Animal Bioscience最新文献

Objective: The diameter of wool fiber is a crucial phenotypic trait and a key determinant affecting its economic value. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms that influence wool fiber diameter is a fundamental approach to optimizing wool fineness.

Methods: This study involved the selection of fine-wool Alpine Merino sheep with three distinct fiber diameter ranges for detailed whole-transcriptome and proteome analyses of skin tissues.

Results: This led to the identification of key microRNAs (oar-miR-23a, oar-miR-23b, oarmiR-150, and oar-miR-218a), critical circular RNAs (circRNA3051, circRNA0315, and circRNA_1477), and multiple pivotal genes (LOC10112037, LOC105614079, IGFBP1, IGFBP4, and MAPK9). Correlation analysis was utilized to develop a comprehensive regulatory network, revealing a close regulation of wool fiber diameter and both energy metabolism and lipid metabolism.

Conclusion: This study found that the triglyceride and energy metabolic pathways as significant factors influencing of wool fiber diameter, thus offering a theoretical basis for promoting wool industry through the refinement of wool diameter and quality.

Objective: This study investigates the effect of alpha-lipoic acid-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (ALA-CHNPs) on growth performance, feed utilization, and health in heat-stressed growing rabbits.

Methods: A total of 125 healthy, 5-week-old rabbits were randomly assigned to five groups of 25. One group served as a thermoneutral control, while the other four groups were subjected to heat stress and received diets supplemented with 0, 100, 200, or 400 mg of ALACHNPs per kilogram, respectively.

Results: Dietary supplementation resulted in significant improvements in growth performance, feed conversion ratio, physiological responses, liver weight, and dressing percentage. Supplementation with ALA-CHNPs resulted in a linear reduction in liver enzymes activities, as well as in the levels of total bilirubin, hydrogen peroxide, glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, immunoglobulin G, lysozyme activity, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10. No significant differences were observed between the ALA-CHNPs200 and ALACHNPs400 groups (p>0.05). The levels of blood serum total protein, albumin, globulin, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase activity, immunoglobulin A and M, and nitric oxide showed a quadratic increase, reaching a peak at ALA-CHNPs doses ranging from 250-300 mg/kg diet. Conversely, the concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, malondialdehyde, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and nuclear factor kappa B exhibited a quadratic decrease, with optimal reductions observed at doses between 250-300 mg/kg diet. Supplementation with ALA-CHNPs reduced liver damage caused by heat stress, restoring normal hepatic morphology. The hydrophobic interactions of ALA with antioxidant enzymes and cytokines contributed to the reduction of heat stress-induced oxidative stress.

Conclusion: The inclusion of 250-300 mg ALA-CHNPs/kg diet enhanced growth performance, redox balance, immune function, and inflammatory response in fattened rabbits raised during the summer season.

Objective: This experiment was conducted to determine the apparent ileal digestibility or standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in 10 rice brans fed to pigs, and to construct predictive models for the SID of CP and AA based on the chemical composition of rice bran.

Methods: Twenty-two healthy (Duroc×[Landrace×Yorkshire]) pigs equipped with ileal Tcannulas (initial body weight: 30±1.5 kg) were selected for this experiment. A replicated 11×3 incomplete Latin square design was adopted. The experiment consisted of 3 periods each lasting for 7 days and had 11 dietary treatment groups. The diets included 10 rice bran diets as well as a nitrogen-free diet for determining endogenous losses of AA, and each treatment group had 6 replicates. Titanium dioxide was added to each diet as an indicator at a concentration of 0.3%.

