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Abstract Background Dietary supplementation of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) has been found to influence gut health by manipulating cecal microbiota and producing microbe-origin metabolites. But no study investigated and compared the effect of in ovo feeding of xylobiose (XOS2) and xylotriose (XOS3) in chickens. This study investigated the effect of in ovo feeding of these XOS compounds on post-hatch gut health parameters in chickens. A total of 144 fertilized chicken eggs were divided into three groups: a) non-injected control (CON), b) XOS2, and c) XOS3. On the 17th embryonic day, the eggs of the XOS2 and XOS3 groups were injected with 3 mg of XOS2 and XOS3 diluted in 0.5 mL of 0.85% normal saline through the amniotic sac. After hatching, the chicks were raised for 21 d. Blood was collected on d 14 to measure plasma immunoglobulin. Cecal digesta were collected for measuring short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) on d 14 and 21, and for microbial ecology and microbial metabolic pathway analyses on d 7 and 21. Results The results were considered significantly different at P

Abstract Background High environmental temperatures induce heat stress in broiler chickens, affecting their health and production performance. Several dietary, managerial, and genetics strategies have been tested with some success in mitigating heat stress (HS) in broilers. Developing novel HS mitigation strategies for sustaining broiler production is critically needed. This study investigated the effects of pre-hatch thermal manipulation (TM) and post-hatch baicalein supplementation on growth performance and health parameters in heat-stressed broilers. Results Six hundred fertile Cobb 500 eggs were incubated for 21 d. After candling on embryonic day (ED) 10, 238 eggs were thermally manipulated at 38.5 °C with 55% relative humidity (RH) from ED 12 to 18, then transferred to the hatcher (ED 19 to 21, standard temperature) and 236 eggs were incubated at a controlled temperature (37.5 °C) till hatch. After hatch, 180-day-old chicks from both groups were raised in 36 pens (n = 10 birds/pen, 6 replicates per treatment). The treatments were: 1) Control, 2) TM, 3) control heat stress (CHS), 4) thermal manipulation heat stress (TMHS), 5) control heat stress supplement (CHSS), and 6) thermal manipulation heat stress supplement (TMHSS). All birds were raised under the standard environment for 21 d, followed by chronic heat stress from d 22 to 35 (32–33 °C for 8 h) in the CHS, TMHS, CHSS, and TMHSS groups. A thermoneutral (22–24 °C) environment was maintained in the Control and TM groups. RH was constant (50% ± 5%) throughout the trial. All the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA in R and GraphPad software at P

Paederia foetida L. leaf (PFL) is recognized for its uric acid-lowering. However, the key compounds and their mechanisms of countering hyperuricemia remain unclear. In this study, bioaffinity ultrafiltration in combination with UPLC-ESI-QTrap-MS/MS was used to screen and identify potential xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors in the purified PFL extract, and the possible mechanisms of their interaction were investigated by molecular docking. The experimental results showed that the purified PFL extract exhibited excellent antioxidant and anti-XO effect. Further the results of enzyme inhibition experiments in vitro showed that luteolin-7-O-glucoside (IC50 = 61.41 μg/mL), astragalin (IC50 = 114.89 μg/mL), quercitrin (IC50 = 124.50 μg/mL), dihydromyricetin (IC50 = 296.32 μg/mL), cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (IC50 = 373.82 μg/mL), kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (IC50 = 450.10 μg/mL) and (-)-epigallocatechin (IC50 = 610.48 μg/mL) in purified PFL extract were the major contributors to the XO inhibitory activity, and confirmed this finding. Molecular docking revealed these inhibitors interact with critical XO residues through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interactions, highlighting flavonoids in purified PFL extract as potent XO inhibitors. This work provides insight into flavonoids in the purified PFL extract as potent XO inhibitors.

ABSTRACT: The broilers’ health and growth performance are affected by egg quality, incubation conditions, and posthatch management. Broilers are more susceptible to heat stress because they have poor thermoregulatory capacity. So, it is crucial to develop a strategy to make chicks thermotolerant and cope with heat stress in post-hatch life. This study investigated the effects of embryonic thermal manipulation (TM) on different hatching parameters (hatch time, hatchability, and hatch weight), brain thermotolerance, and liver metabolism. Six hundred fertile Cobb 500 eggs were incubated for 21 d. After candling on embryonic day (ED) 10, 238 eggs were thermally manipulated at 38.5°C with 55% relative humidity (RH) from ED 12 to 18, then transferred to the hatcher (ED 19–21, standard temperature, 37.5°C) and 236 eggs were incubated at a standard temperature (37.5°C) till hatch. The samples were collected from the Control and TM groups on ED 15 and 18 of the embryonic periods. Hatchability was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the TM group (94.50%) than in the control group (91.0%). Hatch weight did not differ significantly between the TM group (50.54 g) and the Control group (50.39 g). Most importantly, hatch time was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the TM group than in the Control. In the D15 embryo brain, the mRNA expression of TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV3, and the epigenetic marker H3K27 were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the TM group compared to the Control group. However, in the D18 brain, the expression of TRPV1, TRPV2, and CRHR1 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the TM group than in the Control group. In the liver, the mRNA expression of SLC6A14 was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the D15 TM group than in the D15 Control group. Conversely, the DIO3 mRNA expression was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the D15 TM group than in the D15 Control group. The expression of GPX3, FOXO1, IGF2, and GHR in the liver was significantly higher in the D18 TM group compared to the D18 Control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, increased expression of the aforementioned markers during the later embryonic period has been linked to reduced hatch time by increasing liver metabolism and thermotolerance capacity in the brain.

Abstract Background Global warming leading to heat stress (HS) is becoming a major challenge for broiler production. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of seaweed (Enteromorpha prolifera) polysaccharides (EPS) on the intestinal barrier function, microbial ecology, and performance of broilers under HS. A total of 144 yellow-feathered broilers (male, 56 days old) with 682.59 ± 7.38 g were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 1) TN (thermal neutral zone, 23.6 ± 1.8 °C), 2) HS (heat stress, 33.2 ± 1.5 °C for 10 h/d), and 3) HSE (HS + 0.1% EPS). Each group contained 6 replicates with 8 broilers per replicate. The study was conducted for 4 weeks; feed intake and body weights were measured at the end of weeks 2 and 4. At the end of the feeding trial, small intestine samples were collected for histomorphology, antioxidant, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) content, apoptosis, gene and protein expression analysis; cecal contents were also collected for microbiota analysis based on 16S rDNA sequencing. Results Dietary EPS promoted the average daily gain (ADG) of broilers during 3–4 weeks of HS (P

ABSTRACT: The eggshell is the outermost covering of an egg that provides physical and chemical protection. It is a major source of calcium and minerals for the growing embryo during incubation. The egg industry suffers from a considerable economic loss due to poor eggshell quality. Therefore, developing an accurate and precise method of determining eggshell quality is crucial in improving eggshells in subsequent generations of breeding stock. Hence, this study aimed to develop a method to accurately and precisely determine 1) eggshell thickness using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and 2) eggshell mineral components using an SEM-Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) system. Four types of table eggs (N = 48; 12 eggs/group): Cage-Free Organic from the US Mainland (CFO-M) and Hawaii (CFO-H), Caged Non-Organic from the US Mainland (CNO-M), and Hawaii (CNO-H) were sourced from the grocery store. Approximately 0.5 mm2 pieces of eggshells from the equator region of the egg were taken and processed for visualization under the SEM. Three distinct layers of eggshell were identified under SEM: the outermost cuticle, the middle palisade, and the innermost mammillary region. The results showed that CFO-H eggs have a greater eggshell thickness (380.43 ± 2.69 µm) and effective thickness (306.28 ± 4.15 µm). Similarly, the mammillary knob count was denser in CNO-H eggs (186 ± 23.02 knobs/0.5 mm2). Calcium (97.36 ± 0.17%) was the highest among minerals in lower palisades (LP). The magnesium concentration was lowest in the LP region, whereas the phosphorus concentration was highest in the upper palisades. Our study established a scientific method to assess the eggshell quality and biochemical characteristics of eggs through SEM and EDS. This method can be used as a marker for selecting superior parent stock to improve eggshell quality in subsequent generations of breeding stock.

