Background The present experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of commercially processed former foodstuffs(cFF)as dietary substitutes of corn,soybean meal and soybean oil on the growth performance,apparent total trac...Background The present experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of commercially processed former foodstuffs(cFF)as dietary substitutes of corn,soybean meal and soybean oil on the growth performance,apparent total tract digestibil-ity(ATTD),hematobiochemical profiles,and liver gene abundance in broiler chickens.Two hundred one-day-old male ROSS-308 chicks were assigned to 4 dietary groups(5 replicates of ten birds per replicate)according to their average body weight(BW,38.0±0.11 g).All groups received a two-phase feeding program:starter,d 1–12 and grower,d 12–33.The control group(cFF0)was fed a standard commercial feed based on corn,soybean meal and soybean oil.The other three groups received diets in which the feed based on corn,soybean meal,and soybean oil was partially replaced with cFF at a substitution level of 6.25%(cFF6.25),12.5%(cFF12.5)or 25%(cFF25)for the following 33 d.Results The growth performance data showed no differences in BW or average daily gain among groups,although the average daily feed intake decreased during the grower period(12–33 d)and over entire experimental period(1–33 d)in a linear manner as the cFF inclusion level rose(P=0.026),positively affecting the gain to feed ratio(P=0.001).The ATTD of dry matter of the cFF-fed groups were greater with respect to control group and increased throughout the experimental period,whereas the ATTD of ether extract linearly decreased with increasing levels of cFF-fed groups compared with control group and throughout the experimental period(P<0.05).Additionally,a lin-ear increase in the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio,serum cholesterol,triglycerides and alanine-aminotransferase were observed with increasing dietary levels of cFF(P<0.05);however,no differences were observed in lipoprotein lipase or sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor gene abundance.Conclusions The results of this experiment demonstrate that it is possible to incorporate cFF into nutritionally balanced diets for broiler chickens,even up to 25%substitution levels,for up to 33 d without adversely impacting the overall growth performance of male broiler chickens raised under commercial conditions.Further studies are essential to validate the hematological trait findings.展开更多
Background:The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of different inclusion levels of a partially defatted black soldier fly (BSF,Hermetia illucens L.) larva meal on the growth performance,nutrient digestib...Background:The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of different inclusion levels of a partially defatted black soldier fly (BSF,Hermetia illucens L.) larva meal on the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,blood profile,gut morphology and histological features of piglets.A total of 48 newly weaned piglets were individually weighed (initial body weight (IBW):6.1 ± 0.16 kg) and randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments (4 boxes as replicates/treatment and 4 animals/box).BSF larva meal was included at increasing levels (0% [BSF0],5% [BSFS] and 10% [BSF10]) in isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets formulated for two feeding phases:Ⅰ (from d 1 to d 23) and Ⅱ (from d 24 to d 61).The weight gain (WG),average daily gain (ADG),average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated for each feeding phase and for the whole trial.The haematochemical parameters and nutrient digestibility of the piglets were also evaluated.A total of 3 piglets per box were slaughtered on d 61 and the slaughtered piglets were submitted to morphometric investigations and histopathological examinations.Results:No overall significant differences were observed for growth performance (P > 0.05),except for the ADFI of phase Ⅱ,which showed a linear response to increasing BSF meal levels (P < 0.05,maximum for the BSF10 group).Dietary BSF meal inclusion did not significantly influence the blood profile,except as far as monocytes and neutrophils are concerned,and these showed a linear and quadratic response,respectively,to increasing BSF meal levels (P < 0.05,maximum for the BSF10 and BSF5 groups,respectively).On the other hand,the nutrient digestibility,gut morphology and histological features were not affected by dietary BSF meal inclusion (P > 0.05).Conclusions:The obtained results show that a partially defatted BSF larva meal can be used as a feed ingredient in diets for weaned piglets without negatively affecting their growth performance,nutrient digestibility,blood profile,gut morphology or histological features.展开更多
Background:The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has necessitated the development of effective alternatives to antibiotics for livestock and poultry production.This study investigated a possible synergy between bu...Background:The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has necessitated the development of effective alternatives to antibiotics for livestock and poultry production.This study investigated a possible synergy between butyrate and forskolin(a natural labdane diterpene)in enhancing innate host defense,barrier function,disease resistance,growth performance,and meat quality of broilers.Methods:The expressions of representative genes involved in host defense(AvBD9 and AvBD10),barrier function(MUC2,CLDN1,and TJP1),and inflammation(IL-1β)were measured in chicken HD11 macrophages in response to butyrate and forskolin in the presence or absence of bacterial lipopolysaccharides(LPS).Intestinal lesions and the Clostridium perfringens titers were also assessed in C.perfringens-challenged chickens fed butyrate and forskolincontaining Coleus forskohlii(CF)extract individually or in combination.Furthermore,growth performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated in broilers supplemented with butyrate and the CF extract for 42 d.Results:Butyrate and forskolin synergistically induced the expressions of AvBD9,AvBD10,and MUC2 in chicken HD11 cells(P<0.05)and the synergy was maintained in the presence of LPS.Butyrate and forskolin also suppressed LPS-induced IL-1βgene expression in HD11 cells in a synergistic manner(P<0.05).The two compounds significantly reduced the intestinal lesions of C.perfringens-challenged chickens when combined(P<0.05),but not individually.Furthermore,butyrate in combination with forskolin-containing CF extract had no influence on weight gain,but significantly reduced feed intake(P<0.05)with a strong tendency to improve feed efficiency(P=0.07)in a 42-d feeding trial.Desirably,the butyrate/forskolin combination significantly decreased abdominal fat deposition(P=0.01)with no impact on the carcass yield,breast meat color,drip loss,or pH of d-42 broilers.Conclusions:Butyrate and forskolin has potential to be developed as novel antibiotic alternatives to improve disease resistance,feed efficiency,and carcass composition of broilers.展开更多
Background:Very low-protein(VLP)diets negatively impact calcium(Ca)metabolism and absorption.The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of supplemental branched-chain amino acids(BCAA)and limiting amino...Background:Very low-protein(VLP)diets negatively impact calcium(Ca)metabolism and absorption.The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of supplemental branched-chain amino acids(BCAA)and limiting amino acids(LAA)on Ca digestibility,absorption and reabsorption in pigs fed with VLP diets.Forty-eight piglets were assigned to six treatments:positive control(PC),negative control(NC),and NC containing LAA 25%,LAA 50%,LAA+BCAA 25%(LB25)and LAA+BCAA 50%(LB50)more than recommendations.Results:Relative to PC or NC,LB25 and LB50 had higher digestibility of Ca and plasma Ca and phosphorus(P),but lower plasma vitamin D3.LB50 tended to increase vitamin D receptor transcript and protein in the gut,but decreased mRNA or protein abundance of parathyroid hormone 1 receptor(PTH1R),calbindin 1(CALB1),cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily B member 1 and occludin in small intestine.LB50 increased the transcript of cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1 and PTH1R but decreased the transcript of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 5,CALB1 and solute carrier family 17 member 4 in kidney.Conclusion:Overall,BCAA increased Ca digestibility through regulating the transcellular and paracellular Ca absorption in the gut and reabsorption in kidney during protein restriction.展开更多
