Cows from all treatments were challenged with a blend of mycotoxins containing 404 μg of aflatoxin B 1 , 5,025 μg of deoxynivalenol (DON), 8,046 μg of fumonisins (FUM), 195 μg of T2 toxin (T2), and 2,034 μg of zearalenone (ZEN) added daily to the BD during the last 7 d of each period. Neither performance (milk yield and composition) nor nutrient digestibility was affected by treatments. All additives reduced aflatoxin M 1 (AFM1) concentration in milk, whereas MD15 and MD30 group had lower excretion of AFM1 in milk than HSCA. Deoxynivalenol, FUM, T2, or ZEN were not detected in milk of MD15 and MD30. Concentrations in milk of DON, FUM, T2, and ZEN were similar between MTX and HSCA. Except for AFM1, none of the analyzed mycotoxins were detected in urine of MD30 group. Comparing HSCA to MD treatments, the concentration of AFM1 was greater for HSCA, whereas MD30 was more efficient at reducing AFM1 in urine than MD15. Aflatoxin M1, DON, FUM, and ZEN were not detected in the plasma of cows fed MD30, and DON was also not detected in MD15 group. Plasma concentration of FUM was lower for MD15, similar plasma FUM concentration was reported for HSCA and MTX. Plasma concentration of ZEN was lower for MD15 than MTX and HSCA. Serum concentrations of haptoglobin and hepatic enzymes were not affected by treatments. Blood concentration of sodium was lower in HSCA compared with MD15 and MD30 groups. In conclusion, the mycotoxin deactivator proved to be effective in reducing the secretion of mycotoxins in milk, urine, and blood plasma, regardless of the dosage. This reduction was achieved without adverse effects on milk production or total-tract digestibility in cows fed multi-mycotoxin-contaminated diets over a short-term period. Greater reductions in mycotoxin secretion were observed with full dose of MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current trial was designed to evaluate the positive impacts of different feed additives singly or in combination on the growth performance, nutritional parameters, intestinal histology, and gene expression of some growth and fat metabolism-related genes in the liver tissue of Nile tilapia. The experimented fish were allocated into eight groups in a glass aquarium (10 fish/aquarium in triplicate) with Pediococcus acidilactici, nanozeolites, and/or medium-chain fatty acid additives. The studied treatments were control (T0), nanozeolite (T1), Pediococcus (T2), medium-chain fatty acid (T3), nanozeolite + Pediococcus (T4), nanozeolite + medium-chain fatty acid (T5), Pediococcus + medium-chain fatty acid (T6), and nanozeolite + Pediococcus + medium-chain fatty acid (T7). The results of the growth and nutritional parameters (i.e., final body weight, total weight gain, feed intake, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio) of tilapia-fed diets supplemented with Pediococcus, nanozeolites, and medium-chain fatty acids improved, but the combination of these additives was significantly more effective. Moreover, expression of growth hormone receptor 1 gene was upregulated (P ≤ 0.05) in T7 fish when compared with T0, other groups showing intermediate values. Expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 was upregulated (P ≤ 0.05) in T5, T6, and T7 fish when compared with the other groups. The expression of the fatty acid-binding protein was higher in T6 and T7 fish (P ≤ 0.05) when compared with T0, T1, and T3 fish. In conclusion, combined additives had significant effects on improving growth and regulating growth-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish is an important source of animal food for humans because it contains essential nutrients that are easily absorbed by the body. However, the intensification of aquaculture can be harmful to the fish, making them more susceptible to reduced diseases and slow growth. The excessive use of antibiotics is a major concern as it can lead to the accumulation of antibiotic residue in the fish. As a result, many countries have banned the use of antibiotics in fish feed. Phytobiotics, derived from various plant sources, have gained importance as additives in fish feeds and are seen as a promising alternative to antibiotics due to the presence of various bioactive compounds that have the potential to enhance fish production and health. The bioactive compounds present in plant sources such as essential oils, microalgae, seaweed, medicinal plants, and seeds, like Aloe vera and licorice, offer a wide range of beneficial effects in promoting growth, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant properties, and immunostimulant. The main topics of this review highlighted the various sources of phytobiotics, their mode of action, their effects on growth performance, and their therapeutic effects in fish. While phytobiotics have low bioavailability, exposure to them has shown positive effects on organs and several tissues in fish. This present article is also designed to provide an insightful information about the administration of phytobiotics and its bioavailability in fish. Furthermore, this review offers an intuitive knowledge regarding various methods for extracting the phytobiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reviewed available data regarding the benefits of feed additives for mitigation of ammonia toxicity in fish. We first emphasized the toxic effects of ammonia and the pathways involved in ammonia metabolism in fish. Then, we focused on the roles of different dietary additives on internal ammonia detoxification and/or to counteract the negative effects of ammonia toxicity. A wide range of feed additives has been studied for their benefits in fish under ammonia exposure. Most of these studies focused on the improvement of fish health and growth performance by these additives, but neglected underlying mechanisms of these effects as well as ammonia detoxification. It is necessary to monitor internal ammonia, urea, amino acids levels, ammonia/urea excretion, and enzymes involved in ureagenesis and glutamine formation along with health-related parameters (e.g., antioxidant, immunological, and growth responses) in the future studies to fulfil the knowledge gap. Moreover, the future researches should consider the route of ammonia and supplements administration to obtain reliable and practical data. A little evidence shows that dietary nutrients may interact to change the results of dietary supplementation on ammonia toxicity remediation, which must be considered in the future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arginine has been widely applied in the food industry as coloring agents, flavoring agents, and nutritional fortifiers. It is also one of the major components of feed