ABSTRACT: Modern broilers are highly susceptible to environmental and pathogenic threats, leading to gut disorders and poor nutrient utilization if not managed properly. Nutritional programming using several feedstuffs and coproducts to manage gut health has been studied. This study used microalgae as a functional compound and xylanase enzyme in broilers’ diets as a strategy to manage gut health. A total of 162 one-day-old unsexed Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 dietary treatments: a) corn-soybean meal-based control diet (CON), b) 3% microalgae (MAG), and c) MAG with xylanase enzyme (MAG+XYN). The chicks were reared for 35 days (d) on a floor pen system maintaining standard environment conditions to evaluate the effects of microalgae, with or without xylanase supplementation, on serum immunoglobulins, cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) production, cecal microbial diversity, and metabolic pathways. No significant differences were found for serum immunoglobulin and cecal SCFA among the treatment groups (P > 0.05). Relative microbial abundance at the genus level showed that MAG and MAG+XYN groups had a diverse microbial community on d 3 and d 35. However, no bacterial genus had a significant difference (P > 0.05) in their relative abundance on d 3, but 16 genera showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in their relative abundance among the dietary treatments on d 35. Most of these bacteria were SCFA-producing bacteria. Moreover, MAG and MAG+XYN-fed broilers had better responses than CON groups for metabolic pathways (D-mannose degradation, pectin degradation I and II, β-1-4-mannan degradation, tetrahydrofolate biosynthesis, glutathione biosynthesis, glutathione-peroxide redox reactions, lactate fermentation to propionate, acetate, and hydrogen, etc.) both on d 3 and d 35. The results suggest that using microalgae, with or without xylanase, had no statistical impact on serum immunoglobulins and cecal SCFA production in broilers. However, an improvement in the cecal microbial diversity and metabolic pathways, which are essential indicators of gut health and nutrient utilization, was observed. Most of the improved metabolic pathways were related to fiber utilization and oxidative stress reduction.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a major microvascular complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. DKD is characterised by injury to both glomerular and tubular compartments, leading to kidney dysfunction over time. It is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Persistent high blood glucose levels can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter waste and fluids from the blood effectively. Other factors like high blood pressure (hypertension), genetics, and lifestyle habits can also contribute to the development and progression of DKD. The key features of renal complications of diabetes include morphological and functional alterations to renal glomeruli and tubules leading to mesangial expansion, glomerulosclerosis, homogenous thickening of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), albuminuria, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and progressive decline in renal function. In advanced stages, DKD may require treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplant to sustain life. Therefore, early detection and proactive management of diabetes and its complications are crucial in preventing DKD and preserving kidney function.

ABSTRACT: Microalgae are becoming potential sustainable feed ingredients, whereas terrestrial feedstuffs are becoming scarce and costly. They are rich in nutritional and functional values but have lower digestibility. This study evaluated the effects of microalgae with or without xylanase supplementation on growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens. A total of 162-day-old Cobb 500 chicks were raised for 35 d. Birds were fed with either 1 of the 3 dietary treatments: 1) corn–soybean meal-based diet (CON), 2) CON + 3% microalgae (MAG), and 3) MAG + xylanase (MAG+XYN) in 2 phases (starter: d 0–21 and finisher: d 22–35) in mash form. Each dietary treatment had 6 replicates, with 9 birds in each replicate. The level of significance was considered at the P value

ABSTRACT: Heat stress in poultry is a serious concern, affecting their health and productivity. To effectively address the issue of heat stress, it is essential to include antioxidant-rich compounds in the poultry diet to ensure the proper functioning of the redox system. Microalgae (Spirulina platensis) are rich in antioxidants and have several health benefits in humans and animals. However, its role in health and production and the underlying mechanism in heat-stressed broilers are poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the effect of microalgae supplementation on the health and production of heat-stressed broilers. Cobb500 day-old chicks (N = 144) were raised in litter floor pens (6 pens/treatment and 8 birds/pen). The treatment groups were: 1) no heat stress (NHS), 2) heat stress (HS), and 3) heat stress + 3% microalgae (HS+MAG). The broilers in the HS+MAG group were fed a diet supplemented with 3% microalgae, whereas NHS and HS groups were fed a standard broiler diet. Broilers in the NHS were raised under standard temperature (20°C–24°C), while HS and HS+MAG broilers were subjected to cyclic heat stress from d 22 to 35 (32°C–33°C for 8 h). Heat stress significantly decreased the final body weight, whereas the supplementation of microalgae increased the final body weight of broilers (P < 0.05). The expressions of ileal antioxidant (GPX3), immune-related (IL4), and tight-junction (CLDN2) genes were increased in microalgae-supplemented broilers compared to heat-stressed broilers (P < 0.05). The ileal villus height to crypt depth ratio was improved in microalgae-supplemented broilers (P < 0.05). In addition, microbial alpha, and beta diversities were higher in the HS+MAG group compared to the HS group (P < 0.05). There was an increase in volatile fatty acid-producing bacteria at the genus level, such as Ruminococcus, Ocillospira, Lactobacillus, Oscillobacter, Flavonifractor, and Colidextribacter in the group that received microalgae supplementation. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of microalgae improved the growth performances of heat-stressed broilers by improving their physiogenomics. Thus, the dietary inclusion of microalgae can potentially mitigate heat stress in broilers.

Abstract Background Alternative feedstuffs may contribute to reducing feed costs of pig production. But these feedstuffs are typically rich in fiber and resistant starch (RS). Dietary fibers and RS are fermented in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and modulate the microbial community. Certain microbes in the GIT can promote host health, depending on the type of fermentation substrates available. In this study, six alternative feedstuffs (three starchy: Okinawan sweet potato, OSP; yam, and taro, and three fibrous: wheat millrun, WMR; barley brewers grain, BBG; and macadamia nut cake, MNC) were evaluated for their in vitro digestibility and fermentation characteristics and their effects on pig’s hindgut microbial profile. After 2 steps of enzymatic digestion assay, residues were fermented using fresh pig feces as microbial inoculum, and gas production was recorded periodically for 72 h and modeled for fermentation kinetics. After fermentation, the residual liquid phase was analyzed for short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), and the solid phase was used to determine the nutrient’s digestibility and microbial community. Results In vitro ileal digestibility of dry matter and gross energy was higher in starchy than fibrous feedstuffs. Total gas and SCFA production were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in starchy feedstuffs than fibrous feedstuffs. Both acetate and propionate production was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in all starchy feedstuffs than BBG and MNC; WMR was in between. Overall alpha diversity was not significantly different within and between starchy and fibrous feedstuffs. Beta diversity (measured using bray Curtis dissimilarity distance) of starchy feedstuffs was significantly different (P < 0.005) than fibrous feedstuffs. Conclusion Starchy feedstuffs acted as a substrate to similar types of microbes, whereas fibrous feedstuffs resulted in a more diverse microbial population. Such alternative feedstuffs may exert comparable beneficial effects, thus may be included in swine diets to improve gut health.

