Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall extract and poplar propolis ethanol extract supplementation on growth performance, digestibility, blood profile, fecal microbiota and fecal noxious gas emissions in growing pigs

Effects of single and complex probiotics in growing-finishing pigs and swine compost

This study was conducted to supplement single and complex probiotics to investigate the effect on growing-finishing pigs and compost. In experiment 1, the 64 crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) pigs with an initial body weight of 18.75 ± 0.33 kg and a birth of 63 days were assigned to a completely randomized four treatment groups based on the initial body weight (4 pigs in a pen with 4 replicate pens for each treatment). For 13 weeks, the dietary treatments were provided: 1) Control (CON; basal diet), 2) T1 (CON + 0.2% Bacillus subtilis), 3) T2 (CON + 0.2% Saccharomyces cerevisiae), 4) T3 (CON + 0.2% Bacillus subtilis + 0.2% Saccharomyces cerevisiae). In experiment 2, the pig manure was obtained from Chungbuk National University (Cheongju, Korea) swine farm. For 12 weeks, the supplementary treatments were provided: 1) CON, non-additive compost; 2) T1, spray Bacillus subtilis 10 g per 3.306 m2; 3) T2, spray Bacillus subtilis 40 g per 3.306 m2; 4) T3, spray Saccharomyces cerevisiae 10 g per 3.306 m2; 5) T4: spray Saccharomyces cerevisiae 40 g per 3.306 m2; 6) T5, spray Bacillus subtilis 5 g + Saccharomyces cerevisiae 5 g per 3.306 m2; 7) T6, spray Saccharomyces subtilis 20 g + S. cerevisiae 20 g per 3.306 m2 and there were 6 replicates each treatment. In experiment 1, During the overall experimental period, T3 showed significantly improved (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio and average daily gain compared to other groups. In average maturity score, T3 showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) than other groups. Supplementing complex probiotics group improved (p < 0.05) H2S emissions and fecal microflora compared to the non-supplementing group. In experiment 2, additive probiotics groups had no effect (p > 0.05) on moisture content than the non-additive group at 9 and 12 weeks. T6 showed a significantly improved (p < 0.05) average maturity score at all periods and ammonia emissions at 1 week and 4 weeks compared to other groups. In summary, supplementation complex probiotics induced positive effects on both pigs and compost.

Strategies for reducing noxious gas emissions in pig production: a comprehensive review on the role of feed additives

The emission of noxious gases is a significant problem in pig production, as it can lead to poor production, welfare concerns, and environmental pollution. The noxious gases are the gasses emitted from the pig manure that contribute to air pollution. The increased concentration of various harmful gasses can pose health risks to both animals and humans. The major gases produced in the pig farm include methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and volatile fatty acids, which are mainly derived from the fermentation of undigested or poorly digested nutrients. Nowadays research has focused on more holistic approaches to obtain a healthy farm environment that helps animal production. The use of probiotics, prebiotics, dietary enzymes, and medicinal plants in animal diets has been explored as a means of reducing harmful gas emissions. This review paper focuses on the harmful gas emissions from pig farm, the mechanisms of gas production, and strategies for reducing these emissions. Additionally, various methods for reducing gas in pigs, including probiotic interventions; prebiotic interventions, dietary enzymes supplementation, and use of medicinal plants and organic acids are discussed. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge on reducing noxious gas in pigs and offers valuable insights for pig producers, nutritionists, and researchers working in this area.

