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The potential of a phytogenic premix (PP) based on ginger, lemon balm, oregano and thyme to stimulate the expression of cytoprotective genes at the broiler gut level was evaluated in this study. In particular, the effects of PP inclusion levels on a selection of genes related to host protection against oxidation (catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1], glutathione peroxidase 2 [GPX2], heme oxygenase 1 [HMOX1], NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 [NQO1], nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 [Nrf2] and kelch like ECH associated protein 1 [Keap1]), stress (heat shock 70 kDa protein 2 [HSP70] and heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 [HSP90]) and inflammation (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1 [NF-κB1], Toll-like receptor 2 family member B (TLR2B) and Toll-like receptor 4 [TLR4]) were profiled along the broiler intestine. In addition, broiler intestinal segments were assayed for their total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Depending on PP inclusion level (i.e. 0, 750, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg diet) in the basal diets, 1-d-old Cobb broiler chickens (n = 500) were assigned into the following 4 treatments: CON, PP-750, PP-1000 and PP-2000. Each treatment had 5 replicates of 25 chickens with ad libitum access to feed and water. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and means compared using Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test. Polynomial contrasts tested the linear and quadratic effect of PP inclusion levels. Inclusion of PP increased (P ≤ 0.05) the expression of cytoprotective genes against oxidation, except CAT. In particular, the cytoprotective against oxidation genes were up-regulated primarily in the duodenum and the ceca and secondarily in the jejunum. Most of the genes were up-regulated in a quadratic manner with increasing PP inclusion level with the highest expression levels noted in treatments PP-750 and PP-1000 compared to CON. Similarly, intestinal TAC was higher in PP-1000 in the duodenum (P = 0.011) and the ceca (P = 0.050) compared to CON. Finally, increasing PP inclusion level resulted in linearly reduced (P ≤ 0.05) expression of NF-κB1, TLR4 and HSP70, the former in the duodenum and the latter 2 in the ceca. Overall, PP inclusion consistently up-regulated cytoprotective genes and down-regulated stress and inflammation related ones. The effect is dependent on PP inclusion level and the intestinal site. The potential of PP to beneficially prime bird cytoprotective responses merit further investigation under stress-challenge conditions.

Cadmium Cd is a toxic metal regarded as an environmental pollutant. The potential ameliorative effect of simultaneous addition of Se and Zn to broilers against Cd toxicity was examined. A total of 180 as-hatched broilers were used. There were 4 replicate pens of 3 dietary treatments: T1, T2, and T3. In T1, Se, Cd, and Zn were added to a basal diet at 0.3, 0, and 100 ppm, in T2 at 0.3, 50, and 150 ppm, and in T3 at 0.5, 50, and 150 ppm respectively. Selenium, Cd, Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Sb, As, Cr, Pb, Mo, Ni, V, and Zn were determined in breast samples using ICP-MS. Simultaneous addition of Se and Zn to broilers partly ameliorated the negative effects of Cd. The concentrations of Cd, As, and V in breast were significantly affected by the treatments while the concentration of other examined elements remained unaffected.

The present study aimed to evaluate acid-insoluble ash (AIA) as an internal marker for the measurement the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) in rabbits through two experiments (E1 and E2). In E1, 48 rabbits were used to calculate the CTTAD of the same basal diet according to the European reference method (ERM), the AIA and the titanium dioxide (TiO2 with 1 g of TiO2/kg diet) techniques (n=16 rabbits/method). The effect of feed sample quantity on dietary AIA content was investigated and total collection of faeces was carried out to calculate marker recovery. In E2, 48 rabbits were allotted to three groups fed diets with no sugar beet pulp (SBP0) or with 100 (SBP100) and 200 (SBP200) g sugar beet pulp/kg (n=16 rabbits/group). Each group was divided into two subgroups, ERM and AIA (n=8 rabbits/subgroup), in which CTTAD was measured using the European reference and AIA method, respectively. In AIA subgroups, only 10% of the total daily faecal output was sampled from 9:00 to 9:30 am. Feed analysis in E1 showed that increasing sample quantity from 5 to 9 g did not affect the dietary AIA content; however, the analytical error was 7 and 5 times lower (P2/kg diet. Faecal marker recovery was 99.80±0.03 and 96.89±0.16% for AIA and TiO2, respectively. The CTTAD of dry matter (DM), did not differ between methods in E1, but a 5-fold higher variability (P2 technique in comparison with the ERM and AIA methods. Also, no differences in the CTTAD of DM between the ERM and AIA methods were found in E2. In conclusion, AIA is a reliable internal marker in rabbits and offers the possibility of measuring the CTTAD of diets with precision, when complete faecal collection or feed intake measurement is not possible.

Mycotoxins are a crucial problem for poultry production worldwide. Two of the most frequently found mycotoxins in feedstuffs are deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins (FUM) which adversely affect gut health and poultry performance. The current knowledge on DON and FUM effects on broiler responses relevant for gut detoxification, antioxidant capacity, and health is still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess a range of selected molecular intestinal biomarkers for their responsiveness to the maximum allowable European Union dietary levels for DON (5 mg/kg) and FUM (20 mg/kg) in broilers. For the experimental purpose, a challenge diet was formulated, and biomarkers relevant for detoxification, antioxidant response, stress, inflammation, and integrity were profiled across the broiler intestine. The results reveal that DON significantly (p &lt, 0.05) induced aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP) expression mainly at the duodenum. Moreover, DON and FUM had specific significant (p &lt, 0.05) effects on the antioxidant response, stress, inflammation, and integrity depending on the intestinal segment. Consequently, broiler molecular responses to DON and FUM assessed via a powerful palette of biomarkers were shown to be mycotoxin and intestinal site specific. The study findings could be highly relevant for assessing various dietary bioactive components for protection against mycotoxins.

Two hundred 10-d-old broiler chickens were used to study the effects of different dried olive pulp (DOP) inclusion rates on growth performance and meat quality. Broiler chickens were assigned to 4 experimental treatments (5 replicates of 10 broiler chickens each) for 32 d. The broiler chickens of each treatment were offered a different combination of grower (d 11 to 22; grower phase) and finisher (d 23 to 42; finisher phase) diets in terms of DOP content. The experimental treatments were: control (C), grower and finisher diets with no DOP; treatment 1 (T1), grower and finisher diets with 25 and 50 g DOP/kg, respectively; treatment 2 (T2), grower and finisher diets with 50 g DOP/kg; and treatment 3 (T3), grower and finisher diets with 50 and 80 g DOP/kg, respectively. Feed intake and body weight were recorded to calculate weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Fatty acid (FA) composition, oxidative stability, pH at 24 h post-mortem (pH24), color properties, cooking loss, and tenderness (as shear force) were determined in the breast muscle obtained from 2 broiler chickens/replicate pen of each treatment at d 42. The FCR was greater in T2 and T3 compared to C (P = 0.013) during the grower phase. During the finisher phase, FCR was greater in T3 when compared to C (P = 0.014), and to T1 and T2 (P = 0.031). The addition of DOP increased 18:1n-9 and total monounsaturated FA (P

1. In recent times the use of food waste in animal diets has gained considerable attention because of the increasing demand to cover the needs of human population and the high prices of conventional, arable based, animal feeds.2. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of adding dried human food waste to the diet of meat-type chickens (broilers). Two hundred, one-day-old broilers were divided into two treatment groups, with 10 replicate pens containing 10 birds per pen. The duration of the study was 42 days. In the control (C), the diet did not contain any food waste, whereas in the second treatment (T) food waste residues from hotels made up 15% of the diet. Diets had similar crude protein and metabolisable energy content.3. Feed intake and body weight were recorded in order to calculate weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Carcase and breast muscle yield, the weight of selected internal organs and the level of selected biochemical and haematological parameters were determined. Quality of breast muscle meat was assessed.4. Broilers fed the control treatment consumed more feed and gained more weight compared to broilers fed waste; however, the FCR was similar. No major differences were seen for internal organ weights and haematological parameters, although some differences were observed in colour traits and shear force of meat. It was concluded that there is a potential for use of food waste in broiler diets.

