Search Results (228)

Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a potential substitute for antibiotic growth promoters in animal breeding. In this study, we investigated its effects as a dietary supplement on growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, intestinal digestive enzyme activities, intestinal morphology, and caecal microbiota in meat rabbits. Weaned meat rabbits (n = 450) were randomly assigned to five groups, Groups A, B, C, D, and E, and fed 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg CA diets, respectively, for 47 days. Biological samples including serum (antioxidants), duodenal/caecal content (enzymes), intestinal tissue (morphology), and caecal digesta (microbiota) were collected at day 47 postweaning for analysis. Groups C and D showed significantly higher final body weights than Group A, with Group D (150 mg/kg CA) demonstrating superior growth performance including 11.73% longer duodenal villi (p < 0.05), 28.6% higher microbial diversity (p < 0.01), and 62% lower diarrhoea rate versus controls. Digestive enzyme activity as well as serum antioxidant capacity increased with increasing CA dose, Microbiota analysis revealed CA increased fibre-fermenting Oscillospiraceae (+38%, p < 0.01) while reducing Ruminococcaceae (−27%, p < 0.05). Thus, dietary CA supplementation at 150 mg/kg was identified as the optimal CA dose for improving meat rabbit production. These findings highlight CA as a functional feed additive for promoting sustainable rabbit production. Full article

During commercial pig production, weaning is a major stressor that disrupts the gut microbiome, compromises intestinal barrier integrity, and increases the susceptibility of piglets to pathogens. This often results in post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD), leading to growth retardation, morbidity, and economic loss. This study investigated the effects of dietary xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) supplementation on the growth performance and gut health of 216 piglets with naturally occurring PWD. Piglets received either 0 (CON), 50 (XOS-50), or 500 (XOS-500) mg XOS/kg feed from weaning at 28 days of age (d1) for 54 days. XOS-500 significantly improved body weight at d22 and d54, but had no effect on average daily gain, daily feed intake (DFI), or feed conversion ratio. The intestinal microbiota alpha-diversity was unaffected by XOS, though jejunal beta diversity differed between CON and XOS-500 groups at d22. Jejunal Chao richness correlated positively with d54 body weight, while ileal Chao richness correlated negatively with DFI. Salmonella was present in all diet groups but did not differ in abundance; however, the levels were negatively correlated with alpha diversity. XOSs increased Lactobacillus (d22, d54) and Clostridium_XI (d22), while reducing Veillonellaceae spp. (d22). XOSs reduced jejunal goblet cell (GC) density at d22 but increased duodenal and jejunal GCs and reduced duodenal crypt depth at d54. XOSs upregulated the genes for the tight junction proteins CLDN2, CLDN3, ALPI, and ZO-1, while downregulating the cytokine IL-8. These findings highlight XOSs’ potential to improve growth and gut health in weaning piglets with naturally occurring PWD, to maintain productivity and enhance welfare. Full article

The use of lower crude protein (CP) diets immediately after weaning has long been associated with reduced post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD). However, failing to maintain an appropriate standardized ileal digestible lysine ratio (SID: Lys) may outweigh the benefits in improving PWD outcomes. In this experiment, 560 weaners were fed either a control diet (CON; 20.6% crude protein 1.34% standardized ileal digestible lysine, SID Lys: CP = 0.06), LH: a low crude protein, higher SID Lys: CP ratio diet (19.0% CP, 1.34% SID Lys, SID Lys: CP = 0.07), or LL: a low crude protein control SID Lys: CP ratio diet (18.7% CP, 1.1% SID Lys, SID Lys: CP = 0.05) for 1 week after weaning. Pigs were scored for the presence or absence of diarrhoea for 12 days after weaning. Blood samples were taken on days 5, 12 and 28 for inflammatory marker analyses and plasma creatinine analyses. Relative to the CON diet, there was a 42% reduction in the diarrhoea index in pigs fed the LH diet and a 63% reduction in those fed the LL diet (p < 0.05), but LH was significantly higher than LL. There tended to be a greater average daily gain in the LH diet in the first week post-wean (p = 0.054). In summary, lower crude protein diets, irrespective of Lys: CP ratio, were found to be effective at reducing PWD. Moreover, increasing the SID Lys: CP ratio by reducing the CP content of diets from 20.6 to 19% appeared to improve post-weaning growth. Full article