additives. Currently, methods for the highly selective detection of arginine remain absent. For accurate and sensitive detection of L−arginine, a novel ratiometric fluorescence assay based on Ru@UiO-66-NH2 was developed and demonstrated in this study. Under optimized detection conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) of this assay for L-arginine was 2.32 μM, which is superior to most assays reported to date. Meanwhile, Ru@UiO-66-NH2 showed good stability within 30 days, demonstrating the wide applicability of the proposed assay. The spike-and-recovery rates of the proposed assay for L-arginine in real samples (e.g., tea, grape juice, and serum) were 84.27–113.09%. Overall, the proposed assay showed high sensitivity, good reproducibility, and excellent stability in the detection of L-arginine in both buffer and real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an enteric disease of poultry that alters the structure of the gut microbial community causing dysbiosis. This 28 day experiment investigated the effects of 125% and 135% arginine diets on the gut microbial diversity and composition of broilers during a subclinical NE challenge. One hundred and twenty one-day-old chicks were randomly allocated to 4 treatments with six replicates each-Uninfected + Basal, NE + Basal, NE + Arg 125%, and NE + Arg 135% diet groups. NE was induced by inoculating 1 × 104 E. maxima sporulated oocysts on day 14 and 1 × 108 CFU C. perfringens on days 19, 20, and 21 of age. The NE challenge significantly decreased the number of observed amplicon sequence variants (p = 0.03), the abundance of the phylum Firmicutes (p < 0.01), and the species Mediterraneibacter cottocaccae (p = 0.01) in the ceca of birds on day 21. The NE challenge significantly increased the Bray-Curtis index (p < 0.01), and the abundance of the phylum Bacteroidota (p < 0.01), family Odoribacteraceae (p < 0.01), genus Odoribacter (p < 0.01), and species O. splanchnicus (p = 0.01) on day 21. During NE, the 125% arginine diet restored the abundance of the phylum Bacteroidota (p = 0.03), family Odoribacteraceae (p = 0.03) and Oscillospiraceae (p = 0.03), genus Odoribacter (p = 0.03), and species O. splanchnicus (p = 0.03) and M. cottocaccae (p < 0.01) on day 21. The 135% arginine diet effectively restored the loss in alpha diversity (p = 0.01) caused by NE, the abundance of the phylum Firmicutes (p = 0.01) and Bacteroidota (p < 0.01), family Oscillospiraceae (p = 0.03) and Odoribacteraceae (p < 0.01), genus Odoribacter (p < 0.01), and species O. splanchnicus (p < 0.01) and M. cottocaccae (p < 0.01) on day 21. On day 28, the treatments had a significant effect on the cecal propionate (p = 0.01), butyrate (p = 0.04), and total SCFA (p = 0.04) concentrations. In conclusion, the 125% and 135% arginine diets restored gut microbial composition during a subclinical NE challenge, but not the cecal SCFA profile. Hence, arginine in combination with other feed additives could be used in restoring gut microbial homeostasis during NE in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Camellia oleifera meal (COM), a primary byproduct of oil-tea processing, often being discarded or used as a low-grade fertilizer due to its low value. The underutilization has become a significant bottleneck hindering the high-quality development of the oil-tea industry. In this study, the production of antibiotic-free feed additives through the solid-state fermentation of COM by Acremonium terricola was investigated. Our findings revealed that a saponin concentration of 5 mg/mL significantly enhanced the production of cordycepic acid (70.4 mg/g), ergosterol (3.32 mg/g), and chitin (110 mg/g) by A. terricola. This concentration also promoted chitin production and the activities of peroxidase (POD) and Na+/K+-ATPase, thereby maintaining cellular homeostasis and energy balance in A. terricola. Solid-state fermented rice bran (RB), wheat bran (WB), and desaponificated COM (containing 2.6 mg/100 g of tea saponin) were all found to be beneficial for increasing the production of cordycepic acid and ergosterol. The blend of COM, RB, and WB in the ratio of 15:65:20 was particularly advantageous for the production and accumulation of cordycepic acid and ergosterol, yielding 1.54 and 1.43 times, 1.27 and 1.37 times, and 1.98 and 5.52 times more than those produced by WB, RB, and COM alone, respectively.Meantime, the difference in contents of sugar and protein in A. terricola cultures (ATCs) using combination were not significant compared to RB and WB. These results indicated that COM can partially replace foodstuffs or food by-products to prepare antibiotic-free feed additives by A. terricola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Wheat bran inclusion beneficially affects the gut health of broilers at low inclusion levels, along with the supplementation of feed additives such as with a stimbiotic It was hypothesized that the coarse or fine particle size of the wheat bran has a significant influence and interaction with stimbiotic on the performance of, and gut-health beneficial effects, in broilers. Coarse- or fine-wheat-bran inclusion or stimbiotic inclusion increased the feed intake and FCR for younger broilers; however, fine wheat bran and stimbiotic inclusion increased the overall weight gain of broilers without influencing their feed intake and FCR. Fine-wheat-bran inclusion increased the jejunum villi height and ileal nutrient digestibility compared to coarse wheat bran or diets without wheat bran in broilers at day 18. Stimbiotic supplementation increased ileal nutrient digestibility at day 42. The particle size of the wheat bran or stimbiotic supplementation had no effects on the cecal total short-chain fatty acid concentration; however, stimbiotic supplementation or wheat bran inclusion tended to decrease the branched-chain fatty acid concentration. Stimbiotic supplementation and inclusion of wheat bran with a reduced particle size into broiler diets have beneficial effects on the overall performance and ileal nutrient digestibility. A 42-day study was conducted with 720-day-old Cobb male broiler chicks allocated to treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial, with the factors as wheat bran (WB) inclusion (no WB, 50 g/kg coarse WB, or 50 g/kg fine WB) and stimbiotic (STB) supplementation in corn-based diets. The inclusion of WB (p < 0.05) or STB supplementation (p < 0.05) increased the FCR and feed intake in the day 0–10 phase. During the day 0–28 phase, coarse-WB inclusion increased (p < 0.05) the FCR, compared to fine WB or diets without WB. In the day 0–42 phase, WB marginally decreased weight gain in diets without STB supplementation, but the STB-supplemented