Effects of dietary supplementation with different fermented feeds on performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum biochemical indexes of fattening lambs

Inflammatory genes expression and calf responses to different dietary grains (steam flaked corn vs steam-rolled barley) and protein sources (pelleted soybean meal vs pelleted canola meal)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of grains, and protein sources in the starter diet on daily gain, pro- and anti-inflammatory genes expression, ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, and blood metabolites in the dairy calves. Forty Holstein calves were randomly assigned to treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with the factors of grain source (steam-flaked corn, CG vs. steam-rolled barley, BG) and pelleted protein source (soybean meal, SBM vs. canola meal, CM). The daily gain of calves who fed with SBM was higher than those fed with CM. Total VFA concentration in the rumen of calves fed with CG was greater than BG at day 35 (p < 0.05), and calves receiving SBM had higher total VFA concentration than calves fed with CM. The relative expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β genes were significantly decreased in the calves fed with BG and CM compared to calves fed with CG and SBM. Calves receiving the starter diet based on BG had the highest (p < 0.05) gene expression of interferon-γ. Feeding calves with SBM is recommended because it resulted in a greater daily gain than CM. Complete replacement of SBM with CM, and CG with BG is not recommended in dairy calves.

Effects of fermented feed on growth performance, serum biochemical indexes, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of lion-head goslings

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fermented feed on growth performance, antioxidant indexes and intestinal health in lion-head goslings.

Methods

288 male lion-head goslings (one-day-old) were randomly divided into four groups (6 replicates per group, 12 samples per replicate): control group (basal diet) and fermented feed (FF) groups (basal diet supplemented with 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% FF, respectively). The experimental period lasted 28 days.

Results

The results showed that 5.0 and 7.5% FF groups decreased feed conversion rate (FCR) when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The 5.0% FF group reduced the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum; while the 7.5% FF group decreased the concentration of total cholesterol (TC), ALP and LDH activity (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the 7.5% FF group significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum (p < 0.05); 2.5% and 5.0% FF groups significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in serum (p < 0.05); all FF groups increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in serum (p < 0.05). For intestinal health, the villous height and villi/crypt ratio in jejunum were increased in all FF groups, but crypt depth was decreased (p < 0.05); The 5.0% FF groups enhanced T-AOC activity in jejunum (p < 0.05); The 2.5% and 5.0% FF groups enhanced GSH-Px activity (p < 0.05) in jejunum; All FF groups reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) level in jejunum (p < 0.05). LEfSe analysis showed that the cecum microbiota was significantly dominant in the 2.5% FF group compared to the control group including Firmicutes, Lactobacillales, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella; the flora that were significantly dominant in the 5.0% FF group compared to the control group included Bacteroidaceae, Bacteroides, Megamonas, and Prevotella; and the groups that were significantly dominant in the 7.5% FF group compared to the control group included Bacteroidota, Bacteroides, Bacteroidaceae, and Ruminococcaceae.

Discussion

In summary, dietary FF supplementation improved growth performance, serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant capacity of lion-head goslings, as well as improved jejunal tissue morphology and optimized intestinal flora structure. In particular, the FF addition at a dose of 7.5% was relatively more effective for lion- head goslings.

Mulberry leaf extract reduces abdominal fat deposition via adenosine-activated protein kinase/sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c/acetyl-CoA carboxylase signaling pathway in female Arbor Acre broilers

This experiment was carried out to investigate the mechanism of action of mulberry leaf extract (MLE) in reducing abdominal fat accumulation in female broilers. A total of 192 one-day-old female Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were divided into 4 diet groups, with each group consisting of 8 replicates with 6 birds per replicate. The diets contained a basal diet and 3 test diets with supplementation of 400, 800, or 1,200 MLE mg/kg, respectively. The trial had 2 phases that lasted from 1 to 21 d and from 22 to 56 d, respectively. The growth performance, abdominal fat deposition, fatty acid composition, serum biochemistry and mRNA expression of genes related to fat metabolism in liver were determined. The results showed that, 1) dietary supplementation with MLE had no significant impact on broilers final body weight, average daily gain (ADG), or feed to gain ration (F/G) (P > 0.05), but linearly reduced abdominal fat accumulation in both experimental phases (P < 0.05); 2) the total contents of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, and eicosadienoic acid, were increased quadratically as a result of dietary supplements of 400, 800, and 1,200 mg/kg MLE (P < 0.01), while the total contents of saturated fatty acids (SFA), such as teracosanoic acid were decreased (P < 0.01); 3) the addition of 800 or 1,200 MLE mg/kg to the diet linearly reduced total cholesterol (TC) in the serum and liver (P < 0.05). Adenosine-activated protein kinase (AMPK) mRNA expression in the liver was quadratically increased by the addition of 800 or 1,200 MLE mg/kg to the diet (P < 0.05), and the mRNA expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and acetyl-CoA carboxylate), fatty acid synthase (FAS) were linearly decreased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, MLE can be employed as a viable fat loss feed supplement in fast-growing broiler diets since it reduces abdominal fat deposition in female AA broilers via the AMPK/SREBP-1c/ACC signaling pathway. MLE can also be utilized to modify the fatty acid profile in female broilers (AA) at varied inclusion levels.