Cytoprotective effect of propolis on heat stress induces alteration to histological, ultrastructural, and oxidative stress in catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Our study helps to evaluate the immune response, antioxidative status, and resistance against heat stress (HS) in Clarias gariepinus treated with propolis extraction; the results will contribute to theories of fish physiology and immunity under high-temperature conditions. Forty-five fish were divided into three equal groups: the control, the HS group at 36 °C, and the HS treated with alcoholic extraction of propolis that dissolved in water for 3 weeks. The results of our study suggested that the stress response differs among tissues thymus, spleen, and liver. All the tissues showed alteration in morphological and cytological structure at the light microscope (LM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM); thymus showed edema and thymocyte destruction; the spleen detected collagen deposition, and the liver displayed endoplasmic reticulum amplification (ER). In addition, we examined oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses (lipid peroxidation, catalase, and glutathione) of the spleen and measured blood biochemical parameters (alanine transaminase and aspartic transaminase levels) after heat stress. However, this toxic effect of HS was neutralized by the propolis extraction. To conclude, propolis is recommended to cope with the impacts of heat stress on catfish (Clarias gariepinus) by improving immunity and antioxidative resistance.

Dietary propolis complementation relieves the physiological and growth deterioration induced by Flavobacterium columnare infection in juveniles of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The current study was proposed to explore the role of dietary propolis (PR) supplementation in alleviating the negative effects of columnaris disease (CD) challenge on the growth performance, plasma biochemicals, antioxidant activity, stress indicators, and immunological reactions of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fish. Five hundred forty common carp juveniles were evenly placed in thirty-six 100-L tanks and stocked for acclimatization to the lab conditions with a control diet within a started period of 14 days. Fish (average initial weight of 7.11±0.06 g) were randomly distributed into one of six treatment groups (6 replicate tanks × 15 fish per tank in each treatment group). Fish in the first group was assigned as a negative control without CD challenge or PR supplementation. Fish in the other five groups were challenged with CD by immersion of fish for 60 min into a 10-L water bath supplemented with 6×106 CFU/mL (median lethal dose, LD50) of pathogenic F. columnare bacteria. After infection, the fish were restored to their tanks and fed on a basal diet supplemented with PR at 0, 3, 6, 9, or 12 g/kg diet. The experimental period continued for 6 consecutive weeks in which the feed was introduced twice a day (8:00 and 15:00 h) at a rate of 2% of the fish biomass. Ten percent of water was siphoned and renewed after each meal every day, in addition to 50% of water refreshment after cleaning the tank every three days. The tanks were continuously aerated and provided with standard rearing conditions for carp fish (24.0±1.12°C, 7.7±0.22 pH, 6.3±0.16 mg/L O2, and 14L/10D photoperiod). The growth performance traits such as feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), final weight (FW), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), and cumulative mortality rates (CM) were recorded during the experimental period. At the end of the trial, blood samples were obtained from the fish to evaluate some plasma biochemicals, including aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CRE), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), antioxidant biomarkers, including total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), total superoxide dismutase (TSOD), reduced glutathione (rGSH), and catalase (CAT), stress indicators, including heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, cortisol (COR), malondialdehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO), and immunological reactions, including peripheral blood leukocyte proliferation (PBLP), phagocytosis activity (PHG), lysozyme activity (LYS), alternative complement hemolytic action (ACH50), and total immunoglobulin concentration (TIG). In addition, samples of infected fish gills were taken to quantify the number of F. columnare in the PR-supplemented groups using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. The results showed that incorporating PR into the dietary ingredients of common carp has a protective effect against the challenge with F. columnare infection. There were linear and quadratic positive trends (P < 0.05) in most parameters of growth performance, plasma biochemicals, antioxidant activity, stress indicators, and immunological reactions with the increased PR-supplemented levels in the diet of infected fish. The best results were obtained when using PR at 9 g/kg in the diet, while higher levels (12 g/kg PR) showed an adverse trend in the evaluated parameters. The FI, WG, FW, SGR, and FE were improved by approximately 37, 104, 34, 73, and 49% in the fish treated with 9 g/kg PR compared to none-PR-infected fish. In addition, adding PR at the 9 g/kg diet level was the best dose that reduced the H/L ratio, COR, MDA, and MPO by about 14, 52, 48, and 29%, respectively, in the infected fish. Furthermore, the mortality rate was reduced by 94%, and the number of pathogenic bacteria cells adherent to the fish gills was lowered by 96% in the infected fish treated with 9 g/kg PR compared to none-PR infected fish. Our results concluded that dietary supplementation with 9 g/kg PR could be a promising nutritional approach for improving the growth performance, physiological profile, and health status of common carp fish, particularly when challenged with F. columnare or similar bacterial infections.

