Effects of milk thistle meal on performance,ileal bacterial enumeration,jejunal morphology and blood lipid peroxidation in laying hens fed diets with different levels of metabolizable energy

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of milk thistle meal on performance, blood biochemical indices, ileal bacterial counts and intestinal histology in laying hens fed diets containing different levels of metabolizable energy. A total number of 200 Leghorn laying hens (Hy‐Line W‐36) were randomly assigned to eight experimental treatments with five cage replicates of five birds each. Dietary treatments consisted of four levels of milk thistle meal (0%, 15%, 30% and 60%) and two levels of AME_n (11.09 and 12.34 MJ/kg) fed over a period of 80 days. In vitro studies revealed that the total phenolic component of milk thistle meal was 470.64 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of the sample, and its antioxidant activity for inhibiting the 2‐2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrichydrazyl free radical and reducing ferric ions was about 21% higher than that of butylated hydroxyltoluene (p < .05). Diets containing high level of AME_n led to improved egg production (p < .05), egg weight (p < .05), egg mass (p < .01) and feed conversion ratio (p < .01). In addition, offering diets containing high energy significantly enhanced (p < .01) serum triglyceride and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations as well as jejunal villus height. Dietary supplementation of 3% milk thistle meal resulted in the best feed conversion ratio (p < .05), reduction of ileal Escherichia coli enumeration (p < .01) and an enhancement in the villus height‐to‐crypt depth ratio (p < .05). Furthermore, feeding incremental levels of this meal led to remarkable decrease in serum cholesterol, triglyceride and MDA (p < .01) concentrations while significant increase in blood high‐density lipoprotein content and goblet cell numbers (p < .05). The present findings indicate that milk thistle meal with high antioxidant and antibacterial properties in laying hen diets may improve health indices and productive performance.     

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.     

Organic zinc and copper supplementation on antioxidant protective mechanism and their correlation with sperm functional characteristics in goats

Trace minerals feeding had significant effects on sperm production and fertility with better absorption and proper utilization within the body for optimum reproductive function. Several studies have shown that more influenced trace elements in the diets of animals are copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Bucks showing deficiency of this mineral might affect the quality of semen production which in turn would affect the fertility. This experiment was thus designed to test the effects of organic Cu and Zn supplementation on antioxidants enzyme activities and sperm functional attributes in fresh semen of bucks. Forty bucks (n = 40, Aged 5 months) were assigned to ten groups of four animals in each group, supplemented (for a period of 8 months) with different levels of organic Zn: 20 mg (T2), 40 mg (T3) and 60 mg (T4), organic Cu: 12.5 mg (T5), 25 mg (T6), 37.5 mg (T7) and combined organic Zn and Cu: 20 + 12.5 mg (T8), 40 + 25 mg (T9), 60 + 37.5 mg (T10), respectively, per kg dry matter and no additional mineral diet (control; T1). One hundred and sixty semen samples were collected through electro‐ejaculator and analysed for sperm quantity, quality, acrosome intactness and plasma membrane integrity and correlated with the catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities in seminal plasma. The results indicated organic Cu and zinc supplemented bucks produced more sperm cells, had higher sperm concentrations, maintained higher (p < .01) sperm livability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrities, more motility and velocity. The increased antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced oxidative stress and lowered lipid peroxidation were positively correlated (p < .05) with the sperm functional attributes. In conclusion, organic Cu and Zn supplement to male goats showed protective roles against oxidative damage and maintained better fresh semen characteristics.     