Effect of the Replacement of Maize Silage and Soyabean Meal with Mulberry Silage in the Diet of Hu Lambs on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indices, Slaughter Performance, and Meat Quality

Maize silage has a high demand for fertilizer and water. As an unconventional feed resource, mulberry silage has the potential to replace most maize silage and to alleviate the shortage of roughage in the mutton sheep industry in China. The purpose of this experiment was to study the effect of the replacement of maize silage and soyabean meal with mulberry silage in the diet of Hu lambs on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, slaughter performance, and meat quality. Ninety-six healthy Hu lambs were randomly divided into four groups with six replicates per group and four lambs per replicate. The amounts of 0, 20, 40, and 60% of maize silage were replaced by mulberry silage in each group (denoted as CON, L, M, and H, respectively). The results showed that replacing maize silage with mulberry silage had no significant effect on the growth performance or the slaughter performance of Hu lambs (p > 0.05). Feeding Hu lambs with mulberry silage significantly reduced serum glucose (GLU) and the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) content (p < 0.05), and it increased the content of ether extract (EE) in the longissimus dorsi muscle (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the percentage of EAA in the M and H groups was significantly lower than that in the CON and L groups (p < 0.05). In addition, in the fatty acid profile, the percentage of C16:1 in the M group was significantly increased, while the percentage of C18:0 and C20:0 were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, it was recommended that 20−40% of maize silage be replaced by mulberry silage in the diet of Hu lambs.

Diet Type Impacts Production Performance of Fattening Lambs by Manipulating the Ruminal Microbiota and Metabolome

The pelleted total mixed ration (PTMR) has a positive effect on the productivity of fattening lambs. However, whether the beneficial effects are underpinned by altering the rumen microbiota and metabolome that remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate correlations among growth performance, ruminal microbiota, and ruminal metabolome of lambs fed PTMR diet. A total of 100 crossbred (Dorper sheep × Fine-wool sheep) ram lambs at 55 days of age with similar body weight (BW) (13.2 ± 0.5 kg) were randomly allocated to 10 pens that were fed either PTMR (PTMR group) or unpelleted total mixed ration (UPTMR group) with the same dietary ingredients and nutritional contents. The average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were determined during the 62-day experimental period and ruminal pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, microbiota, and metabolome in the rumen of the lambs were examined at the end of the experiment. Compared to those of the UPTMR group, the PTMR group had greater ADFI (P = 0.002), ADG (P = 0.003), and feed efficiency (G/F) (P < 0.05). Similarly, feeding PTMR increased the concentration of total VFA (TVFA) and the molar proportion of propionate, but decreased the proportion of butyrate and acetate to propionate ratio in the rumen of lambs compared to that in lambs from the UPTMR group (P < 0.05). In addition, the PTMR group demonstrated lowered alpha-diversity of the ruminal microbiota and enhanced the relative abundance of Fibrobacter (P < 0.05), Veillonellaceae (P < 0.05), and the abundance of Rikenellaceae (P = 0.064) in the rumen compared with those in the UPTMR group. Feeding lambs with PTMR significantly upregulated the metabolic pathways involving tryptophan, histidine, cysteine and methionine, β-alanine, tyrosine metabolisms, and steroid biosynthesis. Moreover, the abundance of the microbiota strongly correlated with the altered performance, ruminal VFA, metabolites, and metabolic pathways of lambs. Taken together, feeding PTMR shaped the ruminal microbiota of lambs with decreased diversity, while improving relative abundance of some specific microbes and upregulating certain growth-related metabolic pathways, which contributed to the augmented growth performance and G/F of fattening lambs. Thus, feeding PTMR to fattening lambs for superior production performance and G/F is recommended.

