Review: Chinese herbs as alternatives to antibiotics in feed for swine and poultry production: Potential and challenges in application

Phytogenic feed additives as natural antibiotic alternatives in animal health and production: A review of the literature of the last decade

The use of antibiotics in animal production raises great public safety concerns; therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of substitutes for antibiotics. In recent decades, plant-derived feed additives have been widely investigated as antibiotic alternatives for use in animal health and production because they exert multiple biological functions and are less likely to induce resistance development. This review summarizes the research history and classification of phytogenic feed additives and their main functions, potential modes of action, influencing factors, and potential negative effects. Further, we highlight the challenges in developing sustainable, safe, and affordable plant-derived antibiotic alternatives for use in livestock production.

A review on the alternatives to antibiotics and the treatment of antibiotic pollution: Current development and future prospects

Antibiotics, widely used in the fields of medicine, animal husbandry, aquaculture, and agriculture, pose a serious threat to the ecological environment and human health. To prevent antibiotic pollution, efforts have been made in recent years to explore alternative options for antibiotics in animal feed, but the effectiveness of these alternatives in replacing antibiotics is not thoroughly understood due to the variation from case to case. Furthermore, a systematic summary of the specific applications and limitations of antibiotic removal techniques in the environment is crucial for developing effective strategies to address antibiotic contamination. This comprehensive review summarized the current development and potential issues on different types of antibiotic substitutes, such as enzyme preparations, probiotics, and plant extracts. Meanwhile, the existing technologies for antibiotic residue removal were discussed under the scope of application and limitation. The present work aims to highlight the strategy of controlling antibiotics from the source and provide valuable insights for green and efficient antibiotic treatment.

Exploring possible benefits of Litsea cubeba Pers. extract on growth, meat quality, and gut flora in white-feather broilers

White-feather broiler chickens are the dominant species in global poultry meat production. Yet there is growing concern about their health, quality, and growth efficiency. While feed additives, often antibiotics or synthetic chemicals, are used to maintain the health of the animals, drug resistance limits their use. Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers., a traditional Chinese herb with antibiotic-like benefits but without the risk of drug resistance, has not yet been explored as an additive to broiler diets. In the present study, broilers of the AA+ hybrid strain were randomly divided into three groups of 16: a control group (regular feed), a low-dose group (1.25 g/kg added L. cubeba extract), and a high-dose group (2.50 g/kg added L. cubeba extract). After 35 days, we found that the extract had no effect on growth. However, gut flora analysis revealed that both doses of the extract had a positive influence on amino acid content and minor unsaturated fatty acids, thus improving the flavor and nutritional value of the meat. These findings suggest that L. cubeba extract, at either dose, could serve as a sustainable alternative to antibiotics, thus reducing the risk of drug resistance while improving meat quality, nutrition, and flavor.

Dietary of different forms of Humulus scandens on growth performance and intestinal bacterial communities in piglets

The present study was aimed at elucidating the effects of feeding different forms of Humulus scandens (Hu) on performance and bacterial communities in piglets. A total of 160 piglets were divided into four groups: (1) a control (CG, basal diet); (2) a basal diet with Hu pulp (HS), basal diet + Hu pulp; (3) a basal diet with Hu juice (HSJ), basal diet + Hu juice; and (4) a basal diet with Hu residue (HSR), basal diet + Hu residue. Results showed that HS, HSJ, and HSR supplementation led to rich average daily gain (ADG) and poor feed conversion ratio (FCR) during 28 to 70 d of age, increased 120 d body weight (BW), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and ADG and decreased FCR during 71 to 120 d of age. Three experiment groups presented greater (P < 0.05) IgA, IgG, and IgM and lower (P < 0.05) glucose, and blood urea nitrogen. The content of diamine oxidase significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in HS group. The crude  protein and crude fiber digestibility were improved (P < 0.05) in HS group and the Ca digestibility was increased (P < 0.05) in HS and HSJ groups. HSR supplementation improved the abundance of Firmicutes and decreased the abundance of Bacteroidetes. Hu supplementation with different forms increased the proportion of Lactobacillus in cecum content. These results indicated that supplemental feeding of Hu with different forms improved serum immunity, nutrient digestibility, and bacterial communities in piglets, promoting growth and development, which may be regarded as a reference for developing novel feed resources for piglets.

Effects of dietary Chinese herbal mixtures on productive performance, egg quality, immune status, caecal and offspring meconial microbiota of Wenchang breeder hens

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal mixtures (CHMs) on productive performance, egg quality, immune status, anti-apoptosis ability, caecal microbiota, and offspring meconial microbiota in hens. A total of 168 thirty-week-old Wenchang breeder hens were randomly divided into two groups, with each group comprising six replicate pens of fourteen hens. The groups were fed a basal diet (CON group) and a basal diet with 1,000 mg/kg CHMs (CHMs group) for 10 weeks. Our results showed that dietary supplementation with CHMs increased the laying rate, average egg weight, hatch of fertile, and offspring chicks' weight while concurrently reducing the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and embryo mortality (p < 0.05). The addition of CHMs resulted in significant improvements in various egg quality parameters, including eggshell strength, albumen height, haugh unit, and the content of docosatetraenoic acid (C20:4n-6) in egg yolk (p < 0.05). The supplementation of CHMs had a greater concentration of IgA and IgG while decreasing the content of IL-6 in serum compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). Addition of CHMs to the diet increased the expression of Bcl-2 and IL-4 in liver and ovary, decreased the expression of IL-1β, Bax, and Caspase-8 in jejunum and ovary, and decreased the expression of NF-κB in liver, jejunum, and ovary (p < 0.05). Moreover, dietary CHMs reduced the abundance of Desulfovibrio in caecal microbiota as well as decreased the abundance of Staphylococcaceae_Staphylococcus and Pseudomonadaceae_Pseudomonas in the offspring meconial microbiota (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the CHMs could improve productive parameters by enhancing immune status, anti-apoptosis capacity, and modulating the caecal microbiota of Wenchang breeder hens, as well as maintaining the intestinal health of the offspring chicks.

Application potential of Humulus Scandens in livestock husbandry

On the background of antibiotic-free livestock husbandry, animal nutritionists are trying to find alternatives to antibiotics. Many herbs have been developed for animal diets to replace antibiotics. Humulus Scandens (HS) is also known as Humulus japonicus and Japanese hop in English, lü Cao () in Mandarin Chinese and kanamugura (カナムグラ) in Japanese. It is a traditional Chinese medicine with good environmental adaptability. It can grow rapidly and cover any area. Its high yield, strong vitality and medical value allow its potential to be used as an exogenous additive for animal diets to replace antibiotics. However, the knowledge about this herb is limited at present. This manuscript reviewed the processing method of HS and its application in livestock husbandry in order to provide references for its application.

