The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of partially replacing soybean meal with agricultural by-products with or without supplementation of dried black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal on meat quality, intestinal microbiota of commercial broiler chickens, and environmental sustainability. A total of 252 day-old Cobb 500 chicks were divided into three dietary treatments, including a corn-soybean-based Control diet and two alternative diets. Alternative diets were a diet in which soybean meal was replaced partly (SPR) by sunflower meal, brewers dried grain, and wheat middlings, and a diet in which BSFL meal was added (5%) to the SPR diet. At 39 days of age, the feces of chickens from each dietary treatment were sampled for fecal microbiota analysis. Birds were slaughtered at day 40 to assess breast meat quality. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to estimate the environmental impacts of each diet. The SPR and SPR+BSFL diets significantly (p = 0.003) reduced breast meat pH24 without affecting lightness and yellowness values. While cooking losses were similar in the breast meat of chickens fed the Control and SPR diets, adding BSFL meal to the SPR diet reduced cooking losses (p < 0.001). The SPR+BSFL diet increased total saturated fatty acids (SFA), while the SPR diet elevated polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, particularly linoleic acid (p < 0.001). Microbiota analysis revealed a higher abundance of Firmicutes, particularly Lactobacillus and Bacillus, in broilers fed the SPR+BSFL diet, while Clostridiaceae was more prevalent in the SPR group compared to the Control (p < 0.01). These changes in microbiota were likely attributed to the increased fiber content of the diets. Environmental impact analysis showed that both SPR and SPR+BSFL diets reduced global warming potential, damage to ecosystems, human health burden, and resource use compared to the Control diet (p < 0.001). The two alternative diets performed similarly in most environmental indicators. The results suggested that agricultural by-products with or without BSFL meal supplementation could be used to partially replace soybean meal in the diets of commercial broiler chickens and would beneficially modulate gut microbiota and reduce the environmental footprint of broiler production.
The present study was designed to evaluate the impact of graded levels of L. siceraria leaf powder (0.0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%) in the diet on growth traits, immune response, oxidative status, gene expression, and tissue histology of male Ossimi lambs. Twenty-four intact male lambs (10-12 months; 32.60 ± 1.5 kg) were allotted randomly to four experimental groups (n = 6) and received the particular diets for 90 days. Blood was collected for evaluation of haematologic indices, immune responses, antioxidant enzyme activities, and liver function markers. At the end of the trial, histopathological examination and digestive enzyme activity testing were performed on intestinal tissues. The findings indicated a marked enhancement in growth performance, immune response, and antioxidant defence in the LS groups. In addition, the corresponding mRNAs of growth- and immunity-related genes (GH, IGF-1, GHR, TLR-7, IL-6, and IL-1β) were significantly upregulated. Morphometric examination of the intestine showed increased villus height, villus height/crypt depth ratio, and goblet cell number, specifically, at the 0.6% supplementation level. Histopathology showed normal liver architecture alongside enhanced intestinal barrier function and splenic immune activity. Furthermore, the reduction in liver enzymes implies potential hepatoprotective activity. Overall, supplementing the diet with 0.6% LS leaf powder represents a novel, effective, and safe approach to enhancing the health and productive performance of Ossimi lambs.
Reproduction places considerable metabolic demands on females, particularly during pregnancy and lactation, when calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism are challenged. Urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) offers a useful non-invasive marker to assess bone resorption. We measured urinary CTX-I in wild female Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis) living at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. A total of 663 urine samples were collected from 19 adult females between June 2017 and January 2019 and analysed using a CTX-I ELISA. Generalised additive modelling revealed a non-linear relationship between days relative to conception and urinary CTX-I levels, with higher values before conception and after parturition, and lower levels during pregnancy. However, this pattern remained when lactating females from the previous year (6 out of 19) were excluded, and further analyses showed that the seasonal, rather than the reproductive term, best-explained variation in urinary CTX-I levels. CTX-I levels showed two annual peaks, with the main one occurring in the late rainy season (August-September). Seasonal changes in urine concentration did not account for this pattern. These findings suggest that, in the study population of Assamese macaques, bone resorption varies with season, possibly in response to environmental or endocrine cycles, rather than being primarily driven by the metabolic demands of reproduction.
