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Use of brown seaweed (Ecklonia maxima) as a nutraceutical source in indigenous chicken diets is limited by high dietary fibre levels. Inoculating seaweeds with oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) spawn (OMS) could enhance the utility of the spent mushroom substrate (SMS). This study investigated the effect of feeding incremental levels of brown seaweed SMS on growth performance, physiological responses, and meat quality parameters in Boschveld roosters. A total of 324, 4-week-old Boschveld roosters were weighed and randomly allotted to 36 pens (9 birds per pen) to produce six replicates per dietary treatment. The diets were formulated as follows: a standard grower diet (CON); and CON containing 150 g/kg of brown seaweed inoculated with OMS at 0 (SMS0), 20 (SMS20), 30 (SMS30), 40 (SMS40) and 50% (SMS50). Birds fed diet CON had the least feed intake (p < 0.05) than all the other SMS treatment levels in weeks 7, 8, 12, 14 and 15. Diet SMS40 promoted higher (p < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) than CON in weeks 6, 7, 9 and 14. Gain-to-feed ratio linearly increased in weeks 7 [R2 = 0.288; p = 0.010], 11 [R2 = 0.581, p = 0.0001] and 14 [R2 = 0.389, p = 0.004], respectively. Quadratic responses (p < 0.05) were observed for BWG in week 5, white blood cells, heterophils, platelets, lymphocytes, monocytes, and relative spleen and large intestine weights as OMS levels increased. Linear increases were recorded for slaughter [R2 = 0.197, p = 0.017] and breast weights [R2 = 0.197, p = 0.020] as OMS levels increased. Diet SMS0 promoted higher (p < 0.05) relative caeca weights than the CON and SMS treatment groups. Neither quadratic nor linear responses (p > 0.05) were observed for breast meat quality parameters. In conclusion, feeding brown seaweed SMS improved growth performance and slaughter weight, altered some blood parameters and internal organs, without affecting breast meat quality of Boschveld roosters. Based on the quadratic response for BWG, the optimum OMS level was deduced at 20% in a brown seaweed-based Boschveld rooster diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of thyme, ginger, and their nano-particles, as alternatives to antibiotic growth promotors (AGP), on productive performance, carcass traits, meat quality and gut health of broiler chickens. A total of 270 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly distributed into 6 groups, each consisting of 3 replicates (n = 15 chicks/replicate). The birds in group 1 were fed the control diet which contained neither antibiotic growth promotors nor phytogenic feed additives (PFA). Birds in group 2 were fed diets containing 0.05% of AGP (Bacitracin methylene disalicylate). Chicks in group 3 and 4 were fed diets supplemented with 1.0% of thyme and ginger, respectively, whereas birds in group 5 and 6 were offered diets including 0.10% of nano-thyme and nano-ginger, respectively. The experiment lasted for 35 days. It was found that thyme and ginger with their nano-products, like the antibiotic, improved the body weight, weight gain and feed conversion rate of birds. The effect of ginger and nano-ginger on body weight and weight gain was greater than other treatments. During the overall feeding period, the feed cost of production was the highest in antibiotic group, but was the lowest in ginger and nano-ginger treatments. There was no effect of dietary treatments on carcass yield or organs weight except bursa of Fabricius and abdominal fat. Thyme, ginger and their nano-composites increased the weight of bursa and reduced the abdominal fat amount. The phytogenic additives and their nano-particles improved the colour, water holding capacity, and flavor of meat. Moreover, these additives reduced the total intestinal bacterial count as well as the total aerobic mesophilic count of meat. The effect of PFA and their nano-particles on the bacterial count was similar to that of antibiotic. In conclusion, thyme and ginger with their nano- particles can be considered as promising agents in feeding of broilers to improve the growth performance, gut health and meat quality. Moreover, these additives can be used as alternatives to AGP to overcome its health hazards and the high cost. The nanotechnology of herbal plants enables them to be added in smaller amounts in poultry diets with producing the same effect of raw ingredients, and this could be due to the higher bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With heritable PSE (hal+) being largely eradicated in many countries, pork quality defects and their linkage to known mutations have received less attention in the last decade. We address this by mapping the frequency of four known mutations (200Q, 199 V, hal+, PHKG1) in heterogenous Norwegian and German pig populations (n = 136/61). Genotyping for mutations was done by PCR-RFLP analyses and Illumina chip genotyping. We found a high prevalence of pigs with at least one of the four tested mutations for Norwegian and German samples (60%, 77%). For Norwegian samples, we confirm known links of 200Q and PHKG1 with Hampshire and Duroc genetics, respectively. For Germany, we show that Piétrain pigs can still be heterozygous carriers of hal + . In all, our data points to a relatively high abundance of mutations that affect pork quality in both countries. The high prevalence of individual mutations may contribute to recent ham quality defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucommia ulmoides is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, with pharmacological effects such as lowering blood pressure and enhancing immune function. The effects of dietary Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharide (EUP) on immune function and meat quality were studied in Songliao Black Pigs. Blood lymphocyte counts and percentage, concentrations of serum total protein and of albumin increased, whereas those of urea nitrogen and triglyceride decreased. White blood cell and lymphocyte counts, and serum IgA, IgE, IgG2 a and IFN-γ increased. Average daily weight gain, slaughter weight, lean meat rate and cooked meat rate increased, whereas pH24, feed-weight ratio, fat rate, yellowness (b#) and centrifugal dehydration rate decreased. Transcriptome sequencing of longissimus dorsi muscle detected 32 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 26 were up-regulated and 6 down-regulated. A total of 19 genes were differentially expressed in the four groups, 18 of which were up-regulated. The DEGs included ADAMTS4, PER1, STAC, SERPINE1, FASN, THRSP, SP7 and KRT80 and the protein interaction network showed 20 up-regulated nodes, three down-regulated nodes and 14 DEGs. GO functional annotation and enrichment analysis showed that 34 items were significantly enriched, including transferase activity, actin binding, acetyl coenzyme A, acyl coenzyme A metabolism, adipose tissue development and acyl glycerol homeostasis. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the AMPK and PPAR signaling pathways were enriched. Dietary Eucommia polysaccharide enhanced immune function in Songliao Black Pigs, improved growth and carcass performance, increased the expression of genes related to meat quality traits and improved meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to investigate the differences in flavor substances and taste between Guangxi yellowfeathered broilers and Arbor Acres (AA) broilers. The experiment selected several types of Guangxi yellow-feathered broilers (Lingshan fragrant chickens, Caifeng chickens, Nandanyao chickens, Donglan black chickens) and AA broilers that had reached the market age. After slaughtering, the content of amino acids, inosinic acid, and unsaturated fatty acids in the pectoral and leg muscles were measured and a sensory evaluation was conducted. The results showed that AA broilers had the lowest total amino acid and total umami amino acid content in the pectoral muscle. The content of glutamic acid in the pectoral muscle of Lingshan fragrant chickens, Caifeng chickens, and Donglan black chickens was significantly higher than that of AA broilers (P<0.05). The content of inosinic acid in the pectoral muscle of Caifeng chickens, and Donglan black chickens was both significantly higher than that of AA broilers (P<0.05), with Caifeng chickens having the highest content. The content of inosinic acid in the leg muscle of Lingshan fragrant chicken, Caifeng chickens, and Donglan black chickens was significantly higher than that of AA broilers (P<0.05). The content of oleic acid in the leg muscle of Caifeng chickens was significantly lower than that of AA broilers (P<0.05). The umami and juiciness of Lingshan fragrant chickens, Caifeng chickens, and Donglan black chickens were all significantly higher than those of AA broilers (P<0.05), and the total sensory score was significantly higher than that of AA broilers (P<0.05), with Lingshan fragrant chickens having the highest score. The study indicates that the nutritional level of several types of Guangxi yellowfeathered broilers is close to that of AA broilers, and there are differences in the content of flavor substances. The content of glutamic acid and inosinic acid can be used as the main indicators for the quantification and grading of the flavor of Guangxi yellow-feathered broiler chicken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Light is a very important parameter in poultry farming. It can influence production, meat quality and welfare. The increasingly popular energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lighting has replaced other light sources in many farms. We aimed to investigate the effects of incandescent light (IL) and LED lighting on production, meat quality parameters and behavior. In the first five weeks, there was a significant difference in body weights between the groups. The feed conversion ratio was more favorable in all weeks in the LED group. Among the meat quality parameters, only the shear force values differed significantly between the groups. Broilers raised under LED lighting were more active, spent more time socializing and rested less. The results indicated that LED lighting positively impacts animal welfare and production efficiency. Many farms have been replacing traditional lighting sources with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs because of technological modernization. We aimed to investigate the effects of incandescent lighting (IL) and LED lighting on Cobb 500 broiler chickens for six weeks. Production parameters (body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio), calculated slaughter values (yield%, relative breast%, thigh%) and breast meat quality parameters (pH at 45 min and 24 h postmortem, color, drip loss, kitchen equipment losses, shear force, meat composition) were recorded. Non-stop recordings were used to analyze the behavior of the birds during several periods of rearing. The LED group was significantly better in the body weight parameter between week 1 and 5 and the feed conversion ratio between week 2 and 3. The most significant difference in behavior was observed in the middle of the rearing period. The chickens in the LED group spent more time eating, drinking and interacting, and rested less. There was no difference in the meat quality parameters; only shear force was significantly lower in the LED group (1781.9 g/s vs. 2098.8 g/s). According to our results, LED lighting can bring about positive changes in animal production efficiency, behavior and other important characteristics for meat consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The molecular mechanism underlying muscle development in goats is complex, and the key genes commanding the growth performance and meat quality of different breeds remain unclear. Herein, we present temporal transcriptome research on Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of two goat breeds from embryo to 12 months old, with extreme phenotypic differences in production and meat quality traits, using an Illumina system for the identification of key genes to improve production efficiency in goats. In this study, we measured the growth performance and intramuscular fat (IMF) content of the Longissimus dorsi (LD) of Fuqing goats (FQs) and Nubian goats (NBYs), which exhibit extreme phenotypic differences in terms of their production and meat quality traits. RNA-Seq analysis was performed, and transcriptome data were obtained from the LD tissue of 3-month fetuses (E3), 0-month lambs (0M), 3-month lambs (3M), and 12-month lambs (12M) to reveal the differences in the molecular mechanisms regulating the muscle development and IMF deposition between FQs and NBYs. The results showed that a higher body weight and average daily gain were observed in the NBYs at three developmental stages after birth, whereas a higher IMF content was registered in the FQs at 12M. Additionally, transcriptome profiles during the embryonic period and after birth were completely different for both FQs and NBYs. Moreover, DEGs (KIF23, CCDC69, CCNA2, MKI67, KIF11, RACGAP1, NUSAP1, SKP2, ZBTB18, NES, LOC102180034, CAPN6, TUBA1A, LOC102178700, and PEG10) significantly enriched in the cell cycle (ko04110) at E3 (FQs vs. NBYs), and DEGs (MRPS7, RPS8, RPL6, RPL4, RPS11, RPS10, RPL5, RPS6, RPL8, RPS13, RPS24, RPS15, RPL23) significantly enriched in ribosomes (ko03010) at 0M (FQs vs. NBYs) related to myogenic differentiation and fusion were identified. Meanwhile, the differences in glucose and lipid metabolism began at the E3 timepoint and continued to strengthen as growth proceeded in FQs vs. NBYs. DEGs (CD36, ADIROQR2, ACACA, ACACB, CPT1A, IGF1R, IRS2, LDH-A, PKM, HK2, PFKP, PCK1, GPI, FASN, FADS1, ELOVL6, HADHB, ACOK1, ACAA2, and ACSL4) at 3M (FQs vs. NBYs) and 12M (FQs vs. NBYs) significantly enriched in the AMPK signaling pathway (ko04152), insulin resistance (ko04931), the insulin signaling pathway (ko04910), fatty acid metabolism (ko01212), and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis (ko00010) related to IMF deposition were identified. Further, the results from this study provide the basis for future studies on the mechanisms regulating muscle development and IMF deposition in different breeds of goats, and the candidate genes identified could be used in the selection process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study aimed to reveal the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the bovine Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) to explore the correlation between genotypes and carcass, meat quality, adipogenic traits, fatty acid composition, and milk production traits in cattle. Four SNPs, g.21272246 A>G, g.21272306 T>C, g.21272422 C>T, and g.21272529 A>G, were found by Sanger sequencing; further statistical analysis showed that these four SNPs of the SCD1 gene were significantly associated with carcass traits and meat quality, including carcass weight, carcass fat coverage rate, rib eye area, marbling score, adipogenic traits, and fatty acid composition. Additionally, a modest effect on milk production traits, such as average milk yield and milk fat content, was observed in cows. Further haplotype analysis indicated that the combinations of H2H3 and H2H2 of SNPs had a higher value than others. Our results indicate that these four SNPs are potentially effective markers and could be used in marker-assisted breeding to improve meat and milk quality simultaneously in the future. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids and is considered a candidate gene for improving milk and meat quality traits. Sanger sequencing was employed to investigate the genetic polymorphism of the fifth exon and intron of bovine SCD1, revealing four SNPs, g.21272246 A>G, g.21272306 T>C, g.21272422 C>T, and g.21272529 A>G. Further variance analysis and multiple comparisons were conducted to examine the relationship between variation sites and economic traits in Chinese Simmental cattle, as well as milk production traits in Holstein cows. The findings revealed these four loci exhibited significant associations with carcass traits (carcass weight, carcass length, backfat thickness, and waist meat thickness), meat quality (pH value, rib eye area, and marbling score), adipogenic traits (fat score and carcass fat coverage rate), and fatty acid composition (linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid). Furthermore, these loci were additionally found to be significantly associated with average milk yield and milk fat content in cows. In addition, a haplotype analysis of combinations of SNPs showed that H2H3 has a significant association with adipogenic traits and H2H2 was associated with higher levels of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid than the other combinations. These results suggest that the four SNPs are expected to be prospective genetic markers for the above economic traits. In addition, the function of SNPs in exon 5 of SCD1 on gene expression and protein structure needs to be explored in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The aim of this study was to explore the genetic resources of the Huitang duck (HT) in Hunan Province, China, and investigate its population structure and genetic potential through comparative analysis with various duck populations. The results showed that HT belonged to the versatile duck breed, exhibiting significant phenotypic and genetic differences compared to other duck breeds in Hunan Province. The inspection of genomic selective signals in their genome showed that selected candidate genes were involved in the growth and development of skeletal muscle and ovary. These findings provide valuable information for future breeding programs and genetic preservation of HT. The Huitang duck (HT), a long-domesticated elite local breed from Hunan Province, China, with excellent meat quality, has not had its population genetic structure and genomic selective sweeps extensively studied to date. This study measured the phenotypic characteristics of HT and conducted comparative analysis between HT and 16 different duck breeds, including wild, indigenous, and meat breeds, to characterize its population structure and genetic potential. The results revealed that HT is a dual-purpose indigenous breed with a genetic background closely related to the Youxian sheldrake and Linwu ducks. In the selective sweep analysis between HT and Linwu ducks, genes such as PLCG2, FN1, and IGF2BP2, which are associated with muscle growth and development, were identified near the 27 selection signals. The comparison between HT and Jinding ducks revealed 68 selective signals that contained important genes associated with ovarian development (GRIK4, MAP3K8, and TGIF1) and egg-laying behaviors (ERBB4). Selective sweep analysis between HT and Youxian sheldrake ducks found 93 selective regions covering genes related to both meat (IGF1R and IGFBP5) and egg-production (FOXO3 and ITPR1) traits. Our study may provide novel knowledge for exploring the population structure and genetic potential of HT, offering a theoretical basis for its breeding strategies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dietary supplements can affect animal growth, product quality, and various physiological factors. This study investigated the effects of supplementing hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) oil in the diet of goats. CBD, when included at higher levels (0.2–0.3 mL), led to improved meat quality but also altered volatile compound profiles. Additionally, CBD supplementation affected some blood variables related to immunity, metabolism, and homeostasis. Stress experienced by animals during pre-mortem management handling significantly affects both their welfare and the quality of the meat produced. Using hemp-derived CBD may offer several benefits in alleviating this issue. In this study, we investigated the effects of hemp-derived CBD supplementation on blood variables, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in goats. Sixteen crossbred Boer goats were divided into four groups receiving a basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 mL CBD/30 kg body weight over 90 days. Although growth, carcass characteristics, and pH remained unaffected, CBD supplementation influenced several blood variables. Specifically, dietary CBD at 0.1–0.3 mL increased white blood cell (WBC) counts, while 0.3 mL CBD increased serum total protein, globulin, sodium, and carbon dioxide levels, potentially affecting protein metabolism and electrolyte balance. Over time, significant changes were noted in hematological profiles, kidney markers, protein profiles, and some electrolytes, indicating physiological adaptations. Regarding meat quality, supplementation with 0.2–0.3 mL of CBD linearly improved color redness and stability; moreover, CBD supplementation improved tenderness and textural properties, resulting in a softer meat texture. However, analysis using an E-nose indicated increased ammonia and organic solvent vapors in meat from the higher CBD groups. This study concluded that CBD supplementation up to 0.3 mL of CBD/30 kg body weight beneficially modulated blood biomarkers, meat color, and tenderness without adverse impacts on growth or carcass characteristics in goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Insufficient endogenous nutrients in the broiler embryo can lead to muscle gluconeogenesis, which ultimately affects the post‐hatching performance of chicks. This study investigated the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of N‐carbamylglutamate (NCG) on the growth hormones, carcass yield, and meat quality in broilers. Fertile eggs from a 30‐week‐old Ross 308 breeder flock were divided into three treatment groups: NC (non‐injection), SC (100 μL saline‐injection), and NCG (2 mg NCG injection). Each group had six replicates, with 70 eggs per replicate during incubation. Injections were administered on the 17.5th day of embryonic development. After hatching, 270 chicks were selected for 42‐day rearing for further sampling.Chicks in the NCG group had significantly higher body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) at the growing phase, increased growth and testosterone hormone in both feeding phases (21 and 42 days), and improved average daily gain (ADG) and food conversion ratio (FCR) in both grower and entire feeding phases (P < 0.05). Triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) levels, carcass yield, dressing, drum weight, breast muscle weight, drumstick weights, thighs, pectoralis major, and their part percentage of carcass were improved in the NCG group (P < 0.05), these effects were varied along feeding phases. Moreover, IOF of the NCG also improved pectoralis breast muscle color values at 24 h post mortem (P < 0.05).These results suggest that NCG injection at the late embryonic age of broiler enhances growth performance and meat quality throughout the lifespan and this can probably be attributed to an increase in thyroid and testosterone hormones, indicating potential involvement in metabolic and nutrient partitioning pathway regulation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food waste plays a