Effect of nonstructural carbohydrates on production performance, rumen metabolism and rumen health in lambs fed with isocaloric and isonitrogenous complete diets.

Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) are readily fermentable in the rumen and, are a critical factor while preparing protracted feed for higher animal performance. Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous complete feeds were prepared for this investigation to contain varying levels of nonstructural carbohydrates viz., 40.13 (NSC1), 45.21 (NSC2), 50.00 (NSC3) and 55.85 (NSC4) per cent, respectively. The four isocaloric and isonitrogenous complete feeds were tested in 32 Mecheri ram lambs (around three months of age) in a completely randomised block design (n = 8), and the lambs were fed their respective feed for six months. The study revealed that the increased NSC level in the complete diet increased the body weight and weight gain linearly (P < 0.05). The dietary NSC level affected the dry matter consumption in a quadratic manner (P < 0.05) and the lambs of the NSC4 group consumed significantly (P < 0.05) less DM compared to other dietary groups. The overall average feed conversion efficiency differed significantly (P < 0.05) among dietary groups. The correlation between dietary NSC level and faecal score was quadratic (r2 = 62.7, P < 0.05). The rumen pH, total nitrogen and NH3-N concentration were linearly decreased (P < 0.05) and the molar proportion of total short-chain fatty acids and propionic acid were increased (P < 0.05). The energy loss expressed as methane production was significantly (P < 0.01) lower for the high NSC diet-fed lambs. The lambs fed on a low NSC diet had significantly (P < 0.05) lower carcass weights, dressing percentage and loin eye area. The per cent share of rumen weight in the total fore stomach and the rumen papillae measurements length, width and surface area were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in high NSC diet-fed lambs. Increased levels of NSC in the diet increased (P < 0.05) fat deposition in the internal organs. The saturated fatty acids content in the meat was significantly (P < 0.05) lowered, whereas, the oleic acid and linoleic acid were increased (P < 0.05) as the NSC level increased in the diet. The study revealed that as the level of NSC increased in the complete diet there was a concomitant improvement in the final body weight, ADG and feed efficiency of post-weaned Mecheri lambs. It can therefore be recommended that the complete feed with 50 per cent NSC levels would be optimum to reap maximum returns from fattening Mecheri lambs.

Effect of supplementing hydroxy trace minerals (Cu, Zn, and Mn) on egg quality and performance of laying hens under tropical conditions.

OBJECTIVE: A pivotal study was designed to investigate the effect of Hydroxy (HYC) Cu, Zn, and Mn on egg quality and laying performance of chickens under tropical conditions. METHODS: A total of 1,260 Babcock White laying hens (20-wk-old) were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments with 15 replicates of 21 hens each in a Randomized Complete Block Design. The birds were reared for 16 weeks and were fed the corn-soybean meal diets supplemented with one of the following mineral treatments: T1, inorganic (INO, 15 ppm CuSO4, 80ppm MnSO4 and 80 ppm ZnO); T2, Hydroxy-nutritional level (HYC-Nut, 15 ppm Cu, 80 ppm Mn, 80 ppm Zn from Hydroxy); T3, Hydroxy-Low (HYC-Low, 15 ppm Cu, 60 ppm Mn, 60 ppm Zn from Hydroxy); T4, Hydroxy plus inorganic (HYC+INO, 7.5 ppm HYC Cu+7.5 ppm CuSO4, 40 ppm HYC ZnO+40 ppm ZnSO4, 40 ppm HYC Mn+40 ppm MnSO4). The egg production was recorded daily, while the feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and egg mass were determined at the end of each laying period. The egg quality parameters were assayed in eggs collected over 48 h in each laying period. RESULTS: Overall, no significant effect of treatments was observed on percent egg production, egg weight and FCR (p>0.05). Feed intake was significantly lower in birds fed Hydroxy plus inorganic (p<0.05) diet. The supplementation of HYC-Low significantly increased the egg mass compared to the other treatments (p<0.05). HYC supplementation alone or in combination with INO elicited a positive effect on shell thickness, shell weight, shell weight per unit surface area, yolk colour, albumen and yolk index for a certain period (p<0.05), but not throughout the whole laying period. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation of HYC-Low (15-60-60 mg/kg) showed similar effects on production performance and egg quality characteristics in laying hens as compared to 15-80-80 mg/kg of Cu-Zn-Mn from inorganic sources. This indicates that sulphate based inorganic trace minerals can effectively be substituted by lower concentration of hydroxyl minerals.

Isolongifolene-loaded chitosan nanoparticles synthesis and characterization for cancer treatment.

Recent breakthroughs in the field of nanoparticle-based therapeutic delivery methods have changed the standpoint of cancer therapy by effectively delaying the process of disease development. Nanoparticles have a unique capacity of good penetrating ability than other therapeutic leads used in traditional therapeutics, and also, they have the highest impact on disease management. In the current study isolongifolene-loaded Chitosan nanoparticles have been formulated, synthesized and then characterized by the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Further, the characterized chitosan nano formulation was evaluated for hemocompatibility, plasma stability, and in-vitro release. Isolongifolene-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were found to be compatible with plasma and also, they exhibited a constant release pattern. Hence, chitosan-loaded nanoparticles could be employed as an excellent adjuvant in cancer therapeutic, to combat the multi-drug resistance in solid tumors.