Maize (Zea mays L.) silage is a major energy source in ruminant diets and provides fermentable substrate for the rumen microbiota. In addition, forage maize contains benzoxazinoids (BXs), defence-related secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity that remain detectable after ensiling. For ruminant nutrition, it is important to know whether variation in BX is associated with changes in forage nutritive value. This study evaluated 14 commercially relevant forage maize genotypes in dairy-producing regions, comprising seven early and seven mid-early maturing genotypes selected from the official Swiss maize trial network. At harvest, plant developmental traits were recorded, nutrient composition was analyzed by near-infrared spectroscopy, and BX concentrations were quantified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS). Maturity groups were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests with Benjamini-Hochberg correction, while associations among variables were assessed using Spearman rank correlations, linear regression models and exploratory principal component analysis (PCA). No significant differences in BX concentrations or nutrient composition were observed between early and mid-early maturing genotypes (all FDR-adjusted p > 0.05). Consistently, PCA did not indicate a separation between maturity groups, and permutational multivariate analysis of variance showed no significant maturity-group effect on the multivariate profile (F = 1.66, R2 = 0.121, p = 0.216). Neutral detergent fibre content was negatively correlated with starch concentration (ρS = - 0.70, PS = 0.010, R2 = 0.66, Plm < 0.001), whereas digestible organic matter was correlated with calculated net energy values (ρS ≥ 0.95, PS < 0.001, R2 ≥ 0.94, Plm < 0.001). Several BX metabolite concentrations were negatively correlated with European corn borer incidence, most notably MBOA (ρS = - 0.74, PS = 0.002, R2 = 0.16, Plm = 0.153). Concentrations of DIMBOA and DIMBOA-Glc were positively associated with net energy for lactation (ρS = 0.64 and 0.68, PS = 0.015 and 0.007, R2 = 0.32 and 0.34, Plm = 0.037 and 0.029, respectively). These findings indicate that plant defence capacity and high forage quality can co-occur under practical growing conditions.
Inulin is a natural, plant-derived soluble dietary fibre that functions as an indigestible carbohydrate and acts as a prebiotic. Inulin is fermented by the gut microbiota into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the rumen of ruminants and in the hindgut of monogastric animals. These SCFAs exert biological effects through activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPRs), including GPR41, GPR43, and GPR109A, as well as through inhibition of histone deacetylase activity. Collectively, these mechanisms may contribute to the enhancement of intestinal barrier integrity, attenuation of oxidative stress, suppression of inflammatory responses, and maintenance of immune homoeostasis. These physiological effects are closely associated with measurable animal outcomes, including improved average daily gain and feed conversion ratio, reduced diarrhoea incidence, enhanced villus morphology and intestinal barrier indicators, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and improvements in milk yield, milk composition, and egg quality. However, the strength of this relationship depends on species, physiological stage, dietary background, supplementation dose, and study duration. As a natural feed additive, inulin enhances the intestinal health, immunity, growth performance, reproductive outcomes, and lactation efficiency of livestock and poultry, making it a promising option for application in animal husbandry. Based on the synthesised evidence from the studies included in this review, the reported effective dietary inclusion levels of inulin across major livestock and poultry species are summarised as follows. For commercial laying hens, a dietary inulin inclusion of 15 g/kg appears to be a level associated with beneficial responses throughout the production cycle, with consistent improvements documented in laying performance and egg quality parameters. In broiler chickens, 10 g/kg dietary inulin represents a reported effective inclusion level, whether supplemented as a standalone additive or in combination with probiotics, and has been linked to favourable effects on growth performance and intestinal health. In intensive swine production systems, supplementation with 5 g/kg high-purity inulin appeared effective under the conditions of the reviewed studies for weaned piglets, with reported effects of alleviating weaning-associated stress and reducing the incidence of post-weaning diarrhoea. For growing-finishing pigs, a dietary inclusion of 20 g/kg high-purity inulin is a reported effective level associated with improved growth performance and carcass characteristics. In lactating dairy cows, daily supplementation of 200 g of inulin per cow represents a reported effective dosage associated with favourable production outcomes, including enhancements in milk yield and composition, as well as modulation of the ruminal microbial community. In fattening beef cattle, dietary inclusion of 20 g/kg inulin (on a dry matter basis) appeared effective under the conditions of the reviewed studies across feeding regimens, with improved feed conversion efficiency (FCR) and rumen fermentation characteristics observed under both low-concentrate (concentrate-to-forage ratio, C:F = 40:60) and high-concentrate (C:F = 60:40) dietary conditions. Given the inconsistent findings across individual studies and the limited evidence supporting well-defined dose-response relationships, the values summarised above should be interpreted as reported effective supplementation levels or dosage ranges linked to beneficial effects in the included studies, rather than unequivocally established optimal inclusion rates. This paper reviews the physicochemical properties, key physiological functions, and potential uses of inulin in livestock and poultry production, providing valuable insights for its incorporation into animal feed.
