Journal of Animal Science and Technology最新文献

A novel granulated L-methionine (Met) has been developed using a simplified purification process, however its replacement with DL-Met has not yet been explored. The objective of the present study was to investigate the growth performance of broilers fed diets containing granulated L-Met (90% purity) compared to a diet containing DL-Met (99% purity). A total of 192 one-day-old broilers were allocated in four dietary treatments with six replicates (eight birds/cage) in a randomized complete block design based on body weight as the blocking factor. Twelve experimental diets were used, with four for each of the three growth stages: pre-starter (day 0 to 7), starter (day 7 to 21), and grower (day 21 to 28). The experimental diets consisted of: (1) a diet containing DL-Met at 100% of the digestible Met requirement, (2) a diet containing granulated L-Met at 85% of the digestible Met requirement, (3) a diet containing granulated L-Met at 90% of the digestible Met requirement, and (4) a diet containing granulated L-Met at the same inclusion rate (approximately 95% of the digestible Met requirement) as diet 1. The broilers were fed experimental diets during the pre-starter, starter, and grower stages, and growth performance was recorded by correcting mortality throughout the experiment period. Over the entire 28-day period, body weight gain and feed intake of broilers fed diets containing granulated L-Met increased linearly (p < 0.05) with an increase in dietary granulated L-Met supplementation. However, the growth performance of broilers fed diets containing granulated L-Met did not differ from those fed a diet containing DL-Met. The bioefficacy of L-Met relative to DL-Met for body weight gain and gain-to-feed ratio during the pre-starter stage was 116.9% and 104.0%, respectively. During the starter stage, the bioefficacy of L-Met relative to DL-Met was 127.5% and 111.0% for body weight gain and gain-to-feed ratio, respectively. Results of the present study reveal that the growth performance of broilers fed diets containing granulated L-Met was comparable to those fed a diet containing DL-Met, despite the lower dietary Met intake than digestible Met requirement. This suggests that L-Met might exhibit greater bioefficacy relative to DL-Met.

This study aimed to examine the effects of proper substitution ratios and organic substrates of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens larvae; HIL) on cats. A total of 30 mixed-sex domestic cats (Felis domestica) with an initial body weight of 5.06 ± 0.89 kg were used in this experiment, which used an incomplete 5 × 5 replicated Latin square design. The experimental period was 10 d, with 7 d of diet adaptation followed by 3 d of dietary treatment. The dietary treatments were provided: 1) CON (basal diet), 2) HA3 (replacing 3% of the poultry meal (PM) in the basal diet with HIL fed on animal-based substrate), 3) HA6 (replacing 6% of the PM in the basal diet with HIL fed on animal-based substrate), 4) HP3 (replacing 3% of the PM in the basal diet with HIL fed on plant-based substrate) 5) HP6 (replacing 6% of the PM in the basal diet with HIL fed on plant-based substrate). The HA3 group showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) crude protein digestibility than the CON group. The groups replaced by HIL had significantly higher (p < 0.05) ether extract digestibility than the CON group. The leucine, tryptophan, serine, and aspartic acid digestibility were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the groups replaced by HIL compared to the CON group. The HP6 group showed distinct (p < 0.05) unweighted UniFrac distances from all other groups and weighted UniFrac distances from the CON and HP3 groups. In addition, the CON group exhibited significant differences (p < 0.05) in weighted UniFrac distances compared to all treatment groups. At the genus level, the HP6 group showed increased (p < 0.05) abundance of Bacteroidota compared with the CON group, while the CON exhibited higher (p < 0.05) levels of Firmicutes than the HP6 group. In conclusion, substituting PM with HIL in cat diets improved nutrient digestibility and had no negative impact on the fecal microbiota. Therefore, it is considered safe and effective to substitute up to 6% of the protein source with HIL in cat diets.

Physiological effects of polyphosphates with different chain lengths were unknown in poultry. The effect of 0.05% concentration of short chain polyphosphates (SCPP), medium chain polyphosphates (MCPP) and long chain polyphosphates (LCPP) was observed in broilers. MCPP and LCPP produced bacteriostatic properties against four pathogenic bacteria, Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica serovar. Pullorum, and Escherichia coli O157:H7. SCPP reduced the level of triglycerides in the blood. Intervention of MCPP and LCPP induced cecum IL-1β expression involved in the regulation of autoimmune inflammation. In terms of colony-forming units, SCPP increased the number of Lactobacilli while MCPP and LCPP significantly decreasing the number of Shigella, Salmonella and Coliform bacteria. SCPP, MCPP, and LCPP improved the intestinal microflora with abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium, Phocaeicola, and Barnesiella but with reduced Bacteroides. In addition, SCPP, MCPP, and LCPP did not adversely affect the meat quality of broilers. The antimicrobial properties of SCPP, MCPP, and LCPP can help to improve the intestinal environment and enhance immune properties. Based on the comparison of different length polyphosphates in broiler chickens, it is suggested that MCPP is more effective compared to SCPP and LCPP as antimicrobial feed additives.

