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The paper shows the effect of introducing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AG10 biomass into quail feed. Quails that received a probiotic feed additive for seven weeks demonstrated a significant improvement in such economic indicators as the dynamics of live weight, the mass of gutted carcasses and feed consumption per kg of gain. Using the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence libraries sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform, shifts in the microbiota of the cecum have been detected, which may contribute to improving the morphological and physiological parameters of quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential to explore alternative and advantageous additives due to the essential requirement for ensuring the safety and well-being of aquatic animals. The present study investigated the role of Lactobacillus helveticus (Lh) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) on growth performance, hematology factors, digestive capacity, antioxidant activity, and stress in tissue prior and post-exposure to heat shock on common carp (Cyprinus carpio). For this purpose, 240 common carp with mean weight of 23.79 ± 0.49 g were allocated into four groups (20 fish each) and fed for 56 days on 0, 10 7 CFU g-1 Lh, 550 mg kg-1 CGA, and a combination of both elements (10 7 CFU g-1 + 550 mg kg-1 CGA) (T0, T1, T2, and T3). At the end of feeding period (56 days), growth performance, hematology indexes, digestive enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, stress, and immunity factors were evaluated. Thereafter, common carp was exposed to heat shock and levels of antioxidant enzymes and stress factors were estimated. There was an observable disparity in the growth parameters among various treatments, and the most prominent level was discovered in T3. There were no significant disparities in hematology indicators (p > 0.05). The levels of trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin, and protease were significantly higher in common carp fed with CGA and Lh. The total protein exhibited a significant increase in common carp fed with CGA and Lh (p < 0.05). The addition of CGA and Lh had no significant impact on urea and triglyceride content (p > 0.05). The lysozyme activity, ACH50, and total immunoglobulin exhibited a significant increase in common carp when subjected to CGA and Lh (p < 0.05). The effects of CGA and Lh on catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significant both before and after heat stress. Moreover, these effects were more pronounced in fish that were fed with supplemented diets (p < 0.05). The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels demonstrated a significant decrease among the treatments before and after the heat challenge and the lowest level of MDA was recorded in T3 during both phases (p < 0.05). The aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose, and cortisol levels also showed a significant decline in fish that were fed with supplemented diets both before and after heat stress (p < 0.05). Given the importance of L. helveticus and chlorogenic acid, the incorporation of both substances exhibits a powerful synergistic effect, thereby maximizing their advantageous properties in enhancing growth efficiency, digestion, hematological profile, biochemical markers, and immune-antioxidant capacity in common carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of kaffir lime (KL), Citrus hystrix, leaf powder on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, blood and antioxidant parameters, and disease resistance in African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. A total of 450 healthy juveniles (10.5 g) were randomly distributed into five groups and fed diets containing 0% (control), 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% of KL for eight weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, 10 healthy fish from each group were challenged with Edwardsiella tarda infection. The study findings demonstrated significant differences in all growth parameters, including final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion rate, hepatosomatic percentage, and viscerosomatic index between dietary KL and control groups, with the group fed 2% and 3% KL exhibiting superior performance (p < 0.05). Dietary KL significantly increased white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit (p < 0.05) in African catfish, with the highest values observed in the 2% and 3% KL groups. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations between treatments. Furthermore, dietary KL significantly increased digestive enzyme activities, including lipase, amylase, and protease (p < 0.05), and the highest activities were observed in fish fed 2% and 3% KL. Antioxidative responses, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in KL-treated fish, were also significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Finally, the highest and the lowest cumulative survival rates following a challenge with E. tarda were 3% KL and control groups, respectively. Based on the study results, 2% or 3% dietary KL could improve the growth and health of African catfish, thus enhancing aquaculture production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a new nanomaterial in the feed chain requires a risk assessment that involves in vitro gastrointestinal digestions to predict its degradation and oral exposure to nanoparticles. In this study, a nanosilver-based material was incorporated into pig and chicken feed as a growth-promoting additive and subjected to the corresponding in vitro gastrointestinal digestions. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analytical platform was used to obtain information about the silver released in the different digestion phases. It included conventional ICP-MS for total silver determination, but also single particle ICP-MS and coupling to hydrodynamic chromatography for detection of dissolved and particulate silver. The bioaccessible fraction in the intestinal phase accounted for 8–13% of the total silver, mainly in the form of dissolved Ag(I) species, with less than 0.1% as silver-containing particles. Despite the additive behaving differently in pig and chicken digestions, the feed matrix played a relevant role in the fate of the silver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of stickwater (SW) (from fishmeal factories) on growth performance, immune system, and blood indicators on Huso huso larvae. Four experimental diets were prepared including the following: 0 (control, SW0), 0.5 (SW0.5), 1.5 (SW1.5), and 2.5 (SW2.5) % SW. A total number of 1440 larvae (0.12 ± 0.007 g) were selected 10 days after starting live feeding and were randomly stored in rearing tanks (120 larvae per tank). The fish were fed 6 times a day during the feeding trial. At the end of experiment, the highest weight gain (24.42 g) and specific growth rate (6.26%) were observed in SW0.5 (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, SW1.5 treatment showed the best FCR (0.8) and PER (2.41%), although other treatments did not differ significantly. Total serum protein, albumin, and triglyceride levels increased by adding SW to the diet. The highest levels of total protein and albumin were seen in SW1.5 and SW2.5, respectively. There was a significant difference in triglyceride and the highest level was observed in SW1.5 treatment (p ≤ 0.05). Dietary stickwater did not significantly influence cholesterol, glucose, ALT, and ALP concentrations (p ≥ 0.05). The highest level of lysozyme enzyme activity was in SW0.5 and SW1.5, which showed a significant difference with the treatment without stickwater (p ≤ 0.05). Also, the presence of stickwater in the diet increased the level of serum immunoglobulin, but this increase did not cause a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05). The present study showed that adding stickwater (0.5 to 1.5%) to Beluga larvae's diet improves their growth performance and some innate immune and serum biochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feed additives in fish rations improve feed efficiency, increase the growth rate of fisheries, and play a significant role in the immunoprophylactic control of infections in aquaculture. This study aims to evaluate the hematological and biochemical effects of Spirulina, PoultryStar®, and colistin on Cyprinus carpio, as well as the histopathological alteration caused in the liver and intestine of C. carpio fed with these additives. One hundred and eighty C. carpio fish were grouped into six groups of thirty fish each for the purpose of the experiment. Group A was fed a diet without any additives, and this served as the control group. Groups B and C were fed diets that contained 1% and 2% of Spirulina, respectively. PoultryStar® at 1% and 2% was added to the diet fed to fish in groups D and E, respectively, while group F was fed a diet that contained 3000 IU of colistin. Blood samples were collected and subjected to hematological and biochemical assays for the evaluation of hemato-biochemical indices. Liver and intestine samples from each experimental group were subjected to histopathological analysis. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the hematological and biochemical indices of the different groups of fish. The histopathologic examination of the liver and intestine samples of C. carpio treated with Spirulina, PoultryStar®, and colistin revealed variable pathological alterations. Findings from this study showed that Spirulina and PoultryStar® could be used in aquaculture, and studies should be conducted to further determine the prospects of colistin in pisciculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safety and efficacy of probiotic Bacillus subtilis to raising animals in the livestock and poultry have been widely evaluated. Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) is a well-known economic rearing insect, and its artificial diet rearing is gaining interest. However, the effects of probiotic B. subtilis as feed additive on silkworms fed with an artificial diet remain unknown. In this study, we adopted multiple biological approaches (enzyme activity assay, quantitative PCR, transcriptome sequencing, and LC-MS) to explore the beneficial effects of B. subtilis SWL−19 on silkworm physiology. Results showed that the body weights of the silkworms significantly increased (P < 0.05) after feeding with SWL−19 strain. B. subtilis SWL−19 evidently enhanced the antioxidant property in the silkworms, and the gene expression levels of antimicrobial peptides (attacin, lysozyme, and cecropins) were affected by the SWL−19 strain. Moreover, the levels of riboflavin, nicotinamide, pyridoxine, and pyridoxal in the hemolymph of the silkworms remarkably increased after SWL−19 strain feeding. The results of transcriptomic analysis indicated that the response of intestinal tissues to B. subtilis SWL−19 focused mainly on the categories of external biotic stimulus, interspecies interaction between organisms, immune system process, and stress response. In conclusion, probiotic B. subtilis SWL−19 substantially enhanced the body weight and antioxidant property of silkworm and simultaneously regulated the intestinal immunity and promoted the metabolism of B vitamins. The present study provides a theoretical reference for the application of probiotic B. subtilis SWL−19 to improve silkworm physiology under artificial diet rearing condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rearing of calves is an essential activity of a dairy system, as it impacts the future production of these animals. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of diarrhea, performance, and blood parameters of suckling calves that received mineral-vitamin supplementation in milk plus virginiamycin that was offered in milk (via the abomasum) or by esophageal tube (via the rumen). Twenty-seven calves were used, from the first week to 60 days of age, submitted to the following treatments: CONTROL, without supplementation; MILK, supplementation of 20 g of a mineral-vitamin complex with 100 mg of virginiamycin, diluted in milk; RUMEN, supplementation of 20 g of a mineral-vitamin complex diluted in milk and 100 mg of virginiamycin in gelatin capsules via an esophageal applicator. MILK and RUMEN calves had lower fecal consistency scoring, fewer days with scores 2 and 3 throughout the experimental period, and lower spending on medication compared to the CONTROL animals. Supplemented calves had higher fat and protein intake and reached feed intake of 600 g earlier than CONTROL animals, but did not differ in performance and hematological parameters. Supplementation with virginiamycin and vitamin-mineral complex for suckling calves reduced the incidence and days of diarrhea, and reduced medication costs, with no difference in performance, but the supplemented animals had higher initial protein and fat intake and reached targeted feed intake earlier to begin the weaning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) is a prebiotic and it can be used as a substitute for antibiotics in the breeding industry. However, the ability of FOS as an antibiotic alternative to protect fish against Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila) infection remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of FOS on the liver of fish infected with A. hydrophila by metabolomics. Three groups were set up including control group (G1), A. hydrophila group (G2), and A. hydrophila+FOS group (G3) in the experiment. LC-MS-based metabolomic method was used to study the changes of metabolites in the liver of Megalobrama amblycephala (M. amblycephala), and to identify different metabolites and related metabolic pathways. Metabolomic analysis indicated that fish infected with A. hydrophila caused alterations of metabolic profiles in liver. Specifically the A. hydrophila causes a significant reduction in lipid metabolism, led to oxidative stress, and energy expenditure. The specific metabolic pathways include taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, purine metabolism, and FoxO signaling pathway. The addition of FOS to the diet reversed the liver metabolic abnormalities caused by A. hydrophila. The expression of related metabolites acetyl phosphate, d-glyceric acid, 2′-deoxyinosine 5′-monophosphate, and adenosine 5′-monophosphate were significantly reversed by dietary FOS compared with A. hydrophila infection. These differential metabolites were mainly involved in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, energy metabolism, inflammation. In conclusion, dietary FOS significantly improved liver metabolic abnormalities caused by A. hydrophila, our study provide new evidence supporting that FOS can be used to remit the abnormal metabolism of liver caused by A. hydrophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined effect of Aloe vera gel (AVG) administered through drinking water and dietary red grape pomace powder (RGP) on growth performance, physiological traits, welfare indicators, and meat quality in densely stocked broilers was evaluated. A total of 750, two-week-old male Ross 308 broilers (317.7 ± 10.12 g live weight) were randomly assigned to 25 cages, with each cage as an experimental unit. The broilers were stocked at a density of 30 birds per cage with a floor space of 1.32 m2. Dietary treatments were a standard grower or finisher diet (CON); CON containing 30 g RGP /kg diet plus either 1 (GPA1), 2 (GPA2), 3 (GPA3), or 4% (GPA4) AVG in drinking water. Treatment GPA1 promoted higher (P < 0.05) overall weight gain and overall feed conversion ratio (FCR) than CON. Positive quadratic effects (P < 0.05) were noted for mean corpuscular hemoglobin, basophils, 24-hour breast meat yellowness, chroma, and hue angle. The GPA2 group had the lowest (P < 0.05) gait score while the CON group had the highest score. Concurrent supplementation with a 30 g RGP /kg diet plus 1% AVG in drinking water enhanced weight gain, FCR, and finisher weight of densely stocked broilers. However, AVG doses beyond 1% did not enhance performance and physiological traits in densely stocked broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture has intensified tremendously with the increasing demand for protein sources as the global population grows. However, this industry is plagued with major challenges such as poor growth performance, the lack of a proper environment, and immune system impairment, thus creating stress for the aquaculture species and risking disease outbreaks. Currently, prophylactics such as antibiotics, vaccines, prebiotics, probiotics, and phytobiotics are utilized to minimize the negative impacts of high-density farming. One of the promising prophylactic agents incorporated in fish feed is resveratrol, a commercial phytophenol derived via the methanol extraction method. Recent studies have revealed many beneficial effects of resveratrol in aquatic animals. Therefore, this review discusses and summarizes the roles of resveratrol in improving growth performance, flesh quality, immune system, antioxidant capacity, disease resistance, stress mitigation, and potential combination with other prophylactic agents for aquatic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to compare the utilization efficiency of iron (Fe) feed additives from either bulk or nano sources in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus diets on growth, haematological, immunity, anti-oxidative, and intestinal topography capacities. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were performed; the basal diet served as a control with no Fe added, whereas the experimental diets were shaped by adding bulk-Fe2O3 and nano-Fe2O3 to the basal diet to preserve Fe levels at 0.2 and 0.4 mg kg−1, respectively. Results indicated that superior growth performance was recorded in fish-fed diets supplemented with 0.4 nano-Fe2O3 mg kg−1 diet. In addition, the highest (P ≤ 0.05) survival rate, absorption area of villous (AAV), mucosal to serosal amplification ratio (MSR), and villi parameters (height and width) were noticed in fish fed diet enrichment with either bulk or nano-Fe2O3 source. However, the superiority observed in nano-Fe2O3 fish groups. Also, the highest values of plasma albumin, total protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), white blood cells (WBCs), and lymphocyte absolute count (LYM) (P ≤ 0.05) recorded in fish fed a diet supplemented with nano-Fe2O3 versus the basal diet. Moreover, the highest values of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and plasma lysozyme activity (P ≤ 0.05) were observed in fish fed 0.4 mg/kg−1 nano-Fe2O3, while the lowest value was recorded in fish fed the control diet. The best value of malondialdehyde activity (P ≤ 0.05) recorded in a fish-fed diet supplemented with 0.4 mg/kg−1 nano-Fe2O3. The current findings emphasize the importance of including Fe to improve fish growth, immunity, antioxidant capabilities, and intestinal structure, primarily with a nano-Fe source, which demonstrated a more effective function in satisfying Nile tilapia dietary Fe requirements and improving the aforementioned parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin contamination in feed is a common problem in broiler chickens. The present systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of