Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves improved the egg and meat qualities and protected against ethanol‐induced oxidative damage in laying hens

Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves (PE) were value resources due to various pharmacological activities, but data on the effect on laying hens are very scare. This study was conducted to determine the effect of PE on the laying performance, egg traits, meat quality, antioxidant status and liver tissues of laying hens. One hundred and twenty 256‐day‐old Yueqinhuang laying hens were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (different levels of PE at 0, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.2 g/kg diet) for 63 days with 15 replicates per group. Addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg trait by increasing the eggshell thickness and decreasing MDA production and cholesterol content in the egg yolk, but also significantly enhanced meat quality of hens, as suggested by the increase pH_45 min (p < .01) and a* value, and decrease drip loss rate (p < .01). Meanwhile, under acute ethanol‐induced oxidative damage condition, supplementation of 0.8 g/kg PE enhanced the serum antioxidant status by increasing enzymatic activities (GSH‐PX, T‐SOD, T‐AOC), inhibited oxidative damage and provided protective effect to liver tissue. In conclusion, addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg traits and meat quality without obvious adverse effects, but also increased the serum antioxidant status of the hens and protected their liver tissue from ethanol‐induced oxidative damage. This study indicated that PE could be utilized as an effective feed additive for laying hens to improve health performance and egg traits.     

Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the egg quality,immune response,zinc retention,and blood parameters of laying hens in the late phase of production

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐NPs) on the performance, egg quality, Zn retention, immunity responses, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), egg malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and serum parameters in laying hens in the late phase of production. A total of 288 laying hens at 64 weeks of age were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 6 replicates, and 12 birds within each group. Experimental diets included a corn‐soybean meal‐based diet (without Zn supplementation) and a basal diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg of Zn‐oxide, ZnO‐NPs, and Zn‐methionine. The results indicated that egg production and egg mass were significantly higher in the Zn‐methionine and ZnO‐NPs groups (p < .05). Also, eggshell thickness and shell strength increased in the ZnO‐NPs group as compared with the other groups (p < .05). Moreover, Zn supplementation decreased egg loss (p < .05). There were significant differences among treatments in Zn deposition in tibiotarsus, liver, pancreas, eggs, and excreta (p < .01). Antibody titre, heterophil (%(, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were significantly higher in birds fed with Zn‐supplemented diets (p < .05). In treatments supplemented with ZnO‐NPs and Zn‐methionine, the SOD activity in the liver, pancreas, and plasma was greater as compared with the other treatments (p < .05). The MDA content in eggs was significantly reduced in groups supplemented with Zn (p < .01). Moreover, dietary Zn supplementation significantly affected serum total protein, albumin, glucose, alkaline phosphatase activity, carbonic anhydrase activity, and Zn level (p < .05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with ZnO‐NPs can improve the performance of laying hens. Therefore, ZnO‐NPs can enhance zinc absorption in the intestine of aged layers and can be a more suitable source of zinc than regular Zn‐oxide in diets.     

Efficacy of essential oils combination on performance,ileal bacterial counts,intestinal histology and immunocompetence of laying hens fed alternative lipid sources

This study was carried out to assess the effects of a blend of herbal essential oils (namely Thymus vulgaris, Mentha piperita, Rosmarinus offisinalis and Anethum graveolens) and different dietary lipid sources on the performance, ileal bacterial enumeration, intestinal histological alterations and immune responses in laying hens. For this purpose, a total of 150 laying hens were randomly allocated to six experimental treatments with five replicates of five birds each. Dietary treatments consisted of three levels of a mixture of essential oils (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and two sources of lipid (soybean oil and fish oil containing different ratios of n‐6 to n‐3 fatty acids) fed to the animals during an 80‐days feeding trial. Findings indicated that dietary administration of fish oil not only increased significantly the spleen relative weight (p < 0.01) and the antibody titre against Newcastle virus (p < 0.05) but also led to reductions in liver relative weight (p < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). Moreover, the mixture of herbal essential oils brought about declines in hepatic relative weight, heterophile to lymphocyte ratio (p < 0.05) and intestinal pathogen populations (p < 0.01). Mention must also be made of the improvements it made in spleen weight (p < 0.01), antibody titres against SRBC (p < 0.01) and Newcastle virus (p < 0.05), villus height to crypt depth ratio (p < 0.01), goblet cell numbers (p < 0.05), lamina propria lymphatic follicle diameters (p < 0.01) and feed conversion ratio (p = 0.06). It may be claimed that the enhancements observed in the performance of laying hens fed fish oil and 200 mg/kg of the blend of essential oils could have potentially been associated with improved intestinal health indices as well as cellular and humoral immune responses.     

内毒素对大鼠小肠黏膜组织的影响及多价阳离子A的保护效应

旨在揭示大肠埃希菌内毒素(ET)对大鼠小肠黏膜的结构、绒毛长度、上皮内淋巴细胞(IEL)的数量和分布的影响,并探讨多价阳离子A(CA)对上述指标的保护效应。选用72只140g~150g SPF级SD大鼠随机分为3组,即对照组、ET组和CA保护组,经相应处理后分别在3、4、8、12h采集十二指肠、空肠组织作为检测样本,制备病理组织切片,HE染色并利用图像分析系统进行分析。ET组十二指肠和空肠绒毛长度在3、4、8、12h均显著低于对照组和CA保护组(P0.01),ET组十二指肠、空肠IEL数量在3、4、8、12h均显著低于对照组(P0.01);CA保护组十二指肠和空肠IEL数量在4、8、12h均显著高于ET组(P0.01)。结果显示,ET在不同程度上能够破坏小肠黏膜的正常组织结构,降低小肠绒毛长度,减少IEL的数量,从而影响小肠正常的吸收和免疫功能,而CA则能明显降低ET所导致的毒性作用,发挥其保护效应。     

