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Simple Summary: Wheat bran inclusion beneficially affects the gut health of broilers at low inclusion levels, along with the supplementation of feed additives such as with a stimbiotic It was hypothesized that the coarse or fine particle size of the wheat bran has a significant influence and interaction with stimbiotic on the performance of, and gut-health beneficial effects, in broilers. Coarse- or fine-wheat-bran inclusion or stimbiotic inclusion increased the feed intake and FCR for younger broilers; however, fine wheat bran and stimbiotic inclusion increased the overall weight gain of broilers without influencing their feed intake and FCR. Fine-wheat-bran inclusion increased the jejunum villi height and ileal nutrient digestibility compared to coarse wheat bran or diets without wheat bran in broilers at day 18. Stimbiotic supplementation increased ileal nutrient digestibility at day 42. The particle size of the wheat bran or stimbiotic supplementation had no effects on the cecal total short-chain fatty acid concentration; however, stimbiotic supplementation or wheat bran inclusion tended to decrease the branched-chain fatty acid concentration. Stimbiotic supplementation and inclusion of wheat bran with a reduced particle size into broiler diets have beneficial effects on the overall performance and ileal nutrient digestibility. A 42-day study was conducted with 720-day-old Cobb male broiler chicks allocated to treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial, with the factors as wheat bran (WB) inclusion (no WB, 50 g/kg coarse WB, or 50 g/kg fine WB) and stimbiotic (STB) supplementation in corn-based diets. The inclusion of WB (p < 0.05) or STB supplementation (p < 0.05) increased the FCR and feed intake in the day 0–10 phase. During the day 0–28 phase, coarse-WB inclusion increased (p < 0.05) the FCR, compared to fine WB or diets without WB. In the day 0–42 phase, WB marginally decreased weight gain in diets without STB supplementation, but the STB-supplemented diet, weight gain was greater (p < 0.05) the diet with fine WB compared with diets with coarse WB. Fine-WB inclusion increased the ileal nitrogen and energy digestibility determined at day 18 compared to coarse WB or diets without WB. Supplementation with STB (p < 0.05) or fine WB (p < 0.05) inclusion increased the villi height compared to diets without STB supplementation or coarse WB, or the diet without WB. Coarse or fine WB decreased (p < 0.05) cecal branched-chain fatty acids compared to diets without WB. In conclusion, stimbiotic supplementation to fine WB improved the performance and nutrient digestibility of broilers compared to coarse WB with no effects on the caeca total SCFA concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this present study was to determine the effects of phytase dosing on growth performance, mineral digestibility, phytate breakdown, and the level of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) in muscle plasma membranes of weanling pigs. A total of 160 barrows were used in a randomized completely block design and assigned to 4 treatments for a 7-wk study. Depending on the feeding phase, diets differed in dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels (positive control [ PC ]: 8 to 6.8g/kg Ca; 7.3 to 6.3 g/kg P; negative control [ NC ]: 5.5 to 5.2 g/kg Ca; 5.4 to 4.7 g/kg P). NC diets were supplemented with phytase at 0 (NC); 500 (NC + 500 FTU); or 2,000 FTU/kg (NC + 2,000 FTU) phytase units/kg. Blood was collected after fasting (day 48) or feeding (day 49) for measurement of plasma inositol concentrations. On day 49, 2 pigs per pen were euthanized, and duodenal and ileal digesta samples were collected to determine inositol phosphates (InsP6-2) concentrations. High phytase supplementation increased BW on days 21, 35, and 49 (P < 0.05). Over the entire feeding period, ADG, ADFI, and feed efficiency were increased by NC + 2,000 FTU compared with the other treatments (P < 0.05). Postprandial plasma inositol concentration was increased in NC + 2,000 (P < 0.01), but there was only a tendency (P = 0.06) of a higher fasting plasma inositol concentration in this group. Inositol concentrations in the portal vein plasma (day 49) were not different among treatments. Duodenal digesta InsP5 and InsP6 concentrations were similar in PC and NC, but higher in these 2 treatments (P < 0.05) than those supplemented with phytase. Phytase supplementation decreased InsP6-4, resulting in increased InsP3-2 and myo -inositol concentrations. Similar effects were found in ileal contents. Compared with NC, phytase