Effect of pectin oligosaccharides and zinc chelate on growth performance, zinc status, antioxidant ability, intestinal morphology and short‐chain fatty acids in broilers

Preparation, Structural Analysis, and Growth-Promoting Effects of Amomum longiligulare Polysaccharide 1-Mg (II) Complex

In this study, Amomum longiligulare polysaccharide 1 (ALP1) is used to chelate with magnesium (Mg) to synthesize the ALP1-Mg (II) complex (ALP1-Mg). Based on Box-Behnken response surface design, the optimum technological conditions are 22 mg mL-1 trisodium citrate, 2.10 mol L-1 MgCl2, reaction at 70 °C for 2.9 h, resulting in a maximum Mg content of 2.13%. Next, the physicochemical properties and structural characteristics of ALP1 and ALP1-Mg are characterized, and the results show that the morphology, conformation, crystallinity, and thermal stability of ALP1-Mg are changed. In addition, dietary supplementation of 500 mg kg-1 ALP1-Mg significantly reduces the feed conversion ratio during the grower (15-35 d). Meanwhile, the villus height/crypt depth of the duodenum and ileum are significantly increased, and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus is significantly elevated. Taken together, the results suggest that ALP1-Mg is a potential growth-promoting feed additive.

Evaluation of Liquid Organic Acids on the Performance, Chyme pH, Nutrient Utilization, and Gut Microbiota in Broilers under High Stocking Density

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of organic acids (OAs) in starter broilers and to investigate whether supplemental OAs could alleviate the high stocking density (HSD) stress condition in grower broilers. A total of 408 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were assigned into two groups without or with liquid OAs in the starter phase. In the grower phase, each group in the starter phase was divided into a normal stocking density and an HSD. The OA dose was 0.16% at the starter and grower phases. The results showed that at the starter phase, OAs decreased the chyme pH in gizzard and duodenum and increased the activities of chymotrypsin and α-amylase in the duodenal chyme (p < 0.05). In the grower phase, an HSD decreased the growth performance and the ether extract digestibility (p < 0.01). The supplementation of OAs decreased the chyme pH in the gizzard, proventriculus, and duodenum and increased the lipase and α-amylase activities (p < 0.05). The supplemental OAs increased the dry matter and total phosphorous digestibility and the contents of acetic acids, butyric acids, isovaleric acids, and valeric acids (p < 0.05). For cecal microbial compositions at the genus level, an HSD decreased the relative abundance of Blautia, Norank_f__norank_o__RF39, and Alistipes, while supplemental OAs increased the relative abundance of Norank_f__norank_o__RF39 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although there were no interaction effects between OAs and stocking densities in the present study, it was clear that the supplementation of OAs has beneficial effects on the chyme pH, enzymes activities, and nutrient digestibility in broilers, while an HSD existed adverse effects on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut microbiota balance in grower broilers.

Effects of dietary Chinese yam polysaccharide copper complex on growth performance, immunity, and antioxidant capacity of broilers

Chinese yam polysaccharide (CYP) has received attention in recent years owing to its positive nutritional and medicinal characteristics. Copper is an essential trace metal in animals, which plays an important role in iron absorption and hemoglobin synthesis. However, no published study has evaluated Chinese yam polysaccharide copper complex (CYP-Cu) as a dietary additive in broilers. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary CYP-Cu on growth performance, immunity, and oxidative resistance in broilers. A total of 360 1-day-old 817 broiler chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups, with 3 replicates of 30 birds each and were fed a basal diet with the addition of 0 (control group), 0.02, 0.10, and 0.50 g/kg CYP-Cu. The feeding trial lasted 48 days. On day 28 and day 48, 6 broilers in each group were slaughtered, respectively. Then the parameters of growth and carcass, serum biochemistry, immunity, and antioxidation, and the expression level of hepatic antioxidative genes were investigated. The results showed that compared with the control group, the supplementation of dietary CYP-Cu could improve the indexes of the growth, carcass, serum biochemistry, immunity and oxidation resistance in broilers, such as average daily gain (ADG), the slaughter percentage (SP), semi-evisceration weight percentage (SEWP), eviscerated carcass weight percentage (EWP), breast muscle percentage (BMP), leg muscle percentage (LMP), serum albumin (ALB), high density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), growth hormone (GH), insulin (INS), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 6 (IL-6), complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione s-transferase (GSH-ST); these parameters in the 0.10 g/kg CYP-Cu treated group were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the total trial period, with the exceptions that feed conversion ratio (FCR) and serum low density lipoprotein (LDL), malondialdehyde (MDA) were decreased in the total trial period. In addition, the antioxidative gene mRNA expression of Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf ₂), Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD ₁), Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD ₂), and Catalase (CAT) were upregulated in the liver (P < 0.05). These results indicated that the supplementation of dietary CYP-Cu improved the growth, immunity, and oxidation resistance of broilers, and the addition of 0.10 g/kg CYP-Cu in broiler diets is recommended, which suggests that CYP-Cu may be a promising green feed additive in the poultry industry.

