Search Results (199)

This experiment aimed to investigate the metabolism of L-Citrulline (L-Cit) in the intestinal tract of ewes and its effects on fecal microbiota composition, plasma metabolism, and reproductive hormone levels. Twelve 18-month-old non-pregnant multiparous Turpan black ewes weighing 51.65 kg ± 2.49 kg were selected and randomly assigned to a control group (Con) and an experimental group (L-Cit), with six ewes in each group. Both groups were fed identical nutrient-dense rations. In the Con group, 100 mL of saline was administered through the duodenal fistula, while the L-Cit group received an additional 0.25 g/kg BW⁻¹ of L-Cit solution. On day 7, the crude protein and amino acid concentrations in feces and urine were assessed using total feces and urine collection methods. Fecal and blood samples were collected to evaluate microbiological and reproductive hormone indices, with blood samples also collected for plasma non-targeted metabolomics analysis two hours post-infusion. Compared to the Con group, the L-Cit group exhibited a significant reduction in crude protein content in feces (p < 0.05) and a highly significant decrease in urine (p < 0.01). Nitrogen metabolism indices did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05), but the L-lysine content in feces was significantly higher in the L-Cit group (p < 0.05). 16S rRNA sequencing revealed no significant PCA separation between the two groups. However, the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, Oscillibacter, and Mogibacterium was significantly higher in the Con group (p < 0.01), while SP3-e08, Parvibacter, Anaerosporobacter, Butyricimonas, and Peptococcus were more abundant in the L-Cit group (p < 0.05). LC-MS analysis showed significant up-regulation of purine and nucleotide metabolism pathways in the L-Cit group (p < 0.05). Plasma levels of estradiol (E₂), progesterone (P₄), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were significantly elevated in the L-Cit group at both 1 and 2 h post-infusion (p < 0.01). These results suggest that duodenal infusion of L-Cit enhances intestinal nitrogen utilization, alters specific bacterial populations, promotes purine and nucleotide metabolism, and stimulates reproductive hormone secretion in ewes. Full article

Freshwater shallow lakes are vulnerable to global warming, putting entire aquatic ecosystems at risk, but evidence from managed reservoirs remains limited despite the existence of long-term empirical data. Using data from 29 stations on Lake Tisza covering an 18-year period (2007–2024), this study quantifies warming rates, thermal stress patterns and trends in water quality in lacustrine, transitional and riverine zones. Lake areas warmed at a rate of 0.90 °C/decade (p < 0.001), faster than the river/transition areas and even than global averages in shallow lakes. Temperature-critical years now affect 90.4% of lake stations, compared with 59.6% in 2007–2012. A strong negative correlation between temperature and dissolved oxygen was observed along all systems (Spearman’s p; river: −0.83, transition: −0.65, lake: −0.53), indicating thermal-driven deoxygenation risk. At the same time, a water quality index (conductivity, pH, BOD₅, total nitrogen and phosphorus, total coliforms) showed an improvement (lake WQI: 63.7 to 74.3). Principal component analysis explained 85% of its variance, showing spatial gradients of eutrophication and fecal contamination, with lacustrine homogenization suggesting management interventions. Lake Tisza is warming faster than global shallow lake averages, with critical implications for the ecosystem’s function; nonetheless, the coexistence of thermal deterioration with improvements in its WQI reveals the effectiveness of the intermittent discharge system and the need for climate-adapted monitoring frameworks that incorporate thermal vulnerability into water quality assessment for regulated shallow lakes under climate change pressure. Full article

