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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of bee pollen (BP) and propolis (PRO) supplementation on rabbits’ productive performance and serum metabolites through a meta-analysis. Sixteen peer-reviewed publications were included in the data set. The rabbit strains used in the studies included in the data set were New Zealand White, V-line, Rex, and V-line crosses. Weighted mean differences (WMD) between treatments supplemented with BP or PRO and control treatments were used to assess the magnitude of the effect. BP supplementation decreased (p < 0.001) daily feed intake (DFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR); however, increased (p < 0.001) average daily gain (ADG) and hot carcass yield (HCY). PRO supplementation reduced DFI (p = 0.041) and FCR (p < 0.001), and increased ADG (p < 0.001) and HCY (p = 0.005). In blood serum, BP supplementation increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC; p = 0.002) and decreased serum creatinine concentration (p = 0.049). Likewise, decreased serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected in response to BP supplementation (p < 0.05). PRO supplementation increased the TAC in blood serum (p = 0.018); however, decreased serum concentrations of AST, ALT, and MDA were observed (p < 0.05). In conclusion, BP or PRO supplementation can be used as a natural growth promoter in rabbits, and both can also improve rabbits' antioxidant status. However, BP or PRO supplementation does not affect rabbits' renal or hepatic health status.

Vitamins C and E have been supplemented separately to improve fertility in cattle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined injections of increased doses of vitamins C and E on reproductive parameters in dairy cattle. Lactating Holstein cows (n= 44) were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) Control: n= 15, cows were not injected with vitamins; 2) VCE3: n= 15, cows received a single intramuscular injection of 3,000 IU of vitamin E before estrus and multiple subcutaneous injections of vitamin C with a total dose of 3,000 mg before and after estrus; 3) VCE6: n= 14, cows were treated as in VCE3, but doses of vitamins C and E were increased to 6,000 mg and 6,000 IU. The reproductive indicators measured were diameter of the preovulatory follicle, time to estrus, area of the corpus luteum, pregnancy rate 35 and 45 d after AI and plasma concentrations of estradiol and progesterone. There was no effect of treatment on any of the evaluated reproductive parameters (P˃0.05), except that the lowest dose of vitamins sustained similar pregnancy rates among treatments, even though they had lower progesterone concentrations (P≤0.05) (19.4 ± 2.66 vs 10.1 ± 2.55 vs 19.2 ± 0.44 ng mL-1 for Control, VCE3 and VCE6, respectively). In conclusion, the supplementation with the highest amount of vitamin C and E (6,000 mg and 6,000 IU versus 3,000 mg and 3,000 IU) does not significantly increase the reproductive parameters measured.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with bee pollen (BP) and propolis (PRO) on productive performance, Eimeria oocyst counts in feces, blood metabolites, and the meat quality of growing rabbits. A total of 160 hybrid rabbits (California × New Zealand) of 30 days of age and 643 ± 8.0 g body weight (BW) were assigned to four treatments with 10 replicates each (four rabbits/replicate). The treatments were as follows: (1) CON: rabbits fed basal diet and not supplemented with BP or PRO; (2) BP500: CON + BP (500 mg/kg BW); (3) PRO50: CON + PRO (50 µL/kg BW); and (4) BP + PRO: CON + BP (500 mg/kg BW) + PRO (50 µL/kg BW). Higher daily weight gain (p = 0.04) and lower feed conversion rate (p = 0.03) were observed in rabbits supplemented with PRO50. In addition, supplementation with PRO50 and BP + PRO reduced the amount of Eimeria oocysts per gram of feces (p < 0.05). Most hematological and serum biochemical parameters were similar in rabbits of all treatments. Protein content, collagen, and meat color were similar between treatments. In conclusion, propolis supplementation (50 µL/kg BW) can prevent coccidiosis and act as a natural growth promoter in rabbits without affecting animal health and meat quality.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C: VC) is an antioxidant that participates in the regulatory processes involved in the development of ovarian structures and fertility. However, supplementation of VC to dairy cattle to improve fertility has received little attention. However, reduced fertility in dairy cattle associated with high genetic merit for milk production and heat stress, which also diminish blood VC concentrations, suggest a potentially beneficial role for VC supplementation. The objectives of this review are to contribute to the current knowledge regarding the relationship between VC and fertility and to share many experiences that support the relevance of VC supplementation to improve dairy cattle reproductive performance.

Stress is the result of an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. Under normal physiological conditions, free radicals are involved in reproductive events such as cell cycle activation, ovulation and luteolysis. However, when an overproduction of free radicals surpasses antioxidant capacity, oxidative damage, reproductive anomalies and diminished fertility occur. Supplementation with antioxidants prevents oxidative damage and can be incorporated into reproductive management to improve fertility in females. Selection of the preovulatory follicle, ovulation, fertilization, embryo development and formation of the corpus luteum occur during the periconceptional period. This is a dynamic period and the events are susceptible to oxidative stress damage. Therefore, the objective of this review is to discuss the effect of oxidative stress on reproductive events during the periconceptional period, as well as to address antioxidant supplementation during this period.