The Efficacy of Yeast Supplementation on Monogastric Animal Performance-A Short Review

Due to a continual growth in the world's population and the prohibition of antibiotics in animal production, the livestock industry faces significant challenges in the global demand for meat, eggs, and dairy products. The growing demand for organic products and the prohibition on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) have compelled animal nutrition experts to search for natural substitutes that include medical plants and beneficial microorganisms. Natural feed additives like probiotics are found to be more effective than AGPs in reducing the load of harmful intestinal pathogens. One of the probiotics that has generated considerable interest since ancient times is yeast. Yeast is used as a supplement in animal feeds due to its relatively high protein, amino acid, energy, and micronutrient content. Yeast byproducts such as yeast cells and cell walls contain nutraceutical compounds (i.e., β-glucans, mannooligosaccharides, and nucleotides) and have been shown to improve animal growth performance and health. Though the application of yeast supplements has been reviewed to date, only a scarce amount of information exists on the yeast-derived products in non-ruminant nutrition. Additionally, it is difficult for nutritionists to differentiate the characteristics, composition, and optimal feeding among the diverse number of yeast-containing products. Due to the increasing popularity of using yeast-based products in animal feeds, the development of analytical approaches to estimate yeast and its components in these products is greatly needed. Thus, in this review, we intend to provide current knowledge of different categories of commercially available yeast and yeast-derived additives, along with their role in improving animal growth performance and health, their proposed mechanisms of action, and the challenges of quantifying yeast content and biologically active components.

Propolis: Properties and composition, health benefits and applications in fish nutrition

Propolis is a viscous, waxy, resinous substance that is produced from the exudates of flowers and buds by the action of salivary enzymes of honey bees. Propolis may differ in color (brown, red or green), with color being influenced by the chemical composition and age of the product. Propolis has a special distinctive odor owing to the high concentration of volatile essential oils. It is composed of 5% pollen grains, 10% essential and aromatic oils, 30% wax, 50% resin and balsams, and other minor trace substances. Natural propolis products may be useful for a range of applications in aquaculture systems instead of relying on the application of synthetic compounds to manage many ailments that affect business profitability. It has been reported in several studies that propolis enhances performance, economics, immunity response and disease resistance in different fish species. This present review discusses the functional actions of propolis and the prospects of its use as an antimicrobial, antioxidant, immune-modulatory, antiseptic, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory and food additive in aquaculture production. In summary, propolis could be a natural supplement that has the potential to improve fish health status and immunity thereby enhancing growth and productivity of the fish industry as well as economic efficiency.

Dietary Yeast Cell Wall Improves Growth Performance and Prevents of Diarrhea of Weaned Pigs by Enhancing Gut Health and Anti-Inflammatory Immune Responses

Simple Summary

Post-weaning stress can substantially affect performance of weaned pigs as well as overall pig production, and thus, a practical approach is needed to improve their performance by alleviating the stress that can cause intestinal barrier dysfunction of weaned pigs. There are potential ways to solve the concern in swine production, but dietary yeast cell wall in weaner diets may be one possible solution. The results of the present study suggest that dietary yeast cell wall improves growth performance of weaned pigs by enhancing gut health and provide its potential mechanism.