The global poultry industry is one of the fastest-growing livestock sectors, with worldwide chicken stocks exceeding 32 billion heads and meat production surpassing 144 million tonnes in 2024 (FAOSTAT, 2026). Conventional protein sources, particularly soybean meal (SBM) and fishmeal, underpin most commercial poultry diets but face mounting challenges related to environmental sustainability, supply-chain volatility, and land-use pressures. This systematic review evaluates global trends in poultry feed protein sources using FAOSTAT production and trade data (2000-2024), alongside evidence from 57 peer-reviewed publications identified through a PRISMA-compliant, multi-database search. A structured literature search was conducted across Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and PubMed using consistent search logic combining poultry, protein-source, and sustainability/nutrition/feed terms. Searches yielded 122 (WoS), 5920 (Scopus), and 1827 (PubMed) records (7869 total; 6215 unique after removing ineligible document types and DOI-matched duplicates). The qualitative synthesis presented here is based on the original WoS-driven screening pipeline (57 included studies); the wider Scopus/PubMed pool was used as a supplementary coverage check rather than fully re-screened, a limitation discussed in Section 4.6. FAOSTAT data sets on chicken stocks, meat production, soybean production, and soybean trade were analysed for 2000-2024. Global chicken stocks grew from ~14.8 billion head in 2000 to ~32.2 billion in 2024, while global soybean production increased from 161 Mt to 418 Mt over the same period. Alternative protein sources-particularly black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), mealworms, single-cell proteins (SCP), microalgae, and co-products such as distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS)-demonstrate high potential as partial or full substitutes for SBM and fishmeal in poultry diets. However, challenges including regulatory restrictions, inconsistent nutritional profiles, anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), and production scalability remain significant barriers. Transitioning to diversified, locally sourced, and circular-economy-based protein ingredients is essential to ensure long-term sustainability of the global poultry industry. Policy harmonisation, technological innovation, and consumer acceptance research are critical priority areas for future work.
Haylage is widely fed to all categories of stabled horses across Europe and New Zealand. Haylage can vary from high energy nutrient dense forage to low energy highly fibrous fodder, yet little is known about the impact different haylages have on metabolism in horses. This study provides the first direct comparison of feeding four different haylages: early cut (Lolium multiflorum), later cut (Lolium perenne) rye grass (R1 and R2); early and late cut meadow grass (M1 and M2), on urinary and faecal metabonomics, in ponies at maintenance. Using replicated Latin Square design, eight individually housed ponies were fed each haylage for 15 days in four periods. Faeces and urine were collected on day 12 for metabonomic profiling. Apparent digestibility was evaluated on 3 days of total faecal collection (days 10-12) before adaptation to the new diet (days 13-15). Metabolic profiles (1H NMR Spectroscopy), were phased and baseline corrected via TSP singlet δ 0.0. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) via Matlab, was used to identify metabolic profiles and Orthogonal Projections to Latent-Structures Discriminate Analysis (OPLS-DA) models to group specific metabolic changes. Digestibility was determined using multivariate mixed effects modelling +ANOVA. Pre-study urinary metabolic profiles were similar for all ponies. R1 haylage produced differentiating urinary clusters relative to R2 and M1 although no individual metabolites differed significantly. Some faecal R1 clustering was evident. Pairwise metabolites comparisons reflected underlying nutrient profiles. High inter-pony variation did not prevent dietary discrimination, with R1 > M1 > M2 = R2. This study provides the first evidence that haylages differing in maturity and botanical composition generate measurable metabolic shifts in ponies. These findings highlight the biological importance of haylage selection and indicate that metabonomic profiling is a sensitive informative tool for assessing how forage characteristics shape digestive physiology.
Colostrum is the main source of nutrients and proteins for newborn piglets. To give each piglet the best possible start in life, it is necessary to evaluate the colostrum according to quality. This has to be done by analysing the components, as component composition is a main quality parameter. To achieve this aim, in this study, the content of total solids, crude protein and 24 fatty acids in colostrum samples was analysed. The colostrum samples from 334 sows were classified according to the parity of the donor sow. Parity group 1 contained parity 1 and 2 sows (n = 93), parity group 2 contained parity 3 and 4 sows (n = 109), parity group 3 contained parity 5 and 6 sows (n = 61) and parity group 4 contained sows in parity 7 and higher (n = 71). In addition, 187 sows were investigated clinically within 2 days after farrowing and divided into three groups according to their health status with regard to postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PDS) (healthy [n = 83], clinically suspicious [n = 74] and diseased sows [n = 30]). In this way, it was tested whether puerperal diseases affected the content of fatty acids, crude protein and total solids. Only a few of the colostrum constituents were directly linked to the health of the sows regarding PDS after farrowing. When comparing the contents of the different fatty acids in % of total fatty acids, the content of C18:0 in the colostrum of clinically suspicious sows was higher than in the colostrum of sows without PDS. The colostrum of sows without PDS had a higher content of C18:2n6c and C18:3n3 than the colostrum of clinically suspicious sows. Furthermore, the colostrum of PDS-diseased sows had a higher proportion of C20:2 than that of clinically suspicious sows. With regard to C24:1, the colostrum of sows without PDS had a higher proportion than that of PDS-diseased sows. In contrast, the parity group of the sows affected the quantity of 15 of the 24 analysed fatty acids. With regard to the proportion of the colostrum constituents in the whole colostrum, the colostrum of younger sows up to the 4th parity compared to older sows often had higher proportions of fatty acids (16 out of 24 parameters with significant differences), especially n-3 (C20:5n3, C22:6n3, C18:3n3) compared with n-6 (C18:2n6c, C18:3n6, C20:3n6, C20:4n6) and n3:n6 ratio (parity group 1: 14.6; parity group 2: 15.1; parity group 3: 15.4 and parity group 4: 15.5). No differences in total solids or crude protein were observed between the health groups regarding PDS or among the parity groups. In summary, there was rarely any link between health status regarding PDS and colostrum constituents, as opposed to a more consistent link between parity groups and colostrum constituents.
