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Context: Moringa oleifera leaves present enormous potential as an alternative feedstuff for laying hens. The utilisation of the leaves can be improved by exogenous enzymes owing to the presence of non-starch polysaccharides and phytate. Aims: This study evaluated the influence of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOL) in diets supplemented with xylanase and phytase on laying hen performance and egg quality at peak production. Methods: In total, 288 Dekalb White laying hens (32 weeks old) were distributed in a completely randomised design, following a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement (with or without MOL × 4 enzyme supplementations). Each treatment comprised six repetitions, each containing six hens. The control diet was based on ground corn and soybean meal, and the treatment diets were supplemented with 5% MOL, followed by three enzyme additives (xylanase, phytase and a xylanase + phytase blend). Key results: The enzyme supplementation in MOL diets positively influenced egg production (P = 0.012), egg weight (P = 0.021) and egg mass (P = 0.009). The birds offered xylanase-supplemented diets had higher feed intakes (P = 0.015) than did those fed other diets. Moringa oleifera increased the albumen height (P < 0.001) and Haugh unit (P < 0.001), whereas MOL and phytase improved eggshell thickness (P < 0.001) and the candling score (P = 0.049), compared with treatments without phytase supplementation. MOL and enzyme supplementation improved yolk colour intensity (L, A and R parameters) and decreased plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations. The inclusion of 5% MOL in diets did not impair laying performance. However, when MOL diets were supplemented with exogenous enzymes, there was an increase in egg weight. Conclusions: MOL can be included at 5% in layer diets without affecting performance. When used in combination with xylanase and phytase, they improve performance, intensify yolk colour, and improve shell thickness, candling score, as well as serum biochemical profile. Implications: These findings suggest that the combination of dietary MOL + xylanase + phytase can improve performance and egg quality in laying hens at peak production. The use of alternative foods, as well as additives that improve the use of these foods for birds, is an area of study that is constantly growing owing to the constant search for ingredients that make feed cheaper. Several studies have already used Moringa oleifera as an alternative food in poultry diets; however, studies that combine this food with exogenous enzymes, additives that can improve its use and bring benefits to the animals' health, are still almost non-existent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of 15% dietary inclusion of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) in broiler chickens was explored, focusing on blood cellular components, systemic metabolites and hepatic lipid and mineral composition. From days 14 to 35 of age, 120 broiler chickens were divided and allocated into four dietary treatments: a standard corn and soybean meal-based diet (control), a 15% Spirulina diet, a 15% extruded Spirulina diet, and a 15% Spirulina diet super-dosed with an enzyme blend (0.20% porcine pancreatin plus 0.01% lysozyme). The haematological analysis revealed no significant deviations (p  >  0.05) in blood cell counts across treatments, suggesting that high Spirulina inclusion maintains haematological balance. The systemic metabolic assessment indicated an enhanced antioxidant capacity in birds on Spirulina diets (p  <  0.001), pointing toward a potential reduction in oxidative stress. However, the study noted a detrimental impact on growth performance metrics, such as final body weight and feed conversion ratio (both p  <  0.001), in the Spirulina-fed treatments, with the super-dosed enzyme blend supplementation failing to alleviate these effects but with extrusion mitigating them. Regarding hepatic composition, birds on extruded Spirulina and enzyme-supplemented diets showed a notable increase in n-3 fatty acids (EPA, DPA, DHA) (p  <  0.001), leading to an improved n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (p  <  0.001). Despite this positive shift, a reduction in total hepatic lipids (p  =  0.003) was observed without a significant change in cholesterol levels. Our findings underscore the need for further exploration into the optimal inclusion levels, processing methods and potential enzymatic enhancements of Spirulina in broiler diets. Ultimately, this research aims to strike a balance between promoting health benefits and maintaining optimal growth performance in poultry nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of 15% dietary inclusion of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) in broiler chickens was explored, focusing on blood cellular components, systemic metabolites and hepatic lipid and mineral composition. From days 14 to 35 of age, 120 broiler chickens were divided and allocated into four dietary treatments: a standard corn and soybean meal-based diet (control), a 15% Spirulina diet, a 15% extruded Spirulina diet, and a 15% Spirulina diet super-dosed with an enzyme blend (0.20% porcine pancreatin plus 0.01% lysozyme). The haematological analysis revealed no significant deviations (p > 0.05) in blood cell counts across treatments, suggesting that high Spirulina inclusion maintains haematological balance. The systemic metabolic assessment indicated an enhanced antioxidant capacity in birds on Spirulina diets (p

Abstract Soybean meal (SBM) is widely used in shrimp feed agro‐industry as a fish meal (FM) replacement. However, high levels of SBM may compromise animal health as a result of nutrient imbalance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of feed enzyme combination (a mixture of 6‐phytase, serine protease, and endo‐1,3(4)‐β‐glucanase) and functional immunostimulant combination (a mixture of brewer's yeast, nucleotides, vitamin C, and vitamin E) in improving the overall health of Pacific white shrimp fed soybean‐based diet. Four diets were formulated with different amounts of SBM, FM, and poultry meal (PM): 0% SBM (with 25% FM and 12.6% PM), 30% SBM (with 12.5% FM and 5.7% PM), 30% SBM plus 0.045% feed enzymes, and 30% SBM plus 0.1% functional immunostimulants. The postlarvae were fed the test diets for 45 days. Then, the body weight, survival, FCR, Vibrio spp. count, and immune responses were analyzed. The resistance of shrimp to Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection was also evaluated. The results suggest that the diet with 30% SBM was deleterious to the shrimp's health. Feed enzymes and functional immunostimulant supplements improved overall performance, immune function, and resistance to V. parahaemolyticus infection of shrimp fed the diet containing 30% SBM compared with the 30% SBM diet without feed supplements.