aflatoxin-contaminated feed and the efficacy of various feed additives on the production performance of broiler chickens fed aflatoxin-contaminated feed (AF-feed). A total of 35 studies comprising 53 AF-feed experiments were selected following PRISMA guidelines. Feed additives included in the analyses were toxins binder (TB), mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), organic acid (OA), probiotics (PRO), protein supplementation (PROT), phytobiotics (PHY), and additive mixture (MIX). Random effects model and a frequentist network meta-analysis (NMA) were performed to rank the efficacy of feed additives, reported as standardized means difference (SMD) at 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Overall, broiler chickens fed AF-feed had significantly lower final body weight (BW) (SMD = 198; 95% CI = 198 to 238) and higher feed conversion ratio (SMD = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.13 to 0.21) than control. Treatments with TB, MOS, and PHY improved the BW of birds fed AF-feed (P < 0.05) to be comparable with non-contaminated feed or control. Predictions on final BW from the broiler-fed aflatoxin-contaminated diet were 15% lower than the control diet. Including feed additives in the aflatoxins diet could ameliorate the depressive effect. Remarkably, our network meta-analysis highlighted that TB was the highest-performing additive (P-score = 0.797) to remedy aflatoxicosis. Altogether, several additives, especially TB, are promising to ameliorate aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens, although the efficacy was low regarding the severity of the aflatoxicosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rachycentron canadum (cobia) is a marine fish species of high economic value in aquaculture due to its fast growth rate and good feed conversion efficacy. Regrettably, the industry has been affected by significant setbacks from high mortality due to diseases. Consequently, an improved perception of innate immunity correlated to each mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in teleost fish is necessary to understand hosts' response towards infections better. The utilization of polysaccharides in seaweed to stimulate the immune system has gathered unprecedented attention. The present study examined the immunostimulatory effects of Sarcodia suae water extracts (SSWE) on in vivo gill-, gut- and skin-associated lymphoid tissues (GIALT, GALT, and SALT) via immersion and oral ingestions. The GIALT genes (TNF-α, Cox2, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 A/F1-3, IL-11, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, MHCIa, IgM, and IgT) except IL-10 recorded positive upregulations in a dose-dependent manner post 24 h immersion in SSWE, indicating the algae extract contained bioactive compounds that could stimulate the immune genes. The upregulation of IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 in the gills and hindgut post-SSWE immersion indicated that the extract could promote Th1-related responses in the MALTs. The modulation of immune gene expressions in the feeding trial was less potent than in the SSWE immersion. These findings indicated that the SSWE stimulated robust immune responses in both the GIALT and GALT of cobia. This suggests that the SSWE could be further explored as an effective immersive stimulant for fish, enhancing their immune system against pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Phytase supplementation in rations can reduce their phytic acid composition in order to enhance their nutritional value. Aspergillus niger is a fungus that can encode phytase. This study aims to determine the characteristics of its DNA sequences and amino acid composition that encode the phytase enzyme, as well as to determine the primer designs. Method This study used gene sequence data and protein-encoding phytase from Aspergillus niger that was collected manually from NCBI and PDB. The data was analyzed using SPDBV and then be aligned using the ClustalW Multiple Alignment features. The phylogenetic tree was built by Mega11 software. Primers were designed from selected candidate sequences that were analyzed. The designed primers were then simulated for PCR using FastPCR and SnapGene software. Results There are 18 Aspergillus niger phytases in NCBI which is 14.87% of the total Aspergillus. There are 14 Aspergillus niger phytases that have identity above 95%. Aspergillus niger 110. M94550.1 is the closest strain to the PDB template. Candidate sources of phytase genes are Aspergillus niger 110.M94550.1, 48.2.BCMY01000003.1, and 92.JQ654450.1. The primer design has 2 possibilities of self-annealing and high melting temperature on the reverse primer. PCR simulation shows that the primer design can attach completely but still has the possibility of mispriming. Conclusion This study suggests promising results for the future development of phytase enzyme production from Aspergillus niger as a feed additive using genetic engineering to enhance the quality of livestock feed in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using calcium anacardate (CaA) as a source of anacardic acid and its association with citric acid (CA) in diets for breeding quails on the performance, the egg quality, incubation parameters, and progeny performance. Were used 540 quails European quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) that were 21 weeks old, housed in laying cages based on a completely randomized design, with nine treatments and six replications of 10 quails per parcel, with each experimental unit having eight females and two males. The following additions to the diet were evaluated: 1, no addition (control diet); 2, 0.25% CaA; 3, 0.25% CaA and 0.25% CA; 4, 0.50% CaA; 5, 0.50% CaA and 0.25% CA; 6, 0.50% CaA and 0.50% CA; 7, 0.75% CaA; 8, 0.75% CaA and 0.25% CA; and 9, 0.75% CaA and 0.50% CA. The treatments had no significant effects on the performance of the breeding quails, incubation parameters, and progeny performance. For egg quality, there was only an effect on yolk lipid oxidation, which was lower for eggs from quails fed the diets containing 0.50% CaA and 0.25% CA, 0.50% CaA and 0.50% CA, or 0.75% CaA alone, when compared with the control group. Considering that including CaA with or without CA in diets for breeding quails only affected yolk lipid oxidation, it can be recommend including 0.50% CaA and 0.25% CA or 0.75% CaA alone to mitigate oxidative damage in the yolk of fertile eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poultry sector demands alternative additives to antibiotics that can be used as performance enhancers. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the probiotics effects on performance, intestinal health, and redox status of 720 broilers exposed to heat stress from 15 days of age. Eight dietary treatments were evaluated: basal diet (BD) without antibiotic and probiotic (T1); BD supplemented with antibiotic zinc bacitracin (T2), BD supplemented with commercial probiotic of Bacillus subtilis DSM 17,299 (T3), BD supplemented with non-commercial probiotic of Lactococcus lactis NCDO 2118, Lactobacillus delbrueckii CNRZ 327, Escherichia coli CEC15, or Saccharomyces boulardii (T4 to T7), and BD simultaneously supplemented with the four non-commercial probiotics (T8). Feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion were determined in the period from 1 to 42 days of age. Carcass and cuts yield, abdominal fat deposition, cloacal temperature, weight and length of intestine, activity of myeloperoxidase and eosinophilic peroxidase enzymes in the jejunum, jejunal histomorphometry, relative gene expression in the jejunum (occludin, zonulin, interleukin-8, cholecystokinin, ghrelin, and heat shock protein-70), and liver (heat shock protein-70), in addition to malondialdehyde level and superoxide dismutase activity in the intestine, liver, and blood, were measured in broilers at 42 days old. As main results, broilers fed T1 diet exhibited lower weight gain (3.222 kg) and worse feed conversion (1.70 kg/kg). However, diets containing non-commercial probiotics resulted in up to 3.584 kg of weight gain and improved feed conversion by up to 10%, similar to that observed for broilers of the T2 and T3 groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of red yeast (Sporidiobolus pararoseus) produced from crude glycerol, as a by-product of the biodiesel production process, on the growth, innate immunity, expression of immune-related gene, and resistance of Nile tilapia against challenge with Streptococcus agalactiae. Fish were fed diets supplied with different concentrations of S. pararoseus dried cells at 0.0 (control; T1), 5.0 (T2), 10.0 (T3), and 20.0 (T4) g kg−1 diets for 90 days. The results showed that final body weight, weight gain, and average daily gain were significantly higher in fish fed T3 and T4 compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Likewise, significant (p < 0.05) increases in total carotenoid content, liver superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and serum lysozyme and albumin were observed in Nile tilapia fed S. pararoseus, with the highest (p < 0.05) values displayed in fish fed the T4 diet. Moreover, up-regulation of IL-1β transcription in Nile tilapia spleen and liver was observed in fish feeding group T4. In a challenge test against S. agalactiae, the fish survival rate was significantly higher in fish fed red yeast compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The highest bactericidal activity found in the T4 group (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in hematology, blood chemical, malondialdehyde (MDA), body chemical composition, organosomatic indices, and myeloperoxidase (p > 0.05) in all treatments. The present results suggested that red yeast S. pararoseus (20.0 g kg−1) can be used as a potential supplementation on growth, immune response, and disease resistance of Nile tilapia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to examine individual nutritional and ameliorative effects of silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) and natural zeolite nanoparticles (ZeNPs) and their potential role as carriers to alter the bioavailability of curcumin. Common carps (Cyprinus carpio) were fed during 60 days with a control diet, and curcumin, turmeric, SiO2NPs, curcumin-loaded SiO2NPs, ZeNPs, and curcumin-loaded ZeNPs each at 1, 50, 6.15, 7.15, 39, and 40 g/kg diet, respectively. The highest weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) were observed in fish fed with turmeric (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary curcumin and ZeNPs increased the content of monounsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.05). After exposure to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), the lowest amount of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was obtained in fish fed with curcumin (P < 0.05). In addition, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) decreased significantly in the negative control, curcumin, and curcumin-loaded SiO2NPs treatments in comparison to the positive control group (P < 0.05). The lowest silver accumulation was observed in the negative control and SiO2NPs groups (P < 0.05). This experiment demonstrated that while the nanoencapsulation of curcumin on SiO2NPs and ZeNPs did not enhanced the impact of curcumin on the growth and biochemical factors of carps, it can still be considered a potential dietary supplement for enhancing growth and antioxidant indices when added individually to the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus is an essential mineral present in the vegetable matter in the form of phytate, which is considered an antinutritional factor. Phytate can be degraded by phytases, which have been used in commercial feeds. However, these enzymes undergo costly isolation and purification processes. In the present study, a genetically modified (GM) Bacillus subtilis strain that expresses a fungal phytase was used as a feed additive. The GM probiotic was added to the commercial feed of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and its effects on zootechnical performance, proximate composition of muscle, lipid concentration in hepatopancreas, and expression of genes related to digestion, amino acid metabolism, and antioxidant defenses were analyzed. Although the genetically modified probiotic had no impact on growth parameters, there was a 39% increase in phosphorus content in muscle. In addition, genes related to digestion were downregulated in shrimp hepatopancreas, as well as an increase in lipids in this tissue. These results demonstrate that the GM probiotic increased the efficiency of the use of plant-derived phosphorus, which may imply a decrease in the addition of this element in the diets, as well as minimizing the impact of shrimp farms on the eutrophication of adjacent ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth elements (REEs) are recognized as emerging contaminants with implications in human and environmental health. Apart from their adverse effects, REEs have been reported as having positive effects when amended to fertilizers and livestock feed additives, thus suggesting a hormetic trend, implying a concentration-related shift from stimulation to inhibition and toxicity, with analogous trends that have been assessed for a number of xenobiotics. In view of optimizing the success of REE mixtures in stimulating crop yield and/or livestock growth or egg production, one should foresee the comparative concentration-related effects of individual REEs (e.g., Ce and La) vs. their mixtures, which may display distinct trends. The results might prompt further explorations on the use of REE mixtures vs. single REEs aimed at optimizing the preparation of fertilizers and feed additives, in view of the potential recognition of their use in agronomy and zootechny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to the global health, food security, and environment. In poultry and livestock, antibiotics are beneficial since they improve poultry performance and are economically effective. Therefore, it is crucial to search for alternatives that can be environmentally safe and successful in treating these infections. In this study, we employed molecular docking to evaluate lemon peel phytochemical’s protein binding capability against various poultry pathogens. The nanoparticles (LP AgNPs) obtained from the lemon peel were characterized and tested for their antibacterial activity against more poultry pathogens. LP AgNPs were characterized by using UV–Visible absorption spectra, which revealed an absorption peak at a wavelength of 420–440 nm. The FT–IR analysis demonstrated that flavonoids and phenolic acids acted as capping, reducing, and stabilizing agents during the biosynthesis of AgNPs. EDAX showed a strong peak was observed at 3 keV which revealed the absorption of metallic silver nanoparticles. The mean diameter was from 2 to 20 nm through HRTEM. Zeta potential of the LP AgNps at − 17.2 mV showed the high stability of the green synthesized AgNps. Maximum inhibitory concentrations of LP AgNps against the isolated poultry pathogens were 50 μg/ml concentration. The toxicity tests were performed in the Vigna radiata seedlings and Artemia nauplii, which showed less toxic effects and eco-friendly nature of the LP AgNps. LP AgNps have the potential to treat antibiotic resistant poultry pathogens, thereby paving the way for the development of value-added novel products incorporated with nanoparticles for treating various infection caused by antibiotic-resistant poultry pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic growth promoters have been utilized for long time at subtherapeutic levels as feed supplements in monogastric animal rations. Because of their side-effects such as antibiotic resistance, reduction of beneficial bacteria in the gut, and dysbiosis, it is necessary to look for non-therapeutic alternatives. Probiotics play an important role as the key substitutes to antibacterial agents due to their many beneficial effects on the monogastric animal host. For instance, enhancement of the gut microbiota balance can contribute to improvement of feed utilization efficiency, nutrients absorption, growth rate, and economic profitability of livestock. Probiotics are defined as "live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host." They are available in diverse forms for use as feed supplements. Their utilization as feed additives assists in good digestion of feed ingredients and hence, making the nutrients available for promoting growth. Immunity can also be enhanced by supplementing probiotics to monogastrics diets. Moreover, probiotics can help in improving major meat quality traits and countering a variety of monogastric animals infectious diseases. A proper selection of the probiotic strains is required in order to confer optimal beneficial effects. The present review focuses on the general functional, safety, and technological screening criteria for selection of ideal Bacillus probiotics as feed supplements as well as their mechanism of action and beneficial effects on monogastric animals for improving production performance and health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of cardanol in the diet of quails on productive performance, egg quality, reproductive performance, and progeny performance. A total of three hundred European quail breeders of 32 weeks of age, with average body weights of 305.98 g, were housed in laying cages in groups (4 females and 1 male), following a distribution in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 6 replications of 10 quails, being the experimental unit constituted by the set of two cages. The treatments consisted of diets with 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00% of cardanol. There was reduction in the performance of the quail with the inclusion of 1.00% of cardanol in the diet when compared to the control treatment, while egg weight and egg mass were lower in the treatments with 0.75 and 1.00% of cardanol, respectively. It was observed that there was decrease in the specific gravity, and increase in color and TBARS value of the yolk in all treatments with cardanol. The inclusion of 0.50% of cardanol decreased the percentage of albumen, and increased the percentage of yolk, while the shell thickness decreased with 0.75%. The weight of the incubated eggs and the chick weight at hatching were lower in the treatments with 0.75 and 1.00% of cardanol. In the evaluation of the progeny performance, it was found that the weight at 7 days of age of chicks from breeders fed the diet containing 1.00% of cardanol was decreased when compared to the chicks from breeders fed the control diet. It was concluded that the inclusion of cardanol did not present benefits to the quail breeders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of VILIGEN™, a blend containing sodium butyrate, dehydrated hydrolyzed yeast, and zinc proteinate, on the profile of the allochthonous intestinal microbial community, the activity of digestive enzymes, and the integrity of the intestinal barrier of juvenile Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. A feeding trial was conducted with five VILIGEN™ doses (0.00, 0.60, 1.20, 2.40, and 4.80 g kg−1). The fish were randomly distributed into four groups per treatment, with 28 fish for experimental