crucial role in environmental and human health issues. To address these issues, intelligent packaging systems are proposed for the accurate assessment of the quality of food products. Intelligent packaging is a technology that integrates sensing systems with conventional packaging to provide smart sensing communication functions for real‐time food quality monitoring. The most important parts of this technology are generally classified as quantitative sensors (sensors) and qualitative sensors (indicators). Since seafood and meat products can spoil easily if not stored properly, applying intelligent packaging for real‐time monitoring of the safety of these products is beneficial. In this review, the spoiling process and essential performance characteristics are indicators of the quality of these food products are first discussed. Then, The characteristics and importance of various sensors and indicators that can be used for seafood and meat quality monitoring are presented. While discussing these topics, an updated review of recent scientific studies, preconditions, materials, advantages, and limitations are provided. Furthermore, the future need for improvements in intelligent packaging systems for real‐time quality and safety monitoring of food products is discussed. Finally, several important research examples of the challenges and perspectives of intelligent packaging applications for meat and seafood quality monitoring are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to cope with the limited supply of feed for global animal production, there is a pressing need to explore alternative feed resources. Orange pulp, a by-product of agriculture and industry, has shown potential to positively or neutrally impact pig productive performance when included in their diet. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of fermented navel orange pulp (FNOP) on pig growth and productive performance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FNOP as a dry matter substitute on pig's growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, meat nutritional value, and serum biochemical indicators. The experiment involved 128 finishing Tibetan pigs, divided into four feed treatment groups, with varying levels (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) of FNOP replacing dry matter in the basal diet. The results indicate that substituting 5% to 15% FNOP had no adverse effects on pig growth performance. However, at a 15% substitution rate, there was a decrease in serum growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, along with an increase in the feed-to-gain ratio. A 10% FNOP replacement notably increased the loin-eye muscle area of pigs. Additionally, 5% and 10% FNOP substitutions reduced the drip loss of pork. The study also found that substituting 5% to 15% FNOP increased unsaturated fatty acids and umami nucleotide contents in pork and raised serum total protein and uric acid (nucleotide-metabolism-related product) levels. These findings suggest that moderate FNOP substitution might improve meat quality, nutritional value, and maintain growth and productive performance in Tibetan pigs by improving protein synthesis and nucleotide metabolism, while also reducing feed costs. The optimal substitution ratio identified was 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the importance of improving the quality of meat and meat products from rare pork breeds and genetic types. The production of pork has traditionally focused on lean genotypes, but there is growing interest in exploring different breeds and genetic types to produce niche pork products with added value. The document highlights various studies that have been conducted on carcass and meat quality, nutrition and the effects of different ingredient supplements, and genetics. These studies provide valuable insights into enhancing the quality of meat and meat products from non-standard pork breeds. [Extracted from the article]

This study evaluated the potential of using combined relaxation (CRelax) spectra within time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) measurements to predict meat quality. Broiler fillets affected by different severities of the wooden breast (WB) conditions were used as case-study samples because of the broader ranges of meat-quality variations. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were established to predict water-holding capacity (WHC) and meat texture, demonstrating superior CRelax capabilities for predicting meat quality. Additionally, a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model was developed to predict WB severity based on CRelax spectra. The models exhibited high accuracy in distinguishing normal fillets from those affected by the WB condition and demonstrated competitive performance in classifying WB severity. This research contributes innovative insights into advanced spectroscopic techniques for comprehensive meat-quality evaluation, with implications for enhancing precision in meat applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aimed to determine the effect of wet ageing time (4, 14 and 21 days) on the quality of sous-vide cooked beef products. The research material consisted of longissimus lumborum muscles obtained from the carcasses of Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls (n = 9, average age at slaughter 22 months). The meat was wet-aged at 4 ± 1 °C for 4, 14 and 21 days post-mortem. The analyses were conducted on uncooked samples (colour and pH) and after the sous-vide cooking (60 °C, 4 h) (colour, cooking loss, Warner–Bratzler shear force, texture profile analysis and sensory assessment). It was found that ageing decreased redness, yellowness and chroma (p < 0.05) in the cross-section area of sous-vide cooked beef. The values of shear force, hardness, springiness and chewiness decreased during ageing (p < 0.05). The samples were scored similarly in sensory assessment, except for tenderness which was scored higher (p < 0.01) in the products obtained from 14 and 21 d aged beef compared to 4 d aged samples. Overall, the findings highlighted that, also in the production of sous-vide cooked beef, longissimus lumborum muscles should be aged for at least 14 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a view to understand and resolve the complexity of the food matrix, omic technologies alone or in combination are extensively employed. In this sense, the newest developments and advances of proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics with their unique benefits could simplify and help to understand the link between physiological and pathological activities in biology, physiology, pathology and food science and processing. This review aims to briefly introduce the basis of proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics, then expansively review their impact on the assessment of meat quality and safety. Here, also, we discuss the application of proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics for the authentication and adulteration of meat and meat derivatives from different sources and provide some perspectives regarding the use of emerging techniques such as rapid mass spectrometry (MS) and non-invasive measurements for the analysis of meat quality and safety. This paper summarizes all significant investigations into these matters and underlines the advances in analytical chemistry technologies and meat science areas. By emphasizing the requirement for additional examinations, this paper attempts a comprehensive knowledge of "foodomics" and the potential to improve its employment in meat science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Postbiotic, Mundticin-like substance EM 41/3 looks as a promising additive for health status sustainability in animal husbandry. Nowadays, the use of probiotics, postbiotics, parabiotics and other beneficial natural substances dominate health status sustainability in animals. Mundticin-like substance EM 41/3 (MLS) is a thermo-stable substance of proteinaceous character—a bacteriocin (postbiotic) with a broad antimicrobial (inhibitory) spectrum produced by the horse-derived strain Enterococcus mundtii EM 41/3. The aim of this study was to find if this new one bacteriocin can have an effect and/or a similar effect in rabbits as was achieved previously by using enterocins detected and characterized in our laboratory. In addition, these tests have been conducted to secure the health of rabbits as food-derived animals. Moreover, the aim of this study was also to test the effect of MLS EM 41/3 in broiler rabbits as an animal model before its use in horses. The parameters tested were analyzed by validated methods. Administration of MLS EM 41/3 lead to a significant increase in the non-specific immunity parameter (phagocytic activity, p < 0.05), while microbiota in feces, caecum and appendix were not negatively influenced. However, the total enterococcal count was significantly increased in the EG compared to the CG (p < 0.001). Application of MLS EM 41/3 did not have a negative impact on blood biochemistry. No oxidative stress was noted. However, higher growth parameters were noted and also hydrolytic activity was increased after MLS EM 41/3 application. Finally, to check physico-chemical parameters, no negative influence on rabbit meat quality was noted. Postbiotic MLS EM 41/3 administration seems to be a contributing factor in the feeding strategy for animal health status sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sichuan-Yunnan region is the main production area of yaks in southwestern China, with rich genetic resources of Yaks. Nevertheless, there have been limited study on the genetic characteristics of the entire yak populations in Tibet and southwestern China. In this study, we performed whole-genome resequencing to identify genetic variation information in a total of 198 individuals fromsix yak breeds (populations) in Sichuan (Muli yak, Jinchuan yak, Changtai yak, Maiwa yak), Yunnan (Zhongdian yak), and Tibet (Tibetan yak). The aim was to investigate the wholegenome genetic diversity, population genetic structure, and genome selection signatures. We observed that all six populations exhibit abundant genetic diversity. Except for Tibetan yaks, which showed low nucleotide diversity (0.00104), the remaining yak populations generally displayed high nucleotide diversity (0.00129-0.00153). Population genetic structure analysis revealed that, among the six yak populations, Muli yak exhibited greater differentiation from other yak populations and formed a distinct cluster independently. TheMaiwa yak population displayed a complex genetic structure and exhibited gene exchangewith Jinchuan and Changtai yaks. Positive selection signals were detected in candidate genes associated with growth (GNB4, HMGA2, TRPS1, and LTBP1), reproduction (PI4KB, DYNC1I1, and GRIP1), immunity (CD200 and IL1RAP), lactation (SNX13 and CPM), hypoxia adaptation (NDUFB6, PRKN, and MRPS9), hair (KRT24, KRT25, and KRT26), meat quality (SUCLG2), digestion and absorption (CLDN1), and pigment deposition (OCA2) using the integrated Pi and FST methods. This study provides significant insights into understanding the whole-genome genetic characteristics of yak populations in Tibet and southwestern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the Pogostemon cablin polysaccharides (PCPs) were heteropolysaccharides with molecular weights of 63.17 kDa and 8.99 kDa, and their total carbohydrate content was 76.17 ± 0.23%, uronic acid content was 19.92 ± 0.42%, and protein content was 1.24 ± 0.07%. PCP is composed of