Diet supplemented with fermented okara improved growth performance, meat quality, and amino acid profiles in growing pigs

Effects of fermented unconventional protein feed on pig production in China

Unconventional protein feeds, characterized by low nutritional value, high variability, and poor palatability, have limited their application in swine production. Fermentation technology holds the key to addressing these shortcomings. Given the ban on antibiotics in China, the inferior quality of imported pig breeds, and long-term dependence on imported soybean, the prospects for fermented unconventional protein feeds are promising. This paper delves into the common types of fermented unconventional protein feeds, factors influencing the fermentation process, the mechanisms by which they enhance swine health, and the challenges and prospects of fermented feeds, offering theoretical insights for the future development of the feed industry.

Microbial fermented feed affects flavor amino acids and yolk trimethylamine of duck eggs via cecal microbiota-yolk metabolites crosstalk

Microbial fermented feed (MFF) has been demonstrated to improve nutritional status as well as promote animal health. However, only a few studies have focused on its effect on the flavor of animal products, and the potential underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Herein, egg amino acids and yolk trimethylamine (TMA), small intestine histomorphology, cecal microbiota and yolk metabolites were analyzed in MFF-treated ducks. The results showed that MFF significantly increased the flavor amino acids in duck eggs, along with reducing the yolk TMA. MFF caused an increase in beneficial cecal microflora, and regulated the bacteria involved in the metabolism of glucolipid, TMA and its N-oxide. Moreover, MFF regulated 34 annotated metabolites markedly enriched in four metabolic pathways. Correlation analysis showed that cecal microbiota and yolk metabolites were closely related to flavor-related indicators of duck eggs. Our study therefore provides a theoretical basis for improving avian egg flavor starting from the feed.

Impacts of Ultrasonic Treatment for Black Soybean Okara Culture Medium Containing Choline Chloride on the β-Glucosidase Activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BCRC 10357

The effects of ultrasonic treatment for the culture medium of solid black soybean okara with choline chloride (ChCl) on the survival and β-glucosidase activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BCRC 10357 (Lp-BCRC10357) were investigated. A mixture of 3% dried black soybean okara in de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (w/v) was used as the Oka medium. With ultrasonic treatment (40 kHz/300 W) of the Oka medium at 60 °C for 3 h before inoculation, the β-glucosidase activity of Lp-BCRC10357 at 12 h and 24 h of incubation amounted to 13.35 and 15.50 U/mL, respectively, which was significantly larger than that (12.58 U/mL at 12 h and 2.86 U/mL at 24 h) without ultrasonic treatment of the medium. This indicated that ultrasonic treatment could cause the microstructure of the solid black soybean okara to be broken, facilitating the transport of ingredients and Lp-BCRC10357 into the internal structure of the okara for utilization. For the effect of ChCl (1, 3, or 5%) added to the Oka medium (w/v) with ultrasonic treatment before inoculation, using 1% ChCl in the Oka medium could stimulate the best response of Lp-BCRC10357 with the highest β-glucosidase activity of 19.47 U/mL in 12 h of incubation, showing that Lp-BCRC10357 had a positive response when confronting the extra ChCl that acted as an osmoprotectant and nano-crowder in the extracellular environment. Furthermore, the Oka medium containing 1% ChCl with ultrasonic treatment led to higher β-glucosidase activity of Lp-BCRC10357 than that without ultrasonic treatment, demonstrating that the ultrasonic treatment could enhance the contact of ChCl and Lp-BCRC10357 to regulate the physiological behavior for the release of enzymes. In addition, the analysis of the isoflavone content and antioxidant activity of the fermented product revealed that the addition of 1% ChCl in the Oka medium with ultrasonic treatment before inoculation allowed a higher enhancement ratio for the biotransformation of isoflavone glycosides to their aglycones, with a slight enhancement in the antioxidant activity at 24 h of fermentation. This study developed a methodology by combining ultrasonic treatment with a limited amount of ChCl to allow the culture medium to acclimate Lp-BCRC10357 and release high levels of β-glucosidase, and this approach has the potential to be used in the fermentation of okara-related products as nutritional supplements in foods.