The present study evaluated the effects of dietary Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract (OGE) on growth performance, haemato-biochemical responses, immune status, and tissue integrity in Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822). Among different solvent fractions, ethanol and acetone extracts exhibited superior antibacterial activity against major fish pathogenic bacteria. The ethanolic extract demonstrated strong bactericidal activity against Edwardsiella piscicida, Aeromonas veronii, A. sobria, Serratia nematodiphilia, and Pseudomonas putida, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.0078 to 0.0156 mg mL-1. Time-kill kinetics further confirmed concentration- and time-dependent antibacterial effects, with ≥ 3× MIC producing marked reductions in viable bacterial counts. A 90-day dose standardisation feeding trial using graded dietary inclusion levels of OGE (1×-4× MIC) identified supplementation at 3× MIC for 60 days as the optimum regimen for sustained enhancement of innate immune and antioxidant responses in L. rohita. Fish fed the 3× MIC diet exhibited markedly higher respiratory burst activity, ceruloplasmin, antiprotease activity, myeloperoxidase, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Dietary OGE supplementation markedly improved growth performance, including final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio. Haematological indices showed no adverse changes during the feeding phase but improved significantly following A. veronii challenge, with elevated RBC, WBC, haemoglobin, and packed cell volume in OGE-fed group. Serum biochemical analyses revealed transient elevations of glucose, cholesterol, total protein, ALT, AST, LDH, and CRP in OGE-fed fish, accompanied by faster recovery towards basal levels following infection. Dietary OGE supplementation also improved post-challenge survival against A. veronii infection, resulting in a relative percent survival (RPS) of 71.4%. Histopathological severity scoring further demonstrated significantly reduced renal and hepatic lesion scores in OGE-fed fish, whereas the positive control group developed progressive lesions characterised by tubular degeneration, glomerulonephritis, hepatocellular necrosis, vacuolation, and cellular hypertrophy. Overall, dietary supplementation with OGE at 3× MIC for 60 days effectively enhanced growth, immune competence, antioxidant defence, haemato-biochemical stability, and tissue integrity in L. rohita, highlighting its potential as a sustainable phytogenic feed additive in aquaculture.
Understanding how nutritional management and genetic background influence hepatic metabolism is important for improving the nutritional quality of bovine products in tropical production systems. This study evaluated breed-associated differences under a common dietary regimen and diet-related differences within the Nelore breed with respect to hepatic cholesterol, lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamins, fatty acid composition and lipid quality indices. Thirty-six intact male cattle were allocated to three experimental groups: Nelore fed a silage-concentrate diet, crossbred (½ Nelore × ½ Angus) fed the same diet, and Nelore fed a high-grain diet. Hepatic cholesterol and antioxidant vitamins were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, whereas fatty acid composition was analysed by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection. No significant differences were observed in hepatic cholesterol concentration for either the breed-associated or diet-related contrasts (p > 0.05). Breed-associated differences were detected for β-carotene, β-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) (p < 0.05). Diet-related differences significantly affected β-carotene, tocopherols, tocotrienols, several individual fatty acids and lipid quality indices, including the n-6/n-3 ratio and hypocholesterolaemic and hypercholesterolaemic fatty acid indices (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis showed clear separation of animals by dietary treatment, with β-carotene, α-tocopherol and tocotrienols contributing strongly to sample discrimination. Overall, diet-related differences within the Nelore breed were associated with significant changes in a broader range of hepatic lipid and antioxidant variables, whereas breed-associated differences under a common dietary regimen were observed for a more limited set of variables. These findings highlight the importance of nutritional management in modulating hepatic composition and support the use of liver biomarkers to assess metabolic responses in beef cattle.