Numerous physiological and pathological processes are controlled by free fatty acids, which act as signaling molecules in mammals. We hypothesized that oleic acid (Ole) might stimulate the formation of satellite-cell-...Numerous physiological and pathological processes are controlled by free fatty acids, which act as signaling molecules in mammals. We hypothesized that oleic acid (Ole) might stimulate the formation of satellite-cell-derived intramuscular adipose tissue. The role of Ole as a ligand of <em>G-protein-coupled receptor 43</em> (<em>GPR4</em>3) was previously identified. Thus, the objective of the current study was to determine the effect of Ole on <em>GPR43</em> and factors related to the adipogenic differentiation of bovine satellite cells (BSC). Treatments of 100 μM and 500 μM Ole tended to induce greater (P < 0.10) mRNA expression of <em>CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β</em> (<em>C/EBPβ</em>) compared to all other doses. The mRNA abundance of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (<em>PPARγ</em>) was not altered (<em>P</em> > 0.10) by treatment. The addition of 100 μM and 500 μM of Ole upregulated (<em>P</em> < 0.05) <em>GPR43</em> mRNA expression. Protein level of GPR43 was increased (<em>P</em> < 0.05) by 100 μM of Ole treatments. Addition of Ole to BSC cultures induced transformation of myogenic cells into adipocyte-like cells that formed cytoplasmic lipid droplets. Increased expression of<em> C/EBPβ</em> in response to Ole might suppress myogenic differentiation. After the treatment of cells with Ole, increased expression of GPR43 could lead to phosphorylation of 5’ AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα). Altogether, the results indicated that increased Ole might stimulate adipose tissue accumulation within the skeletal muscle of cattle by promoting adipogenic differentiation and activation of GPR43 in satellite cells.展开更多
Horses, like all animals, are born without the symbiotic microbes that occupy the gastrointestinal tracts of mature animals. As grazing animals, horses rely on these microbes to fully utilize the grasses and other cel...Horses, like all animals, are born without the symbiotic microbes that occupy the gastrointestinal tracts of mature animals. As grazing animals, horses rely on these microbes to fully utilize the grasses and other cellulosic feeds that they consume. Thus, colonization of the foal's gastrointestinal tract must occur between birth and weaning. The feces of nine mare and foal pairs were sampled from the day of parturition until 12 weeks of age, and the samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The gels from feces of day (d) 0 foals had no or very few ( x = 3, n = 6) bands, which indicates that species richness was low. The number of bands increased during the first 4 days of life, and by d 14 the foals and mares had similar numbers of bands ( x = 28, n = 23). Some bands were present in young foals, but not in mares or in foals on d 42 or d 84, which indicated succession of bacterial species. When the PCR-DGGE profiles were compared with Dice's algorithm, all mare-foal pairwise similarities on d 14 and later were as great as the pairwise similarities between mares. These results are consistent with the idea that foals are born with a sterile gut, colonization proceeds rapidly, and a mature microbial community is present in the first few weeks of life.展开更多
The aim of this study was to compare the sperm nuclear and acrosomal morphometry of three species of domestic artiodactyls; cattle （Bos taurus）, sheep （Ovis aries）, and pigs （Sus scrofa）. Semen smears of twenty ...The aim of this study was to compare the sperm nuclear and acrosomal morphometry of three species of domestic artiodactyls; cattle （Bos taurus）, sheep （Ovis aries）, and pigs （Sus scrofa）. Semen smears of twenty ejaculates from each species were fixed and labeled with a propidium iodide-Pisum sativum agglutinin （PI/PSA） combination. Digital images of the sperm nucleus, acrosome, and whole sperm head were captured and analyzed. The use of the PI/PSA combination and CASA-Morph fluorescence-based method allowed the capture, morphometric analysis, and differentiation of most sperm nuclei, acrosomes and whole heads, and the assessment of acrosomal integrity with a high precision in the three species studied. For the size of the head and nuclear area, the relationship between the three species may be summarized as bull 〉 ram 〉 boar. However, for the other morphometric parameters （length, width, and perimeter）, there were differences in the relationships between species for sperm nuclei and whole sperm heads. Bull sperm acrosomes were clearly smaller than those in the other species studied and covered a smaller proportion of the sperm head. The acrosomal morphology, small in the bull, large and broad in the sheep, and large, long, and with a pronounced equatorial segment curve in the boar, was species-characteristic. It was concluded that there are clear variations in the size and shape of the sperm head components between the three species studied, the acrosome being the structure showing the most variability, allowing a clear distinction of the spermatozoa of each species.展开更多
This study was designed to analyze the sperm kinematic and morphometric subpopulations in the different fractions of the ejaculate in normozoospermic men. Ejaculates from eight normozoospermic men were collected by ma...This study was designed to analyze the sperm kinematic and morphometric subpopulations in the different fractions of the ejaculate in normozoospermic men. Ejaculates from eight normozoospermic men were collected by masturbation in three fractions after 3-5 days of sexual abstinence. Analyses of sperm motility by computer-assisted sperm analysis （CASA-Mot）, and of sperm morphometry by computer-assisted sperm morphometry analysis （CASA-Morph） using fluorescence were performed. Clustering and discriminant procedures were performed to identify sperm subpopulations in the kinematic and morphometric data obtained. Clustering procedures resulted in the classification of spermatozoa into three kinematic subpopulations （slow with low ALH [35.6% of all motile spermatozoa], with circular trajectories [32.0%], and rapid with high ALH [32.4%]）, and three morphometric subpopulations （large-round [33.9% of all spermatozoa], elongated [32.0%], and small [34.10%]）. The distribution of kinematic sperm subpopulations was different among ejaculate fractions （P 〈 0.001）, with higher percentages of spermatozoa exhibiting slow movements with low ALH in the second and third portions, and with a more homogeneous distribution of kinematic sperm subpopulations in the first portion. The distribution of morphometric sperm subpopulations was also different among ejaculate fractions （P〈 0.001）, with more elongated spermatozoa in the first, and of small spermatozoa in the third, portion. It is concluded that important variations in the distribution of kinematic and morphometric sperm subpopulations exist between ejaculate fractions, with possible functional implications.展开更多
Fermentation of cellulosic biomass can be done in a single step with cellulolytic, solventogenic bacteria, such as Clostridium thermocellum. However, the suite of products is limited in consolidated bioprocessing. For...Fermentation of cellulosic biomass can be done in a single step with cellulolytic, solventogenic bacteria, such as Clostridium thermocellum. However, the suite of products is limited in consolidated bioprocessing. Fortunately, the thermophilic nature of C. thermocellum can be exploited in sequential culture. Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of feedstock particle size on fermentation by sequential cultures and to demonstrate this effect could be shown by gas production. Dual-temperature sequential cultures were conducted by first culturing with C. thermocellum (63°C, 48 h) before culturing with C. beijerinckii (35°C, 24 h). Switchgrass (2, 5 or 15 mm particle size) was the feedstock in submerged substrate (10% w/v) fermentation. The extent of fermentation was evaluated by gas production and compared by analysis of variance with Tukey’s test post hoc. C. thermocellum alone produced 78 kPa cumulative pressure (approx. 680 mL gas) when the particle size was 2 or 5 mm. The C. thermocellum cultures with 15 mm feedstock particles had a mean cumulative pressure of 15 kPa after 48 h, which was less than the 2 and 5 mm treatments (P °C) and inoculated with C. beijerinckii, and the cumulative pressures were reset to ambient, cumulative pressure values as great as 70 kPa (equivalent to an additional 670 mL gas) were produced in 24 h. Again, the longer (15 mm) particle size produced less gas (P < 0.05). When the substrates were inoculated with C. beijerinckii without previous fermentation by C. thermocellum, the mean cumulative pressures were approximately 10 kPa. These results indicate that biological pretreatment with C. thermocellum increased the availability of switchgrass carbohydrates to C. beijerinckii, and that gas production is suitable method to show the effectiveness of a pretreatment.展开更多
To date,sperm morphometric studies have assessed whole sperm populations without considering sperm function.The aim of this study was to evaluate the relati on ship of sperm membrane and acrosomal integrity with sperm...To date,sperm morphometric studies have assessed whole sperm populations without considering sperm function.The aim of this study was to evaluate the relati on ship of sperm membrane and acrosomal integrity with sperm morphometry in liquid semen samples collected from bulls.To this end,sperm morphometry was performed on cryopreserved semen samples from 16 bulls by a combination of fluorescent dyes,including Hoechst 33343,carboxyfluorescein diacetate,and propidium iodide.This allowed discrimination of different subpopulations on the basis of sperm membrane and acrosomal integrity and analysis of the morphometries of the sperm head,nucleus,and acrosome using a specific plug-in module created on ImageJ.Acrosomal integrity was related to sperm morphometry as the heads of spermatozoa with a damaged acrosome were significantly smaller than those with a normal acrosome(P<0.001).In the case of spermatozoa with an intact acrosome,those with a damaged plasma membrane had a larger sperm head and acrosome than spermatozoa with an intact plasma membrane(P<0.001).No significant differences in the sperm head size were observed between sperm subpopulations without an acrosome or in the nuclear sperm morphometry of the different subpopulations.There was a positive correlation between the sperm motility values of the samples and the morphometric parameters for in tact spermatozoa.These correlations were particularly strong for the morphometric parameters of the sperm acrosome.We conclude that there are clear differences in the sperm morphometry depending on the status of the sperm membrane and acrosome and this should be considered when performing this kind of analysis.展开更多
