Triennial Growth Symposium: a review of science leading to host-targeted antibody strategies for preventing growth depression due to microbial colonization

In this review, the science used to develop host-targeted therapies for improving animal growth and feed efficiency is presented. In contrast to targeting the microbiota of the host, endogenous host proteins are targeted to regulate an overactive inflammatory response in the host. Activation of the immune/inflammatory systems of an animal is costly in terms of growth and feed efficiency. For example, reduced rates of BW gain and poorer feed efficiency in vaccinated animals compared with nonvaccinated animals have been well documented. Also, the growth rate and feed efficiency of animals colonized by microorganisms is only 80 to 90% of their germ-free counterparts. Further evidence of a cost associated with immune activation is that strategies that enhance the immune capability of an animal can reduce animal growth and feed efficiency. Research now indicates that the growth-promoting effects of antibiotics are indirect, and more likely the result of reduced immune activation due to decreased microbial exposure. Studies of mechanisms by which immune/inflammatory activation reduces animal growth and feed efficiency have shown that cytokines of the acute inflammatory response (i.e., IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor α) are key triggers for host muscle wasting. Cytokine-induced muscle wasting is linked to PG signaling pathways, and it has been proposed that regulation of the PG signaling pathways provide host targets for preventing an overreactive or unwarranted inflammatory event. Intestinal secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) has been found to be a useful and accessible (i.e., found in the intestinal lumen) host target for the regulation of an overreactive inflammatory response to conventional environments. This review presents the science and strategy for the regulation of intestinal sPLA(2) using orally administered egg yolk antibody against the enzyme. Clinically healthy animals fed egg antibodies to sPLA(2) had improved growth and feed efficiency. Literature presented indicates that use of host-targeted strategies for regulating the overexpression of inflammatory processes in an animal may provide new mechanisms to improve animal growth and feed efficiency.     

Current and future prospects for nanotechnology in animal production

Nanoparticles have been used as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in the human medical field for quite some time, though their application in veterinary medicine and animal production is still relatively new. Recently,production demands on the livestock industry have been centered around the use of antibiotics as growth promoters due to growing concern over microbial antibiotic resistance. With many countries reporting increased incidences of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, laws and regulations are being updated to end in-feed antibiotic use in the animal production industry. This sets the need for suitable alternatives to be established for inclusion in feed.Many reports have shown evidence that nanoparticles may be good candidates for animal growth promotion and antimicrobials. The current status and advancements of nanotechnological applications in animal production will be the focus of this review and the emerging roles of nanoparticles for nutrient delivery, biocidal agents, and tools in veterinary medicine and reproduction will be discussed. Additionally, influences on meat, egg, and milk quality will be reviewed.     

饲粮纤维对家禽肠道健康的调控及作用机制

近年来由于抗生素在临床上的滥用,使得抗菌药物的抗菌效果大大降低,抗生素滥用还会导致有害菌定殖增加,影响人和动物的健康。因此,很多国家开始禁止用抗生素作为饲料添加剂,且在饲料中添加低剂量的抗生素作为肠道微生态调节剂已不再受欢迎,而探寻新的抗生素替代品来调节畜禽肠道微生物区系和维持肠道健康显得非常重要。人们一直误认为饲粮纤维是一种抗营养因子,指出纤维能稀释饲粮能量水平,影响家禽的生产性能。但最新研究表明,在家禽饲粮中添加适量纤维是改善家禽肠道健康、减少家禽肠道紊乱的一种有效的营养调控措施。本文从家禽肠道发育、肠道黏膜形态及上皮组织健康、肠道消化生理、肠道微生物区系等方面综述饲粮纤维对家禽肠道健康的影响,为进一步研究纤维对家禽肠道健康的调控机制提供参考,也为今后在家禽饲粮中添加纤维性物质提供一定的科学依据。     

Biochemical proximates of pumpkin (Cucurbitaeae spp.) and their beneficial effects on the general well‐being of poultry species