Impact of cold-season grazing and supplementary feeding on rumen metabolic parameters and micro-organisms in the ewes of Gansu Alpine Fine Wool Sheep北大核心CSCD

An experiment was conducted to scientifically identify the appropriate feed for Gansu Alpine Fine Wool ewes in order to change the animals' breeding mode, which currently can only be mated at the age of 2.5 years due to insufficient nutritional supply. The experiment selected 48 12-month-old ewes and randomly divided them into group a (Diet 1), group b (Diet 2), group c (Diet 3), and a control group with no supplementary feeding. The feed test was run for 90 days. The rumen pH of groups a and b were very significantly higher (P<0.01) or group c significantly lower (P<0.05) than control group. The rumen ammonia nitrogen, protein nitrogen and total nitrogen of groups a, b and c were all higher than control group (P<0.01). The total volatile fatty acids of group a and b were all higher than the control group (P<0.01), group b significantly higher than group c (P<0.05). The molar ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid in group a was very significantly higher than control group (P<0.01), group b and c were significantly higher than control group (P<0.05). The molar ratio of butyric acid in group a was very significantly higher than group c (P<0.01). The ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid in group b was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). The number of several rumen fiber-degrading bacteria and protozoa in groups a, b and c were very significantly (P<0.01) or significantly (P<0.05) higher than the control. In conclusion, this study shows that supplementary feeding can positively affect the rumen metabolic parameters and the number of several rumen microorganisms in Gansu Alpine Fine Wool ewes. In general, the effects of Diet 1 were the strongest, while Diet 2 also produced notable improvements. © 2018, Editorial Office of Acta Prataculturae Sinica. All rights reserved.     

不同种类浮游植物对CO2浓度升高的响应

本研究采用实验生态学的方法,以金藻、硅藻、绿藻3个门中的4种常见饵料藻叉鞭金藻(Dicrateria sp.)、三角褐指藻(Phaeodactylum tricornutum)、小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)和亚心形扁藻(Platymonas subcordiformis)为研究对象,分析比较不同浮游植物的细胞数量和质量对CO2浓度升高引起的海水酸化的响应情况。结果显示,与对照组相比,(1) CO2浓度升高显著提高了这4种藻的生长速率(P<0.05);其中,亚心形扁藻平均比生长速率最高,比对照组高出13.5%;小球藻次之,为5.9%;叉鞭金藻和三角褐指藻均为2.2%。(2) CO2浓度升高使浮游植物细胞内的碳(C)含量增加、氮(N)含量降低,C/N提高;种间差异较大,其中,亚心形扁藻的C/N、C/P值、小球藻的C/P值和三角褐指藻的C/N值显著提高,叉鞭金藻不显著。(3) CO2浓度升高使小球藻单位细胞叶绿素a含量显著提高,小球藻通过提高光合作用能力促进生长,而另外3种藻叶绿素a含量与对照组无显著差异;三角褐指藻最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)在实验初期显著升高;叉鞭金藻非光化学淬灭(NPQ)显著降低,快速光曲线初始斜率(α)显著增加;三角褐指藻和亚心形扁藻潜在的最大光合作用能力(rETRmax)显著升高(P<0.05),但CO2浓度升高对4种藻的光化学淬灭(qP)均没有显著影响(P>0.05)。可见,亚心形扁藻、小球藻和三角褐指藻在高CO2浓度下虽然生长速率加快,但营养质量降低。不同种类的浮游植物对CO2浓度升高的响应不同,这种差异可能会使未来海洋浮游植物群落结构发生变化;浮游植物C/N、C/P值的改变可能通过食物链对次级生产者,诸如浮游动物、滤食性贝类等产生影响。     

UV-B辐射和施氮对满江红生长、矿质营养和抗氧化生理的影响

为探讨UV-B辐射和施氮对满江红(Azolla)生长、矿质营养和抗氧化生理的影响,以元阳梯田稻田满江红为材料,室内模拟UV-B辐射(0 kJ·m^-2与5.0 kJ·m^-2)和施N处理(无氮和0.06 g·L^-1氮),研究其对满江红生长、矿质营养和抗氧化生理的影响。结果表明,与CK(0 kJ·m^-2、无氮)相比,UV-B+N(5.0 kJ·m^-2、0.06 g·L^-1氮)、UV-B辐射(5.0 kJ·m^-2、无氮)处理均显著降低满江红光合色素含量,抑制其生长,导致生物量显著下降。UV-B辐射与施N单独或复合处理均显著增加满江红的N含量与累积量,降低植株Mg、Ca的含量。UV-B辐射与施N单独或复合处理均显著增加满江红丙二醛(MDA)含量,提高超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性,降低类黄酮含量和过氧化物酶(POD)活性。此外,UV-B辐射导致满江红抗坏血酸(AsA)含量下降、总酚含量增加,UV-B辐射与N处理显著增强满江...     