diet, weight gain was greater (p < 0.05) the diet with fine WB compared with diets with coarse WB. Fine-WB inclusion increased the ileal nitrogen and energy digestibility determined at day 18 compared to coarse WB or diets without WB. Supplementation with STB (p < 0.05) or fine WB (p < 0.05) inclusion increased the villi height compared to diets without STB supplementation or coarse WB, or the diet without WB. Coarse or fine WB decreased (p < 0.05) cecal branched-chain fatty acids compared to diets without WB. In conclusion, stimbiotic supplementation to fine WB improved the performance and nutrient digestibility of broilers compared to coarse WB with no effects on the caeca total SCFA concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lemongrass essential oil (LEO) addition during the ensiling and subsequent sheep feed intake, particle selection, in vitro rumen fermentation, total-tract apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance. Eight Dorper lambs 19.4±2.40 (mean±SD) kg of body weight were used in a trial using a 4 × 4 Latin Square design to evaluate: I. LEO addition during the whole-plant sorghum ensiling: 0 (EN−) and 4 (EN+) mL per kg of sorghum dry matter (DM); and II. LEO supply during the animals feeding: 0 (F−) and 1.6 (F+) mL per kg of diet DM. Treatments showed no effect on feed intake and particle size selection. Ensiling with LEO increased ammonia-N when LEO was not added during incubation. LEO addition during incubation decreased neutral detergent fibre (NDF) degradation when LEO was not added during the ensiling. In addition, LEO addition increased fermentation gas production and decreased digestibility. LEO addition in sheep feeding tended to decrease crude protein digestibility. Treatments did not affect nitrogen balance and the average daily gain. Thus, LEO supply during ensiling and sheep feeding does not affect feed intake, particle selection and nitrogen balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Along bacteria, yeasts are common in forages and forage fermentations as spoilage microbes or as additives, yet few studies exist with species-level data on these fungi's occurrence in feedstuff. Active dry yeast and other yeast-based products are also common feed additives in animal husbandry. Here, we aimed to characterize both fermented and non-fermented milking cow feedstuff samples from Hungary to assess their microbial diversity in the first such study from Central Europe. Results: We applied long-read bacterial metabarcoding to 10 fermented and 25 non-fermented types of samples to assess bacterial communities and their characteristics, surveyed culturable mold and yeast abundance, and identified culturable yeast species. Fermented forages showed the abundance of Aerococcaceae, Bacillaceae, Brucellaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Staphylococcaceae, and Thermoactinomycetaceae, non-fermented ones had Cyanothecaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Erwiniaceae, Gomontiellaceae, Oxalobacteraceae, Rhodobiaceae, Rickettsiaceae, and Staphylococcaceae. Abundances of bacterial families showed mostly weak correlation with yeast CFU numbers, only Microcoleaceae (positive) and Enterococcaceae and Alcaligenaceae (negative correlation) showed moderate correlation. We identified 14 yeast species, most commonly Diutina rugosa, Pichia fermentans, P. kudriavzevii, and Wickerhahomyces anomalus. We recorded S. cerevisiae isolates only from animal feed mixes with added active dry yeast, while the species was completely absent from fermented forages. The S. cerevisiae isolates showed high genetic uniformity. Conclusion: Our results show that both fermented and non-fermented forages harbor diverse bacterial microbiota, with higher alpha diversity in the latter. The bacterial microbiome had an overall weak correlation with yeast abundance, but yeasts were present in the majority of the samples, including four new records for forages as a habitat for yeasts. Yeasts in forages mostly represented common species including opportunistic pathogens, along with a single strain of Saccharomyces used as a feed mix additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paper mulberry is a promising alternative fodder source due to its high protein and the abundance of active components. However, paper mulberry often faces susceptibility to contamination during silage fermentation, and there is a need to improve the quality of silage fermentation of paper mulberry through exotic additives. Sea buckthorn pomace (BP) is a feed additive containing antimicrobial and antioxidant substances that help to enhance silage fermentation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BP and Lactiplantibacillus as additives on silage fermentation and bacterial community of paper mulberry. Results: The results showed that BP and Lactiplantibacillus significantly reduced the pH and ammonium nitrogen content of paper mulberry silage (P < 0.05) and significantly increased the content of lactic acid and acetic acid (P < 0.05), resulting in more residual water-soluble carbohydrate and crude protein contents and less fiber content relative to the control. The key microorganisms in paper mulberry silage fermentation are Lactiplantibacillus pentosus and Weissella cibaria. Among these, Lactiplantibacillus favored a rapid increase in Lactiplantibacillus pentosus abundance during the pre-silage fermentation period, whereas BP favored the promotion of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus growth, resulting in higher contents of lactic and acetic acid than those of the control. Conclusions: Simultaneously adding Lactiplantibacillus and BP can effectively improve the quality of paper mulberry silage and increase the abundance of beneficial microorganisms in paper mulberry silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heat stress (HS) is one of the most significant environmental stressors on poultry production and welfare worldwide. Identification of innovative and effective solutions is necessary. This study evaluated the effects of phytogenic feed additives (PHY) containing Terminalia bellirica and Andrographis paniculata on behavioral patterns, hematological and biochemical parameters, Oxidative stress biomarkers, and HSP70, I-FABP2, IL10, TLR4, and mTOR genes expression in different organs of broiler chickens under chronic HS conditions. A total of 208 one-day-old Avian-480 broiler chicks were randomly allocated into four treatments (4 replicate/treatment, 52 birds/treatment): Thermoneutral control treatment (TN, fed basal diet); Thermoneutral treatment (TN, fed basal diet + 1 kg/ton feed PHY); Heat stress treatment (HS, fed basal diet); Heat stress