There is a growing need to increase productivity in poultry. Growth hormones and antibiotics have the ability to improve health, weight gain and feed efficiency in meat‐producing animals. The growth‐promoting antibiotics are administered to poultry to improve the general performance of the chicken. However, the use of the xenobiotic drugs in food‐producing animals has been a concern and a sensitive issue of debate for several decades in the EU and many other regional blocks of the world. Consequently, the use of hormones in animal production has been banned in Italy, Denmark and Germany for over 4–5 decades, while Belgium and Greece had never permitted its use for livestock fattening purposes. Bioactive phytochemicals exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, antifungal and anti‐inflammatory properties and consequently have several beneficial effects on appetite, growth and the immune status of the animal. In South Africa, different species of pumpkin are produced for food due to their high nutrient content. The flesh serves as a traditional food, while the seeds and peels are commonly discarded. Pumpkin seed extract is reported to be useful for immunomodulation, reproductive health, therapeutics over a wide range of disease conditions and stimulates metabolism of accumulated fats. Studies have also shown that pumpkin seeds are a valuable source of protein and fat. Their complexity and extent of bioactivity offers sustainable prospects for natural control of pathogenic/parasitic organisms, stimulate nutrition or enhance resistance to disease infections, and reduce abdominal fat and serum levels of harmful lipids, while increasing serum levels of beneficial lipids.     

Strategies to modulate the intestinal microbiota and their effects on nutrient utilization,performance, and health of poultry

Poultry is widely produced and consumed meat global y. Its demand is expected to continue increasing to meet the animal protein requirement for ever-increasing human population. Thus, the chal enge that poultry scientists and industry face are to produce sufficient amount of poultry meat in the most efficient way. In the past, using antibiotics to promote the growth of poultry and manage gut microbiota was a norm. However, due to concerns over potential fatalistic impacts on food animals and indirectly to humans, their use as feed additives are banned or regulated in several jurisdictions. In this changed context, several alternative strategies have been proposed with some success that mimics the functions of antibiotics as growth promoters and modulate gut microbiota for their beneficial roles. These include the use of probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, and exogenous enzyme, among others. Gut microbiota and their metabolic products improve nutrient digestion, absorption, metabolism, and overal health and growth performance of poultry. This paper reviews the available information on the effect of feed additives used to modulate intestinal microbiota of poultry and their effects on overal health and growth performance. Understanding these functions and interactions wil help to develop new dietary and managerial strategies that wil ultimately lead to enhanced feed utilization and improved growth performance of poultry. This review wil help future researchers and industry to identify alternative feed ingredients having properties like prebiotics, probiotics, organic acids, and exogenous enzymes.     

饲料“禁抗”势在必行，行业如何应对？

抗生素自问世以来,在防治动物疾病、促进畜禽健康生长,提高养殖效益方面发挥了重要作用。但随着抗生素的不规范使用甚至滥用,药物残留和动物源细菌耐药性等问题逐渐浮出水面,给动物源性食品安全和公共卫生安全带来风险隐患。对此,农业农村部发布公告,实施促生长类药物饲料添加剂退出行动(简称饲料"禁抗")。从长期发展来看,饲料"禁抗"对行业可持续发展有积极正向作用,但短期对饲料养殖行业会带来一定的冲击。饲料"禁抗"是提高动物源性食品安全和公共卫生安全水平,促进畜牧业持续健康发展的必然要求,无论是饲料企业,还是养殖场户,应以冷静积极的心态面对,积极找寻饲用抗生素减量替代方案,并加速推广应用,以助力养殖业绿色健康发展,满足人们对安全优质动物源性食品的需求。     

微生态制剂在提高畜禽免疫力中的作用机制

作为一种替代抗生素的新型绿色添加剂,微生态制剂在畜禽养殖中主要用于维持畜禽健康、促进动物生长、提高饲料利用率。文章从调控动物胃肠道内微生物菌群、刺激动物免疫器官发育、分泌代谢产物激活动物自身免疫反应、改善养殖场环境进而改善动物健康状况等方面对现有的微生态制剂免疫机制进行综述。     

Impact of nutrition on the innate immune response to infection in poultry

Viral and bacterial diseases remain a threat to the poultry industry and countermeasures to prevent and control them are needed due to production losses. With the continued threat of exotic and emerging diseases and concern over the use of antibiotics in animal production, there is a serious and urgent need to find safe and practical alternatives to prevent or control pathogens. Identification of new tools for the design of new immunological interventions or therapeutic antimicrobials to reduce microbial pathogens in poultry is now required more than ever. Immunological interventions to reduce microbial pathogens in poultry would be of great value to the poultry industry and to the consumer. We have been advocating boosting immunity and encouraging the host to utilize its innate immune system to control and clear infections. Our research has addressed the use of innate immune mechanisms and components to develop new immune modulators (prophylactic and therapeutic) and the characterization and production of antimicrobial peptides as potential immune modulators in poultry. Dietary bioactive food components that interact with the immune response have considerable potential to reduce susceptibility to infectious diseases. With this premise, this paper asks and answers a series of pertinent questions on the utilization of avian immunity for increasing resistance to a variety of potential pathogens problematic in today's commercial poultry industry. Using experimental data to provide answers to these questions, we hope to stimulate a dialog between avian immunologists and nutritionists that results in coordinating and integrating their expertise into specific practical solutions that will benefit the industry and improve the well-being of commercial poultry.     

