Animal Bioscience最新文献

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of fermented rice bran extract (FRB) with multi-microbial species on intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs.

Methods: Thirty weaned pigs (initial body weight = 6.8±0.8 kg) were allocated to 3 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design (n = 10 per treatment) and fed for 25 d in 2 phases (7 and 18 d, respectively). Pigs were housed individually in pens equipped with a feeder and a nipple drinker. Pigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.5%, or 1.0% FRB. The main feedstuffs of the basal diet were corn, soybean meal, whey permeate, and blood plasma. The FRB was prepared by fermenting rice bran with Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and contained at least 1×107 CFU/g. On d 25, pigs were euthanized to collect intestinal tissues and mucosa for intestinal health.

Results: The supplementation of FRB decreased (p<0.05) the abundance of Desulfovibrio piger in the jejunal mucosa. Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl in the duodenum linearly decreased (p<0.05) and the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum linearly increased (p<0.05) with increasing FRB supplementation. The apparent ileal digestibility of gross energy and crude protein tended to linearly increase (p = 0.084 and p = 0.098, respectively). Body weight on d 25 and overall average daily gain tended to show quadratic responses (p = 0.084 and p = 0.095, respectively) with increasing FRB supplementation. The gain to feed ratio (G:F) was maximized when the FRB intake was 2.7 g/d (0.48%) during d 7 to 25.

Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with FRB with multi-microbial species improved intestinal health based on immune response, oxidative stress, and morphology. The growth performance of nursery pigs showed quadratic responses with increasing FRB supplementation. Specifically, the G:F was maximized with supplementation of FRB at 0.48%.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hydrolyzable versus condensed tannins on growth performance, nitrogen (N) metabolism, rumen fermentation, and blood parameters in Liaoning cashmere goats.

Methods: A control diet and three experimental diets-supplemented with 0.5% chestnut tannin (CT), tannic acid (TA), or quebracho tannin (QT)-were compared.

Results: Goats consuming the QT diet had higher average daily gain and average daily feed intake compared to those on the TA diet (p<0.05). Compared to the control group, the QT group exhibited lower fecal N, urine N, and total N output (g/d, p<0.05), as well as higher N retention (g/d) and N utilization (g/kg N intake) relative to the CT and TA groups (p<0.05). The QT group had lowest urine uric acid level, while the CT and TA groups showed lower creatinine levels compared to the control (p<0.05). Tannin supplementation increased rumen ammonia-N (NH3-N) concentration and reduced protozoa counts (p<0.05). Plasma concentrations of total protein, globulin, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and lysozyme were higher in the QT group than in the CT and TA groups (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggest that condensed tannin provides greater advantages than hydrolyzable tannin on growth, N balance, and antioxidant function at equivalent dietary inclusion levels.

Objective: Understanding the individual- and population-level polymorphisms of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes is crucial for identifying associations between MHC variations and immune phenotypes. To support this, we developed NGSMHC, a streamlined bioinformatics tool for efficient and accurate MHC genotyping using nextgeneration sequencing (NGS) data in non-human species.

Methods: NGSMHC constructs phased haplotype contigs of selected MHC genes from BAM-format mapping data and determines the best matching MHC alleles and genotypes via nucleotide BLAST analysis against a user-provided reference set of MHC alleles. We evaluated NGSMHC using short-read whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from 12 pigs, focusing on swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) genes. The typing results from NGSMHC were compared to those obtained using polymerase chain reaction sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT). In addition, we tested NGSMHC on a publicly available long-read WGS dataset with known SLA genotypes.

Results: The short-read WGS data showed an average read depth of 20.9× across the SLA region, enabling typing of SLA-2, SLA-3, SLA-DRB1, and SLA-DQB1 using NGSMHC. The concordance rates between NGSMHC and PCR-SBT were 88% for SLA-3, 92% for SLA-DRB1, and 100% for SLA-DQB1. However, SLA-2 typing showed lower concordance (58%), likely due to its high sequence similarity with other SLA class I genes and complex intra-locus polymorphisms. In contrast, NGSMHC accurately identified all tested SLA genotypes-including SLA-1, SLA-2, SLA-3, SLA-DRA, SLA-DRB1, SLA-DQA, and SLADQB1-when applied to the long-read WGS data.

Conclusion: NGSMHC is a simple and effective tool for MHC genotyping using NGS data, particularly for non-human species. Its accuracy is significantly improved by longread sequencing, underscoring the importance of read length in precise MHC allele determination.

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of glutamic acid (Glu) and glutamine (Gln) on the intestinal development of layer chicks with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced damage.

Methods: A total of 240 healthy 0-d-old Hy-Line Brown chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments, each with 6 replicates. At 8 and 11 d of age, all birds (except for the control group) received two administrations of LPS. The LPS-challenged birds were divided into three dietary treatment groups: a basal diet (without additives), a 0.05% Glu-supplemented diet, and a 0.20% Gln-supplemented diet.