This study evaluated the effect of the replacement of AGPs by a probiotic in diets for piglets in the nursery stage. The dietary treatments were as follows: CON-basal diet (BD); ANT-BD+antibiotic; and PRO-BD+probiotic. From d 35–42 of age, the piglets that received ANT-BD showed a higher average daily weight gain (ADWG) (p = 0.0296), followed by those that received PRO and the control. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) was higher (p = 0.0224) for PRO- and ANT-fed piglets when compared to CON. From d 43–56, the ADWG was the highest (p = 0.0207) in piglets fed ANT. The ADFI was also higher (p = 0.0258) in ANT and PRO. Final body weight (BW) was also influenced (p = 0.0291), whereas ANT-fed animals, followed by PRO, showed a higher BW compared to CON. For overall nursery performance, PRO showed the highest (p = 0.046) ADFI compared to all other treatments. Piglets fed PRO and ANT also showed the highest (p = 0.05) end weights. There was no significant difference in the fecal concentration of Escherichia coli. Concentrations for the sugar absorption test were higher on days 34 and 49 (p < 0.05). The inclusion of B. subtilis DSM 32315 does not replace the use of antibiotics with the same level of results but can provide benefits compared to diets without the use of antibiotics. Full article

Background/Objectives: Weaning failure remains a major challenge in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. This study aimed to describe outcomes in patients ventilated for >14 days and identify specific predictors of weaning success. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 88 patients from the Soroka University Medical Center database was conducted. Outcomes in the successful weaning (SW) group were compared to those in the failed weaning (FW) group. Predictors of weaning success were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Forty patients (45%) were successfully weaned and discharged to rehabilitation or home. In-hospital mortality was 28%, with deaths occurring exclusively in the FW group (p < 0.001). One-month and one-year post-discharge all-cause mortality rates were 11% and 28%, respectively, with no group differences. Hypoalbuminemia and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at admission significantly predicted weaning failure (odds ratio: 5.71 and 0.54, respectively). Demographics, comorbidities, ventilation indications, admission data, and diuretic use were not predictive. Conclusions: Hypoalbuminemia and the SOFA score at admission were key predictors of weaning success in patients ventilated for more than 2 weeks. Age and comorbidities were not significant. Prospective studies on albumin supplementation and high-protein diets are warranted to assess their impact on weaning outcomes. Full article

This study investigated the effects of potassium magnesium sulfate (PMS) on intestinal dissociation and absorption rate, immune function, and expression of the NOD-like receptor thermal domain-associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, aquaporins (AQPs), and potassium and magnesium ion channels in weaned piglets. Experiment 1 involved the assessment of the dissociation rate of PMS in pig digestive fluid and the absorption rate of PMS in the small intestine using an Ussing chamber in vitro. In Experiment 2, 216 healthy 21-day-old weaned piglets were selected and randomly assigned to six groups (0%, 0.15%, 0.30%, 0.45%, 0.60%, and 0.75% PMS), with each group 6 replicates of six piglets per replicate. The in vitro Ussing chamber results indicated that the absorption of K⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the jejunum and ileum was significantly higher than that in the duodenum (p < 0.05). The in vivo study demonstrated that the addition of PMS resulted in a linear increase in serum K⁺, IgG, and interleukin (IL)-2 levels while simultaneously reducing serum IL-1β levels (p < 0.05). Dietary PMS significantly elevated serum IL-10 and Mg²⁺ levels in feces (p < 0.05). Furthermore, supplementation with 0.60% or 0.75% PMS significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of NLRP3 in the jejunum (p < 0.05). Dietary PMS supplementation linearly reduced the mRNA expression levels of cysteine protease 1 (Caspase-1) and IL-1β in both the jejunum and colon as well as the mRNA expression levels of two-pore domain channel subfamily K member 5 (KCNK5) in these regions (p < 0.05). Notably, supplementation with 0.15% PMS significantly decreased the mRNA expression of transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPM6) in the jejunum and significantly increased the expression of TRPM6 in the colon (p < 0.05). Dietary addition of 0.45% and 0.60% PMS significantly increased the mRNA expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in the colon (p < 0.05), whereas 0.75% PMS significantly increased the mRNA expression of aquaporin 8 (AQP8) in both the jejunum and colon. Moreover, the expression levels of AQP3 and AQP8 were significantly negatively correlated with the diarrhea rate observed between days 29 and 42. In conclusion, dietary PMS supplementation improved immune function, inhibited the activation of intestinal NLRP3, and modulated the expression of water and ion channels in weaned piglets, thereby contributing to the maintenance of intestinal water and ion homeostasis, which could potentially alleviate post-weaning diarrhea in piglets. The recommended supplemental level of PMS in the corn-soybean basal diet for weaned piglets is 0.30%. Full article

