Effects of copper nanoparticles on performance, muscle and bone characteristics and serum metabolites in broilers

Abstract Three hundred and twenty day old Hubbard broilers were randomly allocated to four treatments (8 replicates, 10 birds/pen) and were raised under standard management conditions. Birds in the first group served as control and were fed a corn based diet, while birds in the remaining three groups i.e.; A, B and C were fed with a basal diet supplemented with copper nanoparticles (CuNP) at 5, 10 and 15 mg /kg of diet respectively for 35 days. Supplementation of CuNP linearly increased (P≤0.05) body weight (BW), average daily weight gain (ADWG) and feed intake (FI) in broilers. Uric acid, glucose levels in blood and feed conversion ratio (FCR) reduced linearly (P≤0.05) with CuNP supplementation in diet. Supplementation of CuNP in the diet also linearly increased (P≤0.05) tibia weight, length, diameter, weight/length index (W/L) and Tibiotarsal index (TT index). Inclusion of CuNP in broilers diet linearly increased the measured parameters of muscle i.e.; pH, fiber diameter, fiber cross-sectional area, fascicle diameter, fascicle cross-sectional area (P≤0.05). Concentration of copper, iron, calcium and phosphorous in blood also increased line-arly (P ≤ 0.05) with CuNP supplementation. Overall, CuNP positively affected the growth performance, histological characteristics of muscles, bone strength and serum metabolites in broilers.

Estimation of milk yield based on udder measures of Pelibuey sheep using artificial neural networks

Udder measures have been used to assess milk yield of sheep through classical methods of estimation. Artificial neural networks (ANN) can deal with complex non-linear relationships between input and output variables. In the current study, ANN were applied to udder measures from Pelibuey ewes to estimate their milk yield and this was compared with linear regression. A total of 357 milk yield records with its corresponding udder measures were used. A supervised learning was used to train and teach the network using a two-layer ANN with seven hidden structures. The globally convergent algorithm based on the resilient backpropagation was used to calculate ANN. Goodness of fit was evaluated using the mean square prediction error (MSPE), root MSPE (RMSPE), correlation coefficient (r), Bayesian’s Information Criterion (BIC), Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) and accuracy. The 15–15 ANN architecture showed that the best predictive milk yield performance achieved an accuracy of 97.9% and the highest values of r² (0.93), and the lowest values of MSPE (0.0023), RMSPE (0.04), AIC (− 2088.81) and BIC (− 2069.56). The study revealed that ANN is a powerful tool to estimate milk yield when udder measures are used as input variables and showed better goodness of fit in comparison with classical regression methods.

Effect of tannins from tropical plants on methane production from ruminants: A systematic review

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A negative relationship was observed between the level of tannin inclusion and CH₄ emission.

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The effect of CH₄ mitigation is increasing as the level of tannin inclusion is higher.

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Sub-group analysis revealed differences of tannins supplementation response according to CH₄ emission measurements techniques.

Methane (CH₄) is a greenhouse gas generated during the feed fermentation processes in the rumen. However, numerous studies have been conducted to determine the capacity of plant secondary metabolites to enhance ruminal fermentation and decrease CH₄ production, especially those plants rich in tannins. This review conducted a descriptive analysis and meta-analysis of the use of tannin-rich plants in tropical regions to mitigate CH₄ production from livestock. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of tannins supplementation in tropical plants on CH₄ production in ruminants using a meta-analytic approach and the effect on microbial population. Sources of heterogeneity were explored using a meta-regression analysis. Final database was integrated by a total of 14 trials. The ‘meta’ package in R statistical software was used to conduct the meta-analyses. The covariates defined a priori in the current meta-regression were inclusion level, species (sheep, beef cattle, dairy cattle, and cross-bred heifers) and plant. Results showed that supplementation with tropical plants with tannin contents have the greatest effects on CH₄ mitigation . A negative relationship was observed between the level of inclusion and CH₄ emission (−0.09), which means that the effect of CH₄ mitigation is increasing as the level of tannin inclusion is higher. Therefore, less CH₄ production will be obtained when supplementing tropical plants in the diet with a high dose of tannins.

Consumer knowledge and perceptions of milk fat in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States

This study examined the relationship between consumers' country of origin: Denmark (DK), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) and their knowledge and perceptions of milk fat. Adult participants answered a web-based survey, and data were collected online from December 2018 to April 2019, in DK, the UK, and the US. A total of 694 participants completed the online survey. Most respondents were between 18 and 39 years old, female, highly educated, and employed. Most UK respondents consumed milk daily (73%), whereas in DK (56%) and the US (46%) consumption was significantly lower. Whole milk and semi-skim milk were consumed less by respondents in DK (20 and 36%, respectively) compared with the UK (50 and 49%, respectively) and the US (47 and 50%, respectively). Danish respondents (53%) consumed more skim milk than respondents from the UK (16%) and the US (19%). Concern about milk fat was higher in DK (60%) than in the UK (34%) and the US (31%). More respondents considered milk fat to be "healthy" or "very healthy" in the UK (31 and 10%, respectively) and the US (37 and 19%, respectively), than in DK (23 and 6%, respectively). Nutritional benefit was the most important reason for perceiving milk fat as healthy in the 3 countries. Awareness of milk saturated fat was higher among respondents from the UK (53%) than from DK (44%) and the US (38%). Results suggest that consumers in DK are different in their perceptions of milk fat, but consumers in the UK and the US share common characteristics.

