Animal Science Journal最新文献

In Japan, the promotion of effective use of many wild deer as food resource has been conducted. However, they are not necessarily utilized effectively. Thus, we focused physiologically functional compounds to find characteristics of Sika deer meats (commercially available) obtained from different regions such as Hokkaido, Wakayama, Tokushima, and Miyazaki prefectures in Japan, making it a valuable resource for future studies and applications. The amount of carnosine, anserine, and balenine in muscle of deer from Wakayama prefecture was significantly lower than that in muscle of deer from other prefectures. The differences of amount of imidazole dipeptides in different prefectures seems to be caused by feed, rearing environment, and breed. The amount of carnitine in deer meat from Hokkaido was significantly lower than that in muscle of deer from other prefectures, while the amount of acetyl-carnitine in deer meat from Miyazaki prefectures was significantly higher than that from other prefectures. The amounts of glutamine, ornithine, and 3-methylhistidine in muscles of deer from Wakayama prefectures were significantly higher than those in muscle of deer from other prefectures. These results might be caused by differences in feeding habits, habitat, the muscle types, and subspecies of deer obtained from four regions in Japan.

This study investigated the effects of cyclic antimicrobial lipopeptides (CLPs) from Bacillus subtilis on the growth performance, gut morphology, and cecal gene expression and microbiota in broilers; 120 1-day-old unsexed Arbor Acres chicks were randomly divided into four groups, with six replicates in each group and five broilers per cage. These groups were fed a basal diet (C), basal diet plus 10-mg enramycin/kg (E), and basal diet plus 51-mg CLPs/kg (L) or 102-mg CLPs/kg (H). The results indicated that CLP supplementation linearly increased the body weight compared with the C group at 35 days of age. Between 15 and 35 days and 1 and 35 days of age, CLP supplementation linearly increased the average daily gain compared with the C group. The duodenal villus height was significantly increased in the H group compared with the C and E groups. In the cecum, CLP supplementation linearly increased SOD and ZO-1 mRNA expression compared with the C group. β diversity of microbiota indicated distinct clusters between the groups. CLP supplementation linearly increased the abundance of the genus Lactobacillus in the cecal digesta compared with the C group. These results demonstrate that B. subtilis–produced CLPs dose-dependently increase broilers' growth performance, improve their gut morphology, and modulate their gut microbiota.

Various studies have attempted to improve the milk yield and composition in dairy animals. However, no study has examined the effects of milking at different times on milk yield and composition. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the yield, composition, and antimicrobial components of milk obtained from milking at different times in lactating goats. Eight goats were milked once daily at different times for three consecutive weeks (first week: 06:00 h; second week: 09:00 h; and third week: 12:00 h). The light ranged from 06:30 to 19:00 h. Milk and blood samples were collected once a day during milking time. Milking at 09:00 h resulted in a significantly higher milk yield than that obtained after milking at 06:00 and 12:00 h. Prolactin levels in plasma and the fat, Na⁺, β-defensin, and S100A7 (antimicrobial component) levels in milk were the lowest in the 09:00 h milking. These results indicate that milk yield, composition, and antimicrobial components can be affected by milking time, which may be related to the altered concentration of prolactin in the blood. These findings provide a rational basis for achieving maximal milk production with strong immunity by changing to a more effective milking time.

Prolonged exposure of bisphenol A (BPA) has adverse effects on in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes, but treatment with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) can improve the IVM and development of embryos. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of BPA and both BPA and TUDCA on IVM and parthenogenetic development of embryos. The results showed that BPA treatment adverse effects on the cumulus expansion index, survival rate, polar body rate, mitochondrial distribution of the oocytes after maturation culture, and that it also decreased the cleavage rate and blastocyst rate of embryos after parthenogenetic develpoment. In addition, BPA treatment upregulated expression of genes related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis and increased the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, while it decreased expression of genes related to cumulus expansion. However, the supplementation of TUDCA relieved these adverse effects of BPA except polar body rate, blastocyst rate, and expression of BCL2 and PTGS1. In conclusion, the supplementation of TUDCA can partly attenuate the negative effects of BPA on IVM and parthenogenetic development of embryos, possibly by modification of the expression of genes related to endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis and cumulus expansion, intracellular ROS level, and mitochondrial distribution.

This study evaluated the effects of supplementation with Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium by-product (ACBP) on growth performance and immune response in weaning piglets. Total available content and antioxidant capacity of ACBP were determined. Ninety-six black pigs were randomly distributed to 24 pens. Study compared four groups which were supplemented with ACBP at 0%, 2.5%, 5%, or 10% for 6 weeks after weaning at 4 weeks. Results showed that ACBP on total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total triterpenoids contents were 13.68 mg GAE/g DW, 1.67 μg QE/g DW, and 15.6 mg/g, respectively. Weaning piglets fed 2.5% ACBP showed a significant decreased body weight gain compared with those supplemented with 5% ACBP, 10% ACBP, and control groups. Results showed that all ACBP groups increased the villi height of jejunum significantly. Incidence of diarrhea in 11 weeks with supplementation with 5% and 10% ACBP diets were lower than in control group. The 10% ACBP group showed significantly lower expression of immune response genes (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) than the 2.5% and 5% ACBP groups. Based on results, dietary supplementation with 10% ACBP did not significantly affect body weight but could decrease piglet diarrhea condition and expression of IL-1β and IL-6 genes.

