Search Results (1,455)

The tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil (TTEO) exhibited in vitro antioxidant activities with an inhibition concentration (IC50) of 29.02 ± 0.57 µg/mL. This is due to its content of bioactive compounds; practically α-pinene (1.52%), eucalyptol (9.05%), 2-bornanone (57.94%), 1-dotriacontanol (1.82%), 1-decanol, 2-hexyl- (1.99%), and 1-heptatriacotanol (4.90%). Therefore, this research aimed to determine changes in growth, antioxidant capacity, immune functions, and disease resistance in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) when fed on a low-fishmeal (FM) diet enriched with TTEO. Nile tilapia juveniles (14.6–15.9 g) were fed on a low-FM diet containing 0.0 (the control), 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25 g TTEO/kg feed up to apparent satiety three times a day for 70 days. Following the feeding trial, fish were intraperitoneally injected with Aeromonas hydrophila, and fish mortality was recorded for an additional 10 days. It is noted that feeding the fish on 0.2 g TTEO/kg feed increased the feed intake as well as the growth indices. Marked declines in FCR values were seen in fish fed on 0.15–0.25 g TTEO/kg feed. However, fish fed on a diet with 0.2 g TTEO/kg feed exhibited highest enhancements in intestinal villi width/length and absorption area compared with other TTEO levels. No statistical (p > 0.05) differences were observed in glucose and cortisol levels among TTEO-fed groups, indicating no stress effects on fish. Conversely, ALT and AST activities in Nile tilapia declined significantly (p < 0.05), especially at 0.20 and 0.25 g TTEO/kg feed, with no difference (p > 0.05) between the two treatments. It is noted that high TTEO levels (0.2–0.25 g/kg feed) increased hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities as well as the mRNA expression of hepatic SOD, CAT, and GPx genes. Compared with other TTEO groups, feeding the fish with 0.2 g TTEO/kg feed showed higher alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme, complement C3, and ACH50 levels, along with marked increases in IL-8 and IL-10 genes expression and declines in the expression TNF-α, IL-1ß, HSP70, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 genes. After A. hydrophila infection, fish fed on the control diet exhibited the highest mortality (76.7%), whereas fish fed on 0.2 and 0.25 g TTEO/kg feed were more resistant to bacterial infection, with mortality rates of 23.3% and 26.7%, respectively, with no difference (p > 0.05) between them. The results confirmed that dietary TTEO enhanced growth, antioxidant capacity, immunological biomarkers, and disease resistance in Nile tilapia when added to low-FM diets, with an optimum dose of 0.2 g TTEO/kg feed. Full article

Agricultural by-products and Chinese medicine crop residues, as non-traditional animal feed, have great potential to alleviate the scarcity of traditional feed and reduce the environmental burden. In this study, the effects of adding fermented ginseng by-products to the diet on growth performance, meat quality, flavor characteristics and metabolism of Hongyu roosters were evaluated. A total of 100 Hongyu roosters were randomly assigned to either a control (Con) group fed a basal diet or a fermented ginseng by-products (Fe) group fed a basal diet supplemented with 3% fermented ginseng by-products, with five replicates per group, for 100 days. The results demonstrated that the fermented diet significantly enhanced final body weight and average daily gain (ADG) while reducing the feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05). The percentages of breast and thigh muscles and breast muscle fiber diameter were significantly increased. The results also exhibited enhanced water-holding capacity, coupled with significantly decreased shear force and drip loss (p < 0.05). Electronic nose and tongue analyses confirmed enriched meat aroma and optimized taste profiles, which aligned with elevated levels of flavor-precursor amino acids and essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Serum metabolomics found purine metabolism and the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids to be pivotal pathways. Metabolites related to nucleotide and lipid metabolism were regulated. In conclusion, fermented ginseng by-products serve as an effective functional feed to improve poultry growth performance and meat quality. Full article