The effects of dietary organic selenium (Se) addition at 0.1, 0.5 and 2.5 mg/kg vs. an unsupplemented basal diet (BD) on the accumulation of some toxic and essential trace elements were studied in the liver and muscle tissues of growing rabbits. Dietary Se addition increased liver and muscle Se concentration linearly (P .001), and decreased linearly Cd, As, Ni and Cr (P .001) in liver, as well as As (P .01) and Cd (P .001) in muscle. Muscle Cu and Zn contents were significantly lower (P .05) in rabbits fed 2.5 mg Se/kg diet compared to the other 3 groups. Selenium was negatively correlated with Cr, Ni, Cd and As (P .01) in liver, and with Cu (P .05) and Cd (P .01) in muscle. In conclusion, dietary Se supplementation decreased the accumulation of toxic (Cd and As) and potentially toxic (Cr and Ni) trace elements in rabbits. However, at excessive quantities may negatively affect essential trace elements.

Selenium, through incorporation into selenoproteins, is one of the key elements of the antioxidant system. Over the past few years there has been increased interest in exploring those molecular mechanisms in chicken, responsible for the development of this protection system. In more detail, Cd/Pb poisoning and heat stress increase oxidation, mRNA levels of inflammatory proteins, and apoptotic proteins. Selenium seems to enhance the antioxidant status and alleviates these effects via upregulation of antioxidant proteins and other molecular effects. In this review, we analyze avian transcriptome key elements with particular emphasis on interactions with heavy metals and on relation to heat stress.

The present work was part of a project intended to evaluate whether organic selenium (Se) has the potential to protect against toxic effects exerted by cadmium (Cd). For this reason, 300 as-hatched, one-day-old broiler chickens were randomly allocated in four dietary treatments with five replicate pens per treatment. Chickens in T1 treatment, were offered a diet supplemented with 0.3 ppm Se (as Se-yeast), without added Cd, in T2 treatment, they were offered a diet with 0.3 ppm Se and 10 ppm Cd, in T3 treatment, they were offered a diet with 0.3 ppm Se and 100 ppm Cd, in T4 treatment, chickens were offered a diet supplemented with 3 ppm Se and 100 ppm Cd. Cadmium was added to the diets in T2, T3, and T4 as CdCl2. On the fourth and sixth weeks, liver and breast samples were obtained from two broilers per replicate pen. Relative gene expression levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and 2 (SOD2), methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA) and B3 (MSRB3), iodothyronine deiodinase 1 (DIO1), 2 (DIO2), and 3 (DIO3), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) and 4 (GPX4), thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) and 3 (TXNRD3), and metallothionein 3 (MT3) were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR in liver, whereas the fatty-acid (FA) profile of breast muscle was determined by gas chromatography. Broilers supplemented with 0.3 ppm Se could tolerate low levels of Cd present in the diets, as there were no significant changes in the breast muscle FA profile, whereas excess Cd led to decreased polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and in particular n-6 PUFA. Furthermore, treatments mainly affected the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of SOD2, TXNRD3, and MT3, while age affected CAT, MSRB3, DIO2, DIO3, GPX4, TXNRD1, and MT3. In conclusion, dietary Se may help against the negative effects of Cd, but cannot be effective when Cd is present at excessive amounts in the diet.

The aim of this work was to assess the effect of dietary viable or heat inactivated probiotic forms (PF) combined or not with avilamycin (AV) used as a growth promoter, on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activities, and expression of immune response related genes.Depending on the type of PF (i.e., no addition, viable, inactivated) and AV addition (no/yes), 450 one-day-old Cobb male broilers were allocated in the following 6 treatments according to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with 5 replicates of 15 broilers each for 6 wk: CoN: diet without any addition; CoN+A: combination of CoN with AV; ViP: viable PF - no AV; ViP+A: combination of ViP with AV; InP: inactivated PF - no AV; InP+A: combination of InP with AV.There were no interactions (P > 0.05) for overall performance parameters. In contrast, PF or AV addition improved BW gain (PPF= 0.015; PAV

H παραγωγή ελαιόλαδου δημιουργεί ορισμένα υποπροϊόντα τα οποία μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν στη διατροφή των ζώων. Αυτά τα υποπροϊόντα περιέχουν αρκετές πολυφαινολικές ενώσεις που ενδέχεται να παρουσιάζουν αντιοξειδωτικές ιδιότητες. Η παρούσα μελέτη σχεδιάστηκε για να αξιολογήσει την επίδραση της προσθήκης πάστας ελαιόκαρπου στο σιτηρέσιο ορνιθίων κρεοπαραγωγής στην ανάπτυξη, στην απόδοση σε σφάγιο και στην ενεργότητα ορισμένων αντιοξειδωτικών ενζύμων. Διακόσιοι (200), νεοσσοί κρεοπαραγωγής Cobb 500, ηλικίας μιας ημέρας, εκτράφηκαν για συνολικά 42 ημέρες. Υπήρξαν 4 διατροφικές επεμβάσεις. Στην επέμβαση T1 δεν προστέθηκε πάστα ελαιόκαρπου στο εναρκτήριο, ανάπτυξης και τελικό σιτηρέσιο. Στην επέμβαση Τ2, η πάστα ελαιόκαρπου προστέθηκε στο εναρκτήριο, ανάπτυξης και τελικό σε επίπεδο 0, 2,5 και 5% αντιστοίχως. Στην επέμβαση Τ3, η πάστα ελαιόκαρπου προστέθηκε στα τρία σιτηρέσια σε επίπεδο 0, 5 και 5% αντιστοίχως, ενώ στην επέμβαση T4 σε επίπεδο 0, 5 και 8% αντιστοίχως. Μελετήθηκε η ανάπτυξη, η απόδοση σε σφάγιο και ένας αριθμός βιοχημικών παραμέτρων. Η oλευρωπεΐνη και η υδροξυτυροσόλη ανιχνεύτηκαν στην πάστα ελαιόκαρπου σε επίπεδα 952 και 216 mg/kg αντιστοίχως. Τα ορνίθια αναπτύχθηκαν καλά και δεν παρατηρήθηκαν διαφορές μεταξύ των επεμβάσεων στο τελικό σωματικό βάρος, την απόδοση σε σφάγιο, την ολική αντιοξειδωτική ικανότητα και την ενεργότητα των αντιοξειδωτικών ενζύμων. Εφαρμογή της διακριτικής ανάλυσης έδειξε ότι τα δείγματα διακρίνονται βάση του επιπέδου προσθήκης πάστας ελαιόκαρπου. Τα δείγματα των επεμβάσεων Τ2 και Τ3 εντοπίστηκαν στο κέντρο του διαγράμματος απομακρυσμένα από τις άλλες επεμβάσεις παρουσιάζοντας υψηλές τιμές σε απόδοση σε σφάγιο, αναλογία βάρους στήθους προς σωματικό βάρος και ενεργότητα των περισσοτέρων αντιοξειδωτικών ενζύμων. Συμπερασματικά, η πάστα ελαιόκαρπου μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί στα σιτηρέσια ορνιθίων κρεοπαραγωγής έως 5% και μελλοντικές μελέτες σε πραγματικές συνθήκες εκτροφής ίσως αναδείξουν περαιτέρω τις θετικές επιδράσεις αυτού στην απόδοση και αντιοξειδωτική προστασία των ορνιθίων., Olive oil production generates various by-products that can be used in animal nutrition. These by-products contain several polyphenolic compounds that may exhibit antioxidant properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of adding olive pulp to the feed on broiler performance, carcass yield and antioxidant enzymes. Two hundred (200), as hatched, day-old, Cobb 500 broilers were reared in total for 42 days. There were 4 dietary treatments. In T1 treatment, no olive pulp was added to starter, grower and finisher diet. In T2 treatment, olive pulp was added to starter, grower and finisher diet at a level of 0, 2.5 and 5% respectively. In T3 treatment, olive pulp was added to starter, grower and finisher diet at a level of 0, 5 and 5% respectively. In T4 treatment, olive pulp was added to starter, grower and finisher diet at a level of 0, 5 and 8% respectively. Performance, carcass yield and a number of biochemical parameters were examined. Oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol were present in the olive pulp at 952 and 216 mg/kg respectively. Broilers performed well and no differences were observed between treatments on final body weight, carcass yield, total antioxidant activity and expression of selected antioxidant enzymes. Discriminant analysis was further applied and revealed that samples clustered according to added level of olive pulp. Samples from broilers fed T2 and T3 diet were located in the middle of the plot away from other treatments exhibiting high values of carcass, breast yield and most of the antioxidant enzyme activities. In conclusion, olive pulp can be used up to 5% in diets of broilers and future studies conducted on-farm conditions may pronounce its impact on growth performance and antioxidant potential.