supplementation resulted in greater cumulative InsP6-2 disappearance (93.6% vs. 72.8% vs. 25.0%, for NC + 2,000 FTU, NC + 500 FTU and NC, respectively, P < 0.01) till the distal ileum. Longissimus dorsi muscle plasma membrane GLUT4 concentration was increased by NC + 2,000 FTU (P < 0.01) compared with NC. In summary, high phytase supplementation increased growth performance of nursery pigs. The higher myo -inositol release from phytate could contribute to the increased expression of GLUT4 in muscle plasma membranes. Further investigation is needed to determine whether this is associated with enhanced cellular glucose uptake and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 126-d experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that the requirement for Ca expressed as a ratio between standardized total tract digestible (STTD) Ca and STTD P obtained in short-term experiments may be applied to pigs fed diets without or with microbial phytase from 11 to 130 kg. In a 5-phase program, 160 pigs (11.2 ± 1.8 kg) were randomly allotted to 32 pens and 4 corn-soybean meal diets in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 formulation strategies (total Ca or STTD Ca), and 2 phytase levels (0 or 500 units/kg) assuming phytase released 0.11% STTD P and 0.16% total Ca. The STTD Ca:STTD P ratios were 1.40:1, 1.35:1, 1.25:1, 1.18:1, and 1.10:1 for phases 1 to 5. At the conclusion of each phase, weights of pigs and feed left in feeders were recorded and a blood sample from 1 pig per pen was collected. At the end of phases 1 (d 24) and 5, the right femur of 1 pig per pen was collected. Data were analyzed as main effects of formulation strategy and phytase level and their interaction. Phase effect was analyzed by repeated measures. No interactions were observed and formulation strategy and phytase did not impact growth performance, bone ash, or plasma Ca and P on d 24 (Table 1). On d 126, an interaction (P < 0.05) between main effects was observed. Without phytase, pigs fed diets based on total Ca had greater bone ash than STTD Ca pigs, but with phytase, no differences were observed. A negative quadratic effect (P < 0.05) of phase for plasma Ca and P was observed. In conclusion, STTD Ca:STTD P ratios can be used in diet formulation for growing-finishing pigs without affecting growth performance. Phytase ameliorates bone resorption caused by low Ca in STTD Ca diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that formulating diets for pigs based on a ratio between standardized total tract digestible (STTD) Ca and STTD P instead of total Ca and STTD P increases the efficiency of Ca and P utilization. Forty barrows (59.4 ± 3.8 kg) were individually housed in metabolism crates and allotted to 4 corn-soybean meal diets and 2 periods of 11 d in a randomized complete block design. Diets were formulated using a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 Ca requirement estimates (total Ca or STTD Ca) and 2 inclusion levels of microbial phytase (0 or 500 units/kg). Phytase was assumed to release 0.11% STTD P and 0.16% total Ca. Diets were formulated based on requirements for total Ca and STTD P and the ratio between STTD Ca and STTD P was 1.25:1 in diets formulated based on STTD Ca. Fecal and urine samples were collected from feed provided from d 6 to 9. Data for Ca and P balance were analyzed using a model that included the main effects of diet formulation and phytase level, the interaction between main effects, and the random effect of period. Interactions (P < 0.05) between diet formulation and phytase level were observed for Ca intake, Ca in feces, Ca digestibility, Ca retained as a percentage of intake, P digestibility, P absorbed, and P in urine (Table 1). Despite being provided less (P < 0.05) Ca, pigs fed diets formulated based on STTD Ca did not absorb or retain less Ca than pigs fed total Ca diets, but they absorbed more (P < 0.05) P than pigs fed diets formulated based on total Ca. In conclusion, by formulating diets based on values for STTD Ca, P absorption was increased confirming detrimental effects of oversupplying Ca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to determine correlations between individual and total body bone ash to identify the bone that is most representative of total body bone ash. Ten gilts and 10 barrows (BW: 40.8 kg) were allotted to 2 diets. The 2 diets were formulated to contain 60% or 100% of the requirement for standardized total tract digestible (STTD) P and STTD Ca with a STTD Ca:STTD P of 1.90:1, which is believed to maximize bone ash. Body weight and the amount of feed consumed by pigs were