Pre‑hatch thermal manipulation of embryos and post‑hatch baicalein supplementation mitigated heat stress in broiler chickens

Background High environmental temperatures induce heat stress in broiler chickens,affecting their health and pro-duction performance.Several dietary,managerial,and genetics strategies have been tested with some success in mitigating heat stress(HS)in broilers.Developing novel HS mitigation strategies for sustaining broiler production is critically needed.This study investigated the effects of pre-hatch thermal manipulation(TM)and post-hatch baica-lein supplementation on growth performance and health parameters in heat-stressed broilers.Results Six hundred fertile Cobb 500 eggs were incubated for 21 d.After candling on embryonic day(ED)10,238 eggs were thermally manipulated at 38.5℃ with 55%relative humidity(RH)from ED 12 to 18,then transferred to the hatcher(ED 19 to 21,standard temperature)and 236 eggs were incubated at a controlled temperature(37.5℃)till hatch.After hatch,180-day-old chicks from both groups were raised in 36 pens(n=10 birds/pen,6 replicates per treatment).The treatments were:1)Control,2)TM,3)control heat stress(CHS),4)thermal manipulation heat stress(TMHS),5)control heat stress supplement(CHSS),and 6)thermal manipulation heat stress supplement(TMHSS).All birds were raised under the standard environment for 21 d,followed by chronic heat stress from d 22 to 35(32–33℃ for 8 h)in the CHS,TMHS,CHSS,and TMHSS groups.A thermoneutral(22–24℃)environment was maintained in the Control and TM groups.RH was constant(50%±5%)throughout the trial.All the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA in R and GraphPad software at P<0.05 and are presented as mean±SEM.Heat stress significantly decreased(P<0.05)the final body weight and ADG in CHS and TMHS groups compared to the other groups.Embryonic TM significantly increased(P<0.05)the expression of heat shock protein-related genes(HSP70,HSP90,and HSPH1)and antioxidant-related genes(GPX1 and TXN).TMHS birds showed a significant increment(P<0.05)in total cecal volatile fatty acid(VFA)concentration compared to the CHS birds.The cecal microbial analysis showed significant enrichment(P<0.05)in alpha and beta diversity and Coprococcus in the TMHSS group.Conclusions Pre-hatch TM and post-hatch baicalein supplementation in heat-stressed birds mitigate the detrimental effects of heat stress on chickens’growth performance,upregulate favorable gene expression,increase VFA produc-tion,and promote gut health by increasing beneficial microbial communities.

Effect of in ovo feeding of xylobiose and xylotriose on plasma immunoglobulin, cecal metabolites production, microbial ecology, and metabolic pathways in broiler chickens

Background Dietary supplementation of xylooligosac charides(XOS) has been found to influence gut health by manipulating cecal microbiota and producing microbe-origin metabolites.But no study investigated and compared the effect of in ovo feeding of xylobiose(XOS2) and xy lotriose(XOS3) in chickens.This study investigated the effect of in ovo feeding of these XOS compounds on post-hatch gut health parameters in chickens.A total of 144 fertilized chicken eggs were divided into three groups:a) non-injected control(CON),b) XOS2,and c) XOS3.On the 17^(th) embryonic day,the eggs of the XOS2 and XOS3 groups were injected with 3 mg of XOS2 and XOS3 diluted in 0.5 mL of 0.85% normal saline through the amniotic sac.After hatching,the chicks were raised for 21 d.Blood was collected on d 14 to measure plasma immunoglobulin.Cecal digests were collected for measuring short-chain fatty acids(SCFA) on d 14 and 21,and for microbial ecology and microbial metabolic pathway analyses on d 7 and 21.Results The results were considered significantly different at P<0.05.ELISA quantified plasma IgA and IgG on d 14chickens,revealing no differences among the treatments.Gas chromatography results showed no significant differences in the concentrations of cecal SCFAs on d 14 but significant differences on d 21.However;the SCFA concentrations were lower in the XOS3 than in the CON group on d 21.The cecal metagenomics data showed that the abundance of the family Clostridiaceae significantly decreased on d 7,and the abundance of the family Oscillospiraceae increased on d 21 in the XOS2 compared to the CON.There was a reduction in the relative abundance of genus Clostridium sense stricto 1 in the XOS2 compared to the CON on d 7 and the genus Ruminococcus,torques in both XOS2 and XOS3 groups compared to the CON on d 21.The XOS2 and XOS3 groups reduced the genes for chondroitin sulfate degradation Ⅰ and L-histidine degradation Ⅰpathways,which contribute to improved gut health,respectivelyc in the microbiome on d 7.In contrast,on d 21,the XOS2 and XOS3 groups enriched the thiamin salvage Ⅱ,L-isoleucine biosynthesis Ⅳ,and O-antigen building blocks biosynthesis(E. coli) pathways,which are indicative of improved gut health.Unlike the XOS3 and CON,the microbiome enriched the pathways associated with energy enhancement,including flavin biosynthesis Ⅰ,sucrose degradation Ⅲ,and Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle pathways,in the XOS2 group on d 21.Conclusion In ovo XOS2 and XOS3 feeding promoted beneficial bacterial growth and reduced harmful bacteria at the family and genus levels.The metagenomic-based microbial metabolic pathway profiling predicted a favorable change in the availability of cecal metabolites in the XOS2 and XOS3 groups.The modulation of microbiota and metabolic pathways suggests that in ovo XOS2 and XOS3 feeding improved gut health during the post-hatch period of broilers.