Conservation of indigenous breeds of ruminants is crucial for offering alternatives to commercial breeds. Moreover, it is part of long-term strategies in the agri-food sector to sustain supplies by ensuring genetic resource diversity to overcome climate change and the food crisis. Malin is the only native sheep breed in Malaysia. Due to traits such as heat tolerance and disease resistance, Malin sheep are considered an invaluable biological heritage. However, breeders and industrial producers are not interested in Malin because of their low commercial value and slow growth rate. Hence, this breed is neglected, its population is fragmented, and its numbers are dwindling, without data updates. Therefore, current information regarding Malin sheep is needed, including the latest geographical distribution and phenotypic characterization. First, we determined the population distribution using information from the State Department of Veterinary Services. Data were then collected from 15 studied locations in Pahang, Perak, and Kelantan via purposive sampling. Six qualitative traits and seven morphometric traits were recorded for 152 Malin sheep. These traits were quantitatively analyzed using multi-variate statistical tools to define the best measure to represent body conformation when comparing Malin sheep across studied locations. Findings showed that the Malin Ne population is very small. Morphologically, most Malin sheep exhibit light-brown wool with a course wool type; convex head shape, curved and horned in males but polled in females; and white hoof color. Imputation for missing body weight values in one population was successfully performed based on imputation regression modelling prior to downstream analyses. Kruskal-Wallis tests indicated that the median value of all morphometric traits except female body weight differed significantly between all studied locations. The highest correlation was observed between chest girth and body length in males (ρ=0.76) and chest girth and body weight (ρ=0.76) in females. Non-metric dimensional scaling showed that sheep maintained by smallholders in Pahang and Kelantan are similar phenotypically, but with smaller size compared with Perak. These findings suggest that phenotypic traits can help evaluate and compare sheep body conformation and thus provide an opportunity to distinguish and clarify a herd's position, thereby highlighting populations requiring management attention.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase-2 (NTRK2) have known important roles in the central nervous system for neurite growth, survival, and differentiation. Nevertheless, the significance of BDNF in spermatogenesis remains unclear in stallions. Therefore, the present study was designed 1) to investigate the expression of BDNF and its receptor NTRK2 and 2) the seasonal variation in the expression patterns of BDNF and NTRK2 in stallions' testes. We used testes from eight postpubertal Thoroughbred stallions collected after a field castration during two different seasons of the year (breeding season [BS] and nonbreeding season [NBS]). Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blotting (WB), and immunofluorescence were performed. RT-qPCR results showed upregulation of mRNA levels of BDNF and NTRK2 in the testes collected during the NBS. The quantification of the protein bands obtained after WB displayed significantly higher relative intensity in NBS. The immunofluorescence assay identified the localization of BDNF in the cytoplasm of Sertoli and Leydig cells in BS. The cytoplasm of germs cells and Leydig cells were stained with BDNF in NBS. NTRK2 was observed in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells of BS and NBS. Moreover, different stages of germ cells including undifferentiated spermatogonia and spermatocytes were immune labeled with NTRK2 in the NBS. These findings provided the first evidence of the localization of BDNF and NTRK2 in the testicular cells of stallions, suggesting the potential role of BDNF signaling in testes development and spermatogenesis. Further investigation is necessary to explore the functional implications of BDNF signaling on spermatogenesis, focusing on the regulatory mechanisms that govern the seasonal expression patterns observed. This will help confirm the paracrine/autocrine importance of this neurotrophin in the stallions testes.

The demand for mental health support systems has been increasing because of the rising prevalence of mental health issues globally. These challenges related to mental health have been addressed through animal-assisted intervention. This approach has gained recognition as an effective method that enhances emotional stability and fosters social bonds. Canine-assisted intervention, a subset of animal-assisted intervention that involves dogs, is recognized for its effectiveness in managing stress and depression in humans. Despite the development of various canine-assisted intervention programs, there is insufficient scientific data evaluating the efficacy of each program. Customized programs that target individuals' symptoms and needs are necessary to effectively manage stress and depression. As such, generalizing the effects of canine-assisted intervention across diverse situations continues to be a challenge. This review aims to identify the most effective canine-assisted intervention programs for various target groups and suggest strategies that maximize the effects of canine-assisted intervention programs by consolidating various biometric indicators and physiological evaluation tools and by analyzing the effects of canine-assisted intervention through multiple approaches. It examines current studies demonstrating how interactions with therapy dogs lead to remarkable psychological and physiological changes, including measurable reductions in stress indicators (such as cortisol levels and heart rates) and notable improvements in overall mood and emotional well-being. Furthermore, this paper evaluates the effectiveness of canine-assisted intervention in various settings, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic intervention and preventive measure in mental health care. Based on previous findings, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of canine-assisted intervention in enhancing human mental health and its potential for broader implementation across diverse environments.

Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by chronic systemic inflammation and a significant decline in the quality of life, is primarily associated with aging and degenerative diseases. Several studies have shown that milk exosomes contain a substantial number of miRNAs that are involved in immunity, inflammation, osteoporosis, and gut microbiota regulation. This study aimed to evaluate the potential functional role of bovine colostrum-derived exosomes (BCE) in reducing muscle atrophy. BCE treatment enhanced the viability of C2C12 myotube and stimulated myogenic differentiation, while inhibiting muscle atrophy markers MuRF1 and atrogin-1 that were upregulated by dexamethasone (DEX) exposure. In Caenorhabditis elegans, BCE supplementation significantly prolonged lifespan and upregulated key myogenic structural genes, such as myo-3 and unc-54. BCE also modulated gut microbiome composition by significantly increasing Lachnospiraceae abundance while promoting an increase in Muribaculaceae and a decrease in Bacteroidaceae levels. These microbial changes were associated with a reduction in cholesterol levels in DEX-treated mice. Furthermore, BCE restored metabolic homeostasis by reversing DEX-induced alterations in succinic acid and L-Alanine levels, both of which are critical for muscle metabolism and lipid regulation. Taken together, our findings support the role of BCE in modulating gut microbiota and metabolites, highlighting the therapeutic potential of BCE in counteracting muscle atrophy.

Priestia megaterium (formerly Bacillus megaterium) is a gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming bacterium found in a wide range of environmental niches. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of P. megaterium S188 isolated from soil, which can decrease hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) levels and help reduce malodor generation in livestock farms. Putative genes related to sulfide assimilation and conversion were found in the genome of P. megaterium S188; among these, one O-acetylhomoserine (O-AH) desulfhydrase, two cysteine synthases-primarily related to the biosynthesis of sulfur-containing amino acids, five rhodanese or sulfurtransferases, and one nitrogen reductase were identified. The genomic information on P. megaterium S188 provides insights into the possible biodegradation or conversion mechanisms of sulfur-containing substances that cause malodors, which can help reduce odor generation. Furthermore, identification of the key genes or molecules responsible for H₂S reduction would facilitate the optimization of the H₂S-degrading ability of S188.

Intensive livestock housing systems can play a relevant role in the reduction of ammonia (NH₃) and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Gas concentrations monitoring represents the first step to increase knowledge on the release of gases in the atmosphere and their reduction. In the literature few research studies have investigated the measurement techniques and sampling strategies in Mediterranean context where dairy barns are characterized by wide opening. The objectives of the investigation involve the study of the parameters' setting, number of repetitions for each measurement, position of the sampling points as well as assessing the use of low-cost instrument for gas concentration monitoring. Concentrations of NH₃, methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) were acquired in an open barn during warm periods by the use of an infrared photoacoustic spectroscope and low-cost portable instruments based on electrochemical and infrared sensors. Statistical analyses were applied to assess data variability. Specific information was provided on how to collect data and obtain reliable measurements by focusing on the acquisition and monitoring of gas concentrations in the barn environment by the use of the two different kinds of devices. The monitoring optimization was found to be affected by the measurement techniques, the sampling strategy (i.e., sampling frequency, number and position of sampling locations, and set-up of the instrument) and monitoring purposes (i.e., measurement of gas, emission estimation, assessment of mitigation strategies).

Canine and human atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex inflammatory skin disorder with an increasing incidence, characterized by distinct acute and chronic phases with unique histological and immunological profiles. Although research into effective treatment methods has been insufficient, there has been a surge in the exploration of probiotics as a therapeutic strategy for AD. Such probiotics are often originated from the animals, and these are being developed to modulate the immune system and enhance skin barrier function, offering promising new treatment options for AD. To better understand the pathogenesis of both canine and human AD and develop treatments, animal models that accurately replicate the symptoms of both species are indispensable. This study aimed to establish a standardized and cost-effective BALB/c mouse model to more accurately simulate canine and human AD using dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) alone and in combination with ovalbumin (OVA). We evaluated histological and immunological changes from acute to chronic stages of AD in the mouse model induced by treatment of DNCB alone and DNCB combined with OVA to determine their similarity to both canine and human AD symptoms. The results showed that the pathological changes observed in the mouse AD model demonstrated significant parallels with both species, including increased mast cell infiltration, epidermal thickening, and elevated cytokine levels such as interleukin-4 and interferon-γ. Acute phase observations highlighted pronounced epidermal defects such as dryness and skin erosion, while chronic phase findings indicated persistent skin thickening, inflammation, and notable edema. Although both mouse models showed comparable symptoms and immunological responses, the model induced by the combination of DNCB and OVA more accurately represented canine and human AD compared to the model induced by DNCB alone. This combined DNCB and OVA mouse model provides valuable insights into AD pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets, underscoring its significance in AD research.