recorded on d 14 and 28 and carcass characteristics of all pigs were determined on d 28. Metacarpals, metatarsals, femur, tibia, fibula, ribs, and all other bones from the carcass were collected separately, defatted, and ashed. The statistical model included diet as fixed effect and sex and BW within sex as random effects. Correlation coefficients between total and individual bones were determined. Overall, pigs fed the diet formulated to meet 100% of the requirement for Ca and P had greater (P < 0.05) average daily gain and gain:feed compared with pigs fed the diet with 60% Ca and P, but there was no difference in average daily feed intake (Table 1). There was no effect of dietary Ca and P on carcass characteristics of pigs. Weights of bone ash were greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the diet with 100% rather than 60% of the requirement for Ca and P. Correlation coefficients between the weight of total bone ash and the weight of ashed metacarpals, metatarsals, and tibia were greater than 0.950 (P < 0.05), whereas correlation coefficient for femur, fibula, and ribs were less than 0.929 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, metacarpals, metatarsals, and tibia were more representative of total body bone ash compared with femur, fibula, and ribs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that lowering dietary Ca and P reduces gastric pH and diarrhea of weanling pigs, but microbial phytase overcomes negative effects of low Ca and P on growth performance and bone ash. A total of 320 weanling pigs (6.35 ± 0.87 kg) were allotted to 8 corn-soybean mealbased diets in a randomized complete block design with 5 pigs/pen. Two phase 1 (d 1 to 14) control diets contained 100 or 50% of total Ca and digestible P relative to the requirement, and 6 diets in which 500, 2,000, or 16,000 units/kg of phytase was added to each control diet were formulated. Common diets were fed in phases 2 (d 15 to 27) and 3 (d 28 to 42). Fecal scores were recorded in phase 1 and growth performance data were recorded within each phase. Gastric pH was measured in 1 pig/pen on d 14; on d 14 and 42, the right femur of 1 pig/pen was collected. Data were analyzed using contrast statements in SAS. Results indicated that during phase 1, lowering Ca and P did not reduce gastric pH or fecal score, but the 50%-diets reduced (P < 0.05) average daily gain and average daily feed intake of pigs compared with the 100%-diets (Table 1). Phytase above 500 units/kg increased (P < 0.05) gain:feed ratio and tended (P < 0.10) to decrease gastric pH. Pigs fed the 50%-diets had reduced (P < 0.05) bone ash at d 14 and 42 compared with pigs fed the 100%-diets regardless of phytase inclusion level. In conclusion, reducing Ca and P in diets for weanling pigs does not decrease gastric pH or fecal score, but compromises growth performance and bone mineralization. However, super-dosing of phytase increases G:F of pigs regardless of dietary Ca and P concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to test the hypothesis that Ca levels in diets fed to late gestating sows affect apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and retention of Ca and P, blood Ca and P, and serum concentrations of hormones and blood biomarkers. Thirty-six sows (parity = 2.8) were divided in 3 blocks, housed individually in metabolism crates from d 91 to 105 of gestation and randomly allotted to 4 experimental diets containing 25, 50, 75, or 100% of the requirement for Ca with a constant P concentration. Fecal and urine samples were collected for 4 d after 5 d of adaptation. At the conclusion of the experiment, a blood sample from all sows was collected. The statistical model included diet as fixed effect and parity, block, and replicate within block as random effects. Values for the ATTD and retention of Ca increased quadratically (P < 0.05) as dietary Ca increased. Fecal P output increased linearly (P < 0.001) as dietary Ca increased, which resulted in a linear decrease (P < 0.001) in the ATTD of P. Urine P output decreased linearly (P < 0.001) as dietary Ca increased with a linear increase (P < 0.05) in P retention. Serum Ca and P and estrogen, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone were not affected by dietary Ca. Carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) in serum decreased linearly (P = 0.033) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase tended to decrease linearly (P = 0.091) as Ca in diets increased. Osteocalcin in serum was not affected by Ca levels, but the ratio between osteocalcin and CTX-I tended to increase (P = 0.055) as dietary Ca increased. In