Abstract Background This study investigated a novel in ovo feeding strategy to determine the prebiotic effects of xylo- and mannan- oligosaccharides (XOS and MOS) differing in the degree of polymerization. A total of 192 fertilized eggs were divided into 6 treatment groups: i) normal saline control (NSC), ii) xylotriose (XOS3), iii) xylotetraose (XOS4), iv) mannotriose (MOS3), v) mannotetraose (MOS4), and vi) no injection control (NIC), each containing 4 replicate trays with 8 eggs per replicate. On d 17 of incubation, 3 mg of oligosaccharides (except for controls) dissolved in 0.5 mL of 0.85% normal saline were injected into the amnion of Cobb 500 broilers eggs. After hatch, the chicks were raised for 28 d under standard husbandry practices and were fed a commercial broilers diet ad libitum, and samples were collected periodically. Results The hatchability, growth performance, and relative weights of breast, drumstick, liver, and proventriculus were not different among the treatments (P > 0.05). The XOS3 injection increased the total short-chain fatty acid production at d 28 compared with both control groups (P 0.05). On the hatch day, the expression level of the CD3 gene (a T cell marker) was increased by XOS3, while the IL-10 gene (a marker of anti-inflammatory cytokine) was reduced by MOS4 (P 0.05), except XOS4 increased IL-4 compared with NSC (P

ABSTRACT Probiotics can effectively improve ulcerative colitis (UC), but the mechanism is still unclear. Here, shotgun metagenome and transcriptome analyses were performed to explore the therapeutic effect and the mechanism of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum HNU082 (Lp082) on UC. The results showed that Lp082 treatment significantly ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice, which was manifested as increases in body weight, water intake, food intake, and colon length and decreases in disease activity index (DAI), immune organ index, inflammatory factors, and histopathological scores after Lp082 intake. An in-depth study discovered that Lp082 could improve the intestinal mucosal barrier and relieve inflammation by cooptimizing the biological barrier, chemical barrier, mechanical barrier, and immune barrier. Specifically, Lp082 rebuilt the biological barrier by regulating the intestinal microbiome and increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Lp082 improved the chemical barrier by reducing intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) and increasing goblet cells and mucin2. Lp082 ameliorated the mechanical barrier by increasing zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), zonula occludens-2 (ZO-2), and occludin while decreasing claudin-1 and claudin-2. Lp082 optimized the immune barrier by reducing the content of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and increasing IL-10, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and TGF-β2, inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Taken together, probiotic Lp082 can play a protective role in a DSS-induced colitis mouse model by protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier, attenuating the inflammatory response, and regulating microbial imbalance. This study provides support for the development of probiotic-based microbial products as an alternative treatment strategy for UC. IMPORTANCE Many studies have focused on the therapeutic effect of probiotics on ulcerative colitis (UC), but few studies have paid attention to the mechanism of probiotics, especially the therapeutic effect. This study suggests that Lp082 has a therapeutic effect on colitis in mice. Its mechanisms of action include protecting the mucosal barrier and actively modulating the gut microbiome, modulating inflammatory pathways, and reducing neutrophil infiltration. Our study enriches the mechanism and provides a new prospect for probiotics in the treatment of colitis, helps to deepen the understanding of the intestinal mucosal barrier, and provides guidance for the future probiotic treatment of human colitis.

Abstract Background This study evaluated the effects of supplemental xylanase and xylooligosaccharides (XOS) in a corn-soybean meal (SBM)-based diet on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers. A total of 288 day-old chicks (Cobb 500) were allocated to 36 floor pens (8 birds/pen) equally in 9 dietary treatments in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement. The treatments were combinations of 3 levels of xylanase (0, 0.005% and 0.01% Econase XT) and 3 levels of prebiotics (0, 0.005% and 0.01% XOS) added to basal mash diets formulated in three phases (starter, d 0–14; grower, d 15–28; finisher, d 29–42). The feed intake and body weights were recorded weekly. On d 42, ileal sections were collected for histomorphometric and gene expression analysis, and cecal content was collected for determining short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and microbiota. Results Xylanase linearly (P 0.05). Supplemental xylanase and XOS did not affect average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio (P > 0.05). Xylanase and XOS did not change villus height (VH) or crypt depth (CD) ratio (P > 0.05). However, xylanase exhibited a trend (P = 0.097) on VH:CD ratio. The inclusion of 0.01% XOS without xylanase increased the level of IL-10 (a marker of anti-inflammatory cytokine) and IL-4 (a T-cell differentiation cytokine) genes compared with control (P 0.05). However, the mean proportion of family Ruminococcaceae was increased by the supplemental 0.01% xylanase (P

Abstract Background The mechanism of egg formation in the oviduct of laying hens is tightly controlled; each segment of the oviduct contributes a unique component of the egg. Several genes/proteins are involved in the synthesis of a completely healthy egg. This implies a time- and tissue-specific expression of genes and proteins in the different oviductal segments. We used hens at different physiological stages and time points to understand the transcriptional regulation of egg-white (albumen) synthesis and secretion onto the eggs in the magnum of laying hens. This study used Next-Generation Sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to detect the novel genes and the cognate biological pathways that regulate the major events during the albumen formation. Results Magnum tissues collected from laying (n = 5 each at 3 h post-ovulation, p.o. and 15–20 h p.o.), non-laying (n = 4), and molting (n = 5) hens were used for differential gene expression analyses. A total of 540 genes (152 upregulated and 388 down-regulated) were differentially expressed at 3 h p.o. in the magnum of laying hens. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways analysis of the 152 upregulated genes revealed that glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism was the most-enriched biological pathway. Furthermore, the top two most enriched keywords for the upregulated genes were amino-acid biosynthesis and proteases. Nine candidate genes associated with albumen formation were validated with qPCR to have differential expression in laying, non-laying, and molting hens. Proteases such as TMPRSS9, CAPN2, MMP1, and MMP9 (protein maturation, ECM degradation, and angiogenesis); enzymes such as PSPH, PHGDH, and PSAT1 (amino-acid biosynthesis); RLN3, ACE, and REN (albumen synthesis, secretion and egg transport); and AVD, AvBD11, and GPX3 (antimicrobial and antioxidants) were recognized as essential molecules linked to albumen deposition in the magnum. Conclusions This study revealed some novel genes that participate in the signaling pathways for egg-white synthesis and secretion along with some well-known functional genes. These findings help to understand the mechanisms involved in albumen biosynthesis.