The ruminal epithelium plays a central role in nutrient absorption, epithelial barrier function, and mucosal immune defense. However, the molecular mechanisms by which dietary Perilla frutescens seeds (PFS) regulate ruminal epithelial immunity remain poorly understood. This study investigated the transcriptomic responses of the sheep ruminal papilla to dietary PFS supplementation. Forty-five male Tan sheep were assigned to three dietary treatments (n = 15 per group): a low-concentrate diet (LC), a high-concentrate diet (HC), and the LC diet supplemented with 3% PFS (LC + PFS). After an 84-day feeding trial, ruminal papilla tissues from six animals per group were randomly subjected to RNA sequencing and integrated bioinformatic analyses, covering all three pairwise comparisons (LC vs. HC, HC vs. LC + PFS, and LC vs. LC + PFS). The LC vs. LC + PFS comparison served as the direct assessment of PFS effects under the same basal diet, whereas HC vs. LC + PFS was treated as a cross-dietary comparison. LC vs. HC yielded 387 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), HC vs. LC + PFS yielded 104 DEGs, and LC vs. LC + PFS yielded 33 DEGs, with predominant enrichment in metabolic and stress-adaptive pathways (AMPK, MAPK, PI3K-Akt). The latter were mainly associated with metabolic and structural pathways. Propionate and valerate were negatively correlated with several interferon-signaling and antigen-presentation genes. Collectively, the direct LC vs. LC + PFS comparison demonstrates that PFS supplementation under physiological conditions is associated with targeted metabolic modulation. Meanwhile, the cross-dietary HC vs. LC + PFS comparison reveals that, relative to high-concentrate feeding, the PFS-supplemented low-concentrate feeding regimen is transcriptionally associated with enhanced immune surveillance capacity in a non-inflammatory manner. These findings provide transcriptomic evidence supporting the potential of PFS as a modulator of ruminal epithelial homeostasis and offer a foundation for further investigation into its application as a functional feed ingredient. Full article

Insect-derived feed ingredients are increasingly considered alternative protein sources, but their time-dependent effects on digestive function remain unclear. This study evaluated how the duration of feeding a diet containing Cuban cricket meal (CCM) affected fecal bacterial enzyme activity and apparent nutrient digestibility in adult rabbits. Thirty-two New Zealand White male rabbits were allocated to four groups. The control group received a diet containing 14% soybean meal throughout the six-week trial, whereas experimental groups received soybean meal followed by a diet in which 10% CCM replaced soybean meal for the final two, four, or six weeks. It was found that the fecal enzymatic response depended on feeding duration. Short-term feeding induced limited changes, whereas longer feeding periods (four and six weeks) increased the activity of enzymes involved in the degradation of complex substrates, including chitin, and enhanced the extracellular activity of several enzymes. Digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and energy was unaffected. By contrast, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and acid detergent lignin digestibility increased after four and six weeks (p < 0.001). These results could be interpreted as indirect evidence that rabbits’ gut microbiota requires an adaptation period to effectively respond to insect-derived components. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary LC inclusion (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) in Pekin ducklings from 7 to 65 days of age on growth performance, carcass traits, metabolic profile, immune status, and economic efficiency. A total of 250 unsexed 7-day-old Pekin ducklings were randomly allocated to five dietary treatment groups, each comprising five replicates of 10 ducklings. The linear response plateau analysis estimated LC breakpoints of approximately 50 mg/kg diet for body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Additionally, LC significantly improved carcass yield and crude protein content of the meat, as well as enhanced its antioxidant capacity. Physiologically, LC enhanced hematological indices, lipid metabolism, and thyroid hormone activity, without adversely affecting liver function. Moreover, LC favorably modulated the intestinal microbiota by increasing the abundance of beneficial Lactobacillus spp. and reducing pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, it improved immune status, as indicated by higher immunoglobulin levels, lysozyme and phagocytic activities, and lymphocyte proliferation. LC significantly enhanced the mentioned parameters without inducing any adverse effects; however, the magnitude of the response plateaued and subsequently declined at higher inclusion levels (200–400 mg/kg). The improvements in performance and health status were attributed to the enhanced fatty acid oxidation, energy metabolism, antioxidant defense, and immunomodulatory effects of LC. In conclusion, including 50 mg L-carnitine/kg in the diet represents an effective and appropriate nutritional strategy under the conditions of the present study to optimize growth performance, carcass quality, nutrient digestibility, health status, and economic profitability in Pekin duck production systems. Full article