Dry-fermented sausages are a good source of bioactive peptides,whose stability against gastrointestinal(GI)digestion determines their bioaccessibility.This study focused on evaluating the effect of peptide extracts fr...Dry-fermented sausages are a good source of bioactive peptides,whose stability against gastrointestinal(GI)digestion determines their bioaccessibility.This study focused on evaluating the effect of peptide extracts from sausages fermented with Staphylococcus simulans QB7 during in vitro simulated GI digestion,including peptide profiles and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.Peptides present in sausages were degraded during digestion,with molecular weight reduced from>12 kDa to<1.5 kDa.Besides,the content of amino acids increased from 381.15 to 527.07 mg/g,especially tyrosine being found only after GI digestion.The anti-inflammatory activities were increased after GI digestion,however,the changes in antioxidant activities were the opposite.A total number of 255,252 and 386 peptide sequences were identified in undigested,peptic-digested and GI-digested samples,respectively.PeptideRanker,BIOPEP-UWM and admetSAR were used to further predict the functional properties and intestinal absorption of the identified peptide sequences from GI digestion.Finally,18 peptides were discovered to possess either antioxidant or anti-inflammatory capacities.展开更多
Background:Inbreeding depression can adversely affect traits related to fitness,reproduction and productive performance.Although current research suggests that inbreeding levels are generally low in most goat breeds,t...Background:Inbreeding depression can adversely affect traits related to fitness,reproduction and productive performance.Although current research suggests that inbreeding levels are generally low in most goat breeds,the impact of inbreeding depression on phenotypes of economic interest has only been investigated in a few studies based on genealogical data.Results:We genotyped 1040 goats with the Goat SNP50 BeadChip.This information was used to estimate different molecular inbreeding coefficients and characterise runs of homozygosity and homozygosity patterns.We detected38 genomic regions with increased homozygosity as well as 8 ROH hotspots mapping to chromosomes 1,2,4,6,14,16 and 17.Eight hundred seventeen goats with available records for dairy traits were analysed to evaluate the potential consequences of inbreeding depression on milk phenotypes.Four regions on chromosomes 8 and 25were significantly associated with inbreeding depression for the natural logarithm of the somatic cell count.Notably,these regions contain several genes related with immunity,such as SYK,IL27,CCL19 and CCL21.Moreover,one region on chromosome 2 was significantly associated with inbreeding depression for milk yield.Conclusions:Although genomic inbreeding levels are low in Murciano-Granadina goats,significant evidence of inbreeding depression for the logarithm of the somatic cell count,a phenotype closely associated with udder health and milk yield,have been detected in this population.Minimising inbreeding would be expected to augment economic gain by increasing milk yield and reducing the incidence of mastitis,which is one of the main causes of dairy goat culling.展开更多
Sperm quality is evaluated for the calculation of sperm dosage in artificial reproductive programs. The most common parameter used is motility, but morphology has a higher potential as a predictor of genetic quality. ...Sperm quality is evaluated for the calculation of sperm dosage in artificial reproductive programs. The most common parameter used is motility, but morphology has a higher potential as a predictor of genetic quality. Morphometry calculations from CASA-Morph technology improve morphological evaluation and allow mathematical approaches to the problem. Semen from 28 Holstein bulls was collected by artificial vagina, and several ejaculates were studied. After general evaluation, samples were diluted, packaged in 0.25 ml straws, and stored in liquid nitrogen. Two straws per sample were thawed, and slides were processed and stained with Diff-Quik. Samples were analyzed by a CASA-Morph system for eight morphometric parameters. In addition to the ＂classical＂ statistical approach, based on variance analysis （revealing differences between animals, ejaculates, and straws）, principal component （PC） analysis showed that the variables were grouped into PC1, related to size, and PC2 to shape. Subpopulation structure analysis showed four groups, namely, big, small, short, and narrow from their dominant characteristics, representing 31.0%, 27.3%, 24.1%, and 17.7% of the total population, respectively. The distributions varied between animals and ejaculates, but between straws, there were no differences in only four animals. This modern approach of considering an ejaculate sperm population as divided into subpopulations reflecting quantifiable parameters generated by CASA-Morph systems technology opens a new view on sperm function. This is the first study applying this approach to evaluate different ejaculates and straws from the same individual. More work must be done to improve seminal dose calculations in assisted reproductive programs.展开更多
Cryopreservation is the main functional means for storage of excess embryos produced from artificial reproductive technologies;the process assumes embryos chemical nature is highly conserved across embryos of the same...Cryopreservation is the main functional means for storage of excess embryos produced from artificial reproductive technologies;the process assumes embryos chemical nature is highly conserved across embryos of the same species. However, in practice there appears to be a high degree of variability in embryo tolerance to cryopreservation, suggesting potential differences in embryo chemistry. The objective of the current study was to develop reproducible means of estimating relative embryos weight and associating those weights to lipid content. Relative embryo weights of frozen/thawed in-vivo Jersey and Crossbred beef breed embryos were determined using a modified specific gravity chamber. Embryo weights were then correlated with lipid content. Results suggest that beef cattle embryos are 20% - 27% heavier than Jersey embryos展开更多
Background： Indigestible markers are commonly utilized in digestion studies, but the complete disappearance or maximum appearance of a marker in feces can be affected by diet composition, feed intake, or an animal＇s...Background： Indigestible markers are commonly utilized in digestion studies, but the complete disappearance or maximum appearance of a marker in feces can be affected by diet composition, feed intake, or an animal＇s BW.The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of previous（Phase 1, P1） and current-（Phase 2, P2）diet composition on marker disappearance（Cr） and appearance（Ti） in pigs fed 3 diets differing in NDF content.Results： When pigs were maintained on the 25.1, 72.5, and 125.0 g/kg NDF diets, it took 5.1, 4.1, and 2.5 d, respectively,for Cr levels to decrease below the limit of quantitation; or 4.6, 3.7, or 2.8 d, respectively, for Ti to be maximized. These effects were not, however, independent of the previous diet as indicated by the interaction between P1 and P2 diets on fecal marker concentrations（P 〈 0.01）. When dietary NDF increased from P1 to P2, it took less time for fecal Cr to decrease or fecal Ti to be maximized（an average of 2.5 d）, than if NDF decreased from P1 to P2 where it took longer for fecal Cr to decrease or fecal Ti to be maximized（an average of 3.4 d）.Conclusions： Because of the wide range in excretion times reported in the literature and improved laboratory methods for elemental detection, the data suggests that caution must be taken in considering dietary fiber concentrations of the past and currently fed diets so that no previous dietary marker addition remains in the digestive tract or feces such that a smal amount of maker is present to confound subsequent experimental results, and that marker concentration have stabilized when these samples are col ected.展开更多
