Meeting the increasing demands for high-quality pork protein requires not only improved diets but also biotechnology-based breeding to generate swine with desired production traits.Biotechnology can be classified as t...Meeting the increasing demands for high-quality pork protein requires not only improved diets but also biotechnology-based breeding to generate swine with desired production traits.Biotechnology can be classified as the cloning of animals with identical genetic composition or genetic engineering(via recombinant DNA technology and gene editing)to produce genetically modified animals or microorganisms.Cloning helps to conserve species and breeds,particularly those with excellent biological and economical traits.Recombinant DNA technology combines genetic materials from multiple sources into single cells to generate proteins.Gene(genome)editing involves the deletion,insertion or silencing of genes to produce:(a)genetically modified pigs with important production traits;or(b)microorganisms without an ability to resist antimicrobial substances.Current gene-editing tools include the use of zinc finger nuclease(ZFN),transcription activator-like effector nuclease(TALEN),or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated nuclease-9(CRISPR/Cas9)as editors.ZFN,TALEN,or CRISPR/Cas9 components are delivered into target cells through transfection(lipid-based agents,electroporation,nucleofection,or microinjection)or bacteriophages,depending on cell type and plasmid.Compared to the ZFN and TALEN,CRISPR/Cas9 offers greater ease of design and greater flexibility in genetic engineering,but has a higher frequency of off-target effects.To date,genetically modified pigs have been generated to express bovine growth hormone,bacterial phytase,fungal carbohydrases,plant and C.elagan fatty acid desaturases,and uncoupling protein-1;and to lack myostatin,α-1,3-galactosyltransferase,or CD163(a cellular receptor for the"blue ear disease"virus).Biotechnology holds promise in improving the efficiency of swine production and developing alternatives to antibiotics in the future.展开更多
Swine influenza （SI） is an acute, febrile, highly contagious, respiratory infectious disease caused by swine influenza virus （SIV）, which is a common disease in intensive pig farms, and prevalent throughout the wo...Swine influenza （SI） is an acute, febrile, highly contagious, respiratory infectious disease caused by swine influenza virus （SIV）, which is a common disease in intensive pig farms, and prevalent throughout the world. Disease in affected pigs was characterized by burst, high fever, rapid epidemic spread. The mortality of SI with secondary or mixed infection could be increased. Moreover, more researches showed that the outbreaks of human influenza are associated with the outbreak of swine influenza, and there are a striking parallel nature and relevance. In the present article, the pathogen, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and public health aspects were elaborated, so as to provide a reference for scientific prevention and treatment of SI.展开更多
Soil arthropods play an important role in nutrient cycling and maintenance of soil structure, and their abundance and diversity provide an indication of the biological quality of soil. Land application of livestock ma...Soil arthropods play an important role in nutrient cycling and maintenance of soil structure, and their abundance and diversity provide an indication of the biological quality of soil. Land application of livestock manure provides crop nutrients and may also impact the soil arthropod community. This study was conducted to quantify soil arthropod abundance and diversity for a period of one year following swine manure application via broadcast or injection. Arthropods were extracted from plot soil samples using Berlese funnels, identified and counted, and the QBS index (Qualità Biologica del Suolo) was calculated for each soil sample. Collembola (Hypogastruridae and Isotomidae) populations were greater (p p in the injection treatment compared to the broadcast and control treatments. Acari populations and the QBS index were not significantly impacted by manure application.展开更多
The immediate post-weaning period poses a major challenge on the survival of piglets. Similarly, newly hatched chicks face life threatening challenges due to enteric infections. In the past several years, in-feed anti...The immediate post-weaning period poses a major challenge on the survival of piglets. Similarly, newly hatched chicks face life threatening challenges due to enteric infections. In the past several years, in-feed antibiotics have been used to reduce these production problems and improve growth. However, in-feed antibiotics have been banned in many jurisdictions and therefore the most effective alternatives to infeed antibiotics must be developed. To date, several studies have been conducted to develop alternatives to antibiotics. One of the potential candidates as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics is resistant starch(RS). Resistance starch is a type of starch that resists enzymatic digestion