Dietary supplementation of laminarin improves the reproductive performance of sows and the growth of suckling pigletsOA

Background Maternal nutrition is essential in keeping a highly efficient production system in the pig industry. Laminarin has been shown to improve antioxidant capacity, reduce the inflammatory response, and favor the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota. However, the effect of dietary supplementation of laminarin on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth of suckling offspring remains unknown.Methods A total of 40 Landrace × Yorkshire multiparous sows on d 85 of gestation, similar i...     

Dietary calcium supplementation promotes the accumulation of intramuscular fatOA

Background: In the livestock industry, intramuscular fat content is a key factor affecting meat quality. Many studies have shown that dietary calcium supplementation is closely related to lipid metabolism. However, few studies have examined the relationship between dietary calcium supplementation and intramuscular fat accumulation.Methods: Here, we used C2C12 cells, C57BL/6 mice(n = 8) and three-way cross-breeding pigs(Duroc×Landrace×Large white)(n = 10) to study the effect of calcium addition o...     

Dietary supplementation of zinc oxide modulates intestinal functionality during the post-weaning period in clinically healthy pigletsOA

Background To improve our understanding of host and intestinal microbiome interaction, this research investigated the effects of a high-level zinc oxide in the diet as model intervention on the intestinal microbiome and small intestinal functionality in clinically healthy post-weaning piglets. In study 1, piglets received either a high concentration of zinc(Zn) as zinc oxide(Zn O, Zn, 2,690 mg/kg) or a low Zn concentration(100 mg/kg) in the diet during the post weaning period(d 14–23). The effec...     

Dietary Enteromorpha polysaccharide-Zn supplementation regulates amino acid and fatty acid metabolism by improving the antioxidant activity in chickenOA

Background: Enteromorpha prolifera(E. prolifera) polysaccharide has become a promising feed additive with a variety of physiological activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, hypolipidemic,and cation chelating ability. However, whether Enteromorpha polysaccharide-trace element complex supplementation regulates amino acid and fatty acid metabolism in chicken is largely unknown. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of E. prolifera polysaccharide...     

Dietary Macleaya cordata extract supplementation improves the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens with necrotic enteritisOA

Background The poultry industry needs effective antibiotic alternatives to control outbreaks of necrotic enteritis(NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens.Methods The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Macleaya cordata extract(MCE) on the immune function and gut microbiota of broilers with NE. A total of 288 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two concentrations of dietary MCE supplementation(0 or 350 m...     

Dietary fiber du ing gestation improves lactational feed intake of sows by modulating gut microbiotaOA

Background The feed intake of sows during lactation is often lower than their needs. High-fiber feed is usually used during gestation to increase the voluntary feed intake of sows during lactation. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of bulky diets on the appetites of sows during lactation have not been fully clarified. The current study was conducted to determine whether a high-fiber diet during gestation improves lactational feed intake(LFI) of sows by modulating gut microbiota.Method...     

Hatching egg polyunsaturated fatty acids and the broiler chickOA

Transgenerational effects of certain nutrients such as essential fatty acids are gaining increased attention in the field of human medicine and animal sciences as a new tool to improve health and animal performance during perinatal life.Omega-3(n-3) and omega-6(n-6) fatty acids are denoted by the position of the first double bond from methyl end of the hydrocarbon chain.Alpha-linolenic acid(18:3 n-3) and linoleic acid(18:2 n-6) are essential n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and cannot be synthesized by t...     

A Capra hircus chromosome 19 locus linked to milk production influences mammary conformationOA

Background: Economically important milk production traits including milk volume, milk fat and protein yield vary considerably across dairy goats in New Zealand. A significant portion of the variation is attributable to genetic variation. Discovery of genetic markers linked to milk production traits can be utilised to drive selection of highperformance animals.A previously reported genome wide association study across dairy goats in New Zealand identified a quantitative trait locus(QTL) located o...     

Implication and challenges of direct-fed microbial supplementation to improve ruminant production and healthOA

Direct-fed microbials(DFMs) are feed additives containing live naturally existing microbes that can benefit animals’ health and production performance. Due to the banned or strictly limited prophylactic and growth promoting usage of antibiotics, DFMs have been considered as one of antimicrobial alternatives in livestock industry.Microorganisms used as DFMs for ruminants usually consist of bacteria including lactic acid producing bacteria,lactic acid utilizing bacteria and other bacterial groups,...     

Dietary sophorolipid accelerates growth by modulation of gut microbiota population and intestinal environments in broiler chickensOA

Background: Gut is a crucial organ for the host’s defense system due to its filtering action of the intestinal membrane from hazardous foreign substances. One strategy to strengthen the gut epithelial barrier function is to upregulate beneficial microflora populations and their metabolites. Sophorolipid(SPL), which is a glycolipid biosurfactant, could increase beneficial microflora and decrease pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.Therefore, herein, we conducted an experiment with b...     