Magnolol Supplementation Alters Serum Parameters, Immune Homeostasis, Amino Acid Profiles, and Gene Expression of Amino Acid Transporters in Growing Pigs

This study investigated whether dietary supplementation with magnolol affects growth performance, anti-inflammatory abilities, serum and muscle amino acid profiles, and metabolisms in growing pigs. A total of 42 seventy-days-old growing barrows (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly allocated into two dietary groups: Con, control group (basal diet); and Mag, magnolol group (basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg of magnolol). The results revealed that dietary supplementation with magnolol had no effect (p > 0.05) on growth performance. However, magnolol supplementation remarkably increased (p < 0.05) the serum content of albumin, total protein, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, and interleukin-22. In addition, dietary magnolol supplementation altered the amino acid (AA) profiles in serum and dorsal muscle and particularly increased (p < 0.05) the serum content of arginine and muscle glutamate. Simultaneously, the mRNA expression of genes associated with AA transport in jejunum (SLC38A2, SLC1A5, and SLC7A1) and ileum (SLC1A5 and SLC7A1) was higher (p < 0.05) in the Mag group than in the Con group. Additionally, the serum metabolomics analysis showed that the addition of magnolol significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) arginine biosynthesis, as well as D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism. Overall, these results suggested that dietary supplementation with magnolol has the potential to improve the accumulation of AAs, protein synthesis, immunity, and body health in growing pigs by increasing intestinal absorption and the transport of AAs.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum N-1 and Its Synergies with Oligomeric Isomaltose on the Growth Performance and Meat Quality in Hu Sheep

Probiotics have gained tremendous attention as an alternative to antibiotics, while synbiotics may exhibit a greater growth promoting effect than their counterpart probiotics due to the prebiotics' promotion on the growth and reproduction of probiotics. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum N-1 and its synbiotic with oligomeric isomaltose on the growth performance and meat quality of Hu sheep. Hu sheep (0-3 days old) were fed with water, probiotics of N-1, or synbiotics (N-1 and oligomeric isomaltose) daily in three pens for 60 days and regularly evaluated to measure growth performance and collect serum (five lambs per group). Longissimus thoracis (LT) and biceps brachii (BB) muscle tissues were collected for the analysis of pH value, color, texture, nutrients, mineral elements, amino acids, volatile compounds, and antioxidant capacity. The results showed that dietary supplementation of N-1 tended to improve growth performance and meat quality of Hu sheep, while the synergism of N-1 with oligomeric isomaltose significantly improved their growth performance and meat quality (p < 0.05). Both the dietary supplementation of N-1 and synbiotics (p < 0.05) increased the body weight and body size of Hu sheep. Synbiotic treatment reduced serum cholesterol and improved LT fat content by increasing the transcription level of fatty acid synthase to enhance fat deposition in LT, as determined via RT-qPCR analysis. Moreover, synbiotics increased zinc content and improved LT tenderness by decreasing shear force and significantly increased the levels of certain essential (Thr, Phe, and Met) and non-essential (Asp, Ser, and Tyr) amino acids of LT (p < 0.05). Additionally, synbiotics inhibited the production of carbonyl groups and TBARS in LT and thus maintained antioxidant stability. In conclusion, it is recommended that the use of synbiotics in livestock breeding be promoted to improve sheep production and meat quality.

The different trends in the burden of neurological and mental disorders following dietary transition in China, the USA, and the world: An extension analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Introduction

The highly processed western diet is substituting the low-processed traditional diet in the last decades globally. Increasing research found that a diet with poor quality such as western diet disrupts gut microbiota and increases the susceptibility to various neurological and mental disorders, while a balanced diet regulates gut microbiota and prevents and alleviates the neurological and mental disorders. Yet, there is limited research on the association between the disease burden expanding of neurological and mental disorders with a dietary transition.

Methods

We compared the disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) trend by age for neurological and mental disorders in China, in the United States of America (USA), and across the world from 1990 to 2019, evaluated the dietary transition in the past 60 years, and analyzed the association between the burden trend of the two disorders with the changes in diet composition and food production.