treatment (HS, fed basal diet + 1 kg/ton feed PHY). Results: The findings of the study indicate that HS led to a decrease in feeding, foraging, walking, and comfort behavior while increasing drinking and resting behavior, also HS increased red, and white blood cells (RBCs and WBCs) counts, and the heterophile/ lymphocyte (H/L) ratio (P < 0.05); while both mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were decreased (P < 0.05). In addition, HS negatively impacted lipid, protein, and glucose levels, liver and kidney function tests, and oxidative biomarkers by increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decreasing reduced glutathion (GSH) activity (P < 0.05). Heat stress (HS) caused the upregulation in HSP70, duodenal TLR4 gene expression, and the downregulation of I-FABP2, IL10, mTOR in all investigated tissues, and hepatic TLR4 (P < 0.05) compared with the TN treatment. Phytogenic feed additives (PHY) effectively mitigated heat stress's negative impacts on broilers via an improvement of broilers' behavior, hematological, biochemical, and oxidative stress biomarkers with a marked decrease in HSP70 expression levels while all tissues showed increased I-FABP2, IL10, TLR4, and mTOR (except liver) levels (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Phytogenic feed additives (PHY) containing Terminalia bellirica and Andrographis paniculata have ameliorated the HS-induced oxidative stress and improved the immunity as well as the gut health and welfare of broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amomum tsao‐ko Crevost et Lemarie (Zingiberaceae), an aromatic plant, has been considered to have diverse medicinal values and economic significance. It has been reported to possess antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic effects. With the increasing risk of diseases in aquaculture, there is a need for alternative solutions to chemical antibiotics. Plant extracts have shown promise as natural feed additives for aquatic animals. In this study, the antibacterial effect of Amomum tsao‐ko crude extracts was evaluated using the Oxford cup method. The extracts exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis. Furthermore, the addition of Amomum tsao‐ko to fish feed resulted in notable changes in the gut structure of zebrafish and tilapia. The length and morphology of intestinal villi were enhanced, promoting improved digestion. Analysis of the gut microbial community revealed that Amomum tsao‐ko supplementation induced key changes in the gut microbial community composition of both zebrafish and tilapia. Notably, a 1% inclusion of Amomum tsao‐ko resulted in a marked rise in Proteobacteria levels in zebrafish, which diminished at 10% dosage. The supplement elicited mixed reactions among other bacterial phyla like Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobiota. Fluctuations were also observed at the genus level, pointing to the concentration of Amomum tsao‐ko playing a pivotal role in influencing the structure of intestinal bacteria. The findings of this study suggest that Amomum tsao‐ko has antibacterial properties and can positively influence the gut health of fish. The potential use of Amomum tsao‐ko as a natural feed additive holds promise for improving aquaculture practices and reducing reliance on chemical antibiotics. Further research is needed to explore the full potential and applications of Amomum tsao‐ko in fish feed development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs), especially those with immunostimulant effects on shrimp and fish, are bioactive compounds with potential use in aquaculture. In this study, Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) were fed diets containing 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, or 2.0% crude extracts from the microalga Porphyridium cruentum for 30 days. After dietary supplementation, the shrimp were exposed to Vibrio alginolyticus, allowing the assessment of phenoloxidase activity (PO) and total hemocyte count (THC) pre- and post-challenge, as well as shrimp survival rates. Shrimp that received the 1.0% treatment had greater survival (90%) at 48 h post-challenge, while the 0% and 2.0% treatments had survival rates close to 63% in the same period. Furthermore, at 48 h post-challenge, THC was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the shrimp that received crude extract supplementation compared to that in shrimp of the control group (0%). PO showed a proportional increase according to crude extract inclusion levels. Such dose-dependency in response to PO increases became significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the 2.0% treatment group compared to that in the 0% treatment group in the pre-challenge period and that in the 0% and 0.5% treatment groups in the post-challenge period. These results showed that crude extracts from P. cruentum could be considered immunostimulants by increasing the resistance of P. vannamei exposed to V. alginolyticus, potentially representing a major breakthrough for marine shrimp farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The intensification of the dairy sector, along with climate change and the rising ambient temperature, has exposed dairy ruminants to a variety of stress factors that they must cope with to maintain optimum physiology, performance, health, and well-being. The use of functional fatty acids, amino acids, and feed additives (minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, essential oils and herbs, phytobiotics, enzymes, etc.) on ruminants' diets has been found to be helpful in overcoming the negative effects of stress that animals are exposed to during critical periods, like transition periods and heat stress. The dietary inclusion of these components, in addition to other management practices, would help livestock farmers overcome the stress challenges ruminants are faced. These components have been considered to regulate and enhance the compromised immunological, metabolic, and oxidative status that occurs in animals exposed to metabolic disturbances and heat-stressed environments. Thus, ruminants' supplementation with the aforementioned nutrients is regarded as a key nutritional strategy for alleviating stress and ensuring optimum milk production and reproduction efficiency, as well as health and welfare. Succeeding this, dairy farm profitability and sustainability will be guaranteed, and the public demand for animal wellbeing and welfare will be met. Dairy ruminants provide a major part of the livestock and agriculture sectors. Due to the increase in world population and the subsequent increase in dairy product demands, the dairy sector has been intensified. Dairy farming