Synergistic Effects of Essential Oils and Organic Acids against Aspergillus flavus Contamination in Poultry Feed

Organic acids and essential oils are commonly used in the poultry industry as antimicrobials and for their beneficial effects on gut health, growth performance, and meat quality. A common postharvest storage fungal colonist, Aspergillus flavus, contaminates corn, the primary component of poultry feed, with the highly detrimental mycotoxin, aflatoxin. Aflatoxin adversely affects poultry feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, weight gain, egg production, fertility, hatchability, and poultry meat yield. Both organic acids and essential oils have been reported to inhibit the growth of A. flavus. Thus, we evaluated if the inhibitory synergy between combined essential oils (cinnamon, lemongrass, and oregano) and organic acids (acetic, butyric, and propionic) prevents A. flavus growth. The study confirmed that these compounds inhibit the growth of A. flavus and that synergistic interactions do occur between some of them. Overall, cinnamon oil was shown to have the highest synergy with all the organic acids tested, requiring 1000 µL/L air of cinnamon oil and 888 mg/kg of butyric acid to fully suppress A. flavus growth on corn kernels. With the strong synergism demonstrated, combining certain essential oils and organic acids offers a potentially effective natural method for controlling postharvest aflatoxin contamination in poultry feed.

Effects of Chinese herbal feed additives on the sperm quality and reproductive capacity in breeding boars

Currently, Chinese herbal feed additives (CHFA) are commonly utilized in domestic pig farms. However, their impact on the sperm quality and reproductive capacity of imported breeding boars has yet to be thoroughly explored. In this study, the effect of CHFA on the sperm quality and reproductive capacity of the imported Duroc boars was investigated. Sixteen boars were randomly divided into control group and experimental (CHFA treated) group and fed normal or CHFA-levels containing diets, respectively. The sperm quality and reproductive hormone levels were periodically tested, and the reproductive capacity with breeding sows were evaluated. The results showed that the CHFA treated group boars significantly improved sperm volume, sperm concentration, and motility and reduced the sperm abnormalities. Furthermore, the serum levels of reproductive hormone such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) in the CHFA treated group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Although there was no significant difference in the initial birth weight of piglets between the two groups, the CHFA treated group had a significantly higher average number of piglets born, the average number of piglets born alive, the number of piglets weaned at 28 days, and the weaning weight compared to the control group. These findings suggest that CHFA can significantly improve the sperm quality of breeding boars and enhance their reproductive hormone levels as well as the reproductive capacity, providing direct evidence for the further application of CHFA in the management of breeding boars in China.

Octyl gallate targeting the 3C-like protease exhibits highly efficient antiviral activity against swine enteric coronavirus PEDV

Infection with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes severe watery diarrhea in newborn piglets, leading to substantial financial losses for the swine industry. In this study, we screened small molecule drugs targeting 3 C-like protease (3CLpro) by molecular docking, and further evaluated the antiviral activity of the screened drugs against PEDV. Results showed that octyl gallate (OG), a widely used food additive, exhibited strong binding affinity with the 3CLpro active sites of PEDV. Bio-layer interferometry and fluorescence resonance energy transfer revealed that OG directly interacts with PEDV 3CLpro (KD = 549 nM) and inhibits 3CLpro activity (IC₅₀ = 22.15 µM). OG showed a strong inhibition of PEDV replication in vitro. Virus titers were decreased by 0.58 and 0.71 log₁₀ TCID₅₀/mL for the CV777 and HM2017 strains, respectively. In vivo, all piglets in the PEDV-infected group died at 48 h post-infection (hpi), while 75% of piglets in the OG treatment group showed significant relief from the clinical symptoms, pathological damage, and viral loads in the jejunum and ileum. Moreover, the western blotting results showed that OG also has strong antiviral activity against other swine enteric coronaviruses, including transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), and swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV). Our findings revealed that OG could be developed as a novel antiviral drug against PEDV. The OG exhibited a potential broad-spectrum antiviral drug for control of other swine enteric coronaviruses.

Growth-Promoting Effects of Zhenqi Granules on Finishing Pigs

Developing nonantibiotic livestock growth promoters attracts intensive interest in the post-antibiotic era. In this study, we investigated the growth-promoting efficacy of Zhenqi granules (ZQ) in pigs and further explored the possible mechanisms by transcriptomics analysis. Weaned piglets (52 days old with an average body weight of 17.92 kg) were fed with diets supplemented with different doses of ZQ (0 g/kg, 1 g/kg, and 2 g/kg) for 30 days and continued observations for an additional 32 days after removing ZQ from the diets. Compared with the control group, the average daily gain, carcass weight, average back fat thickness, and fat meat percentage of the group supplemented with 1 g/kg of ZQ showed a significant increase, and the feed/gain ratio was lower. The group supplemented with 2 g/kg of ZQ also showed a significant increase in average daily gain and average backfat thickness. A transcriptomics analysis revealed that the supplementation of ZQ at 1 g/kg upregulated the expression of genes related to collagen biosynthesis and lipid biosynthesis in skeletal muscle and liver. This effect was primarily through upregulating the mRNA levels of structural proteins and lipid-related enzymes. This study demonstrates the growth-promoting efficacy of ZQ and provides some insights of the mechanism of growth promotion.

Growing and laying performance of two different-plumage color Japanese quail varieties supplemented with corn silk in their diet

The current study aimed to investigate the dietary supplementation effect of corn silk (CS) on performance and blood chemistry of brown and white-feathered quails during the grower and layer periods. Japanese quails of brown and white-feathered color (180 birds/variety at 2 wks old) were randomly allotted into three groups with 3 replicates each (n = 20 birds/replicate). Corn silk powder (CS) was supplemented to the basal diet at 0, 1, and 2% of the diet for each quail variety for 1-month growing period, then continued for another 6-wk laying period to assess the egg production and egg quality characteristics. CS supplementation at 1% and 2% for brown and white-feathered quails respectively improved their growth performance (body weight and weight gain), carcass yield, and intestinal villi length with increasing feed consumption but without changes in feed conversion ratio. In both quail varieties, CS addition had a hypolipidemic effect, confirmed by lowering serum triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) while increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations (P < 0.05) with a clear response observed in white quails than the brown ones. Besides, CS supplementation increased (P = 0.002) hen day egg production in brown feathered quails, while reducing it in the white-feathered quails compared with the CS-free diet. The increased egg production was not significantly (P > 0.05) correlated with lower content of TG and CHO, while significantly increased the antioxidant content in both quail varieties (P < 0.05). Moreover, CS dietary supplementation significantly enhanced (P = 0.003) the yolk color, especially in brown-feathered quail. In conclusion, CS can be safely supplemented to the Japanese quail diet (1% and 2% for brown-feathered and white-feathered quails respectively) to improve growth performance, and egg quality characteristics.

Changes in the gut microbiota of forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) during ex situ conservation

Ex situ conservation is an important technique for protecting rare and endangered wildlife, and maintaining stable individual health is crucial to its success. Gut microbiota composition is a critical indicator of animal health and should therefore be closely monitored during ex situ conservation to track impacts on animal health. Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) were historically distributed in Hebei Province, China, however, they are now extinct in the region. Thus, ex situ conservation efforts were conducted in 2016 whereby approximately 50 individuals were artificially migrated from Weinan, Shaanxi to Huailai, Hebei. To monitor gut health of these migrated individuals, we used 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology to examine the microbiota differences between Huailai juvenile and Weinan juvenile groups, and between Huailai adult and Weinan adult groups. Alpha diversity analysis indicated that the richness of microbiota significantly decreased after migration to the Huailai area, and the beta diversity results also showed significant dissimilarity in gut microbial communities, demonstrating the distinct microbial structure differences in the forest musk deer population from the two areas, for both juvenile and adult groups, respectively. In addition, PICRUSt functional profile prediction indicated that the functions of gut digestion and absorption, and degradation of toxic substances were significantly weakened after ex situ conservation. Differences in diet composition between the individuals of the two sites were also observed and the impact of food on gut microbiota compositions within forest musk deer during ex situ conservation was investigated. This study provides a theoretical basis for developing ex situ conservation measures, especially for the protection of forest musk deer.