Results

We identified an age-related upward pattern in disease burden in China. Compared with the USA and the world, the Chinese neurological and mental disorders DALY percent was least in the generation over 75 but rapidly increased in younger generations and surpassed the USA and/or the world in the last decades. The age-related upward pattern in Chinese disease burdens had not only shown in the presence of cardiovascular diseases, neoplasms, and diabetes mellitus but also appeared in the presence of depressive disorders, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, schizophrenia, headache disorders, anxiety disorders, conduct disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and eating disorders, successively. Additionally, the upward trend was associated with the dramatic dietary transition including a reduction in dietary quality and food production sustainability, during which the younger generation is more affected than the older. Following the increase in total calorie intake, alcohol intake, ratios of animal to vegetal foods, and poultry meat to pulses, the burdens of the above diseases continuously rose. Then, following the rise of the ratios of meat to pulses, eggs to pulses, and pork to pulses, the usage of fertilizers, the farming density of pigs, and the burdens of the above disease except diabetes mellitus were also ever-increasing. Even the usage of pesticides was positively correlated with the burdens of Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, cardiovascular diseases, and neoplasms. Contrary to China, the corresponding burdens of the USA trended to reduce with the improvements in diet quality and food production sustainability.

Discussion

Our results suggest that improving diet quality and food production sustainability might be a promising way to stop the expanding burdens of neurological and mental disorders.

Effects of fermented broccoli stem and leaf residue on growth performance, serum characteristics and meat quality of growing pigs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fermented broccoli stem and leaf residue (FBR) on the growth performance, serum biochemical characteristics, and meat quality of growing pigs. A total of 72 growing pigs (Durox × Landrace × Yorkshire) were subjected to three dietary treatments with different levels (0%, 5% and 10%) of FBR with three replicates for an experimental period of 70 day. The average daily feed intake of growing pigs was higher (p < 0.05) in the 5% FBR treatment compared with the control group (0% FBR). The serum urea nitrogen content in growing pigs was lower (p < 0.05) in the 5% and 10% FBR treatments. The lightness value was higher (p < 0.05) in the longissimus dorsi muscle of pigs fed 5% and 10% FBR diets compared with the control group, and the yellowness value was increased in pigs fed the 10% FBR diet compared with pigs fed the control diet. Overall, the beneficial effects of FBR supplementation on serum biochemical parameters, and meat colour without undermining the growth performance indicate that up to 10% FBR could be used in diets to enhance the production of growing pigs.

Fermented mixed feed alters growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and muscle fatty acid and amino acid profiles in finishing pigs

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fermented mixed feed (FMF) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, muscle amino acid and fatty acid composition and mRNA expression levels of genes related to lipid metabolism in finishing pigs. In the present study, 144 finishing pigs (Duroc × Berkshire × Jiaxing Black) were randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments with 4 replicate pens per group and 12 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments included a basal diet (CON), a basal diet + 5% FMF and a basal diet + 10% FMF. The experiment lasted 38 d after 4 d of acclimation. The results showed that 5% and 10% FMF significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG) of the females but not the males (P < 0.05), but FMF supplementation showed no impact on carcass traits. Moreover, 10% FMF supplementation increased the meat color_45 min and meat color_24 h values, while it decreased the shear force relative to CON (P < 0.05). In addition, 10% FMF significantly increased the contents of flavor amino acids (FAA), total essential AA (EAA), total non-EAA (NEAA) and total AA relative to CON (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the diet supplemented with 10% FMF significantly increased the concentration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), n-6 PUFA and total PUFA, and the PUFA to saturated fatty acids ratio (P < 0.05), suggesting that FMF supplementation increased meat quality. Moreover, compared with the CON, 10% FMF supplementation increased the mRNA expression of lipogenic genes, including CEBPα, PPARγ, SREBP1 and FABP4, and upregulated the expression of unsaturated fatty acid synthesis (ACAA1 and FADS2). Together, our results suggest that 10% FMF dietary supplementation improved the female pigs' growth performance, improved the meat quality and altered the profiles of muscle fatty acids and amino acids in finishing pigs. This study provides a reference for the production of high-quality pork.

Functionalization of soy residue (okara) by enzymatic hydrolysis and LAB fermentation for B2 bio-enrichment and improved in vitro digestion

The utilization of major edible soy-waste (okara) remains a challenge due to its poor digestion, nutritional imbalance (lack of B-vitamins), and undesirable off-flavors. Herein, fresh okara was enzymatically hydrolyzed and then fermented using the B2-overproducing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum UFG169 strain. SEM micrographs showed the microporous and honeycombed structures on the surface of okara. The off-flavors were reduced, and the essential amino acids content was significantly increased in fermented okara. The higher β-glucosidase activity, increased aglycone isoflavones, and in situ riboflavin (B2) were associated with the enhanced antioxidant potential of the fermented okara. The in vitro digestion of okara resulted in reduced particle size, higher protein digestibility, improved aggregation, lower protein molecular chains, and increased polyphenols. Overall, our study indicated the improved nutrition and digestibility of B2 bio-enriched okara.