unit. Fish were fed to apparent satiety twice daily for 60 days. The gut medial portion was collected for enzyme activity and morphological analyses, while feces samples from the same gut portion were sampled for microbial characterization. Morphological indexes and structure of the intestinal physical barrier were determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The tight junction proteins were quantified by western blot. Fish-fed diets containing VILIGEN™ showed the greatest alpha diversity and abundance of the phyla Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria and the genera Legionella, Aquisphaera, Bacillus, and Gordonibacter. Trypsin activity was higher in the gut of fish-fed VILIGEN™ supplemented diets. Regarding the greatest intestinal tissue integrity, fish-fed diets containing 2.40 g kg−1 VILIGEN™ showed the lowest fusion of the gut folds and the highest development and microvilli height. VILIGEN™ showed beneficial effects for Nile tilapia gut health, presented a positive modulatory effect on the morphology and integrity of the intestinal epithelium, increased trypsin activity, and modulated gut microbial community, including high alpha diversity of bacterial species in the gut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies were carried out in order to identify the problems that arise in the poultry meat industry against the background of the development of heat and transport stresses. To do this, regularities were established in changes in poultry productivity during different seasons of the year in the conditions of an industrial poultry complex located on the territory of Chelyabinsk oblast. The analysis of production indicators was carried out for five seasons (including transitional ones). To evaluate the effectiveness of the developed feed additive, the indicators of poultry productivity, as well as the quality and safety of meat, were studied. For the experiment, two groups (n = 50) were formed, control and experimental. The feed additive PIK-Antistress-T at a dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight was introduced into the main diet of experimental birds 6 days before transportation and slaughter. The birds in the preslaughter period were exposed to high ambient temperatures. Production indicators are presented by the poultry farm, and the assessment of the quality and safety of poultry meat was carried out by standard methods. Data were processed using Statistica 12 software using the nonparametric Mann–Whitney U-Test. In the summer period, in comparison with the winter and transitional seasons, a general twofold increase in bird losses was noted. In summer, less meat was received by an average of 17.6 t from each facility, including meat of the first grade by 19.6%, and a decrease in the productivity index by 48.37 units was observed. The use of the stress-protective feed additive PIK-Antistress-T 6 days before transportation and slaughter, in conditions of high ambient temperature, made it possible to increase the productivity index by 16.2 units, meat yield by 13.4%, and grade by 46.3%. The use of the feed additive did not reduce the veterinary and sanitary characteristics of meat nor its nutritional and biological value. The meat of the control and experimental groups was safe in terms of the content of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of developing countries by providing livelihood and nutritional security, transport, contingency during crop failure and day-to-day earning to the farm family. The human population is projected to reach 9.9 billion by 2050, which along with increasing urbanization and growing income is expected to increase the demand for livestock products. Global livestock feed demand will be almost doubled, and 1.3 billion tons of grain will be required for feeding farm animals alone. To increase the livestock production efficiency, feed additives have been used to improve the production and growth of high-quality livestock products. Even though feed additives have a pertinent role in animal growth performance, disadvantages like endo toxin production and reduced absorption of nutrients by interaction of additives with naturally occurring nutrients limits the use of feed additives. A majority of the macronutrients in the rumen are metabolized or transformed by microbes, hence nutrients should be preserved and made available in the small intestine. Encapsulation technology, which has been employed in a broad range of applications in various fields of science, can address this challenge and rejuvenate livestock nutrition research. The present review explores the importance of encapsulated nano material in livestock and poultry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratinases can specifically degrade keratins, which widely exist in hair, horns, claws and human skin. There is a great interest in developing keratinase to manage keratin waste generated by the poultry industry and reusing keratin products in agriculture, medical treatment and feed industries. Degradation of keratin waste by keratinase is more environmentally friendly and more sustainable compared with chemical and physical methods. However, the wild-type keratinase-producing strains usually cannot meet the requirements of industrial production, and some are pathogenic, limiting their development and utilization. The main purpose of this study is to improve the catalytic performance of keratinase via directed evolution technology for the degradation of feathers. We first constructed a mutant library through error-prone PCR and screened variants with enhanced enzyme activity. The keratinase activity was further improved through fermentation conditions optimization and fed-batch strategies in a 7-L bioreactor. As a result, nine mutants with enhanced activity were identified and the highest enzyme activity was improved from 1150 to 8448 U/mL finally. The mutant achieved efficient biodegradation of feathers, increasing the degradation rate from 49 to 88%. Moreover, a large number of amino acids and soluble peptides were obtained as degradation products, which were excellent protein resources to feed. Therefore, the study provided a keratinase mutant with application potential in the management of feather waste and preparation of protein feed additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteases are one of the most innovative products used to improve the efficiency of feed additives. Due to their hydrolytic properties, they enhance the absorption of amino acids, which can reduce the protein content and the cost of feeds. The subtilisin-like proteinase of Bacillus pumilus 3–19 is a promising candidate for industrial use as a feed additive. However, in order to obtain a high yield of the enzyme, it is necessary to develop a highly efficient expression system. The aim of the study was to obtain stable expression of the optimized B. pumilus 3–19 protease gene in the Pichia pastoris expression system and evaluate the correlation of enzyme activity with the choice of vector type and signal peptides. The efficient secretion of subtilisin-like protease into the culture fluid of the recombinant yeast strains was confirmed. The study showed that the incubation time affects the synthesis of protease in P. pastoris, and the maximum activity of the enzyme was observed at 72 h of growth of the yeast culture. Yeast strains with constructs based on the low-copy vector pPINK-LC showed higher protease activity (U/mL) in the hydrolysis of azocasein (2.63 ± 0.16 for killer signal peptide (SP), 2.49 ± 0.08 for α-mating factor presequence, 2.19 ± 0.11 for lysozyme SP) than strains with constructs based on the pPINK-HC vector (1.86 ± 0.09 for killer SP, 2.21 ± 0.07 for α-mating factor presequence, 1.31 ± 0.11 for lysozyme SP), regardless of which signal peptide was used. The ability of the recombinant protease to hydrolyze a specific substrate confirms that the enzyme is a member of the subtilisin family. The maximum protease activity was obtained for yeast strains with pPINK-LC-killer-aprBp (5.75 ± 0.08 U/mL) and pPINK-LC-α-mat.factor-aprBp (4.33 ± 0.07 U/mL) constructs. This study demonstrated that the subtilisin-like protease from recombinant P. pastoris strains exhibits proteolytic activity, which depends on the incubation time and the choice of signal peptide and vector. The production of bacillary protease by the heterologous yeast-based expression system makes this system promising for the development of new feed additives for animal husbandry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surveys were carried out in order to study the vaccine stress syndrome effects on the morphological and biochemical blood parameters of calves with the reference dietary phytoadditive of adaptogenic properties. The additive contains components of plant origin (chamomile inflorescences, blue alfalfa, and spruce resin), fructose, ascorbic acid, a dried Bacillus subtilus culture product, and organic selenium. Three-day-old calves reared under the purebred cattle production system in Tambov oblast were allocated into two groups (control and experimental) according to the analog method requirements. The animals of the experimental group were fed the additive added to the milk at a rate of 10 g per head per day for 1 month. Two days after vaccination, the blood immunoglobulin level in calves of the control group was 1.3 g/L higher. The glucose level remained within the physiological norm, while it was higher by 29 mg/dL in the animals of the control group. The amount of conditionally pathogenic bacteria Klebsiella pneumonia in intestinal microbiota of animals fed the additive reduced and became ten times lower compared to that in the fecal samples