Journal of animal science最新文献

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of using ground herb-based phytobiotics and essential oil-based phytobiotics in pig diets on intestinal health and growth performance (GP) of nursery pigs challenged with F18+  Escherichia coli (E. coli). Forty nursery pigs (6.4 ± 0.1 kg) at 21 d of age were individually housed and assigned to 4 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design, with body weight (BW) and sex as blocking factor. Basal diets were fed to pigs for 28 d in 3 phases. Treatments were NC: basal diet, non-challenged; PC: basal diet, challenged with F18+  E. coli; HP: PC + 1% ground herb-based phytobiotics (Salcochek Pro, Ayurvet Limited, Kaushambi, India); EP: PC + 1% essential oil-based phytobiotics (Liq-biotic, Ayurvet Limited, Kaushambi, India). The GP was recorded for each phase and fecal score (FS) was measured daily. On d 7 post-weaning, the challenged groups were orally inoculated with F18+  E. coli (2.0 × 1010 CFU), the NC treatment received sterile saline solution. On d 28, pigs were euthanized to collect jejunal samples to evaluate intestinal health and relative abundance (RA) of jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure on SAS 9.4. The PC increased (P < 0.05) the RA of Prevotellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae when compared to NC. The HP reduced (P < 0.05) the RA of Veillonellaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Lachnospiraceae when compared to PC. The EP tended to reduce the RA of Streptococcaceae (P = 0.073) and Corynebacteriaceae (P = 0.074) when compared to PC. The PC increased (P < 0.05) occludin and tended to increase (P = 0.096) toll like-receptor-4 (TLR4) when compared to NC. The PC decreased (P < 0.05) average daily gain and average daily feed intake when compared to NC in d 7 to d 28. The PC increased FS (P < 0.05) compared to the HP and EP d 7 to d 11. The HP and EP decreased (P < 0.05) FS when compared to PC during d 7 to d 11 and d 7 to d 18. In conclusion, F18+  E. coli challenge disrupted the jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota, increased TLR4 expression and FS, consequently reduced GP. Both HP and EP phytobiotics supported intestinal morphology during the challenge to F18+  E. coli by supporting enterocyte maturation. The HP and EP treatments exhibited antimicrobial-like effects by altering the jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota and reduced FS during the first two weeks post-challenge. The HP treatment showed potential antioxidant effects.

Total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC) is a reliable index of fecundity evaluation of bull semen. It is an important determinant frozen semen yield and conception rate of females artificially inseminated. Seminal plasma metabolites and sperm lipids are closely related to sperm survival and motility, but their relationship with TPMSC is not well known. In the present study, Simmental bulls with higher (H, n = 6) or lower (L, n = 6) TPMSC (P < 0.01) were selected from a cohort of 100 animals aged 2 to 5 years based on semen quality. Analysis of semen quality and biochemical markers of seminal plasma revealed that H bulls had greater ejaculate volume (P < 0.05), sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity rate (P < 0.01), seminal plasma neutral α-glucosidase (P < 0.05), alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, cortisol and phosphatidylcholine (P < 0.01), and lower sperm malformation rate (P < 0.05) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P < 0.01). Semen metabolites and sperm liposome profiles of H and L groups were compared using LC-MS/MS analysis. A total of 120 differentially abundant metabolites (VIP > 1; P < 0.05) and 59 differentially abundant lipids (VIP > 1; P < 0.05) were identified between H and L groups. Oxidative stress, sperm motility and sperm plasma membrane integrity were among the enriched biological pathways. Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), up-regulated in H bulls, is associated with energy for sperm motility and maintenance of membrane stability. Thymidineglycol (Tg), levanbiose, thymidine (Thd), and CE (3M5) were down-regulated in H bulls, and may have negatively affected sperm motility. Correlation analyses revealed that TPMSC and sperm motility were significantly positively correlated with cADPR, while Tg, Levanbiose, Thd and CE (3M5) were significantly negatively correlated with TPMSC and sperm motility. Thus, we speculate that these molecules may be exploited as potential biomarkers for non-invasive evaluation of TPMSC in bull semen.

