Search Results (841)

The use of fruit by-products in animal feed can reduce costs and competition between human and animal feed. This study evaluated the effect of dietary inclusion of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) seed meal (PSM) on growth performance, in vitro fermentation, and feed costs in beef steers. A total of 36 steers (Bos indicus; initial BW 416 ± 30 kg) were randomly assigned to three treatments: a control diet (CON) and diets containing 5 or 10% PSM for 45 days. Feed intake and average daily gain (ADG) were measured. An in vitro fermentation assay evaluated gas production and pH changes. Steers fed with 5% and 10% PSM showed numerically higher group-level fresh matter intake (1.10% and 9.34%, respectively), and significantly greater ADG over the entire trial (p = 0.00015) compared to CON. In addition, diets containing 10% PSM produced the highest cumulative gas (17.00 ± 1.00 mL vs. 10.00 ± 1.00 mL for CON and 10.33 ± 2.52 mL for 5% PSM; p = 0.003), indicating high fermentability. Feed cost was reduced by 57% and 46% when using diets containing 5% and 10% PSM, respectively. In conclusion, this study reveals that dietary inclusion of up to 10% PSM improves feed intake and growth performance in steers while reducing feed costs, supporting its value as a sustainable feed ingredient for beef cattle. Full article

This study evaluated molasses-based liquid feeds containing conventional urea or a commercial fat-coated urea product marketed as slow-release urea (SRU). The effects on in vitro gas-production kinetics, rumen fermentation, and substrate degradability were examined. Treatments followed a 5 × 3 factorial design. The five formulations were 0% urea, 5% urea, 10% urea, 5% SRU, and 10% SRU. Each formulation was supplied at 0.9%, 1.8%, or 2.7% of the 0.5 g basal substrate dry matter (DM). Four independent incubation runs were conducted. A formulation × inclusion-level interaction was detected for gas-production lag time (p = 0.0046). The shortest lag time occurred with 10% SRU supplied at 2.7%. At 48 h, the 0.9% inclusion level resulted in greater dry matter and organic matter degradability than the 1.8% and 2.7% levels. The 5% SRU formulation had the lowest 24 h degradability, whereas 10% SRU had the greatest 48 h dry matter degradability. Ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) was analyzed separately at each sampling time. The 10% conventional urea formulation had the greatest NH₃-N concentration at 1 and 2 h. The 10% SRU formulation had the greatest concentration at 4, 6, and 12 h. These within-time differences do not demonstrate different ammonia-release patterns over time. At 12 h, the 10% SRU formulation had the greatest total volatile fatty acid concentration and propionate molar proportion. Protozoal counts were unaffected. The results reflect differences among the complete liquid-feed formulations. They do not provide direct evidence of controlled ammonia release or improved nitrogen–carbohydrate synchronization. Further in vivo studies using compositionally balanced formulations are required. Full article

Mulberry leaves are used as functional food materials, but drought can reduce leaf production and physiological stability. This study evaluated whether foliar sodium selenite application could partially alleviate drought injury while increasing total selenium and selected functional-quality indicators in mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves. Seedlings were assigned to four treatments: normal water supply with the surfactant-containing control spray (CK), normal water supply with sodium selenite application (Se), drought stress with the control spray (D+CK), and drought stress with sodium selenite application (D+Se). Drought reduced plant growth, leaf water status, leaf pigment status, gas exchange, and PSII photochemical performance while increasing oxidative damage and membrane injury. Under drought stress, sodium selenite application partially maintained growth, water status, photosynthetic performance, and antioxidant enzyme activities and was associated with lower oxidative-damage indicators. Drought alone increased several stress-responsive secondary metabolites but reduced biomass, polysaccharides, and soluble protein, indicating a trade-off rather than a uniform improvement in leaf quality. Compared with D+CK, D+Se increased total selenium, several functional compounds, and in vitro antioxidant capacity. Overall, foliar application of 10 μM sodium selenite was associated with partial drought-stress alleviation and higher functional-quality indicators under controlled pot conditions. Further studies are required to optimize the application dose and evaluate selenium speciation, bioaccessibility, intake safety, and field performance. Full article