of calves of the control group. A feed phytobiotics product had a positive effect on the adaptation of calves in the milk-feeding period of rearing to stressful conditions following vaccination. The blood neutrophils number and alanine and aspartate transaminase (ALT and AST) activities, which increased by 64.3, 26.4, and 18.1%, respectively, along with the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level elevated by 11.3%, can indicate the increased body resistance of calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioactive effect of Moringa oleifera leaves hydroalcoholic extract as a dietary feed additive on helminths load and growth performances of goats. Initially, the availability of bioactive compounds in M. oleifera hydroalcoholic extract was analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which showed the presence of heneicosane (35.69%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (22.89%), heptacosane (18.26%), pentatriacontane (4.77%), and hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester (3%) as predominant compounds in the leaves extract. The anthelmintic effect of M. oleifera extract (0 and 60 mL of extract animal-1) was evaluated against disparate nematodes using standard methodology. M. oleifera leaves extract exhibited significant (P = 0.002) anthelmintic activities against Trichuris sp. and Ostertagia sp. with reduced counts of eggs. A completely randomized experiment of 3 treatments comprised of 10 goats in each treatment was designed for the growth performance study. Treatments used in the present experiment were as follows: treatment 1 (T1), 0 mL of extract animal-1; treatment 2 (T2), 30 mL of extract animal-1; and treatment 3 (T3), 60 mL of extract animal-1. Growth performance parameters (body weight, daily weight gain, and feed intake values) of goats fed varied concentrations of M. oleifera extract were estimated as per standard protocols. The T2 and T3 groups’ goats offered significant (P < 0.05) increment in body weight. Daily weight gain of the T2 and T3 groups’ goats was also increased. Group T3 exhibited maximumfeed intake value of 588, 678, 652, and 678 g d-1 at 0, 30, 45, and 60 days, respectively. Feed conversion efficiency was increased for T2 and T3 groups’ goats versus T1. Findings of this study concluded that M. oleifera hydroalcoholic extract can be used not only as an effective anthelmintic agent against disparate nematodes but also as a prominent feed additive to improve growth performances of goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to determine the immunomodulatory effects of dietary supplementation of the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) plectasin on broiler chickens. The experiment involved 300-day-old Ross chicks reared in a conventional housing system and subjected to ambient temperature and relative humidity. The birds were randomly allocated to five treatment groups: the non-supplemented negative control group (T1), enramycin-supplemented group (T2), and groups supplemented with varying doses of plectasin at 150 ppm, 300 ppm, and 450 ppm (T3, T4, and T5, respectively) from day 1 to 35. The results indicated that plectasin supplementation increased jejunal and ileal goblet cell (GC) counts, serum interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels at neonatal age, and serum immunoglobulin Y (IgY) titer on days 7, 21, 28, and 35. These findings confirmed that plectasin induces positive immunomodulatory responses by specifically enhancing gut mucosal barriers, early innate immunity, and humoral immune response. Specifically, supplementation at 150 ppm may be considered as the optimal dose for inclusion in broiler chicken feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance fish general health, feeds can be supplemented with health-promoting additives, reducing the need to use chemotherapeutics. Incorporation of marine algae biomasses in aquafeeds has been shown to improve fish immune status by enhancing innate immune response. This study evaluated the effects of Phaeodactylum tricornutum incorporation in feed by two different processes, either as freeze-dried biomass or broken cell wall biomass, on fish health status and performance. Triplicate groups of gilthead seabream juveniles (13.3 ± 0.3 g) were either fed a control diet (CTRL) with an extreme (i.e., 0% fishmeal), nutritionally balanced, formulation, or two experimental diets formulated as the CTRL with 1% inclusion of the microalga P. tricornutum at the expense of wheat meal: BC diet contains P. tricornutum broken cells and WC diet microalgae whole cells. After 2 and 12 weeks of feeding, blood was collected for hematological procedures, whereas plasma and mucus were sampled for immune parameters. Head-kidney, liver, and white skeletal muscle were also collected for gene expression measurements. No major differences were observed in hematological nor plasma humoral parameters after 12 weeks irrespective of dietary treatment. Arrays of 29–31 genes were analyzed in the different tissues, revealing an early dietary effect (2 weeks) in a tissue-specific pattern. In the liver, the major effect was found in the GH/IGF axis and in muscle there was a late downregulation of myostatin (mstn) gene, mainly due to WC diet, even though all fish had similar growth performance. Regarding the head-kidney, BC diet led to alpha-2-macroglobulin (a2m) gene upregulation. Also, the same treatment showed increased mucus alternative complement pathway and bactericidal activity at 2 and 12 weeks, respectively. Hence, it seems that BC diet has a potential stimulatory effect that might be relevant as a prophylactic measure before a predictable stressful event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological stresses in the poultry industry directly affect the broiler-chicken's performance and the production intensification. The technological stress factors affect the metabolic pathways occurring in the chicken's body. The objective of the survey was to assess the efficiency of the feed additive used for broiler chickens in the technology-related stress environments in the broiler chicken industry. The feed additive used for the broiler chickens reared in the preslaughter period could allow us to maintain their productive performance due to decreasing the technological load on the bird's body. This was proven by increasing the average daily liveweight gain, the absolute liveweight, the welfare benefit, the meat yield, and the gross revenue in the chickens of the experimental group by 0.7, 2.3, 1.5, 13.4, and 49.2%, respectively. The 22.54, 22.5, and 5.07% higher contents in serum total protein, calcium, and phosphorus, respectively, along with the 6.12, 2.22, and 7.05% lower levels of total lipids, cholesterol, and glucose, respectively, were recorded in the experimental group of broiler chickens compared to that in the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the survey is to study the possibility of applying Biobardin feed additive (3–5%). It can provide antibacterial properties for broiler-chicken feeds in order to reduce the negative effects of mycotoxins produced by the mold fungi Fusarium graminearum, F. sporotrichiella, F. poae, and F. moniliforme present in the feed mixtures on the production performance of poultry and to prevent mycotoxicoses in them. A positive effect of 5% feed additive supplemented to the diet is proven. The poultry suffering from the chronic forms of mycotoxicoses could absorb the nutrients more effectively than the poultry that consumed similar feeds free from the analyzed additives. The opportunity to reduce the chronic mycotoxicosis's after-effects in poultry by 25–50% is found. The Biobardin additive testing for its different proportions contained in the moderately contaminated feed mixture could contribute to normalizing the metabolic processes in the digestive system due to the probiotic bacteria in the feed additive and the reduced alimentary toxic load on the bird body. As much as 5% of Biobardin additive contained in feed can provide the opportunity to compensate for a 10–30% reduction in key performance indicators for broiler chickens, which is more effective than the same fishmeal proportion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of black cumin seed oil (BCSO) on the growth metrics, innate immunity and resistance against Pseudomonas fluorescens infection in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. This was done by conducting a feeding trial experiment on the fish. A total of four diets (protein, 35.99 ± 0.16%; lipid, 9.86 ± 0.06%) varying in their BCSO ration (w/w; 0% (control), 1%, 2% or 4%) were formulated. A total of 180 fish (25.6 ± 2.2 g fish─1) were allocated to four experimental groups with three replicates (twelve 150-L glass-tanks; fifteen fish tank─1). Each fish group was fed thrice a day (8:00, 12:00 and 16:00 h) with one of the four diets at 3.5% of their body weight for 28 days. Following day 7, 14 and 28 of the feeding trial, the growth metrics (i.e. weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and food conversion ratio (FCR)) were measured based on bulk weight of the fish tank─1, and the immune parameters (i.e. serum-bactericidal activity (SBA), respiratory burst activity (RBA) and phagocytic activity (PA)) were examined by analysing blood collected from a randomly selected representative fish tank─1. Following the feeding trial course, the fish were injected with P. fluorescens at day 29 and the cumulative mortality was recorded until day 30 post-injection. Obtained results did not show any suppressive effect of BCSO on growth, and showed positive effects on examined immune parameters and survival of all the BCSO-fed