Abstract Background Due to presence of drug-resistant Eimeria strains and raised public health safety concerns about drug residues in the meat, there is renewed interest in the search for natural alternatives to the coccidiosis control agents. This study was conducted to test the anticoccidial efficacy of oregano and C itrus spp.-based essential oils for broilers. Methods A total of 280 7-day-old broiler chicks were fed a control diet or diets with salinomycin or essential oils for up to 35 d of age. On d 14, half of the control groups and the treated groups were orally challenged with a coccidiosis vaccine at 25 times higher than the recommended vaccine dose. Control diet-fed chickens that were gavaged with phosphate-buffered saline were considered non-challenged control group. Results Eimeria challenge or dietary additives failed to affect growth performance during the 7 to 20 d growth period although essential oil-fed chickens exhibited the lowest body wight gain (P = 0.332) and the highest feed conversion ratio (P = 0.062). Oocysts in the litter were detected in the challenged control diet group and the challenged/essential oil-fed groups at 21 and 35 d, respectively. Superoxide dismutase activity in the serum was elevated (P = 0.059) in the salinomycin-fed chickens compared to the challenged controls. Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein was decreased by 28.7% in the salinomycin-fed chickens but increased by 38.1% in the essential oil group compared with the challenged control group. Challenged control group exhibited a significantly higher cooking loss of the thigh meat, compared to the non-challenged control diet group, which was marginally mitigated by dietary supplementation with essential oils. Chickens fed essential oil-added diet had the highest branched-chain fatty acids contents in the cecum. Conclusions In conclusion, this study shows that oregano and Citrus-based essential oil preparation did not affect growth performance in broiler chickens challenged with the coccidiosis vaccine nor did Eimeria-specific duodenal lesion. However, dietary essential oil preparation lowered oocysts present in litter materials and altered branched-chain fatty acids in cecal digesta. Beneficial findings of the essential oil preparation on volatile fatty acids and oocysts output may warrant further research into assessing its effectiveness and its efficacy in pathogenic field-isolate Eimeria spp.-induced coccidiosis disease model.

Abstract Dietary fiber (DF) was considered an antinutritional factor due to its adverse effects on feed intake and nutrient digestibility. However, with increasing evidence, scientists have found that DF has enormous impacts on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, digestive physiology, including nutrient digestion, fermentation, and absorption processes of poultry. It may help maintain the small and large intestine’s integrity by strengthening mucosal structure and functions and increasing the population and diversity of commensal bacteria in the GIT. Increasing DF content benefits digestive physiology by stimulating GIT development and enzyme production. And the inclusion of fiber at a moderate level in diets also alters poultry growth performance. It improves gut health by modulating beneficial microbiota in the large intestine and enhancing immune functions. However, determining the source, type, form, and level of DF inclusion is of utmost importance to achieve the above-noted benefits. This paper critically reviews the available information on dietary fibers used in poultry and their effects on nutrient utilization, GIT development, gut health, and poultry performance. Understanding these functions will help develop nutrition programs using proper DF at an appropriate inclusion level that will ultimately lead to enhanced DF utilization, overall health, and improved poultry growth performance. Thus, this review will help researchers and industry identify the sources, type, form, and amount of DF to be used in poultry nutrition for healthy, cost-effective, and eco-friendly poultry production.

In the perspective of the global climate change leading to increasing temperature, heat stress (HS) has become a severe issue in broiler production, including the indigenous yellow-feathered broilers. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of HS on jejunal immune response, microbiota structure and their correlation in yellow-feathered broilers. A total of forty female broilers (56-days-old) were randomly and equally divided into normal treatment group (NT group, 21.3 ± 1.2°C, 24 h/day) and HS group (32.5 ± 1.4°C, 8 h/day) with five replicates of each for 4 weeks feeding trial. The results showed that HS exposure increased the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in jejunal mucosa (p < 0.05). The HS exposure up-regulated the relative fold changes of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (p < 0.01) while down-regulated the relative fold change of IFN-γ in jejunal mucosa (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, HS had no significant impacts on alpha diversity of jejunal microbiota such as Simpson, Chao1 richness estimator (Chao 1), abundance-based coverage estimators (ACE), and Shannon index (p > 0.10). Broilers exposed to HS reduced the jejunal microbial species number at the class and order level (p < 0.05). Moreover, HS decreased the relative abundance of Ruminococcus, Bdellovibrio, and Serratia at the genus level in jejunum (p < 0.05). At the phylum level, four species of bacteria (Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Thermi, and TM7) were significantly associated with immune-related genes expression (p < 0.05). At the genus level, ten species of bacteria were significantly correlated with the expression of immune-related genes (p < 0.05), including Caulobacteraceae, Actinomyces, Ruminococcaceae, Thermus, Bdellovibrio, Clostridiales, Sediminibacterium, Bacteroides, Sphingomonadales and Ruminococcus. In particular, the microbial with significantly different abundances, Ruminococcus and Bdellovibrio, were negatively associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines expression (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrated that HS exposure promoted the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in yellow-feathered broilers’ jejunum. The detrimental effects of HS on jejunal immune response might be related to dysbiosis, especially the reduced levels of Ruminococcus and Bdellovibrio.

This study was done to evaluate the effects of heat stress (HS) on production performance, redox status, small intestinal barrier-related parameters, cecal microbiota, and metabolome of indigenous broilers. A total of forty female indigenous broilers (56-day-old) were randomly and equally divided into normal treatment group (NT group, 21.3 ± 1.2°C, 24 h/day) and HS group (32.5 ± 1.4°C, 8 h/day) with five replicates of each for 4 weeks feeding trial. The results showed that the body weight gain (BWG) of broilers in HS group was lower than those in NT group during 3–4 weeks and 1–4 weeks (p < 0.05). The HS exposure increased the abdominal fat rate (p < 0.05) but decreased the thigh muscle rate (p < 0.01). Besides, broilers in HS group had higher drip loss of breast muscle than NT group (p < 0.01). Broilers exposed to HS had lower total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum and jejunum, activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in the jejunum, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the thigh muscle, duodenum, and jejunum; and catalase (CAT) in breast muscle, duodenum, and jejunum (p < 0.05). Whereas the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in breast muscle, duodenum, and jejunum was elevated by HS exposure (p < 0.05). Moreover, the relative mRNA expression of Occludin and ZO-1 in the duodenum, Occludin, Claudin-1, Claudin-4, ZO-1, Mucin-2 in the jejunum, and the Claudin-4 and Mucin-2 in the ileum was down-regulated by HS exposure (p < 0.05). The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that the HS group increased the relative abundance of Anaerovorax in the cecum at the genus level (p < 0.05). Cecal metabolomics analysis indicated 19 differential metabolites between the two groups (p < 0.10, VIP >1). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the differential metabolites mainly enriched in 10 signaling pathways such as the Citrate cycle (TCA cycle) (p < 0.01). In summary, chronic HS exposure caused a decline of production performance, reduced antioxidant capacity, disrupted intestinal barrier function, and negatively affected cecal microbiota and metabolome in indigenous broilers.

This review aims to highlight the effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) in the feed of meat-producing animals. The accumulation of OTA in feed and its distribution in various farm animals were compared and evaluated. Primarily, the oral administration of OTA-contaminated feed and the predisposition in an animal's vital organ were critically examined in this work. The collated reports show that OTA directly associated with endemic nephropathy and its high concentration leads to degeneration of liver cells, and necrosis of intestinal and lymphoid tissues. At present, limited reports are available in the recent literature on the problems and consequences of OTA in feed. Therefore, this review focused on the OTA carryover from feed to farm animals and the interaction of its secondary metabolites on their biochemical parameters. Hence, this report provides greater insights into animal health related to OTA residues in meat and meat products. This article also explores mitigation strategies that can be used to prevent the carryover effects of OTA in livestock feeds and the effects in the food chain.