This study evaluates the effects of non-fermented red ginseng marc (RGM) in a commercial liquid feeding system on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, fecal short-chain fatty acids, and pork quality in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 480 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) with an average body weight of 32.64 ± 0.12 kg were used in a 12-week feeding trial. Experimental pigs were allotted to one of four treatments in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replicate pens per treatment and 40 pigs per pen based on body weight and sex. Dietary red ginseng marc (0, 2%, 3%, 6%) was added to each experimental diet via a liquid feeding system. Final body weight decreased linearly with increasing dietary RGM (p < 0.05). Average daily gain during weeks 10–12 showed both linear and quadratic responses (p < 0.05), and overall average daily gain during weeks 0–12 decreased linearly (p < 0.05). Average daily feed intake decreased linearly during weeks 4–6, 7–9, 10–12, and overall (p < 0.05). During weeks 7–9, fecal acetate and butyrate increased linearly (p < 0.05), whereas during weeks 10–12, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total SCFA were reduced at the highest inclusion level. Blood urea nitrogen decreased linearly at measured points (p < 0.05). Glucose increased linearly at weeks 9 and 12 (p < 0.05), and total cholesterol decreased linearly at week 12 (p < 0.05). Under the present commercial liquid feeding conditions, supplemental non-fermented RGM at 2% or 3% of the basal diet could be considered practical inclusion levels, whereas 6% inclusion reduced feed intake and growth performance during the finishing period (weeks 7–12). Full article

Enhancing egg production in geese without antibiotics remains a challenge in poultry science. This study compared the effects of Lactobacillus (LAB) and Bacillus (BAC) probiotics on laying performance, gut microbiota, and serum metabolism in Zhedong White geese. Birds were fed a control diet or diets supplemented with LAB or BAC. Egg production and quality were monitored throughout the trial. Serum metabolomics and fecal 16S rRNA sequencing were integrated with KEGG enrichment and correlation analyses to uncover functional mechanisms. Both probiotics improved laying performance and egg quality. Total egg production of the LAB group was 8.5% higher than that of the BAC group (p < 0.05). The LAB group’s advantage in egg production was consistent with its stronger activation of the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway (elevated serum corticosterone and tetrahydrocorticosterone indicated an overall enhancement of steroidogenic flux). Simultaneously, the LAB group exhibited a more efficient conversion of L-phenylalanine to catecholamine precursors, which drove activation of the neuroendocrine reproductive axis. The BAC group showed more significant changes in nitrogen and energy metabolism pathways and a more pronounced expansion of energy-harvesting Firmicutes. These findings reveal two strain-specific regulatory pathways: LAB functions through the “aromatic amino acid–neuroendocrine–steroid hormone axis,” while BAC relies on the “gut microbiota–energy metabolism” pathway, with direct implications for the precise application of probiotics under antibiotic-free farming conditions. Full article