Effects of dietary supplement with a Chinese herbal mixture on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota in weaned pigs

Weaning stress decreases the growth performance of piglets and is one of the main concerns of pig industries. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines have been used to reduce the adverse effects of weaning stress as both nutritional supplements and antibiotic substitutes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a Chinese herbal mixture (Kangtaile, which contained Paeonia lactiflora, licorice, dandelion, and tea polyphenols) on the growth performances, immune response, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota of weaned pigs. A total of 400 weaned pigs [Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire)] were randomly allocated into one of four treatments: the CON group, fed with basic diet; the HM1 group, fed with basal diet supplemented with 0.5 g herbal mixture/kg diet; the HM2 group, fed with basal diet supplemented with 1.0 g herbal mixture/kg diet; or the HM3 group, fed with basal diet supplemented with 1.5 g herbal mixture/kg diet. The results revealed that dietary supplementation with the herbal mixture for 28 days improved average daily gain and feed conversion ratio, while decreased the diarrhea rate of weaned pigs. Moreover, dietary supple-mentation with the herbal mixture improved the antioxidant capacity through increasing the activity of catalase (CAT) and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level, while decreasing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum. Pigs supplemented with herbal mixture presented an increased serum immunoglobulin (Ig)M level on day 14 compared with control pigs. The herbal mixture altered the composition of intestinal microbiota by influencing the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes at the phylum level. The relative abundances of the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were significantly related to the body weight gain of pigs. In conclusion, supplementation of herbal mixture to the diet improved growth performance, immunity, and antioxidant capacity and modified the composition of intestinal microbiota in weaning pigs. This study provided new insights into the nutritional regulation effects of the herbal mixtures on weaned pigs.

Exploring the Potential of Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw. (Resurrection Tree) as a Phytogenic Feed Additive in Animal Nutrition

Simple Summary

The unregulated use of in-feed antibiotic growth promoters has received widespread condemnation due to an increase in cases of antibiotic-resistant microbes. This has fueled an ever-growing demand for new sources of natural and safe alternative products with minimal impacts on the environment and human health in animal production. Myrothamnus flabellifolius, as a phytogenic feed additive, fits this description, as it is a natural plant containing high amounts of secondary metabolites necessary for cell function, regulation, and protection for improved animal growth, performance, and health. With some limitations towards its use, several processing and combination strategies are available to unlock nutrients and explore its potential in animal production, as described in this review.

Abstract

Myrothamnus flabellifolius (Welw.) is used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of depression and mental disorder, asthma, infectious diseases, respiratory, inflammation, epilepsy, heart, wound, backaches, diabetes, kidney ailments, hypertension, hemorrhoids, gingivitis, shingles, stroke, and skins conditions. The effectiveness of M. flabellifolius is due to the presence of several secondary metabolites that have demonstrated efficacy in other cell and animal models. These metabolites are key in cell regulation and function and have potential use in animal production due to antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, for an improvement in growth performance, feed quality and palatability, gut microbial environment, function, and animal health. The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed account on the potential use of M. flabellifolius in animal nutrition. Limitations towards the use of this plant in animal nutrition, including toxicity, economic, and financial issues are discussed. Finally, novel strategies and technologies, e.g., microencapsulation, microbial fermentation, and essential oil extraction, used to unlock and improve nutrient bioaccessibility and bioavailability are clearly discussed towards the potential use of M. flabellifolius as a phytogenic additive in animal diets.

Effects of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. (dandelion) on growth performance, expression of genes coding for tight junction protein and mucin, microbiota composition and short chain fatty acids in ileum of broiler chickens

Background

Dandelion is becoming an exploitable alternative to the widely prohibited antibiotics in the poultry production. This research aimed to investigate the effects of dandelion on the growth performance and intestinal barrier function of broiler chickens maintained under standard condition of management. One-hundred and sixty 1-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) male broiler chickens were randomly divided into four groups, with five replicates of eight birds each. The birds were fed a basal diet supplemented without (control group, [CON]) or with 500 (low dose [LD]) or 1000 (high dose [HD]) mg/kg dandelion or with 250 mg/kg chlortetracycline 20% premix (CTC) for 42 days, including the starter phase (d 1 to 21) and the grower phase (d 22 to 42). Body weight (BW) of each bird and feed consumption of each replicate were measured at d 21 and d 42. The ileal tissues were collected on day 21 and 42 to determine expression of genes coding for tight junction protein and mucin as well as ELISA analysis for immune factor. The ileal digesta was collected for microbiota and short chain fatty acids analysis.

Results

Compared with CON group, during day 1–21, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed/gain ratio (F/G) of LD group were lower (P < 0.05); during day 22–42, the F/G of LD and CTC group tended to be lower (P = 0.07); during the overall phase, the ADFI of HD and CTC groups were decreased (P < 0.05), and the F/G of dandelion and CTC groups tended to be decreased (P = 0.07). On day 21, the relative mRNA expression of claudin, occludin-1 and mucin1 in dandelion groups were up-regulated (P < 0.05), and the ZO-1 mRNA expression in CTC group was increased (P < 0.05); on day 42, the claudin and mucin1 transcripts in LD group and ZO-1 transcripts in HD and CTC group were up-regulated (P < 0.05), while the occludin-1 and mucin1 transcripts in CTC group was significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05). In addition, the contents of TNF-α in dandelion groups were lower than that in CTC group (P < 0.05). In the analysis of ileal microbiota, on day 21, decreased α-diversity was observed in HD and CTC groups (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, on day 21, the relative abundance of Firmicutes in dandelion groups tended to be higher (P = 0.09), the relative abundance of Lactobacillus in LD and CTC group were increased (P < 0.05), while Bacteroidete, Bacteroides, and Alistipes relative abundance in dandelion and CTC groups were decreased (P < 0.05). On day 42, the Actinobacteriota relative abundance in CTC group tended to be higher (P = 0.05), and Lysinibacillus relative abundance of CTC group was higher (P = 0.02). Compared with CON group, on day 21, the propionic acid and butyric acid content in CTC group were higher, the butyric acid content in HD group was lower (P < 0.10).

Conclusion

In summary, dietary dandelion supplementation at 500 mg/kg of diet enhanced growth performance of broilers by improving the intestinal barrier function. Dandelion can be supplemented in the diet as an antibiotics alternative to enhance production in poultry industry.