Soybean meal (SBM) is widely used in shrimp feed agro‐industry as a fish meal (FM) replacement. However, high levels of SBM may compromise animal health as a result of nutrient imbalance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of feed enzyme combination (a mixture of 6‐phytase, serine protease, and endo‐1,3(4)‐β‐glucanase) and functional immunostimulant combination (a mixture of brewer's yeast, nucleotides, vitamin C, and vitamin E) in improving the overall health of Pacific white shrimp fed soybean‐based diet. Four diets were formulated with different amounts of SBM, FM, and poultry meal (PM): 0% SBM (with 25% FM and 12.6% PM), 30% SBM (with 12.5% FM and 5.7% PM), 30% SBM plus 0.045% feed enzymes, and 30% SBM plus 0.1% functional immunostimulants. The postlarvae were fed the test diets for 45 days. Then, the body weight, survival, FCR, Vibrio spp. count, and immune responses were analyzed. The resistance of shrimp to Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection was also evaluated. The results suggest that the diet with 30% SBM was deleterious to the shrimp's health. Feed enzymes and functional immunostimulant supplements improved overall performance, immune function, and resistance to V. parahaemolyticus infection of shrimp fed the diet containing 30% SBM compared with the 30% SBM diet without feed supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Dietary fiber-degrading enzyme supplementation in broilers aims at off-setting the anti-nutritive effect of non-starch polysaccharides and at promoting broiler health. Recently, we demonstrated that xylanase/glucanase addition in wheat-based diet improved nutrient digestibility, arabinoxylan fermentability and broiler growth. Conversely, maize arabinoxylan was found to be recalcitrant to xylanase action. These findings suggested that enzyme-mediated improvement of nutrient digestion and carbohydrate fermentation depended on the cereal type present in the diet, and may have contributed to broiler growth. Hence, we aimed at further investigating the link between dietary enzymes and carbohydrate fermentation in broilers, by studying the impact of enzyme supplementation in cereal-based diets, to the microbial communities in the ileum and ceca of broilers. For that purpose, 96 one-day-old male broilers were randomly reared in two pens and received either wheat-based or maize-based starter and grower diets. At d 20, the broilers were randomly assigned to one out of four dietary treatments. The broilers received for 8 d the wheat-based or maize-based finisher diet as such (Control treatments; WC, MC) or supplemented with a xylanase/glucanase combination (Enzyme treatments; WE, ME). At d 28, samples from the digestive tract were collected, and the ileal and cecal microbiota composition was determined by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. A similar phylogenetic (alpha) diversity was observed among the four treatments, both in the ileal and the cecal samples. Furthermore, a similar microbial composition in the ileum (beta diversity) was observed, with lactobacilli being the predominant community for all treatments. In contrast, both cereal type and enzyme supplementation were found to influence cecal communities. The type of cereal (i.e., wheat or maize) explained 47% of the total variation in microbial composition in the ceca. Further stratifying the analysis per cereal type revealed differences in microbiota composition between WC and WE, but not between MC and ME. Furthermore, the prevalence of beneficial genera, such as Faecalibacterium and Blautia, in the ceca of broilers fed wheat-based diets coincided with arabinoxylan accumulation. These findings indicated that fermentable arabinoxylan and arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides released by dietary xylanase may play an important role in bacterial metabolism.

Insoluble fiber degradation by supplemented enzymes was previously shown to improve fermentation in poultry, and has been further postulated to disrupt the cereal cell wall matrix, thus improving nutrient digestion. Here, we characterized insoluble feed-derived polysaccharides and lignin in digesta from broilers fed wheat-soybean and maize-soybean diets without or with xylanase/glucanase supplementation. Enzyme supplementation in wheat-soybean diet increased the yield of water-extractable arabinoxylan (AX) in the ileum. Still, most AX (> 73 %) remained insoluble across wheat-soybean and maize-soybean diets. Analysis of so-far largely ignored lignin demonstrated that a lignin-rich fiber fraction accumulated in the gizzard, while both insoluble AX and lignin reaching the ileum appeared to be excreted unfermented. More than 20 % of water-insoluble AX was extracted by 1 M NaOH and 11–20 % was sequentially extracted by 4 M NaOH, alongside other hemicelluloses, from ileal digesta and excreta across all diets. These findings showed that enzyme-supplementation did not impact AX extractability by alkali, under the current experimental conditions. It is, therefore, suggested that the degradation of insoluble AX by dietary xylanase in vivo mainly results in arabinoxylo-oligosaccharide release, which is not accompanied by a more loose cell wall architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The dilution of commercial broiler feed with copra meal (CM), palm kernel meal (PKM) and cassava leaf meal (CLM) and enzyme supplementation was investigated. Two hundred and eighty 7-day old Cobb 500 broilers were fed commercial feed alone or diluted with the test ingredients with and without enzyme. There were no interaction effects (p>0.05) on feed intake (FI) and weight gain (WG). Poorer (p0.05) by enzyme supplementation. There was no interaction effect on final body weight (FBW). Diet dilution depressed FBW (p0.05) this weight depression. Abdominal fat was lighter (p0.05) on the weight of gut segments and E. coli count. Heavier (p

The enzymatic compound with protease activity obtained by Bacillus licheniformis CM1T 1.33 cells fermentation was entrapped in sol-gel matrixes, using TEOS as precursor. The sol-gel technique is a soft method for silica glass synthesis at room temperature. In silica gels, the enzymes maintain their catalytic activity for a longer period o f time and present high stability at environmental factors. Bacillus licheniformis CMIT 1.33 enzyme was also immobilized by entrapment in silica gels deposited on a ceramic support. The optimal temperature and pH o f the native and. immobilized enzyme did not vary significantly. At temperature and pH values lower than the optimum, the relative activities have been higher for the immobilized compound. The immobilization o f the enzymatic compound increased the stability. The enzymatic compounds with protease activity obtained by silica gels entrapment and entrapment/deposition on ceramic support can be used as forage additive.

Starch degrading enzymes are used as feed additives to increase the digestibility of corn meal based diet in livestock and poultry. To be efficient, these enzymes have to present a good activity and stability. Immobilization by physical bonding o f enzymes on a porous support is a simple and efficient method to preserve enzyme molecules in an active form and retain their activity for a period o f time. The aim o f this study was to stabilize an enzymatic preparation with amylase activity produced by a native strain o f Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in submerged culture. The immobilization technique used was physical bonding on a porous ceramic support. The enzymatic preparation with amylase activity was used in immobilization in a liophylized form. By using the same method we immobilized also a purified Aspergillus niger amylase. For both enzymes, the optimal temperature and pH o f the native and immobilized enzymes did not vary significantly. At temperature and pH values lower than the optimum, the relative activities have been higher for the immobilized Bacillus amyloliquefaciens enzyme compared to the native one. The immobilization has led to an enzymatic compound with stability at pH 3 and 37°C and in time higher than that o f the free one.