Constructed wetlands offer a sustainable, decentralized solution for wastewater treatment and reuse in Morocco. This study evaluated mesocosm-scale advanced vertical flow constructed wetlands (AVFCWs) incorporating locally sourced reactive media to assess phosphate mining residues as a novel substrate. Accordingly, four configurations were compared: a sand-based control (CW-A) and three amended systems combining pozzolan with phosphate mining residues (CW-B), clay (CW-C), and biochar (CW-D), operated in batch mode under hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 24, 48, and 72 h. The incorporation of reactive media significantly improved treatment efficiency, with CW-D achieving high removal efficiencies across most parameters. COD and TSS removal reached 80% and 88%, respectively, while nitrogen removal exceeded 82% in optimal configurations. Phosphorus removal reached 76% in CW-B and 88% in CW-C. The removal of Cd and Cu exceeded 85% in all systems, with phosphate mining residues demonstrating strong potential for metal immobilization. However, despite these high removal efficiencies, the treated effluent did not meet Moroccan reuse standards for cadmium and fecal coliforms, indicating that single-stage AVFCWs are insufficient for safe agricultural reuse and require additional polishing steps. Extended HRT improved AVFCWs’ performance, but increased water loss, reaching up to 28% due to evapotranspiration. Hence, phosphate mining residues emerge as a promising substrate, pending further optimization, while supporting circular economy objectives. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary L-citrulline supplementation on the health of mares during late gestation. Thirty-two healthy mares in late pregnancy were randomly assigned to four groups: a control group (CON, 0 g/d) and three treatment groups receiving 15, 30, and 45 g/d/head of L-citrulline, respectively. The trial spanned 72 days, including a 12-day adaptation phase and a 60-day formal feeding period. A fixed daily feeding amount of 11.2 kg/head was provided, ensuring complete consumption and consistent dry matter intake across all groups. Results demonstrated that supplementation with 30 g/d/head of L-citrulline significantly improved the apparent digestibility of crude protein and nitrogen metabolism rate (p < 0.05), while notably increasing plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < 0.01) and reducing plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration by 10.53% (p < 0.01). Furthermore, mares receiving 30 g/d of L-citrulline showed a 14.81% increase in plasma estradiol (E2) concentration (p < 0.01). Urinary concentrations of E2, estrone sulfate (ESS), and 17α-dihydroequilin sulfate (17α-DHEQS) were also significantly elevated (p < 0.05). This supplementation also enhanced plasma amino acid levels related to the urea cycle and improved the diversity of fecal microbiota, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria. A multi-indicator scoring system identified 30 g/d as the optimal supplemental dose of L-citrulline. These findings suggest that 30 g/d of L-citrulline may act as a nutritional regulator, offering valuable insights for enhancing the physiological and metabolic health of mares during late gestation. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary bile acids (BA) supplementation on serum antioxidant capacity, fecal fermentation characteristics, microbial diversity, and community composition in culled ewes. Twenty 5-year-old culled Hu ewes with similar body weights (42.95 ± 1.07 kg) were randomly allocated to two groups (n = 10 per group). The control group (CON) received a basal diet, while the treatment group (BA400) was fed the same basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg BA. Compared with the CON group, the BA400 group showed enhanced serum activities of total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, while also showing reduced concentrations of cortisol, malondialdehyde, and reactive oxygen species (p < 0.05). Fecal pH, ammonia nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids, and the concentrations and proportions of individual volatile fatty acids remained unaffected by BA supplementation (p > 0.05). Microbial analysis revealed that the BA400 group exhibited higher fecal bacterial richness and diversity than the CON group (p < 0.05). Analysis of similarities revealed significant differences between the CON and BA400 groups (R = 1.000, p = 0.007). Specifically, BA supplementation increased the relative abundances of beneficial taxa, including Verrucomicrobiota and Akkermansia, while decreasing potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Campylobacterota and Proteobacteria. These findings indicate that dietary BA supplementation improves serum antioxidant capacity and modulates fecal microbial diversity and community structure in culled ewes, suggesting that hindgut microbiota may contribute to the health benefits of BA supplementation in ruminant production. Full article