in the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract and therefore passes to hindgut where it can be fermented by resident microorganisms. Microbial fermentation of RS in the hindgut results in the production of short chain fatty acids(SCFA). Production of SCFA in turn results in growth and proliferation of colonic and cecal cells, increased expression of genes involved in gut development, and creation of an acidic environment. The acidic environment suppresses the growth of pathogenic microorganisms while selectively promoting the growth of beneficial microbes. Thus, RS has the potential to improve gut health and function by modifying and stabilising gut microbial community and by improving the immunological status of the host. In this review, we discussed the roles of RS in modifying and stabilising gut microbiota, gut health and function, carcass quality, and energy metabolism and growth performance in pigs and poultry.展开更多
To maintain a healthy gut is definitely key for a pig to digest and absorb dietary nutrients efficiently. A balanced microbiota(i.e., a healthy micro-ecosystem) is an indispensable constituent of a healthy gut.Probiot...To maintain a healthy gut is definitely key for a pig to digest and absorb dietary nutrients efficiently. A balanced microbiota(i.e., a healthy micro-ecosystem) is an indispensable constituent of a healthy gut.Probiotics, the live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer good health benefits onto the host, are a category of feed additives that can be used to replenish the gut microbial population while recuperating the host immune system. Besides their antitoxin and diarrhea reduction effects, dietary supplementation of probiotics can improve gut health, nutrient digestibilities and,therefore, benefit nutrient utilization and growth performance of pigs. Current knowledge in the literature pertinent to the beneficial effects of utilizing various probiotics for swine production has been comprehensively reviewed, and the safety and the risk issues related to probiotic usage have also been discussed in this paper. Considering that the foremost cost in a swine operation is feed cost, feed efficiency holds a very special, if not the paramount, significance in commercial swine production. Globally,the swine industry along with other animal industries is moving towards restricting and eventually a total ban on the usage of antibiotic growth promoters. Therefore, selection of an ideal alternative to the in-feed antibiotics to compensate for the lost benefits due to the ban on the antibiotic usage is urgently needed to support the industry for profitable and sustainable swine production. As is understood, a decision on this selection is not easy to make. Thus, this review paper aims to provide some much needed up-to-date knowledge and comprehensive references for swine nutritionists and producers to refer to before making prudent decisions and for scientists and researchers to develop better commercial products.展开更多
基金supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants(2014–67015-21770,2015–67015-23276,2016–67015-24958,and 2018–505706-95720)from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture,and Texas A&M Agri Life Research(H-8200)
文摘Meeting the increasing demands for high-quality pork protein requires not only improved diets but also biotechnology-based breeding to generate swine with desired production traits.Biotechnology can be classified as the cloning of animals with identical genetic composition or genetic engineering(via recombinant DNA technology and gene editing)to produce genetically modified animals or microorganisms.Cloning helps to conserve species and breeds,particularly those with excellent biological and economical traits.Recombinant DNA technology combines genetic materials from multiple sources into single cells to generate proteins.Gene(genome)editing involves the deletion,insertion or silencing of genes to produce:(a)genetically modified pigs with important production traits;or(b)microorganisms without an ability to resist antimicrobial substances.Current gene-editing tools include the use of zinc finger nuclease(ZFN),transcription activator-like effector nuclease(TALEN),or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated nuclease-9(CRISPR/Cas9)as editors.ZFN,TALEN,or CRISPR/Cas9 components are delivered into target cells through transfection(lipid-based agents,electroporation,nucleofection,or microinjection)or bacteriophages,depending on cell type and plasmid.Compared to the ZFN and TALEN,CRISPR/Cas9 offers greater ease of design and greater flexibility in genetic engineering,but has a higher frequency of off-target effects.To date,genetically modified pigs have been generated to express bovine growth hormone,bacterial phytase,fungal carbohydrases,plant and C.elagan fatty acid desaturases,and uncoupling protein-1;and to lack myostatin,α-1,3-galactosyltransferase,or CD163(a cellular receptor for the"blue ear disease"virus).Biotechnology holds promise in improving the efficiency of swine production and developing alternatives to antibiotics in the future.
