Submit to Agriculture Review for Agriculture Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Farm Animal Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2022) | Viewed by 31858

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alenka Levart

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: nutrition; metabolism; antioxidants; oxidative stress; fatty acids; lipid oxidation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In our rapidly changing world, plagued by environmental and climate issues, there is a constant drive to improve the efficiency of animal production and the safety of animal products to feed the rapidly growing population. This can only be achieved through continuous research and timely dissemination of the knowledge and experience gained. Since animal nutrition plays an essential role in successful and efficient animal production, there is a constant search for new and alternative feeds, additives and supplements to reduce the environmental impact and emissions from animal production; to alleviate competition between food, feed and fuel for arable land; to improve animal health and welfare; and to enhance the quality of animal products for human consumption.

The goal of the current Special Issue is to publish high-quality scientific articles that address the development, efficacy, risk assessment, and use of new and alternative animal feeds, feed additives, and feed supplements. For that reason, we invite you to submit your current scientific research results, in the form of original papers, communications, or reviews, on novel and alternative animal feeds and feed ingredients, feed additives and feed supplements, considering but not limited to novel resources for sustainable feed production; novel and alternative protein and amino acid, fat, and carbohydrate sources; the use of recycled food leftovers in animal feed; technical and economic performance of alternative animal feeds in different production systems, additives, and supplements; (in vitro) techniques for the evaluation of animal feeds, additives, and supplements; functional feeds and feed ingredients; the assessment of the safety of novel feeds and feed additives; anti-nutritional factors in novel feeds; and the environmental impact of novel and alternative feeds, additives, and supplements.

Dr. Alenka Levart
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

animal nutrition
alternative animal feeds
feed additives
feed supplements
efficacy of feed additives and supplements
risk assessment of feed additives and supplements
anti-nutritional factors in alternative animal feeds
functional feeds

Published Papers (12 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nutrient Composition and Growth of Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) at Different Ages and Stages of the Life Cycle

by Odunayo A. Toviho and Péter Bársony

Agriculture 2022, 12(11), 1924; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12111924 - 15 Nov 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3642

Abstract

The nutrient composition of yellow mealworm (YM) Tenebrio molitor varies based on the stages of the life cycle, the rearing conditions, and the feeding substrate. This study monitored the growth of yellow mealworm larvae at 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age, separating samples into large-sized and small-sized insects. During the experiment, we measured the nutrient composition: dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), crude fibre, chitin, crude ash, and nitrogen free extract (NFE) of YM at different age groups and sizes. We measured the nutrient composition of the pre-moult, moult, cuticle, and pupae as well. The results show that there is no significant difference between the compositions of the different age groups, but larger-sized individuals had a higher DM and crude fibre and lower chitin and NFE than the smaller sizes. The pre-moult and moult stages showed no significant difference in nutrient composition. Although the cuticle had a high DM (97.5%), that did not cause any significant difference between the DM of the moult and pre-moult, because it is only a negligible part of the total wet weight. With the increased DM, the crude protein content and the chitin content, fibre, ash content, and NFE increased, while the fat content decreased. The DM, CF, and chitin contents of pupae are significantly lower than those of the pre-moult and moult stages. Our results show that it is the size and not the age that has a positive effect on the nutrient composition of YM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Energy Value for Broiler Chickens of Heat-Treated and Untreated Amaranth Grain, with and without Enzyme Addition

by Hossein Janmohammadi, Babak Hosseintabar-Ghasemabad, Saeid Amirdahri, Ivan Fedorovich Gorlov, Karpenko Ekaterina Vladimirovna, Marina Ivanovna Slozhenkina, Rana Muhammad Bilal, Alireza Seidavi and Clive Julian Christie Phillips

Agriculture 2022, 12(11), 1810; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12111810 - 31 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1477