Abstract

Dietary yeast cell wall products (YCW) are recognized as a feed additive due to multifunctional benefits by the biological response modulators. Thus, this study was conducted to verify a potential advantage of YCW for improving growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune responses, and intestinal health and microbiota of weaned pigs. A total of 112 weaned pigs (7.99 ± 1.10 kg of body weight; 28 days old) were arbitrarily allocated to two experimental treatments with eight pigs (four barrows and four gilts) per pen and seven replicate pens per treatment in a completely randomized block design (block = BW and sex): (1) a basal diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and (2) CON + 0.05% YCW. The experimental period was for 4 weeks. There were no differences in final body weight, average daily feed intake, and gain-to-feed ratio between dietary treatments. In contrast, pigs fed YCW had higher average daily gain (p = 0.088) and apparent ileal digestibility of DM (p < 0.05) and energy (p = 0.052) and lower diarrhea frequency (p = 0.083) than those fed control diet (CON). Pigs fed YCW also had a higher (p < 0.05) ratio between villus height and crypt depth, villus width and area, and goblet cell counts in the duodenum and/or jejunum than those fed CON. Dietary YCW decreased (p < 0.05) serum TNF-α and IL–1β of weaned pigs on day 7 and 14, respectively, compared with CON. Furthermore, pigs fed YCW had higher (p < 0.05) ileal gene expression of claudin family, occludin, MUC1, INF-γ, and IL-6 and lower (p < 0.05) that of TNF-α than those fed CON. Lastly, there were no differences in the relative abundance of bacteria at the phylum level between CON and YCW. However, dietary YCW increased (p < 0.05) the relative abundance of genera Prevotella and Roseburia compared with CON. This study provided that dietary YCW improved growth rate, nutritional digestibility, and intestinal health and modified immune responses and intestinal microbiota of weaned pigs.

Influence of yeast hydrolysate supplement on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, microflora, gas emission, blood profile, and meat quality in broilers

A total of 1512 Ross 308 broilers (one - day - old) were assigned (random blocks) to 1of 3 dietary treatments with 28 replicates of 18 chicks/cage. The dietary treatments were Corn-soybean-meal based basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.1%, and 0.2% of commercial yeast hydrolysate (YH [Saccharomyces cerevisiae]). The graded level of YH supplementation has linearly increased broilers body weight gain on d 21, 35, and overall (p = 0.044, 0.029, and 0.036, respectively) experimental period. In addition, the increased level of YH supplementation has linearly reduced feed conversation ratio of broilers on d 21, 35, and overall trial period (p = 0.041, 0.052, and 0.032, respectively). However, the feed intake and mortality of broilers were not affected by the graded level of YH supplementation. Though nutrient digestibility of dry matter (p = 0.012) and nitrogen (p = 0.021) was linearly increased in broilers fed YH supplementation, at the end of the trial it fails to affect the total track digestible energy. Dietary inclusion of YH supplementation showed a beneficial effect on the microbial population as linearly improved lactobacillus (p = 0.011) and reduced Escherichiacoli counts (p = 0.042). An increasing level of YH supplementation has tended to decrease NH₃ (p = 0.069) and linearly decrease H₂S (p = 0.027) of noxious gas emission in broilers. Moreover, dietary YH supplements trend to increase the glucose (p = 0.066) and reduced cholesterol (p = 0.069) level. At the end of the test, YH supplementation elicited a linear reduction in drip loss on days 5 and 7, respectively (p = 0.045, and 0.021). Furthermore, dietary inclusion of YH supplementation had linearly increased villus height (p = 0.051) but fails to affect crypt depth. Therefore, in terms of positive effects on the broiler’s overall performance, we suggest that dietary supplements containing graded YH levels in the broilers diet could serve as a potential alternative for growth promoters.

Dietary Inclusion of Blood Plasma with Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Supplementation Enhanced the Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Lactobacillus Count, and Reduced Gas Emissions in Weaning Pigs