This study aimed to explore the protective mechanism of silybin against heat stress-induced liver injury in Peking ducks as a result of oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid metabolism. One hundred and ninety-five 1-day-old healthy male Peking ducks with similar body weights were randomly divided into a control group, a heat-stress group, and three intervention groups treated with 400, 800, and 1600 mg/kg silybin under heat-stress from 21 d to 35 d for two weeks. The function indices, oxidative stress, inflammatory factor levels, histopathological changes and non-targeted lipidomic profiling in liver as well as growth performance were evaluated. Results showed that silybin supplementation partially alleviated the heat-stress-induced decreases in average daily feed intake and body weight gain (p > 0.05). Silybin supplementation at 400 and 800 mg/kg significantly reduced the heat-stress-induced increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GGT) (p < 0.05), whereas the effect of 1600 mg/kg silybin was not significant. Albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLB) levels were mainly improved in the 800 mg/kg group, and GLB was also increased in the 400 mg/kg group (p < 0.05). Silybin supplementation significantly improved hepatic antioxidant capacity, especially in the 400 and 800 mg/kg groups, as indicated by increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels (p < 0.05). In addition, the 400 and 800 mg/kg groups showed more significant reductions in the pro-inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α, while IL-10 was increased in silybin-supplemented groups (p < 0.05). Lipid metabolism disorders were improved through regulation of the sphingolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways, while it alleviated heat stress damage by reducing the expression of heat shock proteins. In conclusion, silybin holds promise as an effective feed additive to alleviate heat stress in poultry. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical approach for improving the health and productive performance of Peking ducks under heat-stress conditions. Full article

Oxidative stress is a major constraint limiting animal health and productive performance by disrupting redox homeostasis, mitochondrial function, intestinal integrity, and mineral metabolism. Agronomic biofortification of forage with essential trace minerals represents a promising nutritional strategy; however, its physiological and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of dietary zinc–iron (Zn–Fe) biofortified alfalfa on oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, mineral transport, mitochondrial bioenergetics, intestinal barrier integrity, inflammatory responses, tissue mineral deposition, and growth performance in guinea pigs. Forty-eight male guinea pigs were allocated to six experimental groups according to dietary treatment (control, Zn-biofortified alfalfa, or Zn–Fe biofortified alfalfa) and oxidative stress status. Oxidative biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activities, inflammatory mediators, mineral concentrations, targeted RT–qPCR, mitochondrial function, intestinal histomorphology, and multivariate physiological analyses were performed. Zn–Fe biofortified alfalfa markedly reduced reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, advanced oxidation protein products, and the oxidative stress index while significantly increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity, and the glutathione redox ratio. Targeted gene-expression analysis demonstrated coordinated upregulation of intestinal mineral transporters (ZIP4, DMT1, and MT1), activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway, increased expression of mitochondrial regulatory genes, and suppression of inflammatory mediators. These molecular responses were accompanied by improved ATP production, mitochondrial membrane potential, respiratory-chain activity, preservation of intestinal villus architecture, enhanced expression of tight-junction proteins, increased tissue Zn and Fe deposition, superior feed efficiency, and greater body weight gain. Integrated physiological analyses consistently identified the Zn–Fe biofortified treatment as the highest-performing physiological phenotype, indicating coordinated adaptation across multiple biological systems. These findings demonstrate that Zn–Fe biofortified alfalfa enhances oxidative stress resilience through simultaneous regulation of mineral transport, antioxidant defense, mitochondrial bioenergetics, intestinal barrier integrity, and systemic physiological performance. Agronomic biofortification of forage therefore represents a promising nutritional strategy for improving animal health, mineral utilization, and productive efficiency under oxidative stress. Full article

Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) root and black soybean (Glycine max) are plant-derived feed ingredients rich in bioactive phytochemicals, including puerarin, isoflavones, and anthocyanins. These compounds are recognized for their antioxidant and physiological regulatory properties, supporting their potential as dietary components in livestock nutrition. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the Pueraria–black soybean compound powder (KRBS) as a dietary additive on female reproductive performance using a cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced ovarian dysfunction mouse model. The results showed that the high-dose KRBS group (CTX+H-KRBS) had a significantly increased ovarian index (p < 0.05), and all KRBS-treated groups recovered estrous cycle regularity (p < 0.01). Molecular analysis showed that KRBS significantly upregulated Amh expression (p < 0.05), decreased Bax expression, and increased Bcl2 expression, while reducing Esr1 and Vegfa expression in uterine tissues to levels comparable to those in the control group (p < 0.05). These molecular changes suggest that KRBS may alleviate CTX-induced ovarian dysfunction through the regulation of apoptosis-related gene expression, including Bax and Bcl2. These findings indicate that KRBS supplementation alleviates CTX-induced ovarian dysfunction through improvements in follicular development, reduction in serum FSH toward control levels, and apoptosis-related gene expression. These effects support the potential application of KRBS as a plant-based dietary supplement for preserving ovarian function. Full article

The enzyme-treated soybean protein (ETSP) could improve their application as an ingredient and substitute for fishmeal (FM) in aquafeeds. In the present research, an eight-week feeding trial was carried out to investigate the effects of using ETSP as a particle substitution in FM on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, antioxidant, intestinal barrier integrity and relative mRNA expression levels in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). A cohort of 450 fish (15.52 ± 0.04 g/fish) were randomly divided into five groups with five replacement levels of ETSP: 0, 12.5, 25.0, 37.5 and 50.0% (control, H2-12.5, H2-25.0, H2-37.5 and H2-50.0). Results showed that final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR) reach the highest value, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) reaches lowest in H2-25.0 group. The activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were remarkably increased by replacing FM with ETSP at certain level, while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Higher levels of total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) as well as lower activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected with ETSP replacement. Histological examination revealed that villus height in mid-intestine was the highest, while this factor in pyloric caeca was not affected. The activity of diamine oxidase (DAO) and the contents of D-lactate (D-Lac) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in serum were gradually decreased when replacing FM with ETSP in the diets. In addition, replacement of FM with ETSP at 25% improved intestinal barrier function by upregulating gene expression related to the tight junctions (occludin, claudins, ZO-1 and ZO-2) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) while downregulating pro-inflammatory factors (IL-8 and TNFα). Moreover, proper amount of ETSP instead of FM can upregulate mRNA expression of LAT1, PEPT1 and PEPT2 in the intestine. In conclusion, at the fishmeal level used in the diet tested in the present study, 25% replacement is the most beneficial for juvenile largemouth bass. Full article

Background: Peganum harmala L. stem ethanolic extract (PHL) has been scarcely evaluated as a ruminant feed component. We evaluated its effects on serum inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers and duodenal and hepatic molecular responses in Hu sheep. Methods: Twelve male Hu sheep, approximately 120 days old, were randomly assigned to a control group or a PHL treatment group (n = 6 per group). After a 7-day adaptation period, the PHL group received 3 g/head/day of PHL (total flavonoid content: 65.7 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/g; approximately 197.1 mg RE/head/day) for 50 days. Serum markers, duodenal untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) metabolomics, liver RNA sequencing, and alternative splicing were analyzed. Results: Serum interleukin-6 and malondialdehyde were lower, whereas interleukin-4 and glutathione peroxidase were higher, in the PHL group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Using variable importance in projection ≥ 1, fold change ≥ 1.2 or ≤0.83, and unadjusted p < 0.05 as screening criteria, 479 LC–MS features met these nominal screening criteria, of which 81 had database annotations. Following Benjamini–Hochberg correction, only two features remained significant (q < 0.05); however, only one was successfully annotated, rendering the pathway analysis exploratory. Liver RNA sequencing identified 279 differentially expressed genes (absolute log₂FC ≥ 1 and q ≤ 0.001) and 104 skipped-exon events (false discovery rate < 0.05). Functional enrichment analysis highlighted annotations related to bile secretion, ATP-binding cassette transport, nutrient metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. Conclusions: PHL supplementation was associated with selective changes in serum inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers, accompanied by hepatic molecular responses. The duodenal metabolomic findings remain exploratory, and dose–response studies incorporating alkaloid quantification and targeted molecular validation are required before practical application can be considered. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of dietary dandelion supplementation on the ruminal physiological status of lambs fed a high-concentrate diet. Twenty-two 6-month-old female crossbred lambs with an initial body weight of 32.05 ± 0.43 kg were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 11 per group): the HC group (fed a high-concentrate basal diet) and the DD group (basal diet supplemented with 2 g/kg dandelion powder), with a 14-day adaptation and 60-day experimental period. The results showed that compared with the HC group, dandelion supplementation significantly improved lamb growth performance and modulated ruminal fermentation parameters and tissue morphology. For inflammatory indices, the concentration of interleukin-10 (IL-10) was significantly increased, while the concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and histamine (HIS) were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, dandelion supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression of ruminal epithelial tight junction proteins and hexokinase II (HK-II), while downregulating the mRNA expression of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), and caspase-1. Metagenomic analysis revealed that dandelion supplementation did not alter ruminal microbial α-diversity, but slightly modulated community composition and functional profiles. The abundances of dominant phyla Bacteroidota and Bacillota showed only slight fluctuations, while fiber-degrading genera (Xylanibacter, Quinella, Selenomonas) showed a trend toward enrichment, and proteolytic taxa were decreased. CAZyme analysis revealed an upward trend in families CE4, CE8, GH32, and GH13_46 (pectin/starch degradation) and a downward trend in GH73, GH27, and GT14 (oligosaccharide/peptidoglycan/polysaccharide metabolism) in the DD group. KEGG orthology annotation suggested that nominal KO differences were mainly associated with carbohydrate metabolism pathways, including starch and sucrose metabolism and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. None of these features, however, remained significant after FDR correction (raw p < 0.05; all q > 0.05). Collectively, dietary dandelion supplementation was associated with alterations in ruminal physiological status and microbial community in lambs fed a high-concentrate diet, providing foundational data for dandelion application in lamb diets under short-term feeding conditions. Full article