Effects of lactic acid bacteria-fermented formula milk supplementation on ileal microbiota,transcriptomic profile,and mucosal immunity in weaned pigletsOA

Background:Lactic acid bacteria(LAB) participating in milk fermentation naturally release and enrich the fermented dairy product with a broad range of bioactive metabolites,which has numerous roles in the intestinal health-promoting of the consumer.However,information is lacking regarding the application prospect of LAB fermented milk in the animal industry.This study investigated the effects of lactic acid bacteria-fermented formula milk(LFM) on the growth performance,intestinal immunity,microb...     

Standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in soybean meal fed to non-pregnant and pregnant sowsOA

Background Two studies were designed to determine standard ileal crude protein(CP) and amino acid(AA) digestibility of soybean meal(SBM) from different origins fed to non-pregnant and pregnant sows. Seven solvent-extracted SBMs from soybeans produced in the USA, Brazil, and China were selected. In Exp. 1, eight different diets were created: a nitrogen(N)-free diet and 7 experimental diets containing SBM from different origins as the only N source. Eight non-pregnant, multiparous sows were arrang...     

Perturbations of the ileal mycobiota by necrotic enteritis in broiler chickensOA

Background: Intestinal microbiota is critical for maintaining animal health and homeostasis. However, involvement of the fungal community, also known as the mycobiota, in animal health and disease is poorly understood. This study was aimed to examine the association between the intestinal mycobiota and the severity of necrotic enteritis(NE), an economically significant poultry disease.Methods: A total of 90 day-of-hatch Cobb broilers were infected with Eimeria maxima on d 10, followed by an oral...     

Dietary oregano essential oil supplementation improves intestinal functions and alters gut microbiota in latephase laying hensOA

Background: Dietary essential oil(EO) supplementation can exert favorable effects on gut health in broilers. However,it is unknown whether EO could improve intestinal functions, consequently beneficial for egg performance and quality in late-phase laying hens. This study was aimed to investigate the potential effects of EO on production performance,egg quality, intestinal health and ileal microbiota of hens in the late phase of production. A total of 288 60-week-old Hy-line Brown laying hens wer...     

Dietary organic acids ameliorate high stocking density stress-induced intestinal inflammation through the restoration of intestinal microbiota in broilersOA

Background:High stocking density(HSD) stress has detrimental effects on growth performance,intestinal barrier function,and intestinal microbiota in intensive animal production.Organic acids(OA) are widely used as feed additives for their ability to improve growth performance and intestinal health in poultry.However,whether dietary OA can ameliorate HSD stress-induced impaired intestinal barrier in broilers remains elusive.In this study,a total of 528one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were ran...     

Enzymatically prepared alginate oligosaccharides improve broiler chicken growth performance by modulating the gut microbiota and growth hormone signalsOA

Background Alginate oligosaccharide(AOS) holds great potential as a novel feed supplement in farm animals. However,the effects of AOS on chicken health and the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aimed to optimize the enzymatic preparation of AOS by using bacterial alginate lyases expressed in yeast, investigate the effects of the prepared AOS on the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens, and reveal the underlying mechanisms.Results Five alginate lyases fro...     

Dietary supplementation with 0.4% L-arginine between days 14 and 30 of gestation enhances NO and polyamine syntheses and water transport in porcine placentaeOA

Background:Most embryonic loss in pigs occurs before d 30 of gestation.Dietary supplementation with L-arginine(Arg) during early gestation can enhance the survival and development of conceptuses(embryo/fetus and its extraembryonic membranes) in gilts.However,the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown.Methods:Between d 14 and 30 of gestation,each gilt was fed daily 2 kg of a corn-and soybean-meal based diet(12% crude protein) supplemented with either 0.4% Arg(as Arg-HCl) or an isonitrogenou...     

Single-cell transcriptomic atlas of goat ovarian agingOA

Background The ovaries are one of the first organs that undergo degenerative changes earlier in the aging process, and ovarian aging is shown by a decrease in the number and quality of oocytes. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of female age-related fertility decline in different types of ovarian cells during aging, especially in goats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the mechanisms driving ovarian aging in goats at single-cell resolution.Results For the firs...     

Role of functional fatty acids in modulation of reproductive potential in livestockOA

Fatty acids are not only widely known as energy sources,but also play important roles in many metabolic pathways.The significance of fatty acids in modulating the reproductive potential of livestock has received greater recognition in recent years.Functional fatty acids and their metabolites improve follicular development,oocyte maturation and embryo development,as well as endometrial receptivity and placental vascular development,through enhancing energy supply and precursors for the synthesis ...     

A review of the resistome within the digestive tract of livestockOA

Antimicrobials have been widely used to prevent and treat infectious diseases and promote growth in food-production animals. However, the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance poses a huge threat to public and animal health, especial y in less developed countries where food-producing animals often intermingle with humans. To limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance from food-production animals to humans and the environment, it is essential to have a comprehensive knowledge of the role of th...