The fatty acid composition of fish is influenced by species, age, diet, and tissues, which respond differently to dietary lipids. This study examined how two commercial diets with contrasting polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) profiles, affecting eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), alter the fatty acid composition in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) tissues and tested whether skin or mucus sampling can indicate hepatic lipid status. Twenty-four sea bass were reared under controlled conditions and fed Optima Plus T3 (diet A) or Protect D4 (diet B) for 30 days, and six fish were sampled at baseline. After feeding, skin mucus, skin, flesh, and liver were collected, lipids were extracted, and fatty acid methyl esters were quantified by gas chromatography. ANOVA and multivariate analyses were used to assess diet- and tissue-dependent shifts. Despite isoenergetic diets and no growth differences, the tissue lipid profiles changed significantly, indicating rapid dietary imprinting. Diet B reduced total n-3 PUFA levels in skin mucus, whereas livers from fish fed diet B showed higher total PUFA, n-6 PUFA, and monounsaturated fatty acid levels than those fed diet A, with altered arachidonic (ARA)/EPA and n-3/n-6 ratios in the liver and mucus. The key fatty acids driving these differences included docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in the mucus and linoleic and oleic acids in the liver. Muscle and skin showed fewer class-level changes but specific shifts (e.g., EPA and α-linolenic acid were higher with diet A; ARA and linoleic acids were higher with diet B). Multivariate ordination revealed close clustering and low dissimilarity between the liver and skin, with linoleic acid as the principal contributor. These findings support the use of small skin biopsies to infer hepatic lipid profile changes, offering a practical tool for monitoring liver conditions and diet-related pathologies in aquaculture.
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation to diets with different energy levels on growth performance, carcass traits, and gut health status in broiler chickens. A total of 9500 1-day-old Ross 308 broilers (equal numbers of males and females) were allocated to 1 of 5 dietary treatments (10 replicate pens per treatment; 190 broilers per pen) for 41 days. Experimental diets included a positive control (PC) with standard metabolizable energy (ME); negative controls with PC -50 kcal/kg ME (NC1) or -75 kcal/kg ME (NC2); and NC1 and NC2 supplemented with 0.06% GAA. Reducing dietary ME by both 50 and 75 kcal/kg significantly increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the finisher phase (25-41 days) and across the entire growth period (0-41 days) (p < 0.05). GAA supplementation in the low-energy diets significantly decreased FCR (p < 0.05), but did not differ significantly from the PC group (p > 0.05) during the respective periods. Dietary treatments had no significant effects on carcass yield, cut yields and abdominal fat percentage (p > 0.05). The relative liver weight increased significantly in all treatment groups compared to the positive control group (p < 0.05). Compared with the PC diet, the villus surface area was significantly reduced in both the NC1 and NC2 diets, while only the NC2 diet resulted in a significant decrease in the number of goblet cells (p < 0.05). GAA supplementation to NC2 significantly improved the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, villus surface area and goblet cell number in the jejunum (p < 0.05). Lactobacillus and coliform counts were not affected by dietary treatments (p > 0.05), whereas total aerobic counts increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the NC2 + GAA group compared with NC1. Reducing dietary energy by 50 kcal/kg led to a significant decrease in short-chain fatty acid levels, whereas GAA supplementation increased those levels in both low-energy diets (p < 0.05). Conversely, branched-chain fatty acid concentrations were not significantly affected by dietary treatments (p > 0.05). The results indicate that dietary energy reduction adversely affected growth performance and gut health, whereas GAA supplementation compensated for these effects. Furthermore, the inclusion of 0.06% GAA can spare up to 75 kcal ME/kg in broiler diets, while maintaining growth performance and, to some extent, improving gut health.
Aflatoxins, toxic metabolites produced by Aspergillus species, are frequently reported contaminants of dairy cattle feed worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where climatic conditions favor fungal growth, and they can be transferred into milk and dairy products. Their presence poses major public health risks, including liver cancer and growth impairment, among others. Understanding the extent of carryover from feed to milk is critical for food safety and regulatory control. A systematic review was conducted to synthesize evidence on aflatoxin carryover in dairy systems over the past two decades. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Studies investigating aflatoxin levels in dairy feed and milk, as well as carryover rates, were included. Data extraction focused on contamination levels, feed treatment efficiency and carryover rates of aflatoxins as well as mitigation measures. Twenty-seven eligible studies were identified. Aflatoxin B1 concentrations in dairy feed ranged from undetectable to 598 µg/kg. In milk, AFM1 levels reached up to 22.2 µg/kg, with reported carryover rates as high as 15%. The findings highlight variability in contamination across regions and production systems. This review underscores the continuing risk of aflatoxin in dairy products, identifies knowledge gaps and emerging threats, and emphasizes the need for improved interventions to safeguard food safety and public health.