Bioactive compounds are substances which are present in foods in small amounts and have the ability to provide health benefits. Bioactive compounds include but are not limited to long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, carotenoids, peptides, and polyphenols. The aim of the present study is to review literature for potential bioactive compounds present in food waste material and discuss the transformation of food waste to animal feed under the perspective that usage of food waste, rather than disposal, may tackle food insecurity and provide health benefits. Finally, applications in poultry and swine nutrition, with emphasis on the presence of fatty acids on food waste material, are discussed.

The probiotic form (PF) type and its dietary administration in combination or not with avilamycin (AV) were investigated for their effects on broiler gut microbiota and expression of genes relevant for gut barrier and gut homeostasis. Depending on PF type (i.e. no addition, viable, inactivated) and AV addition (no/yes), 450 one-day-old Cobb male broilers were allocated in 6 treatments (CON, CON + A, ViP, ViP + A, InP and InP + A) according to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with 5 replicates of 15 broilers each for 42 days. Significant interactions (PPF × AV ≤ 0.05) between PF and AV administration were shown for the ileal mucosa-associated bacteria, the caecal digesta Lactobacillus spp., the molar ratio of the sum of valeric, hexanoic and heptanoic acids and the gene expressions of ileal and caecal IgA and ileal claudin 1. Avilamycin suppressed ileal digesta Lactobacillus spp. (PAV

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of reduced dietary energy (ME) and protein (CP) levels along with administration of a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) based on oregano, anise and citrus essential oils, on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat and blood biochemical parameters and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Depending on dietary ME and CP level down regulation compared to a corn-soybean meal basal diet A used as positive control, three diet types [A, B(=A-3%) and C(=A-6%)] were implemented. Depending on the inclusion or not of PFA at 125 mg/kg diet, 450 1-d old, male Cobb broilers were randomly allocated in six treatments according to a 3×2 factorial arrangement with 5 replicates of 15 broilers; A: diets formulated optimally to meet broiler nutrient requirements for maximizing protein content of meat for starter, grower and finisher growth periods; APh: A+PFA; B: suboptimal in ME and CP levels by 3%; BPh: B+PFA; C: suboptimal in ME and CP levels by 6%; CPh: C+PFA. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved in birds fed diet A compared to diet C during the grower period (P D =0.021) and overall (P D =0.010). Phytogenic supplementation resulted in higher (P D×Ph =0.020) total tract apparent digestibility of fat in birds fed diet C compared to diet A. Birds fed diet A had higher (P D =0.001) plasma cholesterol, compared to birds fed diet C. In addition, birds fed diets A and B had higher (P D =0.002) breast protein content compared to C. Overall, PFA inclusion reduced cholesterol (P Ph =0.002) and increased plasma TAC (P Ph

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary crude glycerine (CG) on growth performance, gene expression of glycerine kinase (GK), nutrient digestibility, and litter quality in broiler chickens. A total of 400 one-day old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 4 diets containing 0, 70, 140, or 210 g CG/kg with 5 replicate pens and 20 broiler chickens per pen. Diets were formulated by substituting CG for corn, on an equal apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) basis, with similar crude protein and amino acid contents. Feed and water intake, weight gain, excreta moisture, litter score, and mortality were recorded weekly. The total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) of nutrients and energy was determined at d 28, and GK expression was determined in liver homogenates at d 42. The overall feed intake and BW gain were affected quadratically ( P 0.001), with broiler chickens fed the diet with 70 g CG/kg diet showing the greater values, whereas feed conversion ratio and water intake increased linearly ( P 0.05 and 0.001, respectively) with increasing dietary CG. The linear increase ( P 0.01) in excreta moisture resulted in a linear reduction ( P 0.001) of litter quality with the increment of CG. At d 28, the TTAD of dry matter, organic matter, and nitrogen free extract were not affected; however, the dietary AMEn content tended to decrease ( P =0.07) when CG increased to 210 g/kg diet. Relative GK mRNA increased for CG inclusion up to 140 g/kg diet and reached a plateau thereafter, indicating a limiting capacity for dietary CG activation. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of CG up to 70 g/kg may have beneficial effects on growth performance of broiler chickens. Dietary inclusion up to 140 g CG/kg may be efficiently utilized, whereas greater inclusion (>140 g CG/kg) may impair growth of broiler chickens, reduce litter quality, and increase mortality.