Abstract

Amaranth is a pseudocereal which can thrive in conditions of drought and limited inputs. Samples of amaranth grain were subjected to proximate analysis with standard laboratory methods. We conducted two experiments to determine apparent (corrected to zero nitrogen balance) metabolisable energy (AME_n) content of untreated (UAG) and heat-treated (HTAG) amaranth grain for Ross-308 male broiler chicks (35–42 d and BW 2141 ± 10.41 g). In each experiment, 10 assay diets (ADs) were fed to 400 birds in individual metabolism cages in a 2 × 5 factorial design. ADs were obtained by substituting amaranth for the main ingredients in the reference diet (RD). Two levels of enzyme addition (0 and 0.55 g/kg) and five amaranth replacement rates (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 g/kg) were used, and metabolism trials were conducted using the total excreta collection method. Two regression equations were estimated for UAG, with and without enzyme addition, that determined the AME_n content of UAG as 3264 and 3255 kcal/kg, respectively. For HTAG, the AMEn contents with and without enzyme addition were 3973 and 3828 kcal/kg, respectively. Thus, enzyme addition improved the energy value of UAG and HTAG by 0.28 and 3.8%, respectively. The AME_n value of HTAG was 708 and 573 kcal/kg higher than UAG in diets with and without enzyme addition, respectively. Thus, we conclude that there was more benefit from heat treatment than enzyme addition, but there was a synergistic effect of heat treatment and enzyme inclusion on the metabolisable energy concentration of amaranth in the diets of broilers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

16 pages, 339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Dietary Clostridium butyricum on Carcass Traits, Antioxidant Capacity, Meat Quality, and Fatty Acid Composition of Broilers

by Tiantian Yang, Mengsi Du, Xiaobing Wang, Junyong Wang, Jinzhuan Li, Xiaohan Jiang, Rijun Zhang and Dayong Si

Agriculture 2022, 12(10), 1607; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12101607 - 04 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1413

Abstract

The demand for identifying substitutes for antioxidant feed additives in broiler production is increasing. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) on carcass traits, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, and fatty acid composition of broiler chickens. A total of 330 one-day-old mixed-sex commercial Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into five groups with six replicates per group and eleven broilers per replicate and reared for 39 days. The control (CON) group was fed a basal diet, the AM group was fed a basal diet containing 150 mg aureomycin/kg feed, and the CBL, CBM, and CBH groups were fed a basal diet containing 2 × 10⁸, 4 × 10⁸, and 8 × 10⁸ colony-forming units (CFU) C. butyricum/kg feed. On day 21, compared to the AM group, serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level was enhanced in the CBH group and serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) concentrations were increased in the CBM and CBH groups (p < 0.05). Dietary C. butyricum resulted in the liver T-AOC, T-SOD, and catalase (CAT) of broilers linearly increased at day 21 (p < 0.05). On day 39, supplementation with C. butyricum in broiler diets linearly increased concentrations of T-SOD (p < 0.05), CAT (p < 0.001), but linearly reduced MDA (malondialdehyde) contents (p < 0.001) in the liver. For the breast muscle, the redness for meat color increased in a linear manner and the shearing force decreased in a quadratic manner in response to C. butyricum inclusion (p < 0.05). The pH_45min, pH_24h, and the shearing force changed in a quadratic pattern (p < 0.05). The contents of total MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acid) and total PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid) were altered and quadratically responded to the doses of C. butyricum (p < 0.05). For the thigh muscle, the inclusion of C. butyricum in broiler diets showed the negative linear effects on the cooking loss and shearing force (p < 0.001). The total MUFA contents were changed linearly and quadratically (p < 0.001; p < 0.05), and the contents of total PUFA and the ratio of PUFA to SFA were quadratically responded to the doses of C. butyricum (p < 0.05). In brief, dietary C. butyricum could beneficially enhance liver antioxidant capacity, and improve meat quality and fatty acid composition in broilers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

13 pages, 502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Economic Viability of Nguni Cattle Fed Diets Containing Graded Levels of Opuntia ficus-indica

by Ayanda Nyambali, Mthunzi Mndela, Tlou Julius Tjelele, Cletos Mapiye, Phillip Evert Strydom, Emiliano Raffrenato, Kennedy Dzama, Voster Muchenje and Ntuthuko Raphael Mkhize

Agriculture 2022, 12(7), 1023; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12071023 - 14 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2089