arabinose, galactose, glucose, and glucuronic acid, with a molar ratio of 0.196:0.249:0.451:0.104. In addition, we further investigated the effects of the diet supplemented with different doses of PCP on growth performance, meat quality, and anti-oxidant capacity in Chongren Partridge chickens. A total of 200 chickens were randomly allocated into 4 treatments, and fed with a basal diet of 0 (CON), 200 (LPCP), 400 (MPCP), and 800 (HPCP) mg/kg PCP for a 14-day prefeeding period and a formal experimental period of 56 days. Results showed that dietary PCP significantly increased final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and decreased feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) from days 1 to 56. Meanwhile, dietary PCP reduced yellowness (b*) values and increased redness (a*) values at 24 h in breast muscles (p < 0.05). Furthermore, LPCP and MPCP significantly increased the level of guanylic acid (GMP) (p < 0.05). MPCP increased the content of free amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, valine, alanine, glutamic acid, serine, cysteine), total essential amino acid (EAA), total flavor amino acid (FAA), total AA, the content of fatty acids (c14:1, c16:1, and c22:2), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in the breast muscle when compared to CON (p < 0.05). In addition, MPCP significantly reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased the transcript abundances of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), fatty acid synthase (FAS), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) in the breast muscles of the chickens (p < 0.05). In light of the aforementioned results, PCP at 400 mg/kg could be used as an effective additive because it not only promotes the growth performance of Chongren Partridge chickens but also shows a conducive role in meat quality, especially in meat flavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken nuggets were prepared with 5%, 10%, and 15% steam cooked unripe plantain without peel, and their qualities were evaluated. Linear and significantly (P < 0.01) increased values were observed for emulsion stability, cooking yield, moisture retention, fat retention, moisture, and total ash contents. Conversely significantly (P<0.01) reverse trends were observed for emulsion pH, product pH, protein and fat contents. Fiber content values were significantly increased from0.46 ± 0.03 to 5.71 ± 0.08%. Sensory evaluation done using nine point hedonic scale indicated that 10% cooked unripe plantain without peel resulted in higher scores for appearance, colour, flavor, juiciness, tenderness, texture and overall acceptability among the three treatments. Thus, it can be concluded that, 10% cooked unripe plantain without peel can be successfully used for preparation of fiber enriched functional chicken nuggets of acceptable quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) is most commonly used nowadays to improve the shelf-life of meat in refrigeration storage. Therefore, this research was undertaken to study the effect of MAP on the quality and shelf-life of chicken breast meat (CBM) under refrigeration storage. This was further compared with aerobic packaging (AP) to find the efficiency of MAP. Three different concentrations used were : 1) MAP-20 (20%O2+30%CO2+50%N2), 2) MAP-10 (10%O2+40%CO2+50%N2), and 3) MAP-0 (0%O2+20%CO2+80%N2). Refrigerated storage of CBM with MAP of 0-20% oxygen significantly (p<0.05) decreased the TBARS, deoxymyoglobin, metmyoglobin, L* value, b* value, oxygen, and nitrogen but increased the pH, oxymyoglobin, total meat pigment, a* value, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, standard plate counts and scores of sensory attributes when compared with aerobic packaging. It can be concluded that a MAPCBM had a shelf-life of 12 days and AP-CBM had 6 days under refrigeration storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of coating added with clove essential oil on meat quality attributes of rabbit meat. The fresh rabbit meat was divided into 4 treatments viz., C (control)-without coating, T1-alginate coating, T2- alginate coating with 0.2% clove essential oil, and T3- alginate coating with 0.5% clove essential oil. The samples were aerobically packaged in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) packs and stored under refrigeration (4±1ºC) for 7 days. The samples were assessed on day 0 (before keeping the samples in refrigeration), days 1, 3, 5, and 7 for pH, cooking loss, colour profile, and sensory attributes. The alginate coating was observed to significantly (p<0.05) increase the pH value of the raw rabbit meat samples. Throughout the storage, the raw C sample recorded significantly (p<0.05) lower pH values than those of the raw-treated samples. The coating of the rabbit meat sample did not have any significant effect on the cooking loss except on day 0 of storage. With the advancement of the storage period, the treated samples retained a better colour and sensory attribute. The T3 sample had the highest sensory scores throughout the storage period. Thus, alginate coating added with 0.5% clove essential oil could be used to improve the quality of rabbit meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Bacillus subtilis, a kind of probiotic with broad-spectrum antibacterial function, was commonly used in livestock and poultry production. Recent research suggested that Bacillus subtilis may have antioxidant properties and improve immune response. This study aimed to verify the probiotic function of Bacillus subtilis in the production of broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 324 (1-day-old) Arbor Acres broilers were selected and randomly divided into three groups: basal diet group (Ctr Group), basal diet + antibiotic growth promoter group (Ctr + AGP) and basal diet + 0.5% Bacillus subtilis preparation group (Ctr + Bac). The experiment lasted for 42 days. Muscle, serum and liver samples were collected at 42 days for determination. Results: The results showed that Bacillus subtilis could decrease malondialdehyde content in the serum and liver (p<0.05) and increase superoxide dismutase 1 mRNA expression (p<0.01) and total superoxide dismutase (p<0.05) in the liver. In addition, compared with AGP supplementation, Bacillus subtilis supplementation increased interleukin-10 (IL-10) and decreased tumor necrosis factor-a and IL-1ß level in the serum (p<0.05). At 45 minutes after slaughter Ctr + Bac presented a higher a* value of breast muscle than Ctr Group (p< 0.05), while significant change in leg muscle was not identified. Moreover, there was no difference in weight, shear force, cooking loss and drip loss of breast and leg muscle between treatments. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that Bacillus subtilis in diet can enhance antioxidant capacity and optimize immune response of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of incorporating grape pomace (GP) into fish diets on the growth performance, physiological parameters, and biochemical composition of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). A total of 180 carp, with an average initial weight of 65 g, were reared in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). They were divided into a control group (C), fed with a diet containing 0% GP, and two experimental groups (V1 and V2), fed with diets containing 5% and 10% GP, respectively. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. Results revealed that most growth parameters were not significantly affected by GP inclusion, except for a notable difference in the hepatosomatic index (HSI), indicating an impact on liver size relative to body weight. The biochemical analysis of carp meat showed significant differences in moisture, protein, fat, collagen, and salt content between the control and experimental groups. Furthermore, the oxidative status assessment indicated that GP supplementation modulates oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation pathways in carp, enhancing their antioxidant defenses and overall health. Microbiological examination of the carp intestinal content showed that GP inclusion in fish diets influenced microbial parameters, particularly affecting the abundance of aerobic germs and Enterobacteriaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quercetin is an important phytochemical that belongs to the flavonoid group of plant pigments. It has potential benefits as an antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory agent. However, the utilization of quercetin in aquaculture is not optimal. Hence, this study conducted a literature review to analyze the potential benefits of quercetin in aquaculture, especially for fish and prawn. Results showed that quercetin can be isolated from herbs using several methods, including sonication, maceration, and fractionation. Its amount in plants can be potentially determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and thin-layer chromatography. Some of the plants containing high quercetin levels include shallot, garlic, apple skin, guava leaves, green tea, chia seeds, and desert rose flower. In aquaculture, quercetin can be applied to increase the ideal body weight, feed conversion ratio, and condition factor of aquatic cultured species and serves as an antioxidant, antistress, strengthening probiotic and an antiinfective agent. Latest research showed that quercetin benefits the immunity of goldfish against furunculosis. Furthermore, quercetin shows potential in prawn industry as an antioxidant protection that improves the meat quality. To date, the potential benefits of quercetin have not been widely utilized in aquaculture. The minimum utilization can be attributed to the lack of a systematic review regarding its potency either on fish or prawn. Hence, this study provides the essential review of quercetin in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Selection for growth rate has received considerable attention in beef cattle but the evidence for an improvement in the efficiency of feed conversion is equivocal. Aim: To examine whether feed efficiency by beef cattle finished in a feedlot had been changed in response to divergence selection for growth rate. Methods: The Angus cattle used came from three lines of cattle selected for over five generations for fast growth rate to yearling age (High-line), slow growth (Low-line), or from an unselected Control-line. Over sequential years, a cohort of steers, then of heifers and then of steers, representative of the lines, were measured for feedlot performance, and carcase- and meat-quality traits. The animals were fed a high-energy feedlot ration and after an adjustment period they underwent a performance test of at least 70 days of duration. After slaughter, muscle samples were taken for subsequent measurement of the components of the endogenous calpain proteolytic enzyme system. Their carcasses underwent a standard chiller assessment and meat samples were taken after 1 day and 14 days (steers) or 17 days (heifers) for objective measurement of tenderness. Key results: Cattle from the High-line grew 48% faster (P < 0.05), and ate 48% more feed (P < 0.05) than did those from the Low-line, but had similar (P > 0.05) feed conversion ratio and residual feed intake. There were no differences between the High-line and Low-line in the visual meat-quality attributes of meat colour, fat colour and marbling, and no differences in the objective measurements of tenderness and connective-tissue toughness. There was no evidence of a selection response in the circulating concentrations of the