Search Results (2,200)

Enteric diseases represent one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in poultry production, especially in turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), significantly affecting the profitability of the sector. Turkey enteric complex (PEC) is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by diarrhea, stunting, poor feed conversion, and increased mortality in young turkeys. Its aetiologia includes multiple avian enteric viruses, including astrovirus, rotavirus, reovirus, parvovirus, adenovirus, and coronavirus, which can act singly or in co-infection, increasing clinical severity. This study performs a systematic review of the literature on these viruses and a meta-analysis of their prevalence in different regions of the world. Phylogenetic analyses were used to assess the genetic diversity of the main viruses and their geographical distribution. The results show a wide regional and genetic variability, which underlines the need for continuous epidemiological surveillance. Health and production implications are discussed, proposing control strategies based on biosecurity, targeted vaccination, and optimized nutrition. These findings highlight the importance of integrated management to mitigate the impact of CSF in poultry. Full article

This study presents data from Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration (NF) spiral-wound polyamide modules tested in a semi-pilot plant with multicomponent mixtures of Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs) comprising acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, and hexanoic acids. A robust method combining film theory and dissociation equilibria was developed to estimate interfacial concentrations, enabling accurate analysis of concentration polarization, real rejection, and effective transmembrane driving force. Concentration polarization strongly affects NF membranes, resulting in real rejections up to 20% higher than apparent values, while its effect is negligible for RO membranes. NF rejections show marked sensitivity to pH and VFA feed concentration: at 20 g/L and highest flux, acetic acid real rejection increases from 80% to 91% as pH rises from 6 to 9. At pH 7, rejections decline with feed concentration, with acetic acid dropping from 55% at 20 g/L to 32% at 63 g/L, at the same flux. These changes correlate with the molecular weight of the acids. Conversely, RO rejections are marginally affected by pH and not influenced by concentration due to dominant steric exclusion. Membrane permeabilities remain unaffected by VFAs and align with pure water values. The data analysis framework is effective and applicable across a wide range of conditions and membranes. Full article

In order to achieve the efficient utilization of agricultural by-products and overcome the bottleneck of animal feed shortages in dry seasons, this study utilized corn stover (CS; Zea mays L.) as a material to systematically investigate the dynamic changes in the fermentation quality, bacterial community structure, and pathogenic risk of silage under different fermentation times (0, 3, 7, 15, and 30 days). CS has high nutritive value, including crude protein and sugar, and can serve as a carbon source and a nitrogen source for silage fermentation. After ensiling, CS silage (CSTS) exhibited excellent fermentation quality, characterized by relatively high lactic acid content, low pH, and ammonia nitrogen content within an acceptable range. In addition, neither propionic acid nor butyric acid was detected in any of the silages. CS exhibited high α-diversity, with Serratia marcescens being the dominant bacterial species. After ensiling, the α-diversity significantly (p < 0.05) decreased, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was the dominant species during the fermentation process. With the extension of fermentation days, the relative abundance of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum significantly (p < 0.05) increased, reaching a peak and stabilizing between 15 and 30 days. Ultimately, lactic acid bacteria dominated and constructed a microbial symbiotic network system. In the bacterial community of CSTS, the abundance of “potential pathogens” was significantly (p < 0.01) lower than that of CS. These results provide data support for establishing a microbial regulation theory for silage fermentation, thereby improving the basic research system for the biological conversion of agricultural by-products and alleviating feed shortages in dry seasons. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of early-life creep feeding with a high-protein, high-energy diet on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and gut microbiota in Hanwoo calves (n = 10). Calves were assigned to control or treatment groups from birth to 6 months of age. No significant differences were observed in body weight, average daily gain (ADG), or feed conversion ratio (FCR), but ADG and dry matter intake (DMI) tended to be higher in the treatment group. Ruminal pH, NH₃-N, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations showed no significant differences. Fecal VFA profiles exhibited numerical trends suggesting higher propionate at 3 months and lower acetate, butyrate, and total VFA at 6 months in the treatment group, potentially reflecting altered substrate availability or absorption capacity, though these mechanisms were not directly measured. Microbiota analysis indicated stable ruminal alpha diversity, with numerical increases in fecal Bacteroidetes and genera such as Fournierella and Flavonifractor in the treatment group. These results suggest that early creep feeding with high-nutrition diets can support intake and promote potential shifts in hindgut microbiota composition without compromising overall microbial stability. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these trends and assess long-term impacts on calf health and productivity. Full article