Strategy for Local Plant-Based Material Valorisation to Higher-Value Feed Stock for Piglets

In this study, a 41-day experiment was conducted using 300 (21-day-old) Large White/Norwegian Landrace piglets (100 piglets in each group). Three dietary treatments were compared: (i) a basal diet (C-I), (ii) a basal diet with the addition of extruded-fermented wheat bran (Wex130/screwspeed25Lpa) (TG-II), and (iii) a basal diet with the addition of dried sugar beet pulp (TG-III). Analyses of piglets' blood parameters, faecal microbial and physico-chemical characteristics, and piglets' growth performance were performed. It was found that the extrusion and fermentation combination led to an additional functional value of Wex130/screwspeed25Lpa, which showed desirable antimicrobial and antifungal properties in vitro (inhibited 5 out of 10 tested pathogenic strains and 3 out of 11 tested fungi). Both treatments reduced total enterobacteria and increased lactic acid bacteria counts in piglets' faeces. The consistency of the piglets' faeces (in all three groups) was within a physiological range throughout the whole experiment. Strong positive correlations were found between the LAB count in piglets' faeces and butanoic acid; butanoic acid, 3-methyl-; butyric acid (2-methyl-); pentanoic acid. The treatment groups obtained a significantly higher body weight gain and average daily gain. Finally, substituting the piglets' diet with Wex130/screwspeed25Lpa and sugar beet pulp led to favourable changes in micro-organism populations in the piglets' faeces as well as better growth performance.

Effects of Feeding Fermented Mulberry Leaf Powder on Growth Performance, Slaughter Performance, and Meat Quality in Chicken Broilers

Simple Summary

Mulberry leaf is widely used in ruminants feeding, such as sheep, beef cattle, and dairy calves. Due to the high content of crude fiber in mature mulberry leaves and branches and the presence of anti-nutritional factors such as tannin, excessive addition will affect the production performance and health of livestock and poultry, and limit its large-scale application in animal production to a certain extent. The disadvantages of woody plants can be improved by microbial fermentation, which can reduce the content of anti-nutritional factors, and increase the content of peptides and amino acids, probiotics, and bioactive components. In this study, Lactobacillus, Saccharomycetes, and Bacillus subtilis were used to make mixed strains to ferment mulberry leaf powder, and different proportions were added to the diet of yellow feathered chicken broilers. The results showed that the addition of fermented mulberry leaf in the diet could improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and then improve its growth performance, and increase the contents of inosine monophosphate (IMP), total amino acids, essential amino acids, and delicious amino acids in breast and thigh muscle, and improved polyunsaturated fatty acids and essential fatty acids in breast muscle; this also has a positive effect on improving meat quality.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding fermented mulberry leaf powder (FMLP) on growth performance, slaughter performance, and meat quality of broilers. A total of 360 1-day-old chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups. The control group was fed basal diet (CON), 3% FMLP, 6% FMLP, 9% FMLP, and 3% unfermented mulberry leaf powder. The (MLP) group was fed basal diet supplemented with 3%, 6%, 9% fermented mulberry leaf powder, and 3% MLP, respectively. The experiment lasted for 56 days, with 1–28 days as the starter phase and 29–56 days as the grower phase. The results on the growth performance showed that diets supplemented with 3% FMLP significantly increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of broilers, enhanced the activity of intestinal amylase and digestibility of dry matter and crude protein, improved the average daily gain (ADG), and decreased the feed to gain ratio (F/G) (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group diet, the 3% FMLP group diet significantly increased the breast muscle yield (p < 0.05), reduced the abdominal fat ratio (0.1 < p < 0.05), and improved the slaughter performance of broilers. The 3% MLP group diet increased the shear force of breast muscle (p < 0.05) and thigh muscle of broilers compared to the control group, and adding FMLP could reverse the above results. Additionally, relative to the control group, FMLP supplementation improved the contents of inosine monophosphate (IMP), total amino acids (TAA), essential amino acids (EAA), and delicious amino acids (DAA) in breast and thigh muscle, and improved polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and essential fatty acids (EFA) in breast muscle; the 6% and 9% FMLP groups showed preferably such effects (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of FMLP can improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and then improve the growth performance of broilers; it also has a positive effect on improving slaughter performance and meat quality.