metabolites and hormones measured, nor in the endogenous calpain proteolytic enzyme system in muscle. Conclusions: The superior growth demonstrated by the High-line cattle over the feedlot test was accompanied by a higher feed intake, with no evidence for an improvement in feed efficiency. Implications: Selection for growth rate is a powerful tool to alter animal performance but the beef industry needs to be cognisant of the proportional increase in feed requirement from breeding bigger animals. Selection for growth rate is a powerful tool to alter beef cattle performance but the evidence for an improvement in feed efficiency is equivocal. This experiment found that selection for faster growth in Angus cattle resulted in heavier cattle that ate more in the feedlot, with no evidence of improvement in feed efficiency. Breeding programs that place emphasis on growth rate need to be cognisant of the proportional increase in feed requirement by bigger animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of breeder age on growth performance, gait and breast meat characterictics of broilers. The study was carried out with a total of 288 chicks randomly selected from 32-week-old, young (YB) and 60-week-old, older (OB) broiler breeder flocks of Ross 308 genotypes. In the experiment, weekly growth performance of broilers, gait scores at 38 days of age and some breast meat and leg bone characteristics of broiler chickens slaughtered at 42 days of age were determined. The results of the study showed that the chicks in OB group were heavier than those in the YB group at the 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of age, but the difference between the live weights of the broilers in the groups was not significant at the 35 and 42 days of age. Breeder age affected the feed intake and feed conversion ratio of chicks at the period of 0-21 days of age. The effect of breeder age on gait scores of broilers was found to be insignificant. However, it was determined that the rate of normal-fluent gait was higher in the OB group. In the present study, it was revealed results the values of pH and colour of breast meat were within normal ranges, and the size and breaking strength of leg bones were not affected by breeder age. As a result, it was observed that broiler chicks obtained from young breeders were able to compensate for the body weight difference occurred at the beginning of the rearing period compared to older breeders until slaughter age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining animal health, as they participate in and influence the host's physiological processes through a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms. Although gut microbes are closely related to the metabolism and health status of livestock and poultry, the relationship between them and the mechanism of action needs to be further studied. The article focuses on the recent research progress in revealing the relationship between gut microbiota and animal lipid metabolism, and explores the complex interactions between the metabolic products of livestock gut microbiota (such as short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and tryptophan metabolites and their derivatives) and lipid metabolism. It particularly discusses how the interplay between gut microbiota and the host jointly determines the metabolic changes of the host and the microbiota, and summarizes domestic and international research on improving host lipid metabolism by modulating the gut microbiota. The aim is to provide references for the application and research of using gut microbiota to regulate lipid metabolism and improve meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uzhumqin sheep has the characteristics of large individual, abundant meat, and strong stress resistance. The mutton produced by Uzhumqin sheep is widely loved by consumers because of its delicious meat and rich nutrition. This paper analyzes the general situation of Uzhumqin sheep from two aspects: Forage characteristics and multi-vertebra characteristics of Uzhumqin sheep. In the aspect of meat quality characteristics, the influence mechanism is summarized in three parts: Dietary nutritional factors, muscle fiber characteristics and lipid. The mutual construction mechanism between intramuscular fat content, fatty acid types and oxidation degree of unsaturated fatty acids and nutritional value of Uzhumqin sheep is emphatically explored. Through the metabolic accumulation of flavor substances and volatile flavor compounds in Uzhumqin sheep, the specific reasons for the rich taste and no smell of mutton are explained. This paper systematically analyzes the causes of unique flavor and rich nutrition of Uzhumqin sheep, in order to provide reference for further research on the network of meat quality regulation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of fermented elephant grass (P. purpureum Schumab cv. Guimin) supplementation in the diet on the slaughter performance, meat quality, physicochemical properties of the muscle, and amino acid content of Jinling chickens. A total of 144 female Jinling chickens at eight weeks of age with an average body weight of (0.83±0.01) kg were randomly divided into three groups with four replicates in each group and 12 chickens in each replicate. The control group (CK) was fed a basal diet, while the GG5 and GG8 groups were supplemented with 50 g/kg and 80 g/kg of fermented elephant grass in the basal diet, respectively. The preliminary trial lasted for one week, and the formal experiment lasted for 12 weeks. The results showed that compared with the CK group, the pre-slaughter body weight and slaughter weight of the GG8 group were significantly reduced (P<0.05), with a larger reduction in the abdominal fat rate (P>0.05). The muscle drip loss of the GG5 and GG8 groups decreased by 18.57% and 27.99%, respectively (P>0.05), and showed a linear decreasing trend. The crude protein content in the muscle of the GG5 and GG8 groups was significantly increased (P<0.05), while the crude fat, linoleic acid, and oleic acid contentrations were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the CK group, the content of flavor substances such as inosine and glutamate in the pectoral muscle of the GG8 group was significantly increased (P<0.05). The total amino acid, histidine, and proline contentations in the pectoral muscle of the GG5 and GG8 groups were significantly increased (P<0.05), with a greater increase in the GG8 group. The study indicates that the addition of 80 g/kg fermented elephant grass can significantly improve the meat quality, the muscle amino acid content, and the muscle flavor of Jinling chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of organic selenium on the growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality, and antioxidant capacity of broilers. A total of 360 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into three groups, with six replicates in each group and 20 chickens in each replicate. The Na2SeO3 group, Se-Met group, and Nano-Se group were supplemented with sodium selenite, selenomethionine, and nano selenium at a selenium level of 0.4 mg/kg, respectively. The experimental period was 42 days. The results showed that during the 1~21 d, the feed-to-gain ratio of the Se-Met group was significantly lower than that of the Na2SeO3 group (P<0.05). The abdominal fat percentage of the Nano-Se and Se-Met groups was significantly lower than that of the Na2SeO3 group (P<0.05). Compared with the Na2SeO3 group, the a* value of the pectoral muscle in broilers from the Nano-Se group was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the water-holding capacity of the pectoral muscle in broilers from the Se-Met and Nano-Se groups was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the Na2SeO3 group, the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in the pectoral muscle from the Nano-Se group were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the pectoral muscle of broilers from the Se-Met and Nano-Se groups was significantly reduced (P<0.05). The study indicates that organic selenium can effectively improve the growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality, and antioxidant capacity of broilers, with nano selenium showing better effects than selenomethionine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this experiment was to explore the effects of essential oil organic acid complex on the growth performance, blood routine, serum biochemical indexes, and meat quality of Guangxi Sanhuang chickens. A total of 240 chickens of 72-day-old (finishing period) with the same body weight and physiological state were randomly selected and divided into two groups, with six replicates in each group and 20 chickens in each replicate. The control group was fed with basal diet, while the experimental group was fed with a diet containing 0.25 g/kg essential oil organic acid complex. The trial period was 42 days. The results showed that the final weight and average daily weight gain of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05), the feed-to-weight ratio was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05), and the death rate was reduced by 25.04% (P>0.05). The ratio of large platelets in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Serum alanine aminotransferase activity, total cholesterol content, and triglyceride content in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), while aspartate aminotransferase activity and aspartate/alanine aminotransferase ratio were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The shear force of breast muscle of Sanhuang chickens in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The study indicates that the essential oil organic acid complex has positive effects on growth performance, serum biochemical indexes, and meat quality of Guangxi Sanhuang chickens, and can be used as a substitute anti-drug product in Guangxi Sanhuang chickens breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of adding different fat-soluble vitamin additives to the diet on the growth performance, slaughter performance, and meat quality of finishing cattle. Twenty-four healthy Simmental hybrid cattle with similar age and weight of (502.87±14.25) kg were randomly divided into four groups with six replicates in each group and one cattle in each replicate. The control group was fed with basal diet, and the experiment group 1 was fed with 75 g/(head·d) of multivitamin Ⅰ (VA 9 000 IU, VD3 3 000 IU, VA 30 IU), experiment group 2 was supplemented with 83 g/(head·d) of multivitamin Ⅱ (VA 8 300 IU, VD3 2 490 IU, VA 24.9 IU), and experiment group 3 was supplemented with 98 g/(head·d) of multivitamin Ⅲ (VA 7 840 IU, VD3 1 960 IU, VA 19.6 IU). The pre-test period was 14 days, and the formal test period was 90 days. The results showed that the average daily gain of finishing cattle in the experimental groups increased by 2.91%, 1.94%, and 1.94%, respectively compared to the control group (P<0.05), and the backfat thickness increased by 10.97%, 10.68%, and 9.37%, respectively compared to the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the dripping loss of beef in the experimental groups decreased significantly (P<0.05), the shear stress decreased by 14.11%, 13.09%, and 13.85%, respectively (P<0.05), and the L* and b* values of meat color increased significantly (P<0.05). The serine content in the experimental groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), while the cystine content was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The study indicates that