Ginger root powder enhanced the growth productivity, digestibility, and antioxidative capacity to cope with the impacts of heat stress in rabbits

Impacts of selenium nanoparticles and spirulina alga to alleviate the deleterious effects of heat stress on reproductive efficiency, oxidative capacity and immunity of doe rabbits

Effects of dietary inclusion of spirulina platensis (SP) and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) combination (SP-SeNPs) on the reproductive performance in vivo and in vitro, reproductive and metabolic hormones, hemato-bichemical parameters, oxidative stress, and immunity of heat-stressed doe rabbis were evaluated. All supplements significantly increased live litter size at birth and weaning, viability rate at birth, hemoglobin and red blood cells, and plasma T3, T4, insulin, total proteins and albumin compared with control. Plasma estradiol 17-β (pre-mating), progesterone (mid-pregnancy), and prolactin (day -7 postpartum) were significantly increased only by SeNPs (0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 mg/kg). All dietary supplements significantly reduced WBCs, cortisol, lipid profile, and improved liver and kidney functions. Immunoglobulins levels, antioxidants capacity were significantly increased, superoxide dismutase was increased by SeNPs (0.4 and 0.5 mg/kg), while malondialdehyde was reduced by 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 SeNPs mg/kg. Sexual receptivity, pregnancy rate, viability rate at weaning, ovulation rate, and embryo quality were significantly increased by increasing SeNPs above 0.1 mg, while embryo yield was increased by >0.2 mg SeNPs/kg. A combination of SP and SeNPs, could be potentially used as a strong antioxidant to enhance heat regulation and doe rabbit reproduction via improving reproductive and metabolic hormones, antioxidant status and immunological parameters.

Ramifications of Heat Stress on Rabbit Production and Role of Nutraceuticals in Alleviating Its Negative Impacts: An Updated Review

Heat stress has become a widespread concern worldwide, which is a major environmental stress that causes substantial economic loss in the rabbit industry. Compared to other agricultural animals, rabbits are more sensitive to heat stress as they have fewer sweat glands and a thicker coat of fur, increasing the heat dissipation complexity. Thus, heat stress hurts rabbits' productivity, meat quality, reproductive performance, antioxidative properties, immune responsiveness, intestinal histomorphology, and microbiome. Nutraceuticals include vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, organic acids, fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, enzymes, and medicinal plants due to the possible impacts on maintaining common biological situations, strengthening immune response, and preventing illness, which ultimately led to an increase in productivity. Nutraceuticals have recently attracted a lot of attention to alleviate the adverse impacts of heat stress in rabbit farms. The objective of the current review is to provide acquaintance with the recent findings about the impact of heat stress on rabbit productivity and the advantages of dietary supplementation of nutraceuticals in mitigating it.

Impact of Dietary Supplementation of Spice Extracts on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Antioxidant Response in Broiler Chickens

This study aimed to investigate the effects of supplementing broiler chicken diets with an encapsulated product based on capsicum and other spice (black pepper and ginger) extracts on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activity and antioxidant response. To this end, 480 1-day-old male chicks were randomly assigned to two experimental treatments (12 pens/treatment; 20 birds/pen). Dietary treatments included a basal diet with no additives (CONTROL) and a basal diet supplemented with 250 ppm of the spice additive (SPICY; Lucta S.A., Spain). Supplementation of SPICY increased body weight (p < 0.05) compared with CONTROL at 7 d of age and improved (p < 0.01) ADG from 0 to 7 d of age. The apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, gross energy and crude protein was higher (p < 0.05) in birds fed the SPICY diet compared with the CONTROL diet. Birds fed SPICY showed lower (p < 0.05) plasma catalase (CAT) activity, and the hepatic gene expression of CAT and Nrf2 was down-regulated (p < 0.05) compared with the CONTROL. In conclusion, the inclusion of 250 ppm of SPICY in broiler diets improved growth performance at 7 d of age and positively affected nutrient digestibility and antioxidant response.

Marinated oven-grilled beef entrecôte meat from a bovine farm: Evaluation of resultant physicochemical and organoleptic attributes

Understanding the impact that combined action of marination and oven grill processes would have on such meat products as beef entrecôte is crucial from both consumer appeal and product development standpoints. Therefore, different marinated oven-grilled beef entrecôte meat specifically evaluating resultant physicochemical and organoleptic attributes were studied. The beef entrecôte meat was provided by a reputable local bovine farm/slaughter at Wroclaw, Poland. Physicochemical attributes involved antioxidant (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiaziline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)), (pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), cooking weight loss, L*a*b* color, and textural cutting force). Organoleptic attributes involved sensory (flavour, appearance, tenderness, taste) and texture (hardness, chewiness, gumminess, graininess, and greasiness) aspects. Different marination variants involved constituent 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% quantities of cranberry pomace (CP), grape pomace (GP), and Baikal skullcap (BS), subsequently incorporated either African spice (AS) or industrial marinade/pickle (IM). Results showed pH, ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, TBARS, L*a*b* color, cooking weight loss, and textural cutting force, sensory and textural profile with varying range values. Concentration increases of either CP, GP, and or BS may not always go along with ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP values, given the observed decreasing or increasing fluctuations. As oven-grilling either increased or decreased the TBARS values alongside some color and textural cutting force trends, pH variations by difference seemed more apparent at samples involving GP, before CP, and then BS. The organoleptic attributes obtained differences and resemblances from both sensory and textural profile standpoints. Overall, oven-grilling promises to moderate both physicochemical and organoleptic range values of different marinated beef entrecôte meat samples in this study.

The benefits of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) extract administration for male rabbits affected by environmental heat stress

Heat stress (HS) is the most substantial environmental issue in rabbit health status impairment, which can lower productivity. Maca is a common medicinal plant with important biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue, and neuroprotective effects. The present research explored the alleged protective role of Maca extract in alleviating the adverse impact of HS on rabbits. Growing V-line 6-week-old buck rabbits (N = 48) were orally administered Maca extract at levels of 0 (MAC0), 200 (MAC2), 400 (MAC4), or 600 (MAC6) mg/head twice per week. Compared to the control groups, rabbits provided Maca had better growth performance, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Liver and tests weights were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in Maca treated groups compared to the control. hemoglobin, white blood cell, red blood corpuscles, platelet count, hematocrit, and lymphocytes were significantly increased in the MAC4 group compared with the control group. MAC4 treatment significantly reduced aspartate aminotransferase and malondialdehyde levels compared with other groups. Moreover, the concentrations of total bilirubin, creatinine, glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were lower (p < 0.05) in the MAC4 group than in the controls. Oral administration of Maca improved cortisol and testosterone values, total antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase. The MAC4 group exhibited significant improvement (p < 0.05) in sperm motility, survival, membrane functionality, concentration, and libido, with a significant decrease in abnormal sperm compared with the control group. Also, aforementioned group showed sperm cells with a normal structure and intact plasma membranes, acrosomes, and well-organised axonemal components. Histopathological screening of liver sections showed moderate to severe degenerative and necrotic changes in rabbits exposed to HS, which were alleviated with Maca oral administration. In conclusion, oral administration of Maca extract at 400 or 600 mg/head-weekly enhanced growth performance, hemato-biochemical attributes, antioxidant status, and semen quality in rabbits during the hot season.