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This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with inactivated Lactobacillus plantarum for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Three treatments, in quintuplicate, were established: a control group, fish fed a diet without additives; LP group, fish fed a diet supplemented with live probiotic; and IP group, fish fed a diet supplemented with inactivated probiotic. Final weights (49.40 ± 3.15 g) and weight gains (38.20 ± 3.23 g) were increased in tilapia in the IP group. Feed conversion (1.32 ± 0.04) decreased significantly in the IP group. Haemato-biochemical parameters were significantly influenced by dietary supplementation. Erythrocyte count (262.74 ± 69.28 × 106 μL -1 ) was significantly low, while albumin (1.79 ± 1.12 g dL -1 ) and cholesterol (254.14 ± 98.49 mg dL -1 ) were high in the control group. Dietary supplementation modified the tilapia microbiome. Rhodobacter was abundant in fish intestines from the control and IP groups. Phreatobacter was abundant in the IP and LP groups, while Aurantimicrobium and Bosea were abundant in the LP group. Oleic acid (C18:1n9) was significantly increased in the LP (3.25 ± 0.49%) and IP (3.02 ± 0.30%) groups. Hexadecatrienoic acid (C16:3n4) was significantly increased (0.04 ± 0.01%) in the IP group, while Cis 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n3) (0.31 ± 0.03%) and adrenic acid (C22:4n6) (0.11 ± 0.02%) were significantly decreased in the LP group. Additionally, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were significantly increased (4.83 ± 0.35%) in the LP group compared to that in the control group. Collectively, these results indicate the potential of inactivated L. plantarum for use in commercial feed, leading to the conclusion that both inactivated and live L. plantarum can improve the Nile tilapia metabolism, altering haematological and biochemical markers., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The impact of heat stress on dairy cattle leads to significant economic losses and a negative impact on the welfare of the animals. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the nutritional additive (Thermoplus®) in dairy cows under postpartum heat stress conditions, and its effects on the metabolic profile, production and quality of milk. Eighteen lactating Holstein cows (8 multiparous and ten primiparous), in a free-stall system, with a mean body condition score (BCS) of 3.14 ± 0.05, live weight of 624.55 ± 18, 61 kg, with initial mean days in milk (DIM) of 90 ± 10.11, were selected. The animals were grouped into a control (CG, n = 9) and a treatment (TG, n = 9). Both groups underwent 14 days of diet adaptation, the TG received the basal diet supplemented with 50 g of the additive, once a day, individually, while the control group received only the total diet. Data collection of metabolic and productive parameters were evaluated on days -14 (before adaptation), 1 (after the diet adaptation period), 16, 30, and 44. Milk, blood, and body condition score (BCS) were collected once a day, and heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were collected twice a day. Serum concentrations of albumin, calcium, magnesium, glucose, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) were evaluated. In the milk, the percentage of fat, protein, lactose, and total solids were determined in each sampling. Milk yield was measured daily. Humidity and ambient temperature values were collected on the days of the collection every 30 min, from 5:30 am to 5:00 pm, to calculate the temperature-humidity index (THI). Statistical analyzes were performed using the SAS software (version 9.3, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). The THI ranged from 62.22 to 79.47. Our findings showed that when the THI was greater than 72, the animals in the TG were able to maintain milk yield (Odds ratio (OD) = -0.0577,), and the animals in the CG had a greater chance of reducing it (OD = -0.2301). Multiparous cows in the TG had higher milk yield than CG (32.57 ± 0.34 vs 30.50 ± 0.36 kg per day; P = 0.0078) and lower SCC (34.110 ± 6,940 vs 665.50 ± 214.41 cells per ml; P = 0.03), with the same percentages of total solids (P > 0.05). In multiparous metabolic markers, TG when compared CG had higher albumin concentrations (2.50 ± 0.07 vs 2.12 ± 0.07 g/dl; < 0.001), equal PON-1 (P > 0.05), and higher BHBA levels (0.49 ± 0.03 vs 0.39 ± 0.04 mmol/l). Primiparous from the CG had higher concentrations of NEFA (0.18 ± 0.02 mmol/l) than multiparous from the same group (0.09 ± 0.02 mmol/l) P = 0.0265. The use of the plant polyphenol extract in postpartum Holstein cows challenged by heat stress had beneficial effects on the production and health of the mammary gland in multiparous cows without decreasing milk solids. The non-reduction of the activities of the acute phase proteins indicates an immunomodulatory and inflammatory-reducing effect of the product used., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