A total of 400, as hatched, broilers were used to investigate the effect of increase of selenium and energy intake on thyroid hormone metabolism, growth and liver fatty acid profile. There were 5 replicates of 4 dietary treatments namely, TA (0.289mg Se per kg diet and adequate energy content), TB (0.583mg Se per kg diet and adequate energy content), TC (0.267mg Se per kg diet and 9% increase of energy content) and TD (0.576mg Se per kg diet and 9% increase of energy content). Diets were isonitrogenous. Zinc L-selenomethionine complex was used to increase Se content and corn oil was used to increase the energy content. The experiment lasted 42 days. Broiler growth performance was not significantly affected by dietary treatments. Liver glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity increased (P

Context Phytogenic applications in animal nutrition currently attract worldwide scientific attention for their potential to contribute positively to sustainable and high-quality animal production. However, further understanding and substantiation of dietary phytogenic functions is required. Aims The inclusion level of a phytogenic premix (PP) comprising functional flavouring substances from ginger, lemon balm, oregano and thyme was studied for its effects on broiler growth performance, carcass traits, nutrient digestibility, liver and meat total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and lipid oxidation. The expression of genes for nutrient transporter proteins (SGLT1, GLUT2, PEPT1, BOAT and LAT1), for FABP2 involved in cellular fatty acid uptake and metabolism, and for the mTORC1 complex relevant for protein synthesis were profiled along the intestine. Methods One-day-old Cobb broiler chickens (n = 500) were assigned to four treatments with five replicates of 25 chickens each. Starter (1–10 days), grower (11–22 days) and finisher (23–42 days) basal diets were supplemented with four levels of PP inclusion as treatments: 0, 750, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg diet, termed control, PP750, PP1000 and PP2000. Feed and water were available ad libitum. Data were analysed by ANOVA, taking the treatment as fixed effect. Statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) effects were further analysed and means were compared using Tukey’s HSD test. Polynomial contrasts tested the linear and quadratic effect of PP inclusion levels. Key results Growth performance responses were not improved significantly (P > 0.05) by PP inclusion level. However, carcass (P = 0.030) and breast meat yield (P = 0.023) were higher in PP1000 than in the control. In addition, PP1000 had higher (P = 0.049) apparent metabolisable energy than PP2000 and the control. Increasing PP inclusion level increased breast (P = 0.005), thigh (P = 0.002) and liver (P = 0.040) TAC. Breast and thigh meat TAC reached a plateau at PP1000, whereas liver TAC continued to increase linearly. Lipid oxidation in breast meat and liver was delayed linearly (P ≤ 0.05) with increasing PP inclusion level. Expression of genes SGLT1, GLUT2, PEPT1, BOAT and FABP2 were not affected by PP inclusion. However, PP inclusion affected the expression of LAT1 (P < 0.001) in jejunum and of mTORC1 in duodenum (P = 0.010) and ceca (P = 0.025). In particular, expression increased with increasing PP inclusion level in a linear and quadratic pattern depending on the intestinal segment. Conclusions Overall, PP inclusion at 1000 mg/kg diet improved carcass and breast yield, dietary available energy, and overall meat and liver TAC. Preliminary evidence was highlighted for effects of PP in promoting expression of genes relevant for muscle protein synthesis. Implications This study has contributed new information on effects of a phytogenic premix on broiler meat yield and antioxidant capacity, digestibility, absorption and metabolic functions, further supporting phytogenic benefits for broiler production.

[EN] The suitability of blood and hair as non-invasive tools to monitor trace element contents was studied in 48 Hyla male growing rabbits. Three diets with increasing organic selenium (Se) addition (0.1, 0.5 and 2.5 mg/kg) were used to induce alterations in the concentrations of trace elements vs. an unsupplemented diet. In blood, a linear decrease in Co (P, The authors are grateful to NUEVO S.A. (N Artaki, Euboia, Greece) for providing Sel-Plex®. This research has not received any specific funding.

The effects of inclusion levels of a phytogenic feed additive (PFA), characterized by menthol anethol and eugenol, on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, biochemical biomarkers and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of plasma and meat, as well as on the relative expression of selected cytokines, were studied in a 42-d experiment. A total of 225 one-day-old male Cobb broiler chickens were assigned into 3 treatments, with 5 replicates of 15 chickens each. Chickens were fed maize-soybean meal basal diets following a 3 phase (i.e., starter, grower and finisher) feeding program. Depending on PFA inclusion level, treatments were: no PFA (PFA-0), PFA at 100 mg/kg (PFA-100) and PFA at 150 mg/kg (PFA-150). Feed and water were available ad libitum. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) during finisher phase was improved quadratically (P

The effects of dietary organic selenium (Se) addition at 0.1, 0.5 and 2.5mg/kg vs. an unsupplemented basal diet (BD) on performance, fatty acid (FA) composition and oxidative stability were studied in muscle tissue of growing rabbits. Muscle Se content increased (P

The effects of substituting maize with crude glycerine (CG) as an energy source, on nutrient digestibility, liver glycerine kinase (GK) gene expression, and gut microbiota composition were investigated in 18 weaned pigs [30 days old, 7.8 kg initial body weight (BW)]. Pigs were fed one of three diets containing 0, 75 and 150 g CG/kg, formulated on equal digestible energy (DE) basis, with similar crude protein (210 g CP/kg dry matter; DM) and amino acid (12.9 g lysine and 8.2 g methionine+cystine/kg DM) content. The GK relative mRNA expression in liver and microbiota composition in ileal and caecal samples were assessed at 72 days of age. The digestibility of GE decreased (P Clostridium spp . and Lactobacillus spp . were linearly reduced (P

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary probiotic inclusion level on mucin composition (monosaccharide ratio), mucosal morphometry, mucus layer staining intensity, and mucus layer thickness along the broiler intestinal tract. One-day-old male Cobb broilers were administered maize-soybean meal basal (BD) diets for 42 d and depending on the feed additive used, broilers were allocated into the following 5 experimental treatments: control C (BD, no additive), treatment P1 (10(8) colony forming units of probiotic/kg of BD), treatment P2 (10(9) cfu of probiotic/kg of BD), treatment P3 (10(10) cfu of probiotic/kg of BD), and treatment A (2.5 mg avilamycin/kg of BD). Intestinal samples from duodenum, ileum, and cecum of 14- and 42-d-old broilers were collected and analyzed. Mannose (Man) decreased linearly with increasing probiotic level in duodenum (P=0.015) and ileum (P=0.042) of 14-d-old broilers. N-Acetyl-glucosamine and galactose decreased linearly (P=0.012 and P=0.001, respectively), while fucose increased linearly (P

Forty eight New Zealand × Californian rabbits were used to investigate the effects of diets with either a low (LDF) or high (HDF) inclusion of sugar beet pulp and wheat bran (feedstuffs rich in degradable fibre; DF) supplemented with or without soybean oil (20 g SO/kg) on liver weight and composition, according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. At 77 days of age, the livers were excised, weighed, and analyzed for glycogen, cholesterol, and protein content and fatty acid (FA) composition. The HDF diets decreased liver relative weight (g/100 g body weight; P