微生态制剂在奶牛养殖中的应用

随着畜禽养殖技术的不断提升,当代畜禽养殖业的发展方向逐渐由追求“数量”向追求“品质”发展。微生态制剂是利用正常微生物或促进微生物生长的物质制成的活的微生物制剂,具有改善动物饲料利用率,提高生长速度和机体免疫力,改善畜产品品质等作用。本文从微生态制剂的种类、作用机理以及在奶牛养殖中的应用效果和存在问题等方面进行阐述,为微生态制剂的发展提供思路。     

Dietary fiber and chicken microbiome interaction: Where will it lead to?

The last few decades have been marked by a rapid genetic improvement in chicken growth rates. The modern-day chicken is more efficient in converting feed into muscle mass than their predecessors. This enhanced efficiency emanates from better nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism. The gut has therefore become a research focus especially after the ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters (AGP) in poultry. In pursuance of better gut health in the post-AGP era, many different strategies are being continuously sought and tested. The gut is inhabited by more than 900 bacterial species along with fungi and archaea, and they play an important role to maintain a conducive milieu for the host. A beneficial shift in the microbial ecosystem of the chicken can be promoted by many dietary and non-dietary interventions, however, diet is ranked as one of the most important and potent regulators of gut microbiota composition. Therefore, the constituents of the diet warrant special attention in the modulation of the gut ecosystem. Among dietary constituents, fiber possesses a significant ability to modulate the microbiota. In this review, we will highlight the importance of fiber in poultry nutrition and will also discuss the effects of fiber on gut microbiota and its resultant ramifications on the liver and brain.     

Field evaluation of tylosin premix in layers previously vaccinated with a live Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccine

Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection results in numerous clinical signs including a reduction in egg production in laying chickens. Attempts to prevent mycoplasmosis have included vaccination with both killed and attenuated live M. gallisepticum strains. Live vaccines provide reduction in clinical signs and have been shown to replace indigenous strains when used in a consistent program for several placements. Antibiotic therapy is another option for controlling losses associated with mycoplasmosis. Therapeutic antibiotics with activity against mycoplasma approved for use in poultry include tetracyclines and tylosin. These drugs also are approved for feed efficiency when administered in the feed at levels below the therapeutic index for mycoplasma. The data presented here suggest that birds vaccinated with the live 6/85 strain of M. gallisepticum and then fed tylosin, at the approved level for feed efficiency, exhibit a serologic vaccine response similar to that of unmedicated birds but show improved feed efficiency.     

The Effects of a Natural Antibiotic Alternative and a Natural Growth Promoter Feed Additive on Broiler Performance and Carcass Quality

The use of subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics in poultry feed improves performance and morbidity in broiler chickens. However, consumer pressure related to the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has resulted in the development of nonantibiotic feed additives that may also improve broiler performance. Essential oils, organic acids, and phytogenic compounds enhance production of gastric secretions, stimulate blood circulation, and reduce levels of pathogenic bacteria. The objective of the current study was to assess the use of Biostrong 505+ and Biostrong 510 as natural growth promoters in broiler chickens. Assessment was based on the performance and carcass quality of broilers fed either a maximum-yield or a least-cost commercial broiler diet. The maximum-yield diet improved broiler performance and carcass quality. Biostrong 505+ can be used to improve feed conversion and breast yield when incorporated into diets devoid of antibiotics. This improvement in feed conversion and breast yield was accentuated when Biostrong 505+ was used in conjunction with a maximum-yield diet. Biostrong 510 improved feed conversion when used in poultry diets containing antibiotics.     