adding multivitamins can improve the growth performance, slaughter performance, and meat quality of finishing cattle, and the combination of VA 120 IU/g, VD3 40 IU/g and VE 0.4 IU/g with 75 g/(head·d) has the better effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the composite films of chitosan (Ch) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized by the Aspergillus niger on the chemical qualities and microbial content of chicken breasts meat during storage at 4°C for 28 days. Over storage time pH, moisture content, chicken breast meat peroxide number were analyzed. The results indicated that the films of Ch alone or Ch-AgNPs had increased the values of all parameters during the preservation periods. Regarding the microbial content, the total bacterial count decreased in both Ch and Ag-NPs over time compared to the control. The lowest level was found in ChAgNPs samples. These findings demonstrated that the meat samples coated with either Ch or Ch-AgNPs performed better than those without coating during storage time. The Ch-AgNPs film became thicker after AgNPs were added. The chicken breast sample coated with Ch-AgNPs preserved the moisture content, pH values, peroxide number, percentage of F.F.A and bacterial counts better compared to the Ch sample and compared after 28 days of preservation, the values were %75.91, 6.9, 0.42 (mgO2/100g), %0.95, 5.08 (log10 cfu/g) respectively, which caused prolongation of the shelf life of the Ch-AgNPs sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The study evaluated the effect of the ohmic thawing method with IR pre‐treatment (unilateral and bilateral) on ground turkey breast that was frozen using various freezing methods, including snap freezing, freezing at −70 °C and −20 °C. The results revealed that the thawing time in ohmic thawing with unilateral and bilateral IR pre‐treatment (in the snap freezing method) was 69.23% and 50.14% shorter compared to the ohmic thawing method without pre‐treatment, respectively. Additionally, the snap freezing method exhibited a significantly higher thawing rate compared to the other freezing methods. Implementing IR pre‐treatment, particularly bilaterally, along with snap freezing, resulted in a reduction of all losses ranging from 20% to 70%. The results of Raman spectroscopy showed that the ohmic thawing method with bilateral IR pre‐treatment resulted in better preservation of protein secondary structure, protein solubility and reduced oxidation of frozen turkey meat. Although the pH changes were not affected by the thawing method, the pH value decreased as the freezing speed reduced. The preservation of meat colour quality was enhanced by increasing the freezing speed and implementing IR pre‐treatment. The results indicate that using IR pre‐treatment can enhance the positive effects of ohmic thawing. Also, the IR type applied showed better results obtained in bilateral mode (P > 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pork quality is affected by the type of muscle fibers, which is closely related to meat color, tenderness and juiciness. Exosomes are tiny vesicles with a diameter of approximately 30–150 nm that are secreted by cells and taken up by recipient cells to mediate communication. Exosome-mediated muscle-fat tissue crosstalk is a newly discovered mechanism that may have an important effect on intramuscular fat deposition and with that on meat quality. Various of adipose tissue-derived exosomes have been discovered and identified, but the identification and function of muscle exosomes, especially porcine fast/slow myotube exosomes, remain unclear. Here, we first isolated and identified exosomes secreted from porcine extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL), which represent fast and slow muscle, respectively, and further explored their effects on lipid accumulation in longissimus dorsi adipocytes. Results: Porcine SOL-derived exosomes (SOL-EXO) and EDL-derived exosomes (EDL-EXO) were first identified and their average particle sizes were approximately 84 nm with double-membrane disc- shapes as observed via transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the intramuscular fat content of the SOL was greater than that of the EDL at 180 days of age, because SOL intramuscular adipocytes had a stronger lipid-accumulating capacity than those of the EDL. Raman spectral analysis revealed that SOL-EXO protein content was much greater than that of EDL-EXO. Proteomic sequencing identified 72 proteins that were significantly differentially expressed between SOL-EXO and EDL-EXO, 31 of which were downregulated and 41 of which were upregulated in SOL-EXO. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that muscle-fat tissue interactions occur partly via SOL-EXO promoting adipogenic activity of intramuscular adipocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta-analysis is used to analyze the effects of sesame meal replacing soybean meal diet on growth performance and meat quality of mutton sheep, so as to provide basis for the feasibility of sesame meal as feed protein source for mutton sheep. Relevant literatures were collected in Chinese and English databases by keywords combination. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight literatures were included, including 138 lambs fed with sesame meal instead of soybean meal in the experimental group and 66 lambs fed with soybean meal in the control group. Average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were used as growth performance parameters. A total of 204 lambs were collected with pH, shear force and water holding capacity at 24 h after slaughter as the main parameters of mutton quality. Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan software. According to the forest map, the heterogeneity of the included literature was checked. The source of heterogeneity was determined by subgroup analysis. Finally, sensitivity analysis was per‐ formed to evaluate the stability and the publication bias of the literature was evaluated according to the funnel plot. The results showed that the replacement of soybean meal with sesame meal increased the average daily gain of mutton sheep significantly (P≤0.05) and reduced the feed-meat ratio significantly (P≤ 0.05), there was no effect on the pH，shear force (P>0.05), and water holding capacity (P≤0.05). Sub‐group analysis showed that when the replacement ratio of sesame meal was less than 20%, the average daily gain of mutton sheep was significantly increased (P<0.01) and the feed weight ratio was significantly reduced (P≤0.05). Feeding period more than 70 days could significantly increase the average daily gain (P≤0.05) and significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio (P≤0.05). Sensitivity analysis showed that the results of Meta-analysis were stable and reliable, and funnel plot showed that there was no publication bias for the collected literature. In summary, replacing soybean meal with sesame meal can significantly improve the growth performance of mutton sheep. When the proportion of sesame meal replacing soybean meal in the diet is less than 20% and the feeding-period is more than 70 days, the growth performance is the most significant, and there is no negative impact on meat quality. From the perspective of production performance, sesame meal can be used as a new feed protein source for mutton sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With economy rapidly growing in past decades, consumers are increasingly paying attention on meat quality such as freshness and flavor. The yellow-feathered broiler is tender, of good taste and rich in nutrients needed for human growth and development, and has occupied an important position in the domestic broiler market. Meat color, pH, tenderness and water were holding capacity, which were the common parameters, used for evaluating the physical property of meat. Particularly, meat flavor is the de‐ terminant for consumers deciding to buy or not. The flavor were included soluble taste compounds and volatile aromatic compounds which produced by precursor substances (amino acids, fatty acids, inosinic acid, and other flavor substance) undergo a series of chemical reactions at high temperatures. We herein reviewed the researches on physical evaluation indexes, flavor precursors and volatile aroma compounds for meat quality of yellow-feathered broilers in China were summarized in this paper which provided theoretical basis and ideas for the subsequent research on mechanism of chicken flavor formation and strategies for genetically improving meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to analyse the effect of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) and kamchatka honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea var. Kamtschatica) extracts on the physico-chemical properties, microbiological and sensory quality of fermented meat product. Analyses were performed after 5, 15, 30 and 45 days of ageing. The addition of blackcurrant and kamchatka honeysuckle extracts in quantities of 3 and 5 ml.kg-¹ did not adversely affect the ageing process of fermented meat product samples determined based on pH. After 45 days of ageing period, we found higher malondialdehyde (MDA) values in all experimental groups (except for the experimental group with the addition of 3 ml blackcurrant extract). The addition of the extracts in the tested quantities did not cause demonstrable differences in the intensity values of brightness (L*), red (a*) and yellow (b*) colour throughout the ageing period. Microbial examination indicates that the addition of blackcurrant and kamchatka honeysuckle extracts did not inhibit the growth of starter culture. Bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus predominated in all experimental groups. Family Enterobacteriaceae was not detected after 45 days of ageing and storage. Moulds were detected only after 5 days of ageing and in the experimental groups with the addition of blackcurrant extracts. The counts of yeasts gradually increased with increasing ageing time in all experimental groups. Sensory analysis revealed a beneficial effect of kamchatka honeysuckle extract in the amount of 3 ml.kg-1 after 30 days of fermented sausages ageing. On the other hand, blackcurrant extract in higher amount (5 ml.kg-1) had a beneficial effect on sensory quality after 30th day. Traditional kamchatka honeysuckle aroma was probably transferred into the samples of meat product and caused lower sensory scores. Due to the known functional properties of black currant and kamchatka honeysuckle, we recommend carrying out their further analyses on the quality of fermented meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Salmonellosis affects the poultry industry globally and is a major cause of bacterial food poisoning in humans. A Salmonella infection in broiler chickens can result in lower growth rates, decreased feed efficiency and higher mortality rates. The inclusion of probiotics in chicken diets enhances their intestinal microbiota and enhances different patterns of cytokine production in response to Salmonella infection. The increasing demand from consumers for chicken products devoid of antibiotics has increased the need to identify alternatives to antibiotics for the management of Salmonella infection, colonization, and carcass contamination in poultry. Through the process of competitive exclusion, probiotics have been shown to inhibit the colonization of the gut by harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens. Probiotic supplementation also regulates the gut flora to protect the host