Abstract

Given the severe droughts caused by global warming, smallholder beef cattle farmers are faced with serious forage and feed scarcity. This becomes worse for resource-poor farmers who cannot afford commercial feeds. It is therefore crucial to assess the use of low-cost alternative feed resources to supplement free-range beef cattle and ensure sustainable livestock production in ways that stimulate free-range beef farmers’ participation in mainstream beef market. In an attempt to improve free-range beef cattle herds and explore the economic viability of utilizing Opuntia ficus-indica (spineless cactus) cladodes as a supplementary feed, we investigated the impact of cactus diets on animal growth performance and carcass characteristics of Nguni cattle heifers. Four dietary treatments were randomly assigned to thirty-two heifers aged 24 months, weighing, on average, 172.20 ± 27.10 kg, with each dietary treatment replicated to eight individually penned heifers for 90 days. The dietary treatments were control diet (pasture-based energy + protein sources), 10% cactus diet, 20% cactus diet and commercial diet (crop-based energy and commercial protein source). The energy concentration of the control diet was 9.35 MJ/Kg DM and the cactus was included on dry matter basis during formulation of compound diets. Thus, cactus was administered in a dry rather than wet form. The animals were confined in feeding pens 24/7 without access to pasture, with feed and water provided ad libitum. The heifers fed commercial and control diets attained significantly (p < 0.05) higher dry matter intake, average daily gains, fat thickness, carcass conformation scores and lower feed conversion ratio than those fed cactus diets. However, the final body weight gains and carcass weights, rib-eye muscle area and meat pH_{45min and 24h} were comparable (p > 0.05) between heifers fed cactus diets and those fed commercial and control diets. The 10 and 20% cactus diets had greater gross margins (p < 0.05) of $17.47 and $18.62, respectively, than the other diets, due largely to reduced total variable costs. The comparability of carcass traits of heifers fed cactus diets and those fed non-cactus diets as well as higher economic returns from cactus inclusion warrants the use of cactus diets, particularly during drought when commercial feed prices rise. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Oregano (Lippia graveolens) Essential Oil as a Phytogenic Feed Additive on Productive Performance, Ruminal Fermentation, and Antioxidant Activity in Lamb Meat

by Adrián Muñoz-Cuautle, María Esther Ortega-Cerrilla, José Guadalupe Herrera-Haro, Cuauhtémoc Nava-Cuellar, Carlos Gutiérrez-Olvera, Jacinto Efrén Ramírez-Bribiesca and Pedro Zetina-Córdoba

Agriculture 2022, 12(7), 973; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12070973 - 06 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1693

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of oregano essential oil (OEO) as a phytogenic feed additive in the diet of lambs on the productive performance, ruminal pH, ammoniacal nitrogen production, volatile fatty acids, nitrogen balance, carcass yield, backfat thickness, loin eye (Longissimus dorsi) area, shelf life, and antioxidant activity of the meat. Thirty-nine Suffolk × Hampshire lambs (19 ± 3.7 kg live weight) were used in a completely randomized design with three treatments (n = 13) consisting of 0, 0.02, and 0.04% OEO in the diet. The inclusion of OEO in the diet did not affect (p > 0.05) the productive performance due to the treatments; similarly, no differences (p > 0.05) were observed in the ruminal variables and nitrogen balance. Backfat thickness and loin eye area had similar results (p > 0.05), and the antioxidant activity in meat was improved (p < 0.05) with the inclusion of OEO. Shelf life and crude protein content increased (p < 0.05) with the inclusion of OEO in the diet and with the passing of storage days. Dry matter was affected (p < 0.05) by the storage time, with a decrease observed on day 24. pH, ether extract, and ash were not affected (p > 0.05). It is concluded that the productive performance, ruminal variables, nitrogen balance, loin eye area, backfat thickness, and carcass yield were not affected by the inclusion of OEO. However, crude protein remained stable and antioxidant activity improved, increasing the shelf life of lamb meat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

10 pages, 569 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feed Preference, Daily Intake, and Laying Performance of Captive-Born Sardinian Partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) Offered Whole Defrosted Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L., 1758) as Raw Feed Material with Diet

by Fahad Ahmed, Flavia Pudda, Marco Muzzeddu, Andrea Pedrini, Giuseppe Serra, Stephane Knoll, Sarah Morrone, Joana Nery, Achille Schiavone, Alireza Seidavi and Maria Grazia Cappai

Agriculture 2022, 12(5), 642; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12050642 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2040