Preparation, Antibacterial Potential, and Antibacterial Components of Fermented Compound Chinese Medicine Feed Additives

This experiment was conducted to compare the antibacterial ability and to identify the antibacterial components of different fermented compound Chinese medicine feed additives in order to develop one fermented compound Chinese medicine feed additive product that can effectively alleviate metritis, vaginitis, and mastitis of sows. The Oxford cup method and double dilution method were used to compare the antibacterial ability of three fermented compound Chinese medicine feed additives (A, B, and C). UHPLC-QE-MS-based untargeted metabolomics was used to identify the antibacterial components of fermented compound Chinese medicine feed additives. Results showed that among fermented compound Chinese medicine feed additives A, B, and C, additive A had the strongest ability to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella cholerae suis, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae. The MIC and MBC of additive A were the lowest for Staphylococcus aureus compared to that for the other three pathogens. The concentrations of 23 Chinese medicine ingredients (ellagic acid, guanine, camphor, L-valine, sinapine, dipropylphthalate, 3-hydroxy-5-isopropylidene-3,8-dimethyl-2,3,3a,4,5,8a-hexahydro-6(1H)-azulenone, 7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-8-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-6-(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)chromen-4-one, acetylcholine, farrerol, pyrogallol, ethyl gallate, demethylwedelolactone, methyl gallate, kaempferide, gallic acid, eriodictyol, threonic acid, inositol, 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavanone, taxifolin, asiatic acid, and isorhamnetin) in additive A were significantly (p &lt; 0.05 or p &lt; 0.01) higher than those in additive B, respectively. It is concluded that the mixture composed of 23 active components in fermented compound Chinese medicine feed additive A plays an important role in inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella cholerae suis, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae.

Medicinal Plants as an Alternative to Control Poultry Parasitic Diseases

Parasitic infections are a major public health concern affecting millions of people universally. This review elaborates on the potential impacts of plants and their bioactive components that have been widely used in the cure of several parasitic infections of poultry. The medicinal importance of natural herbs depends upon their bioactive ingredients, which are originated from crude plants, consequently leading to the specific action on the body. Due to the limited availability of effective drugs and high cost, the development of drug resistance in several harmful parasites and microbes leads to huge economic losses in the poultry industry. This will impose the development of innovative sources for drugs to overwhelm the therapeutic failure. Moreover, the environment-friendly feed additives which can be applied as a substitute to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) for broilers were proven. The application of natural products with therapeutic characteristics is an ancient practice that is appropriately gaining more acceptance. Globally, it is assessed that some 20,000 species of higher plants are used medicinally, although traditional medicine has a scarcity of knowledge on its efficiency and wellbeing. This review explores the usage of medicinal herbs for parasitic infections, emphasizing the recent knowledge available while detecting the research gaps which may be explored to find the usage of herbal medicines for parasitic infections in poultry. In conclusion, herbal medicines are the effective source of prime components for drug detection and the formation of phytopharmaceuticals in the control of devastating parasitic infections. There is a prerequisite to applying the traditional medicine information in clinical applications via value addition.

Effects of a probiotic-fermented herbal blend on the growth performance, intestinal flora and immune function of chicks infected with Salmonella pullorum

Salmonella pullorum is a highly pathogenic bacteria in poultry industry. However, antibiotics were restricted in many countries because of the increasing risk of antibiotic resistance, Therefore, an environmental friendly and effective alternative strives to be developed. This study investigated the benefit of a probiotic-fermented herbal blend on the growth performance and gut microbiota of newborn broilers infected with S. pullorum. A total of 120 one-day-old dwarf male chicks were randomly allotted to 4 treatment groups, each including 5 replicates of 6 chicks: negative control (NC), positive control (PC), herbal blend (HB), and probiotic-fermented herbal blend (PF). All birds (n = 90), except for those in the NC, were infected with S. pullorum (1.69 × 108 CFU) on day 1. On day 11, body weight (BW), mortality, tissue pathology, cecal colony counts, immune organ indices, cecal mucosa secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentrations, and cecal cytokine mRNA expression levels were investigated. No mortality was observed after the PF treatment, and less pathological condition was in the ileum, cecum, and liver of HB and PF. BW, average daily gain and average daily feed intake were significant higher in the HB group compared to the PC and were the highest in the PF (P < 0.05). HB treatment significantly increased cecal populations of Lactobacilli, and decreased cecal populations of Escherichia coli and Salmonella, but results were more pronounced in the PF group (P < 0.05). Both HB and PF treatments increased cecal mucosa sIgA compared with the PC (P < 0.05). Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma were lowest (P < 0.05) and interleukin 4 was the highest (P < 0.05) in PF, which exhibited similar levels to the NC group. PF treatment significantly improved the development of the thymus and bursa in S. pullorum-infected chicks. In conclusion, PF treatment prevented death, improved growth performance, regulated intestinal flora and enhanced immune ability of in S. pullorum-infected with chicks.

Comparison of sensitivity to a commercial Origanum vulgare essential oil between extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL-) and non-ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Origanum vulgare essential oil (OVEO) against ESBL- and non-ESBL-producing multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacteriaceae isolates. OVEO composition was determined using Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC/MS). In the current study, the effect of OVEO was studied on seven MDR Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Antibacterial activity of OVEO was investigated by the disc diffusion assay and twofold serial dilution method. GC/MS analysis identified thymol (78.21%) as the single major component present in the OVEO. This EO showed an unexpectedly high antibacterial activity against all the studied MDR Enterobacteriaceae isolates, with inhibition zone diameters and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 28 ± 0.6 to 35 ± 0.6 mm and 0.31 ± 0.0 to 5 ± 0.0 μL/mL, respectively. However, ESBL-producing isolates were more susceptible to OVEO than non-ESBL producing isolates. This study compared, for the first time, the sensitivity to OVEO between ESBL and non-ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates.

Dietary effect of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on quail performance, carcass, blood metabolites and intestinal microbiota

This study aimed to assess the impacts of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on the growth performance, carcass traits, intestinal microbiota, liver and kidney functions, immunity, oxidative status, and lipid profile of Japanese quails. A total of 200 one-week-old unsexed Japanese quails with an average initial body weight of 26.24 ± 0.2 g were randomly distributed into 5 equal groups of 40 birds and further subdivided into 5 replicates. The first (control) group was fed a diet without any licorice, while licorice powder was added at levels of 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg per kg diet in the second, third, fourth, and fifth groups, respectively. At the age of 3 wk, the group of quail fed on a diet supplemented with 750 and 1000 mg licorice/kg of diet gained the highest body weight (BW) and daily body weight (DBW), while attaining the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to other groups. Meanwhile, groups fed diets with licorice at levels of 0 and 250 mg/kg showed the highest feed intake. After the 5-wk feeding trial, the highest BW and DBW values, and the lowest FCR were recorded in the group fed with 750 mg licorice/kg diet. The different treatments produced no significant differences (P > 0.05) in quail carcass characteristics, including percentages of carcass, liver, gizzard, heart, giblets, and dressing. The blood of the group fed a 750 mg licorice diet had higher contents of total protein and GLOB, while its contents of A/G%, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were lower. Apart from the high level of licorice (1000 mg/kg), the MDA level was linearly and quadratically (P = 0.0413 and 0.001) decreased with different licorice groups, while superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and M (IgM) were quadratically increased when compared to the control group. Licorice supplementation resulted in marked reductions in the number of total bacteria, coliforms, E. coli, and Salmonella, compared to those in the control. In conclusion, the inclusion of licorice at levels of 750 and 1000 mg/kg into the diet of Japanese quail enhances the animal's performance, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and maintains a healthy gut microbiota.