Dietary fiber-degrading enzyme supplementation in broilers aims at off-setting the anti-nutritive effect of non-starch polysaccharides and at promoting broiler health. Recently, we demonstrated that xylanase/glucanase addition in wheat-based diet improved nutrient digestibility, arabinoxylan fermentability and broiler growth. Conversely, maize arabinoxylan was found to be recalcitrant to xylanase action. These findings suggested that enzyme-mediated improvement of nutrient digestion and carbohydrate fermentation depended on the cereal type present in the diet, and may have contributed to broiler growth. Hence, we aimed at further investigating the link between dietary enzymes and carbohydrate fermentation in broilers, by studying the impact of enzyme supplementation in cereal-based diets, to the microbial communities in the ileum and ceca of broilers. For that purpose, 96 one-day-old male broilers were randomly reared in two pens and received either wheat-based or maize-based starter and grower diets. At d 20, the broilers were randomly assigned to one out of four dietary treatments. The broilers received for 8 d the wheat-based or maize-based finisher diet as such (Control treatments; WC, MC) or supplemented with a xylanase/glucanase combination (Enzyme treatments; WE, ME). At d 28, samples from the digestive tract were collected, and the ileal and cecal microbiota composition was determined by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. A similar phylogenetic (alpha) diversity was observed among the four treatments, both in the ileal and the cecal samples. Furthermore, a similar microbial composition in the ileum (beta diversity) was observed, with lactobacilli being the predominant community for all treatments. In contrast, both cereal type and enzyme supplementation were found to influence cecal communities. The type of cereal (i.e., wheat or maize) explained 47% of the total variation in microbial composition in the ceca. Further stratifying the analysis per cereal type revealed differences in microbiota composition between WC and WE, but not between MC and ME. Furthermore, the prevalence of beneficial genera, such as Faecalibacterium and Blautia, in the ceca of broilers fed wheat-based diets coincided with arabinoxylan accumulation. These findings indicated that fermentable arabinoxylan and arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides released by dietary xylanase may play an important role in bacterial metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut health or intestinal health is frequently discussed without any clear definition as to its meaning. It is suggested that this should be defined as intestinal integrity and functionality as both are a pre‐requisite for the health of the intestine itself and the host. The health of the intestine is dependent upon a successful evolution of the absorptive capacity of the intestine, which in turn is influenced by the co‐evolution of the intestinal immune systems and the microbiota. Nutrient supply plays a significant role in this process and from the perspective of the microbiota this changes with age as the intestines and upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota become more effective in nutrient removal. Feed enzymes play a significant role in this process. Phytases can improve digestion of minerals, amino acids and energy and as a result reduce the availability of nutrients in the lower intestines for the microbiota. Protease can have a similar effect with amino acid supply. Non‐starch polysaccharidases (NSPases) have a unique role in that they not only improve diet digestibility from the hosts perspective, thus limiting nutrient supply to the microbiota, but they also release soluble fragments of fibre from the insoluble matrix and/or depolymerize high molecular weight viscous fibre fractions in to smaller, more fermentable carbohydrate fractions. This results in a more favourable balance between fermentable carbohydrate to protein supply, a ratio which is deemed critical to maintaining good intestinal health. The dynamic nature of this complex evolution needs greater consideration if antibiotic free production is to succeed. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of coextruded full-fat flaxseed and pulses (FFF; 1:1 wt/wt) mixture on n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) enrichment in egg yolk, hepatic attributes, apparent retention (AR) of components, and ceca metabolites were evaluated in broiler breeder hens. The diets were as follows: 1) corn–soybean control, 2) control diet plus 18% FFF (FFF−), and 3) FFF plus enzyme supplement (FFF+) containing galactanase, protease, mannanase, glucanase, xylanase, amylase, and cellulase activities. Twenty-six-week-old Cobb 500 broiler breeder hens were allocated to 30 identical cages (2 hens/cage) and given 1-week adaptation period. The 3 diets were assigned to 10 replicate cages based on postadaptation BW and fed based on breeder curve for 30 D. Excreta samples were collected from day 24 to 27 for determination of AR of components, and eggs were collected from day 28 to 30 for yolk polyunsaturated fatty acids analyses. On day 30, birds were weighed, killed via cervical dislocation, liver weighed, and stored for fat analyses. Ceca digesta samples were taken for concentration of short-chain fatty acids. Liver and yolk weights as well as total yolk FA were not influenced by diets (P > 0.05). Control birds had lower yolk concentration of α-linolenic acid than birds fed either FFF− or FFF+ (P

ABSTRACT: Effects of processing and multienzyme supplement (MES) on standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids, apparent retention (AR) of components and metabolizable energy (AME) content in full fat soybean seeds (FFSB) were investigated in broiler chickens. The FFSB were either extruded (EFFSB) or roasted (RFFSB). A nitrogen free diet (NFD) was formulated for SID of AA calculation. The FFSB diets contained 20% crude protein with the ratio of corn starch: sucrose: soy oil (sole sources of energy in NFD) kept constant for calculation of AME. The FFSB diets were fed without or with MES containing phytase, protease, and fiber degrading enzymes. All diets had TiO2 indigestible marker. A total of 400-dayu-old Ross 708 male chicks were fed a commercial diet to d 13. On d 14, birds were weighed individually and allocated to cages (10 birds/cage, n = 8). Birds had free access to feed and water. Excreta samples were collected on d 18 to 20, and all birds were necropsied on d 21 for terminal ileal digesta samples. There was no (P > 0.05) interaction between processing and MES on SID of AA. Birds fed EFFSB had higher (P ≤ 0.048) SID of Arg, Ile, Lys, and Met than birds fed RFFSB. Birds fed MES had higher (85.5 vs. 80.8%; P = 0.050) SID of Lys than birds fed non-MES diet. There was interaction (P ≤ 0.036) between processing and MES on AR of Ca and P; MES improved retention but largely in EFFSB. There was an interaction (P = 0.016) between processing and MES on energy utilization such that MES improved AR of GE, AME, and AMEn in RFFSB only. In general, birds fed EFFSB exhibited higher (P < 0.01) energy utilization than birds fed RFFSB. In conclusion, lower Lys and energy utilization in RFFSB relative to EFFSB reflected the impact of the processing regimen. Supplemental enzyme improvement on Lys and minerals digestibility in FFSB and energy utilization in RFFSB suggested value in heat processed feedstuffs.