from infections as well as to create bacteriocins, which directly prevent the growth of pathogens. This study was therefore carried out to ascertain whether the supplementation of Pediococcus pentosaceus GT001 can influence the growth performance, meat quality, intestinal development and cecum microbiota of Salmonella typhimurium-challenged broiler chickens. This study evaluated the effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus GT001 on Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium)-challenged broiler chickens. Two hundred Ross 708 broiler day-old chicks with comparable weight were distributed at random into four treatments with five replicates and ten chicks per replicate. The following were the treatment groups: (B) basal diet (control); (B + S) basal diet and birds were challenged with S. typhimurium at 1.0 × 107 cfu/g; (B + P) basal diet + Pediococcus pentosaceus GT001 at 4.0 × 108 cfu/g; (B + P + S) basal diet + P. pentosaceus GT001 at 4.0 × 108 cfu/g and birds were challenged with S. typhimurium at 1.0 × 107 cfu/g. There was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the body weight of the Salmonella-infected birds compared to the other treatment groups. However, the FCRs of the broilers were comparable among the different treatment groups (p > 0.05). The lipid profile and liver function indices measured were significantly enhanced in the P. pentosaceus GT001-supplemented groups (B + P and B + P + S) compared to the group that was Salmonella-challenged (p < 0.05) but were similar to those in the control group. The serum antioxidant activities, such as the T-AOC, SOD, CAT, GHS-Px and MDA, were significantly improved in the P. pentosaceus GT001-supplemented groups (B + P and B + P + S) (p < 0.05). The MDA was similar in the B + P and B + P + S groups, but both were significantly lower than the control and the Salmonella groups. The administration of P. pentosaceus GT001 enhanced the lipase and amylase levels in both the serum and intestine of the broilers (p < 0.05). The immunoglobin (IgA, IgG, IgM) and cytokine (IL-10 and IL-6) levels in the serum were significantly higher in the B, B + P and B + P + S treatment groups (p < 0.05). The immune-related organs (bursa and spleen) were significantly influenced in the birds fed with P. pentosaceus GT001. No significant variation was noted among all the dietary treatments in terms of the measured meat quality indices. The small intestinal digesta content of the Salmonella load was below a detectable range after 14 days of infection (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed among the different treatment groups in terms of the breast pH, drip loss and meat color (p > 0.05). The inclusion of P. pentosaceus GT001 also modified the community structure in the cecum. This indicates that it has health benefits and could be incorporated in the broiler diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: Supplementation with rumen-protected choline (RPC) can reduce dietary metabolizable energy (ME) while maintaining optimum performance, thus contributing to reducing production costs by saving grain which is the primary source of energy in the diet. Previous papers have reported on the interaction effects of ME level and RPC supplementation on production outcomes in dairy cattle and growing goats. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of ME level and RPC supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, serum energy, lipid, and protein profiles of Karayaka lambs. In conclusion, the supplementation of RPC at 0 and 5 g/kg did not affect lamb growth performance and carcass characteristics. Given the lack of significant improvements in performance metrics, RPC supplementation would not result in net cost savings. However, it may play a role in modulating nitrogen metabolism under different dietary energy conditions, as indicated by the significant reduction in serum urea-N levels. The results of the current study indicate that there is no benefit to be gained from the supplementation of RPC in the low-energy diet of fattening lambs. This study aimed to examine the effects of metabolizable energy (ME) level and rumen-protected choline (RPC) supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, serum energy, lipid, and protein profiles of Karayaka lambs. Twenty-eight Karayaka lambs, with an initial body weight (BW) of 26.85 ± 0.26 kg, were randomly assigned (2 × 2 factorial design) to one of four dietary treatments with two levels of ME (optimum: 2750 or low: 2500 kcal ME/kg dry matter) and two levels of RPC (0 or 4 g/d/lamb). Lambs of each group were housed in individual pens. The experiment lasted 66 d, with the first 10 d consisting of acclimation and the next 56 d of the formal experimental period. The data on BW, dietary matter intake (DMI), and serum glucose concentrations confirm that our model successfully induced low energy using 250 kcal/kg less energy than the optimum level. RPC supplementation did not significantly affect average daily DMI, total average daily gain (ADG), or feed conversion ratio (FCR) at any energy level. Additionally, there was no substantial effect on carcass characteristics, meat quality, serum lipids, energy metabolism indicators, and liver function parameters. There was also no interaction effect of RPC × ME on the parameters tested. However, at 56 d into the experiment, the interaction effect of RPC × ME on serum urea-N was highly significant, and RPC supplementation led to lower serum urea-N levels (p = 0.001). These results suggest that while RPC supplementation did not enhance overall performance and carcass characteristics in Karayaka lambs, it may play a role in modulating nitrogen metabolism, as indicated by the significant reduction in serum urea-N levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This meta-analysis examines the impact of neutering on sheep production and quality, focusing on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. It is observed that castrated sheep (wethers) exhibit enhanced daily weight gain and meat tenderness compared to intact rams. Furthermore, wethers display characteristics of a slenderer carcass with potentially elevated muscle content. By utilizing gene expression analysis, the research sheds light on genes associated with metabolic pathways and fat metabolism, indicating their involvement in fat formation. These results advocate for the practice of castration in sheep farming to enhance growth and meat quality. Additionally, the identified alterations in gene expression offer valuable insights for further exploration of castration's influence on muscle development in sheep. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the effects of castration on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in sheep, as well as explore the expression of key genes related to metabolic pathways and muscle growth following castration. Methods: A meta-analysis approach was utilized to analyze data from multiple studies to compare the performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of castrated sheep (wethers) with intact rams. Additionally, protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks, differential gene expression (DEG) interactions, Gene Ontology (GO) terms, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were examined to identify molecular mechanisms associated with fat metabolism and muscle development in sheep tails. Results: The analysis revealed that castrated sheep (wethers) exhibited improved average daily gain, increased tenderness, lower backfat thickness, and a tendency for greater loin muscle area compared to intact rams. This suggests that castration promotes faster growth and results in leaner carcasses with potentially higher muscle content. Furthermore, the identification of downregulated DEGs like ACLY, SLC27A2, and COL1A1 and upregulated DEGs such as HOXA9, PGM2L1, and ABAT provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying fat deposition and muscle development in sheep. Conclusions: The findings support the practice of castration in sheep production as it enhances growth performance, leads to leaner carcasses with higher muscle content, and improves meat tenderness. The identified changes in gene expression offer valuable insights for further research into understanding the impact of castration on muscle development and fat metabolism in sheep. This meta-analysis contributes to the knowledge of molecular mechanisms involved in fat deposition in sheep, opening avenues for future investigations in livestock fat metabolism research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we compared two different methods of raising broiler chickens: modern colony cages and traditional floor systems. We aimed to understand how each system impacts both the production and wellbeing of the chickens. We discovered that, while colony cages excel in maintaining optimal environmental conditions and promoting rapid growth, they also create challenges, such as leg deformities and difficulty standing. Conversely, traditional floor systems present issues such as heat stress, affecting broiler growth. Our findings emphasize the need to achieve a balance between chicken welfare and production objectives in poultry farming. By recognizing these differences, we can strive to enhance broiler rearing practices, ensuring the birds' wellbeing while still meeting the consumer demand for poultry products. This study compares the effects of modern colony cage systems and traditional floor systems on the production and welfare of broiler chickens. Through two trials spanning 35 days each, we evaluated various physiological parameters, including growth performance, bone health, stress responses, and meat quality. Colony cages demonstrated superior thermal regulation and growth performance compared to traditional floor systems, but also exhibited higher frequencies of leg deformity and reduced standing ability. Conversely, the broilers in traditional floor systems experienced heat stress-related challenges, impacting the meat quality. Our findings underscore the need to balance productivity with animal welfare in broiler farming practices. By understanding the distinct impacts of different housing systems, we can work towards improving broiler rearing methods to ensure optimal welfare and production outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pigs lack functional sweat glands, hence being very susceptible to heat stress. The optimum temperature in which pigs would thrive is around 20 °C, depending on age and weight. Pigs could achieve higher heat dissemination, e.g., by increasing body contact with the cooler ground and panting, but also through an undesirable reduction in feed intake. In addition, under conditions of severe heat stress, animals may become more susceptible even to immune challenges due to damage to the structure of the intestinal wall. Thus, heat stress can affect the proper functioning of metabolism, which, in addition to having implications on animal welfare, also affects the quality of meat and meat products. Cooling systems are not yet commonly seen on farms. Sprinkler systems are the most used cooling system, followed by water pads and fogging systems, for finishing pigs. As our climate continues to warm, monitoring daily feed intake and water consumption levels, along with the implementation of cooling systems, must become tools to minimize the adverse effects of hot weather. Heat stress is a significant environmental problem that has a detrimental impact on animal welfare and production efficiency in swine