This experiment was performed to examine the hypothesis that blood plasma (BP) with yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplement in the diet of weaning pigs could provoke the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial, and reduce harmful gas excretion. A total of one hundred and eighty healthy piglets were taken and assigned (complete random blocks) to three dietary treatments as: Phase 1: Treatment (TRT) 1-6% BP; TRT 2-3% BP + 3% yeast; TRT 3-6% yeast. Phase 2: TRT 1-3%; BP., TRT 2-1.5% BP + 1.5% yeast; TRT 3- 3% yeast. Phase 3: TRT 1- Control (CON) (Basal diet); TRT 2- CON; TRT 3- CON for six- weeks. Each treatment had twelve replicates and five (three gilts and two barrows) pigs per pen. Dietary inclusion of BP with yeast supplementation significantly increased the body weight of piglets during phase 2 (p = 0.003) and phase 3 (p = 0.032). In addition, TRT2 group piglets had a significant improvement in average daily gain at the end of each phase and overall (p = 0.047, 0.025, 0.018 and 0.012, respectively). At phase 3, TRT2 group piglets showed a significant improvement on nutrient digestibility of dry matter (p = 0.012) and nitrogen (p = 0.040). The fecal microbiota of TRT2 group piglets showed a tendency to increase the number of Lactobacillus counts at phase 1 (p = 0.07) and phase 2 (p = 0.06) as well as, a significant improvement at phase 3 (p = 0.021). In addition, TRT2 group piglets had trend to decrease NH3 (p = 0.074) and H2S (p = 0.069) during phase 2, and significantly reduced NH3 (p = 0.038) and H2S (p = 0.046) at phase 3. However, the fecal score of piglets remains unaffected during the entire trial. At the end of phase 1 piglets' IgG (p = 0.008) was significantly increased with the inclusion of BP with yeast supplementation. Based on the positive effects on body weight, average daily gain, nutrient digestibility, Lactobacillus count, and reduced gas emission, we suggest that dietary supplement with BP and yeast in the diet of weaned piglet could serve as an excellent alternative to antibiotics growth promoters.

Overall assessment of antibiotic substitutes for pigs: a set of meta-analyses

Background

Antibiotic growth promoters are widely used to improve weight gain. However, the abuse of antibiotics can have many negative effects on people. Developing alternatives to antibiotics is an urgent need in livestock production. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis and network meta-analysis (NMA) to investigate the effects of feed additives as potential antibiotic substitutes (ASs) on bacteriostasis, growth performance, intestinal morphology and immunity. Furthermore, the primary, secondary, and tertiary ASs were defined by comparing their results with the results of antibiotics.

Results

Among 16,309 identified studies, 37 were summarized to study the bacteriostasis effects of feed additives, and 89 were included in the meta-analysis and NMA (10,228 pigs). We summarized 268 associations of 57 interventions with 32 bacteria. The order of bacteriostasis effects was as follows: antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) ≈ antibiotics>organic acids>plant extracts>oligosaccharides. We detected associations of 11 feed additives and 11 outcomes. Compared with a basal diet, plant extract, AMPs, probiotics, microelements, organic acids, bacteriophages, lysozyme, zymin, and oligosaccharides significantly improved growth performance (P < 0.05); organic acids, probiotics, microelements, lysozyme, and AMPs remarkably increased the villus height:crypt depth ratio (V/C) (P < 0.05); and plant extracts, zymin, microelements, probiotics, and organic acids notably improved immunity (P < 0.05). The optimal AMP, bacteriophage, lysozyme, microelements, oligosaccharides, organic acids, plants, plant extracts, probiotics, and zymin doses were 0.100%, 0.150%, 0.012%, 0.010%, 0.050%, 0.750%, 0.20%, 0.040%, 0.180%, and 0.100%, respectively. Compared with antibiotics, all investigated feed additives exhibited no significant difference in effects on growth performance, IgG, and diarrhoea index/rate (P > 0.05); AMPs and microelements significantly increased V/C (P < 0.05); and zymin significantly improved lymphocyte levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, linear weighting sum models were used to comprehensively estimate the overall impact of each feed additive on pig growth and health.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that AMPs and plant extracts can be used as primary ASs for weaned piglets and growing pigs, respectively. Bacteriophages, zymin, plants, probiotics, oligosaccharides, lysozyme, and microelements can be regarded as secondary ASs. Nucleotides and organic acids can be considered as tertiary ASs. Future studies should further assess the alternative effects of combinational feed additives.