The effect of additives with essential oils on the productivity of young pigs

Modern feed additives based on natural plant components are increasingly used as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics in animal nutrition. Phytobiotics are natural plant components that are increasingly gaining demand for use in ready-to-eat animal feed and provide proper health and microflora of the body. A scientific and economic experiment was conducted in order to determine their effect on the productivity of young pigs. We composed three groups of analogues each comprising 12 individuals, which were formed in a 15-day equalization period. According to the results of the study on the use of a new feed factor protein-vitamin-mineral supplement Efiprot in the diets of young pigs, a positive effect was observed on increase in the average daily weight gain by 4.1% and 7.1% compared with the control group. There was also seen a better absorption of nutrients in the diet compared with the control indicator. During inclusions of essential oil in the diet of the pigs, we observed an increase in the digestibility of nutrients: in particular, the level of digestibility of dry and organic matter increased in the second and third experimental groups, as well as digestible protein and digestibility of crude fat was better in the first experimental group than in the control group. During the study, there was a tendency towards better breakdown of sparingly soluble carbohydrates under the action of feed additives compared with the control indicator. Thus, the use of protein-vitamin-mineral supplement during the rearing of young pigs not only increased the efficiency of their rearing, but also led to better digestion and maintenance of the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.

Dietary probiotics as a strategy for improving growth performance, intestinal efficacy, immunity, and antioxidant capacity of white Pekin ducks fed with different levels of CP

The potential impacts of probiotics on the performance and health status of white Pekin ducks fed with optimal or suboptimal dietary CP were evaluated during the growing period. A total of 180 male white Pekin ducks (14-day-old ducks with an initial weight of 415.65 ± 2.20 g) were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups (45 in each group of 5 replicates) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. The main factors included 2 dietary CP levels (18 or 14%) and dietary probiotic addition (with or without probiotics). The probiotic source was supplemented at 0.2 g per kilogram of diet from a blend of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei. The results showed that the diet containing 18% CP and probiotics significantly increases the final and total weight gain. Activities of intestinal enzymes (amylase, lipase, and protease), morphometrics (villus length, goblet cell count, and cryptal depth), and carcass percentage were also increased significantly. Total protein content, lysozyme activity, bactericidal activity, nitro blue tetrazolium levels, alternative complement pathway, superoxide dismutase activity, and catalase activity were significantly increased, whereas glucose, cortisol, and total cholesterol levels were decreased when treated with diet containing 18% CP and probiotics. Conversely, the group treated with diet containing 14% CP without probiotics showed the poorest performance, carcass properties, immune response, and antioxidant potential. In conclusion, probiotic addition to the 14% CP diet improved the performance of white Pekin ducks caused by reduced CP diet to performance due to the 18% CP diet without probiotic supplementation.

Microbiome Analysis Investigating the Impacts of Fermented Spent Mushroom Substrates on the Composition of Microbiota in Weaned Piglets Hindgut

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fermented spent mushroom substrates (FSMS) on growth performance, serum biochemical, gut digestive enzyme activity, microbial community, genes expression of tight junction proteins, and volatile fatty acids in the hindgut (colon and cecum) of weaned piglets. A total of 100 weaned Yihao native pigs (native × Duroc, 50 males and 50 females) were allocated to two groups with five replicates and 10 pigs per replicate. Pigs in the control group were fed a basal diet (BD group), and the others were fed basal diets supplemented with 3% FSMS (FSMS group). Relative to the BD group, it had better results for final weight, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio in the FSMS group but not significant (p > 0.05), which was accompanied by improved serum triiodothyronine, immunoglobulin G, and immunoglobulin A (p < 0.05) but lower serum total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, and total triglyceride during the overall period (p < 0.05). Similarly, FSMS significantly upregulated (p < 0.05) the messenger RNA expression of duodenal tight junction proteins such as tight junction protein 1, tight junction protein 2, and occludin. Meanwhile, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, and isovaleric acid levels were increased, whereas propanoic acid was decreased (p < 0.05) in the FSMS group than the BD group. In addition, the piglets in the FSMS group changed the microbial diversity in the colon and cecum. 16S rRNA gene sequencing-based compositional analysis of the colonic and cecal microbiota showed differences in the relative abundance of bacterial phyla (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, etc.), genus (Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Roseburia, etc.), and species (Lactobacillus gasseri, Clostridium disporicum, etc.) between the BD and FSMS fed piglets. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with FSMS benefited to the intestinal mucosal barrier, immunity, and composition of the microbiota.

Evaluation of Achyranthes japonica Nakai extract on growth performance, nutrient utilization, cecal microbiota, excreta noxious gas emission, and meat quality in broilers fed corn-wheat-soybean meal diet

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) extract as a natural feed additive on growth performance, nutrient utilization, cecal microbiota, excreta noxious gas emission, and meat quality in broilers fed corn-wheat-soybean meal diet. In total, seven hundred twenty 1-day-old male Ross 308 broilers with an average body weight (BW) of 43.36 ± 1.42 g were used in a 35-d feeding trial. Broilers were randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 treatments. Each treatment had 10 replication pens with 18 birds per replication. Dietary treatments composed of corn-wheat-soybean meal-based diets along with the addition of 0, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1% of AJN extract. The BW gain and feed conversion rate were linearly influenced (P < 0.05) by the supplementation of AJN extract during days 8 to 21, 22 to 35, and the overall experiment. At the end of the experiment, the digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen and the population of cecal lactic acid bacteria were linearly improved (P < 0.05) in response to increasing AJN extract supplementation. Excreta emission of ammonia showed a linear decrease (P < 0.05) with the increasing levels of AJN extract. The breast muscle percentage linearly increased (P < 0.05) in birds fed AJN extract contained diets. In summary, the inclusion of AJN extract in corn-wheat-soybean meal diet improved growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal microbiota balance, and breast meat production and decreased excreta ammonia emission, which confirmed the applicability of AJN extract as a natural feed additive in broilers.

The Influence of Essential Oils on Gut Microbial Profiles in Pigs

Simple Summary

In recent years, the intake of ultra-processed foods has increased dramatically worldwide. Missing natural foods in the diet raise the need of biologically active food components that could compensate for this deficiency and help maintain proper immune status. In this study, the microbial changes in pigs as experimental animals were assessed as influenced by consumption of oregano extract combination with peppermint and thyme essential oils. The results demonstrated that the combination of plant extracts had a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract of animals by increasing the number of probiotic bacteria. Based on the results obtained it may be outlined that the combination of oregano extract and peppermint and thyme essential oils can be promising ingredient as a functional component for the development of the new nutraceutical preparation.

Abstract

In recent years, the intake of ultra-processed foods has increased dramatically worldwide. Missing natural foods in the diet raise the need of biologically active food components that could compensate for this deficiency and help maintain proper immune status. This study used pigs as an animal model for the assessment of the impact of consumption of Origanum vulgare plant extract combined with Mentha piperita and Thymus vulgaris essential oils on microbial profile in intestines. A single group of weaned pigs received basal diet, while the other group basal diet supplemented with plant extract and two essential oils in the form of bilayer tablets prepared using “liquid/solid” phase technology. Metagenomic sequencing was performed with the aim to investigate changes of microbial communities in ileum, caecum, and colon. The results demonstrated that the combination of essential oils was non cytotoxic, and had a positive effect on the microbial composition in the large intestine of pigs due to significant increase in the number of probiotic bacteria. The amount of Lactobacillus was 2.5 times and Bifidobacterium 1.9 times higher in the animal group fed with supplement. The combination, however, had some negative impact on the variety of minor species in the distal part of the ileum. Additional studies need to be performed to obtain knowledge on how combinations of essential oils can change bacterial variety in the proximal part of the gastrointestinal tract.

