Activin‐A receptor expression patterns in prepubertal goat oocytes and derived embryos

This study examines the presence of activin IIA and IIB receptors (ActR‐IIA and ActR‐IIB) by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry in immature and IVM‐oocytes, 2 to 8‐cells embryos and blastocysts from prepubertal goats. Western blotting revealed that activin receptors are synthesized during oocyte maturation and embryo development. In the immunocytochemistry experiments, no immunostaining for either receptor was detected in oocytes while both receptors were immunolabelled in all the cells of cleaved embryos. In blastocysts, while ActR‐IIA expression appeared evenly distributed in the two cell lineages, inner cell mass and trophectoderm, the ActR‐IIB immunosignal was restricted mainly to the inner cell mass. Our findings reveal the presence of activin type II receptors (ActR‐IIA and ActR‐IIB) in in vitro matured prepubertal goat oocytes and blastocyst‐stage embryos. The expression of these receptors could be a key factor in understanding differences between competent and incompetent oocytes.     

Black soldier fly and yellow mealworm live larvae for broiler chickens: Effects on bird performance and health status

The commercial broiler chicken strains are the result of successful selection programmes. Most of the problems related to welfare arise from the high growth rate and body weight. The use of environmental enrichments in intensive farming could have a positive effect on birds by increasing animal welfare. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of Hermetia illucens (HI) and Tenebrio molitor (TM) live larvae in the diets of broiler chickens on growth performance, carcass yield and health status. A total of 180 four-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to 18 pens. Each pen was assigned to one of the three dietary treatments (6 replicates/treatment, 10 birds/replicate) as follows: (i) control diet (C): commercial feed (two feeding phases: starter [4–11 days] and grower [12–38 days]), (ii) HI: C + 5% of the expected daily feed intake (DFI) HI live larvae (calculated on dry matter [DM]) and (iii) TM: C + 5% of DFI TM live larvae (DM). At 39 days of age, birds were slaughtered. Growth performance parameters were overall not affected by dietary treatments, except for the grower phase feed conversion ratio (FCR) and the overall FCR being better in the TM broilers than the others (p < 0.01). No differences were observed for slaughtering performance and haematological and serum parameters, except for the spleen relative weight being higher (p < 0.01) in the birds administered with larvae when compared to the C group. Gut morphometric indexes and histopathological alterations were not influenced by insect larvae administration. In conclusion, the administration in limited quantities of HI and TM live larvae as environmental enrichment has no negative effects on broiler chicken growth performance and health status. A behavioural study could confirm that live insect larvae represent a novel natural environmental enrichment in broiler farming.     

Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and fermentation parameters in horses

The effect of hay type on the microbiome of the equine gastrointestinal tract is relatively unexplored. Our objective was to characterize the cecal and fecal microbiome of mature horses consuming alfalfa or Smooth Bromegrass (brome) hay. Six cecally cannulated horses were used in a split-plot design run as a crossover in two periods. The whole plot treatment was ad libitum access to brome or alfalfa hay fed over two 21-d acclimation periods with subplots of sampling location (cecum and rectum) and sampling hour. Each acclimation period was followed by a 24-h collection period where cecal and fecal samples were collected every 3 h for analysis of pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Fecal and cecal samples were pooled and sent to a commercial lab (MR DNA, Shallowater, TX) for the amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq. The main effects of hay on VFA, pH, and taxonomic abundances were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with fixed effects of hay, hour, location, period, and all possible interactions and random effect of horse. Alpha and beta diversities were analyzed using the R Dame package. Horses fed alfalfa had greater fecal than cecal pH (P ≤ 0.05), whereas horses fed brome had greater cecal than fecal pH (P ≤ 0.05). Regardless of hay type, total VFA concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the cecum than in feces, and alfalfa resulted in greater (P ≤ 0.05) VFA concentrations than brome in both sampling locations. Alpha diversity was greater (P ≤ 0.05) in fecal compared with cecal samples. Microbial community structure within each sampling location and hay type differed from one another (P ≤ 0.05). Bacteroidetes were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the cecum compared with the rectum, regardless of hay type. Firmicutes and Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the feces compared with cecal samples of alfalfa-fed horses. In all, fermentation parameters and bacterial abundances were impacted by hay type and sampling location in the hindgut.     

