Unveiling how vitrification affects the porcine blastocyst: clues from a transcriptomic studyOA

Background: Currently, there is a high demand for efficient pig embryo cryopreservation procedures in the porcine industry as well as for genetic diversity preservation and research purposes. To date, vitrification(VIT) is the most efficient method for pig embryo cryopreservation. Despite a high number of embryos survives in vitro after vitrification/warming procedures, the in vivo embryo survival rates after embryo transfer are variable among laboratories. So far, most studies have focused on c...     

Insights into the proteomic profile of newly harvested corn and metagenomic analysis of the broiler intestinal microbiotaOA

Background: The use of newly harvested corn in feed causes wet droppings in broilers and increased feed cost which was termed as “new season grain problem”. The present study was conducted to evaluate the proteomic profile of newly harvested corn and the subsequent influence on intestinal microbiol community for broiler chickens.Methods: Newly harvested corn stored for either half a month(HM) or two months(TM) was used, and the pasting properties, total soluble sugars, and proteomic analysis tec...     

Starchy and fibrous feedstuffs differ in their in vitro digestibility and fermentation characteristics and differently modulate gut microbiota of swineOA

Background: Alternative feedstuffs may contribute to reducing feed costs of pig production. But these feedstuffs are typically rich in fiber and resistant starch(RS). Dietary fibers and RS are fermented in the gastrointestinal tract(GIT) and modulate the microbial community. Certain microbes in the GIT can promote host health, depending on the type of fermentation substrates available. In this study, six alternative feedstuffs(three starchy: Okinawan sweet potato, OSP; yam, and taro, and three f...     

Inhibiting nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2-mediated autophagy in bovine mammary epithelial cells induces oxidative stress in response to exogenous fatty acidsOA

Background: In early lactation, bovine mammary epithelial cells undergo serious metabolic challenges and oxidative stress both of which could be alleviated by activation of autophagy. Nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2(NFE2L2), a master regulator of cellular redox homeostasis, plays an important role in the regulation of autophagy and oxidative stress. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the role of NFE2L2-mediated autophagy on oxidative stress of bovine mammary epithel...     

Insects as alternative feed for ruminants:comparison of protein evaluation methodsOA

Background: The high dependence of intensive ruminant production on soybean meal and the environmental impact of this crop encourage the search for alternative protein-rich feeds. The use of insects seems promising, but the extent of their ruminal protein degradation is largely unknown. This parameter has major influence not only on N utilization efficiency but also on the environmental burden of ruminant farming. In addition, although assessing ruminal N degradation represents a key first step ...     

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...     

Effect of protease supplementation on apparent ileal crude protein and amino acid digestibility of over-processed soybean meals in broilersOA

Background: Nutritional value of proteins in feed ingredients can be negatively affected by hydrothermal processing, which causes large variation in the bioavailability of amino acids(AA) and negatively affects animal productive performance. Supplementation of exogenous proteases could increase the rate of digestion of damaged proteins, thereby increasing overall AA digestibility and bioavailability. The aim was to determine the effect of exogenous protease supplementation on the apparent ileal ...     

Dietary resistant starch ameliorating lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation inmeat ducks associated with the alteration in gut microbiome and glucagon-like peptide 1 signalingOA

Background: Consumption of resistant starch(RS) has been associated with various intestinal and systemic health benefits, but knowledge of its effects on intestinal health and inflammatory response in stressed birds is limited.Here, we examined how dietary RS supplementation from 12% raw potato starch(RPS) modulated inflammatory severity induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in meat ducks.Results: LPS administration at 14, 16, and 18 d(chronic challenge) decreased body weight(BW) and glucagon-like ...     

Higher Tolerance of Min Pigs Under Cold Stress: An Assessment from Reproduction Perspective

Raising Min pigs(MPs) in northern China is challenging, because of harsh environmental conditions in winter. There is a hypothesis that MPs can tolerate cold stress better than Large White pigs(LWPs) and their oocyte competence is particularly protected. Over a period of 3 years, multiple cohorts of MPs and LWPs under different environmental conditions were studied in this paper. Follistatin(FST) serum level was used as a marker for swine oocyte competence. Oocytes were collected from the swine ...     

在十六届国际养蜂业会议上有关蜜蜂生物学问题的报告(摘要)

在第16届國际养蜂業会議有关蜜蜂生物学部份中以K.傅瑞史宣讀的报告最引入注意。报告的題目为“太陽是蜜蜂确定方向的指南針”。作者在报告中提出了下述的試驗。中午將观察用的蜂箱放子該蜂群不熟悉的地方。然后將蜜蜂自該箱中移至离箱門西面200米处,并以有顏色的漆在蜂上做上記号。到傍晚做上記号的蜜蜂已从上述地点將飼料