ABSTRACT: Growth performance, organ weight, ceca digesta short chain fatty acids (SCFA), jejunal histomorphometry, tibia ash, apparent retention (AR) of components and caloric efficiency were investigated in broiler chicken strains differing in growth rate fed diets with multienzyme supplement (MES). The strains differed in estimated time to reach 2.1 kg BW: 37, 43, 47, and 50 d and were designated C, F, J, and N, respectively. A corn-soybean meal diet was formulated for 2-phase program (starter and grower) and fed without or with MES containing phytase, protease and fiber-degrading enzymes. A total of 640-day-old chicks (42.3 + 0.01 g/bird) were housed in cages (5 cockerels and 5 pullets/cage) and allocated to give 8 replicates/ strain and diet combination. Equal amount of feed was fed based on observed ad-libitum intake of C strain in the starter (d 0–14) and grower (d 15–28). Body weight was monitored, grab excreta samples taken and at completion of allocated feed one bird per cage necropsied for samples. With exception of P, apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) and ceca digesta acetic acid, there was no (P > 0.05) interaction between strain and MES on examined responses. Strains differed (P < 0.01) on growth, FCR, gizzard weight, tibia ash, breast weight, ceca digesta concentration of lactic, propionic, and isobutyric acid and caloric efficiency. The final body weight (BW) was 1,344, 1,134, 959, and 916 g/bird for C, F, J, and N, respectively. Corresponding caloric efficiency was 4,930, 5,807, 6,680 and 7,199 kcal/kg BW gain, respectively. Birds fed MES had higher BW gain (P < 0.05) in grower phase, larger gizzard, higher AR of CP, crude fat, neutral detergent fiber, and Ca than non-MES birds. In conclusion, growth rate influenced organ attributes, nutrient, and caloric utilization. Enzyme supplementation improved growth in grower phase and nutrient utilization independent of strain, suggesting that effects of feed enzymes are not influenced by inherent growth rate.

Background: High amounts of nonstarch polysaccharides in the diet may increase the amounts of fermentative materials in the hindgut, leading to an increase in fermentative heat production. Dietary β-mannanase is reported to decrease antinutritional effects of β-mannans, such as the potential increase of body heat; however, its efficacy on broiler chickens raised under hot climatic conditions has not been investigated. Objective: To investigate the effects of dietary β-mannanase on growth performance, cloacal temperature, relative lymphoid organ weight, and blood characteristics of broiler chickens raised under hot climatic conditions. Methods: A total of 1,701 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments with nine replicates. A basal diet was prepared and added with β-mannanase at 0.05 or 0.10% inclusion levels. The experiment was conducted for 30 days. Average room temperature was 28.8 ± 1.74 ̊C and average relative humidity (RH) was 76.1 ± 11.49% during the experiment. Results: Growth performance of broiler chickens raised under hot climatic conditions was not affected by β-mannanase inclusion. Cloacal temperature decreased at the end of experiment (linear, p

BACKGROUND Cereal co‐products rich in dietary fibres are increasingly used in animal feed. The high fibre content decreases the digestibility and reduces the nutrient and energy availability, resulting in lower nutritive value. Therefore, this study investigated the ability of two carbohydrase complexes to solubilize cell‐wall polysaccharides, in particular arabinoxylan (AX), from different cereal fractions of wheat, maize, and rice using an in vitro digestion model of the pig gastric and small intestinal digestive system. The first complex (NSPase 1) was rich in cell‐wall‐degrading enzymes, whereas the second complex (NSPase 2) was additionally enriched with xylanases and arabinofuranosidases. The extent of solubilization of insoluble cell‐wall polysaccharides after in vitro digestion was evaluated with gas–liquid chromatography and an enzymatic fingerprint of the AX oligosaccharides was obtained with high‐performance anion‐exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. RESULTS: The addition of carbohydrase increased the digestibility of dry matter and solubilized AX in particular, with the greatest effect in wheat fractions and less effect in maize and rice fractions. The solubilization of AX (expressed as xylose release) ranged from 6% to 41%, and there was an increased effect when enriching with xylanases and arabinofuranosidases in wheat aleurone and bran of 19% and 14% respectively. The enzymatic fingerprint of AX oligosaccharides revealed several non‐final hydrolysis products of the enzymes applied, indicating that the hydrolysis of AX was not completed during in vitro digestion. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the addition of a carbohydrase complex can introduce structural alterations under in vitro digestion conditions, and that enrichment with additional xylanases and arabinofuranosidases can boost this effect in wheat, maize, and rice. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background This experiment was conducted to study the effect of different feed enzymes (phytase, xylanase, β-glucanase) on release rate of trace elements (Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn) in 6 commonly used feedstuffs (corn, wheat, barley, soybean meal, wheat bran, wheat middlings) by using an in vitro model, simulating the digestive processes in stomach for 2 h and then in small intestine for 6 h at 39 °C. Results Phytase raised (P

In recent years, mycelial fungi have faced competition from recombinant yeast as producers of feed enzymes. An intensive study on genetic diversity identified the yeast genes encoding feed enzymes, the specific activity of which is much higher than that in mycelial fungi. In addition, these genes were expressed in yeast much more efficiently than in mycelial fungi. The use of yeast recombinant producers allowed the expansion of the production of a line of industrial enzymes with a significant reduction in their cost. The advantages of yeast producers of recombinant enzymes include the ability to obtain monoenzymes, which are part of various enzyme complexes used for different purposes. Pichia pastoris methylotrophic yeast is the most attractive subject for the creation of recombinant protein-producing strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endo -xylanase and endo -glucanase are supplemented to poultry diets in order to improve nutrient digestion and non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) fermentation. Here, the action of these enzymes on alcohol insoluble solids (AIS) from wheat and maize grains as well as its implications for starch digestion in milled grains were evaluated in vitro , under conditions mimicking the poultry digestive tract. For wheat AIS, GH11 endo -xylanase depolymerized soluble arabinoxylan (AX) during the gizzard phase, and proceeded to release insoluble AX under small intestine conditions. At the end of the in vitro digestion (480 min), the endo -xylanase, combined with a GH7 endo -β-1,4-glucanase, released 30.5 % of total AX and 18.1 % of total glucan in the form of arabinoxylo- and gluco-oligosaccharides, as detected by HPAEC-PAD and MALDI-TOF-MS. For maize AIS, the combined enzyme action released 2.2 % and 7.0 % of total AX and glucan, respectively. Analogous in vitro digestion experiments of whole grains demonstrated that the enzymatic release of oligomers coincided with altered grain microstructure, as examined by SEM. In the present study, cell wall hydrolysis did not affect in vitro starch digestion kinetics for cereal grains. This study contributes to understanding the action of feed enzymes on cereal NSP under conditions mimicking the poultry digestive tract. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coccidiosis induced necrotic lesions impair digestive capacity and barrier function in concurrence with increased risks for secondary bacterial infections. The industry has been successful in controlling coccidiosis with anticoccidials and vaccination. However, concerns over Eimeria species resistant to anticoccidials, gaps in vaccination and restriction on antibiotics is stimulating research and application of alternative and/or complimentary strategies for coccidiosis control. The aim of this paper is to appraise literature on the utility of feed enzymes and yeast derivatives in modulating coccidiosis. Feed enzymes can complement endogenous enzymes (protease, amylase, and lipase) that may become insufficient in coccidiosis afflicted birds. Coccidiosis in the upper small intestine creates conditions that enhances efficacy of phytase and there are reports indicating supplemental phytase can mitigate the negative impact of coccidiosis on bone quality. Increase in intestinal short chain fatty acids due supplemental fiber degrading enzymes has been linked with reduced survivability of Eimeria. There is evidence whole yeast (live or dead) and derivatives can modulate coccidiosis. Immunomudulation properties of the yeast derivatives have been shown to enhance cellular and humoral immunity in Eimeria challenge models which is critical for effectiveness of coccidial vaccination. Moreover, yeast nucleotides have been shown to be beneficial in stimulating healing of intestinal mucosal surface. Other novel work has shown that certain yeast cells can produce derivatives with anticoccidial compounds effective in attenuating oocysts shedding. Yeast cell surface has also been shown to be an effective oral Eimeria vaccine delivery vehicle. Overall, while further refinement research is warranted to address inconsistencies in responses and commercial application, there is evidence feed enzymes and yeast derivatives could complement strategies for maintaining intestinal function to bolster growth performance in broilers compromised with coccidiosis. However, broilers receive diets containing several feed additives with distinct mode of actions and yet there is dearth of empirical data on the expected responses.Future evaluations should consider combinations of additives to document animal responses and potential synergies.