Replacement of soybean meal by red yeast fermented tofu waste on feed intake, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in Thai Brahman crossbred beef cattle

This study aimed to determine the effect of replacing soybean meal (SBM) by red yeast fermented tofu waste (RYFTO) on feed intake, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in Brahman crossbred beef cattle. A total of 12 cattle (1.5-2 years old and 275.0 ± 6.1 kg of initial body weight) were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments in completely randomized design. There were three dietary treatments as following: Control (SBM), 50%replacing SBM by red yeast fermented tofu waste (RYFTO50), and 100% replacing SBM by red yeast fermented tofu waste (RYFTO100) in concentrate diet raised for 60 days. Rice straw was used as roughage source and fed ad libitum. The results found that cattle received the diet with replacing SBM by RYFTO both RYFTO50 and RYFTO100 group affect roughage intake, total dry matter intake, and ADG (P < 0.05) except the digestibility and FCR (P > 0.05). The feed cost of roughage, concentrate, and total feed cost were lowest in RYFTO100 group when compared to the control (P < 0.05). Blood urea nitrogen was deducted when cattle received RYFTO100 when compared to the control and RYFTO50 (P < 0.05). However, the carcass characteristics and meat quality were similar among treatments (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the 100% replacing SBM by RYFTO in concentrate diet affect roughage intake and ADG without negative effect on concentrate intakes, digestibility, carcasses and meat quality. Therefore, RYFTO could be used as a protein source for partial replacement of SBM in the, concentrate diet at 50% which can lower feed cost. This study suggested that the further study should be conducted for longer period to gain the benefits of carotene in red yeast on carcass and meat quality.

Immunobiotic Feed Developed with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii TUA4408L and the Soymilk By-Product Okara Improves Health and Growth Performance in Pigs

Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii TUA4408L is able to differentially modulate the innate immune response of porcine intestinal epithelial cells triggered by TLR4 activation. This strain also has a remarkable ability to grow on plant substrates. These two immunological and biotechnological characteristics prompted us to evaluate whether the soymilk by-product okara fermented with the TUA4408L strain can serve as an immunobiotic feed with the ability to beneficially modulate the intestinal immunity of piglets after weaning to improve their productivity. Our in vivo studies demonstrated that the administration of immunobiotic TUA4408L-fermented okara feed significantly increased piglet growth performance and meat quality. These positive effects were associated with the ability of the TUA4408L-fermented okara feed to beneficially modulate both intestinal microbiota and immunity in pigs. The immunobiotic feed improved the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus and Lactococcus in the gut of pigs, reduced blood markers of inflammation, and differentially regulated the expression of inflammatory and regulatory cytokines in the intestinal mucosa. These findings indicate that the immunobiotic TUA4408L-fermented okara feed could be an economical and environmentally friendly option to improve the growth performance and immune health of pigs.

A review of okara (soybean curd residue) utilization as animal feed: Nutritive value and animal performance aspects

Year by year, huge quantities of by-products are generated during the manufacturing process of soybean-based products. Okara is one of the by-products, and it is an insoluble portion of the soybean. It consists of high moisture (8.4-22.9%); on dry matter basis, it contains high metabolizable energy (9.0-14.2 MJ/kg) and other components that include crude protein (20.9-39.1%), crude fiber (12.2-61.3%), crude fat (4.9-21.5%), and ash (3.4-5.3%). Fermentation of okara improves its nutritional quality and reduces its anti-nutrient contents. Due to animals' palatability, okara can be used to replace the soybean meal/concentrate feed partially or completely in ruminant's diet and partially in nonruminant's diet. Okara feeding does not depress the intake, digestibility, growth, milk production, blood metabolic profiles, and meat quality of animals. However, this by-product decays quickly due to its high moisture content, and its heavy weight and sticky nature make it difficult to process and expensive to dry using conventional methods. This paper thoroughly summarizes the utilization of okara as animal feed in the cause of developing a general guideline with favorable levels of inclusion in the diets of animals for its exploitation and valorization. This review will encourage further research to develop eco-friendly and value added feed for animals.