intensification and the subsequent increase in animal nutritional demands and the increase in the average global temperature as well have subjected animals to various stress conditions that impact their health and welfare. Various management practices and nutritional strategies have been proposed and studied to alleviate these impacts, especially under heat stress, as well as during critical periods, like the transition period. Some of the nutritional interventions to cope with stress factors and ensure optimal health and production are the inclusion of functional fatty acids and amino acids and feed additives (minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, essential oils and herbs, phytobiotics, enzymes, etc.) that have been proven to regulate animals' metabolism and improve their antioxidant status and immune function. Thus, these nutritional strategies could be the key to ensuring optimum growth, milk production, and reproduction efficiency. This review summarizes and highlights key nutritional approaches to support the remarkable metabolic adaptations ruminants are facing during the transition period and to reduce heat stress effects and evaluate their beneficial effects on animal physiology, performance, health, as well as welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In a gut metabolomics analysis of growth-promoting probiotics which enhanced broiler growth, we discovered that β-alanine was significantly elevated as a gut metabolite. Furthermore, β-alanine is known to be synthesized into carnosine or have various biological functions in the body on its own. For these reasons, we evaluated the value of β-alanine as a new feed additive for Eimeria-infected broilers through this study, and our results will serve as a good example of utilizing metabolites revealed through metabolomics. (1) Background: In a metabolomics analysis conducted to investigate the mechanisms behind the growth-promoting effects of probiotics in broilers, β-alanine was found to be significantly elevated. This led to the hypothesis that β-alanine could also contribute to growth-promoting effects in infected broilers. (2) Methods: An in vitro culture system was developed to assess β-alanine's impact on proinflammatory cytokine response in chicken macrophage cells, gut integrity in chicken intestinal epithelial cells, and muscle differentiation in quail muscle cells and primary chicken embryonic muscle cells. In vivo animal feeding studies were then conducted to investigate the effects of dietary β-alanine on various disease parameters in Eimeria maxima-infected broiler chickens. (3) Results: In vitro, β-alanine treatment significantly decreased the gene expression of cytokines in chicken macrophage cells and increased occuldin expression in chicken intestinal epithelial cells. Dietary β-alanine increased the body weight of chickens following Eimeria maxima infection in the H-ALA group. Dietary β-alanine also suppressed cytokines and increased JAM-2 and occludin expression in the H-ALA group compared to the infected group without β-alanine supplementation. (4) Conclusions: These results strongly support the positive effects of dietary β-alanine on intestinal immune responses and gut barrier function in broiler chickens infected with Eimeria maxima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Weaning is a critical and challenging period for piglets, often leading to stress, poor growth, and increased disease incidence. This study investigated using octapeptin as a feed additive for weaned piglets. The results indicated that octapeptin significantly improved diarrhea and enhanced feed conversion ratio by modulating immunity and reducing inflammation compared to standard diets. Octapeptin also decreased TNF-α levels, boosted the immune system, and increased beneficial bacteria, such as Collinsella and Olsenella, positively impacted gut health. These findings suggested that octapeptin is a promising, safe, natural antibiotic alternative that promotes health and growth in weaned piglets. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study was the first attempt to use heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus as a feed additive to replace antibiotics. The results of the evaluation showed that it could improve the performance of piglets, increase intestinal microbial diversity and thus ensure the intestinal health of piglets. In conclusion, this provides a reference for the application of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus. Probiotics can improve animal growth performance and intestinal health. However, understanding the effects of paraprobiotics on the growth performance and gut microbiota of piglets and how the paraprobiotics exert their impact are still limited. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus IFFI 6005 supplementation on the growth performance, intestinal microbiota, and fecal metabolites of piglets. First, a feed-additive sample of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus IFFI 6005 was prepared by culture. Second, 96 (initial BW = 14.38 ± 0.67 kg, weaning age of 40 days) healthy piglets were selected and randomized into four treatment groups. Each treatment group consisted of three replicates (n = 8). Pigs were fed a basal diet (NC), basal diet plus antibiotics (PC), basal diet plus Lactobacillus acidophilus IFFI 6005 at 600 g/t (LA, 1.0 × 1010 cfu/g), and basal diet plus heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus IFFI 6005 at 600 g/t (HKLA), respectively; the trial lasted for 30 days. The results showed that the ratios of feed to gain (F:G) and diarrhea rate of both the HKLA and PC groups were significantly lower compared with the NC and LA groups (p < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference between the HKLA and PC group (p > 0.05). In addition, the average daily weight gain (ADG) of the HKLA group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the other three groups in terms of growth performance. Finally, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolome analysis based on fecal samples further elaborated that the addition of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus IFFI 6005 to the feed improved the intestinal microbial diversity and abundance (p < 0.05) and reduced the abundance of pathogenic bacteria (p < 0.05), but it did not affect the abundance of Lactobacillus (p > 0.05). Through the comparison of microbial abundance and metabolite content between the two groups (NC_vs_HKLA), the largest differences were found in six microorganisms and 10 metabolites in the intestine (p < 0.05). These differential metabolites were involved in the digestion, absorption and utilization of