Abstract Background Heat stress is a significant problem in the poultry industry, causing a severe economic loss due to its detrimental effects on chickens’ health and performance. Dried plum (DP) is a good source of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds. Studies have suggested that DP has several health benefits, such as maintaining the body’s redox system, immune status, and calcium hemostasis. Based on the health benefits of DP, we hypothesized that the dietary supplementation of DP would alleviate the detrimental effects of heat stress on broiler chickens. Results To test the hypothesis, day-old broiler chicks (n = 72) were randomly allocated to three treatment groups (n = 24/group): no heat stress (NHS), heat stress (HS), and heat stress with dried plum (HS + DP), and reared under standard conditions. The inclusion of 2.5% DP in the feed of the HS + DP group was made during the treatment period, while birds in other groups were provided with a standard finisher diet. After 21 days, birds in the HS and HS + DP groups were exposed to cyclic heat stress conditions (33 °C for 8 h during daytime) for 3 weeks, while those in the NHS group were reared under normal conditions (22–24 °C). Weekly body weight and feed intake were recorded to calculate the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Heat stress significantly decreased the final body weight, ADG, ADFI, and increased FCR compared to the NHS group, whereas dietary supplementation of DP significantly improved these growth performance parameters compared to the HS group. Furthermore, supplementation of DP significantly increased the expression of heat shock protein-related genes (HSF1, HSF3, HSP70, and HSP90), antioxidant-related genes (SOD1, SOD2, GPX1, GPX3, PRDX1, and TXN), tight junction-related genes (CLDN1, and OCLN), and immune-related genes (IL4, MUC2) in the ileum as compared to the HS group. The microbiota analysis showed significant enrichment of Bacillales, Christensenellaceae, Bacillaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, and Anaerotruncus in heat-stressed birds supplemented with DP as compared to the HS group. Further, DP supplementation also significantly increased the concentration of acetate, propionate, and total VFA in the cecal digesta of the HS + DP group as compared to the HS group. Conclusion These findings suggest that DP supplementation effectively improved the growth performances and gut health parameters in the heat-stressed birds. Thus, dried plum can be a potential feed supplement to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens.

The chitooligosaccharide (COS) and chlorella polysaccharide (CPS) have been used as feed supplements in the poultry industry for improving growth performance and immunity. However, the benefits of these prebiotics on the gut health of chickens when used in early nutrition are unknown. This study evaluated the effects of in ovo feeding of COS and CPS on the cecal microbiome, metabolic pathways, and fermentation metabolites of chickens. A total of 240 fertile eggs were divided into 6 groups (n = 4; 10 eggs/replicate): 1) no-injection control, 2) normal saline control, 3) COS 5 mg, 4) COS 20 mg, 5) CPS 5 mg, and 6) CPS 20 mg injection. On day 12.5 of egg incubation, test substrate was injected into the amniotic sac of eggs in respective treatments. The hatched chicks were raised for 21 D under standard husbandry practices. On day 3 and 21, cecal digesta were collected to determine microbiota by shotgun metagenomic sequencing and short-chain fatty acids by gas chromatography. The cecal microbial composition was not different (P > 0.05) among the treatment groups on day 3 but was different (P

Myostatin (MSTN) is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth, thus it was hypothesized that immunization of hens against MSTN would enhance post-hatch growth and muscle mass via suppression of MSTN activity by anti-MSTN IgY in fertilized eggs. This study investigated the effects of immunization of hens against chicken MSTN (chMSTN) or a MSTN fragment (Myo2) on the growth and muscle mass of offspring. In Experiment 1, hens mixed with roosters were divided into two groups and hens in the Control and chMSTN groups were immunized with 0 and 0.5 mg of chMSTN, respectively. In Experiment 2, hens in the chMSTN group were divided into chMSTN and Myo2 groups while the Control group remained the same. The Control and chMSTN groups were immunized in the same way as Experiment 1. The Myo2 group was immunized against MSTN peptide fragment (Myo2) conjugated to KLH. Eggs collected from each group were incubated, and chicks were reared to examine growth and carcass parameters. ELISA showed the production of IgYs against chMSTN and Myo2 and the presence of these antibodies in egg yolk. IgY from the chMSTN and Myo2 groups showed binding affinity to chMSTN, Myo2, and commercial MSTN in Western blot analysis but did not show MSTN-inhibitory capacity in a reporter gene assay. In Experiment 1, no difference was observed in the body weight and carcass parameters of offspring between the Control and chMSTN groups. In Experiment 2, the body weight of chicks from the Myo2 group was significantly lower than that of the Control or chMSTN groups. The dressing percentage and breast muscle mass of the chMSTN and Myo2 groups were significantly lower than those of the Control group, and the breast muscle mass of Myo2 was significantly lower than that of the chMSTN. In summary, in contrast to our hypothesis, maternal immunization of hens did not increase but decreased the body weight and muscle mass of offspring.

Early growth and development of the gastrointestinal tract are of critical importance to enhance nutrients' utilization and optimize the growth of poultry. In the current production system, chicks do not have access to feed for about 48–72 h during transportation between hatchery and production farms. This lag time affects early nutrient intake, natural exposure to the microbiome, and the initiation of beneficial stimulation of the immune system of chicks. In ovo feeding can provide early nutrients and additives to embryos, stimulate gut microflora, and mitigate the adverse effects of starvation during pre-and post-hatch periods. Depending on the interests, the compounds are delivered to the embryo either around day 12 or 17 to 18 of incubation and via air sac or amnion. In ovo applications of bioactive compounds like vaccines, nutrients, antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, creatine, follistatin, L-carnitine, CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, growth hormone, polyclonal antimyostatin antibody, peptide YY, and insulin-like growth factor-1 have been studied. These compounds affect hatchability, body weight at hatch, physiological functions, immune responses, gut morphology, gut microbiome, production performance, and overall health of birds. However, the route, dose, method, and time of in ovo injection and host factors can cause variation, and thereby inconsistencies in results. Studies using this method have manifested the benefits of injection of different single bioactive compounds. But for excelling in poultry production, researchers should precisely know the proper route and time of injection, optimum dose, and effective combination of different compounds. This review paper will provide an insight into current practices and available findings related to in ovo feeding on performance and health parameters of poultry, along with challenges and future perspectives of this technique.

ABSTRACT: The present study investigated the effect of dietary soluble flaxseed oil (SFO), as a source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, on the fatty acid composition of egg yolk and various indices including laying performance, egg quality, nutrient composition of eggs, egg stability upon storage, and serum characteristics in laying hens. A total of 210 52-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were assigned to one of 5 experimental diets. A corn-soybean meal-based control diet was mixed without or with SFO to reach the concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8% in diets and fed for 4 wk. Dietary SFO did not affect laying performance and egg quality. Increasing dietary SFO linearly increased the pH of yolk at 7, 14, and 28 d following storage at room temperature (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde contents in egg yolks were quadratically increased (P < 0.05) at 0, 7, and 21 d following storage as the inclusion levels of SFO increased in diets. A significant increase (P < 0.05) in total omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid, but not α-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, was deposited in egg yolks at 2 and 4 wk following the SFO feeding. Finally, dietary SFO did not affect serum parameters such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and nitric oxide. It is concluded that adding SFO into the diets of laying hens can be an efficient strategy to enrich the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid in eggs.