Former food products (FFP) are food industry leftovers that can be used as feed ingredients. We investigated the effects of sugary FFP on growth, feeding behaviour, carcass and meat quality of pigs fattened to a heavy weight. Three inclusion levels were tested: 0% (FFP-0 = control), 20% (FFP-20) and 40% (FFP-40) FFP in grower (20-60 kg BW), finisher 1 (60-100 kg BW) and finisher 2 (100-140 kg BW) phase. A total of 36 castrated pigs were used, with 12 pigs within a litter assigned to each treatment, housed in a single pen equipped with automatic feeders that allowed recording of individual (ad libitum) feed intake at each visit. The pigs were slaughtered in two batches at the age of 190.9 ± 1.5 days and BW of 144.7 ± 8.8 kg. At slaughter, carcass weight, longissimus dorsi (LD) pH and carcass traits were measured. The following day, body composition of carcasses was determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and then carcasses were dissected into primal cuts, and meat quality was assessed. Data were analysed with SASV9.4 (PROC MIXED), with diet as a fixed effect and litter (dam) as a random effect in the model. Linear effects of sugary FFP inclusion were tested. In the grower period, daily feed intake and daily gain decreased with increasing sugary FFP inclusion. In finisher periods, a tendency towards lower daily feed intake was observed with increasing sugary FFP inclusion, which did not affect daily gain, but led to better feed conversion in the finisher II period. In the grower period, no differences in feeding behaviour were observed, while in finisher II period, FFP-20 pigs spent the shortest time at the feeder, consumed more feed per minute, had a longer interval between visits, but tended to go to the feeder more often than the FFP-0 or FFP-40 pigs. Compared to control, the sugary FFP inclusion was associated with increased carcass protein and water and decreased fat content, in line with thinner backfat. The decrease in ultimate pH and CIE (Commission Internationale d'Eclairage) colour parameter L* of LD were the only significant effects on meat quality. The backfat fatty acid composition was affected by sugary FFP inclusion (more monounsaturated fatty acids and less polyunsaturated fatty acids with higher ∑n6:∑n3 ratio). In summary, the sugary FFP inclusion of up to 40% had a limited effect on growth performance and meat quality but resulted in less deposition of fat and altered adipose tissue fatty acids profile.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of reduced dietary acid-binding capacity (ABC) by acidifiers on the properties of digesta along the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. In Exp. 1, 144 pigs at 21 d of age [6.5 ± 0.9 kg body weight (BW)] were housed in pens (3 pigs/pen). In Exp. 2, 540 pigs weaned at 21 d of age (6.9 ± 0.9 kg BW) were housed in pens (3 barrows and 3 gilts/pen). In Exp. 1, the basal diet was supplemented with 0.25% bacitracin methylene disalicylate, 0.30 or 0.50% lactic acid-formic acid blend, or 0.30% lactic acid-formic acid-benzoic acid blend. In Exp. 2, the basal diet was supplemented with 0.25% bacitracin methylene disalicylate, 0.25, 0.35, or 0.50% benzoic acid, or 0.30, 0.40, or 0.60% sodium benzoate. In both Exp. 1 and 2, pigs were fed diets in 3 phases: phase 1 (7 d in both Exp. 1 and 2), phase 2 (14 d in Exp. 1 and 17 d in Exp. 2), and phase 3 (21 d in Exp. 1 and 17 d in Exp. 2), respectively. The range of ABC at pH 4 in diets was 256 to 300, 194 to 220, and 129 to 176 meq/kg in phases 1, 2, and 3 of Exp. 1, and 234 to 273, 214 to 247, and 152 to 197 meq/kg in phases 1, 2, and 3 of Exp. 2, respectively. On d 42 in Exp. 1 and d 41 in Exp. 2, one pig representing the median BW in each pen was euthanized, and digesta from the stomach, proximal jejunum, distal jejunum, and cecum were collected to analyze the properties of digesta. The pH of digesta in the stomach was 4.0, which was lower (p < 0.05) than the pH of digesta in the proximal jejunum (6.0), distal jejunum (5.9), and cecum (5.5). The pH of digesta in the cecum was lower (p < 0.05) than the pH of the digesta in the proximal and distal jejunum. The dry matter (DM) content in stomach digesta was 32.5%, which was higher (p < 0.05) than the DM content of digesta in the proximal jejunum (14.9%), distal jejunum (14.4%), and cecum (14.3%). The ABC at pH 4 of nursery diets was not correlated with the ABC at pH 3 of freeze-dried stomach digesta and pH of stomach digesta. However, the ABC-3 of freeze-dried stomach digesta was positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the DM content in stomach digesta (r = 0.57) and the pH of stomach digesta (r = 0.63) in nursery pigs. The DM content in stomach digesta was also positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the pH of stomach digesta of nursery pigs (r = 0.54). In conclusion, reducing dietary ABC by 40 to 50 meq/kg using acidifiers was not sufficient to reduce ABC or pH of stomach digesta in nursery pigs. However, the DM content in stomach digesta was positively correlated with its ABC and pH indicating that a decrease in the DM content and ABC of stomach digesta, if influenced by diets, is a primary factor contributing to reducing digesta pH in the stomach of nursery pigs.