conclusion, P digestibility decreases, but retention of P increases, as dietary Ca increases and blood biomarkers may be useful to predict bone formation and resorption by late gestating sows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this experiment was to investigate xylanase efficacy and impact of adaptation time on nutrient utilization in the small intestine of growing pigs fed insoluble fiber. Twenty gilts (30.6 ± 0.2 kg BW; n=5 per treatment) were surgically fitted with t-cannulae in the medial jejunum (292 ± 12 cm distal to the pyloric sphincter) and in the terminal ileum, housed individually, and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments: a low-fiber control (LF; 7.3% NDF), a 30% corn bran high-fiber control (HF; 27.2% NDF), HF + 100 mg xylanase/kg (HF+XY; Econase XT 25P; AB Vista, Marlborough, UK), and HF + 50 mg arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide/kg (HF+AX; 3-7 degrees of polymerization). Gilts were limit fed for three 17 d periods (P1, P2, or P3). Each period included 5 d of adaptation, 2 d of fecal collections, 3 d of ileal collections, and 3 d of jejunal collections. Data were analyzed as repeated records using a linear mixed model (PROC Mixed, SAS 9.4) with surgery date as a random effect, and treatment, period, and their interaction as fixed effects. There tended to be a treatment by period interaction for the apparent jejunal digestibility (AJD) of DM driven by HF+XY improving digestibility over time when compared to HF. Xylanase improved AJD of DM by 21.9% (12.04% vs. 15.4%) in P2, and 40.5% (12.18% vs. 20.49%) in P3 (Treatment Period, P = 0.054). Xylanase supplementation improved AJD of NDF, compared to HF, in P2 by 36.3% (13.7% vs. 21.5%), and in P3 by 28.6% (17.7 vs 24.8%; Treatment Period, P = 0.031). Supplementing xylanase improved the apparent ileal digestibity (AID) of DM over HF in P1 by 4.4%, in P2 by 3.7% (73.91% vs. 76.2 %), and in P3 by 7.4% (75.04% vs. 80.84%; Treatment Period P=0.043). In conclusion xylanase efficacy improved with increased adaptation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylanase should increase arabinoxylan digestibility in swine, but the responses in corn-based diets are inconsistent. The experimental objective was to investigate xylanase efficacy in growing pigs fed a diet high in insoluble corn fiber and afforded a longer adaptation period than typically reported in the literature. Sixty gilts (25.4 ± 0.9 kg BW; L337 × Camborough), were blocked by weight, housed individually, and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments: a low-fiber control [LF; 6.9% non-starch polysaccharides (NSP)], a 30% corn bran high-fiber control (HF; 17.6% NSP), HF + 100 mg xylanase/kg (HF+XY; Econase XT 25P; AB Vista, Marlborough, UK), and HF + 50 mg arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide/kg (HF+AX; 3-7 degrees of polymerization). Diets contained 0.5% CrO3. Gilts were fed ad libitum for 36 d, followed by 10-d of limit feeding (80% of average ad libitum intake) and were housed in metabolism crates. On d 46, pigs were necropsied and ileal, cecal, and colonic digesta were collected; ileal digesta was pooled within replicate for NSP analysis (n=6 per treatment). Data were analyzed as a linear mixed model using replicate and block as random effects, and treatment as a fixed effect. Compared to LF, the HF diet reduced (P< 0.01) apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of total NSP (32.7 vs. 16.3%), insoluble NSP (50.0 vs. 21.5%), and insoluble arabinoxylan (29.8 vs. 15.4%). Xylanase (HF+XY vs. HF) increased (P< 0.01) AID of total NSP by 39.8% (27.1 vs. 16.3%) and insoluble NSP by 34.0%. This may be attributed to xylanase increasing AID of total arabinoxylan by 54.5% over HF, 44.5% over LF, and 56.9% over HF+AX (33.0, 15.1, 18.3, and 14.2%, respectively; P=0.02). In conclusion, increasing insoluble fiber reduces NSP digestibility, but xylanase can increase AID of arabinoxylan and NSP. Supplementing an arabinoxylanoligosaccharide, a potential release product of the xylanase, did not increase NSP digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this present study was to determine the effects of phytase dosing on growth performance, mineral digestibility, phytate breakdown, and the level of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) in muscle plasma membranes of weanling pigs. A total of 160 barrows were used in a randomized completely block design and assigned to 4 treatments for a 7-wk study. Depending on the feeding phase, diets differed in dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels (positive