The effect of Froriepia subpinnata on the performance, carcass characteristics, blood parameters, immune system, microbial population, intestinal morphology, and breast meat fatty acid content of broiler chickens.

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of F. subpinnata powder (FSP) on the performance, carcass characteristics, blood parameters, immune system, microbial population, intestinal morphology, and percentage of fatty acids in the breast meat of broiler chickens. A total of 300 day-old male chickens from the ROSS 308 strain were used in the form of a completely random design with four treatments of five replicates (15 birds each). The experimental treatments were, respectively, (1) control with base diet (without additives), (2) base diet + 1% FSP, (3) base diet + 2% FSP, and (4) base diet + 3% FSP. The results showed that the feed intake and weight gain increased in the treatments containing 2% and 3% FSP when compared to the control (P < 0.05). Cholesterol and ALT levels in the treatment containing 3% FSP were lower that the control (P < 0.05), while the concentration of glutathione peroxidase enzyme in the treatment containing 3% FSP significantly increased (P < 0.05). Thymus weight and antibodies produced against AIV in all three levels of FSP increased significantly compared to the control (P < 0.05). The population of lactobacilli and coliforms in the treatments containing FSP increased and decreased significantly compared to the control (P < 0.05). The length and width of the intestinal villi of the chickens that were fed with 3% of FSP had a significant increase compared to the control (P < 0.05). The percentage of saturated fatty acids in the breast decreased significantly with the consumption of all three levels of FSP (P < 0.001). In general, the results showed that the use of 3% FSP in the broiler diet increased the efficiency of growth performance and enzyme activity, while strengthening the immune system, favorably altering the intestinal microbial population, and reducing the fat in breast meat.

Effect of palmitic, linoleic and α-linolenic acids on blood cells count and interleukin-4, 8 genes expression in lambs experimentally infected with foot and mouth disease virus.

The current research was conducted to study the effects of different saturated and poly-unsaturated fatty acid sources in diets on immune responses of lambs experimentally infected with foot and mouth disease virus. A total of fifteen Sangsari male lambs with an average body weight of 48 ± 2 kg and an average age of 8 ± 1 months were randomly allocated to one of three experimental treatments: (1) PalOil group received a calcium soap of palm oil fatty acids in the diet as source of palmitic acid (16:0), (2) SunOil group received a calcium soap of sunflower oil fatty acids in the diet as source of linoleic acid (n-6 18:2), and (3) LinOil group received a calcium soap of linseed oil fatty acids in the diet as source of α-linolenic acid (n-3 18:3). The greatestand the least expression of IL-4 mRNA were measured in SunOil and LinOil groups, respectively. Expression of IL-8 mRNA was greater in SunOil treatment when compared with PalOil and LinOil groups. In conclusion, the results of the study confirmed that inclusion of α-linolenic acid in virally infected lambs'diet results in lower expression of IL-4 and IL-8 mRNA.

The effects of vitamin C and methionine hydroxy analog supplementation on performance, blood parameters, liver enzymes, thyroid hormones, antioxidant activity of blood plasma, intestine morphology, and HSP70 gene expression of broilers under heat stress.

This experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of vitamin C and methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) on performance, blood parameters, liver enzymes, activity of selected hormones, antioxidant activity of blood plasma, intestine morphology, and HSP70 gene expression in broilers under heat stress. Four hundred 1-day-old male chickens of commercial Ross 308 strain were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replicates of 20 chickens each. The experimental treatments were as follows: (1) base diet based on maize soybean (the control), (2) base diet with 0.2% vitamin C, (3) base diet with 0.46, 0.36, and, 0.32% methionine hydroxy analog, in the starter, grower, and finisher periods, respectively, and (4) base diet with a mixture of 0.2% vitamin C and 0.46, 0.36, and 0.32% of methionine hydroxy analog in the starter, grower, and finisher periods respectively. Although numerically higher than control, the effect of the experimental diets on performance was not significant across the experimental period (P>0.05). Glucose and LDL concentrations under all experimental treatments were significantly reduced compared to the control (P<0.05). The concentrations of liver enzymes (AST and ALT) and antioxidant activity (SOD, GPx, and MDA) of broilers were significantly different from the control under combined MHA and vitamin C supplementation (P<0.05). All experimental diets led to significantly increased T4 concentrations, compared to control (P<0.05). The length and width of intestinal villi of broilers were significantly increased in all of the experimental treatments compared to the control (P<0.05). The difference in HSP70 gene expression was significantly reduced in all of the treatments compared to the control (P<0.05). The results of this experiment showed that the use of vitamin C and methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) can be effective in reducing the negative effects of heat stress.

Environmental efficiency of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on methane production in dairy and beef cattle via a meta-analysis.

The objective of the present study is to examine the effect of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on reduction of methane (CH4) production in dairy and beef cattle using meta-analytic methods. After compilation of relevant scientific publications available from the literature between 1990 and 2016, and applying exclusion and inclusion criteria, meta-analyses of data from dairy and beef cattle were applied for the pooled dataset or for each animal category (dairy or beef). The results of meta-analysis of all three datasets (all cattle, dairy cattle, or beef cattle) suggested that effect size of yeast either on daily CH4 production or on CH4 production per dry matter intake (CH4/DMI) was not significant. The results of Q test and I2 statistic suggest that there is no heterogeneity between different studies on CH4 production and CH4/DMI. The results of meta-analysis suggest that use of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as feed additive does not offer significant results in terms of reduction of CH4 production in dairy and beef cattle. Further research on the effects of different doses of yeast, use of yeast products, different strains, and experimental designs is warranted to elucidate the effects of yeasts on methane production in the rumen.