Effect of yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and garlic (Allium sativum) product mixture on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal microflora, faecal noxious-gas emission and meat quality in finishing pigs

Context Dietary supplementation with a single feed additive or a combination of different feed additives as growth promoters has been researched extensively. However, few studies have tested the combined use of probiotics (yeast culture) and phytogenics (garlic products) in pigs. Aims The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of a mixture of yeast culture, garlic extract and garlic essential oil (YGM) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal microflora, faecal noxious-gas emission and meat quality in finishing pigs. Methods Two hundred [(Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc] finishing pigs (50.37 ± 1.89 kg) were randomly allotted into two dietary treatments on the basis of bodyweight (BW) and sex for a 10-week feeding trial. Dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (CON) and CON containing 0.1% of YGM. The YGM was composed of 54.5% of yeast culture, 40% of garlic extract powder and 5.5% of garlic essential oil. There were 20 replicated pens per treatment, with five pigs (3 barrows and 2 gilts) per pen. Pig BW was measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Feed consumption was recorded daily during the experiment, on a pen basis, to calculate average daily gain (ADG). Key results Dietary YGM supplementation resulted in a higher (P &lt; 0.05) final BW and ADG than in the control groups. Pigs fed YGM supplementation diet led to a higher (P &lt; 0.05) digestibility of dry matter (DM) than in CON. The emission of hydrogen sulfide gas from faeces was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) decreased in pigs fed YGM diets; however, ammonia and total mercaptan emissions were not influenced. There were no differences in meat-quality parameters between the two treatments. Conclusions Dietary YGM supplementation exerted beneficial effects on BW and ADG and DM digestibility, reduced hydrogen sulfide gas emission, and did not have any adverse effects on meat-quality parameters that are related to consumer acceptance. Implications The study has provided a basis and insight for future research on application of a combination of yeast culture, garlic extract and garlic essential oils, as an alternative to antibiotics in finishing pig diets.

DIGESTIBILIDADE E PALATABILIDADE DE DIETAS COM EXTRATO DE PRÓPOLIS PARA CÃES

Resumo O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito da inclusão de extrato de própolis na digestibilidade e na palatabilidade de dietas para cães. Foram realizados dois experimentos, sendo o primeiro constituído por um ensaio de digestibilidade, com a inclusão de diferentes extratos de própolis (FT0,55, FT0,59, FT2,59, FT2,11). Com base nos resultados do primeiro ensaio, foi definido o extrato FT0,59 a ser utilizado nos demais experimentos, misturado em crescentes níveis à dieta, resultando em outras concentrações de apiginina. Ambos os ensaios de digestibilidade utilizaram dez cães da raça Beagles, os quais foram alojados em gaiolas metabólicas. A palatabilidade foi avaliada pela preferência alimentar e pela primeira escolha, sendo utilizados 20 cães de quatro diferentes raças. No primeiro ensaio de digestibilidade, somente a inclusão do extrato de própolis FT2,11 diminuiu o valor do coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) da matéria seca (MS). Já no segundo ensaio, a inclusão crescente do extrato de própolis FT0,79 melhorou linearmente os CDA da proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo em hidrólise ácida (EEA), extrativos não nitrogenados (ENN), MS e energia metabolizável (EM) das dietas. A inclusão de extrato de própolis favoreceu a palatabilidade da dieta. Os flavonoides podem ser adicionados na dieta de cães como nutracêuticos em concentrações menores do que 2,11mg/kg de MS da dieta, sem alterar a digestibilidade.

Dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cell Wall Extract Supplementation Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Modulates Serum Amino Acids Profiles in Weaned Piglets

This research aims to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall extract (SCCWE) on growth performance, oxidative stress, intestinal morphology, and serum amino acid concentration in weaned piglets. Utilizing a completely randomized design, 40 healthy piglets weaned at 21 d were grouped into 4 experimental treatments with 10 pigs per treatment group. Treatments consisted of a basal diet (T0), a basal diet with a 0.05% SCCWE (T1), a basal diet with a 0.10% SCCWE (T2), and a basal diet with a 0.15% SCCWE (T3). SCCWE supplementation increased the average daily gain and final body weight compared with T0 (P < 0.05). SCCWE in T2 and T3 improved the average daily feed intake and decreased the feed/gain ratio compared with T1 and T2 (P < 0.05). SCCWE decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly compared to T0 (P < 0.05). SCCWE increased the concentration of Ile compared to T0 (P < 0.05). Moreover, the concentrations of Leu, Phe, and Arg were higher in T2 and T3 (P < 0.05). These findings indicate beneficial effects of SCCWE supplementation on growth performance, the concentration of some essential amino acids, and alleviation of oxidative stress in weaned piglets.