Results: Except for dry matter (DM) and total phosphorus (TP), the coefficients of variation for the chemical components among 10 rice bran sources were all greater than 10%. The SID of CP, Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp in rice bran was 81.89%±6.23, 80.33%±2.21, 83.25%±5.51, 79.89%±5.68, and 72.12%±4.71, respectively. The best prediction equations for the SID of CP and four limiting AA in rice bran are as follows: SIDCP = 974.032-29.805TP-9.496DM (R2 = 0.88), SIDLys = 471.278-9.267TP-4.245DM+1.401dummy variable (R2 = 0.92), SIDMet = 122.281-2.712CP (R2 = 0.51), SIDThr = 51.864+2.204GE-1.324CF ([R2 = 0.97]; GE, gross energy; CF, crude fiber), and SIDTrp = 73.912-23.268Calcium-0.336NDF+0.318TS ([R2 = 0.96]; NDF, neutral detergent fiber; TS, total starch).

Conclusion: There was significant variability among the chemical components of 10 different sources of rice bran. Moreover, GE, DM, CP, TP, TS, CF, and NDF could serve as crucial predictors for the SID of AA.

Objective: The study was conducted to utilise rice distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as a protein source in broiler chicken supplemented with protease enzyme and also to assess its effect on growth performance, nutrient metabolizability, carcass traits, gut health and economics of broiler production.

Methods: The study was conducted on three hundred day-old straight-run commercial broiler chicks which were divided into five groups of four replications each and fed as CG control receiving a standard basal diet;15-rice-based distillers' dried grains with solubles (RDDGS) with 15 percent rice DDGS;15-(rice distillers dried grains with solubles supplemented with enzyme)RDDGSE with 15 percent rice DDGS supplemented with protease enzyme @ 300g/ton of feed;20-RDDGS with 20 percent rice DDGS and 20-RDDGSE with 20 percent rice DDGS supplemented with protease enzyme @ 300 g/ton of feed.

Results: The final body weights were higher (p<0.01) and FCR was better (p<0.05) for CG and comparable with 15-RDDGS and 15-RDDGSE. The CP metabolizability, was higher (p<0.05) for CG than 15 and 20 percent rice DDGS groups; however, the CP metabolizability for protease supplemented 15 and 20 percent rice DDGS groups was comparable with control diet. The total viable count and Escherichia coli count revealed non-significant differences. There was no negative impact on histological changes in intestine due to the inclusion of rice DDGS. There was no negative impact on histological changes such as crypt depth, villus width and villus height in intestine due to interaction between DDGS and enzyme. The carcass traits revealed non-significant differences for dressing percentage, overall giblet weight and abdominal fat.

Conclusion: It was concluded that rice DDGS can be incorporated up to 20 levels in broiler diet without any adverse effect; however, inclusion of 15 percent rice DDGS supplemented with protease enzyme proved to be more economical in broilers.

Objective: The self-repair capacity of skeletal muscle makes satellite cell activity and myofiber formation interesting. The major molecular networks of satellite cell activity have been extensively studied. However, the mechanism by which micro-environmental factors regulate satellite cell activity for early muscle regeneration still remains poorly understood.

Methods: Control and injured muscle samples were stained with H&E and immunofluorescent for embryonic myosin heavy chain (eMyHC) at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, and 84 hours post-injury. Additionally, muscle samples from three mice were immunofluorescent for eMyHC 96 hours post-injury. RNA sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed on 24 mice, including controls and samples at 12-, 24-, and 84-hour post-injury.

Results: Significant upregulation of 516 immune-related and 177 hormone response-related genes was found in this study. Statistical analysis indicated that the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with up- and down-regulated immune systemrelated DEGs was comparable to that of hormone response-related DEGs. The p53 signaling pathway was significantly enriched during early muscle regeneration. Analysis of crucial myogenic genes expression patterns yielded 326 and 320 candidate genes related to satellite cell growth and myofiber formation, respectively. Furthermore, interaction network analysis identified 41 immune factors, including S100a9, Csf3r, Cxcl3, Ppbp, Ccl3, Il-1rn, potentially regulating satellite cell activation, migration and proliferation. Likewise, 16 cell adhesion factors (Col1a2, Cdh2, Thbs2, etc.) may be involved in myofiber formation.