基于DEB理论的皱纹盘鲍个体生长模型参数的测定

为获取皱纹盘鲍(Haliotis discus hannai)个体生长模型所需的6个关键参数,设计了饥饿耗能、温度对耗氧的影响等相关生理实验,计算得到各项参数值。单位体积维持耗能率的值 、形成单位体积结构物质所需的能量值 、单位体积最大储存能量 和储备能量值 4个参数,通过连续测定皱纹盘鲍饥饿过程中呼吸耗氧率和软组织干重不断下降直至保持稳定时的能量值计算;温度函数中Arrhenius温度 的数值根据皱纹盘鲍在不同温度梯度下的单位干重耗氧率测定、计算;形状系数δm值通过统计测量的壳长、软组织湿重等生物学参数拟合回归得到。结果显示,皱纹盘鲍在饥饿后,呼吸耗氧率和软组织干重分别降低了26.3%和70.0%,呼吸耗氧率由2.69 mg/(ind.?h)逐渐降低并稳定在0.8 mg/(ind.?h),软组织干重由(5.21±0.89) g降低至(3.84±0.22) g;根据公式计算得 和 的值分别为20.18 J/(cm3?d)和8120 J/cm;皱纹盘鲍饥饿前后有机物含量分别为80%和58%,经过换算, 和 的值分别为2726 J/cm3和32583 J/g。不同规格的皱纹盘鲍在水温为5℃~20℃范围内,温度与单位干重耗氧率呈正比;当水温超过20℃之后,温度与单位干重耗氧率呈反比。在转折点20℃之前,单位干重耗氧率的ln值与温度(热力学温度,K)的倒数呈线性关系,线性回归方程斜率的绝对值为Arrhenius温度 值( =7196 K)。生物学统计分析鲍壳长(L)与体积(V)呈三次函数关系：V=0.0639 L3.1621(R²=0.9852),根据公式对软组织湿重的立方根与壳长进行线性回归,所得的斜率即为形状系数δm值(δm=0.43)。本研究对建立以DEB理论为指导的皱纹盘鲍个体生长模型提供了数据支撑。     

迷迭香抗氧化剂和精油综合提取技术研究(Ⅲ)——超临界CO2萃取法

超临界CO2萃取(SCDE)法是迷迭香抗氧化剂和精油综合提取的有效方法之一.迷迭香抗氧化剂和精油超临界CO2萃取的优选条件为:萃取时间 4 h,夹带剂 95% 乙醇与迷迭香叶子的质量比为2∶5,萃取罐和分离器I的温度分别为50和 70 ℃,分离器II的温度为 40 ℃,萃取压力 20 MPa,分离压力为4～5 MPa.迷迭香精油的平均得率为 1.80%,迷迭香精油主要含有1,8 - 桉叶素、樟脑、α - 松油醇、龙脑、马鞭草烯酮、 4 - 松油醇、乙酸龙脑酯和芳樟醇等成分.迷迭香抗氧化剂的平均得率为 11.93%,主要含有鼠尾草酸、鼠尾草酚和迷迭香酸等活性成分,其质量分数分别为 23.61%、 7.33% 和 5.13%.     

山杏种皮黑色素的抗氧化活性

对山杏种皮黑色素的抗氧化活性进行评价.结果表明:山杏种皮黑色素可以显著抑制β-胡萝卜素的氧化褪色,其清除自由基活性具有量效性,清除羟自由基能力与2,6-二叔丁基对甲酚(BHT)无显著差异而高于抗坏血酸(VC),清除超氧阴离子能力超过BHT和VC.山杏种皮黑色素既可以作为氢供体,清除DPPH自由基,但清除能力低于BHT和VC,也可作为电子供体,其还原能力高于BHT和VC.