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a key component of beer brewing and a major by-product. The leftover, spent brewers’ yeast from large breweries has been used as a protein supplement in cattle;however the possible advanta...Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a key component of beer brewing and a major by-product. The leftover, spent brewers’ yeast from large breweries has been used as a protein supplement in cattle;however the possible advantages of spent yeast from smaller craft breweries, containing much higher levels of bioactive hop acids, have not been evaluated. Hops secondary metabolites from the hops (Humulus lupulus L.) used to make beer are concentrated in the yeast during brewing, and have antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Uncultivated suspensions of bovine rumen microorganisms produced less methane during fructose fermentation when exposed to inactivated, and freeze-dried spent craft brewers’ yeast than a bakers’ yeast control. The experiment was repeated with caprine rumen microorganisms and ground grass hay as the substrate. Likewise, in the presence of craft brewers’ yeast less methane was produced (2.7% vs. 6.9% CH<sub>4</sub>). Both experiments also revealed a decrease in acetic acid production, but not propionic acid production, when craft brewers’ yeast was included. These results indicated that spent yeast could represent a co-product for craft breweries, and a feed supplement for ruminants that has a favorable impact on methane production.展开更多
Background Stocker cattle diet and management influence beef cattle performance during the finishing stage,but knowledge of the dynamics of the rumen microbiome associated with the host are lacking.A longitudinal stud...Background Stocker cattle diet and management influence beef cattle performance during the finishing stage,but knowledge of the dynamics of the rumen microbiome associated with the host are lacking.A longitudinal study was conducted to determine how the feeding strategy from the stocker to the finishing stages of production affects the temporal dynamics of rumen microbiota.During the stocker phase,either dry hay or wheat pasture were provided,and three levels of monensin were administrated.All calves were then transported to a feedlot and received similar finishing diets with or without monensin.Rumen microbial samples were collected on d 0,28,85 during the stocker stage(S0,S28 and S85)and d 0,14,28,56,30 d before slaughter and the end of the trial during the finishing stage(F0,F14,F28,F56,Pre-Ba,and Final).The V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene of 263 rumen samples was sequenced.Results Higher alpha diversity,including the number of observed bacterial features and the Shannon index,was observed in the stocker phase compared to the finishing phase.The bacterial amplicon sequence variants(ASVs)differentiating different sampling time points were identified.Dietary treatments during the stocker stage temporally impact the dynamics of rumen microbiota.For example,shared bacteria,including Bacteroidales(ASV19)and Streptococcus infantarius(ASV94),were significantly higher in hay rumen on S28,S85,and F0,while Bacteroidaceae(ASV11)and Limivicinus(ASV15)were more abundant in wheat.Monensin affected rumen microbial composition at a specific time.Transportation to feedlot significantly influenced microbiome structure and diversity in hay-fed calves.Bacterial taxa associated with body weight were classified,and core microbiotas interacted with each other during the trial.Conclusions In summary,the temporal dynamics of the rumen microbiome in cattle at the stocker and finishing stage are influenced by multiple factors of the feeding strategy.Diet at the stocker phase may temporarily affect the microbial composition during this stage.Modulating the rumen microbiome in the steers at the stocker stage affects the microbial interactions and performance in the finishing stage.展开更多
Background The red macroalgae Asparagopsis is an effective methanogenesis inhibitor due to the presence of halogenated methane(CH_(4))analogues,primarily bromoform(CHBr_(3)).This study aimed to investigate the degrada...Background The red macroalgae Asparagopsis is an effective methanogenesis inhibitor due to the presence of halogenated methane(CH_(4))analogues,primarily bromoform(CHBr_(3)).This study aimed to investigate the degradation process of CHBr3 from A taxiformis in the rumen and whether this process is diet-dependent.An in vitro batch culture system was used according to a 2×2 factorial design,assessing two A taxiformis inclusion rates[0(CTL)and 2%DM diet(AT)]and two diets[high-concentrate(HC)and high-forage diet(HF)].Incubations lasted for 72 h and samples of headspace and fermentation liquid were taken at 0,0.5,1,3,6,8,12,16,24,48 and 72 h to assess the pattern of degradation of CHBr_(3) into dibromomethane(CH_(2)Br_(2))and fermentation parameters.Additionally,an in vitro experiment with pure cultures of seven methanogens strains(Methanobrevibacter smithii,Methanobrevibacter ruminantium,Methanosphaera stadtmanae,Methanosarcina barkeri,Methanobrevibacter millerae,Methanorhermobacter wolfei and Methanobacterium mobile)was conducted to test the effects of increasing concentrations of CHBr3(0.4,2,10and 50μmol/L).Results The addition of AT significantly decreased CH_(4) production(P=0.002)and the acetate:propionate ratio(P=0.003)during a 72-h incubation.The concentrations of CHBr_(3) showed a rapid decrease with nearly 90%degraded within the first 3 h of incubation.On the contrary,CH_(2)Br_(2) concentration quickly increased during the first 6 h and then gradually decreased towards the end of the incubation.Neither CHBr_(3) degradation nor CH_(2)Br_(2) synthesis were affected by the type of diet used as substrate,suggesting that the fermentation rate is not a driving factor involved in CHBr_(3)degradation.The in vitro culture of methanogens showed a dose-response effect of CHBr3 by inhibiting the growth of M.smithii,M.ruminantium,M.stadtmanae,M.barkeri,M.millerae,M.wolfei,and M.mobile.Conclusions The present work demonstrated that CHBr_(3) from A.taxiformis is quickly degraded to CH_(2)Br_(2)in the rumen and that the fermentation rate promoted by different diets is not a driving factor involved in CHBr_(3)degradation.展开更多
The problems associated with the subjective assessment of human sperm morphology have been well aired in another Asian Journal of Andrology Special Issue1 that marked the publication of the 5th edition of the WHO Seme...The problems associated with the subjective assessment of human sperm morphology have been well aired in another Asian Journal of Andrology Special Issue1 that marked the publication of the 5th edition of the WHO Semen analysis manual, and contrary views have subsequently been presented） However, the vagaries of the eye-brain system in assessing whether a sperm head is large or small can be eliminated by objective assessment where definitive structures are defined by their dimensions. These can then be classified automatically into as many categories as the data permit, conventionally on the basis of preset upper and lower limits, but also by more comprehensive analysis as discussed here.展开更多
The study objective was to evaluate steer growth performance, sera metabolite responses, carcass characteristics, and pulmonary arterial pressure as affected by body weight at time of implantation and steroidal implan...The study objective was to evaluate steer growth performance, sera metabolite responses, carcass characteristics, and pulmonary arterial pressure as affected by body weight at time of implantation and steroidal implant administration. Crossbred steers (n = 20) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design experiment, Factors included: body weight: light (L), or heavy (H) and implant: Non-implanted (NoIMP), or Implanted (IMP) with steer serving as the experimental unit for all analyses. Initial weights for L and H steers were 398 ± 27.6 and 547 ± 25.2 kg, respectively. Implanted steers received a terminal implant (200 mg trenbolone acetate and 20 mg estradiol-17β;Revalor-200;Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ) on d 0. Cattle within treatments were group housed in common pens (n = 5 steers/pen). Bodyweight, blood samples, and pulmonary arterial pressure were collected on d 0, 14, 35, 70 and 104. Cattle were fed a common diet once daily to provide ad libitum access to feed. The finishing diet contained (DM basis) 13.3% CP, 2.13 Mcal/kg NEm, and 1.45 Mcal/kg NEg. Growth performance (body weight and ADG) and carcass traits were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Sera metabolites were analyzed as repeated measures over time, with day as the repeated measure. For all analyses, α level < 0.05 determined significance. Heavy steers consumed 2.2 kg more per head of DM daily than L cattle and IMP steers consumed 1.0 kg more DM daily than NoIMP steers. Cumulative ADG did not differ between the L and H steers (1.41 vs. 1.52 ± 0.060 kg;P = 0.20). Implanting increased (P < 0.01) ADG by 39% (1.22 vs. 1.70 ± 0.060 kg). No differences (P > 0.05) in ADG were observed in NoIMP vs. IMP cattle beyond d 70 (1.21 vs. 1.01 ± 0.16 kg;P = 0.38). Sera urea-N concentrations were decreased (P < 0.01) in L cattle subjected to IMP during the study and tended to increase over time for the other treatments. Ribfat, HCW, LM, marbling score, calculated YG, and estimated EBF were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in H compared to L. Steers from IMP had heavier HCW (P < 0.01) but decreased marbling scores (P = 0.05) compared to NoIMP. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure was greater (P < 0.01) for H compared to L steers which may predispose heavier cattle to right-sided heart failure. The steroid implant had no effect on pulmonary arterial pressure (P > 0.49). The study reaffirms the effects of implanting on animal growth performance and carcass characteristics in cattle. In addition, elevated BW leads to increased pulmonary arterial pressures which may increase the risk of right-sided heart failure.展开更多
基金Department of Veterinary Sciences“Ricerca Locale–Linea A”.