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), with their high absorption and antioxidant properties, hold promise as feed additives in aquaculture, enhancing growth and reproductive health in fish. This review evaluates how selenium nanoparticles influence growth and reproductive traits in Asian seabass (L. calcarifer). Using the PRISMA approach, we examined the impacts of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on the growth performance and gonadal development of Asian seabass (L. calcarifer) by synthesizing findings from the existing literature. Meta-analysis explored that selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) supplementation significantly improved specific growth rate (SGR) (pooled effect size = 3.97; 95% CI: 3.68–4.26) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (pooled effect size = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.75–0.86), with low heterogeneity. Regarding reproductive outcomes, SeNPs enhanced gonadal development, sperm quality, and steroidogenesis. Significant improvements were observed in gonadosomatic index (effect size = 0.5), fertilization rate (0.6), and testosterone levels (0.5), along with a reduction in abnormal embryogenesis (−0.3) (p < 0.05). While an optimal level of SeNPs is effective for enhancing aquaculture performance, excessive use may lead to toxicity; therefore, their economic viability, environmental impact, and sustainability in large-scale aquaculture warrant further investigation. This review provides insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders on the potential of SeNPs in advancing sustainable aquaculture through fish productivity and reproductive performance. Full article

The global escalation of organic waste generation, coupled with rising protein demand and environmental pressure, necessitates innovative, circular approaches to resource management. Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly, BSF) has emerged as a leading candidate for integrated waste-to-resource systems. This review examines BSF biological and genomic adaptations underpinning waste conversion efficiency, comparative performance of BSF bioconversion versus traditional treatments, nutritional and functional attributes, techno-economic, regulatory, and safety barriers to industrial scale-up. Peer-reviewed studies were screened for methodological rigor, and data on life cycle traits, conversion metrics, and product compositions were synthesized. BSF larvae achieve high waste reductions, feed-conversion efficiencies and redirect substrate carbon into biomass, yielding net CO₂ emissions as low as 12–17 kg CO₂ eq ton⁻¹, an order of magnitude below composting or vermicomposting. Larval biomass offers protein, lipids (notably lauric acid), micronutrients, chitin, and antimicrobial peptides, with frass serving as a nutrient-rich fertilizer. Pathogen and antibiotic resistance gene loads decrease during bioconversion. Key constraints include substrate heterogeneity, heavy metal accumulation, fragmented regulatory landscapes, and high energy and capital demands. BSF systems demonstrate superior environmental and nutritional performance compared to conventional waste treatments. Harmonized safety standards, feedstock pretreatment, automation, and green extraction methods are critical to overcoming scale-up barriers. Interdisciplinary innovation and policy alignment will enable BSF platforms to realize their full potential within circular bio-economies. Full article

This study evaluated the effect of biochars on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass yield, bone mineralization, litter quality and footpad lesions in broilers. Eight hundred day-old chicks were randomly divided into four treatments, 10 replicates per treatment (20 birds/replicate) for 35 days. Treatments were basal diet (control), a control diet with corncob (CC) biochar (1%), a control diet with wheat straw (WS) biochar (1%) and a control diet with sugarcane bagasse (SCB) biochar (1%). Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly. Nutrient digestibility, bone mineralization and carcass parameters were determined on the 21st and 35th days, while footpad lesions and litter quality were also assessed. The results revealed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in FI, BWG and FCR with supplementation. Nutrient digestibility was higher (p < 0.05) in the SCB biochar group. Tibia calcium and phosphorus levels were enhanced (p < 0.05) in the WS and SCB biochar groups, respectively. Footpad lesions were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the CC biochar group, while litter quality was improved (p < 0.05) in the WS biochar group. Lymphoid organ relative weight results revealed that spleen weight was not affected by biochar supplementation in diet (p > 0.05), while dietary supplementation of CS and WS biochar in the diet resulted in the highest relative weights of thymus and bursa (p < 0.05). However, dietary supplementation of WS, SC and SCB biochar supplementation had affected positively the log value of the ND virus and IBV titers in birds. Overall, dietary supplementation of 1% biochars enhances growth performance, bone mineralization, footpad health immunity and litter quality in broilers. Full article

