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.     

Methyl donors dietary supplementation to gestating sows diet improves the growth rate of offspring and is associating with changes in expression and DNA methylation of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 gene

The study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal dietary methyl donors on the performance of sows and their offspring, and the associated hepatic insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) expression of the offspring. A total of 24 multiparous sows were randomly fed the control (CON) or the CON diet supplemented with methyl donors (MD) at 3 g/kg betaine, 15 mg/kg folic acid, 400 mg/kg choline and 150 μg/kg VB₁₂, from mating until delivery. After farrowing, sows were fed a common lactation diet through a 28‐days lactation period and six litters per treatment were selected to be fed until at approximately 110 kg BW. Maternal MD supplementation resulted in greater birthweight (p < 0.05) and increased the piglet weights (p < 0.01) and litter weights (p < 0.05) at the age of day 28, compared with that in CON group. The offspring pigs in the MD group had greater ADG (p < 0.05) and tended to lower F:G ratio (p = 0.07) compared with that of CON group from day 28 to 180 of age. The offspring pigs from MD group had greater serum IGF‐1 concentrations and expressions of hepatic IGF‐1 gene and muscular IGF‐1 receptor (IGF‐1r) protein at birth (p < 0.05), and greater hepatic IGF‐1 protein (p = 0.03) and muscular IGF‐1r gene expressions (p < 0.05) at slaughter, than that from the CON group. Moreover, the methylation at the promoter of IGF‐1 gene in the liver of newborn piglets and finishing pigs was greater in the MD group than that of the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal MD supplementation throughout gestation could enhance the birthweight and postnatal growth rate of offspring, associated with an increased expression of the IGF‐1 gene and IGF‐1r, as well as the altered DNA methylation of IGF‐1 gene promotor.     

Influence of organic phosphorus on reproductive performance and metabolic profiles of anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics at the end of breeding season

The effect of organic phosphorus on metabolic, haematological and hormonal status, restoration of ovarian functions and conception rate in anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics were evaluated. Anoestrous Farafra ewes (n  = 24; 34.72 ± 0.52 kg body weight) were allocated into two equal groups: control and phosphorus groups. The ewes of phosphorus group were treated with sodium 4‐dimethylamino‐2‐methyl‐phenyl‐phosphonate as an organic bound phosphorous twice a week for successive 3 weeks. Ovarian follicle development and corpora lutea were checked three times a week till occurrence of oestrus using ultrasonography while pregnancy was confirmed at 30 days post‐service. Plasma metabolites, reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones and minerals were detected at weeks ?2, ?1, 0 (mating day) and + 4 weeks post‐oestrus. Phosphorus group had significantly (p  < .05) short interval to oestrous resumption if compared to control ewes (2.1 ± 0.8 weeks vs . 4.6 ± 1.1 weeks). In addition, phosphorous supplementation significantly (p  < .05) increased the number of antral follicles (developed and their sizes in addition to sizes of corpora lutea (8.72 ± 0.3 mm vs . 7.46 ± 0.9 mm) as well. Number of services per conception (2.6 vs . 1.4; p  < .01) was higher in control group than that of phosphorus group. Pregnancy rate (80 vs . 50%) was significantly (p  < .01) higher in phosphorus group when compared to control. White blood cells in treated ewes (10.8 ± 0.44; p  < .05) and monocytes (2.93 ± 0.13; p  < .01) were higher than that of control group (white blood cells; 9.53 ± 0.50 and monocytes; 2.24 ± 0.14). Metabolic parameters did not differ between phosphorus and control groups during different times of treatment. It could be concluded that phosphorous administration to anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics could improve reproductive performance and restore ovarian activity at the end of spring and early summer.     