The objective was to evaluate growth performance and carcass traits of finishing beef heifers sourced and finished in different regions in the U.S. Heifers [n = 190; initial body weight (BW) 483 ± 0.4 kg and 425 ± 1.9 kg for SD and TX sourced, respectively] were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of origin state (SD vs. TX) and finishing state (SD vs. TX) was used. Heifers were allotted on d -1 to: 1) sourced from SD and finished in SD (SD-SD), 2) sourced from SD and finished in TX (SD-TX), 3) sourced from TX and finished in SD (TX-SD), and 4) sourced from TX and finished in TX (TX-TX). Heifers were weighed on d -1, 3, 15, 28, 56, 78 (TX-TX and SD-TX) and 90 (SD-SD and TX-SD). On d 0, SD-TX and TX-SD heifers were shipped to their respective finishing locations. The following morning (d 1), SD-TX and TX-SD heifers were individually weighed to determine transit shrink. To monitor transit stress effects, vaginal temperature probes were used on all SD-TX and TX-SD heifers and a portion of SD-SD and TX-TX heifers on d -1 and removed on d 3. Clinical attitude scores (CAS) were recorded on d -1, 0, 1, 2 and 3 for bovine respiratory disease symptoms. Transported heifers had decreased temperatures (P ≤ 0.01) during transit and post-transit and increased (P ≤ 0.01) vaginal temperature during loading and unloading compared to non-transported heifers. On d 0, 1, and 3 there was a shift in the distribution of heifers that had a CAS score greater than 0 for TX-TX, SD-TX and TX-SD. Heifers endured elevated ambient temperatures (temperature humidity index > 75) for 54% and 18% of the feeding period for TX and SD. Growth performance and carcass trait interactions were significant (P < 0.01) except for d -1 BW, percent shrink during transit, average daily gain, dressing percent, ribeye area and liver abscess severity, which did not differ (P > 0.30). A shift in the distribution (P < 0.02) towards a greater proportion of Yield Grade 1 and Select carcasses for was observed for TX versus SD. Overall, heifers transported to higher ambient temperatures had improved overall yield grades, but decreased dry matter intake, quality grades (QG) and limited growth recovery (45 kg lighter) following transit than non-transported heifers. Heifers transported to lower ambient temperatures recovered growth and had improved QG (P < 0.02) at the same thickness of rib fat compared to non-transported heifers but had decreased overall yield and yield grades.

This study was to evaluate the effects of dietary adding of phytosterol (PS) on growth, antioxidant capacity, tissue morphology and gut microbiota of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). A total of 540 largemouth bass (13.75 ± 0.37g) were selected and randomly divided into six groups and fed with diets supplemented with 0, 0.01 %, 0.02 %, 0.03 %, 0.04 % and 0.05 % of PS (ontrol, PS1-PS5) for 56 d. The results showed that the rate of weight gain (WGR) and condition factor (CF) of largemouth bass increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the increasing PS addition levels. In addition, PS significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum compared to group C (P < 0.05), as well as increased relative expression of pituitary Insulin-like growth factor (igf1ra, igf1rb, and igf2r), hypothalamic growth hormone gh and insulin receptor ir, compared with group C (P < 0.05). Histopathological analysis showed that the addition of 0.04 % PS to the feed resulted in a tighter cellular arrangement and a significant reduction in vacuolisation in the liver of largemouth bass. It also significantly increased intestinal fold width and muscle wall thickness (P < 0.05). Analysis of the intestinal flora showed a significant decrease in the α-diversity of the flora in the PS4 group compared to the C group (P < 0.05). Notably, at the phylum level, the addition of PS to feed significantly reduced the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota. At the genus level, PS significantly increased the relative abundance of Cetobacterium (P < 0.05). The addition of 0.04 % PS to the feed promotes growth, antioxidant capacity, improved tissue morphology and increased abundances of beneficial gut microbiotas in largemouth bass.