The trial explored innovative low-protein diets for weaning piglets, testing the elimination of fish meal and blood derivatives. The trial compared three treatments, each with two post-weaning feeds: control feed with blood plasma and fishmeal; T1: low-protein feed with seven amino acids, fishmeal, and blood plasma; T2: low-protein feed with seven amino acids without fishmeal and blood plasma. The trial tested 180 weaned piglets, 24 days of age, evenly distributed by weight, age, and litter of origin. At the end of the first phase, T1 and T2 recorded a significantly higher average weight, ADG, and FCR compared with the control feed. At the end of the second phase, the T2 group maintained a significantly better weight, ADG, and FCR than the control group. Considering the entire test period (phase 1 and phase 2), the T2 thesis appears to have a significantly higher average weight, ADG, with a lower FCR compared to the control group. The T2 thesis fixed a significantly (p < 0.01) greater quantity of nitrogen compared to the T1 thesis and control feed (T2 58.71% vs. T1 54.13% and control 54.02%). In conclusion, a low-protein diet without raw materials of animal origin proved more efficient in terms of performance and nitrogen retention. Full article

Finding effective alternatives to antibiotics and zinc oxide in livestock feed remains challenging, but phytogenic compounds show promising potential. In the first part of the present study, the in vitro antimicrobial activities of carvacrol, eugenol, garlic oil, star anise oil, and tea tree oil as well as their effects on the biofilm formation of two Escherichia coli field isolates, quorum sensing of Chromobacterium violaceum, and the adhesion of an E. coli field isolate to piglets’ small intestinal mucus were determined. Based on these results, two prototypes were formulated. Phytogenic feed additive (PFA) Core 2, containing carvacrol, eugenol, and star anise oil, showed stronger in vitro antimicrobial activity, inhibition of biofilm formation, and quorum sensing than PFA Core 1, which was mainly composed of garlic oil and tea tree oil. In the second part of the present study, 1000 post-weaning piglets were divided into four groups receiving a control or diets with either PFA Core 1, PFA Core 2, or zinc oxide. Only PFA Core 2 and zinc oxide significantly improved body weight, daily gain, feed efficiency, and fecal scores compared with the control, while PFA Core 1 increased the feed efficiency and fecal scores. The results show that feed additives based on carvacrol and eugenol can improve the growth performance of post-weaning piglets and reduce the incidence of diarrhea, possibly by influencing detrimental bacteria. Furthermore, the present study demonstrates the potential of combinations of in vitro assays to support the development of effective feed additives. Full article

Background: Achieving sustainable development in accordance with Agenda 2030 (Sustainable Development Goals 12, 13, and 17) has challenged the livestock sector and especially swine farming. Strategies focused on reducing the environmental impact and improving feed efficiency have therefore been explored. Due to its beneficial properties, the application of biochar represents an interesting solution. This study therefore evaluates the effects of biochar supplementation on growth performance and health parameters in weaned piglets. Methods: A total of 223 piglets were divided into two experimental groups: the control (CTRL) group and the treatment (TRT group). The experiment involved two dietary treatments: the CTRL group was fed a standard diet, while the TRT group was fed the same diet supplemented with 1% chestnut biochar. Weekly measurements included body weight, feed intake, and fecal scores. Fecal samples were collected for microbiological analysis and evaluation of digestibility. Results: No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of the principal zootechnical parameters. The TRT group showed lower E. coli counts in feces at 14 days and a significant decrease in diarrhea frequency at 28 days (32.14% CTRL vs. 3.23% TRT; p = 0.009). Protein digestibility was higher in the TRT group (79.5 ± 1.74%) compared to the CTRL group (75.0 ± 2.05%; p = 0.004). Additionally, the TRT group had significantly lower levels of derivates of reactive oxygen metabolites than the CTRL group (293.44 ± 59.28 vs. 553.98 ± 61.59 Carratelli units p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: The inclusion of 1% biochar in the diets of post-weaning piglets can improve the health status of the animals. Biochar could thus be used as a valuable functional ingredient within an innovative nutritional strategy aimed at the management of gastrointestinal problems during the weaning period. Full article