Beef production in Greece is a sector that has been characterized by a decline in both the output and the number of beef-producing animals over the last decades. The major challenge is low beef self-sufficiency; only 19.1% of demand is met by domestic production. The latter leads to a growing reliance on imports of both live animals and carcasses. Hence, the fattening of young bulls from dairy breeds could be an option to address this challenge subject to improving the quality of produced meat. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of extruded linseed in the diet of young bulls on their performance and meat quality. Sixty-eight young Holstein bulls were equally assigned in two experimental groups: the control group (CON, n = 34) and Linseed Group (LS, n = 34). Bulls in the CON group received a basal total mixed ration while LS young bulls were offered the same basal ration supplemented with linseed (5% on dry matter basis) during the final fattening stage. All bulls were subjected to three individual weightings at the beginning, the middle and the end of the trial. The feed offered was recorded daily and feed refusals were weighed for each pen to calculate feed intake. After slaughter, the Longissimus dorsi muscle from each carcass was collected to evaluate meat pH, color, chemical composition, tenderness and fatty acid profile. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the effect of dietary intervention on performance and examined meat parameters, with significance set at p < 0.05, using SPSS software (version 29.0). Average daily gain, dry matter intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected by the dietary intervention (p > 0.05). Similarly, carcass yield and dressing percentage remained unaffected (p > 0.05). Adding extruded linseed did not result in differences in meat quality traits (p > 0.05), except for meat pH, which was significantly decreased in the LS group (p < 0.05), indicating more efficient post-mortem glycolysis. Finally, the inclusion of extruded linseed resulted in higher levels of α-linolenic acid in the meat (p < 0.05). These results suggest that including 5% extruded linseed (on a DM basis) in the diet of young Holstein bulls increased meat n-3 content, improved beef pH and maintained production performance. Full article

In recent years, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) technology has significantly contributed to advancements in aquaculture techniques, system iterations, and increased production yields within intelligent feeding systems for Penaeus vannamei. However, current PAM-based intelligent feeding systems do not incorporate environmental factors into the decision process, limiting the improvement of monitoring accuracy in complex environments such as ponds. To establish a connection between environmental factors and the feeding acoustics of P. vannamei, this study utilized PAM technology combined with video analysis to investigate the effects of three key environmental factors—temperature, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrite nitrogen—on the feeding behavioral characteristics of shrimp, with a specific focus on acoustic signals “clicks”. The results demonstrated a significant correlation between the number of clicks and feed consumption in shrimp across different treatments, establishing this stable relationship as a reliable indicator for assessing shrimp feeding status. When water temperature increased from 20 °C to 32 °C, shrimp feed consumption showed an elevation from 0.46 g to 0.95 g per 30 min, with the average number of clicks increasing from 388 to 2947.58 and sound pressure levels rising accordingly. Conversely, ammonia nitrogen at 12 mg/L reduced feed consumption by 0.15 g and decreased click counts by 911.75 pulses compared to controls, while nitrite nitrogen at 40 mg/L similarly suppressed feed consumption by 0.15 g and the average number of clicks by 304.75. A rise in water temperature stimulated shrimp behaviors such as feeding, swimming, and foraging, while elevated concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen significantly inhibited shrimp activity. Redundancy analysis revealed that temperature was the most prominent factor among the three environmental factors influencing shrimp feeding. This study is the first to quantify the specific effects of common environmental factors on the acoustic feeding signals and feeding behavior of P. vannamei using PAM technology. It confirms the feasibility of using PAM technology to assess shrimp feeding conditions under diverse environmental conditions and the necessity of integrating environmental monitoring modules into future feeding systems. This study provides behavioral evidence for the development of precise feeding technologies and the upgrade of intelligent feeding systems for P. vannamei. Full article