Effects of Enteromorpha prolifera polysaccharides on growth performance,intestinal barrier function and cecal microbiota in yellow-feathered broilers under heat stress

Background Global warming leading to heat stress(HS)is becoming a major challenge for broiler production.This study aimed to explore the protective effects of seaweed(Enteromorpha prolifera)polysaccharides(EPS)on the intestinal barrier function,microbial ecology,and performance of broilers under HS.A total of 144 yellow-feathered broilers(male,56 days old)with 682.59±7.38 g were randomly assigned to 3 groups:1)TN(thermal neutral zone,23.6±1.8℃),2)HS(heat stress,33.2±1.5℃ for 10 h/d),and 3)HSE(HS+0.1%EPS).Each group contained 6 replicates with 8 broilers per replicate.The study was conducted for 4 weeks;feed intake and body weights were measured at the end of weeks 2 and 4.At the end of the feeding trial,small intestine samples were collected for histomorphology,antioxidant,secretory immunoglobulin A(s Ig A)content,apoptosis,gene and protein expression analysis;cecal contents were also collected for microbiota analysis based on 16S r DNA sequencing.Results Dietary EPS promoted the average daily gain(ADG)of broilers during 3–4 weeks of HS(P<0.05).At the end of HS on broilers,the activity of total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD),glutathione S-transferase(GST),and the content of s Ig A in jejunum were improved by EPS supplementation(P<0.05).Besides,dietary EPS reduced the epithelial cell apoptosis of jejunum and ileum in heat-stressed broilers(P<0.05).Addition of EPS in HS group broilers'diet upregulated the relative m RNA expression of Occludin,ZO-1,γ-GCLc and IL-10 of the jejunum(P<0.05),whereas downregulated the relative m RNA expression of NF-κB p65,TNF-αand IL-1βof the jejunum(P<0.05).Dietary EPS increased the protein expression of Occludin and ZO-1,whereas it reduced the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and MLCK(P<0.01)and tended to decrease the protein expression of TNF-α(P=0.094)in heat-stressed broilers.Furthermore,the proportions of Bacteroides and Oscillospira among the three groups were positively associated with jejunal apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression(P<0.05)and negatively correlated with jejunal Occludin level(P<0.05).However,the proportions of Lactobacillus,Barnesiella,Subdoligranulum,Megasphaera,Collinsella,and Blautia among the three groups were positively related to ADG(P<0.05).Conclusions EPS can be used as a feed additive in yellow-feathered broilers.It effectively improves growth performance and alleviates HS-induced intestinal injury by relieving inflammatory damage and improving the tight junction proteins expression.These beneficial effects may be related to inhibiting NF-κB/MLCK signaling pathway activation and regulation of cecal microbiota.

