Journal of Animal Science and Technology最新文献

Corynebacterium sp. SCR221107 was isolated from the rumen fluid of healthy male Holstein dairy cows from a research farm at Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, Korea. Corynebacterium sp. SCR221107 is a functional probiotic candidate that produces vitamin B₁₂. All Corynebacterium sp. SCR221107 was sequenced using the PacBio RS II and Illumina HiSeq platforms and assembled de novo. The complete genome sequence of Corynebacterium sp. SCR221107 contained one circular chromosome (3,043,024 bp) with a guanine + cytosine (GC) content of 60.1%. Annotation analysis showed the presence of 2,639 protein-coding sequences, 15 rRNA genes, and 57 tRNA genes. Genome analysis found that Corynebacterium sp. SCR221107 encodes various genes associated with vitamin B12 synthesis and transport. The genomic information provided a detailed understanding of Corynebacterium sp. SCR221107, suggesting that this isolate may have potential probiotic applications.

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of gum Arabic supplementation on short-chain fatty acids, cecal microbiota, immune-related gene expression, and small intestinal morphology in post-hatched broiler chicks. On the day of hatching, four hundred thirty-two commercial male broiler chicks were randomly allocated into six treatments with twelve cages as replicates of six chicks each for 24 days. Dietary treatments (T1 to T6) were supplemented with 0.0, 0.12, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0% gum Arabic to the basal diet, respectively. Performance parameters, short-chain fatty acid concentration, quantification of microbiota and immune response gene expression (pre-inflammatory cytokines, mucin-2, and secretory immunoglobulin A), and histomorphometry of the small intestine were measured. According to our results, daily weight gains in T2 and the production efficiency index increased in T2 to T4, whereas daily feed intake decreased in T2, T3, T5, and T6, but feed conversion ratio improved. Concentration of lactate, acetate, butyrate, and total short-chain fatty acid increased in T2, T3, T5, and T6. Propionate ‎in T2 T3, T4, and T6 and format in T2, T5, and T6 also increased. Lactobacillus spp. quantitatively increased from T3 to T6, whereas Bacteroides spp. decreased in T3 and T5. Other microbiota quantitatively showed no effect of dietary supplements. IL-1β, TNF-α, and MUC-2 decreased in T2 to T6 and IL-12 in T3, whereas INF-Y increased in T4 to T6 and SIgA in T4. All histometeric parameters of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum improved with dietary supplementation. We conclude that the administration of gum Arabic resulted in an improvement in overall performance, fermentation metabolites, and modification of microbiota and immune response with improved histomorphometry in the intestines of young chicks.

High-throughput genotyping and sequencing has revolutionized animal breeding by providing access to vast amounts of genomic data to facilitate precise selection for desirable traits. This shift from traditional methods to genomic selection provides dense marker information for predicting genetic variants. However, the success of genomic selection heavily depends on the accuracy and quality of the genomic data. Inaccurate or low-quality data can lead to flawed predictions, compromising breeding programs and reducing genetic gains. Therefore, stringent quality control (QC) measures are essential at every stage of data processing. QC in genomic data involves managing single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) quality, assessing call rates, and filtering based on minor allele frequency (MAF) and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). High-quality SNP data is crucial because genotyping errors can bias the estimates of breeding values. Cost-effective low-density genotyping platforms often require imputation to deduce missing genotypes. QC is vital for genomic selection, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and population genetics analyses because it ensures data accuracy and reliability. This paper reviews QC strategies for genomic data and emphasizes their applications in animal breeding programs. By examining various QC tools and methods, this review highlights the importance of data integrity in achieving successful outcomes in genomic selection, GWAS, and population analyses. Furthermore, this review covers the critical role of robust QC measures in enhancing the reliability of genomic predictions and advancing animal breeding practices.