Influence of green grass-based diets on growth and reproductive performance in dairy heifers

The objective of this study was to monitor the changes in growth, dry matter intake, and blood profiles (nutrition and reproductive hormones) of dairy heifers in response to green grass-based diets. Twelve crossbred heifers were equally divided into group 1: rice straw and concentrate; group 2: rice straw, green grass, and concentrate; group 3: green grass and concentrate; group 4: green grass, soybean hay, and concentrate. Dry matter intake in group 4 was found 6% higher (P < 0.05) than group 1. Negative body weight gain was found in group 1 and group 2 showed 14% higher body weight gain per 30 days compared to groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). Heifers in group 4 had significantly (P < 0.05) higher heart girth gain, serum albumin, urea, and blood urea nitrogen than the heifers in other groups. Endocrine parameters were found similar among groups. Overall, supply of green grass especially a mix of leguminous and non-leguminous was found advantageous in heifer feeding.

Utilisation of a mix of powdered oils as fat supplement in nursery- and growing-pig diets

Two experiments were conducted to challenge nursery and growing pigs to increased levels of dietary fat (5–10% as fed), using a crystallised powdered oil mix (CPOM), produced by a modified freeze-drying process. Growth performance of nursery pigs was determined and a digestibility trial was also conducted with growing pigs (Experiment 2). The CPOM was compared, at similar levels of lipid inclusion (10% total lipids), with other fat sources commonly used in swine diet, namely soybean oil (SBO) and hydrogenated palm oil. For the growth assay (Experiment 1), the CPOM was prepared and added at different levels (0%, 2.6% and 3.8%) commonly used in commercial diets (Phase 1–4 diets). Seventy-five weaning pigs (28 days of age) were housed in 15 pens (5 pigs per pen) and randomly assigned into the three dietary treatments until 70 days of age. Growth performance and feed utilisation were compared weekly among experimental groups. The use of CPOM improved average daily gain (~60%), and increased average daily feed intake by 40% and 50% at the 2.6% and 3.8% CPOM levels respectively. In the digestibility trial (Experiment 2), pigs fed with 5% incorporation of CPOM (10% of total lipid content) had digestibility of energy and ether extract similar to those fed the SBO-supplemented diet, although the SBO diet had a significantly greater polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration. The powdered crystallisation process of the CPOM fat allowed an equivalent digestibility of this fat source with more saturated fatty acids, and the physical-property effect of this processed oil source on apparent total-tract digestibility should be further studied.

Short communication: Chemical composition, fatty acid composition, and sensory characteristics of Chanco cheese from dairy cows supplemented with soybean and hydrogenated vegetable oils

Lipid supplements can be used to alter fatty acid (FA) profiles of dairy products. For Chanco cheese, however, little information is available concerning effects of lipid supplements on sensorial properties. The objective of this study was to examine effects of supplementation of dairy cow diets with soybean (SO) and hydrogenated vegetable (HVO) oils on chemical and FA composition of milk and cheese and sensory characteristics of cheese. Nine multiparous Holstein cows averaging 169±24d in milk at the beginning of the study were used in a replicated (n=3) 3×3 Latin square design that included 3 periods of 21d. All cows received a basal diet formulated with a 56:44 forage:concentrate ratio. Dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet (control; no fat supplement), and the basal diet supplemented with SO (unrefined oil; 500g/d per cow) and HVO (manufactured from palm oil; 500g/d per cow). Milk fat yield was lower with HVO compared with control and SO. Cheese chemical composition and sensory profile were not affected by dietary treatment. Vaccenic (C18:1 trans-11) and oleic (C18:1 cis-9) acids were higher for SO than for control and HVO. Compared with control and HVO, SO decreased saturated FA and increased monounsaturated FA. The thrombogenic index of milk and cheese produced when cows were fed SO was lower than when cows were fed on control and HVO. The outcome of this study showed that, compared with control and HVO, supplementing dairy cow diets with SO improves milk and cheese FA profile without detrimental effects on the chemical composition of milk and cheese and the sensory characteristics of cheese.

Effects of feeding forage soybean silage on milk production, nutrient digestion, and ruminal fermentation of lactating dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine the feeding value of forage soybean silage (SS) for dairy cows relative to a fourth-cut alfalfa silage (AS). Forage soybean was harvested at full pod stage. Two isonitrogenous diets were formulated with a 48:52 forage:concentrate ratio. Soybean silage and AS constituted 72% of the forage in each diet, with corn silage constituting the remaining 28%. Twenty Holsteins cows in early lactation were used in a switchback design. Four lactating Holsteins cows fitted with ruminal cannulas were used to determine the effects of dietary treatments on ruminal fermentation parameters and in vivo total tract nutrient utilization. Relative to AS, SS contained 15, 28, and 25% more neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude protein, respectively. Dry matter intake (23.5 vs. 25.1 kg/d) and milk yield (35.5 vs. 37.2 kg/d) were lower for cows fed SS than for those fed AS. However, energy-corrected milk and milk efficiency were similar for both dietary treatments. Milk protein, lactose, and total solids concentrations were not influenced by dietary treatments (average 3.0, 4.7, and 12.6%, respectively). However, cows fed SS produced milk with greater milk fat (3.8 vs. 3.6%) and milk urea nitrogen concentrations (15.6 vs. 14.3 mg/dL) compared with cows fed AS. Ruminal pH was lower, whereas ruminal NH3-N concentration was greater in cows fed SS than in cows fed AS. Total tract digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber were not influenced by silage type. We concluded that forage SS, when compared with AS, had a negative impact on feed intake and milk yield, whereas energy-corrected milk, milk efficiency, and total tract nutrient digestion were similar.