Modes of action of growth promoting agents

The term growth promotion applies to the increase in performance or productivity achieved in food producing animals following the addition to their diet of feed antibiotics or growth promoters. Numerous methods are available for the different animal species. Steroidal substances are widely used in cattle whilst in pigs and poultry a wide range of substances are used to influence the gastro-intestinal microflora and thereby bring about a cost-effective improvement in productivity. Although certain antibiotics have been used for growth promotion for over three decades they are still highly effective and appear not to have reduced the value of other widely used antibiotics for the treatment of disease. The mechanisms by which growth promotion is produced are only poorly understood but it is now generally accepted that any improvement in performance is directly related to a variety of direct effects on the gut microbial flora and associated indirect effects on intestinal tissues. The direct effects include inhibition of bacterial growth, interference with bacterial cell wall development, induction of filament formation and interference with the metabolism of intestinal bacteria. The indirect effects include a reduction in the thickness of the intestinal mucosal layer and a decrease in the production of certain mucosal cell enzymes. Other effects seen in the gut of growth promoted animals and birds include a decrease in the prevalence of antibiotic resistance plasmids and a reduced frequency of plasmid transfer in enteric coliforms. It is clear from available data that conventional animals are depressed in performance and this depression can be alleviated by the administration of growth promoting agents in the diet of these animals. The lifting of this depression results in an improvement in performance especially daily live weight gain and feed conversion efficiency.     

Effect of Energy and Protein on Performance,Egg Components,Egg Solids,Egg Quality,and Profits in Molted Hy-Line W-36 Hens

An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of dietary energy on performance, egg composition, egg solids, egg quality, and profits of Hy-Line W-36 hens fed different protein levels. The experiment was designed as a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement with 4 added dietary energy levels (0, 79, 158, and 238 kcal of ME/kg) and 3 protein levels (14.89, 16.06, and 17.38%). The basal diets of 17.38, 16.06, and 14.89% protein contained 2,751, 2,784, and 2,815 kcal of ME/kg, respectively. This study lasted 12 wk. Molted Hy-Line W-36 hens (n = 1,440) in phase 1 (70 wk of age) were randomly divided into 12 treatments (8 replicates of 15 hens per treatment). Protein had a significant effect on egg production, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion, egg weight, percentage of egg shell components, yolk color, and yolk and albumen weight. As dietary energy increased from 0 to 238 kcal of ME/kg by addition of poultry oil, feed intake linearly decreased. Increasing dietary energy also significantly increased BW and egg yolk color. As dietary energy increased, percentage yolk solids increased at the 2 greater dietary protein levels, whereas egg-specific gravity linearly decreased at the 17.38% protein level. Increasing dietary energy and protein significantly improved feed conversion. Increasing protein intake significantly increased albumen and yolk weight but had no influence on yolk, albumen, or whole egg solids. Because feed ingredient and egg prices vary, there can be no fixed ideal dietary energy level for optimal profits during molt phase 1 (70 to 81 wk).     

氨基酸微量元素螯合物对异育银鲫生长及其品质的影响

试验研究了氨基酸微量元素螯合物对异育银鲫生长及其品质的影响。结果表明,①氨基酸微量元素螯合物替代无机微量元素能显著促进异育银鲫生长,提高饲料利用效率,其中,以65%替代无机微量元素的促生长效果最好,饲料利用效率最高,日特定生长率和饲料利用效率分别增加25.37%和26.32%。②用氨基酸微量元素螯合物替代无机微量元素后,鱼体水分、灰分含量无显著差异,以65%替代无机微量元素后,鱼体蛋白含量提高1.75%;鱼体脂肪含量在35%、50%、65%替代无机微量元素后,均有增加。③氨基酸微量元素螯合物35%、50%、65%替代无机微量元素,对鱼体肥满度没有产生影响,但内脏比均增加。④氨基酸微量元素螯合物以35%、50%、65%替代无机微量元素后,提高了成活率、降低了养殖饲料成本。⑤在氨基酸微量元素螯合物基础上再添加黄霉素,具有更好的促生长效果和更高的饲料利用效率。     

家禽苏氨酸营养研究进展

苏氨酸是家禽第三限制性氨基酸,在家禽体内发挥多种重要的生物学功能,如平衡饲粮氨基酸比例,提高营养物质利用效率,改善家禽生长性能和产蛋性能;促进肠道组织发育、维持肠道屏障功能,提高家禽免疫力等。文章从苏氨酸的代谢途径及其对家禽的生物学作用方面进行综述,为苏氨酸在家禽生产中的合理应用提供理论依据。     

An update on alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoters for broilers

Livestock performance and feed efficiency are closely interrelated with the qualitative and quantitative microbial load of the animal gut, the morphological structure of the intestinal wall and the activity of the immune system. Antimicrobial growth promoters have made a tremendous contribution to profitability in intensive husbandry, but as a consequence of the increasing concern about the potential for antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, the European Commission decided to ban all commonly used feed antibiotics. There are a number of non-therapeutic alternatives, including enzymes, (in)organic acids, probiotics, prebiotics, etheric oils and immunostimulants. Their efficacy and mode of action are briefly described in this review.     