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the taxonomic profile and abundance distribution of the bacterial community in the ceca of feral and pasture-raised broiler (commercial) chickens. Cecal content from feral and commercial chickens (n = 7 each) was collected, and total DNA was isolated. Next-Generation Sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) was performed to characterize the cecal microbiota. Specific bacteria explored were: Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Clostridium. At the phylum level, 92% of the bacteria belonged to Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria for both feral and commercial chickens. The proportional abundance of Firmicutes was 55.3% and 63.3%, Bacteroidetes was 32.5% and 24.4%, and Proteobacteria was 7.0% and 5.9% in the feral and commercial chickens, respectively. The alpha-diversity Shannon index (P = 0.017) and Simpson index (P = 0.038) were significantly higher for commercial than for feral chickens. Predictive functional profiling by PICRUSt showed enriched microbial metabolic pathways for L-proline biosynthesis in the feral group (P < 0.01). There were a greater percentage of specific bacteria in the feral than commercial chickens, albeit with lower diversity but a more functional microbiota. In conclusion, feral birds have distinguished microbial communities, and further microbiome analysis is mandated to know the specific functional role of individual microbiota. The difference in microbiota level between feral and commercial birds could be accounted to the scavenging nature, diverse feed ingredients, and distinct rearing localities.

The present study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of Enteromorpha polysaccharides (EP) on carcass traits of broilers and potential molecular mechanisms associated with it. This study used RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) to detect modification in mRNA transcriptome and the cognate biological pathways affecting the carcass traits. A total of 396 one-day-old male broilers (Arbor Acres) were randomly assigned to one of six dietary treatments containing EP at 0 (CON), 1000 (EP_1000), 2500 (EP_2500), 4000 (EP_4000), 5500 (EP_5500), and 7000 (EP_7000) mg/kg levels for a 35-d feeding trial with 6 replicates/treatment. At the end of the feeding trial, six birds (one bird from each replicate cage) were randomly selected from each treatment and slaughtered for carcass traits analysis. The results showed that the dietary supplementation of EP_7000 improved the breast muscle yield (p < 0.05). Subsequently, six breast muscle samples from CON and EP_7000 groups (three samples from each group) were randomly selected for RNA-Seq analysis. Based on the RNA-Seq results, a total of 154 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (p < 0.05). Among the DEGs, 112 genes were significantly upregulated, whereas 42 genes were significantly down-regulated by EP_7000 supplementation. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in immune-related signaling pathways, macromolecule biosynthetic, DNA-templated, RNA biosynthetic, and metabolic process (p < 0.05). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed that the DEGs were enriched in signaling pathways related to viral infectious diseases and cell adhesion molecules (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary inclusion of EP_7000 improves the breast muscle yield, which may be involved in improving the immunity and the cell differentiation of broilers, thus promoting the muscle growth of broilers. These findings could help understand the molecular mechanisms that enhance breast muscle yield by dietary supplementation of EP in broilers.

Dietary fibers (DF) contain an abundant amount of energy, although the mammalian genome does not encode most of the enzymes required to degrade them. However, a mutual dependence is developed between the host and symbiotic microbes, which has the potential to extract the energy present in these DF. Dietary fibers escape digestion in the foregut and are fermented in the hindgut, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) that alter the microbial ecology in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of pigs. Most of the carbohydrates are fermented in the proximal part, allowing protein fermentation in the distal part, resulting in colonic diseases. The structures of resistant starch (RS), arabinoxylan (AX), and β-glucan (βG) are complex; hence, makes their way into the hindgut where these are fermented and provide energy substrates for the colonic epithelial cells. Different microbes have different preferences of binding to different substrates. The RS, AX and βG act as a unique substrate for the microbes and modify the relative composition of the gut microbial community. The granule dimension and surface area of each substrate are different, which influences the penetration capacity of microbes. Arabinose and xylan are 2 different hemicelluloses, but arabinose is substituted on the xylan backbone and occurs in the form of AX. Fermentation of xylan produces butyrate primarily in the small intestine, whereas arabinose produces butyrate in the large intestine. Types of RS and forms of βG also exert beneficial effects by producing different metabolites and modulating the intestinal microbiota. Therefore, it is important to have information of different types of RS, AX and βG and their roles in microbial modulation to get the optimum benefits of fiber fermentation in the gut. This review provides relevant information on the similarities and differences that exist in the way RS, AX, and βG are fermented, and their positive and negative effects on SCFA production and gut microbial ecology of pigs. These insights will help nutritionists to develop dietary strategies that can modulate specific SCFA production and promote beneficial microbiota in the GIT of swine. Keywords: Butyrate, Fermentation, Gut ecology, Microbiota, Short-chain fatty acids, Swine

Background In planning for universal health coverage, many countries have been examining their fiscal decentralization policies with the goal of increasing efficiency and equity via “additionalities.” The concept of “additionality,” when the government of a lower administrative level increases the funding allocated to a particular issue when extra funds are present, is often used in these contexts. Although the definition of “additionality” can be used more broadly, for the purposes of this paper we focus narrowly on the additional allocation of primary healthcare expenditures. This paper explores this idea by examining the impact of central level primary healthcare expenditure, on individual state level contributions to primary healthcare expenditure within 16 Indian states between 2005 and 2013. Methods In examining 5 main variables, we compared differences between government expenditures, contributions, and revenues for Empowered Action Group (EAG) states, and non-EAG states. EAG states are normally larger states that have weaker public health infrastructure and hence qualify for additional funding. Finally, using a model that captured the quantity of central level primary healthcare expenditure distributions to these states, we measured its impact on each state’s own contributions to primary healthcare spending. Results Our results show that, at the state level, growth in per capita central level primary healthcare expenditure has increased by 110% from 2005-2013, while state’s own contributions to primary healthcare expenditure per capita increased by 32%. Further analyses show that a 1% change disbursement from the central level leads to a -0.132%, although not significant, change by states in their own expenditure. The effect for wealthier states is -0.151% and significant and for poorer states the effect is smaller at -0.096% and not significant. Conclusion This analysis suggests that increases in central level primary healthcare expenditure to states have an inverse relationship with primary healthcare expenditures by the state level. Furthermore, this effect is more pronounced in wealthier Indian states. This finding has policy implications on India’s decision to increase block grants to states in place of targeted program expenditures.

Abstract Poultry is widely produced and consumed meat globally. Its demand is expected to continue increasing to meet the animal protein requirement for ever-increasing human population. Thus, the challenge that poultry scientists and industry face are to produce sufficient amount of poultry meat in the most efficient way. In the past, using antibiotics to promote the growth of poultry and manage gut microbiota was a norm. However, due to concerns over potential fatalistic impacts on food animals and indirectly to humans, their use as feed additives are banned or regulated in several jurisdictions. In this changed context, several alternative strategies have been proposed with some success that mimics the functions of antibiotics as growth promoters and modulate gut microbiota for their beneficial roles. These include the use of probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, and exogenous enzyme, among others. Gut microbiota and their metabolic products improve nutrient digestion, absorption, metabolism, and overall health and growth performance of poultry. This paper reviews the available information on the effect of feed additives used to modulate intestinal microbiota of poultry and their effects on overall health and growth performance. Understanding these functions and interactions will help to develop new dietary and managerial strategies that will ultimately lead to enhanced feed utilization and improved growth performance of poultry. This review will help future researchers and industry to identify alternative feed ingredients having properties like prebiotics, probiotics, organic acids, and exogenous enzymes.