膳食纤维与单胃动物肠道健康

动物的生长性能、生产性能、饲料效率以及整体健康水平,在很大程度上都依赖于肠道健康。由于不使用抗生素生长促进剂(AGP)引起了饲料法规以及动物生产系统的变化,因此有必要确定一种新颖有效的优化肠道健康的策略。在饲用抗生素的替代品中,膳食纤维(DF)在单胃动物日粮中的应用已经取得了一定的成功。替代饲料原料及副产品通常富含纤维,可用于动物日粮中,以降低饲料成本和优化肠道健康。膳食纤维是天然存在的化合物,具有多种成分,存在于所有植物性饲料中。膳食纤维促进肠道细菌的生长,在小肠和大肠远端发酵成短链脂肪酸,对免疫系统发挥有益作用。给母畜添加膳食纤维是一种新的策略,对后代动物的微生物和免疫发育具有有益的调节作用。膳食纤维改善肠道健康的一个机制是维持肠道厌氧环境,从而防止兼性厌氧病原体的繁殖。在对猪和家禽进行的研究表明,基于膳食纤维的不同类型、不同组成和理化性质,其发酵特性及对肠道健康的有益影响差异很大。因此,了解不同类型的膳食纤维及其在优化肠道健康方面的作用非常重要。本篇综述将提供有关单胃动物营养中使用不同类型的膳食纤维及其对肠道健康的贡献方面的信息和更新,包括微生物学、发酵特性以及先天和适应性免疫反应。

Strategies to modulate the intestinal microbiota and their effects on nutrient utilization, performance, and health of poultry

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

Dietary fiber in poultry nutrition and their effects on nutrient utilization,performance,gut health,and on the environment:a review

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

Effects of supplemental xylanase and xylooligosaccharides on production performance and gut health variables of broiler chickens

Background:This study evaluated the effects of supplemental xylanase and xylooligosaccharides(XOS)in a cornsoybean meal(SBM)-based diet on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers.A total of 288 day-old chicks(Cobb 500)were allocated to 36 floor pens(8 birds/pen)equally in 9 dietary treatments in a 3×3 factorial arrangement.The treatments were combinations of 3 levels of xylanase(0,0.005% and 0.01% Econase XT)and 3 levels of prebiotics(0,0.005% and 0.01% XOS)added to basal mash diets formulated in three phases(starter,d 0-14;grower,d 15-28;finisher,d 29-42).The feed intake and body weights were recorded weekly.On d 42,ileal sections were collected for histomorphometric and gene expression analysis,and cecal content was collected for determining short-chain fatty acids(SCFA)and microbiota.Results:Xylanase linearly(P<0.01)increased the average daily gain(ADG)in both the finisher and total period and the final body weight gain(FBWG,2940&2932 vs.2760 g)of broilers.XOS did not significantly increase either ADG or FBWG(P>0.05).Supplemental xylanase and XOS did not affect average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio(P>0.05).Xylanase and XOS did not change villus height(VH)or crypt depth(CD)ratio(P>0.05).However,xylanase exhibited a trend(P=0.097)on VH:CD ratio.The inclusion of 0.01%XOS without xylanase increased the level of IL-10(a marker of anti-inflammatory cytokine)and IL-4(a T-cell differentiation cytokine)genes compared with control(P<0.05).The acetate production was increased by xylanase(P<0.01)and XOS(P<0.05)without an additive effect.Xylanase increased total SCFA(P<0.01)while XOS had a tendency to increase(P=0.052).Alpha and beta diversity of microbiota among treatments were not different(P>0.05).However,the mean proportion of family Ruminococcaceae was increased by the supplemental 0.01% xylanase(P<0.01).Conclusion:It can be concluded that XOS can enhance cecal fermentation,while xylanase can increase the body weight gain along with the fermentation metabolites in the ceca of broilers fed the corn-SBM-based diet but the effects may not always translate into an improved mucosal absorptive capacity and a better feed efficiency.