protein and starch, as well as in oxidative stress. In summary, addition of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus IFFI 6005 as a new feed additive in piglets has beneficial effects on the growth performance, intestinal bacteria and metabolites, and can be used as an alternative to antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study evaluated the effects of adding the probiotic Bacillus (B.) subtilis to the feed of preweaning neonatal calves. Fifty Holstein calves from the same farm were split into two groups: a control group (CG) fed milk replacer and a treatment group (TG) receiving milk replacer plus 7.5 mL/calf/day of B. subtilis. The study began 24 h after birth, with calves' health monitored daily. Significant differences in body weight were observed between the CG and the TG at 30, 60, and 90 days of age. The TG had a higher average body weight at each time point. At 30 days, the TG also showed lower AST activity and higher GGT activity compared to the CG. Phosphorus levels were higher in the TG, while total protein concentrations were lower at both 30 and 60 days. The inclusion of B. subtilis in the calves' diet led to improved growth and a better metabolic profile, suggesting its potential as a beneficial feed additive in dairy farming. This study focused on assessing whether the inclusion of probiotics (B. subtilis) as feed additives during the preweaning stage can enhance the body weight and metabolic condition of neonatal calves. A total of 50 Holstein calves, all born on the same farm, were randomly divided into two homogeneous treatment groups after birth. The calves in the control group (CG) were fed a milk replacer (n = 25) (13 females and 12 males) and those in the B. subtilis-supplement-treated group (TG), (n = 25) (13 females and 12 males) were fed a milk replacer with 7.5 mL/calf/day of B. subtilis probiotic (complied with the manufacturer's guidelines). The probiotic was administered 24 h post-birth, signifying the start of the experimental period. It took one month to collect the animals. Body weight was measured at birth for all animals. A local veterinarian, working on the farm, conducted daily health checks of the calves, recording health parameters and any antibiotic treatments. Blood samples were collected from each calf at birth and 30, 60, and 90 days by puncturing the jugular vein using 10 mL evacuated serum tubes before morning feeding. Significant differences in body weight were observed between the CG and the TG at 30, 60, and 90 days of age. At 30 days, the TG had a 4.11% higher average body weight than the CG (54.38 kg vs. 52.71 kg). At 60 days, the TG's average weight was 3.75% higher (79.21 kg vs. 76.34 kg), and at 90 days, the TG had a 2.91% higher average weight (112.87 kg vs. 109.67 kg). At 30 days of age, the TG showed significantly lower AST activity, with a 41.12% decrease compared to the CG (51.02 IU/L vs. 72.00 IU/L). Conversely, GGT activity was significantly higher in the TG by 64.68% (40.64 IU/L vs. 14.35 IU/L). Phosphorus concentration at 30 days was also significantly higher in the TG by 9.36% (3.27 mmol/L vs. 2.99 mmol/L). Additionally, the TG had a significantly lower total protein concentration, with a 21.63% decrease at 30 days (46.32 g/L vs. 56.34 g/L) and a 20.28% decrease at 60 days (48.32 g/L vs. 58.12 g/L) compared to the CG. These findings indicate that dairy calves given conventional milk replacer along with a daily dose of 7.5 mL of B. subtilis probiotic experienced enhanced growth performance and a more favourable metabolic profile during the first 90 days of their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reed sawdust is a kind of paper mill waste with high cellulose and hemicellulose content. To promote the rational use of resources, it is essential to make full use of waste resources and transform them into new values. In this work, reed sawdust was pretreated with liquid hot water (LHW) at 170 °C for 30 min. A total of 39.00 g/L glucose was obtained after enzymatic saccharification of cellulose at 50 °C, 20 FPU/g-reed sawdust cellulase, 25% (w/v) reed sawdust, in 5 replenishments. When the fermentation was performed 96 h, the medium contained xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) 11.74 g/L and biomass 15.21 g/L, in which lipid was 4.14 g/L. After spray drying, feed additives containing 29.17% XOS and 10.29% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can be prepared. In particular, the hemicellulose and cellulose in reed sawdust are creatively used at the same time without separation, which greatly reduces the cost of purification in traditional processes and provides a new way for the high-value transformation of sawdust resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions by reducing their activation energy. Enzymes specific environmental conditions to function optimally. Additive molecules and compounds, such as organic solvents, ionic liquids, and deep eutectic solvents, have crucial effects on enzyme behavior by changing activity and stability. However, finding and testing different additives is an expensive process that requires specialists, laboratory equipment, and chemical compounds. Machine learning, which has been present in all fields of science and technology in recent years, is one of the ways to find a suitable additive for our desired enzyme without doing a time-consuming experimental process. In this manuscript, we introduce ADDZYME, a machine learning-based software, to predict the effect of additives on enzyme activity. ADDZYME utilizes an ensemble of extremely randomized trees models alongside physicochemical descriptors to make a prediction. To ease usage, ADDZYME is accompanied by a graphical user interface. ADDZYME is freely available on www.github.com/miladrayka/addzyme for further experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of cumulative Chlorella vulgaris intake (proportion of microalga in the diet multiplied by the total feed consumed by each bird) on broiler carcass traits, meat quality and oxidative stability were reviewed to identify the optimal intake levels for maximising benefits. Our findings indicate that a cumulative intake of 8.73 g/bird significantly enhances thigh yield, while levels ranging from 8.73 to 401 g/bird optimise carcass weight and overall meat quality. However, higher cumulative levels may reduce carcass dressing percentage due to metabolic inefficiencies. Furthermore, C. vulgaris intake improves the oxidative stability of broiler meat by increasing antioxidant levels and balancing pro- and antioxidants. Including C. vulgaris in broiler diets boosts total carotenoid content, and antioxidant assays confirm that it