Heat stress accounts for substantial economic loss in the poultry industry by altering the health and performance of chickens. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a water and fat-soluble antioxidant which is readily absorbed from the intestine resulting in maximum bioavailability. Moreover, ALA acts as a coenzyme in glucose metabolism and helps generate other antioxidants. Considering these benefits, we hypothesized that dietary supplementation of ALA would help mitigate heat stress in poultry. A total of 72 Day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned into three treatment groups: no heat stress (NHS), heat stress with basal diet (HS), and heat stress with alpha-lipoic acid (HS+ALA); each treatment group had 6 replicate pens with 4 birds in each pen (n = 24/group). The allocated birds were raised under standard husbandry practices for 3 weeks. After 21 d, birds in the HS and HS+ALA groups were exposed to heat stress (33°C for 8 hours during the day) for 3 weeks, while the NHS group was reared under normal conditions (22-24°C). The HS+ALA group received a basal finisher diet fortified with ALA (500 mg/kg) during the treatment period (22 to 42 d), while other birds were provided with the basal finisher diet. Weekly body weight and feed intake were recorded. The cecum digesta for volatile fatty acids (VFAs) analysis and 16S rRNA sequencing for the gut microbiota analysis; and the ileum tissue samples for histological and gene expression analyses were collected on d 42. Exposure to heat stress decreased (P

This study aimed to determine the efficacy of dietary algae-derived polysaccharides (ADPs) from Enteromorpha on growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal permeability, and antioxidant capacity in serum, liver, and intestinal mucosa of broilers. Three hundred and ninety six day-old male chicks were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments containing 0 (Control), 1,000, 2,500, 4,000, 5,500, and 7,000 mg ADP/kg basal diet in a 35 day feeding trial. During day 1–21, compared with the control group, dietary 1,000–7,000 mg/kg ADP supplementation improved the average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). Overall (day 1–35), dietary inclusion of 1,000 mg/kg ADP increased the final body weight and ADG (p < 0.05). Besides, on day 21, dietary 2,500 mg/kg ADP supplementation increased the serum catalase (CAT) and liver total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities (p < 0.05), whereas dietary 1,000–5,500 mg/kg ADP supplementation decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in serum and liver (p < 0.05). On day 35, supplementation of 1,000 mg/kg ADP increased the serum glutathione peroxidase and CAT activities and liver T-SOD activities (p < 0.05). It decreased the MDA level of serum and liver (p < 0.05). Also, dietary 2,500 mg/kg ADP increased the villus height of jejunum and ileum on day 21 (p < 0.05), and dietary 4,000 mg/kg ADP increased the villus height of duodenum and ileum on day 35 (p < 0.05). On day 21, dietary 4,000 mg/kg ADP increased the CAT activities of the duodenum and T-SOD activities of jejunum and ileum and decreased the MDA contents in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (p < 0.05). On day 35, dietary inclusion of 1,000–7,000 mg/kg ADP reduced MDA contents of duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.05). Furthermore, dietary inclusion of ADP at 1,000–7,000 mg/kg decreased serum DAO activities at day 21 and day 35 (p < 0.05), and the serum D-lactic acid concentration was reduced by dietary supplementation of 1,000, 2,500, and 7,000 mg/kg ADP on day 21. In conclusion, dietary ADP exerted beneficial effects on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and gut health in broilers; based on the studied parameters, the appropriate recommended dose is 1,000–4,000 mg/kg. These findings provided new insights into the potential application of ADP as natural growth promoters in broilers.

The aquaculture of yellowfoot limpets (Cellana sandwicensis) is a prospect industry in research and development. The effects of dietary protein to energy (PE) ratio on growth performance were evaluated for 180 days in a flow-through system. Replicate animals (5.9 ± 1.72 g and 33.9 ± 2.13 mm) were stocked randomly on individual plates, and four paste diets containing PE ratios ranging from 87.2 to 102.9 mg/kcal were offered once daily (1600 h). A significant increase in daily feed intake (P 0.05), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) improved both linearly and quadratically (ADG P = 0.03, P = 0.08; FCE P = 0.05, P = 0.04, respectively). These results indicate potential seasonal growth patterns, which are controlled by environmental cues (i.e. temperature, feed availability, etc.) and must be considered in future trials. Limpets offered higher PE ratio diets did not compensate for lower energy levels with increased feed intake, and specific growth rate increased up to 0.20% BW/d as the dietary PE ratio decreased. A PE ratio of 87.2 mg/kcal produced the best tissue growth and can be recommended as a suitable formulated diet for limpet production. Keywords: Diet formulation, Feed utilization, Growth rate, Limpet, Mollusk

Approximately 17 million people suffer from cardiovascular diseases caused by hyperlipidemia, making it a serious global health concern. Among others, resistant starch (RS) has been widely used as a prebiotic in managing hyperlipidemia conditions. However, some studies have reported limited effects of RS on body weight and blood lipid profile of the host, suggesting further investigation on the synergistic effects of RS in combination with probiotics as gut microbes plays a role in lipid metabolism. This study evaluated the effects of jackfruit seed sourced resistant starch (JSRS) as a novel RS on mice gut microbes and hyperlipidemia by performing 16s rRNA and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that 10% JSRS had a limited preventive effect on bodyweight and serum lipid levels. However, the JSRS promoted the growth of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, which indicated the ability of B. pseudolongum for JSRS utilization. In the validation experiment, B. pseudolongum interacted with JSRS to significantly reduce bodyweight and serum lipid levels and had a therapeutic effect on hepatic steatosis in mice. Collectively, this study revealed the improvements of hyperlipidemia in mice by the synergistic effects of JSRS and B. pseudolongum, which will help in the development of “synbiotics” for the treatment of hyperlipidemia in the future.

Exploring and evaluating alternative feed ingredients to be used in swine diet is essential due to highly variable cost and limited availability of conventional feed ingredients. Tubers and agro-industrial coproducts could provide the basis for producing affordable swine feed. However, information on the nutritional value of these potential alternative feedstuffs is necessary while considering their use in swine feeding program. Four tubers (purple sweet potato [PSP], okinawan sweet potato, taro and cassava) and 3 coproducts (okara, wheat millrun [WMR] and barley brewers grain [BBG]) were analyzed for their proximate nutrients, starch, fibers and gross energy (GE) content. Two independent in vitro studies were carried out for tubers and coproducts to determine their nutrients digestibility using a 3-step enzymatic assay (which mimics the digestion occurring in the gastrointestinal tract of swine) with 9 replicates of each sample digested in 3 batches equally. All replicate samples were used to determine in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDDM) while 2 replicates from each batch were used to determine in vitro GE digestibility (IVDGE). Among tubers, CP content was the highest in taro (8.8%) and the lowest in cassava (3.7%), while CP content among coproducts was the highest in okara (22.7%) and the lowest in WMR (11.8%). Ether extract content among tubers ranged from 1.1% to 2.8%. The GE content among tubers, ranged from 4,134 to 4,334 kcal/kg whereas among coproducts it ranged from 4,270 to 4,794 kcal/kg. Among tubers, IVDDM for PSP was significantly higher (86.8%, P

Animal performance, feed efficiency, and overall health are heavily dependent on gut health. Changes in animal production systems and feed regulations away from the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) have necessitated the identification of strategies to optimize gut health in novel and effective ways. Among alternatives to AGP, the inclusion of dietary fibers (DF) in monogastric diets has been attempted with some success. Alternative feedstuffs and coproducts are typically rich in fiber and can be used in the diets to reduce feed costs and optimize gut health. DF are naturally occurring compounds with a diverse composition and are present in all plant-based feedstuffs. DF stimulate the growth of health-promoting gut bacteria, are fermented in the distal small intestine and large intestine to short-chain fatty acids and have beneficial effects on the immune system. Maternal DF supplementation is one novel strategy suggested to have a beneficial programming effect on the microbial and immune development of their offspring. One mechanism by which DF improves gut health is through maintenance of an anaerobic intestinal environment that subsequently prevents facultative anaerobic pathogens from flourishing. Studies with pigs and poultry have shown that fermentation characteristics and their beneficial effects on gut health vary widely based on type, form, and the physico-chemical properties of the DF. Therefore, it is important to have information on the different types of DF and their role in optimizing gut health. This review will provide information and updates on different types of DF used in monogastric nutrition and its contribution to gut health including microbiology, fermentation characteristics, and innate and adaptive immune responses.