Results: The LPS challenge induced intestinal injury and suppressed intestinal development in layer chicks, as evidenced by reduced growth performance, poor intestinal parameters, and morphology (p<0.05). Compared to the LPS group, dietary supplementation with 0.05% Glu and 0.20% Gln enhanced average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake, body weight (BW), and intestinal development parameters (including length, weight, villus height, and villus height/crypt depth) of duodenum, jejunum and ileum (p<0.05). These results could be attributed to upregulated mRNA expression levels of Mucin-2, Ecadherin, Dclk-1, Vil-1, Lysozyme, ChgA, Lgr-5, Bmi-1, ATP5F1AZ, and β-catenin (p<0.05). Furthermore, dietary supplementation with 0.20% Gln outperformed 0.05% Glu in enhancing BW, ADG, and ileum parameters (weight, length, epithelial cell count, and energy metabolism) (p<0.05). Additionally, intestinal organoids supplemented with 10 μM Gln had higher mean area, E-cadherin gene expression, and ATP content compared with those treated with 5 μM Glu in vitro (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with 0.05% Glu and 0.20% Gln could improve growth performance, intestinal development, and repair intestinal damage in layer chicks through enhanced epithelial proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, 0.20% Gln performed better than 0.05% Glu, which may be attributed to superior energy metabolism.

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the available energy and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acid (AA) in fermented soybean meal (FSBM), and establish prediction equations for growing pigs.

Methods: In Exp. 1, to determine available energy, twenty-four growing barrows (initial body weight = 35.3±3.2 kg) were randomly assigned to two replicated 6×6 Latin square designs, each comprising one corn-based basal diet (used in both squares) and five test diets. In Exp. 2, on AA digestibility, twenty-two growing barrows (initial body weight: 48.8± 2.8 kg) underwent distal ileal T-cannulation and were arranged to a 3-period crossover design with one nitrogen-free diet and 10 test diets. The inclusion levels of FSBM in the test diets of Exp. 1 and Exp. 2 were 27.49% and 40%, respectively.

Results: The coefficients of variation among FSBM for ether extract (EE), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) all exceeded 10%. The digestible energy, metabolizable energy, and net energy (NE) values of FSBM ranged from 15.50 to 18.44 MJ/kg dry matter (DM), 13.98 to 16.72 MJ/kg DM, and 10.10 to 11.05 MJ/kg DM, respectively. The SID values of AA demonstrated variation (p<0.05) for most AA, with the exception of Arg and Lys among indispensable AA, and Glu, Ser, and Tyr among dispensable AA. The best-fitted prediction equation for NE was a model incorporating EE, NDF, and gross energy (R = 0.92, p<0.01), while the best-fitted equations for SIDCrude Protein and SIDLys incorporated DM, NDF, and ADF (R = 0.71, p = 0.097) and CF, ADF, and Ash (R = 0.83, p = 0.022), respectively.

Conclusion: The NE values of FSBM ranged from 10.10 to 11.05 MJ/kg DM. The NE value, SIDCrude Protein, and SIDLys of FSBM can be well predicted based on nutritional parameters.

Objective: Wool serves as an important textile raw material, with fiber diameter being a major determinant influencing the economic value and quality of wool products. Investigating the regulatory mechanisms that influence wool fiber diameter is necessary for formulating aimed at improving wool fineness. We used methylationomics to examine the skin tissue of individuals with different fiber diameters, and investigated the regulation mechanisms influencing wool fiber diameter.

Methods: In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome and m6A methylome of skin tissues from individual Alpine Merino sheep, classified into three groups based on wool fiber diameters, to identify key methylated RNAs and explore the role of m6A methylation in regulating this trait.

Results: A total of 54,057 methylated peaks, 4,273 differentially methylated genes, 139 differentially methylated lncRNAs, and 2,992 differentially methylated circRNAs were found in the three comparisons. These gene loci showed enrichment in the Wnt, Notch, and TGF-β signaling pathways, as determined through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. RNA correlation analyses revealed key RNAs, such as CACNA1E, FOS, CAMK2B, RNF43, circ-0317, circ-4794, TCONS-00020832, and TCONS-00020845, indicating that hypermethylation may play an important role in affecting wool fiber diameter.

Conclusion: The findings elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying wool fiber diameter and provide a theoretical foundation for advancements in the wool industry.

Objective: Goat milk contains a high concentration of caseins which are beneficial to human health. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of casein synthesis in goats contribute to improving milk quality. Epithelial-specific E74-like factor 5 (ELF5) is important in milk protein synthesis, although the molecular mechanism by which ELF5 regulates casein synthesis remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the regulatory roles of ELF5 on casein production in goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs).

Methods: Primary GMECs were isolated from goats and characterized using immunofluorescence and oil red O staining. The goat ELF5 gene overexpression vector and small interfering RNA were transfected into GMECs, respectively. Cell viability was accessed using cell counting kit-8 assay, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Genes involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and casein synthesis were examined by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. After co-treatment of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) or signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) inhibitors, casein gene expression was examined by using Western blot. The interaction between ELF5 and STAT5 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation assay.

