Black soldier fly larvae oil (Hermetia illucens L.) calcium salt enhances intestinal morphology and barrier function in laying hens.

This study aimed to determine the influence of black soldier fly larvae oil calcium salt (BSFLO-SCa) supplementation on performance, jejunal histomorphology and gene expression of tight junctions and inflammatory cytokines in laying hens. A total of 60 ISA Brown laying hens (40 wk of age) were divided into 3 treatment groups, including a control group fed a basal diet (T0) and basal diets supplemented with 1% (T1) and 2% (T2) of BSFLO-SCa. Each treatment group consisted of 5 replicates with 4 laying hens each. Results showed that 1% and 2% BSFLO-SCa supplementation significantly reduced (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR), while egg weight (EW) increased (P < 0.05). The inclusion with 2% increased (P < 0.05) both egg production (HDA) and mass (EM). The addition of 1% and 2% BSFLO-SCa significantly increased (P < 0.05) villus height (VH) and villus width (VW), while crypt depth (CD) significantly increased (P < 0.05) with 2% BSFLO-SCa. The tight junction and gene expression of claudin-1 (CLDN-1), junctional adhesion molecules-2 (JAM-2), and occludin (OCLN) were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05) with 2% BSFLO-SCa. The pro-inflammatory cytokines and gene expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was significantly downregulated (P < 0.05) with the addition of BSFLO-SCa, while gene expression of interleukin-18 (IL-18), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were downregulated with 2% BSFLO-SCa. On the other hand, the anti-inflammatory cytokines and gene expression of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05) at 2% BSFLO-SCa. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 2% BSFLO-SCa improved productivity, intestinal morphology and integrity by upregulating tight junction-related protein of gene expression of laying hens. In addition, supplementation with BSFLO-SCa enhanced intestinal immune responses by upregulating anti-inflammatory and downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression.

Effect of nutmeg essential oil (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) on methane production, rumen fermentation, and nutrient digestibility in vitro.

The study evaluated the effect of adding of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) essential oil (NEO) as a feed additive on methane production, rumen fermentation parameters, rumen enzyme activity, and nutrient digestibility in vitro. This study was divided into three treatments based on the level of NEO addition, which included 0 µL/L (T0), 100 µL/L (T1), and 200 µL/L (T2). The feed substrate composition consisted of king grass as forage and concentrate in a 60:40 ratio. Feed fermentation was conducted using the Menke and Steingass gas production and two-step Tilley and Terry in-vitro digestibility technique. The data obtained from the study were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and if there were differences between means, they were further assessed using DMRT. The results showed that T2 treatment significantly decreased (P < 0.05) ammonia (NH3) levels, total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and microbial protein (P < 0.05). Methane production and the activity of rumen protease enzyme significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at T1 and T2 treatment. The T2 treatment significantly reduced (P < 0.05) protein digestibility (IVCPD) at 48 h, while IVCPD at 96 h significantly increased (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the addition of nutmeg essential oil did not effect the activity of the amylase, carboxymethyl cellulase, and ß-glucosidase enzymes, as well as the in-vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD), crude fiber (IVCFD), and organic matter (IVOMD). The conclusion drawn from this study is that the optimum level for NEO is 200 µL/L, which can reduce methane production and increase crude protein digestibility at 96 h without any negative effect on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility.

Black soldier fly larvae meal supplementation in a low protein diet reduced performance, but improved nitrogen efficiency and intestinal morphology of duck.

OBJECTIVE: Reduced crude protein (CP) diets offer potential benefits such as optimized feed efficiency, reduced expenses, and lower environmental impact. The objective of this study was to evaluate black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal on a low-protein diet for duck performance, blood biochemical, intestinal morphology, gastrointestinal development, and litter. METHODS: The experiment was conducted for 42 days. A total of 210-day-old male hybrid ducklings (5 replicate pens, 7 ducks per pen) were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments (3×2 factorial arrangements) in randomized design. The factors were CP level (18%, 16%, 14%) and protein source feed soybean meals (SBM), black soldier fly larvae meals (BSFLM). RESULTS: Reduced dietary CP levels significantly decreased growth performance, feed intake, the percentage of nitrogen, pH (p<0.05), and tended to suppress ammonia in litter (p = 0.088); increased lipid concentration; and enhanced relative weight of gastrointestinal tracts (p<0.05). In addition, dietary BSFL as a source of protein feed significantly increased lipid concentration and impacted lowering villus height and crypt depth on jejunum (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the use of BSFLM in a low-protein diet was found to have a detrimental effect on growth performance. However, the reduction of 2% CP levels in SBM did not have a significant impact on growth performance but decreased nitrogen and ammonia concentrations.