高坡猪GH基因不同基因型对其部分生产性能的影响

采用PCR-RFLP-ApaⅠ方法检测高坡猪GH基因-119~ 486 bp片段的多态性,探讨了不同基因型对其部分生产性能的影响。结果表明:产生2个等位基因A(449 bp)和B(316 133 bp),其频率分别为0.54和0.46;3种基因型:AA、AB和BB,其频率分别为0.26、0.56和0.18;除6月龄腹围和背膘厚外,其余指标值均以BB基因型最高,AA基因型的6月龄腹围和瘦肉率与BB基因型相比差异显著(P<0.05),其他指标在各基因型间差异均不显著(P>0.05)。表明,A可能是小型猪的有利等位基因,B则可能是大型猪的有利等位基因。     

大菱鲆幼鱼对饲料中泛酸最适需求量的研究

为研究大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)幼鱼对泛酸的最适需求量,在基础配方中添加不同梯度的泛酸钙,制成6组泛酸含量分别为6.24、10.64、15.02、23.81、41.40和76.57 mg/kg等氮等能实验饲料,投喂初始体重为(24.73±0.10) g的大菱鲆幼鱼80 d。结果显示：1)泛酸对幼鱼成活率(SR)无显著影响(P>0.05),10.64~76.57 mg/kg饲料组增重率(WGR)和特定生长率(SGR)显著提高(P< 0.05);泛酸含量超过23.81 mg/kg时,肝体比(HSI)显著降低(P<0.05);2)随着饲料中泛酸含量的提高,全鱼粗蛋白、粗脂肪和肌肉粗蛋白均呈先升后降趋势,肝脏脂肪含量显著下降(P<0.05);3)肠道消化酶、Na+, K+-ATPase和肝脏胆碱酯酶(ChE)活力随泛酸添加量的增加呈先上升后下降趋势,10.64~76.57 mg/kg饲料组肠道肌酸激酶(CK)活力显著提高(P<0.05);4)血清、肝脏中过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力均呈先升后降趋势;6.24 mg/kg饲料组血清丙二醛(MDA)含量显著高于其他5组(P<0.05);5)随泛酸含量的增加,肝脏脂肪合成酶(FAS)基因表达量先升后降,脂蛋白酯酶(LPL)基因表达量显著上升(P<0.05)。研究表明,饲料中添加适宜的泛酸能显著增强大菱鲆幼鱼肠道消化、吸收能力和机体抗氧化能力,并可提高脂肪代谢相关基因的表达水平,从而提高其生长性能。以增重率为判据,经折线模型拟合得出,初体重为24.73 g的大菱鲆幼鱼对泛酸的需求量为16.08 mg/kg饲料。     

补偿性生长养猪粪便减排效果试验报告

为从"源头控制"畜禽粪便减排,提高生猪养殖效益,本试验将同日龄、初始体重相近的(P＞0.05)育肥猪40头分成4个组,1个对照组(正常饲喂)和3个试验组,每组10头,试验组分限饲10％组、限饲20％组、限饲30％组.试验组限饲50 d后,解除限制饲喂30 d,在管理条件基本相同情况下发现限饲期间,试验各组猪的粪便产生量...     