Evaluation of secretory activity in carp pancreatocytes (Cyprinus carpio L.) when using lactobacillus-based chelate and probiotic supplemental feed complexes

The experimental research was carried out on the juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). The impact from supplemental feeds consisting of variable concentrations of chelate compounds, biogenic trace elements and probiotic lactobacillus-based product Bacillus subtilis VKPM B-2335 was evaluated. Optical and qualitative parameters of the lactobacillus base were studied in order to identify the major group of substances potentially able to influence the end result. The purpose of this research was to identify changes in the structure of the zymogen granules and their dimensions at which supplemental feeds produce a stimulating effect on the synthesis of zymogens in exogenous cells of the secretory part of pancreas. At the outcome of the study, for the first time, it was possible to prove that the integrated action of chelates and lactobacillus-based probiotics complemented each other. Metal chelate compounds contributed to enlargement of the zymogen granules, if compared to the control values. The bacterial products accelerated production of the zymogen granules in acinar cells diffusely located in carp hepatopancreas.

An Overview of Structural Aspects and Health Beneficial Effects of Antioxidant Oligosaccharides

BACKGROUND

Non-digestible oligosaccharides are versatile sources of chemical diversity, well known for their prebiotic actions, found naturally in plants or produced by chemical or enzymatic synthesis or by hydrolysis of polysaccharides. Compared to polyphenols or even polysaccharides, the antioxidant potential of oligosaccharides is still unexplored. The aim of the present work was to provide an up-to-date, broad and critical contribution on the topic of antioxidant oligosaccharides.

METHODS

The search was performed by crossing the words oligosaccharides and antioxidant. Whenever possible, attempts at establishing correlations between chemical structure and antioxidant activity were undertaken.

RESULTS

The most representative in vitro and in vivo studies were compiled in two tables. Chitooligosaccharides and xylooligosaccharides and their derivatives were the most studied up to now. The antioxidant activities of oligosaccharides depend on the degree of polymerization and the method used for depolymerization. Other factors influencing the antioxidant strength are solubility, monosaccharide composition, the type of glycosidic linkages of the side chains, molecular weight, reducing sugar content, the presence of phenolic groups such as ferulic acid, and the presence of uronic acid, among others. Modification of the antioxidant capacity of oligosaccharides has been achieved by adding diverse organic groups to their structures, thus increasing also the spectrum of potentially useful molecules.

CONCLUSION

A great amount of high-quality evidence has been accumulating during the last decade in support of a meaningful antioxidant activity of oligosaccharides and derivatives. Ingestion of antioxidant oligosaccharides can be visualized as beneficial to human and animal health.

Effects of Replacing Inorganic with Respective Complexed Glycinate Minerals on Apparent Mineral Bioavailability and Deposition Rate in Tissues of Broiler Breeders

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing inorganic trace minerals (ITMs) with respective low-dose complexed glycinate minerals (CGMs) on their bioavailability and retention during peak laying period of broiler breeders. In this experiment, 648 ZhenNing broiler breeders (23 weeks old) were randomly allocated to four treatments with six replicates (27 birds/replicate) and fed for 14 weeks including 2 weeks adaptation period. The treatments were T1-ITM, commercially recommended levels of ITMs (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn sulphates); T2-MIX, half of the minerals were supplemented with ITMs and half with CGMs; T3-L-CGMs, minerals were supplemented with CGMs (50% level of T1); and T4-M-CGMs, minerals were supplemented with CGMs (70% level of T1). The results showed that birds fed on ITM had lower bioavailability of Fe, Mn, and Zn (P < 0.05) than those fed on L-CGMs, but the highest (P < 0.01) bioavailability of Cu was found in those fed on MIX. Mineral retention (in serum, muscle, bone, and tissues) was not affected by reducing supplementation levels of trace minerals up to 50% of ITMs, but Zn (in serum, liver, kidney, heart, and albumen) and Fe (in serum and the yolk) retention was negatively affected (P < 0.05). In conclusion, replacing dietary ITMs with low-dose complexed glycinate minerals increases the apparent bioavailability of Fe, Mn, and Zn without compromising the mineral retention rates in most of the tissues tested.