MOF-derived catalysts have considerable potential for aqueous contaminant control, but their practical application is often constrained by the aggregation and difficult recovery of powder catalysts. In this study, a self-supporting N-doped Fe/Ni-based monolithic catalyst, denoted N-101-NFF, was fabricated through the in situ growth of an Fe-based MOF precursor on nickel–iron foam followed by pyrolysis. Under the conditions of 50 mg/L chlortetracycline (CTC), 0.08 mmol/L peroxymonosulfate (PMS), and an effective catalyst area of 1 cm², N-101-NFF degraded 90.3% of CTC within 60 min and maintained a degradation efficiency of 88.6% after five consecutive cycles. Quenching experiments and EPR analysis indicated the involvement of •OH, SO₄•⁻, O₂•⁻, and ¹O₂ in CTC degradation. Electrochemical measurements indicated improved interfacial charge-transfer characteristics, while post-reaction XPS analysis revealed changes in the Fe and Ni valence states and surface N- and O-containing groups, supporting the involvement of Fe and Ni redox cycling and these surface functionalities in PMS activation. In a fixed-bed reactor, the system maintained more than 86% CTC removal over 24 h of continuous-flow operation at a CTC feed rate of 200 mL/h. These results highlight the potential of N-101-NFF as a recoverable monolithic catalyst for PMS-based treatment of antibiotic-contaminated water. Full article

Background: Population ageing, increasing care demands, and rapid advances in artificial intelligence and robotics have intensified interest in care robots as potential tools to support independent living and complement human caregiving. However, the successful implementation of robotic technologies depends largely on public acceptance, which is influenced by functional, psychological, ethical, cultural, and generational factors. Objective: This study examined generational differences in the acceptance of care robots among Portuguese adults by integrating the Almere Model of technology acceptance with the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and the Lawton–Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale. The research sought to determine whether acceptance varies according to generation and the type of caregiving activity performed by the robot. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using an online questionnaire administered to a purposive sample of 235 adults residing primarily in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. The questionnaire combined constructs from the Almere Model with perceptions of robotic assistance for ADLs and IADLs. Principal Component Analysis, reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, and inferential analyses were performed to examine differences across generational groups. Results: Acceptance of care robots was strongly task-dependent. Participants expressed significantly greater acceptance of robots assisting with instrumental activities, including housekeeping, shopping, transportation, meal preparation, and medication management, than with intimate personal care activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding, and continence care. Contrary to common assumptions regarding digital natives, Generation Z reported higher levels of fear, discomfort, and perceived intimidation than Generation X and Baby Boomers. Older generations generally demonstrated more pragmatic acceptance of robotic assistance, particularly regarding future support needs associated with ageing. Across generations, respondents preferred robots with more human-like appearances; however, emotional trust remained substantially lower than perceived functional usefulness. Conclusions: The findings suggest that acceptance of care robots is conditional rather than universal and is shaped by the nature of the caregiving task, generational differences, and broader emotional and cultural perceptions of care. Integrating the Almere Model with established ADL and IADL frameworks provides a novel perspective by linking technology acceptance to specific functional domains of caregiving. The results support the view that care robots are more likely to be accepted as complementary tools that enhance human-centred care rather than as substitutes for professional or family caregivers. Given the purposive and geographically limited sample, the findings should be interpreted cautiously and not generalised to the wider Portuguese population. They nevertheless provide valuable implications for the design of socially assistive robots, healthcare practice, and public policy in ageing societies. Full article