Abstract

The competence to locate natural feeding sources is one of the main limiting factors for survival in the wild, especially for captive-born birds. Therefore, environmental enrichment through the diet can be strategic before their release into nature. In this research, a feeding trial was undertaken to evaluate the potential use of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) larvae (TM) provisions to captive bred couples of Sardinian partridges (Alectoris barbarabarbara Bonaterre, 1790) during the laying period. Twenty-four couple-caged Sardinian breeding partridges were enrolled during the laying period (April–May 2019) and randomly allotted to two feeding groups of 12 couples each: (a) the control (CON) group was fed a conventional complete pelleted diet for laying quails; (b) the yellow mealworm enriched group was additionally fed 5% whole, defrosted TM larvae (TM5%) on top of the same amount of the control diet. As a prerequisite, partridges were unaccustomed to eating mealworms before the start of the trial. Daily feed intake (DFI), bodyweight (BW), and number of laid eggs (LE) were monitored over five weeks of experimental feeding. Partridges fed the TM5% diet displayed a higher preference for whole mealworms (first choice and complete consumption) than expressed for the CON pelleted feed. Differences in daily dry matter intake (p = 0.028) between CON and TM5% groups were observed (DMI: 42.6 ± 1.73 vs. 43.4 ± 1.62 g, respectively); the final body weights (BW) (p = 0.098) of birds in the CON group was higher than those in the TM5% group (435 ± 36.9 vs. 416 ± 36.3 g, respectively). Differences in daily energy intake relative to BW (p < 0.001) as well as relative to metabolic weight (BW^0.75) (p < 0.001) were observed between groups, but this was not followed by higher BW, probably due to the absence of grit and inaccessible nutrients and energy (larval exoskeleton). No difference in the average LE per week and egg weight was observed between CON and the enriched TM5% groups, though in the last weeks, a statistically lower number of eggs was laid in TM5% group. Our results suggest that whole yellow mealworms can be a promising feed material to broaden the spectrum of competence for natural feeding sources with similar physical form and nutritional characteristics available in the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Ileum and Cecum Volatile Fatty Acids and Their Relationship with Microflora and Enteric Methane in Pigs Fed Different Fiber Levels

by Mihaela Hăbeanu, Nicoleta Aurelia Lefter, Smaranda Mariana Toma, Mihaela Dumitru, Ana Cismileanu, Ioan Surdu, Anca Gheorghe, Catalin Dragomir and Arabela Untea

Agriculture 2022, 12(4), 451; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12040451 - 23 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2025

Abstract

Mustard and grapeseed meals are low-cost by-products generated by the oil industry. We aimed to investigate the effects of fiber level on the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the ileum and cecum, as well as the microflora and enteric methane (E-CH₄) in pigs. A total of 70 Topigs hybrid pigs, 56 ± 3 days old, 20.96 ± 0.26 kg live weight, were randomly allotted to two feeding groups: (i) SM diet based on sunflower meal; (ii) MG diet based on mustard × grapeseed oil meals (MG-mixt). VFA profiles were determined by gas chromatography. E-CH₄ was calculated using our trial data along with prediction equations. The MG-mixt slightly decreased growth parameters but improved daily feed efficiency and gain cost. The MG diet increased the concentration of VFAs and the microflora level. The higher VFA level recorded in the cecum (+53.93%) was correlated with a lower pH level (Spearman correlation coefficient, rho = −0.529, p < 0.001). In relation to DM intake and energy retention, E-CH₄ recorded a highly significant decline in the MG group (<9.42%). A strong relationship was recorded among VFAs, microflora, predicted E-CH₄, and fiber and NDF intake. The VFAs could be predictors for the E-CH₄ level (p < 0.001). A significant relationship between E-CH₄ and total VFAs was noted (rho = −0.462, p = 0.04). We conclude that MG-mixt has the potential to replace sunflower meal, with the minor drawbacks being balanced by the advantages provided in terms of feed efficiency, E-CH₄ mitigation, and VFA levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

11 pages, 277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Values of Brewer’s Grains and Olive Pomace Waste for Broiler Chickens Determined Using the Regression Method

by Carine Beatriz Adams, Otoniel Souza, Jessica Cristina Agilar, Geovana Muller, Beatriz Rodrigues and Catarina Stefanello