The effect of a dietary phytogenic feed additive (PFA) inclusion level in mucin monosaccharide composition, mucosal morphometry and mucus histochemistry along the broiler intestinal tract was studied. Cobb male broilers (n = 525) were allocated into five experimental treatments that, depending on the type of addition in the basal diet (BD), were labeled as follows: C (BD based on maize–soybean meal with no other additions), E1 (80 mg PFA/kg BD), E2 (125 mg PFA/kg BD), E3 (250 mg PFA/kg of BD) and A (2.5 mg avilamycin/kg BD). Samples from duodenum, ileum and cecum of 14- and 42-day-old broilers were collected and analyzed. In 14-day-old broilers, treatments E2 and E3 had higher (P < 0.01) duodenal mannose than treatments C, E1 and A. Ileal mannose was lower (P < 0.05) in treatment C compared with PFA treatments, and ileal galactose (Gal) was higher (P < 0.01) in treatments E2 and E3 compared with C and A. Polynomial contrast analysis with respect to PFA inclusion level showed that in 14-day-old broilers there was a linear increase (P = 0.001) in duodenal mannose and a quadratic effect (P = 0.038) in duodenal N-acetyl-galactosamine with increasing PFA level. Ileal Gal and mannose increased linearly (P = 0.002 and P = 0.012, respectively) with PFA inclusion level. There were no significant differences between treatments in mucin monosaccharide molar ratios of 42-day-old broilers. However, increasing PFA inclusion level resulted in a linear decrease of ileal fucose (P = 0.021) and cecal N-acetylgalactosamine (P = 0.036). Experimental treatments did not differ (P > 0.05) regarding duodenal villus height (Vh), crypt depth (Cd) and Vh/Cd ratio, irrespective of broiler age and the intestinal segment examined. However, increasing dietary PFA inclusion level showed a pattern of linear increase of duodenal Vh/Cd ratio in 14-day-old broilers and ileal Vh in 42-day-old broilers (P = 0.039 and P = 0.039, respectively). Alcian Blue–Periodic Acid-Schiff (pH 2.5) staining of neutral and acidic mucins showed that the staining intensity of mucus layer in villi was fragment (i.e. tip, midsection and base) dependent, whereas in crypts it was dependent both on intestinal segment (i.e. duodenum, ileum and cecum) and fragment. Finally, mucus layer thickness did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments, yet a pattern of linear increase (P < 0.05) with PFA inclusion level was observed in the duodenum of 42-day-old broilers. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion level of PFA modulated broiler intestinal mucin composition and morphology. Further studies are required to elucidate the physiological implications of such changes in host–microflora interactions.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of three inclusion levels of a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) comprising a blend of essential oils from oregano, anise and citrus on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility and caecal microflora composition. Five hundred and twenty-five, 1-day-old, male Cobb broilers received a maize–soybean meal basal diet (BD) and depending on the type of addition were allocated in the following five experimental treatments for 6 weeks: BD–no additives (C), BD containing 80 mg PFA/kg diet (E1), BD containing 125 mg PFA/kg diet (E2), BD containing 250 mg PFA/kg diet (E3) and BD containing avilamycin at 2.5 mg/kg diet (A). Treatment A was used as a positive control due to the well-known function of avilamycin as an antimicrobial growth promoter in poultry. Overall broiler body weight gain (BWG) increased linearly (P=0.039) with increasing PFA level, however, the avilamycin treatment A did not differ (P≥0.05) from the PFA and C treatments. Overall feed intake (FI) decreased quadratically (P=0.046) with increasing PFA level, while the FI for treatment A did not differ from the rest of the treatments. The overall gain:feed ratio improved linearly (P n ) of experimental diets, respectively, with treatment E1 having the higher (P n (13.4 MJ/kg diet) and treatment A being not different from the four other treatments. On the other hand, the avilamycin treatment A had a significantly (P Lactobacillus (P=0.002), Bifidobacterium (P=0.001) and Gram positive cocci (P=0.007) concentration with increasing PFA level at 42 d old broilers. In addition, caecal coliforms at 14 d old broilers were significantly (P In conclusion, this small scale study provides additional evidence that phytogenic efficacy in broilers depends on the feed inclusion level used and the broiler growth period with most of the PFA overall beneficial effects seen mainly in the finisher growth period. Further work is warranted in order to evaluate phytogenic efficacy with different basal diets and under commercial production conditions.

Summary A total of 128 broilers were used to investigate the effect of selenium (Se) on fatty acid (FA) composition and oxidative stability of lipids in the breast muscle tissue. There were 4 replicates of 4 dietary treatments: T1 (basal diet with no added Se), T2 (T1 with 0.15 mg Se added per kg diet), T3 (T1 with 0.3 mg Se added per kg diet) and T4 (T1 with 3.0 mg Se added per kg diet). A yeast source was used for added Se. Breast muscle tissue was collected from two chickens per replicate pen for the determination of Se concentration by ICP-MS, FA profile by GC and lipid oxidation using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method. Addition of supranutritional Se levels to chicken diets leads to the production of Se-enriched meat. Consumption of 100 g of breast meat from chickens fed diets supplemented with 0.15, 0.3 and 3 mg Se per kg of diet can provide 26, 41 and 220 μg of Se, respectively. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids namely C20:3n-6, C20:4n-6, C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3 and C22:6n-3 increased linearly (p = 0.047, p

The effects of two inclusion levels of benzoic acid (5 and 20 g/kg diet; B5 and B20, respectively) vs. a control (C) and an antibiotic (tiamulin) supplemented (A; 150 mg/kg) diet on nutrient digestibility and selected biochemical parameters were investigated in 48 weaned ( n = 12 per treatment) rabbits (35 days old). Blood samples were obtained (at 45 and 85 days of age) to measure erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Ca and P levels. At 56 days of age total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) was determined. At the end of the trial (85 days) rabbits were slaughtered for subsequent measurements. GSH-Px activity was also determined in liver homogenates post-mortem. Benzoic acid inclusion level decreased linearly (P

Summary The study aimed to describe the interactions between nutrition and caecal bacteria abundance using odd-numbered and branched-chain fatty acids (OBCFA). Following a 2 × 2 factorial design, 47 rabbits were fed diets with two levels of digestible fibre (DF, 180 vs. 260 g/kg DM) supplemented with soybean oil (SO, 20 g/kg) or not. At 77 days of age, fatty acid (FA) composition was determined in caecal contents. The microbial origin of OBCFA vs. dietary FA in caecal contents was illustrated by clustering of these FA in the loading plots of principal component analysis. The contribution of odd-numbered FA in the OBCFA pattern was increased (p

The effect of dietary soybean oil (SO) inclusion (20g/kg) on the odd-numbered (ONFA) and branched-chain (BCFA) fatty acids (FA) of two muscles, differing in fatness (Longissimus lumborum and Biceps femoris), was studied in 24 New ZealandxCalifornian rabbits. The increased muscle fatness in Biceps femoris (P

The aim of the study was to evaluate how palygorskite supplemented in broiler diets affects growth performance, mortality, litter quality and feed technological characteristics. Day-old broilers (n = 192) were raised for 6 weeks and fed either a corn–soybean base diet with no added palygorskite, or the same diet with 1% m/m, or 10% m/m added palygorskite. Body mass, feed conversion ratio, water intake, litter score and excreta dry matter, total and non-protein nitrogen content were assessed. To test for any negative health effects of the additive, mortality was assessed and standard hematological analyses were performed. Hardness and durability of pellets were measured to determine pellet quality. The study revealed that hardness of pellets was improved by palygorskite suggesting that it may be used as an agglomerant. Data on mortality and hematology indicated that palygorskite was safe and tolerable. The luck of statistically significant differences on improvement of litter quality with palygorskite addition could be attributed to the small scale of the study and the low stress conditions.