To investigate the effects of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) on ruminal fermentation characteristics and bacterial community structure, 5-HMF was supplemented at the levels of 0, 7500, and 30,000 mg/kg DM under two dietary concentrate-to-roughage ratios (20:80, T1; 80:20, T2) in in vitro rumen incubation, mainly focusing on gas production, fermentation parameters, nutrient digestibility and bacterial community. The results showed that 24 h gas production (GP₂₄), 72 h gas production (GP₇₂), the gas production rate (c) and dry matter digestibility (DMD) in T2 were higher than those in T1 (p < 0.01). With increasing levels of 5-HMF supplementation, GP₇₂ and asymptotic gas production (B) increased linearly and quadratically (p < 0.05). T2 also had a higher butyrate concentration and a lower acetate/propionate (A/P) ratio than T1 (p < 0.05). With the increase in 5-HMF supplementation level, ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentration showed a quadratic response. In contrast, the concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs), acetate and isobutyrate decreased linearly. Propionate concentration showed linear and quadratic decreasing trends, while the A/P ratio exhibited linear and quadratic increasing trends (p < 0.05). The supplementation of 5-HMF at 30,000 mg/kg DM reduced propionate and isobutyrate concentrations under both dietary conditions (p < 0.05). No differences were observed in the alpha diversity indices of the bacterial community among different 5-HMF levels or substrates (p > 0.05). PCoA and PERMANOVA revealed that community structure differed between the 7500 mg/kg DM group and the 0 mg/kg DM group in the T1 diet (p = 0.011), whereas no difference was detected among T2 treatments. LEfSe revealed that 6 and 13 differential bacterial taxa were identified in T1 and T2 at the 5-HMF level of 7500 mg/kg DM, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that, in T1, GP₇₂ was positively correlated with Pseudomonadota, and the A/P ratio was positively correlated with fibrolytic taxa including Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group. In T2, c was positively correlated with Fibrobacterota and Fibrobacter, while NH₃-N was positively correlated with Desulfovibrio, indicating diet-specific microbial associations with rumen fermentation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the high-concentrate diet exhibited stronger rumen fermentation activity. 5-HMF exerted diet-specific effects: In the low-concentrate diet, 5-HMF at 7500 mg/kg DM enriched fibrolytic microbes and shifted fermentation toward an acetate-type pattern. In the high-concentrate diet, it modulated hydrogen-metabolizing bacteria while selectively enriching Pseudomonadota capable of participating in carbohydrate metabolism. The 30,000 mg/kg DM level inhibited rumen fermentation. The findings provide a theoretical reference for the application of 5-HMF in ruminant feeds. However, further in vivo trials are required to validate its effects, and future studies with refined dose gradients based on realistic 5-HMF concentrations in feedstuffs are needed to comprehensively evaluate its efficacy and safety. Full article

Enteric methane (CH₄) emissions from ruminants contribute to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and represent a loss of dietary energy that could otherwise support animal production. Dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGSs) have received increasing attention as an alternative feed ingredient because of their nutritional value and potential to influence rumen fermentation, nutrient utilization, and CH₄ emissions. This systematic review evaluated the effects of DDGSs on enteric CH₄ emissions and nutrient utilization in ruminant diets. Literature searches were conducted in Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Following PRISMA guidelines and using the SYRCLE risk of bias tool, 17 studies, comprising 9 in vivo, 5 in vitro, and 3 integrated in vivo–in vitro studies, were included in the qualitative synthesis. The DDGS supplementation did not consistently reduce absolute CH₄ production, although reductions in CH₄ yield and emission intensity were more frequently reported. Moderate inclusion levels (up to 20% of diet dry matter) were frequently associated with improved nutrient utilization, feed efficiency, and animal performance, although these responses varied among studies. Reductions in CH₄ yield and emission intensity were more commonly reported than reductions in absolute CH₄ production. Higher inclusion levels (>30% of diet dry matter) produced more variable responses and were often associated with reduced fiber digestibility. In conclusion, the available evidence suggests that DDGS may act as a dietary modifier capable of improving nutrient utilization and production efficiency under appropriate dietary conditions; however, responses remain dependent on inclusion level, DDGS source, basal diet composition, and production system. Full article