Phosphorus (P) is an essential mineral in poultry nutrition, but its low bioavailability from conventional feed ingredients presents a significant challenge for efficient utilization. This study investigated the effects of different P sources (monocalcium phosphate (MCP) and calcium humophosphate (CHP)) and three phytase concentrations (0, 1000, or 2000 FTU/kg of feed) on broiler performance and ileal nutrient digestibility. A total of 600 Cobb 500 male broilers were fed one of six different dietary treatments with 10 replicates per treatment from 11 to 21 d of age. The birds and feed were weighed at 1, 10, and 21 d of age to determine growth performance. At 21 d of age, ileal digesta was collected from all the birds to determine dry matter, organic matter, Ca, P, and ash digestibility. The results indicated that phytase supplementation at 1000 and 2000 FTU/kg improved the feed conversion ratio and P digestibility compared with the non-supplemented group. The broilers fed CHP showed superior P digestibility compared to those fed MCP, regardless of phytase concentration. The results also indicated interactive effects between P source and phytase concentration on the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and ash. The findings suggest that CHP enhances nutrient digestibility and could optimize P utilization in broiler diets with phytase inclusion. This report reveals a better understanding of the effects of P sources and phytase concentration on feed digestibility. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and support improvements in broiler performance under commercial production conditions. Full article

Two trials evaluated the effects of dietary protease inclusion in weaned piglets fed diets with or without crude protein (CP) reduction, focusing on performance, intestinal health, and amino acid digestibility. In Trial I, 270 piglets (21–63 days) received six treatments: control (PC), PC with 100 g/ton protease A (PC+A), CP reduced by 1.0% (NC1) or 1.5% (NC1.5), NC1.5 with 50 g/ton protease A (NC1.5+A), and NC1.5 with 50 g/ton protease B (NC1.5+B). PC+A improved weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion compared with NC1.5+A. The incidence of diarrhea was reduced in animals fed protease-supplemented diets (PC+A, NC1.5+A and NC1.5+B). PC had greater ileal villus height than NC1.5+B, and PC+A showed a higher jejunal villus-to-crypt ratio than reduced CP groups. NC1.5+B increased jejunal expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and haptoglobin. In Trial II, 12 ileal-cannulated piglets received diets with or without protease A. Protease improved the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of methionine+cysteine and tryptophan but reduced the SID of glycine and proline. While protease supplementation can improve some amino acids (Met+Cys and Thr) protein digestibility, our findings suggest it cannot fully replace careful amino acid balancing in CP-reduced diets. However, protease-supplemented diets were associated with improved intestinal morphometry and a reduced incidence of diarrhea. Full article

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of two levels of a precision biotic (PB) within a reduced CP diet for performance, digestibility, and blood biomarkers in Dekalb White laying hens from 24 to 42 weeks of age. A total of four diets were fed: (1) an industry-standard positive control (PC) diet with a formulated CP level of 17.5%; (2) a negative control (NC) diet with a formulated CP level of 15.5%; (3) NC with 0.5 kg/ton PB (NC+PB1); (4) NC with 0.7 kg/ton PB (NC+PB2). The NC diet decreased hen–day egg production compared to the PC diet, and supplementation with both levels of PB led to intermediate levels of production. There was a similar trend for the feed conversion ratio (FCR), measured in kilograms of feed per dozen eggs. Feed cost was lower in the reduced CP diets compared to the PC. Apparent total tract digestibility was decreased with PB supplementation without differences in apparent ileal digestibility. The increased plasma uric acid levels in the NC+PB2 group suggest a shift in protein metabolism toward higher efficiency in ammonia detoxification. While more research is needed on PB, this research suggests that supplementation with PB in laying hens could potentially improve performance parameters. Full article

