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This study was conducted to investigate the impact of dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MLM) as a substitution for soybean meal on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, rumen enzyme activity, blood metabolites, growth-related hormones, and growth performance of buffalo calves. Thirty buffalo calves eight to nine months of age with an average body weight of approximately 153.7 ± 0.97 kg were randomly distributed through three dietary treatments (ten calves/treatment). MLM inclusion rates were 15% (M15) and 20% (M20), replacing soybean meal by 50 and 75% in the concentrate mixture, respectively. The results indicated that, digestibility of dry matter, organic matter (OM), and crude fiber (CF) increased significantly (p < 0.05) with MLM inclusion, while the digestibility of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) reduced significantly (p < 0.05) with MLM addition. Dietary supplementation with MLM significantly affected (p < 0.001) rumen fermentation by reducing ruminal enzymes, ruminal ammonia-N, total protozoa, and acetate/propionate ratio and increasing acetic, propionic, and butyric acids and total volatile fatty acid concentrations (p < 0.001). Furthermore, dietary inclusion of 15% MLM significantly improved (p < 0.001) final body weight, dry matter intake of feed, daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, blood metabolites, and plasma insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I). It can be concluded that MLM is a multi-purpose protein supplement that provides some nutritional and therapeutic advantages when replacing 50% of soybean meal. Dietary supplementation of 15% MLM improved rumen fermentation, growth performance, blood metabolites, plasma IGF-I and mitigated ammonia and methane without any adverse effects in growing buffalo calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the combination of vitamin E (Vit E) and selenium (Se) injection on semen quality, testes measures and some blood parameters of Ossimi rams. Fourteen mature healthy Ossimi rams were randomly divided into two equal groups (7 rams in each). The first group served as control (CG), while 2nd group served as treatment group (TG). Rams of the TG were treated twice weekly with 5mg sodium selenite and 450mg Vit E for 1 month. Semen quantity (semen volume, and concentration of the semen ejaculated) and quality (mass motility and percentage of live and dead cells) were recorded twice weekly. Blood samples collection, testes measurements (testis length (TL), breadth (TB); and scrotal circumference (SC)) using measuring tape and caliper were recorded. Sonar examination of the testes (mediastinum testes and tunica albugenia) and all accessory gland measurements were performed every 2 weeks. Semen quality and quantity were significantly affected by treatments: the ejaculate volume, mass activity and sperm concentration increased (p <0.01) in treated rams in comparison with control ones. The percentages of dead and abnormal spermatozoa were reduced in the treated groups. Also ordinary testes measurements and sonar examination were mostly improved though the differences were not statistically significant. Pen libido test showed reduced reaction time for the first mount in treated rams. Serum testosterone, glutathione peroxidase and other blood parameters were elevated (p <0.05) in treated group in comparison with the control one. The results of this experiment confirm that injections of the combination of Vit E and Se during the breeding season improved semen characteristics and the overall reproductive performance of Ossimi rams. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Encapsulated phytochemicals with augmented therapeutic and nutritional characteristics have become promising alternatives to antimicrobials in the poultry industry. Hence, our key target was to explore the efficacy of liposomal encapsulation, as a novel carrier, for essential oils (LEOs) on growth, digestibility, intestinal microbiota, and bacterial metabolites of broiler chickens. Moreover, the impact of encapsulated EOs on transcription mechanisms targeting the genes encoding digestive enzymes, gut barrier functions and antioxidant potential of broiler chickens was evidenced. Four equal broiler groups were fed 4 basal diets fortified with LEOs (oregano, cinnamon, and clove) at the levels of 0, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg diet. Our findings revealed significant improvement in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of birds fed higher levels of LEOs. These results came concurrently with increasing the activities of digestive enzymes at both serum and molecular levels and consequently nutrient digestibility (dry matter, ether extract, crude protein, and crude fiber) in these groups. Remarkably, the abundance of beneficial bacteria as well as the bacterial metabolites (valeric acid, butyric acid, propionic acid, acetic acid, and total short-chain fatty acids) was increased, while that of pathogenic ones was reduced following dietary inclusion of LEOs. Of note, the mRNA expression of genes encoding antioxidant stability [catalase ( CAT ), superoxide dismutase 1 ( SOD-1 ), glutathione peroxidase 1 ( GPX-1 ), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 ( NRF2 ), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 ( NQO1 ), and heme oxygenase-1 ( HO-1 )] as well as barrier functions [mucin-2 ( MUC-2 )] and tight junction proteins, TJP [junctional adhesion molecule-2 ( JAM-2 ) and occludin] were noticeably upregulated in broilers fortified with 400 mg/kg diet of LEOs. Overall, the present work recommended dietary inclusion of LEOs as beneficial additives for attaining targeted performance, gut health and antioxidant stability in poultry farming [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]