Subependymal Reaction Secondary to Choroid Plexus Papilloma in a Horse

Choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) is a rare, benign, intracranial neoplasm. The present report described a choroid plexus papilloma of the fourth ventricle with unusual proliferative reaction of ependymal/subependymal cells in a stallion. A single, soft neoformation, red-gray in color, with an irregular surface, resembling a cauliflower, expanding from the fourth ventricle to the cerebellar peduncles was observed. Microscopically, the neoformation was composed of a single layer of simple cuboidal to columnar epithelium with a well-vascularized papillary-arboriform pattern. Multifocal subependymal aggregates forming rosettes were observed near the mesencephalic aqueduct (MA). Glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein (GFAP) was markedly positive only in the neuropil adjacent to the proliferative areas of the MA. Ependymal/subependymal reactions secondary to CPP have never been described in equine or human neuropathology. The capabilities of ependymal cells to regenerate and eventually proliferate are controversial and unclear and, thus, require additional investigation to understand the adaptive mechanisms of this rare pathogenic condition.     

Body development, carcass, and meat quality of confined lambs fed increasing levels of whole rice meal

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of whole rice meal (WRM) inclusion in the concentrate upon body development, carcass traits, and meat quality of lambs. Twenty-four castrated lambs with an average initial body weight of 17.90?±?2.72 kg were randomly blocked according to two genetic groups (Corriedale and Texel by Corriedale crossbreds). Three isocaloric (11.3 MJ/kg of metabolizable energy) and isonitrogenous (17 % crude protein) diets were offered to the animals for 74 days. Diets consisted of 40 % forage and 60 % concentrate diet, on a dry matter basis, with 0, 15, or 30 % of WRM inclusion into the concentrate. Body growth (after slaughter), carcass, and meat traits were evaluated on each animal. Results obtained indicated that genotype did not affect body growth, carcass, and meat traits except for yellowness. No significant interaction between diet and genotype were detected. Inclusion of up to 30 % WRM did not significantly (P?>?0.05) affect body growth, carcass, and meat traits, except for meat color. Meat luminosity progressively increased (36.32?+?0.055X) while redness (15.13???0.03X) decreased with the inclusion of WRM in the diet, but still remained within acceptable values. The study indicates that WRM may be included up to 30 % in the concentrate replacing corn without adverse effects upon body development, carcass traits, and meat quality of lambs.     

Six Edible Wild Fruits as Potential Antioxidant Additives or Nutritional Supplements

Total antioxidant activity of six non-cultivated but traditionally collected fruits from the south of Europe was assessed by measuring their ability to reduce the hydroxyl radical ( OH^· ) \left( {{\hbox{O}}{{\hbox{H}}^\bullet }} \right) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and their Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). This antioxidant activity was compared with that shown by the synthetic antioxidants BHA (E-320), BHT (E-321) and propyl gallate (E-310). Total phenolics, ascorbic acid and the carotenoid content of the fruits were also analyzed. All fruits showed a high ability to scavenge the OH^· {\hbox{O}}{{\hbox{H}}^\bullet } radical, ranging from 60.61% to 81.04% inhibition for Rosa canina and Crataegus monogyna, respectively. The H₂O₂ scavenging capacity and the TEAC value varied widely, ranging between 3.63% and 87.26% inhibition of H₂O₂ and between 0.47 and 416.64 mM trolox g⁻¹ FW for Sorbus domestica and Rosa canina, respectively. The antioxidant activity of fruits was higher than that of the synthetic additives analyzed, except in the TEAC assay. The phenolic and carotenoid content of R. canina was much higher than that of the other fruits analyzed and its ascorbic acid concentration was also high, reflecting its higher efficacy towards ABTS ^·- {\hbox{ABT}}{{\hbox{S}}^{ \bullet - }} (TEAC assay) and H₂O₂ species_. In spite of these associations, the correlation coefficients between total antioxidant activity and the antioxidant compounds analyzed were not very significant; only phenolics and carotenoids showed a marginal correlation with the TEAC assay. The results support the possible use of R. canina as natural antioxidant to replace the synthetic additives, as well as their use in the production of functional foods with a high antioxidant activity.