Agriculture 2022, 12(4), 444; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12040444 - 22 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2048

Abstract

Alternative ingredients can be adequately used in poultry feeds as long as the energy values and nutrient digestibility have been previously determined. For example, brewer’s grains and olive pomace waste, which are residues of the food industry, are potential ingredients of animal feed. This study was conducted to determine the metabolizable energy (ME), nitrogen-corrected ME (ME_n), and ileal digestible energy (IDE) of brewer’s grains and olive pomace waste for broiler chickens using the regression method. From day 14 to 21, 280 Cobb 500 male broilers were fed 5 experimental diets with 8 replicates of 7 birds each. The broilers were fed a corn-soy reference diet (RD) and 4 test diets (TD), where TD consisted of brewer’s grains or olive pomace waste that partly replaced the energy sources in the RD at 10 or 20% and 7.5 or 15%, respectively. The total tract metabolizability and the apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, N, and energy as well as ME, ME_n, and IDE were determined. The ME, ME_n, and IDE values (kcal/kg) were 2935, 2785, and 2524 for brewer’s grains, respectively, whereas 1778, 1581, and 1394 (kcal/kg) were obtained for the olive pomace waste, respectively. This knowledge can provide useful information that helps to improve the inclusion of alternative ingredients in broilers diets and to formulate accurate feeds to meet broiler requirements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

21 pages, 3683 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Watermelon Rind and Sea Buckthorn Meal on Performance, Blood Parameters, and Gut Microbiota and Morphology in Laying Hens

by Tatiana Dumitra Panaite, Petru Alexandru Vlaicu, Mihaela Saracila, Ana Cismileanu, Iulia Varzaru, Sorina Nicoleta Voicu and Anca Hermenean

Agriculture 2022, 12(2), 177; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12020177 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3979

Abstract

Natural ingredients from fruits and fruit-derived by-products have gained special interest as dietary supplements in poultry because of their health-promoting effects. The present work aims to evaluate the impact of the dietary inclusion of watermelon rind and sea buckthorn meal on performances, blood parameters, and gut microbiota and morphology of laying hens. A 4-week trial was conducted on 90 Tetra SL layers (32 weeks old), assigned to three dietary treatments (C, E1, and E2). The C group hens were fed a basal diet based on corn-soybean meal. The experimental diets included 10 g of watermelon rind/kg fed (E1) and 20 g of sea buckthorn meal/kg fed (E2). During the feeding trial, we monitored the performances. Blood samples, intestinal tissue, and intestinal content were collected to assess the effect of dietary ingredients on health status, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota characterization. From the blood samples, cholesterol and triglycerides significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in E1 and E2 compared with the C group. Dietary watermelon rind and sea buckthorn meal positively impacted villus height. Maltase and invertase activity increased only in the duodenum of the E2 group, while alpha-amylase decreased in the duodenum and jejunum of both E1 and E2 groups. The two supplements tested triggered Firmicutes and Lactobacillus spp. multiplication, while reducing harmful bacteria such as Bacteroidetes and Enterobacteriaceae. The study provides the first evidence that the dietary inclusion of watermelon rind and sea buckthorn meal can be used in laying hens’ diets with a beneficial impact on hens’ biochemical parameters, gut microbiota, and gut morphology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2907 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Dietary Resveratrol Alleviates AFB1-Induced Ileum Damage in Ducks via the Nrf2 and NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathways and CYP1A1/2 Expressions

by Hao Yang, Yingjie Wang, Chunting Yu, Yihan Jiao, Ruoshi Zhang, Sanjun Jin and Xingjun Feng

Agriculture 2022, 12(1), 54; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12010054 - 01 Jan 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2032

