Search Results (3)

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of a microencapsulated blend of organic acids and pure botanicals (mOAPBs) on the solid- and liquid-associated microenvironment (SAM and LAM, respectively) of the ruminal microbiome using an in vitro dual-flow continuous culture system. Ruminal content was incubated in eight fermenters and the basal diet was supplemented with increasing levels of mOAPBs (0; 0.12; 0.24; or 0.36% DM) which contained 55.6% hydrogenated and refined palm oil, 25% citric acid, 16.7% sorbic acid, 1.7% thymol, and 1% vanillin. All diets had a similar nutritional composition (16.1 CP, 30.9 NDF, and 32.0 starch, % DM basis). After 7 days of adaptation, a pooled sample across the days was collected in each period for identification of the microbiome of SAM and LAM. There was no effect of mOAPB on alpha-, beta-diversity, and microbial abundance. The SAM had a greater bacterial diversity and the principal component analysis demonstrated that it had a divergent bacterial profile from LAM. Additionally, SAM had an increased abundance of carbohydrate-degrading microorganisms. In summary, mOAPBs did not modulate the ruminal microbiome. The microenvironment microbiome of solid- and liquid-associated microenvironments were different, with SAM having a greater carbohydrate-degrading microorganism population. Full article

Previously, the supplementation of a microencapsulated blend of organic acids and botanicals improved the health and performance of broiler breeders under non-challenged conditions. This study aimed to determine if the microencapsulated blend impacted dysbiosis and necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler breeders. Day-of-hatch chicks were assigned to non-challenge and challenge groups, provided a basal diet supplemented with 0 or 500 g/MT of the blend, and subjected to a laboratory model for NE. On d 20–21, jejunum/ileum content were collected for microbiome sequencing (n = 10; V4 region of 16S rRNA gene). The experiment was repeated (n = 3), and data were analyzed in QIIME2 and R. Alpha and beta diversity, core microbiome, and compositional differences were determined (significance at p ≤ 0.05; Q ≤ 0.05). There was no difference between richness and evenness of those fed diets containing 0 and 500 g/MT microencapsulated blend, but differences were seen between the non-challenged and challenged groups. Beta diversity of the 0 and 500 g/MT non-challenged groups differed, but no differences existed between the NE-challenged groups. The core microbiome of those fed 500 g/MT similarly consisted of Lactobacillus and Clostridiaceae. Furthermore, challenged birds fed diets containing 500 g/MT had a higher abundance of significantly different phyla, namely, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Verrucomicrobiota, than the 0 g/MT challenged group. Dietary supplementation of a microencapsulated blend shifted the microbiome by supporting beneficial and core taxa. Full article

The microencapsulated mixture of organic acids and pure botanicals (OA/PB) has never been evaluated in goats. The aim of this study was to extend the analysis to mid–late lactating dairy goats, evaluating the effects of OA/PB supplementation on the metabolic status, milk bacteriological and composition characteristics, and milk yield. Eighty mid–late lactating Saanen goats were randomly assigned to two groups: one group was fed the basal total balanced ration (TMR) (CRT; n = 40) and the other was fed a diet that was TMR supplemented with 10 g/head of OA/PB (TRT; n = 40) for 54 days during the summer period. The temperature–humidity index (THI) was recorded hourly. On days T0, T27, and T54, the milk yield was recorded, and blood and milk samples were collected during the morning milking. A linear mixed model was used, considering the fixed effects: diet, time, and their interaction. The THI data (mean ± SD: 73.5 ± 3.83) show that the goats did not endure heat stress. The blood parameters fell within the normal range, confirming that their metabolic status was not negatively influenced by OA/PB supplementation. OA/PB increased the milk fat content (p = 0.04) and milk coagulation index (p = 0.03), which are effects that are looked on as favorable by the dairy industry in relation to cheese production. Full article