Conclusion: This study utilized transcriptomic analysis to identify key candidate genes and biological processes involved in early muscle regeneration. The findings enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying muscle repair and offer insights for future therapeutic strategies.

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of strategic nutrient reduction in combination with exogenous enzymes (phytase, pectinase, and β-glucanase) on mineral and energy balance in growing pigs.

Methods: Twenty-four barrows (age: 97±5 days) with an average initial body weight of 49.26±0.42 kg were individually housed in metabolism crates under controlled conditions. Diets were offered for 10 days, consisting of a 5-day adaptation period followed by a 5-day total-collection balance period. Pigs were assigned to four experimental treatments: a positive control diet (PC-100) with standard levels of metabolizable energy (ME), calcium, phosphorus, and mineral premix; a negative control diet (NC-100) with the same mineral premix but reduced by 100 kcal/kg ME, 0.05% calcium, and 0.10% phosphorus, supplemented with the enzyme blend; and two additional diets based on NC-100 with a 33% (NC-67) and 66% (NC-34) reduction in the mineral premix. Productive performance, apparent fecal digestibility (AFD), nutrient retention, and energy efficiency were measured.

Results: Results showed that mineral reduction (33% and 66% vs. the recommended level) together with exogenous enzymes did not affect daily weight gain or feed efficiency (p>0.05). However, a significant decreased total nitrogen excretion (from 13.66 to 10.72 g/day; p<0.001), and increased proportion of retained nitrogen relative to absorbed nitrogen (from 73.46% in PC-100 to 81.69% in NC-34; p = 0.0025) were observed. AFD of phosphorus improved with enzyme supplementation (up to 74.89% in NC-100; p<0.01), and zinc digestibility increased significantly with mineral premix reduction (up to 50.01% in NC-34; p<0.01). ME remained stable among treatments (p = 0.06), with average values ranging from 3,593 to 3,642 kcal/kg.

Conclusion: Strategic reduction of dietary minerals (33% and 66% vs. the recommended level), and energy, in combination with exogenous enzymes, improved nutrient utilization without negatively affecting short-term growth performance in growing pigs.

A novel indirect calorimeter chamber system has been built at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (IL, USA). The unit consists of 6 respiration-metabolism chambers where temperature and humidity are controlled, gas analysis units, a data management unit, a mechanical room, and an air-conditioned feed storage room. The chambers are airtight and each chamber has the capacity to hold more than 1 pig depending on size. Using the system, concentrations of digestible energy, metabolizable energy, and net energy, and digestibility and retention of nutrients can be determined in diets fed to pigs on an ad libitum basis. A recovery test was performed using propane combustion. The recovery rate of oxygen ranged from 86.7% to 108.7% with a mean of 99.0% and a coefficient of variation of 6.27%. The recovery rate of carbon dioxide ranged from 100.0% to 101.0% with a mean of 100.6% and a coefficient of variation of 0.29%. In summary, a novel calorimeter unit allows for pigs to be group-housed and given ad libitum access to feed and water. This system is believed to be representative of commercial settings, and therefore, net energy can be determined in diets fed to pigs under conditions similar to those used in commercial production.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate genomic inbreeding in Japanese Black cattle and its effects on reproductive traits.

Methods: The study analyzed reproductive records and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from Japanese Black cattle born between 2001 and 2005, resulting in 8,553 records from large farms. Genomic inbreeding was assessed using SNP data from 782 animals. Key reproductive traits analyzed included age at first calving (AFC) and calf production index (CPI). Statistical models were employed to estimate fixed effects and inbreeding depression.

Results: Findings indicated that genomic inbreeding levels were generally higher than traditional inbreeding coefficients. Significant inbreeding depression was observed in CPI but not in AFC. Specific chromosomes (12, 15, 27 for CPI and 4 for AFC) showed significant associations with inbreeding depression. Key genes related to reproduction were identified, particularly on chromosome 15.