投喂频率对绿鳍马面鲀幼鱼生长、生理指标及肝脏hsp70基因表达丰度的影响

为探究投喂频率对绿鳍马面鲀(Thamnaconus septentrionalis)幼鱼生长、生理指标及肝脏hsp70基因表达的影响,本研究设5个投喂频率,分别为1、2、3、4和5次/d (分别简称为F1、F2、F3、F4和F5),每个处理组设3个平行,每缸养殖30尾鱼[(6.47±0.56) g]。实验期间,水温为17℃~ 26℃,盐度为30~31,pH为6.8~7.6,溶解氧≥5 mg/L,养殖周期为30 d。结果表明,不同投喂频率对绿鳍马面鲀幼鱼的生长、体成分、消化酶和抗氧化酶活性均有影响。随着投喂频率的增加,绿鳍马面鲀幼鱼的摄食和生长均呈上升趋势,F5组数值最大,摄食率为3.95%,增重率为347.19%,特定生长率为5.07%/d,增重率为F1组的2倍多。F1组的肥满度为1.79,显著低于其他4组(P<0.05);肝体比逐渐升高,F4和F5组的肝体比显著高于其他3组(P<0.05)。增加投喂频率,鱼体的粗蛋白含量呈先升高后降低的趋势,F2组最高,为59.82%;粗脂肪含量呈逐渐升高的趋势,F5组最高,为31.23%。胰蛋白酶活性随投喂频率增加呈先降低后增加的趋势,F3组活性最低,为37.48 U/μg prot;脂肪酶活性逐渐升高,F5组最高,为2.67 U/g prot;淀粉酶活性不受投喂频率的影响(P>0.05)。过氧化氢酶、超氧化物歧化酶活性和丙二醛含量最高均在F5组,分别为14.71 U/mg prot、250.32 U/mg prot和2.73 nmol/mg。肝脏中hsp70基因的相对表达量不受投喂频率的影响(P>0.05)。基于绿鳍马面鲀幼鱼的生长性能和生理效应的综合考虑,其最适投喂频率为3次/d。     

饲料中蛋白质含量及养殖密度对红鳍东方鲀幼鱼生长性能、氮排泄及相关生化指标的影响

本实验以平均初始体重为15.60 g的红鳍东方鲀(Takifugu rubripes)幼鱼为研究对象,研究饲料中蛋白含量及养殖密度对红鳍东方鲀幼鱼生长性能、氮排泄及相关生理生化指标的影响。设计两因素三水平(2×3)实验,配制3种不同蛋白梯度(38.87%、45.55%和51.00%,干重)的等脂实验饲料,设置3个密度梯度为1.53 kg/m^3(0.196 m3体积的实验桶,每桶20尾鱼)、2.30 kg/m^3(每桶30尾鱼)和3.06 kg/m^3(每桶40尾鱼)。每组饲料设3个重复,养殖实验为期56 d,在室内流水系统内进行。结果显示,增重率在高、中蛋白组显著高于低蛋白组(P<0.05),但当饲料蛋白含量一定时,养殖密度对增重率没有显著性影响。饲料蛋白含量和养殖密度对鱼体常规成分没有显著性影响。当饲料蛋白一定时,高密度组的血清总蛋白和胆固醇含量显著高于中密度组(P<0.05)。血清总蛋白含量在低蛋白组显著高于中蛋白组(P<0.05)。血清碱性磷酸酶含量在低蛋白组显著高于高蛋白组(P<0.05)。饲料蛋白含量和养殖密度对红鳍东方鲀幼鱼的生长、氨氮排泄没有显著性交互作用。静水投喂3 h后,氨氮排泄率在高密度组显著高于低密度组(P<0.05)。研究表明,45.55%饲料蛋白质含量已经能够满足红鳍东方鲀幼鱼正常生长的需求。饲料蛋白含量和养殖密度对红鳍东方鲀幼鱼的生长性能和氨氮排泄没有显著性交互作用。     

灵芝发酵产物对感染PCV-2病毒断奶仔猪生长性能和免疫功能的影响

本研究以深层发酵灵芝为原料,评估灵芝发酵产物对感染猪圆环病毒-2(PCV-2)断奶仔猪生长发育及免疫功能的影响.试验1:选择160头21 d断奶的仔猪,随机分为4组,每组4个重复,每个重复10头猪.各组分别在基础日粮中添加0、50、100和150 mg/kg灵芝发酵产物.试验2:将120头21 d断奶的仔猪随机分为2组...     

维生素E对蛋鸡产蛋后期产蛋性能和蛋品质的影响

文章旨在研究日粮中不同梯度维生素E添加水平对蛋鸡产蛋后期产蛋性能和蛋品质的影响.试验选择60周龄罗曼白壳商品蛋鸡300羽,试验随机分为5组,添加水平分别为0(对照组),30、60、120、240 mg/kg,每组6个重复,每个重复10羽鸡,预试期1周,正试期8周.结果表明:与对照组相比,蛋鸡产蛋后期日粮中添加120 m...