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In this study, we performed a quantitative analysis of 12 compounds derived from Piper sarmentosum extract (PSE) and guava leaf extract (GE). In addition, we investigated the effects of mixed extract (ME) of PSE and GE (1:1) on piglets' gut microbiome and metabolome. A total of 200 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire, 21‐day‐old) were randomly assigned into two groups with five replicates of 20 piglets/pen having the same initial body weight. Piglets were fed a basal diet supplemented with ME at 0 (T0) or 200 mg/kg (T1) for 3 weeks. The quantitation results by ultraperformance liquid chromatography linked to triple‐quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry showed that vitexin 2‐O‐rhamnoside and pellitorine were the greatest abundant among six compounds detected in the PSE. In addition, quercetin, isoquercitrin and avicularin were found to be the richest of all detected compounds in the GE. Findings on experimental animals indicated that three differential metabolites, comprising L‐alanine, sarcosine and dihydrofolic acid, in T1 compared with T0 groups, have exactly opposite levels trends in serum and faeces. Moreover, two metabolic pathways (i.e., urea cycle and glutamate metabolism) differed significantly in the serum and faeces of piglets between T0 and T1 (p < 0.05). At the same time, T1 had significantly higher relative abundances of Agathobacter and Alloprevotella than T0 at genus level (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that the genus Agathobacter correlated positively with carbamoyl phosphate (p < 0.01) and oxoglutaric acid (p < 0.05), and negatively with succinic acid (p < 0.01) and ornithine (p < 0.05). These four differential metabolites were also involved in the urea cycle and/or glutamate metabolism pathways. The results here indicated that the tested plant extract mixture represents a worthy feed additive with obvious antioxidative properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dietary intervention is an important approach to improve intestinal function of weaned piglets. Phytogenic and herbal products have received increasing attention as in‐feed antibiotic alternatives. This study investigated the chemical composition of guava leaf extract (GE) by ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS). Meanwhile, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with GE on diarrhea in relation to immune responses and intestinal health in weaned piglets challenged by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). RESULTS: In total, 323 characterized compounds, which including 91 phenolic compounds and 232 other compounds were identified. Animal experiment results showed that the supplementation of 50–200 mg kg−1 of GE in the diet could reduce diarrhea incidence, increase activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and total anti‐oxidant capacity in the serum (P < 0.05), decrease the levels of interleukin 1β, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α in the serum or jejunum mucosa (P < 0.05), and increase villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05) in the jejuna of piglets challenged by oral ETEC compared with negative control group (NC). Meanwhile, diet supplementation with 50–200 mg kg−1 GE reduced the levels of D‐lactate, endothelin‐1 and diamine oxidase in the serum, and increased the expression of zonula occludens‐1, Claudin‐1, Occludin and Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (P < 0.05) in the jejuna mucosa of piglets challenged by ETEC compared with the NC. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that GE could attenuate diarrhea and improve intestinal barrier function of piglets challenged by ETEC. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effects of the nutritional levels of diets on meat quality and related gene expression in Hainan black goat. Twenty-four goats were divided into six dietary treatments and were fed a concentrate-based diet with two levels of crude protein ( CP) (15% or 17%) and three levels of digestive energy ( DE) (11.72, 12.55 or 13.39 MJ/kg DM) for 90 days. Goats fed the concentrate-based diet with 17% CP had significantly ( P < 0.05) higher average daily gains ( ADG) and better feed conversion rates ( FCR). The pH 24h value tended to decrease ( P < 0.05) with increasing DE levels. The tenderness of Longissimus dorsi muscle ( LD) and Semimembranosus muscle ( SM) reduced with increasing CP levels ( P < 0.05). With increasing DE levels, tenderness was increased ( P < 0.05). The heart fatty acid-binding protein ( H- FABP) mRNA expression levels in LD and SM increased with increasing DE levels ( P < 0.05), but decreased with increasing CP levels ( P < 0.05). The calpastatin ( CAST) and μ-calpain mRNA expressions levels in LD and SM were affected significantly ( P < 0.05) by CP and DE levels in the diet. Therefore, the nutritional levels of diets affect meat quality and expression levels of genes associated with meat quality in Hainan black goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the nutritive value of 10 varieties of stylo ( Stylosanthes guianensis) in Hainan province, China, based on chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility. Chemical composition of the varieties averaged 10.5% crude protein, 2.6% ether extract, 47.4% neutral detergent fiber, 39.7% acid detergent fiber and 0.59% total tannins. In vitro dry matter digestibility averaged 61.4%. The Relative Feed Value quality standard of individual varieties was grade 2 or higher, with the highest values for 'TPRC90028' and 'Reyan No. 2.' The results show that the stylo varieties have suitable nutritive values for livestock in tropical regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]