Effects of reduced-protein diets with protease supplementation on growth, carcass yield, intestinal morphology, organ development, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemical of broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to evaluate growth performance, carcass yield, intestinal morphology, organ development, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemical parameters of broiler fed 1% reduced-protein diets with/without protease supplementation. A total of 1,120 one-day-old male broiler chickens with average initial body weight (BW), 46.45 ±â€…0.49 g, were divided into five groups with seven replications and 32 birds per replication. The treatment varied according to the protein and protease enzyme levels: positive control (PC), negative control (NC, PC with reduction of 1% protein), PC supplemented with 50 g/t protease (PC + 50), NC supplemented with 50 g/t protease (NC + 50), and NC supplemented with 100 g/t protease (NC + 100). The results showed that there was no significant effect of 1% reduced-protein diets, with or without protease on feed intake, final BW, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and nutrient digestibility. The changes in dietary protein level and supplementation of protease did not affect carcass yield, but significantly affected abdominal fat content, PC + 50 group had significantly lower abdominal fat content than NC-based diet including NC, NC + 50, NC + 100. Reduced-protein with protease supplementation strongly affected organ weight, especially on day 21: the pancreas was heavier in PC and NC + 50 group than other groups, spleen was heaver in NC group than in NC + 100 group, thymus was heavier in NC + 50 group than in PC, NC and NC + 100 group, small intestine was heavier in NC + 50 and NC + 100 group than in PC group, and large intestine was also heavier in NC + 50 group than in NC group. Villus height sampled at 35-d was significantly increased with protease supplement, and which was significantly higher in NC + 100 group than NC group. Regarding on blood metabolites, only urea and uric acid were affected by the reduction of dietary protein, broiler fed PC diet had higher urea and uric acid content than fed NC diet. In conclusion, supplementation of 50 g/t protease in 1% reduced-protein diets does not negatively affect on growth, nutrient digestibility, carcass yield, organ development, and blood metabolites. Moreover, supplementation of protease in low-protein diet could effectively promote organ development and benefit intestine morphology.

Effect supplementation of black soldier fly larvae oil (Hermetia illucens L.) calcium salt on performance, blood biochemical profile, carcass characteristic, meat quality, and gene expression in fat metabolism broilers.

This study evaluated the effect supplementation of black soldier fly larvae oil calcium salt (BSFLO-SCa) on performance, blood biochemical profile, carcass characteristic, meat quality, and gene expression in fat metabolism broiler chickens. A total of 280 male New Lohmann strain MB 202 broiler chicks (1-day-old) were randomly placed into 4 treatments, including a control group (T0) were fed basal diet and a basal diet supplemented with 1% (T1), 2% (T2), and 3% (T3) BSFLO-SCa. Each treatment consisted of 7 pens with 10 chickens each. Results showed that 1% BSFLO-SCa supplementation significantly reduced (P < 0.05) abdominal and meat fat, while gene expression on fat synthesis (FAS, ACC) was downregulated. Meat fatty acid profiles such as medium-chain fatty acid being dominant in lauric and myristic and monosaturated fatty acid significantly increased (P < 0.05). On the other hand, polyunsaturated fatty acid significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In addition, the other parameters did not affect by supplementation of 1% BSFLO-SCa. The addition starting from 2% significantly reduced (P < 0.05) performance and carcass characteristics. Blood biochemical profiles (HDL, protein, albumin) and meat qualities (protein, cholesterol, water-holding capacity, cooking losses, a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) values) were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while gene expression on fat oxidation (CPT-1) was upregulated. In conclusion, broiler chicken that received of 1% BSFL-SCa does not negatively affect growth performance and carcass characteristics but reduced fattening in broiler meat.

Utilization of marigold leaves (Tagetes erecta L.) in rations and their effect on rumen enzyme activity, fermentation parameters, methane emission, and nutrient digestibility in vitro.

Objective: This study evaluated the utilization of marigold leaves (MGLs) in rations and their impact on rumen enzyme activity, fermentation parameters, methane (CH4) emission, and nutrient digestibility in vitro. Materials and Methods: The experimental diets comprised different proportions of MGL incorporated into the dry matter (DM) rations. Experimental design: The MGL treatments in diets include 0% (MGL-0), 7% (MGL-7), and 14% (MGL-14). Results: Results indicated that MGL-14 substantially raised (p < 0.05) the rumen parameters, including NH3-N and microbial protein, total volatile fatty acids, acetate (C2), propionate (C3), butyrate (C4), and the C2:C3 ratio. In contrast, the MGL-7 and MGL-14 groups experienced a noteworthy reduction (p < 0.05) in the total protozoa population. The MGL-7 and MGL-14 treatments also led to a substantial increase in the digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), and crude fiber (CF) in the rumen. However, they also resulted in a decline (p < 0.05) in crude protein (CP) digestibility. The DM and OM total digestibilities were higher (p < 0.05) in the MGL-14 and MGL-7 groups. The utilization of MGL did not influence (p > 0.05) the ruminal enzyme activities (carboxymethyl cellulase, amylase, protease), cumulative gas production, kinetics, ruminal pH value, CH4 and CO2 production, total CF, and CP digestibility. Conclusion: The utilization of MGL until 14% DM in diets can enhance ruminal fermentation parameters and nutrient digestibility in vitro without negatively affecting gas production kinetics or ruminal enzyme activities. However, it did not have any impact on CH4 production.

Effect of pH and Temperature on Bacillus subtilis FNCC 0059 Oxalate Decarboxylase Activity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Bacillus subtilis is a bacterium that can produce the oxalate decarboxylase (ODC) enzyme. This enzyme decomposes oxalate. ODC enzyme activity is influenced by temperature and pH. This study was conducted to determine the optimum pH and temperature for ODC enzyme activity in B. subtilis FNCC 0059. MATERIALS AND METHODS: B. subtilis was cultivated in oxalate medium at different incubation temperatures for 24 h. The tested temperatures were 25, 29, 33, 37, 41 and 45°C. In separate experiments, cultures were grown in oxalate medium at varying pH from 4-8.5. The cell growth assay and enzyme activity were performed and all the experiments were done with 3 replicates. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The optimum temperature of 37°C could produce maximum ODC enzyme activity (0.041 U mL-1) enzyme activity increased to the point of the optimum pH and then decreased 5.6% when the pH was increased 0.5 from the optimum. Maximum ODC enzyme activity (0.0413 U mL-1) was achieved at pH 5.5. CONCLUSION: Temperature and the pH of the medium affected ODC enzyme activity. Optimum medium condition of B. subtilis was reached at 37°C and pH 5.5.