control [ PC ]: 8 to 6.8g/kg Ca; 7.3 to 6.3 g/kg P; negative control [ NC ]: 5.5 to 5.2 g/kg Ca; 5.4 to 4.7 g/kg P). NC diets were supplemented with phytase at 0 (NC); 500 (NC + 500 FTU); or 2,000 FTU/kg (NC + 2,000 FTU) phytase units/kg. Blood was collected after fasting (day 48) or feeding (day 49) for measurement of plasma inositol concentrations. On day 49, 2 pigs per pen were euthanized, and duodenal and ileal digesta samples were collected to determine inositol phosphates (InsP6-2) concentrations. High phytase supplementation increased BW on days 21, 35, and 49 (P < 0.05). Over the entire feeding period, ADG, ADFI, and feed efficiency were increased by NC + 2,000 FTU compared with the other treatments (P < 0.05). Postprandial plasma inositol concentration was increased in NC + 2,000 (P < 0.01), but there was only a tendency (P = 0.06) of a higher fasting plasma inositol concentration in this group. Inositol concentrations in the portal vein plasma (day 49) were not different among treatments. Duodenal digesta InsP5 and InsP6 concentrations were similar in PC and NC, but higher in these 2 treatments (P < 0.05) than those supplemented with phytase. Phytase supplementation decreased InsP6-4, resulting in increased InsP3-2 and myo -inositol concentrations. Similar effects were found in ileal contents. Compared with NC, phytase supplementation resulted in greater cumulative InsP6-2 disappearance (93.6% vs. 72.8% vs. 25.0%, for NC + 2,000 FTU, NC + 500 FTU and NC, respectively, P < 0.01) till the distal ileum. Longissimus dorsi muscle plasma membrane GLUT4 concentration was increased by NC + 2,000 FTU (P < 0.01) compared with NC. In summary, high phytase supplementation increased growth performance of nursery pigs. The higher myo -inositol release from phytate could contribute to the increased expression of GLUT4 in muscle plasma membranes. Further investigation is needed to determine whether this is associated with enhanced cellular glucose uptake and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium perfringens is a prevalent bacterial pathogen in poultry, and due to the spread of antimicrobial resistance, alternative treatments are needed to prevent and treat infection. Bacteriophages (phages), viruses that kill bacteria, offer a viable option and can be used therapeutically to treat C. perfringens infections. The aim of this study was to isolate phages against C. perfringens strains currently circulating on farms across the world and establish their virulence and development potential using host range screening, virulence assays, and larva infection studies. We isolated 32 phages of which 19 lysed 80%-92% of our global C. perfringens poultry strain collection ( n = 97). The virulence of these individual phages and 32 different phage combinations was quantified in liquid culture at multiple doses. We then developed a multi-strain C. perfringens larva infection model, to mimic an effective poultry model used by the industry. We tested the efficacy of 16/32 phage cocktails in the larva model. From this, we identified that our phage cocktail consisting of phages CPLM2, CPLM15, and CPLS41 was the most effective at reducing C. perfringens colonization in infected larvae when administered before bacterial challenge. These data suggest that phages do have significant potential to prevent and treat C. perfringens infection in poultry., Importance: Clostridium perfringens causes foodborne illness worldwide, and 95% of human infections are linked to the consumption of contaminated meat, including chicken products. In poultry, C. perfringens infection causes necrotic enteritis, and associated mortality rates can be up to 50%. However, treating infections is difficult as the bacterium is becoming antibiotic-resistant. Furthermore, the poultry industry is striving toward reduced antibiotic usage. Bacteriophages (phages) offer a promising alternative, and to progress this approach, robust suitable phages and laboratory models that mimic C. perfringens infections in poultry are required. In our study, we isolated phages targeting C. perfringens and found that many lyse C. perfringens strains isolated from chickens worldwide. Consistent with other published studies, in the model systems we assayed here, when some phages were combined as cocktails, the infection was cleared most effectively compared to individual phage use., Competing Interests: The research was funded by Ab Agri, the global feed manufacturing company. They were not involved in designing experiments and data analysis. This will all be Anisha M. Thanki and Martha R.J. Clokie at the University of Leicester.