Conclusion: The study concludes that genomic inbreeding effectively detects inbreeding depression related to reproductive abilities in Japanese Black cattle. The results highlight the importance of genomic assessment in breeding practices to enhance reproductive performance while maintaining genetic diversity in the breed.

Objective: Chlorella fusca, a microalga with promising applications in sustainable biotechnology, is of growing interest for its nutritional value, environmental benefits, and bioactive properties. This study investigated the safety and viability of cultivating C. fusca in refined liquid fertilizer derived from pig manure.

Methods: Refined liquid fertilizer derived from swine manure was used as a nutrient medium for cultivating C. fusca. To compare its biochemical properties with those of commercial Chlorella products, the cultivated algae were subjected to proximate composition analyses to determine their water, crude-protein, crude-fat, and ash-free-extract contents. Cytotoxicity was assessed via MTT and WST-1 assays, and an acute toxicity study was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats to evaluate physiological effects according to body weight changes and serum biomarkers. Histopathological examination of the liver, kidneys, and lungs was conducted to detect any toxicological effects. Additionally, antibiotic residues, microbial safety, pesticide contamination, and heavy-metal content were evaluated to confirm overall product safety.

Results: Proximate analysis revealed significant differences in moisture and crude-fat content compared to commercial Chlorella products. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated enhanced immune cell activity at higher concentrations (p<0.05). No significant body weight changes were detected in rats, and serum analysis indicated a dose-dependent reduction in alkaline phosphatase levels in 1,000- and 2,000-mg/mL treatment groups (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Histopathological examination confirmed the absence of significant alterations in the liver, kidneys, and lungs, supporting its safety as a dietary supplement. Antibiotic residue, microbial safety, pesticide contamination, and heavy-metal analyses showed levels that were undetectable or below safety limits, confirming the safety of C. fusca.

Conclusion: C. fusca cultivated with refined liquid fertilizer derived from swine manure was found to be safe for use in various biotechnology applications. Our findings imply its potential as a bioresource, including as a feed additive.

Objective: This study evaluates the effect of a flushing ration containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and jackfruit leaf extracts (JLEs) on the follicle growth, reproductive hormone profiles and oxidative stress state of doelings.

Methods: Fifteen primiparous Boer×Jawarandu doelings (23.21±3.57 kg body weight, 10- 11 months old) were divided into three groups: control (PUFA flushing ration), control+JLE (200 mg/kg dry matter intake [DMI]), and control+Ca-soap (calcium soap)+JLE (200 mg/kg DMI). The following parameters were measured: production performances, follicle development, blood metabolites, antioxidant status, estradiol, and progesterone concentration.

Results: The doelings' glucose levels showed significant differences (p<0.05) during the post-flushing phase, on days 19, and day 21 after estrus. An increase in glucose level was observed following the administration of the control+Ca-soap+JLE ration. However, on day 21 after estrus, the highest glucose level was detected in the control+JLE treatment group (p<0.05). In addition, the doelings' cholesterol levels were elevated on days 19 and 21 with the administration of the control+JLE ration. These changes in glucose and cholesterol levels between phases are presumed to be associated with the increased demand for hormone synthesis and follicular development. JLE supplementation reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels across all phases (p<0.05), indicating lower oxidative stress. Moreover the administration of the control+JLE flushing ration resulted in the highest estradiol hormone level on day 19 after estrus compared to other treatments. This finding is consistent with the greater number of medium-sized follicles observed in doelings receiving the same treatment. Additionally, including JLE in the flushing ration also resulted in increased doelings' progesterone hormone levels during the luteal phase.

Conclusion: JLE can mitigate oxidative stress by reducing blood MDA levels during the pre-mating phase. Follicle formation, especially of larger and medium-sized follicles, may be accelerated when a flushing proportion of PUFA is combined with JLE.