Large wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are increasingly supplemented with quaternary treatment. Classical monitoring hereby relies mostly on the measurement of oxygen demand, micropollutants and the nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen. From a microbiological perspective, relevant parameters to assess treatment performance include the removal efficacies of the fecal gene load as a proxy of pathogenic risk, antibiotic resistance genes and the bacterial regrowth potential. For this purpose, a combination of flow cytometry and quantitative PCR, together with a viability assessment, was applied to characterize a full-scale pilot plant. The pilot plant comprised conventional treatment and MBR and ozonation for advanced treatment. The assessment of fecal gene load was based on the quantification of Bacteroidales of human origin, as these obligate anaerobic bacteria cannot replicate within wastewater treatment plants. Whereas conventional treatment resulted in only moderate removal of these parameters, quaternary treatment typically led to a much stronger decrease. MBR treatment contributed most strongly to the removal with an appr. 6 log reduction compared to the primary clarification effluent, corroborating its microbiological merit for wastewater treatment. In addition to removing microorganisms and their genetic content, data also suggested a 95% reduction in extracellular DNA. Ozonation further enhanced microbiological removal. From an analytical perspective, the study shows the added value of using a long amplicon qPCR approach together with sample treatment with a viability dye to minimize false-positive signals and to avoid underestimation of treatment performance. The chosen diagnostic approach shows promise in assessing the microbiological treatment efficacy of WWTPs and as a basis to decide on the microbiological necessity of treatment upgrades. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lowering crude protein (CP) levels in the diet of dairy cows alone or in combination with a yeast probiotic on nitrogen utilization, digestion, and rumen microbial protein synthesis. In total, six cows were included in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Each study period consisted of 23 days of diet adaptation and 5 days for sampling and data collection. Cows were randomly assigned to one of the three diets according to protein level and supplementation: control diet with 16.5 CP%DM (CTR), a diet with 14.5 CP%DM without Actisaf Sc 47 supplementation (LCP), and a diet with 14.5 CP%DM with Actisaf Sc 47 supplementation at 5 g/cow/day (LCPActisaf). Reducing protein content from 16.5 to 14.5 CP%DM alone or in combination with Actisaf Sc 47 significantly reduced nitrogen intake. Regarding fecal nitrogen (FN), no difference was observed between the CTR and LCP groups. However, FN was significantly lower in the LCPActisaf group compared with that of the CTR group. There was a tendency for lower FN in the LCPActisaf group compared with the LCP group. Compared with CTR, urinary nitrogen (UN) was not impacted by LCP but tended to decrease with LCPActisaf (p = 0.1). Compared with CTR and LCP, supplementation with Actisaf Sc 47 increased nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) (p < 0.05). A tendency for higher NUE was observed in the LCP group compared with the CTR group (p = 0.07). Crude protein digestibility was similar between the CTR and LCP groups and tended to increase with Actisaf Sc 47 supplementation. Compared with CTR, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility was not impacted by LCP but increased by LCPActisaf (p = 0.05); LCPActisaf did not impact NDF digestibility compared with LCP. Organic matter (OM) digestibility was similar among treatments. Although there was no difference between the three groups on rumen microbial protein synthesis (RMP), supplementation with Actisaf Sc 47 increased RMP. Reducing protein content in combination with Actisaf Sc 47 appears to be a good strategy, enabling both the environmental footprint linked to nitrogen losses to be reduced, and fiber digestibility and rumen microbial protein synthesis to increase. Full article

Wastewater treatment through phytoremediation with plants reduces contaminants to acceptable levels as established by the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) of Peru. This study evaluated the efficiency of Azolla filiculoides Lam. plants from the Huayllaspanca Colored Wetland (Laguna Coloreado) in the phytoremediation of wastewater from Huamancaca Chico, Chupaca Province, Junín Region, Peru. A pre-test and post-test experimental design was used. Glass aquariums of dimensions 54 × 20 × 21.3 cm were set up, and 28 g of phytoremediation plant samples were planted in 20 L of wastewater over a 28-day period. The main results for contaminant removal efficiency were as follows: clear and odorless water, total dissolved solids (40.27%), electrical conductivity (41.07%), turbidity 98.51%, oils and greases (>90.7%), BOD₅ (95.55%), COD (95.04%), and ammonia nitrogen (95.77%). The final removal of fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli from wastewater using A. filiculoides was 99.9%, with post-treatment averages (11.6 MPN/100 mL and 2 MPN/100 mL, respectively) significantly lower than their respective Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) (1000 MPN/100 mL) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Azolla filiculoides Lam. is an effective macrophyte for improving the physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters of wastewater and removes contaminants. Full article