Bamboo fibers are increasingly incorporated into food products as sustainable dietary fiber ingredients, yet their gastrointestinal digestion resistance and fermentative behavior by human gut microbiota remain insufficiently characterized. This study combined an INFOGEST-based in vitro digestion protocol with colonic fermentation using fecal microbiota from three healthy donors as an exploratory donor panel. Bamboo fibers were resistant to salivary, gastric, and intestinal enzymatic hydrolysis, as demonstrated by the absence of structural modifications in FTIR spectra, preserved morphology observed by scanning electron microscopy, and negligible release of reducing sugars (<0.1 g/L across all digestive phases), in contrast to extensively hydrolyzed wheat starch used as a positive control. During in vitro colonic fermentation, microbial responses were strongly dependent on substrate availability. In nutrient-limited minimal medium, bamboo fiber supplementation increased gas production, acidification, and SCFA formation compared with control conditions. Concomitantly, SCFA concentrations increased under minimal-medium conditions, although the magnitude of the response varied among donors, with the strongest changes observed for donor 1 (acetate reaching 5.4 vs. 3.3 g/L and propionate 1.48 vs. 0.76 g/L). These effects were markedly attenuated in nutrient-rich medium, indicating competition with readily fermentable substrates. Beta-diversity analyses and metagenomic profiling revealed that microbial community composition clustered primarily according to donor identity rather than experimental conditions. SEM further showed surface erosion and microbial attachment on fermented fibers, supporting partial structural alteration. Overall, bamboo fibers are resistant to upper gastrointestinal digestion but display context-dependent fermentative activity by human gut microbiota under carbohydrate-limited conditions, highlighting the importance of inter-individual variability, dietary context and substrate availability in determining their fermentative potential. Full article

The global rise in obesity and associated metabolic disorders has fueled the demand for safe, multi-target therapeutics derived from natural sources. In this study, an artificial neural network combined with a genetic algorithm (ANN-GA), was employed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction of loquat leaf extract (LLE). The optimal parameters—0.6% Tween 80, 328 W ultrasonic power, and 49 °C—enhanced extraction efficiency while minimizing energy consumption and surfactant use. In vitro, LLE exhibited potent dose-dependent inhibition of α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 3.75 μg/mL, 21.6-fold stronger than acarbose) and pancreatic lipase (IC₅₀ = 78.3 μg/mL), indicating strong inhibitory activity against these digestive enzymes. In high-fat diet-induced obese mice, LLE supplementation dose-dependently reduced body weight gain, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and fasting blood glucose while elevating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In addition, LLE ameliorated liver injury (decreased ALT/AST) and oxidative stress (lowered MDA, increased SOD). These findings highlight LLE as a promising multi-target natural product for managing obesity and related metabolic disorders. Full article

Pastures are the dietary basis of grazing systems in regions such as southern Chile, and their botanical composition and management can influence ruminal fermentation and associated by-products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of pasture type and defoliation frequency (DF) on in vitro ruminal fermentation kinetics and methane and ammonia production. Four pasture types were evaluated: Bromus valdivianus Phil. monoculture (Bv), Lolium perenne monoculture (Lp), a binary mixture of both species (LpBv), and a multispecies pasture (Msp). All pastures were managed under two defoliation frequencies (150 and 300 growing degree days [GDDs]) and sampled across four seasons (summer, autumn, winter, and spring). Samples were dried at 60 °C, ground, and incubated for 48 h at 39 °C using the ANKOM RF automated gas production system, with ruminal inoculum collected from rumen-cannulated cows. Total gas production, methane production, and concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and ammonia (NH₃) were evaluated. The CH₄ proportion was affected by the DF × season interaction, and CH₄ intensity was affected by the pasture type × DF interaction. Total gas production was greater for Lp than for Bv and Msp and was greater at 300 than at 150 GDD. Total VFAs showed a pasture type × DF × season interaction. Across pasture types, NH₃ concentration was lower at 300 than at 150 GDD. Overall, no treatment consistently reduced methane output. Extending the defoliation interval may reduce ruminal NH₃, but its environmental benefit should be evaluated together with seasonal methane responses and potential trade-offs in forage nutritive value and animal performance. Full article

This study investigated how postharvest storage temperatures influence the tissue physiology of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). This herb is used in both fresh and dry forms to prepare functional infusions. Understanding proper raw material storage practices is critical for determining the phytochemical quality of the final product. Fresh bundles were stored at 2, 6, and 20 °C for 15 days, with sampling every 5 days. Tissue gas exchange, color coordinates, and pigments were evaluated alongside the tannin extractability and in vitro antibacterial activity of aqueous infusions. Results demonstrated that ambient storage (20 °C) promoted rapid quality deterioration, characterized by pronounced pigment loss and severe tissue degradation, resulting in poor visual quality by day 15. Deep refrigeration at 2 °C suppressed postharvest physiological activities, limiting cumulative moisture loss to 4.5% while preserving visual freshness and pigment retention. In contrast, mild refrigeration (6 °C) showed the highest weight loss (12.85%) and had the greatest accumulation of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity at the storage end. Fresh leaf storage at 2 °C showed the highest tannin extractability in the infusion. Consequently, infusions prepared from these leaves showed the strongest in vitro inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and IC₅₀ values. Therefore, storage at 2 °C maintained fresh leaf quality and the phytochemical content of the resulting infusions over the 15-day period tested. Full article