The study aimed to characterize shifts in caecotroph microbial FA induced by different dietary digestible fibre (DF) and soybean oil (SO) contents, in fattening rabbits. Following a 2 × 2 design, diets with either a low (LDF) or high (HDF) digestible fibre content (180 and 260 g DF/kg DM, respectively) supplemented with or without 20 g of SO/kg, were fed to 12 rabbits (n = 48 in total) for a period of 77 days. At an age of 63 days, a light plastic flat collar was applied on animals for 24 h to prevent caecotrophy. Gas chromatography was used to determine the odd-numbered (ONFA), branched-chain (BCFA), hydroxy (OHFA) and other FA in freeze-dried caecotroph samples. A high dietary DF level increased ONFA (P

The effect of a high (260 g DF/kg DM) vs. a low (180 g DF/kg DM) dietary digestible fibre level on the intramuscular fatty acid composition of Longissimus lumborum and Biceps femoris was investigated in 24 fattening rabbits, allotted in two groups: low digestible fibre (LDF) and high digestible fibre (HDF). The animals were slaughtered at 2.77 kg and muscles were excised from the carcasses after chilling at 4 °C for 24 h. Muscle fatness and saturated fatty acids were not affected by the dietary digestible fibre, whereas monounsaturated fatty acids were lower ( p p p p Biceps muscle at a higher degree, as suggested by the lower ( p

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of inclusion levels of a 5-bacterial species probiotic in broiler nutrition. Five hundred twenty-five 1-d-old male Cobb broilers were allocated in 5 experimental treatments for 6 wk. The experimental treatments received a corn-soybean coccidiostat-free basal diet and depending on the addition were labeled as follows: no addition (C), 10(8) cfu probiotic/kg of diet (P1), 10(9) cfu probiotic/kg of diet (P2), 10(10) cfu probiotic/kg of diet (P3), and 2.5 mg of avilamycin/kg of diet (A). Each treatment had 3 replicates of 35 broilers each. Treatment effects on broiler growth performance and biomarkers such as ileal and total tract nutrient digestibility, plasma Ig concentration, and cecal microflora composition were determined. Differences among treatments were considered significant when P < or = 0.05. Overall BW gain was significantly higher in treatment P1 (2,293 g) compared with P2 (2,163 g), C (2,165 g), and P3 (2,167 g), with A (2,230 g) being intermediate and not different from P1. Overall feed conversion ratio values were similar and significantly better for P1 (1.80) and A (1.80) compared with P2 (1.87), C (1.89), and P3 (1.92). Ileal apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of CP and ether extract were higher in A. Generally, treatments A and P1 showed an improved total tract ADC for DM, organic matter, ash, ether extract, and AME(n) values. The total tract ADC of CP was higher in P1, C, and P2. There were no differences between treatments regarding plasma Ig in 14- and 42-d-old broilers. Treatments P2 and P3 were effective at beneficially modulating cecal microflora composition. In particular, the lower cecal coliform concentration (log cfu/g of wet digesta) was seen in P2 (6.12) and P3 (4.90) in 14- and 42-d-old broilers, respectively, whereas at 42 d, P3 and P2 had the highest Bifidobacterium (8.31; 8.08) and Lactobacillus concentrations (8.20; 7.86), respectively. It is concluded that probiotic inclusion level had a significant effect on broiler growth responses, nutrient ADC, AME(n), and cecal microflora composition.

Summary Background & aims Little is known about fasting effects on gut bacterial metabolism. As probiotics are purported to be beneficial for health, this study aimed to investigate the response of gut microbial metabolism on fasting with or without probiotic administration. Methods Sixty male adult Wistar rats were allocated to six experimental treatments, for 6 days, arranged under three nutritional schemes namely: (a) ad libitum feeding (control), (b) fasting for 3 days and re-feeding for the remainder (re-fed) and (c) fasting for 6 days combined with parenteral liquid treatment during the last 3 days (starved). Each nutritional scheme had one non-probiotic and one probiotic treatment receiving orally Lactobacillus acidophilus . Rat caecal digesta were analyzed for bacterial enzyme activities and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Results Fasted rats had significantly lower activities of α-galactosidase, α-glucosidase and β-glucosidase and higher activities of β-galactosidase and azoreductase compared to control and re-fed rats, irrespective of probiotic administration. Results were variable regarding cholylglycine hydrolase (CGH), while there were no differences between treatments regarding β-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase activity. Fasted rats had significantly lower caecal VFA concentration and different fermentation patterns. L. acidophilus resulted in significantly reduced azoreductase activity and increased caecal acetate levels in fasted rats. Re-feeding appeared to restore most enzyme activities, fermentation intensity and to some extent fermentation patterns at control treatment levels. L. acidophilus resulted in significantly reduced CGH activity and increased butyrate levels in re-fed rats. Conclusion The results indicate a health beneficial potential of L. acidophilus in fasted and re-fed nutritional states via reduction of harmful azoreductase and CGH activities and promotion of useful VFA components for colonic function and health.

The dietary supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii was evaluated in broilers challenged or not challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Depending on yeast inclusion at 0 (C) or 1 × 10⁹ cfu/kg diet (Y) and SE challenge (0 or log 6.3 cfu/bird) on d 15, the experiment had four treatments C, Y, C-SE, and Y-SE, respectively. Each treatment had seven replicate floor pens with 15 broilers. Growth performance responses were determined weekly and overall for the 5 week experimental period. Salmonella levels and prevalence in ceca, cloacae, and carcass skin were determined by culture procedures, while cecal microbiota was determined by real time PCR. Yeast supplementation had no effect (PY0.05) on growth performance. For the overall post SE-challenge period (i.e., wk 3 to wk 5), Salmonella reduced body weight gain (BWG) (PSE0.001), feed intake (FI) (PSE = 0.032), and the European production efficiency (EPEF) factor (PSE = 0.005). Broilers Y-SE had higher (P0.001) overall BW gain compared to C-SE ones. Overall mortality was 2.14% and did not differ (P0.05) between treatments. Reduced Salmonella levels in the cloacae (P = 0.014) and on the breast skin (P = 0.006) and lower prevalence on the neck skin (P = 0.007) were noted for treatment Y-SE compared to C-SE. Yeast supplementation did not have an effect (P0.05) on cecal microbiota composition at d 1 and d 21 post SE-challenge. On the contrary, SE-challenge reduced cecal levels of total bacteria (PSE = 0.002), E. coli (PSE = 0.006), Bifidobacterium spp. (PSE = 0.006), Bacteroides spp. (PSE = 0.010), and Clostridial populations belonging to cluster I and cluster XIVa, (PSE = 0.047 and PSE = 0.001, respectively) on d 1 post SE-challenge. At 21 d post SE-challenge, only the levels of cecal Lactobacillus spp. (PSE = 0.001) and Bifidobacterium spp. (PSE = 0.049) were reduced compared to the non SE-challenged groups. In conclusion, yeast supplementation in SE challenged broilers (Y-SE) was beneficial for growth performance and reduced Salmonella presence compared to C-SE ones. The disturbance of cecal microbiota balance by SE merits further investigation for potential implications in gut and overall bird health.

The effect of oligofructose (FOS) or trans-galactooligosaccharides (TOS) inclusion at 10 g/kg diet for growing pigs, at the expense of cornstarch (CON), on growth performance, nutrient digestibilities, and faecal physicochemical parameters was determined. In addition, concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and bacterial α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase and β-glucuronidase activities in faeces were determined as markers of intestinal microflora metabolic activity. Twelve 35-day-old castrated pigs were allocated to CON, FOS and TOS dietary treatments for an experimental period of 4 weeks. Dietary treatments did not affect animal growth performance. FOS and TOS pigs tended to have a lower faecal output than CON pigs by approximately 6.0% and 1.7% respectively. FOS and TOS did not affect total tract apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, fat, crude protein, crude fiber, ADF and cellulose. Digestibility of carbohydrate components such as nitrogen free extract and NDF was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in TOS pigs compared to CON and FOS. Digestibility of hemicellulose in TOS pigs did not differ from FOS but was significantly higher from CON. The experimental period had a significant effect on most of the parameters determined. There were no significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences between treatments regarding total VFA concentration and faecal bacterial enzyme activities. Nevertheless, an increased saccharolytic activity in the gut of FOS and TOS pigs could be postulated by the trends for apparently higher VFA concentration and bacterial α-glucosidase and β-galactosidase activities.