Brazilian propolis mitigates impaired glucose and lipid metabolism in experimental periodontitis in mice

Background

Periodontitis has been implicated as a risk factor for metabolic disorders associated with insulin resistance. Recently, we have demonstrated that orally administered Porphyromonas gingivalis, a representative periodontopathic bacterium, induces endotoxemia via reduced gut barrier function coupled with changes in gut microbiota composition, resulting in systemic inflammation and insulin resistance. Propolis, a resinous substance collected by honeybees from leaf buds and cracks in the bark of various plants, can positively affect metabolic disorders in various experimental models. In this study, we thus aimed to clarify the effect of propolis on impaired glucose and lipid metabolism induced by P. gingivalis administration.

Methods

Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were orally administered P. gingivalis strain W83, propolis ethanol extract powder with P. gingivalis, or vehicle. We then analyzed the expression profile of glucose and lipid metabolism-related genes in the liver and adipose tissues. Serum endotoxin levels were also evaluated by a limulus amebocyte lysate test. In addition, we performed histological analysis of the liver and quantified alveolar bone loss by measuring the root surface area on the lower first molar.

Results

Oral administration of P. gingivalis induced downregulation of genes that improve insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue (C1qtnf9, Irs1, and Sirt1), but upregulation of genes associated with lipid droplet formation and gluconeogenesis (Plin2, Acox, and G6pc). However, concomitant administration of propolis abrogated these adverse effects of P. gingivalis. Consistent with gene expression, histological analysis showed that administered propolis suppressed hepatic steatosis induced by P. gingivalis. Furthermore, propolis inhibited the elevation of serum endotoxin levels induced by P. gingivalis administration. Contrary to the systemic effects, propolis had no beneficial effect on alveolar bone loss.

Conclusion

These results suggest that administration of propolis may be effective in suppressing periodontopathic bacteria-induced metabolic changes that increase the risk of various systemic diseases.

Dietary administration of probiotics to sows and/or their neonates improves the reproductive performance, incidence of post-weaning diarrhea and histopathological parameters in the intestine of weaned piglets

Probiotics have gained considerable attention with respect to their beneficial effects on livestock performance and health. The most significant effects of probiotics on the gut microbiota and the host animals take place when they are included in diets during particularly stressful periods such as weaning and/or at the beginning of the lactation period. The probiotics Bacillus mesentericus strain TO-A at 1 × 10⁸  colony forming units (CFU)/g, Clostridium butyricum strain TO-A at 1 × 10⁸  CFU/g and Enterococcus faecalis strain T-110 at 1 × 10⁹  CFU/g were used. Litter weight at delivery and ratio of return to estrous improved significantly (17% and 24% improvement, respectively) by probiotic administration to sows (0.2% (w/w)). Furthermore, the feed intake of the probiotics-administered sows was greater than that of the control sows during the late lactation period. Post-weaning diarrheal incidence and growth performance was improved by probiotics administration to neonates (0.02% (w/w)), while the combined use of probiotics in sows and their neonates induced the enlargement of villous height and prevented muscle layer thinning in the small intestine of weaning piglets. The administration of probiotics of three species of live bacteria improved the porcine reproductive performance around stressful periods of sows (farrowing) and piglets (weaning). [Corrections added on 26 April 2016, after first online publication: 'Enterococcus faecalis strain T-100' has been corrected to 'Enterococcus faecalis strain T-110' in the above paragraph and in the 'Probiotics' section under the Materials and Methods heading.].