Graphical abstract Highlights • Amylase and xylanase production from apple pomace fermentation by Aspergillus niger. • Optimization of parameters of spray drying by response surface methodology. • In vitro test in simulated poultry gut to evaluate formulation efficacy. • Reducing sugar concentration measurement at end of digestion. • Higher reducing sugar concentration seen in feed supplemented with formulation. Abstract Xylanase and amylase were produced by Aspergillus niger by solid state fermentation of apple pomace. The enzyme formulation was produced by spray drying, for which, Response surface methodology was used to optimize inlet temperature (T inlet), atomization air pressure (P) and sample feed rate (F r). Optimal conditions obtained for spray drying were T inlet 120 °C, P 0.07 MPa, and F r 35 ml/min. The optimized spray dried powder contained 75.3 units/g xylanase, 40.3 units/g amylase, and the humidity and outlet temperature were 5.7% and 55 °C, respectively. Poultry feed for each growth phase was supplemented with enzyme formulation (500 U/kg xylanase and 267 U/kg amylase) and subjected to digestion in an in-vitro, poultry gut model, following which, the total reducing sugar concentration (RSC) of the digesta was measured. For the in vitro digestion, an increase of 23.4%, 14.70% and 116.9% in the RSC was observed in the ileal phase for the starter, grower and finisher phase, respectively. The enzyme supplemented feeds gave a higher RSC, as compared to the control, indicating the potential capacity of the formulation to improve nutrient availability, and therefore possibly broiler performance in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorella vulgaris (CH) is usually considered a feed supplement in pig nutrition, and its use as an ingredient is poorly studied. Among many interesting characteristics, this microalga has high protein levels and can be a putative alternative for soybean meal. Our aim was to study the effect of a 5% CH incorporation in the diet, individually or combined with two carbohydrases, on meat quality traits and nutritional value. Forty-four post-weaned male piglets individually housed, with an initial live weight of 11.2 ± 0.46 kg, were randomly distributed into four experimental groups: control (n = 11, without CH) and three groups fed with 5% CH incorporation, plain (n = 10), with 0.005% Rovabio® Excel AP (n = 10), and with 0.01% of a pre-selected four-CAZyme mixture (n = 11). After two weeks of trial, piglets were slaughtered and longissimus lumborum collected. CH had no effect on piglets’ growth performance. In turn, incorporation of CH improved the nutritional value of meat by increasing total carotenoids and n-3 PUFA content, thus contributing to a more positive n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio. The supplementation with Rovabio® benefited tenderness and increased overall acceptability of pork. Our results show beyond doubt the viability of the utilization of this microalga as a feed ingredient for swine production.

Objective Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of adding exogenous phytase and xylanase, individually or in combination, as well as pelleting on nutrient digestibility, available energy content of wheat and the performance of growing pigs fed wheat-based diets. Methods In Experiment 1, forty-eight barrows with an initial body weight of 35.9±0.6 kg were randomly assigned to a 2×4 factorial experiment with the main effects being feed form (pellet vs meal) and enzyme supplementation (none, 10,000 U/kg phytase, 4,000 U/kg xylanase or 10,000 U/kg phytase plus 4,000 U/kg xylanase). The basal diet contained 97.8% wheat. Pigs were placed in metabolic cages for a 7-d adaptation period followed by a 5-d total collection of feces and urine. Nutrient digestibility and available energy content were determined. Experiment 2 was conducted to evaluate the effects of pelleting and enzymes on performance of wheat for growing pigs. In this experiment, 180 growing pigs (35.2±9.0 kg BW) were allocated to 1 of 6 treatments according to a 2×3 factorial treatment arrangement with the main effects being feed form (meal vs pellet) and enzyme supplementation (0, 2,500 or 5,000 U/kg xylanase). Results In Experiment 1, there were no interactions between feed form and enzyme supplementation. Pelleting reduced the digestibility of acid detergent fiber (ADF) by 6.4 percentage units (p

Abstract Background This study investigated the response of piglets receiving a yeast extract without or with a multi-enzyme mixture compared with an antimicrobial growth promoter (AGP) on performance, immune status and gut structure after an E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Thirty-six pigs were allotted to six treatments including: a non-challenged control (NCC); LPS-challenged control (CC); CC + AGP; CC + yeast extract; CC + enzymes; and CC + enzymes + yeast extract. On d 7, pigs were bled and thereafter injected with LPS or sterile saline. Blood samples were collected at 6, 48, and 96 h post-challenge. After 96 h post-challenge, pigs were euthanized to obtain duodenal, jejunal and ileal samples. Results Overall (d 1 to 11), compared with CC pigs, AGP attenuated the LPS-induced reduction in ADG (P = 0.004), ADFI (P = 0.03) and gain/feed ratio (P = 0.01). At 6 h post-challenge, AGP pigs had lower plasma urea N (PUN; P = 0.02) and serum TNF- α concentration (P = 0.07), and higher platelet count (P = 0.04) and serum IL-10 concentration (P = 0.02) than CC pigs. At 48 h post-challenge, AGP pigs had lower PUN (P = 0.02) than CC pigs, whereas enzymes + yeast extract interacted non-additively (P = 0.001) to reduce PUN. At 96 h post-challenge, AGP pigs had lower PUN (P = 0.02) and higher duodenal (P = 0.03), jejunal (P = 0.01) and ileal (P = 0.07) villus height than CC pigs. In addition, enzymes + yeast extract interacted additively and non-additively to reduce ileal IFN-γ (P 0.10) were observed between AGP and enzymes + yeast extract pigs on other measured parameters except for the downregulation of ileal IFN-γ (P