Diet digestibility can vary based on factors such as the type of ingredients, processing techniques, formulation, fiber content, and nutrient interactions. Unlike proteins and fats, there is no specific carbohydrate requirement, which typically constitutes 30%-60% of commercial dried dog foods. Because of the significant proportion of carbohydrates in dog food, this study aimed to evaluate the differences in nutrient digestibility among barley, brown rice, corn, mung bean, and rice, which are common carbohydrate sources in commercial dog foods. All experimental diets had consistent chemical compositions. The digestibility of each carbohydrate source was evaluated using the total feces collection method in four castrated male and four neutered female beagles with an average age of 4.58 ± 0.14 years. The average daily dry matter intake of the five experimental diets was 203.0 ± 3.23 g/day. The percentage of dry matter digestibility of the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) was the highest for rice and corn at 92.45% and 92.95%, respectively, followed by brown rice (91.61%), barley (88.81%), and mung beans (80.74%). The percentage of nitrogen-free extract digestibility was also high for rice, corn, and brown rice at 97.08%, 96.14%, and 95.56%, respectively, followed by barley at 90.10% and mung bean at 83.38%. Amino acid digestibility analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between rice, corn, brown rice, and barley, except for methionine, which is an essential amino acid. Although the ATTD and amino acid profile of the mung bean-based diet were less efficient than those of the other test diets, the overall digestibility was satisfactory and there were no significant differences in palatability. The differences in digestibility observed in mung bean-based diets compared to other grain-based diets can be attributed to variations in the starch and fiber content of the raw materials. By leveraging these characteristics, mung bean-based diets may offer strategic benefits for glycemic control and weight management in dogs. Our results may serve as a basis for formulating appropriate diets for dogs.

The increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has resulted in climate change and global warming. Human activities in many sectors, including agriculture, contribute to approximately 9.2% of total GHG emissions from Annex I countries. An argument on issues of livestock being the highest contributor to GHG emissions has grown since FAO's 2006 report Livestock's Long Shadow. The issue has continued growing, conflicting the importance of the industry in terms of food security and livelihoods, thus, monitoring GHG emission from this sector is vital. The most commonly used methods for calculating GHG emissions from the livestock sector are life cycle assessment (LCA) and the GHG inventory. Although the LCA presents information on the impacts of the livestock industry on the environment, the GHG inventory is the main tool used internationally for GHG reporting. This review comprehensively discusses the source of GHG emissions from the livestock industry and its estimation methodology, as well as the current strategies for mitigating these emissions.

The current study investigated the impact of using iron and plastic crates during summer transportation on production, physiological characteristics, and welfare of broiler chickens. A total of 160 Ross 308 male broilers were randomly selected from a battery-caged house at 35 days of age. Their average body weight was 1,866.62 ± 36.048 g (mean ± SEM). Broilers were crated into fixed iron crates with 1.00 m (length) × 0.78 m (width) × 0.26 m (height) and plastic crates with 0.82 m (length) × 0.57 m (width) × 0.29 m (height) dimensions at 173 cm²/kg densities. Afterward, they were transported in the early morning at an average speed of 30-50 km/h for 40 minutes under 30°C and 40% relative humidity, completing a total distance of 20 km. Body weights were recorded before and after completing the journey. Following the weighing of birds, blood samples were collected for blood metabolite (cortisol, glucose, and lactate) analysis. Cervical dislocation was performed to euthanize broilers followed by breast and drumstick collection. Dressing, drumstick, and breast meat were calculated as percentages whereas respiratory frequencies were measured as the number of breaths per minute. Collected breast meat samples were utilized to analyze physiochemical parameters such as pH, color (CIE L*, a*, b*), water holding capacity, and cooking loss. Results from skin temperature assessments showed higher temperatures (p < 0.05) in broilers that were loaded into iron crates, both before (iron, 41.23 ± 0.610°C; plastic, 39.25 ± 0.065°C) and after (iron, 43.53 ± 0.723°C, and plastic, 41.63 ± 0.132°C) completing the journey. However, total skin temperature change was not significantly affected. Importantly, stress-indicating blood metabolite analysis revealed that glucose and lactate levels were lower (p < 0.05) in broilers transported in plastic crates. Nevertheless, cortisol levels remained unaffected by crate materials. Furthermore, transit losses, carcass characteristics, and physiochemical properties were also unaffected despite the dissimilar crate types. In conclusion, the study revealed that plastic is the more advantageous crating material compared to iron. Besides, plastic crates ensure meat quality and animal welfare, as evidenced by blood metabolite levels and skin temperature after transit.