Male Ross 308 finisher (19 to 33 days) broiler chickens (n = 672) were used to determine the standardized ileal digestible (SID) leucine (Leu)-to-lysine (Lys) ratio for the maximum growth performance and slaughter parameters. A basal diet (incl. wheat, triticale, soybean meal, sunflower meal, and synthetic amino acids) deficient in Leu was formulated, and supplementary L-Leu was used to achieve 0.9 and 1.25 SID Leu-to-Lys ratios in increments of 0.05. A slight deficiency in lysine was implemented to truly relate broiler performance to changes in the SID Leu-to-Lys ratio. Diets were fed to broilers in seven pens (12 broilers each). Eight birds per pen were used for carcass evaluation on day 33. Data analysis indicated that SID Leu-to-Lys ratios between 0.96 and 1.025 were required to achieve 95% and 98% of the maximum body weight gain, daily feed consumption, and the European production efficacy factor, respectively. The estimation of recommended SID Leu-to-Lys ratios for the feed conversion ratio and carcass parameters was not possible. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from extruded linseed, alone and combined with Padina pavonica algae extract, on growth performance and metabolic status in fattening rabbits. Sixty New Zealand White rabbits were assigned to three groups, as follows: control (CNT), L (5% linseed), and LPP (3.5% linseed + 0.2% algae extract) from weaning (37 days) to slaughter (85 days). Productive performance was assessed through body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed intake (FI). Blood was sampled at weaning, 60 days, and slaughter and analyzed for insulin, leptin, cortisol, thyroid hormones (T3, T4), glucose, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs). The L group showed significantly higher ADG (41.0 ± 1 g/d) and improved FCR (4.1 ± 0.2) compared to LPP (ADG: 37 ± 1 g/d, FCR: 4.6 ± 0.2; p = 0.001). No differences were observed in final BW or FI among groups (p < 0.001). Insulin peaked at 60 days across all groups (p < 0.001), with the LPP group showing the lowest levels (9.8 ± 0.9 µUI/mL; p = 0.043). T3 and T4 increased significantly with age (p < 0.001), and the T3/T4 ratio varied by diet and time (p = 0.005). Cortisol rose only at slaughter (p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with insulin and thyroid hormones. The results suggest that omega-3-rich nutraceuticals can enhance growth performance without disrupting metabolic balance and may modulate specific hormonal responses due to their bioactive compounds. Full article

The aim was to investigate effects of various proportions (0 to 20%) of fermented rapeseed meal (FRSM) on performance, intestinal health, and antioxidant status in Sansui ducks (Sansui Sheldrake ducks). A total of 350 male ducklings, 15 d old, were allocated into five dietary treatments with seven replicate pens of 10 birds per pen. The starter diets had 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20% FRSM that contained 0, 1.08, 2.17, 3.25, or 4.34 µmol glucosinolates (GLS/g of complete feed, respectively, fed from d 15 to d 35. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) from d 15 to 35 increased linearly with the dietary FRSM inclusion, with the ducks fed 15 or 20% FRSM diets having higher (p < 0.05) ADFIs and FCRs than the ducks fed 0% FRSM. The dietary FRSM inclusion levels of up to 15% were accompanied by decreased catalase (CAT) and antioxidant capacity (AOC) activities in the livers and jejunum of the ducks at d 35. In addition, the 20% FRSM (4.34 µmol GLS/g diet) decreased the villus height, crypt depth, muscular thickness, and goblet cell counts in the jejunum and ileum. In conclusion, 15 or 20% dietary FRSM (3.25 or 4.34 µmol GLS/g diet) during the grower period in Sansui ducks decreased feed efficiency, disrupted hepatic antioxidant balance, and impaired intestinal morphology and structure. The FRSM inclusion of ≥15% (3.25 µmol glucosinolates/g) impaired feed efficiency and antioxidant activity, while the 20% FRSM (4.34 µmol glucosinolates/g) induced intestinal damage in the growing Sansui ducks. Full article