Global population growth has intensified the demand for productive and sustainable livestock systems. Lithothamnium calcareum, a calcareous marine alga, has been investigated as a natural feed additive for cattle diets. This study evaluated the effects of L. calcareum supplementation on performance, carcass traits, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism, urinary and fecal pH, and enteric methane emissions in Nellore heifers during the finishing phase. Thirty-six heifers (BW = 268.8 ± 7.3 kg) were assigned to individual pens in a completely randomized design and fed ad libitum diets (25:75 forage-to-concentrate ratio, DM basis). Treatments were: (1) sodium bicarbonate (110 g/heifer/day) and (2) L. calcareum (60 g/heifer/day). The 96-day trial included 12 days of adaptation and 84 days on the finishing diet. Methane emissions were measured using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) tracer technique. L. calcareum did not affect performance, carcass traits, nitrogen metabolism, or apparent total tract digestibility (all p ≥ 0.106), but reduced urine pH (p ≤ 0.001) and tended to lower methane emissions (−8.2%; p = 0.079). Thus, L. calcareum appears to be a viable natural alternative to sodium bicarbonate in finishing diets for Nellore heifers, maintaining productive performance and potentially reducing enteric methane output. Full article

Accurate and physiologically relevant in vitro models are needed to predict nutrient digestibility and hindgut fermentation in pigs, as conventional in vivo trials are resource-intensive and raise animal welfare concerns. This study evaluated and compared the predictive performance of three in vitro digestion approaches—shaking (S), dialysis (D), and a combined shaking plus dialysis (SD) method—for estimating in vivo apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and fermentation characteristics across weaning, growing, and finishing pigs. Commercial diets were subjected to simulated gastric and small-intestinal digestion using S, D, or SD, followed by fecal inoculation to model hindgut fermentation for 12 and 48 h. During the gastrointestinal phase, crude protein digestibility was highest with D (>75%), intermediate with SD, and lowest with S (50–60%), indicating that product removal by dialysis mitigated enzyme inhibition from metabolite accumulation. After 48 h of fermentation, all methods showed strong linear correlations with in vivo ATTD (r > 0.93), but only D achieved high absolute agreement (Lin’s CCC > 0.95 for dry matter and crude protein). Moreover, D and SD at 48 h closely reflected in vivo fecal profiles of skatole, indole, and microbial enzyme activities, with D at 12 h showing an especially strong correlation for protease (r = 0.98). While D provided the most precise predictions of absolute values, the SD method offered an optimal balance between physiological relevance and operational efficiency, supporting its use as a robust, high-throughput platform for porcine feed evaluation and fecal nitrogenous odorant prediction. Full article