Irisin is a myokine derived from fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) and is involved in energy metabolism, muscle development, and oxidative regulation. Although irisin has been extensively studied in mammals, its potential application in poultry production remains unclear. Enhancing growth performance and physiological resilience is critical for male white-feathered broiler chickens under intensive production systems. This study investigated the effects of dietary irisin supplementation on growth performance and physiological responses in male white-feathered broiler chickens. A total of 180 broilers were randomly allocated to three treatments, with six replicate pens of ten birds per treatment: basal diet and basal diet supplemented with 5 and 10 mg/kg irisin for 42 days. At 42 days, one bird from each replicate pen was sampled for carcass, meat-quality, serum, immune, and microbiota analyses. Dietary irisin supplementation significantly increased final body weight and average daily gain compared with the control group. Feed conversion ratio decreased from 1.51 in the control group to 1.46 in the 5 and 10 mg/kg groups. Carcass evaluation showed higher slaughter yield and breast muscle yield in irisin-supplemented birds, and cooking loss was significantly reduced in both breast and thigh muscles. Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was elevated in irisin-treated groups. In addition, immunoglobulin Y (IgY) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentrations were significantly increased. No significant treatment effects were observed for total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), or immune organ indices (thymus, spleen and bursa of Fabricius). Gut microbiota analysis showed numerical differences in the relative abundance of several major bacterial taxa among treatments. In conclusion, dietary irisin supplementation was associated with improved growth performance and selected carcass, meat-quality, antioxidant, immunoglobulin, and cecal microbiota outcomes in male white-feathered broiler chickens, supporting further investigation of its potential as a functional feed additive in poultry nutrition. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of replacing whole-plant corn silage with cotton stalk and sugar beet pulp mixed silage at 0, 30, 60, or 90% on growth performance, serum parameters, and rumen characteristics in Suffolk ram lambs, addressing the lack of systematic research on moderate-to-high replacement ratios in sheep diets. Eighty-four 4-month-old ram lambs (32.36 ± 2.92 kg) were assigned to four treatments (3 pens/treatment, 7 lambs/pen) for a 120-day trial after a 15-day adaptation. Based on the growth performance and serum parameter results, the control and 60% replacement groups were selected for further analysis of rumen fermentation and bacterial microbiota via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Compared with the control, the 60% replacement group showed increased final body weight (+15.7%, p < 0.01), daily weight gain (+38.4%, p < 0.01), and dry matter intake (+8.6%, p < 0.05), and improved feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) (p < 0.01). Serum immunoglobulin A and G increased (p < 0.05), whereas tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β decreased (p < 0.05) in the 60% and 90% replacement groups. Serum MDA was significantly lower in the 90% CSBPS group than in the control at d 90 (p < 0.05), with no significant differences among groups at d 120. Rumen isobutyric and valeric acid concentrations were greater in the 60% replacement group than in the control (p < 0.05), accompanied by enrichment of fiber-degrading bacteria including the Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group. Replacing 60% of whole-plant corn silage with cotton stalk and sugar beet pulp silage was associated with improved growth performance, enhanced immune function and antioxidant status, and optimized rumen fermentation in Suffolk ram lambs under the conditions of this study. Full article