Vitamin A (retinol and retinyl esters) is present in substantial amounts in the urine of healthy adult dogs, but the mechanisms affecting its excretion are poorly understood. To assess whether the onset of urinary vitamin A excretion is dependent on dietary vitamin A intake, breed, and/or parameters of kidney function, 48 puppies from two breeds, the Labrador Retriever and the Miniature Schnauzer were included. Dogs were given four diets with increasing vitamin A content (5000; 12,500; 75,000 and 100,000 IU vitamin A/1000 kcal metabolizable energy). Plasma and urine samples were collected and the onset of a continuous vitamin A excretion in urine was determined for each dog. Vitamin A concentration was determined by HPLC. Concentrations of creatinine, urea, protein and albumin were determined by colorimetric assays. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) were measured by semiquantitative Western blot. Plasma vitamin A concentrations increased with increased dietary vitamin A intake (p < 0.001), but the onset of urinary vitamin A excretion (p = 0.158) and the amount of vitamin A excreted at this time point were not different between the feeding groups (p = 0.128) or breed (p = 0.279). Concentrations of creatinine, urea, protein and albumin in plasma and protein in urine were not different between groups. There were no differences in the concentrations of RBP4 in plasma (p = 0.309), RBP4 in urine (p = 0.345) and THP in urine (p = 0.384). The onset of vitamin A excretion in the urine of dogs seems to be not directly associated with the plasma vitamin A concentration and, thus not simply explained by dietary vitamin A intake alone. The vitamin A excretion is not breed specific and not dependent on kidney function or the occurrence of transport proteins in plasma (RBP4) or urine (THP). Thus, the onset and the amount of vitamin A excreted are determined by factors that remain to be elucidated.
The house cricket Acheta domesticus has emerged as a promising alternative protein source for animal nutrition; however, limited information is available on how developmental stage influences its nutritional characteristics. This study compared subadults (30-day-old) and adults (40-day-old) crickets in terms of chemical composition, mineral profile and heavy metal-content, fatty acid profile, crude protein digestibility, and chitin yield. Adults showed significantly higher dry matter, crude protein, nitrogen-free extract, and protein digestibility values, whereas subadults exhibited ether extract and ash content, resulting in higher gross energy. Mineral analysis revealed low levels of toxic elements in both groups, with adults displaying higher selenium and phosphorus concentrations. Fatty acid profiling highlighted marked developmental differences: subadults had higher MUFA and linoleic acid, alongside an unbalanced ω6/ω3 ratio, while adults exhibited a more favourable fatty acid distribution, including increased long-chain ω3 and ω6 derivatives such as arachidonic acid. Chitin extraction revealed no significant differences between groups, although a strong negative correlation was identified between chitin content and crude protein digestibility. Overall, the results indicate that while adults provide superior protein quality and a more balanced lipid profile, subadults offer advantages in terms of energy content and potentially reduced production time. These findings support the strategic integration of A. domesticus at different developmental stages into animal feed formulations and underscore the importance of stage-specific nutritional characterisation for optimising insect-based feed ingredients.
We recommend systematically optimising the composition of insect meals in broiler feed, emphasising insects' intrinsic antioxidant properties to eliminate lipid oxidation in meat products. The proposed method will involve high-resolution antioxidant profiling of candidate insects (e.g. Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor) using the HPLC-DPPH method and subsequently using these metrics to index insect diets as an antioxidant capacity index (ACI). Broiler diets containing insect meals show better performance at inclusion ratios of 5-15, with macronutrient parity maintained through iso-nitrogen substitution for soybean meal. Additionally, the addition of proteases improves chitin digestion and enhances nutrient utilization. The insect diets with high antioxidant content are to be evaluated for broiler growth, carcass characteristics and the stability of the meat product's oxidative system, as assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA) and peroxide values (PV). These are summarised as a nutritional stability score (NSS), in which oxidation resistance is compared with growth measurements to continuously optimise feeds. The approach is also unusual compared to conventional methods because it dynamically correlates insect biochemistry with meat quality, thereby enabling a closed-loop system for the sustainable production of broilers. It shows that insect meals optimised for antioxidant content can serve as both a growth efficiency agent and a shelf-life extension agent, providing a dual effect for the poultry industry. Its scale is not specific and can be optimised in the future if new insect species or processing technologies emerge.