Vinasse in the diet of lactating sows and its effect on litter

The aim of this study was to verify the impact of adding vinasse as an acidifier in sows diet during the lactating period and its effect on litter. A total of 14 agroceres females were used from the first day of lactation until weaning. The vinasse was obtained in a mill near the experimental facility and was stored in sterilized barrels. Animals were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design into two treatments: control liquid diet and liquid diet with the inclusion of vinasse in each feed supply of the day. The diets were supplied four times a day, containing a mixture of ½ L of vinasse and ½ L of water. Feed leftovers were weighted daily. Feed intake was used to evaluate sows’ performance. The piglets were weighted every week after birth until weaning in order to obtain weight gain. Vinasse inclusion showed an increase (p < 0.05) in feed intake of lactating sows, improving diet palatability. Inclusion of acidifier in the diet did not show (p > 0.05) difference in weight gain of piglets. Vinasse consumption by sows did not influence litter performance. The inclusion of vinasse in the diet of lactating sows is beneficial because increases feed consumption.

Effects of dietary Achyranthes japonica extract supplementation on the growth performance, total tract digestibility, cecal microflora, excreta noxious gas emission, and meat quality of broiler chickens

The present study was investigated the effects of dietary Achyranthes japonica extract (AJE) supplementation on the growth performance, total tract digestibility, cecal microflora, excreta noxious gas emission, breast meat quality, and organ weight in broiler chickens. In total, 640 Ross × Ross male broiler chickens (1-day-old) were randomly distributed into 4 dietary treatments with 10 replicate cages (16 birds/replicate) per treatment group for 5 wk. The dietary treatments included a control basal diet without AJE, and diets with 0.025, 0.05, or 0.1% AJE. Body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion improved linearly with the supplementation of AJE over the experimental period (days 1 to 35) (P < 0.05). Dietary AJE supplementation caused a significant increase in the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen (linear, P < 0.05). The cecal Lactobacillus, E. coli, and Salmonella counts were linearly affected with increasing dietary AJE supplementation (P < 0.05). With increasing levels of AJE, excreta ammonia gas concentration showed a linear decrease (P < 0.05). The breast muscle weight linearly increased, along with a decrease in the abdominal fat weight, in treatment groups fed with AJE (P < 0.05). These results indicate that dietary addition with increasing AJE linearly improved growth performance, total tract digestibility, cecal microflora, excreta ammonia gas emission, and abdominal fat weight in broiler chickens.

Effects of dietary supplementation of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on growth performance, immune status, antioxidant capacity and selected microbial populations of weaned piglets

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) are a complex mixture of highly branched and partially characterised polysaccharides and proteoglycans extracted from the goji berry. This mixture has great potential as a novel feed supplement for pigs. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation with LBPs on the growth performance, immune status, antioxidant capacity and selected intestinal microbial populations in weaned piglets. In trial 1, a total of 400 weaned piglets [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an average body weight (BW) of 6.34 ± 0.16 kg (21 days of age) were divided into five groups and fed a basal diet (control group) or a basal diet containing 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 or 6,000 mg/kg LBPs (supplemented at the expense of corn). Supplementation with 4,000 or 6,000 mg/kg LBPs for 2 weeks significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the pigs compared with the control group (p < .05). In trial 2, thirty-two 21-days-old weaned piglets (BW: 6.33 ± 0.11 kg) were allotted to a control group (fed with a basal diet) or an experimental group (basal diet containing 4,000 mg/kg LBPs). The experiment lasted for 14 days. Pigs fed LBP diets exhibited an increased ADG and ADFI, and a decreased diarrhoeal incidence compared with those fed the basal diets (p < .05). Supplementation with LBPs increased the serum IgG and IgM levels (p < .05). Dietary LBPs effectively promoted antioxidant defence properties through enhancing the activities of serum, liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), in addition to decreasing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p < .05). The addition of LBPs increased the amounts of Bacteroidetes in the ileum and caecum and the caecal contents of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. (p < .05), while decreased the populations of Escherichia coli and Firmicutes in the ileum and caecum (p < .05) compared with the control group. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation with LBPs can enhance growth performance, immune status and antioxidant capacity, and improve the intestinal microbial populations of weaned piglets.

Application of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine By-products as Dietary Feed Supplements and Antibiotic Replacements in Animal Production

BACKGROUND

Misuse of synthetic antibiotics in livestock leads to the transfer of antibiotic resistant pathogens into humans and deposits toxic residues in meat and milk. There is therefore an urgent need for safe and viable alternative approaches to improve the nutrition and wellbeing of farm animals. An alternative source that has been widely exploited is Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (TCHM). These herbs contain several but less toxic bioactive compounds which are generally regarded as biodegradable. Recently, advances in the knowledge of the importance of TCHM have led to a rapid increase in its production and hence, increasing the amount of by-products generated. Such by-products have become a serious environmental challenge because producers regard them as industrial waste and discard them directly. This review summarizes scientific findings on the bioactive compounds in TCHM and TCHM by-products, discusses functional dietary patterns and outlines challenges that may hinder full utilization of TCHM by-products in animal production.

METHODS

Information for this review was obtained through scientific databases and websites such as Pubmed and Google scholar from 2004 to 2017 using experimental studies on bioactive compounds in TCHM and their effects in animal production.

RESULTS

Studies have shown that TCHM by-products contain high amounts of bioactive compounds which confer several nutritional and health benefits to animals and thus could be incorporated as feed additives.

CONCLUSION

The findings for this review indicate that TCHM by-products apart from being a good alternative for synthetic antibiotics could also minimize the current environmental challenges associated with its disposal.

Effects of pulverized oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on diarrhea incidence, growth performance, immunity, and microbial composition in piglets

BACKGROUND

Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom (POM) is an edible mushroom with rich nutritional components and vital pharmacological properties. The present study comprised 100 cross-bred piglets, weaned at 28 days old, who were randomly assigned to four POM diets with five replicates per diet and five piglets per pen.

RESULTS

POM supplementation (P < 0.05) decreased the incidence of diarrhea, and also increased the average daily feed intake and average daily gain of pigs. Fecal acetate, butyrate and propionate increased with the addition of POM. Interleukin-2, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, tumor necrosis factor-α and immunoglobulin A increased (P < 0.05) with the addition of POM. The 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that the Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the dominant microbial strains in the fecal samples, irrespective of POM supplementation. Shannon diversity, whole tree phylogenetic diversity, observed species and Chao1 analysis exhibited significant variation in species richness across the treatments. Principal coordinates analysis showed a significant (P < 0.1) increase in the microbial communities amongst all of the treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study suggest that the supplementation of POM in the diet of piglets might increase feed consumption, gut microbial composition and diversity, as well as short-chain fatty acids synthesis, consequently preventing the occurrence of diarrhea and increasing the growth of piglets. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Yupingfeng polysaccharides enhances growth performance in Qingyuan partridge chicken by up-regulating the mRNA expression of SGLT1, GLUT2 and GLUT5