To improve sustainability, dairy farms can reduce protein-rich concentrate in the cows' diet providing fresh herbage produced on-farm. This study aimed to quantify effects of increasing the percentage of fresh herbage (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%, on a dry matter [DM] basis) in a partial mixed ration-based diet on cow N use efficiency and excretion. The study was performed with five lactating cows, in a 4 × 4 Latin square design for four 3 week periods. Individual DM intake, milk yield, feces and urine excretions, and their N concentrations were measured daily. Dietary crude protein concentrations varied little among treatments (127 to 134 g/kg DM). DM intake and milk yield decreased linearly by 5.2 and 3.7 kg/day, respectively, while N use efficiency increased by 4.1 percentage points from 0% to 75% DM of fresh herbage in the diet. Urinary N was not influenced by the treatments, while fecal N decreased as the percentage of fresh herbage increased. This study highlights that replacing partial mixed ration with an increasing percentage of fresh herbage with slight changes in dietary N concentration increases N use efficiency and the percentage of urinary N in excreted N.

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of abrupt and gradual light/dark switching on growth performance, behavior, villus development, meat characteristics, and immunity of broilers. A total of 270 daily male broiler chicks were used in the experiment. The study comprised three groups based on whether the transitions between light and dark periods were abrupt or gradual. No significant differences were observed among the examined groups in terms of body weight, weight gain, mortality rate, feeding, pecking, relaxing, and feather preening behaviors, carcass, and breast meat quality characteristics. Total body weight gain, total feed consumption, total feed utilization ratio, and mortality rates of broilers during the 6-week fattening period did not differ compared to the abrupt transition. Broilers in the group with gradual transition exhibited less movement, more sitting, and sleeping behaviors. It was determined that the IgG was higher in the gradual transition group. The transitions between light and dark periods influenced the characteristics of thigh meat. Villus height and crypt depth were higher in the group where a 1-h gradual transition was applied. As a conclusion, gradual transition is more appropriate in broiler rearing.

During parturition, cows often experience intense pain and stress, which increases the risk of inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to compare the postpartum health status between healthy cows and those diagnoses with inflammatory diseases by examining behavioral and heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) changes, to provide information before the onset of disease. Eight Holstein cows were used in this study. HR, parameters of HRV (low-frequency power: LF; high-frequency power: HF; LF/HF ratio, and total power) and time budget of individual maintenance behaviors (standing, recumbency, feeding, rumination while standing and lying, and sleep) were continuously recorded from 0 to 168 h postpartum. Milk and blood samples were collected daily. Cows were categorized as diseases based on the positive result of California mastitis test and/or serum haptoglobin concentration that exceeded 50 μg/ml after all blood samples have been collected. Compared to healthy individuals (n = 3), diseased cows (n = 5) exhibited higher HR, LF/HF, and lower total power (p < 0.05), suggesting the dominance of the sympathetic nervous system in cows with inflammatory diseases. Additionally, diseased cows showed an increased standing time budget and reduced recumbency (p < 0.05), which may be a behavioral strategy in response to discomfort from inflammation.

The present study aimed to genetically improve growth performance under high-heat environments by specifically designing a reaction-norm animal model (RNAM) for purebred Duroc pigs in Japan. A total of 54,750 records of average daily gain (ADG) measured for pigs reared at four farms in different prefectures were analyzed. Estimated maximum daily temperatures at the respective farm locations were used to calculate the average cumulative thermal load (TL). The TL values served as an indicator of high-heat environments for pigs. The plausible cumulative period length and threshold temperature for calculating TL were determined to be 8 weeks until just before shipping and 25°C, respectively. Variance components were estimated via RNAM analysis using TL as a linear covariate. The estimated additive genetic variances under both responsive and non-responsive to TL were found to be significant. Moreover, the estimated heritability of ADG ranged from 0.38 to 0.73 for TL values of 0–8. These results suggest that the RNAM developed holds the potential for improving the genetic ability of growth under high-heat environments in pigs.

This study investigated the physiological characteristics and carcass performance associated with residual methane emissions (RME), and the effects of bull differences on CH₄-related traits in Japanese Black cattle. Enteric methane (CH₄) emissions from 156 Japanese Black cattle (111 heifers and 45 steers) were measured during early fattening using the sniffer method. Various physiological parameters were investigated to clarify the physiological traits between the high, middle, and low RME groups. CH₄-related traits were examined to determine whether bull differences affected progeny CH₄ emissions. Ruminal butyrate and NH₃ concentrations were significantly higher in the high-RME group than in the low-RME group, whereas the propionate content was significantly higher in the low-RME group. Blood urea nitrogen, β-hydroxybutyric acid, and insulin concentrations were significantly higher, and blood amino acids were lower in the high-RME group than in the other groups. No significant differences were observed in the carcass traits and beef fat composition between RME groups. CH₄-related traits were significantly different among bull herds. Our results show that CH₄-related traits are heritable, wherein bull differences affect progeny CH₄ production capability, and that the above-mentioned rumen fermentations and blood metabolites could be used to evaluate enteric methanogenesis in Japanese Black cattle.