fish groups, with best results in 2% BCSO-fed group. At the end of the feeding trial (day 28), SBA, PA and RBA in 2% BCSO-fed fish were increased by 3.66-, 1.94- and 2.85-fold, respectively, when compared to the control. In the same group of fish, the maximum significant (P < 0.05) reduction of post-challenge cumulative mortality (43.33%) was recorded when the mortality was 100% in the control group. Accordingly, this study suggests the dietary inclusion of BCSO at 2% towards controlling P. fluorescens infection in O. niloticus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, in order to improve livestock and poultry performance, some compounds have been used as a feed additive and growth stimulator. Some of the most widely used growth stimulants have been antibiotics but, due to the harmful effects of antibiotic resistance and the limiting of their use, alternatives have been suggested such as probiotics, prebiotics, plant essential oils, essences and by-products. The orange is one of the earliest fruits used by humans. Orange by-products and waste are found extensively in some parts of the world. Orange waste contains ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, coumarin and several volatile compounds, some producing orange aroma:aldehydes, esters, terpenes, alcohols, ketones, carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein and beta-cryptoxanthin), nobilitin, pectin and bioflavonoids including hesperidine, naringenin and hysteritine. This paper reviews the practical applications of orange by-products and waste in poultry feeding. Advantages and disadvantages of effects of orange waste and by-products on poultry (broiler, laying hen, quail, etc.) performance, carcass components, immunity, blood constitutes, and gastrointestinal microflora are reviewed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the metabolic, productive, and carcass parameters of feedlot lambs fed high-concentrate diets with cottonseed associated with calcium lignosulfonate. Treatments consisted of diets including whole cottonseed, crushed cottonseed, whole cottonseed with lignosulfonate (100 g/kg), crushed cottonseed with lignosulfonate (100 g/kg), and a control diet without cottonseed. Thirty ½ Dorper ½ Santa Inês, non-castrated male lambs with an average live weight of 24.9 ± 3.6 kg and an average age of 3.5 months were evaluated in a completely randomized design. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on the intakes of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and non-fibrous carbohydrates. The crushing of cottonseed and association with lignosulfonate increased (P < 0.01) the intake and digestibility of ether extract. No effect was observed (P > 0.05) for the concentrations of urine and plasma urea N, which averaged 616.2 and 108.6 mg/dL, respectively. There was a change (P < 0.01) in nitrogen balance for digested N in g/day. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on the urinary concentration of purine derivatives, except for uric acid excretions (P < 0.05). Lignosulfonate associated with cottonseed provided an average daily gain of 0.293 kg/day, which was higher than the 0.226 kg/day obtained without lignosulfonate, but lower than control (0.302 kg/day), which also showed higher values of carcass yield. High-concentrate diets formulated without cottonseed improve lamb production performance. The use of high-concentrate diets with cottonseed associated with calcium lignosulfonate provides greater weight gains in lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important factor for increasing the productive performance of dairy cattle is the adequate and balanced diets due to improving the quality of feeds enriched with the combined additives made of alternative sources, in particular, with the use of abundant forest resources. The practical experiment to study the effects of dietary intake of conifer meal on milk production and metabolic parameters in cows and to determine its optimal dosage was carried out at LLC Plemzavod Taezhny breeding enterprise, Sukhobuzimsky district, Krasnoyarsk region. In order to perform the experimental analogue study, three groups of five milk cows each were formed. The experiment lasted for 100 days. The animals in the control, first, and second groups were fed with the basal diet, the basal diet supplied with the conifer meal at a dose of 50 g/head/day, and the basal diet supplied with conifer meal at a dose of 100 g/head/day, respectively. The data were analyzed and processed according to the common methods. A positive effect of the conifer meal on milk production and technological parameters of cow milk was proven. The analysis of the produced data allowed us to determine the most effective dose of conifer meal, which comprised 50 g/head/day. It contributed to increasing the milk yield for 100 days of lactation, the milk fat content, the milk protein content, and the amount of basic fat milk by 15.6, 29.8, 17.1, and 29.4%, respectively, improving the technological milk parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel conjugate of ractopamine and bovine serum albumin (RAC-BSA) has been developed via the Mannich reaction, with a mole coupling ratio for RAC-BSA of 9:1. The proposed conjugation method provides a simple and one-step method with the use of fewer reagents compared with other conjugation methods for competitive immunoassays. RAC-BSA conjugation was used to fabricate a competitive lateral flow strip test for RAC detection in animal feed. For sample preparation, RAC was spiked in swine feed purchased from the local markets in Thailand, and methanol and running buffer at a volume ratio of 10:90 was used as extraction buffer. The procedures for sample preparation were completed within 25 min. Under optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD), assessed by the naked eye within 5 min, was found to be 1 ng/g. A semi-quantitative analysis was also conducted using a smart phone and computer software, with a linearity of 0.075-0.750 ng/g, calculated LOD of 0.10 ng/g, calculated limit of quantitation of 0.33 ng/g, and good correlation of 0.992. The recoveries were found in the range of 96.4%-103.7% with a relative standard deviation of 2.5%-3.6% for intra- and inter-assays. Comparison of the results obtained by the strip test with those obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay had a good agreement in terms of accuracy. Furthermore, this strip test exhibited highly specific RAC detection without cross reactivity with related compounds. Therefore, the RAC-BSA conjugation via the Mannich reaction can be accepted as a one-step and easy conjugation method and applied to the competitive lateral flow strip test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-seven percent (37%) formaldehyde- possessing antimicrobial activity has been used in various forms as a fumigant for mould control and as a feed additive for feed preservation. The study evaluated the effects of formaldehyde-treated poultry feed on the immune response of birds to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection with Kudu 113 strain. A total of 100 chicks were acquired from Zartech Hatchery, Ibadan, Nigeria. They were randomly appropriated into A, B, C and D experimental groups, with each group containing 25 birds. Group A chicks were vaccinated, fed treated feed and infected with ND virus while group B chicks were vaccinated, fed untreated feed and infected with ND virus. Chicks in group C were not vaccinated but fed treated feed and infected with ND virus whereas chicks in group D were not vaccinated, fed untreated feed and infected with ND virus. The data generated were analysed with analysis of variance (ANOVA). Formaldehyde-treated feed had no significant effect on the PCV, antibody response to NDV, organ index and feed intake but significantly affected the body weights of the birds. Formaldehyde, despite the antimicrobial activities, may not prevent infection of Newcastle disease virus infection, when used as a feed additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of increased levels (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8%) of a combination of β-glucans and mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) in isonitrogenous (23% of digestible protein) and isoenergetic (13.38 MJ of digestible energy kg) pacu diets, corresponding to five treatments and four replicates. A 30-day feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects on growth performance, hematological parameters, and intestinal morphology. Fish ( n = 160, 30.92 ± 0.46 g) were distributed randomly in 20 aquaria (300 L) with a recirculating water system with controlled temperature (26.20 ± 0.32 °C) and fed four times a day until apparent satiation. A quadratic effect ( P < 0.05) was observed for weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER). The hepatosomatic and viscerosomatic indexes, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) did not show differences ( P > 0.05) among treatments. Pacu fed β-glucans and MOS at 0.1 and 0.2% resulted in the greatest ( P < 0.05) villus height and perimeter. The diet containing 0.2% β-glucans and MOS promoted the best growth response, feed efficiency, and intestinal morphology, without detrimental effects on the hematological parameters for juvenile pacu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of feed additives as probiotics in aquaculture is increasing, but it is still poorly understood. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of two probiotics ( Bacillus subtilis 10UFC/g and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 10UFC/g) on growth parameters, body composition, and hematological responses of tambaqui juveniles ( Colossoma macropomum) by considering time a key factor for the probiotics-pathogens interaction. The first phase studied 108 animals (2.13 ± 0.75 g) randomly distributed into 12 tanks. Weight, consumption, feed conversion, weight gain, survival, and body composition were evaluated after 90 days. The second phase studied 60 animals (175.01 ± 36.73 g) fed with the same experimental diets. After 60 days, fish were induced with bacteria Streptococcus agalactiae strains (1.0 × 10 UFC) and subjected to blood collection (0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h). In short, no differences were observed for performance and body composition. Mortality was not observed for phase 1 and 2, and it is expected due to purposeful protocol of moderate infection. However, improvements of hematological parameters (red and white series) were noted in the tambaqui supplemented with commercial S. cerevisiae when considering exposure time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Serratula coronata L. on protein metabolic and bioproduction processes of ewes with lambs at foot on the basis of experimental data on the body weight gain of the suckled lambs and the biochemical composition of blood serum of ewes. On the background of a diet with insufficient energy value, a long-lasting lactogenic effect (25%) was observed after feeding lactating ewes with dry mass of leaves of Serratula coronata L. with the calculated content of phytoecdysteroids. A significant increase of total protein and albumin in serum was found, while urea was reduced. Furthermore, the level of gamma-glutamyltransferase activity was higher than in controls, indicating greater involvement of body proteins in metabolism. The glucose content in the blood serum of experimental animals is lower than in the controls. However, activation of gluconeogenesis through transamination of amino acids did not happen. Based on the data of the diverse metabolic effects of phytoecdysteroids contained in the leaves of Serratula coronata, the prospect of creating new feed additives for increasing the milk productivity of lactating ewes and getting healthy lambs was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feeding trial was conducted for 60 days to determine the effects of fish meal (FM) replacement with meat and bone meal (MBM) supplemented with garlic powder on the physiological and immunohematological status of juvenile rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss; 8.26 ± 1.10 g). Eight isonitrogenous (46% crude protein) and isoenergetic (22 mJ kg) diets were formulated containing increasing levels of MBM 0 (control), 25, 45, and 65% with or without garlic powder (3%). Our findings indicated that garlic supplementation increased red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), white blood cell (WBC), lysozyme, ACH50, and plasma protein, whereas decreased cholesterol, urea, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and creatinine. The increase in dietary MBM without garlic supplementation resulted in elevated levels of urea, creatinine, GOT, and GPT, and reduced lysozyme, ACH50, Hb, and WBC. At the end of the feeding trial, 24-h exposure to un-ionized ammonia at 1 mg l resulted in increase in cortisol and glucose, and decrease in Hb and Ht in treatments without supply of garlic. Fish fed feeds with garlic supplementation, regardless of inclusion levels of MBM, exhibited reduced plasma cortisol and glucose levels and increased survival rates under ammonia exposure conditions. In summary, dietary garlic supplementation positively influenced the immune status of rainbow trout, in particular under ammonia stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feeding trial to study the effect of addition of prebiotic fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on feeds for juvenile Asian seabass ( Lates calcarifer) (12.2 ± 0.4 g) was carried out. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric experimental diets were formulated that contained 400 g kg protein and 90 g kg lipid. The FOS was supplemented at 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 g kg in the diet of L. calcarifer with a control that was devoid of FO S. The trial was carried out in 1000-L fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tanks with three replicates (each containing 20 fish) for each treatment. After 45 days of feeding, it was observed that FOS supplementation at 10 g kg in the diet resulted in significantly ( P < 0.05) higher final biomass (334.2 ± 7.3 g) and survival (97.7 ± 3.8 %). There were no significant ( P > 0.05) differences in biological indices of fish fed with the experimental and control diets. Whole body chemical composition of animals post-feeding revealed significantly ( P < 0.05) higher crude protein, crude lipid and total ash content in 5 g kg FOS-supplemented diet. The analysis of hematological parameters revealed that red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration levels increased significantly ( P < 0.05) with dietary FOS supplementation up to 5 g kg.The second-degree polynomial regression analysis of RBC (4.06 ± 0.05 × 10 mm) showed that FOS 5 g kg is an optimal level in seabass diet. Significantly ( P < 0.05) higher lysozyme (77.4 ± 0.5 U mL) and superoxide dismutase (75.2 ± 0.3 U mL) activity was recorded at 10 g kg FOS supplementation. It could therefore be concluded that 10 g kg FOS supplementation has a beneficial effect in improving the survival rate and immunological parameters in L. calcarifer juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the expected behavior of a high molecular weight water-soluble polymer-base of the Solunat feed additive-in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants, which is determined by the chemical properties of the polymer and the peculiarities of the digestive system of ruminants. This provides interaction with proteins/amino acids of feeds and enzymatic membrane proteins resulting in a more complete digestion of forages and an increased productivity of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During tuna processing for human consumption, the fish are initially boiled in water, creating ~7000 tons of wastewater a year in Tosashimizu City, Japan. The wastewater (tuna broth; TB) is rich in free amino acids and peptides; therefore, we investigated two methods of utilizing it beneficially. In experiment 1, crude TB was used as a growth enhancer for two farmed species, juvenile yellowtail ( Seriola quinqueradiata) and red sea bream ( Pagrus major). Juveniles of both species, fed commercial extruded pellets mixed with 300 mL TB, showed significantly better growth than the unsupplemented control group. In experiment 2, concentrated TB was used as a dietary ingredient for juvenile yellowtail to improve palatability and growth. Dietary preferences and growth were rated as follows: fish meal diet > soy protein concentrate (SPC) + TB diet > SPC + krill meal diet > SPC diet. The beneficial effects of TB as a dietary supplement were evident. Crude TB enhanced juvenile growth at minimal cost. Concentrated TB requires processing, with associated costs; however, it proved to be a valuable fish-feed supplement because of its high palatability and growth-promoting effect. The utilization of TB also contributes to reducing the environmental impact of fish wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An LC-MS/MS method was established for simultaneous identification of levels of bilpaterol, cimbuterol, clenproperol, and bambuterol in goat and beef muscle. Meat samples were subjected to extraction using an aqueous acidic solution and cleansed using MCX solid phase extraction. β-Agonists residues were extracted using an aqueous acidic solution. Proteins in extraction liquids was removed based on adjusting pH using perchloric acid and a sodium hydroxide solution, followed by SPE for clean-up. Linearity values of the method based on R values were 0.9976-0.9997 with 70.1-108.8% recovery and relative standard deviation values of 3.5-13.3%. Low limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of 0.01-0.02 and 0.02-0.08 µg/kg, respectively, were achieved for spiked goat and spiked beef muscle. The method was sensitive and specific and is an improvement over other currently available technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work reports studies on biofortification of milk and cheese with microelements. The diet of goats was supplemented with soya-based preparations with Cu(II), Fe(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II), produced by biosorption, instead of mineral salts. In innovative preparations, soya was the biological carrier of microelements. The utilitarian properties of the new preparations were tested in two groups (8 goats in each): experimental and control. The concentration of supplemented microelements was monitored in milk during the experiment. The collected milk was then used to produce cheese by enzymatic and acidic coagulation method. The effect of milk and cheese biofortification in microelements was confirmed. In milk, the level of the following microelements was higher than in the control: Cu(II) - 8.2 %, Mn(II) - 29.2 %, Zn(II) - 14.6 %. In cheese the content of Zn(II) obtained in enzymatic (19.8 %) and in acidic (120 %) coagulation was higher when compared to the control group. By using bio-preparations with microelements it was possible to produce new generation of functional food biofortified with microelements, by agronomic, and thus sustainable and ethically acceptable way. Biofortified milk and cheese can be used as designer milk to prevent from micronutrient deficiencies. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]