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism underlying the protective effects of resveratrol against Aflatoxin B1-induced ileum injury in ducks. A corn–soybean meal-basal diet and two test diets (500 mg/kg resveratrol +0.2 mg Aflatoxin B1/kg, 0.2 mg AFB₁/kg) were used in a 10-wk design trial (n = 15 ducks/group). These results showed that the toxicity of Aflatoxin B1 significantly reduced the antioxidant capacity of duck ileum and induced inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage in ducks. The expression of genes, including CYP1A2, CYP2A6, and CYP3A4, at the mRNA level was significantly upregulated (p < 0.05) by AFB₁. The level of Nrf2 was suppressed (p < 0.05) and the mRNA and protein level of NF-κB was activated (p < 0.05) in the AFB₁ group. However, supplementation with 500 mg/kg dietary resveratrol in Aflatoxin B1-induced ducks significantly ameliorated these alterations and decreased the mRNA expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 (p < 0.05) and the production of AFB₁-DNA adducts (p < 0.05). The results proved that resveratrol alleviated ileum injury induced by AFB1, decreased the production of AFB₁-DNA adducts by downregulating the expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, and reduced DNA damage and oxidative stress via the Nrf2/ Keap1 and NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilization of Shredded Steam-Exploded Pine Particles as a Dietary Ingredient to Modify Cecal Microbiota in Broilers

by Akshat Goel, Beom-June Kim, Chris-Major Ncho, Chae-Mi Jeong, Vaishali Gupta, Ji-Young Jung, Si-Young Ha, Dong-Hwan Lee, Jae-Kyung Yang and Yang-Ho Choi

Agriculture 2021, 11(12), 1196; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture11121196 - 27 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1808

Abstract

Sawdust and wood shavings are the major industrial waste from wood and its related industries. Steam-explosion treatment enhances the utilizable fiber fraction in pinewood particles. This study investigated the effects of adding up to 2% of steam-exploded pine particles (SPPs) in diets on the growth performance and cecal microbiome of broilers. On the 8th day of age, 216 Ross 308 broilers were allocated to three treatments of 72 broilers/group, with 12 replicates of 6 broilers each, to receive 0%, 1%, and 2% SPPs in their diets. The experimental period was from the 8th to 28th day of age. The parameters recorded included growth performance, relative organ weight (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, liver, and spleen), absolute organ length (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum), blood biochemicals (glucose, total protein, triglyceride, and cholesterol), and microbial analysis from cecum samples. Growth performance parameters, such as the average daily gain, average feed intake, feed conversion ratio, organ weight, length, and blood biochemical parameters, were not influenced by dietary supplementation of SPP. The abundance of fibrolytic bacterial genera, such as Mediterraneibacter and Anaerobutyricum, was increased in 2% SPP-supplemented chickens. An unknown bacterial genus was also enhanced in 2% SPP-supplemented diets related to the family of fiber-degrading bacteria and needs further investigation. In conclusion, 2% SPP can be supplemented in chicken diets as a source of fiber from wood industry-related waste without having any harmful effects on broiler chickens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 411 KiB

Open AccessReview

Essential Oils in Broiler Chicken Production, Immunity and Meat Quality: Review of Thymus vulgaris, Origanum vulgare, and Rosmarinus officinalis

by Nikola Puvača, Vincenzo Tufarelli and Ilias Giannenas

Agriculture 2022, 12(6), 874; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agriculture12060874 - 17 Jun 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5140

Abstract

The use of essential oils in animal nutrition has attracted attention as a potential substitute for antibiotic growth promoters in the past twenty-five years. This paper will review the current scientific evidence on the usage of essential oils from Lamiaceae family members such as Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Origanum vulgare (oregano), and Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) in broiler nutrition in terms of production results, immunity, and meat quality properties. Essential oils are effective in broiler nutrition when incorporated into the diet on a variety of levels, such as dietary composition, level of feed inclusion, and bird genetics. Moreover, the efficacy of essential oils is influenced by many factors, such as the composition of the oil. Due to big differences in the composition and sources of essential oils, comparing different studies using them can be challenging. Therefore, biological effects may differ significantly. Despite this, a great deal of research supports essential oils’ potential use as natural, antibiotic-free growth promoters for broilers. Growth promotion mechanisms are still not clearly understood as there is limited information on essential oils’ effect on nutrient digestibility, gut function, and the immune system. There is no question that essential oil consumption can reduce pathogen growth in the gut, but their effects on the intricate gut ecosystem as yet remain unclear. This review concludes with further recommendations regarding the application of dietary essential oils in broiler nutrition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements)

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

New and Alternative Feeds, Additives, and Supplements

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (12 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI