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This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) levels on their apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and total tract digestibility (ATTD) and that of calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), and fiber in pigs. The experiment was carried out with six individuals fitted with a T-cannula. Pigs received one of four diets with two levels of Zn (100 [low] and 500 [high] mg/kg) and Cu (40 [low] and 80 [high] mg/kg). High Zn increased AID of Zn and Mn, but decreased that of Ca (p < 0.05). High Cu tended to improve AID of Cu, but only when high Zn was used (Interaction Zn × Cu, p = 0.051). ATTD of Zn, Cu, Mn, and P was greater in high Zn (p < 0.05). High Cu also increased ATTD of Cu, but reduced that of Ca (p < 0.05) as it likely did for ATTD of P in low Zn (Interaction Zn × Cu, p = 0.065). There was an improving trend for ATTD of NDF (Interaction Zn × Cu, p = 0.069), and ATTD of ADF was increased with a combination of high Zn and high Cu (Interaction Zn × Cu, p < 0.05). This research showed that the levels of Cu and Zn modified the digestibility of minerals but also the degradability of fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American ginseng residue is an industrial by-product of ginseng saponin extraction, including polysaccharides and amino acids; however, it is often discarded into the natural environment, representing a waste of resources as well as an environmental issue. In this study, we examined the effects of adding American ginseng residue to the basal diet of sika deer. Twelve antler-bearing male sika deer were assigned randomly to groups fed a diet supplemented with 0% (CON), 1% (LGR), and 3% (HGR) American ginseng residue, respectively, (n = 4 per group) for 5 weeks. Supplementation with 3% American ginseng residue significantly increased antler production and feed utilization efficiency in antlerbearing sika deer (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum biochemical indexes among the three groups, but serum immunoglobulin A and glutathione peroxidase levels were significantly increased in the LGR and HGR groups (p < 0.05). Supplementation with American ginseng residue affected rumen fermentation in sika deer, significantly increasing the rumen contents of acetic acid, propionic acid, and total volatile fatty acids, and decreasing rumen fluid pH (p < 0.05), but had no significant effect on microbial protein or ammoniacal nitrogen content. American ginseng residue also affected the rumen bacterial composition, with significant up-regulation of Bacteroidota abundance in the HGR group, significant increases in Fibrobacterota and Fibrobacter abundance in the LGR group, and a significant decrease in Oscillospiraceae_UCG-005. Supplementation with ginseng residue had no significant effect on volatile fatty acids in the feces of sika deer, but did affect the composition of fecal bacteria, with significant decreases in Desulfobacterota and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_ group in the HGR group, and a significant increase in Ruminococcus in the LGR group (p < 0.05). In addition, the abundance of Paeniclostridium in the feces decreased linearly with increasing concentration of ginseng residue, with a significant difference among the groups (p < 0.05). This study comprehensively evaluated the effects of American ginseng residue as a potential feed additive on the production performance and gastrointestinal bacterial community in antler-bearing sika deer. The results indicated that ginseng residue was a suitable feed additive for improving production performance and health in sika deer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the intensity of growth and preservation of surgically and immunologically castrated boars of the PIC-337 line of English breeding, their fattening qualities, consumption of feed and its cost during their rearing and fattening, and the economic efficiency of using immunological castration. It was established that when piglets were immunocastrated compared to their surgical castration under liquid feeding, average daily gains increased by 1.41% during rearing, and by 9.95%, during fattening and improved feed conversion during rearing by 13.0%, fattening by 3.15% and by 4.90% from birth to slaughter. Immunological castration contributed to the growth of absolute gains during fattening by 9.68% and by 7.70% of the live weight of animals at the end of fattening. At the same time, immunocastrated animals consumed 4.52% more feed during their lifetime, the cost of which was 5.38% higher compared to surgically castrated animals, and taking into account the cost of vaccination, it was 9.04% higher. At the same time, the cost of fodder and vaccine per 1 kg of gain turned out to be higher by only 1.17%. The cost per head of immunocastrated male pigs was 8.30% lower in the growing period, but 10.16% higher in the fattening period and 5.5% in the results of these two periods. As a result, at the end of fattening, the cost of one head was 7.44% higher, and the sales price without VAT was 7.70% higher compared to surgically castrated animals, which made it possible to get 8.00% more income from the sale of one head of animals of this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of a diet containing rapeseed meal fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a new sustainable feed to reduce transient intestinal inflammation, diarrhoea and oxidative stress in piglets after weaning. In this study, 16 male post-weaning piglets, with an initial weight of 9.04 ± 0.19 kg, were randomly allocated to two dietary treatments: control and 10% fermented rapeseed meal (FRSM) -- 8 pigs/treatment. The experiment lasted 21 days. At the end of the trial, the animals were slaughtered and samples of blood and segments of the jejunum, ileum and colon were collected for determination of plasma biochemical, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters. Pig performance and diarrhoea incidence were also investigated. The results showed that the FRSM diet had no significant effect on piglet performance, weight and average daily weight gain, as well as plasma biochemical parameters. However, the number of piglets with diarrhoea was higher in the control group than in the group receiving the FRSM diet throughout the experimental period. Moreover, a decrease in TNF-α (P = 0.03) and IL-1ß (P < 0.05) cytokine levels was recorded in the colon and jejunum samples from the FRSM group. In addition, IL-8 and IL-6 concentrations were decreased (P = 0.0009 and P = 0.03, respectively) in the ileum of piglets fed FRSM, indicating the modulatory capacity of this feed in reducing weaning-associated intestinal inflammation. The FRSM diet also improved the antioxidant status and significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels in plasma (P = 0.022) and in the jejunum (P = 0.028) and colon (P = 0.003), suggesting the potential of fermented rapeseed meal to limit oxidative reactions. In conclusion, the present study showed that fermentation of rapeseed meal using S. cerevisiae enriched the nutrient composition and reduced the concentration of anti-nutrients (e.g. glucosinolates). Moreover, the addition of FRSM to diets of pigs after weaning improved their intestinal health status, indicating its beneficial effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]