This study hypothesises that a high-starch (HS) diet during the last month of gestation enhances colostrum yield and composition as well as the dam and goat kid metabolism, immune status and performance. Thirty multiparous and pregnant Majorera dairy goats were randomly assigned to a prepartum dietary treatment (CON vs. HS) on wk -4 relative to the expected parturition. Goats were fed either a control (n = 15; 25% DM of starch) or HS (n = 15; 32% DM of starch) diet during the last month of gestation. Blood samples were collected on wk -4, -3, -2 and -1 relative to expected parturition, immediately at parturition (d0) and on d 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30 postpartum in dams and goat kids. Colostrum and milk yield were recorded, and gross chemical composition, somatic cell count (SCC), Brix degrees and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration were determined on d 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30 postpartum. In addition, dam and goat kid blood serum metabolites and plasma IgG concentrations were determined. Data was analysed using linear mixed models in SAS (SAS 9.4) including the prepartum diet, time (T), and the interaction between both as fixed effects. The statistical significance was set as p ≤ 0.05. The high-starch diet did not have any effect either on colostrum nor on milk yield, gross chemical composition, SCC and Brix degrees. However, the excess of starch on the prepartum diet increased colostrum IgG concentration on d 0 (i.e. first milking) in the HS group compared to the control group (i.e. 85.4 and 61.2 mg/mL, respectively). Serum BHB concentration in the HS group increased progressively from wk -3 to parturition (i.e. 0.20 and 0.24 mmol/L, respectively), whereas the control group showed a sharp increase from wk -1 to parturition (i.e. 0.22 and 0.29 mmol/L, respectively). Calcium, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase, urea and albumin concentrations were lower in the HS group compared to the control group during the prepartum period. The high-starch diet prepartum did not influence serum metabolites in the postpartum period except for lactate dehydrogenase, being lower in the first 5 days after parturition in the HS group. In the goat kids, body weight (BW), milk intake and plasma IgG concentrations were not affected by the high-starch diet offered to the dams prepartum except for an increased serum total protein concentration observed on d 1 in the HS group compared to the CON group (i.e. 7.1 vs. 6.5 g/dL, respectively). The present results indicate that a high-starch diet during the last month of gestation does not affect either colostrum yield or composition but increases colostrum IgG concentration, although it did not affect circulating IgG concentrations in goat kids from both groups. Based on the slower fat mobilisation in the HS group, high-starch diets prepartum could promote a smoother transition from late gestation to early lactation in dairy goats. However, other metabolic variables should be considered in future studies.
Glutamine (Gln) and glutamic acid (Glu) are the most abundant free amino acids (AAs) in the fish body. Although classified as non-essential AAs, their supplementation can be a strategy to optimize the growth performance and health of fish. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary Gln and Glu blend on growth performance, biochemical parameters, gut microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production, digestive enzyme activity, histomorphometry, and liver mRNA levels of glutamine synthetase (GS), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α), anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 (IL-10), pro-inflammatory interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and antioxidant status of juvenile Nile tilapia. Fish (n = 216; 0.99 ± 0.01 g) were randomly allocated into eight aquariums containing 27 fish each, in a four-replicate design. Fish were hand-fed a Glu + Gln unsupplemented basal diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 20 g kg-1 Glu + Gln (AMG) six times daily until apparent satiety for 60 days. Relative to fish fed CON diet, fish fed AMG diet exhibited enhanced feed conversion ratio (FCR; -5.6%), energy retention efficiency (+8.20%), and protein retention efficiency (+7.69%), and a trend towards a higher survival rate (+5.9%), suggesting improved nutrient utilization. Although the general structure of the microbiota of fish fed AMG diet remained similar to that of fish fed CON diet, it was observed that Gln + Glu supplementation promoted increased relative abundance of Enterococcus sp., a potential probiotic. Notably, fish fed AMG diet showed higher SCFA production than those fed CON diet, enhancing intestinal fold development. Fish fed AMG diet also exhibited higher liver activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), resulting in lower malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and indicating a healthier intestinal mucosal state. Furthermore, fish fed AMG diet showed higher mRNA expression of IL-10 and GS, indicating enhanced anti-inflammatory responses and ammonia metabolism, respectively. In conclusion, 20 g kg-1 dietary Gln plus Glu enhanced FCR, nutrient retention, and survival by favorably modulating the microbiota and improving intestinal function, thereby optimizing antioxidant responses and innate immunity in juvenile Nile tilapia. These findings highlight the potential of Gln and Glu blend to improve profitability and sustainability in Nile tilapia aquaculture.