Balancing maximum biomass yield with high nutritional quality and reduced environmental impact remains a primary challenge in sustainable summer forage production for livestock, a challenge intensified by competition between conventional and forage crops for agricultural land, particularly regarding planting dates and land occupation duration, which limits available livestock forage resources. To address this issue, this study evaluated the forage yield, quality, and nutritive value of teosinte (Zea Mexicana L.) under three sowing dates: 1 May, 20 May, and 10 June, and three harvest ages: 40, 55, and 70 days after sowing (DAS), under Egyptian field conditions. Results showed that delaying harvesting until 70 DAS produced the highest fresh (34.95 to 46.0 t ha⁻¹) and dry (5.38 to 6.03 t ha⁻¹) yields for the late sowing date (10 June). The in vitro gas production (GP) assay showed that GP was significantly higher for teosinte sown on May 20 and June 10 but declined progressively with advancing harvest age. The NH₃-N concentration decreased (p < 0.05) when teosinte was sown on May 1 and harvested at 40 DAS. True organic matter degradability declined for teosinte sown on May 1, May 20, and June 10 when harvested at 70 DAS, whereas it increased at harvest ages of 40 and 55 DAS for teosinte sown on May 1 and June 10. Teosinte sown on May 1 produced significantly lower methane emissions than that sown on May 20 or June 10, regardless of harvest age (40, 55, or 70 DAS). Overall, delaying harvest until 70 DAS resulted in the highest fresh and dry matter yields but significantly decreased gas production and organic matter degradability compared to earlier harvests, which require future research to optimize the utilization of teosinte. Full article

Pichia manshurica (P. manshurica), a gas-producing spoilage yeast prevalent in fermented foods, causes package swelling, off-flavor formation, and quality deterioration, thereby shortening shelf life and reducing commercial value. Carvacrol, a natural phenolic compound from plant essential oils, has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, but its mechanism for inhibiting P. manshurica’s gas production is unclear. In this study, in vitro and in situ experiments confirmed that carvacrol significantly inhibits gas production by P. manshurica in a concentration-dependent manner. Transcriptomic analysis identified 374 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were mainly enriched in biological processes such as nitrogen compound metabolism, lipid metabolism, and organic substance biosynthesis, as well as cellular components including the cell membrane, mitochondrion, and endoplasmic reticulum. Metabolomic analysis screened a total of 440 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), primarily involving carboxylic acids, phospholipids, fatty acids, and amino acids. Integrated transcriptome–metabolome analysis revealed that carvacrol disrupts cell membrane integrity, blocks the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, and interferes with energy, lipid, and amino acid metabolism in P. manshurica, thereby suppressing its gas production. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism by which carvacrol inhibits gas production by P. manshurica, providing a theoretical basis for the development and application of carvacrol as a natural preservative in fermented foods. Full article

This study evaluates the effects of plant part (leaves vs. stems), harvest season (spring vs. autumn), and irrigation on the chemical composition, in vitro ruminal fermentation kinetics, and digestibility of three Mediterranean leguminous shrubs: Acacia fimbriata, Medicago arborea and Anthyllis barba-jovis. Samples were collected under field conditions, analysed for chemical composition, and assessed for in vitro ruminal fermentation, including incubations with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG) to assess the biological activity of phenolic compounds. Crude protein and fibre fractions did not differ significantly among species; ash was highest (p < 0.05) in Ac. fimbriata. In vitro fermentation kinetics were similar among species; however, the response to PEG was higher (p < 0.05) for Ac. fimbriata than for M. arborea and An. barba-jovis. In vitro digestibility was superior (p < 0.05) in M. arborea and An. barba-jovis. Leaves contained higher ash and protein contents and less fibre than stems, resulting in greater gas production, fermentation rate, and digestibility (p < 0.05). Spring-harvested fodder showed higher digestibility than autumn samples. Irrigation had negligible effects, except for a marginal numerical but nonsignificant (p = 0.05) greater extent of degradation observed in browse prior to irrigation. Overall, M. arborea showed a better nutritional quality, whereas Ac. fimbriata was the species with the lowest nutritive value. Forage quality was strongly influenced by plant part and harvest season, with leaves and fodder in spring showing superior potential as a feedstuff for ruminants. Full article