文摘Background The present experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of commercially processed former foodstuffs(cFF)as dietary substitutes of corn,soybean meal and soybean oil on the growth performance,apparent total tract digestibil-ity(ATTD),hematobiochemical profiles,and liver gene abundance in broiler chickens.Two hundred one-day-old male ROSS-308 chicks were assigned to 4 dietary groups(5 replicates of ten birds per replicate)according to their average body weight(BW,38.0±0.11 g).All groups received a two-phase feeding program:starter,d 1–12 and grower,d 12–33.The control group(cFF0)was fed a standard commercial feed based on corn,soybean meal and soybean oil.The other three groups received diets in which the feed based on corn,soybean meal,and soybean oil was partially replaced with cFF at a substitution level of 6.25%(cFF6.25),12.5%(cFF12.5)or 25%(cFF25)for the following 33 d.Results The growth performance data showed no differences in BW or average daily gain among groups,although the average daily feed intake decreased during the grower period(12–33 d)and over entire experimental period(1–33 d)in a linear manner as the cFF inclusion level rose(P=0.026),positively affecting the gain to feed ratio(P=0.001).The ATTD of dry matter of the cFF-fed groups were greater with respect to control group and increased throughout the experimental period,whereas the ATTD of ether extract linearly decreased with increasing levels of cFF-fed groups compared with control group and throughout the experimental period(P<0.05).Additionally,a lin-ear increase in the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio,serum cholesterol,triglycerides and alanine-aminotransferase were observed with increasing dietary levels of cFF(P<0.05);however,no differences were observed in lipoprotein lipase or sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor gene abundance.Conclusions The results of this experiment demonstrate that it is possible to incorporate cFF into nutritionally balanced diets for broiler chickens,even up to 25%substitution levels,for up to 33 d without adversely impacting the overall growth performance of male broiler chickens raised under commercial conditions.Further studies are essential to validate the hematological trait findings.
基金Financial support for this work was provided by Martini Group(Premio Iller Campani)a University of Turin(ex 60%)grant(Es.fin.2015–2016-2017)
文摘Background:The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of different inclusion levels of a partially defatted black soldier fly (BSF,Hermetia illucens L.) larva meal on the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,blood profile,gut morphology and histological features of piglets.A total of 48 newly weaned piglets were individually weighed (initial body weight (IBW):6.1 ± 0.16 kg) and randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments (4 boxes as replicates/treatment and 4 animals/box).BSF larva meal was included at increasing levels (0% [BSF0],5% [BSFS] and 10% [BSF10]) in isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets formulated for two feeding phases:Ⅰ (from d 1 to d 23) and Ⅱ (from d 24 to d 61).The weight gain (WG),average daily gain (ADG),average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated for each feeding phase and for the whole trial.The haematochemical parameters and nutrient digestibility of the piglets were also evaluated.A total of 3 piglets per box were slaughtered on d 61 and the slaughtered piglets were submitted to morphometric investigations and histopathological examinations.Results:No overall significant differences were observed for growth performance (P > 0.05),except for the ADFI of phase Ⅱ,which showed a linear response to increasing BSF meal levels (P < 0.05,maximum for the BSF10 group).Dietary BSF meal inclusion did not significantly influence the blood profile,except as far as monocytes and neutrophils are concerned,and these showed a linear and quadratic response,respectively,to increasing BSF meal levels (P < 0.05,maximum for the BSF10 and BSF5 groups,respectively).On the other hand,the nutrient digestibility,gut morphology and histological features were not affected by dietary BSF meal inclusion (P > 0.05).Conclusions:The obtained results show that a partially defatted BSF larva meal can be used as a feed ingredient in diets for weaned piglets without negatively affecting their growth performance,nutrient digestibility,blood profile,gut morphology or histological features.
基金supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (grant no. 2018–68003-27462 and 2020–67016-31619)Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (grant no. AR19–027)+2 种基金Boulware Endowment FundOklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station Project H-3112supported by the USDA-NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship grant 2018–67011-28041
文摘Background:The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has necessitated the development of effective alternatives to antibiotics for livestock and poultry production.This study investigated a possible synergy between butyrate and forskolin(a natural labdane diterpene)in enhancing innate host defense,barrier function,disease resistance,growth performance,and meat quality of broilers.Methods:The expressions of representative genes involved in host defense(AvBD9 and AvBD10),barrier function(MUC2,CLDN1,and TJP1),and inflammation(IL-1β)were measured in chicken HD11 macrophages in response to butyrate and forskolin in the presence or absence of bacterial lipopolysaccharides(LPS).Intestinal lesions and the Clostridium perfringens titers were also assessed in C.perfringens-challenged chickens fed butyrate and forskolincontaining Coleus forskohlii(CF)extract individually or in combination.Furthermore,growth performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated in broilers supplemented with butyrate and the CF extract for 42 d.Results:Butyrate and forskolin synergistically induced the expressions of AvBD9,AvBD10,and MUC2 in chicken HD11 cells(P<0.05)and the synergy was maintained in the presence of LPS.Butyrate and forskolin also suppressed LPS-induced IL-1βgene expression in HD11 cells in a synergistic manner(P<0.05).The two compounds significantly reduced the intestinal lesions of C.perfringens-challenged chickens when combined(P<0.05),but not individually.Furthermore,butyrate in combination with forskolin-containing CF extract had no influence on weight gain,but significantly reduced feed intake(P<0.05)with a strong tendency to improve feed efficiency(P=0.07)in a 42-d feeding trial.Desirably,the butyrate/forskolin combination significantly decreased abdominal fat deposition(P=0.01)with no impact on the carcass yield,breast meat color,drip loss,or pH of d-42 broilers.Conclusions:Butyrate and forskolin has potential to be developed as novel antibiotic alternatives to improve disease resistance,feed efficiency,and carcass composition of broilers.
基金funded by Animal Health and Production and Animal Products:Improved Nutritional Performance,Growth,and Lactation of Animals,grant no. 2021–67016-33399/project accession no. 1024334Hatch project accession no. 1012889 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
文摘Background:Very low-protein(VLP)diets negatively impact calcium(Ca)metabolism and absorption.The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of supplemental branched-chain amino acids(BCAA)and limiting amino acids(LAA)on Ca digestibility,absorption and reabsorption in pigs fed with VLP diets.Forty-eight piglets were assigned to six treatments:positive control(PC),negative control(NC),and NC containing LAA 25%,LAA 50%,LAA+BCAA 25%(LB25)and LAA+BCAA 50%(LB50)more than recommendations.Results:Relative to PC or NC,LB25 and LB50 had higher digestibility of Ca and plasma Ca and phosphorus(P),but lower plasma vitamin D3.LB50 tended to increase vitamin D receptor transcript and protein in the gut,but decreased mRNA or protein abundance of parathyroid hormone 1 receptor(PTH1R),calbindin 1(CALB1),cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily B member 1 and occludin in small intestine.LB50 increased the transcript of cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1 and PTH1R but decreased the transcript of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 5,CALB1 and solute carrier family 17 member 4 in kidney.Conclusion:Overall,BCAA increased Ca digestibility through regulating the transcellular and paracellular Ca absorption in the gut and reabsorption in kidney during protein restriction.