(1) The objective of this study was to determine whether the dietary inclusion of Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans (TRM) could suppress the detrimental effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the immune system of broiler chicks. (2) Six experimental treatments were tested in 300 1-d-old broiler chicks. Treatments included addition to a standard broiler ration of neither OTA nor TRM (Diet 1), OTA alone (500 microg/kg), OTA plus TRM at three inclusion rates (10(4) CFU/g of feed, 10(5) CFU/g, 10(6) CFU/g) and TRM alone at 10(5) CFU/g of feed. The ration was fed to chicks for 42 d. (3) Blood samples were collected at d 10, 20, 30 and 40 and macrophages and heterophils were isolated. The following variables were determined in macrophages and heterophils activated by phorbol myristate acetate (65 microM): cell viability, total cell-associated urokinase-plasminogen activator (u-PA), membrane-bound u-PA, free u-PA binding sites and superoxide production. (4) There was a decrease in the viability of macrophages and heterophils from chicks receiving OTA-contaminated feed compared to the viability of cells from control birds at d 40. Dietary TRM completely blocked the effect of OTA on cell viability; all three inclusion rates were equally effective. There was a decrease in total cell-associated and membrane-bound u-PA in macrophages and heterophils of chicks receiving OTA-contaminated feed compared to the corresponding values in control birds for heterophils at d 30 and 40 and for the macrophages at d 40. (5) Similarly, dietary TRM abolished the effect of OTA on total cell-associated and membrane-bound u-PA activity. All three inclusion rates of yeast were equally effective. Heterophils, but not macrophages, isolated from chicks receiving OTA-contaminated diet produced less superoxide anion compared to all other diet groups at d 30 and 40. (6) The immune system is a primary target of OTA toxicity in broilers: several functional properties of macrophages and heterophils were depressed in chicks fed OTA-contaminated feed. There was a delay of 30d before the immunosuppressive effect became apparent. The dietary inclusion of TRM completely blocked the detrimental effects of OTA on several immune properties in broilers.

The main objective of this study was to measure the retention coefficient of lead (Pb) from clinoptilolite, of Greek origin, in a balance trial with growing pigs. Twelve weaned pigs of 45 days of age were divided into two equal groups. The first group was fed a control (C) diet and the other (the experimental E group) the same diet added with 20 g clinoptilolite of volcanic origin/kg. The Pb content of the clinoptilolite used was 46 ppm, and the dietary contents were 1.1 and 2.1 ppm for diets C and E, respectively. Feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion efficiency, as well as digestibility and nitrogen (N) retention were measured to investigate any effects of the dietary inclusion of clinoptilolite in pigs. Pb concentration was measured in whole blood and edible parts of the carcass (muscles, liver, heart and kidneys), and Pb retention coefficient was determined. The results showed that digestibility did not differ between diets C and E, apart from that of ether extract, which was lower (P < 0.01) for the C diet, whereas, N retention was higher in pigs of group E. No significant differences were observed for feed intake, growth rate and feed efficiency. The retention coefficient of Pb from clinoptilolite was found to be 0.009, whilst the retained Pb in edible parts of the pig carcass was negligible. In conclusion, this particular clinoptilolite used at a level of 20 g/kg in diets of growing pigs has no deleterious effect on feed intake and growth rate, and does not lead in a significant increase of Pb concentration in blood and edible tissues, owing to its low retention rate. Thus, its use as binder in pig's diets is safe for animals and for consumers.

Sixteen piglets were used to determine the effect of vitamin E supplementation on several functional properties of macrophages and neutrophils obtained from weaned piglets. Piglets, immediately following weaning, were assigned to one of three experimental groups: control (no vitamin E supplementation), low level of vitamin E supplementation (100 mg DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet) and high level of vitamin E supplementation (300 mg DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet). Supplementation of vitamin E lasted for a period of 36 days, following a 3-day adaptation period after weaning. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 12, 24 and 36 of the experimental period, monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils were isolated and the following parameters were determined in macrophages and neutrophils activated by phorbol myristate acetate: total cell-associated and membrane-bound urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) activity and superoxide anion production. Results showed that macrophages and neutrophils isolated from piglets that received supplemental vitamin E had higher (P0.05) total and membrane-bound u-PA activities as well as higher (P0.05) superoxide anion production compared with the values of the corresponding cells obtained from control piglets on day 12 of the experimental period. Both levels of vitamin E supplementation (low and high) were equally effective. In contrast, vitamin E supplementation had no effect (P0.05) on total and membrane-bound u-PA activities and superoxide anion production by porcine macrophages and neutrophils on days 24 and 36 of the experimental period. In conclusion, the low level of vitamin E supplementation is recommended for piglets for the first 2 weeks after weaning.

Τeτρακόσιοι νeοσσοί κρeοπαραγωγής, ηλικίας μιας ημέρας, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για να μeλeτηθeί η eπίδραση του σeληνίου και της βιταμίνης E σe eπιλeγμένα σeληνιοένζυμα που σχeτίζονται μe τη λeιτουργία του θυροeιδούς αδένα. Υπήρχαν τέσσeρις διατροφικές eπeμβάσeις μe πέντe eπαναλήψeις η κάθe μία. Οι πeιραματικές ομάδeς πeριeλάμβαναν την ομάδα του μάρτυρα στην οποία χορηγήθηκe ένα βασικό σιτηρέσιο eπαρκές σe σeλήνιο και βιταμίνη E (0,3 και 80 mg/kg αντίστοιχα), την ομάδα Se+ στην οποία χορηγήθηκe eπιπρόσθeτα 1 mg/kg σeληνίου, την ομάδα E + στην οποία χορηγήθηκe eπιπρόσθeτα 350 mg/kg βιταμίνη E και τέλος την ομάδα Se+E+ στην οποία χορηγήθηκe συνδυασμός σeληνίου και βιταμίνης E σe συγκeντρώσeις 1 και 350 mg/kg αντίστοιχα. Τα σιτηρέσια ήταν ισοαζωτούχα και ισοeνeργeιακά. Για την eπιπλέον προσθήκη σeληνίου χρησιμοποιήθηκe σύμπλοκο της L-σeληνομeθeιονίνης μe ψeυδάργυρο, eνώ για την προσθήκη βιταμίνης η DL-α-τοκοφeρόλη. Το πeίραμα διήρκeσe 42 ημέρeς. Η συγκέντρωση σeληνίου στο πλάσμα αυξήθηκe στις eπeμβάσeις μe σeλήνιο, eνώ η eνeργότητα της υπeροξeιδάσης της γλουταθeιόνης στο αίμα αυξήθηκe σe όλeς τις eπeμβάσeις σe σχέση μe τον μάρτυρα. Η αποϊωδιάση της ιωδιοθυρονίνης (τύπου Ι) στο ήπαρ και οι συγκeντρώσeις των θυρeοeιδικών ορμονών στο αίμα δeν eπηρeάστηκαν από οποιαδήποτe eπέμβαση. Συμπeρασματικά, η συμπλήρωση μe σeλήνιο ή βιταμίνη E μeμονωμένα ή σe συνδυασμό πέραν των αναγκών του ζώου δeν eπηρέασαν τα eπίπeδα των θυρeοeιδικών ορμονών, ούτe την eνeργότητα της ηπατικής αποϊωδιάσης υπό τις συνθήκeς που eξeτάστηκαν.