farms. The current study was conducted to assess the effect of low-intensity showers, provided during critical high-temperature hours daily, on body external temperature, feeding pattern, and carcass and meat quality characteristics in fattening pigs. A total of 400 animals (200 barrows and 200 gilts) were randomly allotted in 40 pens. A shower nozzle was installed over 20 pens (half barrows and half gilts) where pigs received a low-intensity shower for 2 min in 30 min intervals from 12 to 19 h (SHO group). Another group without showers was also considered (CON). Feeder occupancy measurement, thermographic measures, and carcass and meat quality parameters were studied. In the periods with higher environmental temperatures, SHO animals showed an increase in the feeder occupancy rate compared to the CON group. A decrease in temperature was observed after the shower, regardless of the anatomical location (p < 0.005). The treatment with showers led to higher values than in the CON group of 4.72%, 3.87%, 11.8%, and 15.1% for hot carcass weight, lean meat yield, and fat thickness in Longissimus Dorsi (LD) and Gluteus Medius muscles, respectively (p < 0.01). Pork from CON showed a 14.9% higher value of drip loss, and 18.9% higher malondialdehyde concentration than SHO (p < 0.01); meanwhile, intramuscular fat content was 22.8% higher in SHO than in CON (p < 0.01). On the other hand, the CON group exhibited higher L* (2.13%) and lower a* and b* values (15.8% and 8.97%) compared to the SHO group. However, the pH20h of the CON group was significantly lower than that of the SHO group (p < 0.001), indicating a softer pH decrease. Related to fatty acids in subcutaneous outer and inner layers and intramuscular fat, the CON group showed higher ΣSFA and lower ΣMUFA and Δ9-desaturase indexes than SHO (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the amelioration of heat stress through showers at critical times should be considered an interesting tool that improves both carcass and meat quality, as well as animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: Lycium barbarum (Wolfberry) extract is predominantly utilized in livestock and poultry applications. However, the impact of unprocessed branches and leaves of Lycium barbarum as a roughage source on ruminant growth performance, slaughter metrics, and rumen micro-organisms remains not well understood. This investigation examines the effects of incorporating Lycium barbarum branches and leaves into the diet of Hu sheep, specifically assessing growth performance, slaughter results, and meat quality through feeding trials and slaughter tests. Additionally, this study explored the impact on rumen microflora by utilizing 16S rDNA sequencing technology. Findings indicated that diet inclusion of Lycium barbarum branches and leaves could enhance nutrient absorption, which in turn improves growth performance and certain aspects of meat quality. The Lycium barbarum branches and leaves (LBL) are known to contain a range of active substances that have positive effects on animal immunity and antioxidation. This study aimed to examine how LBL impacts the growth and slaughter performance as well as rumen fermentation and microbiota in Hu sheep. A total of 50 male Hu sheep of indigenous origin, aged 3 months, were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 sheep each. The groups were given different levels of LBL supplementation (0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%) to evaluate growth performance and nutrient apparent digestibility. Rumen fluid samples were collected for analysis of the fermentation parameters and rumen chyme was examined to study the rumen microbiota. The slaughter performance, meat quality, and organ index were evaluated at the conclusion of the experiment. The results showed that the final body weight and average daily gain of the LBL1 group were significantly higher than those of the CON group, LBL3 group, and LBL4 group (p < 0.05). The average dry matter intake of the LBL4 group was significantly lower than that of other experimental groups (p < 0.05). The apparent digestibility of CP in the LBL1 and LBL2 groups was higher than that in other experimental groups (p < 0.05). At the same time, the eye muscle area and grade-rule (GR) value of Hu sheep in the LBL1 group significantly increased and the quality of Hu sheep meat improved (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in organ weight and organ index between the experimental groups (p > 0.05). The pH of the rumen fluid in the LBL1 group was significantly lower than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the NH3-N content between the experimental groups (p > 0.05). The propionate and valerate in the rumen fluid of Hu sheep in the LBL2 group were significantly higher than those in other experimental groups (p < 0.05). In addition, this had no significant effect on the structure and abundance of the rumen microbiota (p > 0.05). LBL is a promising functional feed. Adding an appropriate amount of LBL to the diet can improve the feed efficiency, growth performance, and meat quality of Hu sheep but has no adverse effects on the rumen. In this experiment, the appropriate supplemental level of LBL in the diet was 3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Various kinds of yellow-feathered chickens are crossbred from Chinese local native chicken breeds and introduced broilers. The individual parts of yellow-feathered chickens are less suitable for sale after slaughtering than those of broilers, and they have mainly been sold as live whole chickens. With the establishment of cold chain logistics for chicken in China, chilled-type and processed yellow-feathered chicken products have appeared in the market. Xueshan chicken, a yellow-feathered chicken breed, which has high meat quality and good taste, is bred to meet the diversified needs of the market by Jiangsu Lihua Breeding Company. The present study used Xueshan chicken as an experimental model to determine the effect of sex on the slaughtering performance and meat quality. This study provides valuable breeding references for poultry producers by determining the basic production phenotypes of yellow-feathered chickens. The demand for high-quality chilled chicken has continued to increase in China. Chickens are sexually dimorphic, and to better understand the specific differences in chicken production based on sex, we examined how sex affects growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of yellow-feathered chickens. Male and female Xueshan chickens were used as the experimental model. Although males exhibited better growth performance, including body weight (BW), body slope, keel, shank length, and shank girth (p < 0.05), as well as carcass traits, such as dressed weight, leg muscle, and lean meat, females had higher carcass and breast muscle yields (p < 0.05). Males had higher follicle density and yellowness (b*) of the skin and better skin than females (p < 0.05). Among blood biochemical parameters, the serum content of corticosterone (CORT) was higher in males, while those of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and catalase (CAT) were lower in males than in females (p < 0.05). The pH levels, shear force, and moisture content quality were better in male breast meat, while the intramuscular fat content (IMF) was lower in males than in females (p < 0.05). The redness (a*) and moisture content were higher in male leg meat, while the pH, water-loss rate (WLR), lightness (L*), and IMF were lower (p < 0.05). The muscle fiber diameter and cross-sectional area were also higher in males (p < 0.05). Consumers felt that soup of male chicken was better than female (p < 0.05), while mouthfeel and tenderness acceptance of breast meat were different between the sexes. These results indicate that female chickens can be marketed as a whole carcass, while males are more suitable for processed carcass products. This study provides significant insights into the production and processing methodologies of yellow-feathered chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: The unrestricted usage of antibiotics led to the emergence of new antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogens, making it a concern in most countries. The restriction on the use of antibiotics in poultry has led to an increase in natural products that could serve as alternative antibiotics. Mushroom use in poultry nutrition is a major stride toward finding alternatives to antibiotics. This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of the role of different species of mushrooms commonly used in poultry in the performance, immunomodulatory actions, cholesterolemic properties, and meat quality of poultry birds. The restriction on the use of antibiotics in poultry has led to an increase in the use of natural products that could serve as alternatives to antibiotics. Mushrooms contain bioactive compounds that exhibit antifungal, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic properties. Hence, they are being tested, revealing as performance-enhancing natural feed additives for livestock. This review focused on the role of different species of mushrooms commonly used in poultry on the performance, immunomodulatory actions, cholesterolemic properties, and meat quality of poultry birds. Different studies reviewed show that mushrooms could positively impact poultry production, improve growth performance, modulate immune response, exert tissue antioxidant activity, influence intestinal morphology, enhance gut microbiome, and improve lipid profile. The variations in their efficacy could be attributed to the variations in physicochemical properties of different species and dosage levels applied in the experiments. However, the use of mushrooms as a natural product supplement is in its infancy, and more basic, pilot and large-scale research is required to make it a viable approach for improving immune responses in the poultry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although anticoccidial drugs have been used to treat avian coccidiosis for nearly a century, resistance, bird harm, and food residues have caused health concerns. Thus, Nannochloropsis oculata was investigated as a possible coccidiosis treatment for broilers. A total of 150 1-day-old male Cobb broiler chicks were treated as follows: G1-Ng: fed a basal diet; G2-Ps: challenged with Eimeria spp. oocysts and fed basal diet; G3-Clo: challenged and fed basal diet with clopidol; G4-NOa: challenged and fed 0.1% N. oculata in diet, and G5-NOb: challenged and fed 0.2% N. oculata. Compared to G2-Ps, N. oculata in the diet significantly (P < 0.05) decreased dropping scores, lesion scores, and oocyst shedding. Without affecting breast meat colour metrics, N. oculata improved meat quality characters. At 28 days of age, birds received 0.2% N. oculata had significantly (P < 0.05) higher serum levels of MDA, T-SOD, HDL, and LDL cholesterol compared to G2-Ps. Serum AST, ALT, and urea levels were all decreased when N. oculata (0.2%) was used as opposed to G2-Ps. Histopathological alterations and the number of developmental and degenerative stages of Eimeria spp. in the intestinal epithelium were dramatically reduced by 0.2% N. oculata compared to G2-Ps. Molecular docking revealed a higher binding affinity of N. oculata for E. tenella aldolase, EtAMA1, and EtMIC3, which hindered glucose metabolism, host cell adhesion, and invasion of Eimeria. Finally, N. oculata (0.2%) can be used in broiler diets to mitigate the deleterious effects of coccidiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]