Two varieties of pea, one white flowering (cv. Tarchalska) and one colour flowering (cv. Milwa), partly replaced soybean meal in the diet of sows and their progeny, namely, piglets and growing pigs. The effect of a feed enzyme supplement (Ronozyme VP) was also determined Animal performance and carcass and meat quality were estimated using standard methods. There was no significant difference in the sow bodyweight, number of piglets born and litter weight between the treatments. After weaning, bodyweight gains of piglets in all groups were similar. During the fattening periods, the bodyweight gains of the pigs receiving cv. Milwa were significantly higher than those fed with cv. Tarchalska. The bodyweight gains in the control group were intermediate. The enzyme supplement did not improve bodyweight gains. The digestibility of protein (and in the grower period, also crude fibre and N-free extractives) was higher in the pigs receiving cv. Milwa than in those fed with cv. Tarchalska. There was no significant difference in carcass traits, except for the amount of meat in the ham, which was the highest in the control and lowest in the Milwa group. The intramuscular fat of the pigs fed with cv. Milwa contained significantly more of saturated fatty acids and less of unsaturated fatty acids than did both the control and the pigs fed with cv. Tarchalska. The peas had little effect on the physical traits of the meat; they improved its water-holding capacity but did not change its colour and lightness. Cv. Tarchalska significantly lowered all estimated sensory properties. It is concluded that pea seeds, especially the colour-flowering varieties, may be replacements of soybean meal, in moderate amounts, in the whole cycle of pig nutrition. Legumes, among them pea, can be cultivated in cool-climate zones, are the main source of protein in human and farm animal nutrition. Unfortunately, legume seeds contain substances that limit their utilisation especially in young, most delicate animals; therefore, in this experiment, the possibility of using new varieties of pea in sow, piglet and growing-pig nutrition was evaluated. Results pointed to the possibility of using cheap on-site produced protein in the whole cycle of pig feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The effects of supplementation of broiler chicken diets with pea meal, carbohydrase enzymes and a probiotic were investigated for potential performance improvement. 2. Raw or extruded pea meal (cv Model, grown in Poland) was included in a wheat-soybean meal-based diet at 250 g/kg. The diets were unsupplemented (control) or supplemented with either carbohydrase enzymes (200 U/kg xylanase and 10 U/kg β-glucanase in feed) or a probiotic (Bacillus subtilis), or both. The diets were fed to Ross 308 broilers aged 9-28 days. 3. After two additional days, chick gastrointestinal tracts were excised and analysed for the presence of Bacillus subtilis biofilm; and the ileal and caecal digesta were analysed for bacterial enzyme activities and to determine the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). 4. Feeding the pea-based diet supplemented with the probiotic compromised feed utilisation, due to higher feed intake. The addition of enzymes to the raw, but not the extruded, pea containing diet partially ameliorated this effect (pea form × additives; P < 0.002). 5. In the ileal digesta, interactions between the dietary treatments were observed for the activities of all bacterial glycolytic enzymes and for SCFA concentrations. β-glucosidase, α-galactosidase and β-glucuronidase were highest in birds fed the diet containing extruded pea supplemented with the probiotic and enzymes (pea form x additives; P = 0.018 to P < 0.006). In the caecal digesta, interactions were observed for bacterial enzyme activities, but not for total SCFA concentration. Biofilm formation in the caecum indicated that the probiotic strain was metabolically active in the broiler gut. 6. In conclusion, supplementation of diets containing raw or extruded pea meal with enzymes and a Bacillus subtilis spore-based probiotic modulated microbiota activity but had no clear effects on broiler performance. Probiotic administration did not cause excessive fermentation in the ileum and caecum but enhanced Bacillus subtilis spp. biofilm formation in the caecum, which may be indicative of a beneficial effect on gut health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is now well established that exogenous β-1,4-xylanases improve the nutritive value of wheat-based diets for poultry. Among other factors, the mechanism of action of exogenous enzymes may involve a microbial route resulting from the generation of prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) in the birds' gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. In a series of three experiments, the effect of XOS on the performance of broilers fed wheat or corn-based diets was investigated. In experiment 1, birds receiving diets supplemented with XOS displayed an increased weight gain (P = 0.08). The capacity of XOS to improve the performance of animals during a longer trial (42 d) was investigated (Experiment 2). The data revealed that diet supplementation with XOS, tested at two incorporation rates (0.1 and 1 g/kg), or with an exogenous β-1,4-xylanase resulted in an increased nutritive value of the wheat-based diet. An improvement in animal performance was accompanied by a shift in the microbial populations colonizing the upper portions of the GI tract. XOS were also able to improve the performance of broilers fed a corn-based diet, although the effects were not apparent at incorporation rates of 10 g/kg. Together these studies suggest that in some cases the capacity of β-1,4-xylanases to improve the nutritive value of wheat-based diets is more related to their ability to produce prebiotic XOS than to their ability to degrade arabinoxylans. The extremely low quantities of XOS used in this study also challenge the depiction of a prebiotic being a quantitatively fermented substrate. These data also bring into question the validity of the "cell wall" mechanism, as XOS elicited an effect with clearly no action on endosperm cell wall integrity and yet the performance effects noted were equivalent or superior to the added enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Enzymes have been used commercially for nearly 40 years and save significant costs through sparing of expensive nutrients but the mechanism by which this is achieved is still debated. 2. The research focused on non-starch polysaccharidase (NSPase) enzymes is used as an example of where greater progress could have been made if the details of the work had been described more fully and the analysis of the data generated had been broader in scope and more critical. 3. Lack of standardisation of the details presented in the materials and methods has been identified as a significant barrier to meaningful retrospective analysis and thus limits advances in the understanding of the mode of action of these enzymes. 4. The identity of the enzyme employed and its activity is often lacking, and more importantly the purity is rarely disclosed. Contaminant activities which are neither listed nor assayed could play a significant role in the responses observed. 5. The dose optimum of most enzymes is often considerably higher than that employed in most studies. Thus studies claiming synergy between two ‘activities’ should ensure that the response is not related to each enzyme simply augmenting the dose of just one activity in the finished feed. This is a common problem, and coupled with the lack of factorial experiments to justify the presence of each enzyme in a multi-enzyme product, it is not surprising that there is still debate as to whether single or multi-enzymes are best suited poultry rations. 6. The three proposed mechanisms for NSPases (viscosity, cell wall and prebiotic) are discussed, and along with their strengths and weaknesses it is suggested that a re-evaluation of each is needed. Viscosity may have to be re-evaluated as being a function not only of the cereal being fed, but of the age of the animal as well. The cell wall theory as described is poorly modelled in vitro and hence the validity of these data is questioned. The prebiotic theory may need significant modification as it appears that the quantities of oligomers produced are insufficient to generate the additional volatile fatty acids (VFA)’s reported. It is likely that all three mechanisms play a role in the responses observed, but the prebiotic mechanism probably plays by far the most important part in low viscosity diets. 7. Future research would be improved if it considered all potential mechanisms when designing a trial. Significant failings are apparent as a result of adherence to tenets in explanation of the results. Most importantly, it should be emphasised that a hypothesis is there to be tested, not defended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this experiment was to examine the possibility of replacing part of soybean meal in the diets of sows, their piglets and fatteners with two varieties of high- or low-tannin faba bean seed. Twenty-four sows were allocated to 3 groups, 8 animals in each. Control group (C) received standard feed mixture containing soybean meal as the main protein source. Next groups received standard feed mixture in which part of soybean meal was replaced by high-tannin variety Bobas (group HT) or low-tannin variety Kasztelan (group LT). Faba bean was added to diets at the level of 12 and 14% for pregnant and lactating sows, 6% for piglets, and 12 and 16% for fatteners (grower and finisher, respectively). Diets for half piglets and fatteners were supplemented with the enzyme Ronozyme VP. Apparent digestibility of nutrients was evaluated in a parallel experiment, using the same feeds on 18 barrows weighing about 40 kg (grower) and 80 kg (finisher). There was almost no difference in sow reproductive rates, litter weight and body weight of piglets on the first day of life were similar. Until 35 days of age piglets receiving faba bean grew faster than control ones. Control piglets grew fastest from 35 to 84 days of age, but differences were not significant. Enzyme supplement had a positive effect on body weight only from 56 to 84 days of piglet life. Digestibility of nutrients was lower in pigs fed with faba beans, especially in the grower period. Faba bean HT had lower nutrient digestibility in both periods of fattening. Almost all carcass traits were better in control pigs than in those fed with bean variety Bobas. Meat of these pigs had also the lowest content of unsaturated fatty acids and highest atherogenic indices. In sensory evaluation this meat had also the worst smell and taste. It can be stated that faba bean seeds, in moderate amounts, can partially replace soybean meal in feed for pigs, but some lowering of body weight gain and meat quality is possible especially when high-tannin varieties are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Endoglucanase producing Bacillus subtilis sp. fermented product (EBFP) on growth performance and meat characteristics in broilers. A total of 480, 1 day old ROSS male broiler chicks were obtained from a local hatchery and randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 6 replicate pens consisting of 20 chicks. Three additional diets were prepared by mixing 0.1% of commercial cellulase, 0.1%, and 0.2% of EBFP with the control diet and all chicks were fed experimental diets and water ad libitum. Feed intake and body weight (BW) were recorded at 0, 3, and 5 week of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, birds fed a diet containing 0.1% of EBFP had the highest BW compared to birds in other groups (P < 0.01). During 0 to 5 week the experimental period, the dietary addition of 0.1% EBFP significantly increased (P < 0.01) BW gain that was higher than that of birds fed the diet in which only a commercial cellulase was added. No significant difference among treatments was observed in carcass weight, carcass yield, left breast, and thigh meat. These results suggest that dietary addition of cellulolytic probiotics may enhance growth performance compared with the single use of probiotics or enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) the effect of wheat dried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) inclusion, and (2) dietary feed enzyme (FE; Econase XT) supplementation in a finishing diet containing wheat DDGS on fatty acid profile of the pars costalis diaphragmatis muscle of beef cattle. A total of 160 crossbred yearling steers with initial BW of 495±38 kg were blocked by BW and randomized into 16 pens (10 head/pen). The pens were randomly assigned to one of the four treatments: (1) control (CON; 10% barley silage and 90% barley grain-based concentrate, dry matter (DM) basis); (2) diet containing 30% wheat DDGS in place of barley grain without FE (WDG); (3) WDG diet supplemented with low FE (WDGL; 1 ml FE/kg DM); and (4) WDG diet supplemented with high FE (2 ml FE/kg DM). The pars costalis diaphragmatis muscle samples were collected from cattle at slaughter at the end of the finishing period (120 days) with a targeted live weight of 650 kg. No differences in organic matter intake, final BW and average daily gain were observed among treatments. However, steers fed WDG had greater (P