A balanced intestinal microbiome controls intestinal bacterial diseases, helps regulate immunity, and digests and utilizes nutrients, ultimately having a positive effect on the productivity of industrial animals. Yeasts help in the digestion process by breaking down indigestible fibers and producing organic acids, vitamins, and minerals. In particular, polysaccharides such as beta-glucan and mannan-oligosaccharides, which are present in the cell wall of yeast, inhibit the adhesion of pathogens to the surface of the gastrointestinal tract and increase resistance to disease to help maintain and improve intestinal health. Among the yeast additives used in animal feed, Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the most commonly used probiotics. However, it does not naturally reside in the intestine, so if it is supplied in combination with other species of probiotics that can compensate for it, many benefits and synergies can be expected for pigs in terms of maintaining intestinal health such as supplementing the immune system and improving digestion. A number of previous studies have demonstrated that dietary complex probiotic supplementation has growth-promoting effects in pigs, suggesting that multiple strains of probiotics may be more effective than single strain probiotics due to their additive and synergistic effects. In practice, however, the effects of complex probiotics are not always consistent, and can be influenced by a variety of factors. Therefore, this review comprehensively examines and discusses the literature related to the effects of complex probiotics using Saccharomyces cerevisiae in pig production.

The significance of pork meat quality extends far beyond mere consumer satisfaction, encompassing crucial aspects such as health and nutrition, economic impact, reputation and branding, food safety, and sustainability within the global food system. Influenced by a multitude of factors, each playing a pivotal role in shaping its sensory attributes and consumer appeal, pork meat quality stands as a cornerstone of the meat industry. Thus, understanding these factors are imperative for ensuring consistent high-quality pork production, aligning with consumer preferences, and elevating overall satisfaction levels. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse factors affecting pork meat quality, including genetic characteristics, rearing systems, feed composition, gender differences, pre-slaughter handling, and meat aging processes.

The Conical 9 well dish (C9 well dish) is characterized by a decreasing cross-sectional area towards the base. This design was hypothesized to enhance embryonic development by emulating the in vivo physical environment through density modulation. Comparative analyses revealed no significant difference in nuclear maturation rates between the C9 well dish and the 5-well dish. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was lower in the C9 well dish compared to the 5-well dish; however, this difference was not statistically significant. On the second day of in vitro culture, the cleavage rate in the C9 well dish was 4.66% higher, although not statistically significant, and the rates of blastocyst development were similar across both dishes. No significant differences were observed in the intracellular levels of glutathione (GSH) and ROS, as well as in the total cell number within the blastocysts between the dish types. The expression of mitogen-related factors, TGFα and IGF-1, in the blastocysts was consistent between the dishes. However, PDGFβ expression was significantly lower in the C9 well dish compared to the 35 mm petri dish. Similarly, the expression of the apoptosis factor Bax/Bcl2l2 showed no significant differences between the two dishes. Despite the marked difference in PDGFβ expression, its impact on blastocyst formation appeared negligible. The study also confirmed the feasibility of culturing a small number of oocytes per donor, collected via Ovum Pick-Up (OPU), with reduced volumes of culture medium and mineral oil, thus offering economic advantages. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the C9 well dish is effective for in vitro development of a small quantity of oocytes and embryos, presenting it as a viable alternative to traditional cell culture dishes.

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is a single-stranded, positive-sense ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus belonging to the genus Pestivirus of the Flaviviridae family. BVD frequently causes economic losses to farmers. Among bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) strains, BVDV-1b is predominant and widespread in Hanwoo calves. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is an essential method for diagnosing BVDV-1b and has become the gold standard for diagnosis in the Republic of Korea. However, this diagnostic method is time-consuming and requires expensive equipment. Therefore, Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Cas (CRISPR-Cas) systems have been used for point-of-care (POC) testing of viruses. Developing a sensitive and specific method for POC testing of BVDV-1b would be advantageous for controlling the spread of infection. Thus, this study aimed to develop a novel nucleic acid detection method using the CRISPR-Cas13 system for POC testing of BVDV-1b. The sequence of the BVD virus was extracted from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NC_001461.1), and the 5' untranslated region, commonly used for detection, was selected. CRISPR RNA (crRNA) was designed using the Cas13 design program and optimized for the expression and purification of the LwCas13a protein. Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells were infected with BVDV-1b, incubated, and the viral RNA was extracted. To enable POC viral detection, the compatibility of the CRISPR-Cas13 system was verified with a paper-based strip through collateral cleavage activity. Finally, a colorimetric assay was used to evaluate the detection of BVDV-1b by combining the previously obtained crRNA and Cas13a protein on a paper strip. In conclusion, the CRISPR-Cas13 system is highly sensitive, specific, and capable of nucleic acid detection, making it an optimal system for the early point-of-care testing of BVDV-1b.