Effect of Aloe vera and vitamin E supplementation on the immune response of broilers / Efectos potenciales del Aloe vera y la vitamina E sobre la respuesta inmune en pollos de engorde / Efeitos potenciais da Aloe vera e vitamina E na resposta imunológica de frangos de corte

Abstract Background: herbs are among the feed supplements under investigation that could replace antibiotics to improve humoral and cellular immune response in birds. Objective: this study evaluated the potential of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) and vitamin E as immunostimulants on humoral and cellular immune responses in broilers. Methods: broilers were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments: a negative control (basal diet+ with no additive), basal diet + 1% Aloe vera gel in drinking water, and basal diet + 100 mg/Kg vitamin E in the feed. Antibody titers against sheep red blood cells and Newcastle disease virus were used to examine the humoral immune response, whereas cellular immune response was evaluated using the phytohemagglutinin-P tests. Results: the highest level of antibody titer against sheep red blood cells on examination days 28 and 38, and the highest response to injection of phytohemagglutinin-P on day 38 was observed in the Aloe vera gel group (p<0.05). However, the response of broilers fed Aloe vera gel was not different from those receiving vitamin E (p>0.05). In addition, the greatest antibody level against Newcastle disease virus was obtained on days 25 and 35 in the vitamin E group, with no significant difference from the Aloe vera gel group (p>0.05). Conclusion: in general, our findings demonstrated that both Aloe vera gel and vitamin E can enhance humoral and cellular immune responses of broilers, while Aloe vera gel can be used as an immunostimulant in chickens.

Resumen Antecedentes: en la industria avícola, es particularmente importante mejorar el rendimiento del sistema inmune con el objetivo de incrementar la resistencia contra patógenos. Las plantas están dentro de los suplementos alimenticios que podrían reemplazar a los antibióticos con el propósito de mejorar la respuesta inmune humoral y celular en aves. Objetivo: el presente estudio evaluó el potencial del Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) y la vitamina E como inmunoestimulantes sobre la respuesta inmune humoral y celular en pollos de engorde. Métodos: los pollos de engorde fueron asignados aleatoriamente a tres tratamientos (dietas): un control negativo (dieta base sin aditivo), dieta base + 1% de gel de Aloe vera en el agua de bebida, y una dieta base + 100 mg/Kg de vitamina E en el alimento. Se usó la titulación de anticuerpos contra glóbulos rojos de oveja y contra la enfermedad viral Newcastle para examinar la respuesta inmune humoral. La respuesta inmune celular fue evaluada usando las pruebas de fitohemaglutinina-P. Resultados: el mayor nivel de titulación de anticuerpos contra glóbulos rojos de oveja en los días de experimentación 28 y 38, y la mayor respuesta a la inyección de fitohemaglutinina-P en el día 38 se observó en el grupo del gel de Aloe vera (p<0,05). Sin embargo, la respuesta de los pollos alimentados con gel de Aloe vera no fue diferente a la de los pollos que recibieron vitamina E (p>0,05). Además, el más alto nivel de anticuerpos contra la enfermedad viral Newcastle fue obtenida en los días 25 y 35 en el grupo que recibió vitamina E, sin diferencia significativa con respecto al grupo con gel de Aloe vera (p>0,05). Conclusión: en general, nuestros resultados demuestran que tanto el gel de Aloe vera como la vitamina E pueden mejorar la respuesta inmune humoral y celular en pollos de engorde, mientras que el gel de Aloe vera (agregado al agua) puede usarse como un inmunoestimulante en pollos de engorde.

Resumo Antecedentes: na indústria avícola, a melhoria nas respostas do sistema imunológico é importante, no sentido de aumentar a resistência contra patógenos. As ervas estão entre os suplementos que podem substituir os antibióticos na dieta com o objetivo de melhorar as respostas imunes humoral e celular. Objetivo: o presente estudo avaliou o uso potencial da Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) e Vitamina E como imunoestimulantes sobre as respostas imunes humoral e celular em frangos de corte. Métodos: frangos de corte foram aleatoriamente distribuídos em 3 tratamentos, conforme a dieta: controle (dieta basal + sem aditivos), dieta basal + 1% de gel Aloe vera na água de bebida e dieta basal + 100 mg/Kg de vitamina E na dieta. Títulos de anticorpos contra células sanguíneas vermelhas de ovelha e o vírus da doença de Newcastle foram utilizados para avaliar a resposta imune humoral. A resposta imune celular foi avaliada através do teste da fitohemaglutinina-P. Resultados: o maior título de anticorpos contra células sanguíneas vermelhas de ovelha, aos 28 e 38 dias, e a maior resposta à injeção de fitohemaglutinina-P, aos 38 dias, foram observados no grupo recebendo o gel de Aloe vera (p<0,05). Entretanto, a resposta das aves que receberam o gel Aloe vera não foi diferente daqueles que receberam vitamina E (p>0,05). Além disso, o maior título de anticorpos contra o vírus da doença de Newcastle foi observado aos 25 e 35 dias no grupo que recebeu vitamina E sem diferença com o grupo que recebeu gel Aloe vera (p>0,05). Conclusão: em geral, nossos resultados indicam que tanto o gel Aloe vera quanto a vitamina E, podem ser utilizados para aumentar as respostas imune humoral e celular em frangos de corte, enquanto que o gel Aloe vera (adicionado à água de bebida) pode ser utilizado como um imunoestimulante em frangos.