文摘Swine influenza （SI） is an acute, febrile, highly contagious, respiratory infectious disease caused by swine influenza virus （SIV）, which is a common disease in intensive pig farms, and prevalent throughout the world. Disease in affected pigs was characterized by burst, high fever, rapid epidemic spread. The mortality of SI with secondary or mixed infection could be increased. Moreover, more researches showed that the outbreaks of human influenza are associated with the outbreak of swine influenza, and there are a striking parallel nature and relevance. In the present article, the pathogen, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and public health aspects were elaborated, so as to provide a reference for scientific prevention and treatment of SI.
文摘Soil arthropods play an important role in nutrient cycling and maintenance of soil structure, and their abundance and diversity provide an indication of the biological quality of soil. Land application of livestock manure provides crop nutrients and may also impact the soil arthropod community. This study was conducted to quantify soil arthropod abundance and diversity for a period of one year following swine manure application via broadcast or injection. Arthropods were extracted from plot soil samples using Berlese funnels, identified and counted, and the QBS index (Qualità Biologica del Suolo) was calculated for each soil sample. Collembola (Hypogastruridae and Isotomidae) populations were greater (p p in the injection treatment compared to the broadcast and control treatments. Acari populations and the QBS index were not significantly impacted by manure application.
文摘The immediate post-weaning period poses a major challenge on the survival of piglets. Similarly, newly hatched chicks face life threatening challenges due to enteric infections. In the past several years, in-feed antibiotics have been used to reduce these production problems and improve growth. However, in-feed antibiotics have been banned in many jurisdictions and therefore the most effective alternatives to infeed antibiotics must be developed. To date, several studies have been conducted to develop alternatives to antibiotics. One of the potential candidates as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics is resistant starch(RS). Resistance starch is a type of starch that resists enzymatic digestion in the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract and therefore passes to hindgut where it can be fermented by resident microorganisms. Microbial fermentation of RS in the hindgut results in the production of short chain fatty acids(SCFA). Production of SCFA in turn results in growth and proliferation of colonic and cecal cells, increased expression of genes involved in gut development, and creation of an acidic environment. The acidic environment suppresses the growth of pathogenic microorganisms while selectively promoting the growth of beneficial microbes. Thus, RS has the potential to improve gut health and function by modifying and stabilising gut microbial community and by improving the immunological status of the host. In this review, we discussed the roles of RS in modifying and stabilising gut microbiota, gut health and function, carcass quality, and energy metabolism and growth performance in pigs and poultry.
基金supported, in part, by a USDA-NIFA Hatch/Multi-State Project(Grant number 233803) via Mississippi AgriculturalForestry Experiment Station (Program number MIS-351060)
文摘To maintain a healthy gut is definitely key for a pig to digest and absorb dietary nutrients efficiently. A balanced microbiota(i.e., a healthy micro-ecosystem) is an indispensable constituent of a healthy gut.Probiotics, the live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer good health benefits onto the host, are a category of feed additives that can be used to replenish the gut microbial population while recuperating the host immune system. Besides their antitoxin and diarrhea reduction effects, dietary supplementation of probiotics can improve gut health, nutrient digestibilities and,therefore, benefit nutrient utilization and growth performance of pigs. Current knowledge in the literature pertinent to the beneficial effects of utilizing various probiotics for swine production has been comprehensively reviewed, and the safety and the risk issues related to probiotic usage have also been discussed in this paper. Considering that the foremost cost in a swine operation is feed cost, feed efficiency holds a very special, if not the paramount, significance in commercial swine production. Globally,the swine industry along with other animal industries is moving towards restricting and eventually a total ban on the usage of antibiotic growth promoters. Therefore, selection of an ideal alternative to the in-feed antibiotics to compensate for the lost benefits due to the ban on the antibiotic usage is urgently needed to support the industry for profitable and sustainable swine production. As is understood, a decision on this selection is not easy to make. Thus, this review paper aims to provide some much needed up-to-date knowledge and comprehensive references for swine nutritionists and producers to refer to before making prudent decisions and for scientists and researchers to develop better commercial products.
