Dietary Plukenetia conophora seed alters muscle cholesterol, antioxidant enzymes, and fatty acids in growing rabbits.

The influence of dietary inclusion of Plukenetia conophora seed (PCS) on growth, carcass, muscle antioxidant enzymes, fatty acids, meat quality, and sensory attributes of Longissimus thoracis et lumburum muscle in rabbits was examined. Seventy-two, 28 d old male New Zealand rabbits (750 ± 20 g) were randomly allotted to diets containing either no PCS (PCS-0), 2.5% PCS (PCS-2.5) or 5% PCS (PCS-5) for eight weeks, and euthanized. PCS-5 rabbits had higher (P < 0.05) body and carcass weights than the PCS-0 rabbits. Dietary PCS improved feed efficiency in rabbits. Muscle antioxidant enzymes activities and total phenols were higher while muscle cholesterol was lower (P < 0.05) in supplemented meat than the PCS-0 meat. The concentration of C22:6n-3, C20:5n-3 and C18:3n-3 was higher (P < 0.05) in the supplemented meat than the PCS-0 meat. Sensory attributes, carbonyl, and TBARS values and physicochemical properties of meat did not differ among diets. Supplementation of PCS-5 enhances muscle n-3 fatty acids without impairing the sensory properties, and oxidative stability of rabbit meat.

Influence of Crescentia cujete and Launaea taraxacifolia leaves on growth, immune indices, gut microbiota, blood chemistry, carcass, and meat quality in broiler chickens.

The rising concerns pertaining to the safety of synthetic supplements in livestock production have encouraged the exploration of potential alternatives. This study investigated the growth, gut microbiota, blood chemistry, immune indices, meat quality, and antioxidant status in broiler chickens supplemented with Crescentia cujete leaf (CCL), Launaea taraxacifolia leaf (LTL), and a combination of antibiotic (70% oxytetracycline + 30% neomycin) and tert-Butylhydroxyanisole. One-day-old Ross 308 chicks (n = 420) were randomly assigned to either T-1, basal diet (BD) only; T-2, BD + 0.4 g/kg antibiotic + 0.13 g/kg tert-butylhydroxyanisole; T-3, BD + 2.5 g/kg LTL; T-4, BD + 5 g/kg LTL; T-5, BD + 2.5 g/kg CCL; or T-6, BD + 5 g/kg CCL for 42 days. Each dietary group had seven replicates with ten chicks per replicate. Body weight gain and carcass weight were higher (P < 0.05) in the T-2, T-4, T-5, and T-6 birds compared with those of other birds. At 1-21 days, the T-2 and T-4 birds consumed more feed than the T-1 and T-3 birds. At 22-42 days, the T-4 birds consumed more (P < 0.05) feed than the T-1 and T-3 birds. During 1-42 days, the T-1 and T-3 birds consumed less (P < 0.05) feed than other birds. At 22-42 days and 1-42 days, the T-1 had lower feed efficiency (P < 0.05) than other birds except for the T-3 birds. The CCL and LTL birds had lower (P < 0.05) serum LDL cholesterol and higher HDL cholesterol compared with other birds. Hematology, splenic interleukin-1ß, immunoglobulin M, ileal and caecal total aerobic bacteria counts, caecal Lactobacillus spp., and meat physicochemical properties were unaffected by diets. The T-1 birds had higher (P < 0.05) ileal and caecal Clostridium spp., E. coli, and Salmonella spp. compared with birds fed other diets. The CCL and LTL birds had higher ileal Lactobacillus counts. Splenic IL-10 was higher (P < 0.05) in the T-2, T-4, and T-6 birds compared with that in other birds. Dietary supplementation with CCL, LTL, and a combination of antibiotic and tert-butylhydroxyanisole repressed (P < 0.05) splenic tumor necrosis-α and immunoglobulin G. The T-1 breast meat had lower glutathione peroxidase and catalase. The T-4 meat had higher (P < 0.05) superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity compared with other meats. On day 3 postmortem, meats obtained from birds supplemented with CCL, LTL, and a combination of antibiotic and tert-butylhydroxyanisole had lower (P < 0.05) carbonyl and malondialdehyde contents than the meat from the non-supplemented birds. The 5 g/kg CCL and 5 g/kg LTL could be used as antimicrobial and antioxidant in broiler diets.