Effects of in ovo delivered xylo-and mannan-oligosaccharides on growth performance,intestinal immunity,cecal short-chain fatty acids,and cecal microbiota of broilers

Background:This study investigated a novel in ovo feeding strategy to determine the prebiotic effects of xylo-and mannan-oligosaccharides(XOS and MOS)differing in the degree of polymerization.A total of 192 fertilized eggs were divided into 6 treatment groups:i)normal saline control(NSC),ii)xylotriose(XOS3),iii)xylotetraose(XOS4),iv)mannotriose(MOS3),v)mannotetraose(MOS4),and vi)no injection control(NIC),each containing 4 replicate trays with 8 eggs per replicate.On d 17 of incubation,3 mg of oligosaccharides(except for controls)dissolved in 0.5 mL of 0.85%normal saline were injected into the amnion of Cobb 500 broilers eggs.After hatch,the chicks were raised for 28 d under standard husbandry practices and were fed a commercial broilers diet ad libitum,and samples were collected periodically.Results:The hatchability,growth performance,and relative weights of breast,drumstick,liver,and proventriculus were not different among the treatments(P>0.05).The XOS3 injection increased the total short-chain fatty acid production at d 28 compared with both control groups(P<0.05).The villus height to crypt depth ratio was significantly higher in the XOS4 group than both controls on the hatch day(P<0.01)but were not different among any treatments on d 7 and 28(P>0.05).On the hatch day,the expression level of the CD3 gene(a T cell marker)was increased by XOS3,while the IL-10 gene(a marker of anti-inflammatory cytokine)was reduced by MOS4(P<0.05)compared with both controls.Compared with both controls,XOS3 exhibited a trend of reduction for IL-10(P=0.074).No cytokines or lymphocyte markers were affected by the treatments on d 7(P>0.05),except XOS4 increased IL-4 compared with NSC(P<0.05).The broilers in the MOS4 group had higher operational taxonomic units(OTUs)and had more differentially abundant taxa,including order Lactobacillales and family Leuconostocaceae(P<0.05)than both controls on d 28.The predictive functional profiling indicated that the linoleic acid metabolism pathway was enriched in the cecal microbiota of the XOS3 group compared with both controls(P<0.05).Conclusion:The effects of these XOS and MOS on ileal mucosa and immunity are transient,but the effects on fermentation and cecal microbiota are prolonged,and further research is warranted to determine their use as a gut health promoter in poultry.

Role of oregano and Citrus species-based essential oil preparation for the control of coccidiosis in broiler chickens

Background:Due to presence of drug-resistant Eimeria strains and raised public health safety concerns about drug residues in the meat,there is renewed interest in the search for natural alternatives to the coccidiosis control agents.This study was conducted to test the anticoccidial efficacy of oregano and Citrus spp.-based essential oils for broilers.Methods:A total of 2807-day-old broiler chicks were fed a control diet or diets with salinomycin or essential oils for up to 35 d of age.On d 14,half of the control groups and the treated groups were orally challenged with a coccidiosis vaccine at 25 times higher than the recommended vaccine dose.Control diet-fed chickens that were gavaged with phosphate-buffered saline were considered non-challenged control group.Results:Eimeria challenge or dietary additives failed to affect growth performance during the 7 to 20 d growth period although essential oil-fed chickens exhibited the lowest body wight gain(P=0.332)and the highest feed conversion ratio(P=0.062).Oocysts in the litter were detected in the challenged control diet group and the challenged/essential oil-fed groups at 21 and 35 d,respectively.Superoxide dismutase activity in the serum was elevated(P=0.059)in the salinomycin-fed chickens compared to the challenged controls.Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein was decreased by 28.7%in the salinomycin-fed chickens but increased by 38.1%in the essential oil group compared with the challenged control group.Challenged control group exhibited a significantly higher cooking loss of the thigh meat,compared to the non-challenged control diet group,which was marginally mitigated by dietary supplementation with essential oils.Chickens fed essential oil-added diet had the highest branched-chain fatty acids contents in the cecum.Conclusions:In conclusion,this study shows that oregano and Citrus-based essential oil preparation did not affect growth performance in broiler chickens challenged with the coccidiosis vaccine nor did Eimeria-specific duodenal lesion.However,dietary essential oil preparation lowered oocysts present in litter materials and altered branchedchain fatty acids in cecal digesta.Beneficial findings of the essential oil preparation on volatile fatty acids and oocysts output may warrant further research into assessing its effectiveness and its efficacy in pathogenic fieldisolate Eimeria spp.-induced coccidiosis disease model.