Grain byproducts can serve as cost-effective alternatives to corn, but may lead to reduced production performance and increased greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing corn with the grain byproducts (wheat bran, sprayed corn bran) subjected to bacterial-enzymatic fermentation treatment or not in Hu sheep, mainly focusing on production performance, energy-nitrogen metabolism, rumen fermentation and greenhouse gas emissions. A total of fifty-four 6-month-old Hu sheep were divided into three groups, with 6 pens per group and 3 sheep per pen, and then randomly allocated to one of the three dietary groups for 60 days, i.e., a control group (CON), a group (RC) that corn was partially (~42%) replaced with grain byproducts, and a group (BF) that corn was partially replaced by fermented grain byproducts. Compared with the CON group, the RC group showed numerically lower rumen total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration and its propionate proportion, nitrogen retention content (NR; −10.22%) and its retention ratio (NR/NI decreased by 4.27 percentage points, absolute reduction from 24.30% to 20.04%), corresponding to a relative decrease of 17.6%.) as well as a numerically reduced net profit (−2.18%) with a decreased feed price (−¥0.16/kg TMR). Meanwhile, the RC group showed a significant increase in the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter (p < 0.05), accompanied by numerically higher daily methane emissions (+6.14%) and emission intensity (+4.08%), although these methane-related differences did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Compared to the RC group, the BF group resulted in a numerical increase in feed price (+¥0.03/kg TMR), net profit (+27.93%), TVFA concentration, propionate proportion, NR (+28.17%), NR/NI (an increase of 5.38 percentage points), the relative abundance of Prevotella, Shuttleworthia and Succinivibrio as well as the decrease of fecal nitrogen (FN; −12.29%), daily methane emissions (−8.75%), emission intensity (−5.83%) and the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter. In summary, replacing dietary corn by 42% with wheat bran and sprayed corn bran numerically reduced formula cost and nitrogen utilization, while increasing methane emissions and methanogens abundance, without significantly affecting growth performance. This combination led to no improvement in economic returns for fattening Hu sheep. Bacterial-enzymatic fermentation treatment of these byproducts could mitigate these drawbacks, being superior energy-nitrogen metabolism and lower greenhouse gas emissions intensity, presenting a potential strategy for cost reduction and efficiency enhancement. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings and support broader application. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing a multi-strain probiotic (MSP) in low–crude protein (LP) diets on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, selected fecal microbial populations, and nitrogen (N) utilization in weaned piglets. A 7-week feeding trial was conducted using 105 weaned crossbred piglets (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire]) with an initial body weight of 6.55 ± 1.09 kg. Based on initial body weight and sex, piglets were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments using a randomized complete block design, with seven replicates per treatment and five pigs per pen (two gilts and three barrows). The dietary treatments included CON: normal crude protein (CP) diet; TRT1: LP diet; and TRT2: LP diet supplemented with 0.01% MSP. At week 7, the final body weight (BW) was higher in CON and TRT2 than in TRT1 (p < 0.05). During weeks 1–3, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower in CON than in TRT1 (p < 0.05). In weeks 5–7, average daily gain (ADG) was higher in CON and TRT2 than in TRT1 (p < 0.05), while only CON showed a reduced FCR (p < 0.05). Over the entire trial, ADG was highest in TRT2 (p < 0.05), and FCR was lower in both CON and TRT2 compared with TRT1 (p < 0.01). At the end of the experiment, apparent nitrogen digestibility was significantly improved in CON and TRT2 relative to TRT1 (p < 0.05). Fecal Lactobacillus counts were elevated, and Escherichia coli abundance decreased in TRT2 (p < 0.05), indicating a more favorable profile of selected fecal bacterial indicators. In the N balance trial, six healthy piglets (three barrows and three gilts) per treatment were randomly selected and housed individually in metabolism cages. After a 3-day adaptation, total feces and urine were collected for four days to determine N intake, fecal and urinary N excretion, and N retention. At week 7, DM and N intake were unaffected by dietary treatment, whereas fecal N excretion was lower in TRT2 and CON relative to TRT1 (p < 0.05). Overall, supplementation of MSP in LP diets partially mitigated the adverse effects associated with reduced dietary protein by enhancing feed efficiency and nitrogen utilization, resulting in growth performance comparable to that of piglets fed a normal CP diet. Full article

Reducing the dependence on traditional protein sources, and decreasing feeding costs and nitrogen emissions, are important tasks in livestock production. A 5 × 5 Latin square nitrogen balance trial (five castrated male pigs) and an animal growth experiment with 120 Landrace × Rongchang pigs were performed and randomly divided into five diets: a normal crude protein level diet (CON); LP diet; diversified LP containing broken rice, rapeseed meal, and DDGS (DLP); DLP + 0.05% cellulase (DLP + CE); and DLP + 20% fermented feed (FDLP). The CON group showed higher nitrogen intake, urinary nitrogen, and total nitrogen excretion than the other four groups (p < 0.05). The fecal nitrogen was decreased with the LP, DLP + CE, and FDLP groups compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of jejunal fatty acid transport protein 1 was upregulated in the LP, DLP + CE, and FDLP groups compared to the CON and DLP groups (p < 0.05). The DLP + CE group showed a higher intramuscular fat content in pigs than the CON and DLP groups (p < 0.05). In the LD muscle, the FDLP and DLP + CE groups upregulated fatty acid synthase expression compared to the LP and DLP groups (p < 0.05). Colonic mRNA expression of zonula occludens-1 and claudin-1 was upregulated in the FDLP group compared to the CON and DLP groups (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the supplementation of cellulase and fermented feed in DLP diets improved nitrogen utilization and intestinal health without compromising growth performance or meat quality in Landrace × Rongchang pigs. Full article