The ban on the use of antibiotic in feed encouraged nutritionists to using alternatives to maintain growth performance and intestinal function of broilers. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Yupingfeng polysaccharides (YP) supplementation on growth performance and expression of SGLT1, GLUT2 and GLUT5 in Qingyuan partridge chicken. Experiment 1: a total of 540 chickens were randomly allocated to five groups with six replication. Dietary treatments were: (1) CON (control group), basal diet; (2) T1, CON + 0.5 g kg⁻¹ YP; (3) T2, CON + 1 g kg⁻¹ YP; (4) T3, CON + 2 g kg⁻¹YP; (5) T4, CON + 4 g kg⁻¹YP. Experiment 2, a total of 162 were randomly allocated to three groups with three replication. Dietary treatments were: (1) CON, basal diet; (2) T1, CON + 0.5 g kg⁻¹YP; (3) T2, CON + 1 g kg⁻¹YP. From days 1 to 14 and overall, chicken fed T1 diet had higher ADG. On day 42, there was increased villus height of jejunum in T1 group. On days 14 and 28, there was decreased villus height of duodenum and jejunum in T2 group. In duodenum, the expression of SGLT1 (days 21, 35 and 42), GLUT2 (days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42) and GLUT5 (days 7, 14, 21 and 28) was increased with YP supplementation. In jejunum, the expression of SGLT1 (days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35), GLUT2 (days 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42) and GLUT5 (days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42) was increased with YP supplementation. In ileum, the expression of SGLT1 (days 7, 21, 35 and 42), GLUT2 (days 7, 14, 21 and 42) and GLUT5 (days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42) was increased with YP supplementation. Dietary YP supplementation improves growth performance and expression of SGLT1, GLUT2 and GLUT5 in intestine.

Effects of activated charcoal-herb extractum complex on the growth performance, immunological indices, intestinal morphology and microflora in weaning piglets

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of activated charcoal-herb extractum complex (CHC) on the growth performance, immunological indices, intestinal morphology and microflora in weaning piglets to determine the optimal supplemental dose. A total of 216 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) with an initial body weight of 8.55 ± 1.18 kg were randomly assigned to six treatment groups; each treatment group had six pens, with six pigs per pen. The study period was 28 d. Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 500, 1000, 1500 or 2000 mg kg-1 of CHC over two 14-d periods. Two additional diets containing 0 and 1000 mg kg-1 of montmorillonite were set as the negative and positive controls, respectively. Supplementation with 500 mg kg-1 of CHC significantly increased average daily gain compared with the positive and negative controls during phase I and the entire experimental period (P < 0.05). During phase I, 500 and 1000 mg kg-1 of CHC significantly decreased diarrhea incidence compared with the negative control, and increased serum IGF-1 and serum IgM levels compared with the controls (P < 0.05). CHC at 500 mg kg-1 significantly decreased the diarrhea score during the entire experimental period compared with the negative control (P < 0.05). On day 28, supplementation with 500 and 1000 mg kg-1 of CHC increased serum IgG, IL-1β, and duodenum and jejunum secretory IgA compared with the negative control and decreased duodenum and jejunum MDA levels compared with the controls (P < 0.05). Increased duodenum and jejunum villus height and an increased ratio of villus height to crypt depth were observed compared with the negative control and decreased viable counts of E. coli in the cecum were detected compared with the controls (P < 0.05). Collectively, the optimal dose of CHC was found to be 500 to 1000 mg kg-1 in this study.

Yucca schidigera can mitigate ammonia emissions from manure and promote poultry health and production

Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera) is widely grown in the deserts. This herb is commercially used because it is rich in saponins and phenolic compounds with antioxidant effect. Y. schidigera or its derivatives are included as nontoxic food supplements, in cosmetics, and in the pharmaceutical industry. Saponins originated from Y. schidigera have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunostimulatory, growth promoter, hypocholesterolemic, and hypoglycemic effects. To date, the key role of Y. schidigera or its products in animal nutrition is to reduce the ammonia content in the atmosphere and fecal odor in poultry excreta. Mitigating ammonia by using this plant could be achieved by the modification of gut microbiota, enhancement in digestion, and absorption of nutrients, leading to a better growth and production performance of animals and poultry. Various methods were applied to mitigate the emission of odor from the litter by different strategies including biofilters, litter treatments, air scrubbers, neutralizing agents, windbreak walls, etc., but these techniques are expensive. This article provides a new insight to scientists and poultry breeders to use Y. schidigera plant or its products as inexpensive and safe sources of a feed supplement to overcome the ammonia and fecal odor problems, as well as reduce environmental pollution in poultry houses.

Effects of dried citrus pulp and fermented medicinal plants on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, and meat quality in growing–finishing pigs

The present experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dried citrus pulp and fermented medicinal plants in growing–finishing pigs. A total of 96 pigs (62.34 ± 1.96 kg body weight) were randomly allotted into three dietary treatments: (1) control, basal diet (CON); (2) diet containing 10% dried citrus pulp (DCP); (3) diet containing 10% dried citrus pulp supplemented with 0.1% fermented medicinal plants (DCPFMP). From weeks 0 to 5 and 0 to 10, pigs fed the DCPFMP diet had significantly decreased (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake and increased (P < 0.05) gain:feed ratio compared with those fed the CON diet. The apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy was greater (P < 0.05), and serum total cholesterol concentration was decreased (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the DCPFMP diet compared with those fed the DCP diet in week 10. In addition, an increase (P < 0.05) in Longissimus muscle area was observed for pigs fed the DCPFMP diet compared with those fed the CON diet. In conclusion, supplementation with fermented medicinal plants in a diet containing 10% dried citrus pulp improved growth performance and Longissimus muscle area and lowered serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol concentrations.

A multi-strain probiotic administered via drinking water enhances feed conversion efficiency and meat quality traits in indigenous chickens

Whereas the use of probiotics is commonplace in commercial production of improved chicken strains, little is known about the impact of these live microbial feed additives in indigenous chickens in South Africa. This study investigated the effect of a multi-strain probiotic (containing Bacillus safensis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium and Cupriavidus metallidurans, total bacteria number was 1.4 × 10⁸ cfu/mL), administered via drinking water, on growth performance, blood parameters, and carcass and meat quality characteristics of Potchefstroom koekoek cockerels for a period of 12 weeks. A total of 140 five-week-old cockerels were randomly allocated to 4 experimental diets formulated to have similar energy and protein levels as follows: 1) negative control diet (CON; commercial chicken grower diet without both antibiotics and probiotics), 2) positive control diet (ANTIB; commercial chicken grower diet with antibiotics [0.05% Coxistac and 0.04% olaquindox] but no probiotics), 3) negative control diet plus 2.5 mL of probiotics per litre of water (PROB25) and 4) negative control with 5.0 mL of probiotics per litre of water (PROB50). There was a significant (P < 0.05) week and diet interaction effect on average weekly feed conversion efficiency. At 9 weeks of age, cockerels in PROB50 group had higher (P < 0.05) feed conversion efficiency than those in CON and ANTIB groups. However, 14-week-old cockerels in PROB50 group had lower (P < 0.05) feed conversion efficiency than those in ANTIB group. Treatments had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on overall feed intake, overall weight gain and haemato–biochemical parameters of cockerels. Gizzard and spleen weights were similar (P > 0.05) in PROB50, CON and PROB25 groups. Cockerels in PROB50 group had shorter (P < 0.05) small intestine than those in CON and PROB25 groups. Cockerels in PROB50 group had larger (P < 0.05) breast weight than those in PROB25 group. Cockerels in ANTIB and PROB50 groups had greater (P < 0.05) wing and thigh weights than those in CON and PROB25 groups. Shank weight was similar (P > 0.05) in PROB50, CON and ANTIB groups. Meat pH measured after 24 h of slaughter was the highest (P < 0.05) in CON and ANTIB groups followed by PROBO25 and PROB50 groups. Cockerels in CON group had lower (P < 0.05) cooking losses than those in ANTIB, PROB25 and PROB50 groups. It was concluded that probiotics can be used in place of prophylactic antibiotics in Potchefstroom koekoek cockerels.