Malodorous gases such as ammonia (NH₃) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) emitted from pig intestines and excrement have become critical environmental bottlenecks restricting the green transformation of the swine industry. Therefore, identifying sustainable protein feed alternatives with odor-reducing potential has become increasingly important. This study evaluated the effects of replacing soybean meal with four distiller’s grains-derived protein raw materials (DGPRMs), including Baijiu DDGS, Sorghum DDGS, Corn DDGS, and Cassava DDGS, using an in vitro fermentation system simulating the intestinal environment of six fattening pigs. After 24 h of fermentation, odor-related gas production, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, and microbial community composition were analyzed to assess the odor-mitigation potential of these alternative protein sources. Results demonstrated that Baijiu distiller’s grains, sorghum distiller’s grains, and corn distiller’s grains significantly reduced the yields of NH₃ and H₂S under the in vitro fermentation system (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, they reshaped the intestinal microbial community structure by inhibiting the growth and reproduction of odor-producing genera (e.g., Ligilactobacillus) and promoting the enrichment of beneficial genera (e.g., Limosilactobacillus) that were significantly negatively correlated with malodor indicators. Notably, among all tested DGPRMs, Baijiu DDGS exhibited the strongest odor-reducing effect, markedly decreasing NH₃, H₂S, and volatile sulfur compounds while enriching beneficial bacterial taxa associated with reduced odor generation. These findings suggest that selected DGPRMs, particularly Baijiu DDGS, may serve as promising alternative protein ingredients for mitigating odor emissions in pig production systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) arise in the setting of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. This review examines how mitochondrial dysfunction participates in the transition from lipid accumulation to hepatocyte injury, inflammation, and fibrosis, and how evidence from human, animal, and in vitro studies should be interpreted. Methods: We provide a narrative synthesis of mechanistic, translational, and clinical studies on hepatic mitochondrial metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, oxidative phosphorylation, redox stress, organelle crosstalk, mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis and proteostasis, mitochondrial danger signals, the gut-liver-mitochondria axis, and mitochondria-related therapeutic strategies. Results: In early metabolic overload, mitochondrial oxidation may increase as an adaptive response. With persistent substrate pressure, this adaptation can become inefficient, with impaired fatty acid disposal, less efficient oxidative phosphorylation, reactive oxygen species production, redox imbalance, defective mitochondrial quality control, altered mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt)-related proteostatic stress and mtDNA instability. Mitochondrial DNA and RNA released from damaged organelles may also activate cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING), inflammasome, and RNA-sensing pathways, linking hepatocyte stress to macrophage activation, stellate cell activation, extracellular matrix deposition, and fibrosis. Conclusions: The current evidence supports mitochondria as a stage-dependent amplifier of metabolic liver injury rather than a uniform initiating event. Clinically, the strongest evidence remains with upstream metabolic unloading and liver-directed metabolic therapy, whereas direct mitochondrial restoration and quality-control targeting remain promising but less mature. Full article

Wheat straw (WS) is an abundant crop residue with considerable potential as a ruminant feed; however, its utilization is severely constrained by a recalcitrant lignocellulosic structure. This study evaluated the effects of five alkali-resistant cellulolytic bacterial inoculants on the structural carbohydrate composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of ammoniated wheat straw. A 6 × 3 factorial arrangement was employed, with six treatments (ammoniated WS as a control and five cellulolytic bacterial strains: X67, C72, S87, D100, and X107) and three storage durations (7, 14, and 21 days). The results showed that the bacterial treatments caused moderate losses of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose, and cellulose at 7 and 14 days. The X107 treatment exhibited the lowest hemicellulose content, 2.1% lower than the ammoniated control. After 48 h of in vitro incubation, all bacterial treatments significantly increased potential gas production, 48 h methane production, in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD), and in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD). The S87 treatment achieved the highest IVDMD and IVNDFD, exceeding the ammoniated control by 14.9% and 32.5%, respectively, at 7 days (p < 0.05). All bacterial treatments maintained relatively high total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Furthermore, the bacterial treatments increased the relative proportions of ruminal cellulolytic microbes at 7 and 14 days. By 21 days, no significant differences were observed in DM loss or microbial proportions among treatments. These findings indicate that the application of cellulolytic bacterial additives, with appropriate selection of bacterial strain and storage duration, exerts synergistic positive effects on the feeding value of alkali-pretreated wheat straw. The S87 treatment with a 7-day storage duration proved most effective. Full article