Dietary supplementation of dried plum:a novel strategy to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens

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

Starchy and fibrous feedstuffs differ in their in vitro digestibility and fermentation characteristics and differently modulate gut microbiota of swine

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

Fermentation characteristics of resistant starch, arabinoxylan, andβ-glucan and their effects on the gut microbial ecology of pigs:A review

Dietary fibers(DF)contain an abundant amount of energy,although the mammalian genome does not encode most of the enzymes required to degrade them.However,a mutual dependence is developed between the host and symbiotic microbes,which has the potential to extract the energy present in these DF.Dietary fibers escape digestion in the foregut and are fermented in the hindgut,producing shortchain fatty acids(SCFA)that after the microbial ecology in the gastrointestinal tract(GIT)of pigs.Most of the carbohydrates are fermented in the proximal part,allowing protein fermentation in the distal part,resulting in colonic diseases.The structures of resistant starch(RS),arabinoxylan(AX),and β-glucan(βG)are complex;hence,makes their way into the hindgut where these are fermented and provide energy substrates for the colonic epithelial cells.Different microbes have different preferences of binding to different substrates.The RS,AX and βG act as a unique substrate for the microbes and modify the relative composition of the gut microbial community.The granule dimension and surface area of each substrate are different,which influences the penetration capacity of microbes.Arabinose and xylan are 2 different hemicelluloses,but arabinose is substituted on the xylan backbone and occurs in the form of AX.Fermentation of xylan produces butyrate primarily in the small intestine,whereas arabinose produces butyrate in the large intestine.Types of RS and forms of βG also exert beneficial effects by producing different metabolites and modulating the intestinal microbiota.Therefore,it is important to have information of different types of RS,AX and(3 G and their roles in microbial modulation to get the optimum benefits of fiber fermentation in the gut.This review provides relevant information on the similarities and differences that exist in the way RS,AX,and βG are fermented,and their positive and negative effects on SCFA production and gut microbial ecology of pigs.These insights will help nutritionists to develop dietary strategies that can modulate specific SCFA production and promote beneficial microbiota in the GIT of swine.

Nutrient profile and digestibility of tubers and agro-industrial coproducts determined using an in vitro model of swine

Exploring and evaluating alternative feed ingredients to be used in swine diet is essential due to highly variable cost and limited availability of conventional feed ingredients. Tubers and agro-industrial coproducts could provide the basis for producing affordable swine feed. However, information on the nutritional value of these potential alternative feedstuffs is necessary while considering their use in swine feeding program. Four tubers(purple sweet potato [PSP], okinawan sweet potato, taro and cassava) and 3 coproducts(okara, wheat millrun [WMR] and barley brewers grain [BBG]) were analyzed for their proximate nutrients, starch, fibers and gross energy(GE) content. Two independent in vitro studies were carried out for tubers and coproducts to determine their nutrients digestibility using a 3-step enzymatic assay(which mimics the digestion occurring in the gastrointestinal tract of swine) with 9 replicates of each sample digested in 3 batches equally. All replicate samples were used to determine in vitro dry matter digestibility(IVDDM) while 2 replicates from each batch were used to determine in vitro GE digestibility(IVDGE). Among tubers, CP content was the highest in taro(8.8%) and the lowest in cassava(3.7%), while CP content among coproducts was the highest in okara(22.7%) and the lowest in WMR(11.8%). Ether extract content among tubers ranged from 1.1% to 2.8%. The GE content among tubers, ranged from 4,134 to 4,334 kcal/kg whereas among coproducts it ranged from 4,270 to 4,794 kcal/kg. Among tubers, IVDDM for PSP was significantly higher(86.8%, P < 0.001) than taro(70.3%). Among coproducts, IVDDM of okara(74.1%) was significantly higher(P < 0.05) than BBG(61.3%). In conclusion,both tubers and coproducts can be used as a partial substitute of conventional energy feedstuffs in swine diets as these are rich in GE and other nutrients and are fairly digestible.

Ochratoxin A:Carryover from animal feed into livestock and the mitigation strategies

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