Development of Novel Microparticles for Effective Delivery of Thymol and Lauric Acid to Pig Intestinal Tract

Antibiotics have been widely supplemented in feeds at subtherapeutic concentrations to prevent postweaning diarrhea and increase the overall productivity of pigs. However, the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria worldwide has made it urgent to minimize the use of in-feed antibiotics. The development of promising alternatives to in-feed antibiotics is crucial for maintaining the sustainability of swine production. Both medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) and essential oils exhibit great potential to postweaning diarrhea; however, their direct inclusion has compromised efficacy because of several factors including low stability, poor palatability, and low availability in the lower gut. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a formulation of microparticles to deliver a model of essential oil (thymol) and MCFA (lauric acid). The composite microparticles were produced by the incorporation of starch and alginate through a melt-granulation process. The release of thymol and lauric acid from the microparticles was in vitro determined using simulated salivary fluid (SSF), simulated gastric fluid (SGF), and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), consecutively. The microparticles prepared with 2% alginate solution displayed a slow release of thymol and lauric acid in the SSF (21.2 ± 2.3%; 36 ± 1.1%), SGF (73.7 ± 6.9%; 54.8 ± 1.7%), and SIF (99.1 ± 1.2%; 99.1 ± 0.6%), respectively, whereas, the microparticles without alginate showed a rapid release of thymol and lauric acid from the SSF (79.9 ± 11.8%; 84.9 ± 9.4%), SGF (92.5 ± 3.5%; 75.8 ± 5.9%), and SIF (93.3 ± 9.4%; 93.3 ± 4.6%), respectively. The thymol and lauric acid in the developed microparticles with or without alginate both exhibited excellent stabilities (>90%) during being stored at 4 °C for 12 weeks and after being stored at room temperature for 2 weeks. These results evidenced that the approach developed in the present study could be potentially employed to deliver thymol and lauric acid to the lower gut of pigs, although further in vivo investigations are necessary to validate the efficacy of the microparticles.

Effects of low-molecular-weight chitosan on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, cytokine expression and antioxidant system of weaned piglets

Background

Chitosan was used as an alternative to promote the growth of weaned piglets. And low-molecular-weight chitosan (LC) is one of chitosan derivatives and maintain beneficial biological properties of chitoson. The present experiment was carried out to examine the effects of LC on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, cytokine expression, and antioxidant system of weaned piglets.

Results

A total of 40 piglets weaned at 21 d of age, with average body weight 6.37 ± 0.08 kg, were randomly assigned (5 pens/diet; 4 pigs/pen) to 2 treatments (a basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg LC) and were fed for 28 d. Compared with the control group, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and the expression of intestinal barrier protein ZO-1 was increased (P < 0.05) when the piglets fed the diet supplemented with LC. No significant differences were found in average daily gain (ADG, P > 0.05), gain-to-feed ratio (G:F, P > 0.05), the incidence of diarrhea (P > 0.05), or the antioxidant capacity (P > 0.05) between two groups. The expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in jejunal mucosa were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in piglets fed the LC-supplemented diet in comparison to the control.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that dietary supplementation with LC at 50 mg/kg was effective for enhancing the growth performance in weaned piglets, improving intestinal barrier function and alleviating intestinal inflammation.

Essential oils as alternatives to antibiotics in swine production

This review article summarizes the efficacy, feasibility and potential mechanisms of the application of essential oils as antibiotic alternatives in swine production. Although there are numerous studies demonstrating that essential oils have several properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, feed palatability enhancement and improvement in gut growth and health, there is still a need of further investigations to elucidate the mechanisms underlying their functions. In the past, the results has been inconsistent in both laboratory and field studies because of the varied product compositions, dosages, purities and growing stages and conditions of animals. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of essential oils needed for killing enteric pathogens may not ensure the optimal feed intake and the essential oils inclusion cost may be too high in swine production. With the lipophilic and volatile nature of essential oils, there is a challenge in effective delivery of essential oils within pig gut and this challenge can partially be resolved by microencapsulation and nanotechnology. The effects of essential oils on inflammation, oxidative stress, microbiome, gut chemosensing and bacterial quorum sensing (QS) have led to better production performance of animals fed essential oils in a number of studies. It has been demonstrated that essential oils have good potential as antibiotic alternatives in feeds for swine production. The combination of different essential oils and other compounds (synergistic effect) such as organic acids seems to be a promising approach to improve the efficacy and safety of essential oils in applications. High-throughput systems technologies have been developed recently, which will allow us to dissect the mechanisms underlying the functions of essential oils and facilitate the use of essential oils in swine production.

Potential of essential oils for poultry and pigs

The increasing pressure of abolishing and/or decreasing the use of antibiotics as antimicrobial growth promoters for livestock calls for alternative solutions to sustain the efficiency of current livestock production. Among the alternatives, essential oils have a great potential and are generally considered natural, less toxic, and free from residues. Essential oils have been proven in numerous in vitro studies to exert antimicrobial effects on various pathogens. The current review touched on the basics of essential oils, and the in vivo effects of essential oils on growth, intestinal microflora, anti-oxidation, immune functionality, meat qualities as well as the possible modes of action in poultry and pigs, and the future research areas were proposed.

A urinary metabolomics (GC-MS) strategy to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of chlorogenic acid in adrenocorticotropic hormone-treated rats

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic recurring illness that seriously affects human health. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), an important polyphenol extracted from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver bark, has been reported to have anti-depression, neuroprotection, memory improvement and other pharmacological effects. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of CGA on the treatment of depression. Here, we investigated the antidepressant-like effects of CGA on an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-treated rat model. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal diet group (N), ACTH-treated model group (M), memantine positive control group (M + Mem) and CGA intervened group (M + CGA). Sucrose preference tests (SPTs) and open-field tests (OFTs) were performed to evaluate depressive-like behaviors. Memantine (30 mg kg⁻¹) and CGA (500 mg kg⁻¹) administration dramatically increased hedonic behaviors of the rats in SPT. The scores of crossing and rearing were significantly increased in the M + Mem group and M + CGA group. These results of the behaviour tests might be suggestive of antidepressant-like effects. Moreover, memantine and CGA reversed the levels of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), ACTH, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and dopamine (DA) that were altered in ACTH-treated rats. Based on a GC-MS metabolomic approach, significant differences in the metabolic profile were observed in ACTH-treated rats compared with the control group, as well as the M + CGA group and M + Mem group compared with the ACTH-treated group. A total of 19 metabolites were identified for the discrimination of normal rats and ACTH-treated rats, and 12 out of 19 differential metabolites were reversed with CGA intervention. Combined with pattern recognition and bioinformatics, nine perturbed metabolic pathways, including energy metabolism, neurotransmitter metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, were identified based on these metabolites. These integrative studies might give a holistic insight into the pathophysiological mechanism of the ACTH-treated depressive rat model, and also showed that CGA has antidepressant-like activities in ACTH-treated rats, providing an important drug candidate for the prevention and treatment of tricyclic anti-depressant treatment-resistant depression.

Chlorogenic acid showed antidepressant-like activity in chronic ACTH-treated rats, providing a potential drug candidate for prevention and treatment of tricyclic antidepressant treatment-resistant depression. Related metabolic pathways were shown.