文摘Numerous physiological and pathological processes are controlled by free fatty acids, which act as signaling molecules in mammals. We hypothesized that oleic acid (Ole) might stimulate the formation of satellite-cell-derived intramuscular adipose tissue. The role of Ole as a ligand of <em>G-protein-coupled receptor 43</em> (<em>GPR4</em>3) was previously identified. Thus, the objective of the current study was to determine the effect of Ole on <em>GPR43</em> and factors related to the adipogenic differentiation of bovine satellite cells (BSC). Treatments of 100 μM and 500 μM Ole tended to induce greater (P < 0.10) mRNA expression of <em>CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β</em> (<em>C/EBPβ</em>) compared to all other doses. The mRNA abundance of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (<em>PPARγ</em>) was not altered (<em>P</em> > 0.10) by treatment. The addition of 100 μM and 500 μM of Ole upregulated (<em>P</em> < 0.05) <em>GPR43</em> mRNA expression. Protein level of GPR43 was increased (<em>P</em> < 0.05) by 100 μM of Ole treatments. Addition of Ole to BSC cultures induced transformation of myogenic cells into adipocyte-like cells that formed cytoplasmic lipid droplets. Increased expression of<em> C/EBPβ</em> in response to Ole might suppress myogenic differentiation. After the treatment of cells with Ole, increased expression of GPR43 could lead to phosphorylation of 5’ AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα). Altogether, the results indicated that increased Ole might stimulate adipose tissue accumulation within the skeletal muscle of cattle by promoting adipogenic differentiation and activation of GPR43 in satellite cells.
文摘Horses, like all animals, are born without the symbiotic microbes that occupy the gastrointestinal tracts of mature animals. As grazing animals, horses rely on these microbes to fully utilize the grasses and other cellulosic feeds that they consume. Thus, colonization of the foal's gastrointestinal tract must occur between birth and weaning. The feces of nine mare and foal pairs were sampled from the day of parturition until 12 weeks of age, and the samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The gels from feces of day (d) 0 foals had no or very few ( x = 3, n = 6) bands, which indicates that species richness was low. The number of bands increased during the first 4 days of life, and by d 14 the foals and mares had similar numbers of bands ( x = 28, n = 23). Some bands were present in young foals, but not in mares or in foals on d 42 or d 84, which indicated succession of bacterial species. When the PCR-DGGE profiles were compared with Dice's algorithm, all mare-foal pairwise similarities on d 14 and later were as great as the pairwise similarities between mares. These results are consistent with the idea that foals are born with a sterile gut, colonization proceeds rapidly, and a mature microbial community is present in the first few weeks of life.
文摘The aim of this study was to compare the sperm nuclear and acrosomal morphometry of three species of domestic artiodactyls; cattle （Bos taurus）, sheep （Ovis aries）, and pigs （Sus scrofa）. Semen smears of twenty ejaculates from each species were fixed and labeled with a propidium iodide-Pisum sativum agglutinin （PI/PSA） combination. Digital images of the sperm nucleus, acrosome, and whole sperm head were captured and analyzed. The use of the PI/PSA combination and CASA-Morph fluorescence-based method allowed the capture, morphometric analysis, and differentiation of most sperm nuclei, acrosomes and whole heads, and the assessment of acrosomal integrity with a high precision in the three species studied. For the size of the head and nuclear area, the relationship between the three species may be summarized as bull 〉 ram 〉 boar. However, for the other morphometric parameters （length, width, and perimeter）, there were differences in the relationships between species for sperm nuclei and whole sperm heads. Bull sperm acrosomes were clearly smaller than those in the other species studied and covered a smaller proportion of the sperm head. The acrosomal morphology, small in the bull, large and broad in the sheep, and large, long, and with a pronounced equatorial segment curve in the boar, was species-characteristic. It was concluded that there are clear variations in the size and shape of the sperm head components between the three species studied, the acrosome being the structure showing the most variability, allowing a clear distinction of the spermatozoa of each species.
文摘This study was designed to analyze the sperm kinematic and morphometric subpopulations in the different fractions of the ejaculate in normozoospermic men. Ejaculates from eight normozoospermic men were collected by masturbation in three fractions after 3-5 days of sexual abstinence. Analyses of sperm motility by computer-assisted sperm analysis （CASA-Mot）, and of sperm morphometry by computer-assisted sperm morphometry analysis （CASA-Morph） using fluorescence were performed. Clustering and discriminant procedures were performed to identify sperm subpopulations in the kinematic and morphometric data obtained. Clustering procedures resulted in the classification of spermatozoa into three kinematic subpopulations （slow with low ALH [35.6% of all motile spermatozoa], with circular trajectories [32.0%], and rapid with high ALH [32.4%]）, and three morphometric subpopulations （large-round [33.9% of all spermatozoa], elongated [32.0%], and small [34.10%]）. The distribution of kinematic sperm subpopulations was different among ejaculate fractions （P 〈 0.001）, with higher percentages of spermatozoa exhibiting slow movements with low ALH in the second and third portions, and with a more homogeneous distribution of kinematic sperm subpopulations in the first portion. The distribution of morphometric sperm subpopulations was also different among ejaculate fractions （P〈 0.001）, with more elongated spermatozoa in the first, and of small spermatozoa in the third, portion. It is concluded that important variations in the distribution of kinematic and morphometric sperm subpopulations exist between ejaculate fractions, with possible functional implications.
文摘Fermentation of cellulosic biomass can be done in a single step with cellulolytic, solventogenic bacteria, such as Clostridium thermocellum. However, the suite of products is limited in consolidated bioprocessing. Fortunately, the thermophilic nature of C. thermocellum can be exploited in sequential culture. Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of feedstock particle size on fermentation by sequential cultures and to demonstrate this effect could be shown by gas production. Dual-temperature sequential cultures were conducted by first culturing with C. thermocellum (63°C, 48 h) before culturing with C. beijerinckii (35°C, 24 h). Switchgrass (2, 5 or 15 mm particle size) was the feedstock in submerged substrate (10% w/v) fermentation. The extent of fermentation was evaluated by gas production and compared by analysis of variance with Tukey’s test post hoc. C. thermocellum alone produced 78 kPa cumulative pressure (approx. 680 mL gas) when the particle size was 2 or 5 mm. The C. thermocellum cultures with 15 mm feedstock particles had a mean cumulative pressure of 15 kPa after 48 h, which was less than the 2 and 5 mm treatments (P °C) and inoculated with C. beijerinckii, and the cumulative pressures were reset to ambient, cumulative pressure values as great as 70 kPa (equivalent to an additional 670 mL gas) were produced in 24 h. Again, the longer (15 mm) particle size produced less gas (P < 0.05). When the substrates were inoculated with C. beijerinckii without previous fermentation by C. thermocellum, the mean cumulative pressures were approximately 10 kPa. These results indicate that biological pretreatment with C. thermocellum increased the availability of switchgrass carbohydrates to C. beijerinckii, and that gas production is suitable method to show the effectiveness of a pretreatment.
基金This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Finance(MINECO)(grant AGL2017-85030-R)the European Territorial Cooperation Operational Program-Spain,France,and Andorra Area 2014-20(Program DietaPYR2 EFA144/16)and the DGA-FSE(grant A07_17R).We would like to acknowledge the use of the Research Support Service-SAI,University of Zaragoza.
文摘To date,sperm morphometric studies have assessed whole sperm populations without considering sperm function.The aim of this study was to evaluate the relati on ship of sperm membrane and acrosomal integrity with sperm morphometry in liquid semen samples collected from bulls.To this end,sperm morphometry was performed on cryopreserved semen samples from 16 bulls by a combination of fluorescent dyes,including Hoechst 33343,carboxyfluorescein diacetate,and propidium iodide.This allowed discrimination of different subpopulations on the basis of sperm membrane and acrosomal integrity and analysis of the morphometries of the sperm head,nucleus,and acrosome using a specific plug-in module created on ImageJ.Acrosomal integrity was related to sperm morphometry as the heads of spermatozoa with a damaged acrosome were significantly smaller than those with a normal acrosome(P<0.001).In the case of spermatozoa with an intact acrosome,those with a damaged plasma membrane had a larger sperm head and acrosome than spermatozoa with an intact plasma membrane(P<0.001).No significant differences in the sperm head size were observed between sperm subpopulations without an acrosome or in the nuclear sperm morphometry of the different subpopulations.There was a positive correlation between the sperm motility values of the samples and the morphometric parameters for in tact spermatozoa.These correlations were particularly strong for the morphometric parameters of the sperm acrosome.We conclude that there are clear differences in the sperm morphometry depending on the status of the sperm membrane and acrosome and this should be considered when performing this kind of analysis.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32272359)Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC,RGPIN-2018-04680)the scholarship from the China Scholarship Council (202106670005)。
文摘Dry-fermented sausages are a good source of bioactive peptides,whose stability against gastrointestinal(GI)digestion determines their bioaccessibility.This study focused on evaluating the effect of peptide extracts from sausages fermented with Staphylococcus simulans QB7 during in vitro simulated GI digestion,including peptide profiles and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.Peptides present in sausages were degraded during digestion,with molecular weight reduced from>12 kDa to<1.5 kDa.Besides,the content of amino acids increased from 381.15 to 527.07 mg/g,especially tyrosine being found only after GI digestion.The anti-inflammatory activities were increased after GI digestion,however,the changes in antioxidant activities were the opposite.A total number of 255,252 and 386 peptide sequences were identified in undigested,peptic-digested and GI-digested samples,respectively.PeptideRanker,BIOPEP-UWM and admetSAR were used to further predict the functional properties and intestinal absorption of the identified peptide sequences from GI digestion.Finally,18 peptides were discovered to possess either antioxidant or anti-inflammatory capacities.
基金funded by the European Regional Development Fund(FEDER)/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-Agencia Estatal de Investigación/Project Reference grant:PID2019-105805RB-I00by the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya+3 种基金the support of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación for the Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa 2020–2023(CEX2019–000902-S)grant awarded to the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics(CRAG,Bellaterra,Spain)the support of the CERCA programme of the Generalitat de Catalunyafunded by a PhD fellowship from the China Scholarship Council(CSC)funded with a PhD fellowship Formación de Personal Investigador(BES-C-2017-079709)awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity。
文摘Background:Inbreeding depression can adversely affect traits related to fitness,reproduction and productive performance.Although current research suggests that inbreeding levels are generally low in most goat breeds,the impact of inbreeding depression on phenotypes of economic interest has only been investigated in a few studies based on genealogical data.Results:We genotyped 1040 goats with the Goat SNP50 BeadChip.This information was used to estimate different molecular inbreeding coefficients and characterise runs of homozygosity and homozygosity patterns.We detected38 genomic regions with increased homozygosity as well as 8 ROH hotspots mapping to chromosomes 1,2,4,6,14,16 and 17.Eight hundred seventeen goats with available records for dairy traits were analysed to evaluate the potential consequences of inbreeding depression on milk phenotypes.Four regions on chromosomes 8 and 25were significantly associated with inbreeding depression for the natural logarithm of the somatic cell count.Notably,these regions contain several genes related with immunity,such as SYK,IL27,CCL19 and CCL21.Moreover,one region on chromosome 2 was significantly associated with inbreeding depression for milk yield.Conclusions:Although genomic inbreeding levels are low in Murciano-Granadina goats,significant evidence of inbreeding depression for the logarithm of the somatic cell count,a phenotype closely associated with udder health and milk yield,have been detected in this population.Minimising inbreeding would be expected to augment economic gain by increasing milk yield and reducing the incidence of mastitis,which is one of the main causes of dairy goat culling.
文摘Sperm quality is evaluated for the calculation of sperm dosage in artificial reproductive programs. The most common parameter used is motility, but morphology has a higher potential as a predictor of genetic quality. Morphometry calculations from CASA-Morph technology improve morphological evaluation and allow mathematical approaches to the problem. Semen from 28 Holstein bulls was collected by artificial vagina, and several ejaculates were studied. After general evaluation, samples were diluted, packaged in 0.25 ml straws, and stored in liquid nitrogen. Two straws per sample were thawed, and slides were processed and stained with Diff-Quik. Samples were analyzed by a CASA-Morph system for eight morphometric parameters. In addition to the ＂classical＂ statistical approach, based on variance analysis （revealing differences between animals, ejaculates, and straws）, principal component （PC） analysis showed that the variables were grouped into PC1, related to size, and PC2 to shape. Subpopulation structure analysis showed four groups, namely, big, small, short, and narrow from their dominant characteristics, representing 31.0%, 27.3%, 24.1%, and 17.7% of the total population, respectively. The distributions varied between animals and ejaculates, but between straws, there were no differences in only four animals. This modern approach of considering an ejaculate sperm population as divided into subpopulations reflecting quantifiable parameters generated by CASA-Morph systems technology opens a new view on sperm function. This is the first study applying this approach to evaluate different ejaculates and straws from the same individual. More work must be done to improve seminal dose calculations in assisted reproductive programs.
文摘Cryopreservation is the main functional means for storage of excess embryos produced from artificial reproductive technologies;the process assumes embryos chemical nature is highly conserved across embryos of the same species. However, in practice there appears to be a high degree of variability in embryo tolerance to cryopreservation, suggesting potential differences in embryo chemistry. The objective of the current study was to develop reproducible means of estimating relative embryos weight and associating those weights to lipid content. Relative embryo weights of frozen/thawed in-vivo Jersey and Crossbred beef breed embryos were determined using a modified specific gravity chamber. Embryo weights were then correlated with lipid content. Results suggest that beef cattle embryos are 20% - 27% heavier than Jersey embryos
基金the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment (Ames, Iowa) for laboratory assistance. Appreciation is also expressed to H. J. Monegue and W. Patton (University of Kentucky, Lexington) for assistance in the care of pigs and to D. Higginbotham (University of Kentucky, Lexington) for help in diet preparation and to Akey Inc. (Lewisburg, OH) and DSM Nutritional Products Inc. (Parsippany, N J) for ingredients used in the diets. Mention of a trade name, proprietary product, or specific equipment does not constitute a guarantee or warranty by the USDA, Iowa State University, or the University of Kentucky and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
文摘Background： Indigestible markers are commonly utilized in digestion studies, but the complete disappearance or maximum appearance of a marker in feces can be affected by diet composition, feed intake, or an animal＇s BW.The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of previous（Phase 1, P1） and current-（Phase 2, P2）diet composition on marker disappearance（Cr） and appearance（Ti） in pigs fed 3 diets differing in NDF content.Results： When pigs were maintained on the 25.1, 72.5, and 125.0 g/kg NDF diets, it took 5.1, 4.1, and 2.5 d, respectively,for Cr levels to decrease below the limit of quantitation; or 4.6, 3.7, or 2.8 d, respectively, for Ti to be maximized. These effects were not, however, independent of the previous diet as indicated by the interaction between P1 and P2 diets on fecal marker concentrations（P 〈 0.01）. When dietary NDF increased from P1 to P2, it took less time for fecal Cr to decrease or fecal Ti to be maximized（an average of 2.5 d）, than if NDF decreased from P1 to P2 where it took longer for fecal Cr to decrease or fecal Ti to be maximized（an average of 3.4 d）.Conclusions： Because of the wide range in excretion times reported in the literature and improved laboratory methods for elemental detection, the data suggests that caution must be taken in considering dietary fiber concentrations of the past and currently fed diets so that no previous dietary marker addition remains in the digestive tract or feces such that a smal amount of maker is present to confound subsequent experimental results, and that marker concentration have stabilized when these samples are col ected.