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of adding exogenous phytase and xylanase, individually or in combination, as well as pelleting on nutrient digestibility, available energy content of wheat and the performance of growing pigs fed wheat-based diets. Methods: In Experiment 1, forty-eight barrows with an initial body weight of 35.9±0.6 kg were randomly assigned to a 2×4 factorial experiment with the main effects being feed form (pellet vs meal) and enzyme supplementation (none, 10,000 U/kg phytase, 4,000 U/kg xylanase or 10,000 U/kg phytase plus 4,000 U/kg xylanase). The basal diet contained 97.8% wheat. Pigs were placed in metabolic cages for a 7-d adaptation period followed by a 5-d total collection of feces and urine. Nutrient digestibility and available energy content were determined. Experiment 2 was conducted to evaluate the effects of pelleting and enzymes on performance of wheat for growing pigs. In this experiment, 180 growing pigs (35.2±9.0 kg BW) were allocated to 1 of 6 treatments according to a 2×3 factorial treatment arrangement with the main effects being feed form (meal vs pellet) and enzyme supplementation (0, 2,500 or 5,000 U/kg xylanase). Results: In Experiment 1, there were no interactions between feed form and enzyme supplementation. Pelleting reduced the digestibility of acid detergent fiber (ADF) by 6.4 percentage units (p<0.01), increased the digestibility of energy by 0.6 percentage units (p<0.05), and tended to improve the digestibility of crude protein by 0.5 percentage units (p = 0.07) compared with diets in mash form. The addition of phytase improved the digestibility of phosphorus (p<0.01) and calcium (p<0.01) by 6.9 and 7.6 percentage units respectively compared with control group. Adding xylanase tended to increase the digestibility of crude protein by 1.0 percentage units (p = 0.09) and increased the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (p<0.01) compared with control group. Supplementation of the xylanase-phytase combination improved the digestibility of phosphorus (p<0.01) but impaired NDF digestibility (p<0.05) compared with adding xylanase alone. In Experiment 2, adding xylanase increased average daily gain (p<0.01) and linearly improved the feed:gain ratio (p<0.01) compared with control group. Conclusion: Pelleting improved energy digestibility but decreased ADF digestibility. Adding xylanase increased crude protein digestibility and pig performance. Phytase increased the apparent total tract digestibility of phosphorus and calcium. The combination of phytase-xylanase supplementation impaired the effects of xylanase on NDF digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize and soybean meal are the most common ingredients in diets for monogastric animals. Although maize is low in anti-nutritive factors, soybean meal often contains significant levels of soluble galactans, mannans or oligosaccharides of the raffinose series that may cause considerable nutritional disorders when ingested. It is well established that cellulases and xylanases are very effective in improving the nutritive value of barley, wheat or rye based diets for broiler chicks through the hydrolysis of soluble glucans and arabinoxylans. A study was undertaken to identify the most important exogenous enzymatic activities for decreasing the detrimental effects associated with the ingestion of soybean meal soluble polysaccharides. The data showed that birds fed on a mash maize-soybean meal based diet supplemented with the enzyme mixture Ronozyme® VP displayed improved final body weight, when compared with birds receiving the enzyme preparations Roxazyme® G200 or Alpha-Gal® 1000 (P=0.08). In vitro enzyme assays suggested that the positive effect associated with the intake of Ronozyme® VP is correlated with the presence of galactanase and mannanase activities. Zymogram analysis demonstrated that the molecular integrity and activity of the exogenous galactanases and mannanases remains relatively unchanged in the crop and the duodenal contents. Together the data suggest that hydrolysis of mannans and galactans by exogenous enzymes in maize-soybean meal based diets, result in an improvement of broiler performance.