enhances meat oxidative stability, with low to moderate cumulative intake levels (8.73 to 401 g/bird) providing the best balance of benefits. Optimal oxidative stability and antioxidant properties were observed at a cumulative intake level of 401 g/bird, showing significant improvements in meat antioxidant capacity. Higher levels may lead to diminishing returns or potential negative effects due to the digestibility issues of the microalga. Future research should refine intake models, understand the bioavailability of C. vulgaris nutrients and explore cost-effective methods to enhance its digestibility, to ensure its viability and sustainability as a feed additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Functional foods are foods that offer health benefits over and above their nutritional value. As eggs are a food of global importance, many authors believe that they are an ideal candidate for functional foods of the future, as it is possible to influence their chemical composition through production technology. Vitamins are one of the most important groups of micronutrients essential for human health, and eggs are recognised as an important source of vitamins in the diet, especially fat-soluble vitamins. The egg yolk contains large amounts of vitamins A, D, E and K. Eating two eggs a day covers 10% to 30% of a person's vitamin requirements. This paper reviews the results of a large number of researchers on the influence of various aspects of production technology on the content of fat-soluble vitamins in eggs. Most attention has been paid to the influence of vitamin supplements in feed for laying hens, but also to the influence of the rearing system and the genotype as well as the interaction between the vitamins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chokeberry pomace, rich in polyphenolic compounds, holds potential to be a valuable feed additive for enhancing the antioxidative capacity and overall quality of milk. This study explores the impact of dietary inclusion of chokeberry pomace on oxidative stress parameters and other milk quality parameters in high-producing dairy goats. Twenty-seven goats were allocated into three groups: a control group provided standard feed and two experimental groups provided feed supplemented with 15 g or 30 g of chokeberry pomace per kilogram. Milk samples were analysed for physicochemical traits, a range of enzyme activities and antioxidant properties. Supplementation with chokeberry pomace significantly reduced milk fat content, enhanced antioxidative properties and increased most of the quantified enzyme activities. Total polyphenol content and reduced glutathione levels were significantly higher in the supplemented groups, correlating with improved antioxidative potential of the milk. Chokeberry pomace in goat diets enhances milk's antioxidative properties and upregulates its enzymatic activity profile, suggesting a potential strategy to improve the nutritional quality and health benefits of goat milk. The study underscores the utility of chokeberry pomace as a feed additive that might not only benefit animal health but also contribute to enhanced milk quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intestinal microbe population has a considerable impact on the physiological state of poultry. Nutritional intervention can be used to enhance the equilibrium of the gut microbiota in chickens, leading to good physiological effects. Various nutritional interventions have been implemented, including feed additives, vitamins, and fermented and functional feeds. While numerous studies have shown the efficacy of nutritional strategies, others have noted the variability of these interventions on poultry’s physiological state. Various factors can influence the effectiveness of nutritional interventions on the physiological conditions of poultry, such as the types of feed additives or active components, duration and method of administration, feed composition, environmental conditions during rearing, quality of day-old-chick, type and age of poultry, hygiene, infection, stress, and other related variables. Feed additives, when combined with nutritional components or other active chemicals, can have synergistic and complementary effects. These impacts could improve the effectiveness and reliability of the nutritional interventions on physiological parameters and poultry productivity. Furthermore, combinations can include feed additives or active components like probiotics and acidifiers, probiotics and enzymes, phytobiotics and enzymes, and plant-based materials and chitosan. The combinations show synergistic and complementary benefits, improving physiological conditions in chickens more than using feed additives or active substances alone. Overall, nutritional intervention can be used to improve the microbial balance in poultry intestines and boost their physiological state. Moreover, integrating feed additives with other active components might enhance the physiological circumstances of chickens due to the synergistic effect produced by their combination.

Purpose. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the experimental composition of artificial feeds on the productive performance and economic component of growing carp in ponds. Methodology. The study was conducted in 2023 in ponds of the State Enterprise “Nyvka” (Kyiv). Two groups of Nyvka scaly carp (1+) were formed, which were grown in analogy 0.5 ha ponds at a stocking density of 1.5 thousand fish/ha. The control group of fish was fed with a commercial feed with a protein content of 25 % for 112 days. The feed of the experimental group of fish was supplemented with a complex of feed additives: 0.2 % of the phytogenic additive Inulin and 0.04 % of precipitated sulphur (feed). The study results were analysed using methods generally accepted in fish farming. During the growing season, similar growing conditions and systematic monitoring of the physicochemical parameters of the aquatic environment and the development of the natural food supply in the experimental ponds were ensured. After catching, size and weight parameters were studied, weight gain and the economic component of carp rearing were analysed. Findings. During the period of carp growing, the water conditions did not differ significantly and met fish farming standards. The water temperature ranged from 18 to 28°C. The average seasonal values of the main hydro chemical parameters were within the normative values, except for some excess of free ammonia (0.11 – 0.20 mg/dm3) and iron (1.48 – 1.61 mg/dm3), as well as a significant increase in chloride content (112.9 – 113.3 mg/dm3), but this phenomenon is typical for the water supply source of