This study evaluated the effects of glycoelectrolytic supplements on the performance, blood parameters, and intestinal morphology of piglets during the post-weaning period. In the study, a total of 240 piglets weaned aged 17 22.60 + 1.10 days were used. The control group (n = 120) received only water, and the treatment group (n = 120) received an oral glycoelectrolytic supplement diluted in water (0.75%) during the first three days after weaning. Feed intake, daily weight gain, final weight, feed conversion ratio, and post-weaning mortality were evaluated. On the third day after weaning, the blood glucose levels of all piglets were analyzed. Blood was collected from 12 piglets from each treatment group on day 3 after weaning for blood count analysis, and intestinal fragments were collected for anatomopathological and morphometric evaluation. Better feed conversion ratio (1.29) and higher consumption of liquids (0.639 L/day) were observed in the piglet group supplemented with glycoelectrolytes on day 3 after weaning (P < 0.05). The supplemented group presented a higher glycemic index (80.78 mg/dL), average corpuscular volume (67.35 fL), and average corpuscular hemoglobin (20.46 pg) than the control group (P < 0.05). The evaluation of intestinal integrity and the probability of diarrhea occurrence were similar between the groups (P > 0.05). Oral glycoelectrolytic supplementation can be an option for piglets immediately after weaning as it improves feed conversion and consumption of liquids, in addition to increasing blood glucose without the occurrence of diarrhea, thus reducing dehydration and energy deficit., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The intensification of ewe production, focusing on increasing prolificity, results in a higher incidence of metabolic disorders, especially in the transition period, which can lead to production losses with consequences for the health of the animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the metabolic profile in transition period Lacaune ewes according to the parity and litter size born and its influence on the transference of passive immunity. Nineteen Lacaune ewes, with initial mean body weight of 76.36 ± 10.37 kg (SD), kept in a semi-extensive system and receiving the same diet, were used. Ewes were classified according to parity (primiparous and multiparous) and the litter size born at parturition (1, 2, and 3). On days - 14, - 7, and - 4 of the expected date of parturition and on days 1, 4, 7, and 14 days postpartum, blood sampling, the evaluation of the body condition score (BCS), and the weighing of animals were performed. Blood samples were taken from the lambs 48 h after birth. Colostrum was collected up to 6 h postpartum to determine the brix percentage. Serum concentrations of total plasma proteins (TPP), albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), paraoxonase (PON1), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) were evaluated. In lambs, the blood parameters evaluated were TPP, albumin, GGT, and PON1. Lamb plasma was used to estimate colostrum efficiency, brix percentage immunity, and total plasma protein (PPT). Productive data, pre- and postpartum metabolic variables for ewes, lambs, and those related to colostrum brix were analyzed. The BCS had a reduction (p < 0.0001) in the postpartum period, which is evidenced on days 7 and 14 (2.88 and 2.73, respectively). Serum concentration of BHB presented the highest concentrations in the prepartum period for ewes that gave birth to triplets, from day - 14, and for ewes that gave birth to twins on day - 4 (p = 0.0245). Serum concentration of NEFA demonstrated the highest value on day 14 in primiparous (1.07; p = 0.0402). Calcium had the lowest concentrations on day 1 (8.85 mg/dl, p < 0.0001) and magnesium on day 3 (1.79 mg/dl, p < 0.0001) postpartum. The multiparous with two lambs had higher brix percentages (30.5%), and the lowest value was observed in primiparous ewes that gave birth to a single lamb (27.06%; p = 0.0395). Triplet lambs had the lowest weight (3.73 kg, p = 0.0007), and the best brix percentage in plasma was observed in twins (10.29%, p = 0.0174). Regardless of the parity, the ewes that presented the greatest metabolic challenge were those that gave birth to triplets, and these lambs presented the worst immunity and the lowest live weight. The quality of colostrum was influenced by the parity, and multiparous ewes that gave birth to triplets had the lowest brix percentage in the colostrum., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The aim of this study was to measure changes in biochemical markers in the peripartum period of primiparous Holstein cows diagnosed with subclinical and clinical mastitis. In this study, 37 dairy cows were monitored daily during milking until 60 days postpartum and were categorized according to the occurrence of clinical mastitis (group mastitis (GM), n = 9) or subclinical mastitis (group subclinical mastitis (GSUB), n = 10) or absence of symptoms (control group (CG), n = 18). Blood samples were collected weekly from -30 to 60 days from calving. Samples were grouped for prepartum (-30 to 0 days from calving), early postpartum (0 to 30 days from calving), and late postpartum (30 to 60 days from calving) periods. Prepartum serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration was higher in GM than in CG (P < 0.01). In addition, CG had higher prepartum serum glucose concentration than GM (P = 0.03). In the early postpartum period, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity was lower in CG than in GSUB (P < 0.05), and in the late postpartum period, AST activity was lower in CG than GSUB and GM (P = 0.01). Somatic cell count was higher during the early and late postpartum periods for GM and GSUB when compared to CG (P < 0.01). In this study, primiparous cows with low glucose and higher NEFA in the prepartum were more susceptible for mastitis in the early postpartum, probably due to low immune function associated to a more negative energy balance. In sum, increased prepartum serum NEFA concentration and decreased glucose in primiparous cows were associated with clinical mastitis incidence in the postpartum period.