Results: ELF5 enhances cell viability and the expression of genes associated with proliferation, while simultaneously inhibiting apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related genes. Then, ELF5 upregulates the expression of αS1-, αS2-, β- and κ-casein, in addition to enhancing JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway. The inhibition assay of JAK2 and STAT5 activity reveals that ELF5 regulates casein synthesis via JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway.

Conclusion: ELF5 upregulates casein synthesis through the activation of the JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway, offering a strategy for manipulating ELF5 to increase casein content and improve the protein quality of goat milk.

Objective: This study investigates the feasibility of substituting fishmeal with black soldier fly larvae (BSF) in weaning pig diets, with the objective of overcome the limitations of conventional animal protein sources and explore BSF larvae as a sustainable alternative protein.

Methods: A total of 192 weaning ([Yorkshire×Landrace])×Duroc) pigs (8.12±0.01 kg body weight [BW]) were assigned to four treatments based on sex and initial BW, with six replicates of eight pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. Experimental diets with different levels of BSF larvae were as follows: 1) Control: corn‒soybean-based diet, 2) BSF25: corn‒soybean-based diet containing black solder fly larvae as a replacement for 25% of plasma protein, 3) BSF50: corn‒soybean-based diet containing black solder fly larvae as a replacement for 50% of plasma protein, 4) BSF100: corn‒soybean-based diet containing black solder fly larvae as a replacement for 100% of plasma protein.

Results: From 0-2 weeks, the average daily gain and gain:feed ratio were decreased as the BSF larvae level increased (p<0.05), and the BSF25 group had higher BW compared to other groups (p<0.05). In blood profiles, increasing levels of BSF larvae in the diet linearly decreased albumin levels at 28 d after weaning (p<0.05). For immune response, there was a linear decrease in IgG concentration by increasing levels of BSF larvae (p<0.05), and the BSF25 group had the highest value among all treatments only in phase I (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that BSF larvae meal can be a viable alternative protein source in diets of weaned pigs. The optimal ratio of BSF larvae replacing plasma protein is up to 25%, which leads to improved growth performance and immune response.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of time and light variation on the growth and reproductive performances of breeder geese.

Methods: A total of 32 ganders and 96 dames in their first laying season, with an average age of 10 months, were assigned to eight rooms, each containing four ganders and twelve dams. A split-plot design was used, incorporating two prelay photoperiod treatments: a 7-hour light period (P7H), and a gradually decreasing light (GDL) group. Two variable photoperiod schedules were applied as sub-treatments and randomized across the rooms. In one treatment, the egg production rate in breeder geese decreased to an average below 30%, after which the photoperiod increased by 15 minutes each week (change time). A fixed photoperiod of nine hours was maintained (fixed time) until the end of the egg-laying period.

Results: Geese in the GDL light group had a longer laying duration than P7H light group (243.75 vs 191.75 days; p<0.01). Number of eggs per goose in the GDL light group showed a trend toward higher values than P7H light group (81.82 vs 55.45 egg/bird; p = 0.0779). However, the fertility and hatchability in GDL light group were significantly lower than the P7H light group at all periods, respectively (48.35 vs. 62.57% and 42.80 vs. 53.17%; p<0.05). Income over feed cost for the GDL and P7H light groups was 3,069.6 and 2,535.5 NT$/bird, respectively.

Conclusion: Geese exposed to a 12-hour light (12L:12D) regimen during the pre-laying period exhibited a longer laying duration and higher egg production per bird. However, maintaining a fixed lighting schedule of 9 hours of light and 15 hours of darkness (9L:15D) after the peak laying period is recommended to optimize production profitability by supporting better fertility and hatchability.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of garlic skin as a feed ingredient on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, and rumen health in goats.

Methods: Twelve male black goats with similar body conditions were randomly assigned to two groups. The control group (CON) was fed a basal diet, while the experimental group (GAS) received a diet supplemented with garlic skin for 60 days.

Results: Results showed that goats' final weight and average daily gain significantly increased in the GAS group compared to the CON group (p<0.05). The GAS group exhibited enhanced activities of total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and higher total antioxidant capacity levels, while malondialdehyde content significantly decreased (p<0.05). Immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G levels were significantly elevated, along with increased concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-10, whereas pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly reduced (p<0.05). The rumen fluid of GAS group showed significant increases in ammonia nitrogen, acetate, propionate, and total volatile fatty acids, with a reduction in the acetate-to-propionate ratio (p<0.05). Significant improvements were also observed in rumen papilla height, width, and density (p<0.05). 16S rDNA analysis revealed enhanced microbial diversity and enrichment of functional bacterial groups, such as Firmicutes and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, involved in fiber degradation and volatile fatty acid production. Key metabolites, including 5-methylthioribose and glucose 6-phosphate, were positively correlated with growth and antioxidant capacity.

Conclusion: In conclusion, garlic skin supplementation enhanced antioxidant and immune function, optimized rumen fermentation, improved microbial composition, and promoted goat health and productivity.