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is widely used in the flour milling industry for rapid determination of moisture and protein in wheat. However, these measurements give little indication of the nutritive value of wheat when fed to poultry or pigs. Accurate estimates of nutritive value require specialist facilities and are time-consuming and costly. Accordingly, prediction from chemical or NIRS measurements would be of some considerable benefit. In the current study 160 samples of wheat, representing 24 different varieties, were used to generate NIRS calibration equations for chemical, nutritive and agronomic characteristics. Predictions of chemical constituents in wheat were very accurate. Coefficients of determination (r2) were 0·94 for dry matter, 0·90 for crude protein, 0·97 for ash, 0·78 for starch and 0·98 for oil. True metabolizable energy in broiler chickens was predicted more accurately (r2 = 0·52 for adult birds, 0·74 for young birds) than apparent metabolizable energy (r2 = 0·45). Digestible energy (r2 = 0·17) and nitrogen digestibility (r = 0·22) in pigs were not predicted very accurately on a smaller subset (n = 33). Agronomic characteristics were predicted very accurately (r2 = 0·98 hardness, 0·80 bushel weight, 0·99 thousand-grain weight). Predictions of nutritive value of wheat from chemical or agronomic characteristics are very inaccurate, since coefficients of determination vary from zero to 0·25. It is concluded that NIRS can accurately estimate the chemical composition of wheat, but accurate prediction of nutritive value is reduced by animal variation. Nevertheless, NIRS is potentially more reliable for assessing nutritive value than chemical composition or agronomic characteristics.

Digestion and performance of lactating dairy ewes fed diets with soy hulls (SH), with or without dietary fat supplements, as a replacement for maize in concentrate diets were evaluated in digestion and milk performance trials. In the digestion trial, three fistulated wether sheep were used in a 3×3 Latin square experimental design. The diets consisted of 400 g hay+600 g concentrate with 60% maize (control treatment), or 60% soy hulls (SH treatment), or 60% soy hulls+5% soybean oil (SHF treatment). Diets' DM and OM digestibilities were similar among treatments, while the replacement of maize by SH caused a significant reduction on CP, EE, and NFE digestibilities, and a significant increase on NDF and ADF digestibilities. The addition of 5% soybean oil to SH concentrate had similar effect on nutrients digestibility, as SH. Concentrates DM and CP degradabilities, pH values and VFA concentrations in rumen liquor were also similar among treatments. In the performance trial, 45 lactating ewes were used, which were fed daily, for 7 weeks, 800 g hay+1200 g concentrates of the type as in the digestibility trial. Milk yield and FCM yield increased by 3 and 33% ( p p p p −1 ) was higher for the SHF diet, followed by SH and then by the control diet. All ewes gained weight during the experimental period, but the BW change was not significant among treatments. The results showed that SH can replace cereal grains in lactating ewe diets, and minimize the milk fat-depressing effects of grain-based diets.

1. The study was part of a project designed to investigate if organic selenium (Se) can ameliorate the toxic effects of cadmium (Cd). The main objective of the present study was to investigate, in the chicken, the interactions between Se, Cd and the following elements: Sb, Ca, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, V and Zn. 2. A total of 300 1-d-old chickens (broilers) were randomly distributed among 4 dietary treatments with 5 replicate pens per treatment. In T1, chickens were fed on a diet with 0·3 mg/kg added Se, without added Cd. In T2, chickens were fed on a diet with 0·3 mg/kg Se and 10 mg/kg Cd. In T3, chickens were fed on a diet with 0·3 mg/kg Se and 100 mg/kg of Cd added and in T4 treatment, chickens were fed on a diet with 3 mg/kg Se and 100 mg/kg Cd added. Se was added as Se-yeast. Cd was added as cadmium chloride (CdCl₂). On d 28 and 42, two chickens per replicate pen were killed for collection of whole blood, liver, kidney and breast muscle samples. Samples were analysed by ICP-MS. The data were analysed using a multivariate linear model. 3. While low Cd concentrations in the diet led only to an increase of Cd concentration in the examined tissues, addition of high concentrations of Cd increased the concentration of Cd, Cu, Sb and V and decreased that of Se, Mn and Fe. Addition of high Se concentrations did not significantly reduce Cd concentration. 4. Prior to model application, correlations of 78 elements were noted, while after model application 39 correlations were noted. Most notably, Cd was correlated with Ca, Co, Cu and Mg, while Se was correlated with Mn. 5. The present study revealed several correlations between essential, probably essential and toxic elements illustrating the importance of the balance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants.

The objective of this study was to describe and evaluate the feeding system of milking sheep in a typical mountainous area (Feneos of Korinthos, Greece), which comprises eight village communities. In this area, 23 000 sheep and 10000 goats are kept under an extensive livestock farming system and a semi-intensive feeding system. Available pasture, cultivated land and meadows comprise 16 800 ha, 4540 ha and 443 ha, respectively. Sheep graze throughout the year but herbage intake is sufficient to meet the animals' requirements only from April to June. During the summer, sheep graze cereal stubble and other crop residues left after harvesting. From October to March, animals are provided with concentrates and roughages. All of the roughages and part of the concentrates are farm grown. On an annual basis, concentrates, roughages and ingested herbage from grazing contribute 36%, 26% and 38% of total energy requirements, respectively, whereas supplementary feed only exceeds the animals' CP requirements. During winter the nutrient requirements of the sheep are not met, consequently animals lose weight (BC score 1.5 – 2.5), but this is restored in the spring when there is usually plenty of grass. The rations fed during winter are not properly balanced, and there is usually an energy deficit and a protein surplus. No mineral supplements are fed, and some (about 18%) sheep suffer from subclinical Zn and Se deficiencies. It is concluded that the genetic potential of the sheep, under the feeding system of a typical mountain management region, has not been reached. Costs and benefits of supplementation need careful evaluation.

The supplementation of a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) characterised by menthol and anethole was evaluated at three levels on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, biochemical parameters, total antioxidant capacity of plasma, breast and thigh meat as well as on the relative gene expression of immune-related biomarkers. A total of 225 1-day-old male Cobb-500 were assigned into three treatments with five replicates of 15 chicks each. Wheat-soybean meal basal diets were formulated according to a three-phase (i.e. starter, grower and finisher) feeding program. Dietary treatments were: no PFA, PFA at 100 mg/kg diet and PFA at 150 mg/kg diet. Feed and water were available ad libitum. Performance parameters were monitored weekly and all other biological responses were determined at 42 days of broiler age. Increasing PFA level increased (P = 0.044) bodyweight gain at finisher period, decreased quadratically (P = 0.035) overall feed intake, and quadratically improved (P = 0.024) overall feed conversion ratio. Moreover, increasing PFA level increased plasma total antioxidant capacity linearly (P = 0.001) whereas linearly decreased (P = 0.005) triglyceride concentration. Thigh meat cholesterol decreased linearly (P = 0.016) with increasing PFA level. Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-2 in caecal tonsils increased quadratically (P = 0.046) with increasing PFA level. In conclusion, PFA inclusion at 100 mg/kg diet affected positively performance whereas a stronger improvement mainly in plasma total antioxidant capacity and triglyceride as well as in meat cholesterol was noted for the 150 mg/kg diet level. Inclusion of PFA resulted in increasing pro-inflammatory biomarker IL-2 at local caecal level.