Short time effects of biological and inter-row subsoiling on yield of potatoes grown on a loamy sand,and on soil penetration resistance,root growth and nitrogen uptake

Soil compaction, especially subsoil compaction, in agricultural fields has increased due to widespread use of heavy machines and intensification of vehicular traffic. Subsoil compaction changes the relative distribution of roots between soil layers and may restrict root development to the upper part of the soil profile, limiting water and mineral availability. This study investigated the direct effects of inter-row subsoiling, biological subsoiling and a combination of these two methods on soil penetration resistance, root length density, nitrogen uptake and yield. In field experiments with potatoes in 2013 and 2014, inter-row subsoiling (subsoiler) and biological subsoiling (preceding crops) were studied as two potential methods to reduce soil penetration resistance. Inter-row subsoiling was carried out post planting and the preceding crops were established one year, or in one case two years, prior to planting. Soil resistance was determined with a penetrometer three weeks after the potatoes were planted and root length density was measured after soil core sampling 2 months after emergence. Nitrogen uptake was determined in haulm (at haulm killing) and tubers (at harvest). Inter-row subsoiling had the greatest effect on soil penetration resistance, whereas biological subsoiling showed no effects. Root length density (RDL) in the combined treatment was higher than in the separate inter-row and biological subsoiling treatments and the control, whereas for the separate inter-row and biological subsoiling treatments, RLD was higher than in the control. Nitrogen uptake increased with inter-row subsoiling and was significantly higher than in the biological subsoiling and control treatments. However, in these experiments with a good supply of nutrients and water, no yield differences between any treatments were observed.     

低温环境下饲粮核黄素添加水平对蛋鸭激素分泌的影响

本试验旨在研究低温环境下饲粮核黄素添加水平对蛋鸭激素分泌的影响.试验采用两因素有重复完全交叉设计,温度设2个水平[适温(18±1)℃,T1;低温(2±1)℃,T2];核黄素设3个水平,在基础饲粮中分别添加4、16、32 mg/kg 核黄素.选用12周龄健康的金定鸭(母)144只,随机分成6个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个...     

规模化蛋鸡场病原菌溯源与生物安全防控研究

细菌病严重威胁蛋鸡健康,以抗生素为主导的细菌病传统防控方式会导致病原菌耐药性严重、鸡蛋药物残留,影响蛋品安全。要保证蛋鸡产蛋期不用抗菌药物而又能生产出"无菌、无抗"的鸡蛋,是国内外技术难题。本团队以规模化蛋鸡场全封闭鸡舍为研究对象,基于PFGE、MLST、全基因组测序等技术,探明了蛋鸡病原菌的种类及基因组特征;对病原菌的耐药性研究表明,蛋鸡病原菌多重耐药严重,依靠药物防控的方式亟待转变;对规模化蛋鸡场细菌溯源研究结果表明,鸡舍生物媒介(鼠、苍蝇等)和非生物媒介(空气、饮水、饲料、鸡粪等)是蛋鸡病原菌的重要传染来源和传播途径;对规模化蛋鸡场生物安全量化评价结果表明,外部和内部生物安全权重高达92.2%。根据溯源和生物安全权重分析结果,提出了在规模化全封闭蛋鸡舍将蛋鸡细菌病从药物防控转变为生物安全防控的新策略;创新了规模化蛋鸡场细菌病防控的系统技术,实现蛋鸡规模养殖整个产蛋期不用抗生素,为生产"无菌、无抗"安全鸡蛋提供技术支撑。     

芽孢杆菌微生态制剂对京红1号蛋鸡产蛋性能和蛋品质的影响

试验旨在研究芽孢杆菌微生态制剂对京红1号蛋鸡产蛋性能和蛋品质的影响。选择健康、体况良好的404日龄京红1号蛋鸡960只,随机分为4组,每组6个重复,每个重复40只。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验Ⅰ组饲喂基础日粮+益倍佳(凝结芽孢杆菌),试验Ⅱ组饲喂基础日粮+赐尔健(纳豆芽孢杆菌),试验Ⅲ组饲喂添加地衣芽孢杆菌+枯草芽孢杆菌(1∶1)混合制剂的日粮,试验组微生态制剂的添加量均为300 mg/kg。试验期25 d,其中预饲期5 d。结果显示,与对照组相比,试验组蛋鸡产蛋率均显著提高(P<0.05),破、软蛋率均显著降低(P<0.05),试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组料蛋比显著降低(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,Ⅱ组鸡蛋平均蛋重显著提高了2.25%(P<0.05);试验组Ⅰ、Ⅱ的蛋黄相对重、蛋壳相对重、哈氏单位均无显著影响(P>0.05);试验Ⅲ组蛋壳颜色为1~3级的鸡蛋比例明显增多,差异显著(P<0.05)。综上所述,添加微生态制剂赐尔健(纳豆芽孢杆菌)可显著提高京红1号产蛋率和平均蛋重,显著降低料蛋比和破、软蛋率;添加枯草芽孢杆菌+地衣芽孢杆菌(1∶1)混合制剂可使蛋壳颜色加深的鸡蛋比例显著增多。