Dietary fenugreek seed extract improves performance and reduces fecal E. coli counts and fecal gas emission in lactating sows and suckling piglets

Hossain, M. M., Begum, M., Nyachoti, C. M., Hancock, J. D. and Kim, I. H. 2015. Dietary fenugreek seed extract improves performance and reduces fecal E. coli counts and fecal gas emission in lactating sows and suckling piglets. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 561–568. This study evaluated the efficacy of fenugreek seed extract (FSE) in sows and suckling piglets. The trial was conducted with 78 multiparous sows and their litters in a 28-d feeding trial, and one of three diets: CON (control, basal diet); FSE1 (basal diet+0.1% FSE), and FSE2 (basal diet+0.2% FSE). Piglets suckling sows fed the FSE1 and FSE2 diets had higher average daily gain compared with those suckling sows fed the CON from week 2 to weaning (linear, P<0.05). At weaning, sows fed the FSE1 and FSE2 diets had higher immunoglobulin G and lower low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol concentrations compared with those fed the CON diet (linear, P<0.05). Sows fed the FSE2 diet linearly reduced total cholesterol concentrations at weaning (P<0.05). Piglets suckling sows fed the FSE2 diet had higher immunoglobulin G and red blood cell concentrations compared with those suckling sows fed the CON diet (linear, P<0.05). Sows fed the FSE2 diet had higher apparent total tract digestibility of N and gross energy and reduced fecal E. coli counts and ammonia gas emission compared with those fed the CON diet at weaning (linear, P<0.05). In conclusion, results indicate that feeding sows a diet supplemented with FSE in late gestation and lactation improved performance in sows and suckling piglets.

The efficacy of anti-mycotoxin feed additives in preventing the adverse effects of wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on performance, intestinal barrier function and nutrient digestibility and retention in weanling pigs

Thanh, B. V. L., Lessard, M., Chorfi, Y. and Guay, F. 2015. The efficacy of anti-mycotoxin feed additives in preventing the adverse effects of wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on performance, intestinal barrier function and nutrient digestibility and retention in weanling pigs. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 197–209. This study was designed to determine the effect of feeding deoxynivalenol (DON) contaminated wheat to growing pigs on growth performance, digestibility and retention of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca). Secondly, we wished to evaluate the potential of four commercial anti-mycotoxin additives in preventing the adverse effects of DON. Sixty piglets (6.0 kg body weight) were assigned to six different corn-soybean meal-wheat diets (control diet: <0.5 mg kg−1 DON; contaminated diet (DON-contaminated): 4 mg kg−1; and four contaminated diets supplemented with a different anti-mycotoxin additive: DON+GLUC (glucomannan), DON+YBP (yeast, live bacteria, enzymes, plant extracts), DON+ALU (aluminosilicate) and DON+PC (preservation components). Piglets were housed individually in pens for 7 d and then transferred to metabolic crates for urine and feces collection for 7 d. At the end of these 2 wk, mannitol and lactulose doses were given by oral administration. Urine was collected for 24 h for an evaluation of barrier integrity of intestinal mucosa. The piglets were then euthanatized and intestinal samples collected for morphology studies. Feeding DON-contaminated wheat reduced average daily feed intake, average daily gain and G:F ratio compared with the control diet (P<0.05). Only DON+PC diet restored the growth performance of piglets fed DON-contaminated diet. Daily retention of N and P was not affected by DON contamination or anti-mycotoxin additives, but retention of Ca was higher in piglets fed the DON-contaminated diets than the control diet. DON-contaminated diet reduced digestibility of dry matter, gross energy and fat, villi height in jejunum, and recovery of mannitol and lactulose compared with the control diet (P<0.05). Finally, DON concentrations in serum from piglets fed the DON-contaminated diets were higher than in the control diet (P<0.05). Piglets fed DON-contaminated wheat had reduced growth possibly caused by impaired jejunal morphology and decreased digestibility of energy and fat.