藻类在猪和鸡养殖生产中的应用研究进展

文章总结了畜禽生产中可利用的藻类及其营养成分,重点介绍了含藻饲料对以猪和鸡为代表的畜禽生长、免疫、肌肉品质、产蛋性能和禽蛋品质等方面的影响,还指出了藻类在畜禽饲料应用中存在的问题并提出建议,旨在为藻类资源在猪、鸡养殖生产中的广泛应用提供参考。藻类分布广、易生长、产量大,尤其是海藻,含有陆生植物不具有的生物活性物质和营养物质。将富含不饱和脂肪酸和色素的微藻添加到饲料中能改善畜禽肉品质,提升禽蛋品质;将富含多糖等活性物质的大型海藻添加到饲料中有助于提升畜禽免疫力。饲料中添加少量藻类可提高饲料稳定性,提升畜禽生长性能和饲料利用率;当藻类添加量过高时,其所含的抗营养因子会对畜禽产生负面影响,但通过适当的预处理可消除部分抗营养因子,减轻负面效应。     

Effects of alfalfa meal on the intestinal microbial diversity and immunity of growing ducks

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of alfalfa meal diets on the intestinal microbial diversity and immunity of growing egg‐type ducks. A total of 128 healthy 7‐week‐old female egg‐type Shaoxing ducks were selected and randomly assigned into four dietary treatments: 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% alfalfa meal for 8 weeks. Each treatment consisted of four replicates of eight ducks each. Polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) was used to characterize the microbiota. The results showed that the DGGE fingerprints of the V6–V8 fragments of the 16S rRNA from the caeca and faeces of ducks fed 3%, 6% and 9% alfalfa meal had significantly higher microbiota species richness than those fed 0% alfalfa meal (p < 0.05). The Shannon–Weiner index of the microbiota from the caeca and faeces of ducks fed 3%, 6% and 9% alfalfa meal was significantly higher than those fed 0% alfalfa meal (p < 0.05). Molecular analysis of the caecal and faecal DNA extracts showed that the alfalfa meal diet promotes the intestinal microbial diversity, as indicated by their higher species richness and Shannon–Weiner index. However, the groups did not significantly differ in terms of average daily gain, feed intake and gain‐to‐feed ratio (p > 0.05), and the 3–9% alfalfa meal did not affect the growth performance of the growing egg‐type ducks. The proliferation of T and B lymphocytes was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the groups supplemented with 3%, 6% and 9% of alfalfa meal than the unsupplemented control group, and alfalfa meal promoted the lymphocytes proliferation of the growing egg‐type ducks. Dietary alfalfa meal supplementation increases intestinal microbial community diversity and improves of the immune response growing egg‐type ducks.     

Alpha‐lipoic acid: An inimitable feed supplement for poultry nutrition

Alpha‐lipoic acid (ALA) is a multifunction antioxidant that is produced in small amount by cells as well as its dietary provision facilitates fatty acid mobilization, energy expenditure as well as can scavenge free radicals in poultry birds. It exists in oxidized as well as reduced form, characterized by growth promoting, anti‐inflammatory, antioxidative, immunostimulatory, and hypocholesterolemic properties when fed as dietary supplement to farm animals particularly chicken birds. Recently, several studies reported that dietary supplementation of ALA can influence growth performance indicators, immunological, biochemical characteristics, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress as well as increase antioxidant potential and storability of poultry meat and meat products. Accordingly, this paper adds the reviews and discusses the outcomes of studies documenting the effect of lipoic acid dietary fortification on growth performance, biochemical, and immunological characteristics as well as the effects on lipid peroxidation of fresh meat and meat‐based products. Furthermore, this paper also describes the possibilities of utilization of ALA as a feed additive in poultry nutrition to improve the growth performance of poultry as well as meat quality of resultant chicken birds.