Background: recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) is used in bovine embryo donors to improve superovulatory response and embryo quality. Objective: this study evaluated the effect of applying one versus two injections of 500 mg of rbST to donor Holstein heifers on estrus incidence (IE), diameter of the largest preovulatory follicle (dLPF), superovulation response (SR), embryo yield, and pregnancy rate in recipient Holstein cows (PRR). Methods: two superstimulation programs were conducted. Heifers were assigned to one of two treatments: 1) rbST-I, n = 5: heifers received one injection of rbST on day 0 (day of CIDR (controlled internal drug release) removal); 2) rbST-II, n = 5: heifers received the first rbST injection on day -8 and the second one on day 0. Thirty-eight cows were used as recipients and were assigned to receive one embryo from one of the two treatments. Results: there was no effect of treatment (p˃0.05) on PRR, dLPF, IE, and SR. The number of oocytes increased (p˂0.05) in the rbST-I treatment (1.3 ± 0.4 vs 0.2 ± 0.2), but there was no difference in the number (p˃0.05) of degenerated (1.0 ± 0.5 vs 4.5 ± 3.0) or transferable (1.0 ± 0.5 vs 1.4 ± 0.7) embryos between heifers in the rbST-I and rbST-II treatments, respectively. Moreover, no oocytes or embryos were recovered from 36.8% of donor heifers in either treatment. Conclusion: the application of 500 mg of rbST on days -8 and 0 of the follicular wave synchronization program did not increase the superovulatory response but significantly reduced the number of oocytes recovered from superovulated Holstein heifers.

El estudio se realizó en el Parque Nacional Izta-Popo y Zoquiapan. Se estimaron los aportes nutriciona¬les, biomasa vegetal, capacidad nutricional de carga del hábitat y hábitos alimenticios del Romerolagus diazi. Para ello, las excretas y muestras vegetales se recolectaron y fueron analizadas microhistológi¬camente. Se determinaron la materia seca, proteína cruda y fibra detergente neutro de las plantas. A su vez, se realizó un ensayo de digestibilidad con conejos domésticos proporcionándoles dos tratamientos: Muhlenbergia macrura o Festuca tolucensis adicionadas con heno de alfalfa (80 % gramínea + 20 % de heno de alfalfa). En la mitad de los sitios predominó M. macroura y en la otra mitad F. tolucensis. El análisis microhistológico mostró la presencia predominante de los mismos forrajes. Hubo diferencias en biomasa y capacidad de carga entre sitios (P < 0.05). La inclusión de F. tolucensis incrementó (P < 0.05) la digestibilidad en comparación con M. macroura.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of palm kernel cake and ram effect on reproductive activity of postpartum and lactating ewes. Twenty multiparous ewes, five to eleven days postpartum, were separated into four different treatments: control, control-ram, palm and palm-ram. Body weight, difference in body weight recorded between days 0 and 42 of the experiment, diameter of the largest follicle at day zero of the study, number of ewes bearing a corpus luteum and pregnancy rate were measured in ewes. Average daily weight gain was measured in lambs. There was no effect (p ≥ 0.05) of palm kernel supplementation, ram stimulation, or their interactions on the weights of ewes and lambs. A greater number of ewes with corpus luteum (p < 0.05) were observed in ewes stimulated by rams than those not stimulated. The number of pregnant ewes was not affected by ram effect or palm kernel supplementation (p ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, the use of the ram effect increases the incidence of corpus luteum in postpartum and lactating ewes. In addition, palm kernel cake in the diet does not affect body weight of postpartum ewes and lambs.

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El consumidor es uno de los eslabones de la cadena de alimentos, responsable de mantener la inocuidad de los alimentos y evitar enfermedades por contaminación de los mismos. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar el nivel de conocimiento, actitud y comportamiento respecto a la inocuidad de los alimentos entre estudiantes universitarios, mediante la aplicación de un cuestionario a 97 estudiantes en el último tercio de la carrera profesional. La información se analizó mediante Ji-cuadrado. La inocuidad de los alimentos fue un tema de mediano interés entre otros temas de la vida diaria; sin embargo, la inocuidad fue la característica calificada como más importante de los alimentos y señalando mayoritariamente a los productos pecuarios como los de mayor riesgo de ocasionar enfermedades. La educación formal universitaria, internet y libros especializados fueron las fuentes principales de información sobre el tema de inocuidad. Se concluyó que para la industria pecuaria, la difusión hacia los consumidores de buenas prácticas sanitarias en el manejo de los alimentos es de interés para fomentar y disminuir la caída en el consumo de sus productos.