this farm. The development of the natural food supply in the ponds was satisfactory, the average seasonal biomass of phytoplankton was at the level of 23.14 mg/dm3 in the control, 43.0 mg/dm3 in the experiment, zooplankton — 7.26 and 13.05 g/m3, respectively, zoobenthos — 0.63 and 0.44 g/m2. The results of the study showed the effectiveness of experimental carp feeding in ponds. It was found that the average weight of the caught fish at the end of the growing season in the experimental group was 4.4 %, and, accordingly, fish productivity was 6.0 % higher than in the control group, and the feed conversion rate was 7.4 % lower. Considering the cost of fish seeds and feed spent on growing, 7.3 % of additional profit was obtained by feeding the experimental diet. Originality.For the first time, the effectiveness of the complex use of Inulin and feed sulphur in carp feeding was determined in accordance with the pharmacological characteristics of these feed additives, productive and economic parameters of cultivation. Practical value. As a result of the implementation of the proposed method of improving the digestibility of feed components, it will be possible to increase the fish productivity of ponds and, accordingly, reduce feed costs for cultivation, as well as improve the quality of fish products. This creates an opportunity to expand the use of semi-intensive and resource-saving pond aquaculture technologies.

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 use of macroalgae as feed additives has attracted great interest in past years because of their nutritional, immunostimulant, antiviral, antibacterial, and growth-promoting properties. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the use of dry biomass of macroalgae Ulva ohnoi in the diets of Penaeus vannamei post-larvae cultured in a biofloc system on growth performance, post-larvae microbiology, and resistance to thermal shock. U. ohnoi was included in the diets at three levels (0, 0.5, and 2% inclusion) and added to diets to replace kaolin. Post-larvae (0.068 ± 0.01 g) were cultured for 46 days in 60-L tanks at a density of 2000 post-larvae m−3 and fed six times daily. Shrimp fed with 0.5% of Ulva ohnoi in the diet showed a significantly higher final mean weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate than those in the control group. The post-larvae fed with the diet containing 2.0% of U. ohnoi exhibited a significantly higher total heterotrophic bacteria count than the post-larvae of the control group. Considering that the performance of shrimp fed with diets containing U. ohnoi was similar, the inclusion of 0.5% is recommended because shrimp growth was higher in this inclusion compared with the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the intervention of herbal plants in the fish diet has drawn a lot of interest due to their unique nutritional value and pharmacological properties. To assess the impact of dietary incorporation of Egyptian mallow, Malva parviflora leaves powder (MPLP), a 10-week feeding trial was carried out on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The assessment encompassed the effects on growth, digestive/absorptive efficiency, biochemical, and immuno-antioxidant responses. Four treatments containing a total of 200 fish (n = 50 fish/treatment; five replicates/treatment; 10 fish/replicate) with an average weight of 37.50 ± 0.22 g (means ± SE) were randomly assigned. The MPLP was added to the basal diet at 0 (control diet, MPLP0), 5 (MPLP5), 10 (MPLP10), and 15 (MPLP15) g/kg diet concentrations and served to the fish for 10 weeks. After the trial, the fish were exposed to pathogenic yeast (Candida albicans) and bacterium (Streptococcus agalactiae) infection. Results displayed that MPLP-incorporated diets significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the growth, intestinal digestive enzymes (amylase and lipase), and intestinal morphometrics (villous length and width and goblet cell count). The increases were in a level-dependent way, and the MPLP15 diet showed the highest values. Dietary MPLP notably (P < 0.05) enhanced growth hormone and declined leptin hormone, glucose, and cholesterol levels. Moreover, the immunological (serum bactericidal activity, myeloperoxidase, and complement 3) and antioxidant (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity) biomarkers were augmented in the MPLP-fed groups in a level-dependent way (P < 0.05). Fifteen days post-infection with C. albicans and S. agalactiae, the survival rates among the infected fish enhanced as dietary MPLP levels rose; the MPLP15 group had the highest survival rates (90.91 and 81.82%), respectively. Overall, dietary MPLP intervention can boost the growth, digestive capacity, disease resistance, and immune-antioxidant status of Nile tilapia. These positive effects may contribute to a sustainable aquaculture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The main purposes of feed additives administration are to increase feed quality, feed utilization, and the performance and health of animals. For many years, antibiotic-based feed additives showed promising results; however, their administration in animal feeds has been banned due to some public concerns regarding their residues in the produced milk and meat from treated animals. Some microorganisms have desirable properties and elicit certain effects, which makes them potential alternatives to antibiotics to enhance intestinal health and ruminal fermentation. The commonly evaluated microorganisms are some species of bacteria and yeasts. Supplementing microorganisms to ruminants boosts animal health, feed digestion, ruminal fermentation, animal performance (meat and milk), and feed efficiency. Moreover, feeding microorganisms helps young calves adapt quickly to consume solid feed and prevents thriving populations of enteric pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract which cause diarrhea. Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Lactococcus, Bacillus, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Aspergillus oryzae are the commonly used microbial feed additives in ruminant production. The response of feeding such microorganisms depends on many factors including the level of administration, diet fed to animal, physiological status of animal, and many other factors. However, the precise modes of action in which microbial feed additives improve nutrient utilization and livestock production are under study. Therefore, we aim to highlight some of the uses of microorganisms-based feed additives effects on animal production, the modes of action of microorganisms, and their potential use as an alternative to antibiotic feed additives.