The present paper addresses the growing importance of sweet lupines (Lupinus ssp.) as domestic protein feedstuffs promoted by various governmental measures. Although the use of lupines in practical poultry diets in Poland and Germany remains marginal, extensive research into their nutritional value has been conducted both nationally and internationally. The first communication discussed the botanical and breeding characteristics of lupines, lupine cultivation and production, followed by information on the composition, protein quality and feed value of lupines. The second communication, based on experimental results, focused on the possibilities and limitations of incorporating lupine seeds in practical diets for chickens, turkeys and waterfowl, and on providing recommendations for the use of lupine in poultry nutrition. The influence of lupines on GIT parameters and their possible implications for gut health in poultry were also discussed. The above data were used to formulate objectives for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the response of piglets receiving a yeast extract without or with a multi-enzyme mixture compared with an antimicrobial growth promoter (AGP) on performance, immune status and gut structure after an E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Thirty-six pigs were allotted to six treatments including: a non-challenged control (NCC); LPS-challenged control (CC); CC + AGP; CC + yeast extract; CC + enzymes; and CC + enzymes + yeast extract. On d 7, pigs were bled and thereafter injected with LPS or sterile saline. Blood samples were collected at 6, 48, and 96 h post-challenge. After 96 h post-challenge, pigs were euthanized to obtain duodenal, jejunal and ileal samples. Results: Overall (d 1 to 11), compared with CC pigs, AGP attenuated the LPS-induced reduction in ADG (P = 0.004), ADFI (P = 0.03) and gain/feed ratio (P = 0.01). At 6 h post-challenge, AGP pigs had lower plasma urea N (PUN; P = 0.02) and serum TNF- a concentration (P = 0.07), and higher platelet count (P = 0.04) and serum IL-10 concentration (P = 0. 02) than CC pigs. At 48 h post-challenge, AGP pigs had lower PUN (P = 0.02) than CC pigs, whereas enzymes + yeast extract interacted non-additively (P = 0.001) to reduce PUN. At 96 h post-challenge, AGP pigs had lower PUN (P = 0.02) and higher duodenal (P = 0.03), jejunal (P = 0.01) and ileal (P = 0.07) villus height than CC pigs. In addition, enzymes + yeast extract interacted additively and non-additively to reduce ileal IFN-γ (P < 0.0001) and IL-10 (P = 0.012) expression, respectively. Generally, no differences (P > 0.10) were observed between AGP and enzymes + yeast extract pigs on other measured parameters except for the downregulation of ileal IFN-γ (P < 0.0001) and TNF-a (P = 0.003) in enzymes + yeast extract pigs at 96 h post-challenge. Conclusions: The LPS challenged piglets receiving enzymes + yeast extract showed beneficial responses in gut structure and immunity commensurate with those receiving antibiotics, though the latter had better overall growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the advent of antimicrobial feed additives for growth promotion, a number of feed additives have been made available to the swine industry. Select feed additives (feed enzymes, probiotics, organic acids, pharmacological level of zinc oxide, and copper sulfate) used in swine nutrition are reviewed to identify their principle biological effects and characterize their effects on growth performance, digestive function, and mucosal responses. Feed enzymes are the most researched and used additives to degrade antinutritional factors such as phytic acid or fractions that are not degraded sufficiently or indeed at all by the conditions and the array of digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. Supplemental phytase is almost ubiquitous in swine diets, and the economic and environmental consequences are well documented. Carbohydrases and proteases often show improvement on digestibility but exhibit inconsistent responses in growth performance. However, feed ingredients are exceedingly structurally complex, and the use of a defined blend of enzymes displaying a range of activities holds tremendous opportunity for extending benefits to gut health and function. In this context, there is increasing evidence feed enzymes can impact gut microbial ecology by reducing undigested substrates and producing oligosaccharides in situ from complex dietary carbohydrates with potential prebiotic effects. Probiotics and pharmacological levels of zinc oxide and copper sulfate are fed to modulate the gut microbial balance which may positively influence animal health. However, responses are dependent on age of the pig, disease level, genetics, environmental factors, and type of diet or feedstuffs. Recent developments in feed probiotic applications have extended responses to nutritional and environmental effects; however, only a few studies have been reported thus far. Organic acids generally reduce the pH of the diet, but effects on the pH of the digestive tract contents as well as effects on gut microbiota are often variable. The ability to find and evolve the next generation of feed additives will be driven by, among other factors, understanding the mechanisms of action and the implications on animal health and performance. Furthermore, most feed additive evaluation and interpretation takes a simplistic view of a single additive, whereas pigs often receive diets containing a mix of distinct additives. It is imperative to consider evaluating combinations of additives to document animal responses and potential synergies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]