文摘Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a key component of beer brewing and a major by-product. The leftover, spent brewers’ yeast from large breweries has been used as a protein supplement in cattle;however the possible advantages of spent yeast from smaller craft breweries, containing much higher levels of bioactive hop acids, have not been evaluated. Hops secondary metabolites from the hops (Humulus lupulus L.) used to make beer are concentrated in the yeast during brewing, and have antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Uncultivated suspensions of bovine rumen microorganisms produced less methane during fructose fermentation when exposed to inactivated, and freeze-dried spent craft brewers’ yeast than a bakers’ yeast control. The experiment was repeated with caprine rumen microorganisms and ground grass hay as the substrate. Likewise, in the presence of craft brewers’ yeast less methane was produced (2.7% vs. 6.9% CH<sub>4</sub>). Both experiments also revealed a decrease in acetic acid production, but not propionic acid production, when craft brewers’ yeast was included. These results indicated that spent yeast could represent a co-product for craft breweries, and a feed supplement for ruminants that has a favorable impact on methane production.
基金the University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station,Hatch Project No.AR002234,National Natural Science Foundation of China(32170430)Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding(2019B030301010)Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes(2019KSYS011).
文摘Background Stocker cattle diet and management influence beef cattle performance during the finishing stage,but knowledge of the dynamics of the rumen microbiome associated with the host are lacking.A longitudinal study was conducted to determine how the feeding strategy from the stocker to the finishing stages of production affects the temporal dynamics of rumen microbiota.During the stocker phase,either dry hay or wheat pasture were provided,and three levels of monensin were administrated.All calves were then transported to a feedlot and received similar finishing diets with or without monensin.Rumen microbial samples were collected on d 0,28,85 during the stocker stage(S0,S28 and S85)and d 0,14,28,56,30 d before slaughter and the end of the trial during the finishing stage(F0,F14,F28,F56,Pre-Ba,and Final).The V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene of 263 rumen samples was sequenced.Results Higher alpha diversity,including the number of observed bacterial features and the Shannon index,was observed in the stocker phase compared to the finishing phase.The bacterial amplicon sequence variants(ASVs)differentiating different sampling time points were identified.Dietary treatments during the stocker stage temporally impact the dynamics of rumen microbiota.For example,shared bacteria,including Bacteroidales(ASV19)and Streptococcus infantarius(ASV94),were significantly higher in hay rumen on S28,S85,and F0,while Bacteroidaceae(ASV11)and Limivicinus(ASV15)were more abundant in wheat.Monensin affected rumen microbial composition at a specific time.Transportation to feedlot significantly influenced microbiome structure and diversity in hay-fed calves.Bacterial taxa associated with body weight were classified,and core microbiotas interacted with each other during the trial.Conclusions In summary,the temporal dynamics of the rumen microbiome in cattle at the stocker and finishing stage are influenced by multiple factors of the feeding strategy.Diet at the stocker phase may temporarily affect the microbial composition during this stage.Modulating the rumen microbiome in the steers at the stocker stage affects the microbial interactions and performance in the finishing stage.
基金funded by Blue Ocean Barns.AB has a Ramón y Cajal research contract(RYC2019-027764-I)funded by the Spanish State Research Agency(AEI)。
文摘Background The red macroalgae Asparagopsis is an effective methanogenesis inhibitor due to the presence of halogenated methane(CH_(4))analogues,primarily bromoform(CHBr_(3)).This study aimed to investigate the degradation process of CHBr3 from A taxiformis in the rumen and whether this process is diet-dependent.An in vitro batch culture system was used according to a 2×2 factorial design,assessing two A taxiformis inclusion rates[0(CTL)and 2%DM diet(AT)]and two diets[high-concentrate(HC)and high-forage diet(HF)].Incubations lasted for 72 h and samples of headspace and fermentation liquid were taken at 0,0.5,1,3,6,8,12,16,24,48 and 72 h to assess the pattern of degradation of CHBr_(3) into dibromomethane(CH_(2)Br_(2))and fermentation parameters.Additionally,an in vitro experiment with pure cultures of seven methanogens strains(Methanobrevibacter smithii,Methanobrevibacter ruminantium,Methanosphaera stadtmanae,Methanosarcina barkeri,Methanobrevibacter millerae,Methanorhermobacter wolfei and Methanobacterium mobile)was conducted to test the effects of increasing concentrations of CHBr3(0.4,2,10and 50μmol/L).Results The addition of AT significantly decreased CH_(4) production(P=0.002)and the acetate:propionate ratio(P=0.003)during a 72-h incubation.The concentrations of CHBr_(3) showed a rapid decrease with nearly 90%degraded within the first 3 h of incubation.On the contrary,CH_(2)Br_(2) concentration quickly increased during the first 6 h and then gradually decreased towards the end of the incubation.Neither CHBr_(3) degradation nor CH_(2)Br_(2) synthesis were affected by the type of diet used as substrate,suggesting that the fermentation rate is not a driving factor involved in CHBr_(3)degradation.The in vitro culture of methanogens showed a dose-response effect of CHBr3 by inhibiting the growth of M.smithii,M.ruminantium,M.stadtmanae,M.barkeri,M.millerae,M.wolfei,and M.mobile.Conclusions The present work demonstrated that CHBr_(3) from A.taxiformis is quickly degraded to CH_(2)Br_(2)in the rumen and that the fermentation rate promoted by different diets is not a driving factor involved in CHBr_(3)degradation.
文摘The problems associated with the subjective assessment of human sperm morphology have been well aired in another Asian Journal of Andrology Special Issue1 that marked the publication of the 5th edition of the WHO Semen analysis manual, and contrary views have subsequently been presented） However, the vagaries of the eye-brain system in assessing whether a sperm head is large or small can be eliminated by objective assessment where definitive structures are defined by their dimensions. These can then be classified automatically into as many categories as the data permit, conventionally on the basis of preset upper and lower limits, but also by more comprehensive analysis as discussed here.
文摘The study objective was to evaluate steer growth performance, sera metabolite responses, carcass characteristics, and pulmonary arterial pressure as affected by body weight at time of implantation and steroidal implant administration. Crossbred steers (n = 20) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design experiment, Factors included: body weight: light (L), or heavy (H) and implant: Non-implanted (NoIMP), or Implanted (IMP) with steer serving as the experimental unit for all analyses. Initial weights for L and H steers were 398 ± 27.6 and 547 ± 25.2 kg, respectively. Implanted steers received a terminal implant (200 mg trenbolone acetate and 20 mg estradiol-17β;Revalor-200;Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ) on d 0. Cattle within treatments were group housed in common pens (n = 5 steers/pen). Bodyweight, blood samples, and pulmonary arterial pressure were collected on d 0, 14, 35, 70 and 104. Cattle were fed a common diet once daily to provide ad libitum access to feed. The finishing diet contained (DM basis) 13.3% CP, 2.13 Mcal/kg NEm, and 1.45 Mcal/kg NEg. Growth performance (body weight and ADG) and carcass traits were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Sera metabolites were analyzed as repeated measures over time, with day as the repeated measure. For all analyses, α level < 0.05 determined significance. Heavy steers consumed 2.2 kg more per head of DM daily than L cattle and IMP steers consumed 1.0 kg more DM daily than NoIMP steers. Cumulative ADG did not differ between the L and H steers (1.41 vs. 1.52 ± 0.060 kg;P = 0.20). Implanting increased (P < 0.01) ADG by 39% (1.22 vs. 1.70 ± 0.060 kg). No differences (P > 0.05) in ADG were observed in NoIMP vs. IMP cattle beyond d 70 (1.21 vs. 1.01 ± 0.16 kg;P = 0.38). Sera urea-N concentrations were decreased (P < 0.01) in L cattle subjected to IMP during the study and tended to increase over time for the other treatments. Ribfat, HCW, LM, marbling score, calculated YG, and estimated EBF were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in H compared to L. Steers from IMP had heavier HCW (P < 0.01) but decreased marbling scores (P = 0.05) compared to NoIMP. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure was greater (P < 0.01) for H compared to L steers which may predispose heavier cattle to right-sided heart failure. The steroid implant had no effect on pulmonary arterial pressure (P > 0.49). The study reaffirms the effects of implanting on animal growth performance and carcass characteristics in cattle. In addition, elevated BW leads to increased pulmonary arterial pressures which may increase the risk of right-sided heart failure.