Healthy gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is crucial for optimum performance, better feed efficiency, and overall health of poultry. In the past, antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) were commonly used to modulate the gut health of animals. However, considering the public health concern, the use of AGP in animal feeding is banned or regulated in several jurisdictions around the world. This necessitates the need for alternative nutritional strategies to produce healthy poultry. For that, several alternatives to AGP have been attempted with some success. However, effective modulation of the gut health parameters depends on the methods and timing of the compound being available to host animals. Routinely, the alternatives to AGP and other nutrients are provided in feed or water to poultry. However, the GIT of the newly hatched poultry is functionally immature, despite going through significant morphological, cellular, and molecular changes toward the end of incubation. Thus, early growth and development of GIT are of critical importance to enhance nutrients utilization and optimize the growth of poultry. Early nutrition programming using both in ovo and post-hatch feeding has been used as a means to modulate the early growth and development of GIT and found to be an effective strategy but with inconsistent results. This review summarizes the information on in ovo and post-hatch-feeding of different nutrients and feeds additives and their effects on gut development, histomorphology, microbiology, and immunology. Furthermore, this review will provide insight on the future of early nutrition programming as a strategy to enhance gut health, thereby improving overall health and production so that the poultry industry can benefit from this technique.

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) provides the biological environment for nutrient digestion and absorption, and protection from pathogens and toxins. Broilers are fast growing because of the great potential of intestinal epithelia for nutrient absorption, and efficient conversion of nutrient to muscle. Physiologically, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are generated by GIT epithelial cells either from oxygen metabolism or by enteric commensal bacteria and regulate gut health. However, increased production of ROS elevates free radical production and antioxidant insults resulting in oxidative stress. Oxidative stress in poultry GIT is derived from nutritional, environmental heat stress, and pathological factors, which alters overall performance as well as meat and egg quality. Supplementation of exogenous vitamins, antioxidants, and plant extract having antioxidant properties scavenge ROS and are beneficial in mitigating oxidative stress in the GIT. This review highlights the involvement of oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal functionality of poultry and potential intervention strategies to maintain redox balance in the GIT.

In this work, we studied a Ti-Nb-Zr-Sn system for exploring novel composition and temperatures that will be helpful in maximizing the stability of β phase while minimizing the formation of α” and ω-phase. The Ti-Nb-Zr-Sn system is free of toxic elements. This system was studied under the framework of CALculation of PHAse Diagram (CALPHAD) approach for determining the stability of various phases. These data were analyzed through artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. Deep learning artificial neural network (DLANN) models were developed for various phases as a function of alloy composition and temperature. Software was written in Python programming language and DLANN models were developed utilizing TensorFlow/Keras libraries. DLANN models were used to predict various phases for new compositions and temperatures and provided a more complete dataset. This dataset was further analyzed through the concept of self-organizing maps (SOM) for determining correlations between phase stability of various phases, chemical composition, and temperature. Through this study, we determined candidate alloy compositions and temperatures that will be helpful in avoiding/minimizing formation of α” and ω-phase in a Ti-Zr-Nb-Sn system. This approach can be utilized in other systems such as ω-free shape memory alloys. DLANN models can even be used on a common Android mobile phone.

Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits to the host. The use of probiotics in poultry has increased steadily over the years due to higher demand for antibiotic-free poultry. The objective of this systematic review is to present and evaluate the effects of probiotics on the nutrient utilization, growth and laying performance, gut histomorphology, immunity, and gut microbiota of poultry. An electronic search was conducted using relevant keywords to include papers pertinent to the topic. Seventeen commonly used probiotic species were critically assessed for their roles in the performance and gut health of poultry under existing commercial production conditions. The results showed that probiotic supplementation could have the following effects: (1) modification of the intestinal microbiota, (2) stimulation of the immune system, (3) reduction in inflammatory reactions, (4) prevention of pathogen colonization, (5) enhancement of growth performance, (6) alteration of the ileal digestibility and total tract apparent digestibility coefficient, and (7) decrease in ammonia and urea excretion. Thus, probiotics can serve as a potential alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production. However, factors such as the intestinal health condition of birds, the probiotic inclusion level; and the incubation conditions, feedstuff, and water quality offered to birds may affect the outcome. This systematic review provides a summary of the use of probiotics in poultry production, as well as the potential role of probiotics in the nutrient utilization, growth and laying performance, and gut health of poultry.

Napier grass is a perennial, tropical C-4 grass that can produce large amounts of forage. However, low temperatures and drought stress limit its productivity and nutritive value as a forage. To overcome these limitations, pearl millet × napier grass hybrids (PMN) were developed. It was hypothesized that PMN hybrids were more drought-tolerant, produced higher yields, and had higher nutritive value than napier grass varieties. The yield and nutritive value of 4 napier grass varieties (Bana grass, Mott, MB4 and N51) and 4 PMN hybrids (PMN2, PMN3, 5344 and 4604) were determined with or without irrigation in a strip plot design in Hawaii. Hybrid PMN3 outperformed napier grass varieties and the other hybrids for yield, while 5344 showed higher nutritional content and digestibility than most other grasses. Dry matter yields during the 110-day study period ranged from 10.3 to 32.1 t/ha without irrigation and 19.6 to 55.8 t/ha with irrigation, indicating that moisture stress was limiting performance in raingrown pastures. Only hybrids PMN3 and PMN2 and variety MB4 showed significant growth responses to irrigation. Further work is needed to evaluate the hybrids in a range of environments over much longer periods to determine if these preliminary results can be reproduced over the long term. Similarly, feeding studies with animals are needed to determine if the in vitro data for digestibility are reflected in superior performance for the promising hybrids.Keywords: Biomass, cattle, in vitro digestion, nutrient content, Pennisetum, tropical grasses.DOI: 10.17138/TGFT(4)168-178

Data generated for the Ti−Al−Cr−V system of metallic alloys from our previous publication, where the composition of 102 alloys were computationally Pareto optimized with the objective of simultaneously maximizing the Young’s modulus and minimizing density for a range of temperatures, was the starting point of the current research, where compositions at different temperatures of these alloys were analyzed for phase stability in order to generate new data for compositions and volume fractions of stable phases at various temperatures. This resulted in a large dataset where a lot of data were still missing as all the phases are not stable at a given temperature for all the compositions. The concept of Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) was then applied to determine correlations between alloy compositions, stabilities of desired phases at various temperatures, associated Young’s moduli and densities, and the effect of the composition of phases on these properties. This work should help alloy designers to determine the required chemical composition of a new alloy with reference to the temperature of application of that alloy and see the effect of temperature and composition on stable phases and associated properties of alloys.