Background: Early-life stress and dietary habits are key determinants of metabolic health. This study investigates the combined effects of maternal separation (MS) and a post-weaning high-fat diet (HFD) on liver morphology in male C57BL/6 mice. Methods: Male mice were subjected to MS during early postnatal life or kept unmanipulated (UM). After weaning, animals were assigned to either a control diet (CD) or an HFD, forming four groups: UM-CD, UM-HFD, MS-CD, and MS-HFD. Liver histology, collagen deposition, and both morphometric and stereological parameters were assessed following 16 weeks of dietary intervention. Results: MS and HFD independently altered liver structure, while the combination of both factors intensified these changes. The MS-HFD group exhibited pronounced steatosis, mixed inflammatory infiltrates, and hepatocellular ballooning, with a significantly higher NAFLD Activity Score (NAS). No significant differences were observed in liver fibrosis. Morphometric analysis revealed increased body mass in HFD-fed groups and elevated liver mass in MS-HFD. Liver volume was higher in MS-HFD, though not significantly. Liver stereology revealed reduced numerical density of hepatocytes (Nv_hep) and increased surface density (Sv_hep) in MS groups, with the most pronounced effects in MS-HFD. Conclusions: Maternal separation amplifies the hepatic alterations induced by HFD, promoting early inflammatory and steatotic changes. These findings highlight the significance of early-life stress as a factor increasing susceptibility to diet-induced liver damage. Full article

The weaning period is a critical phase for nursery pigs that is characterized by rapid growth and alterations in the intestinal microbiome associated with nutrient utilization. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of halquinol, when used as an antibiotic (ABO), on the growth performance, diarrhea incidence, coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD), fecal volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and microbiota in pigs. A total of 210 healthy weaned pigs with an average initial weight of 6.9 kg and aged 28 ± 2 days were assigned to five treatments (six pens/treatment) in a complete randomized design, including a control group (T1, CON; feed with no ABO), a colistin group (T2, CLT; feed containing 120 ppm colistin), and three halquinol groups (T3 to T5, HAL; feed containing 180, 240, and 360 ppm halquinol, respectively). The experiment period lasted for 10 days. Field recordings, observation, and feces collection were performed on D1, D5, and D10. CATTD and VFA assessments were conducted on D10. The composition of the fecal microbiota was analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing using the Illumina Miseq platform. The results demonstrated that the in-feed ABO groups exhibited a significantly lower ADFI (p < 0.01). Pigs fed the T3 and T4 diets had the lowest FCR (p < 0.01) on D5 and D10 and, thus, had reduced ADFI (p < 0.01). A quadratic contrast was found in ADFI and FCR on D5 and D10, indicating a negative correlation with HAL concentration (p < 0.01). Pigs fed CLT and HAL had significantly reduced levels of coliform (p < 0.01) and E. coli (p < 0.01). Moreover, pigs receiving ABO also had a lower fecal score compared to those on the CON diet (p < 0.01). Dietary in-feed ABO had no effect on all the parameters of the CATTD on D10 (p > 0.05), except for fat digestibility in pigs that received T4 (p < 0.01). Pigs fed the T4 and T5 diets had higher propionate concentrations and lower A/P ratios than pigs fed T1, T2, and T3 (p < 0.01). The microbial diversity shifted quickly through the early weaning period. The relative abundance of beneficial Enterococcus microbes increased in pigs fed in-feed ABO, whereas the relative prevalence of pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia and Klebsiella, decreased. Escherichia and Bacteroides were negatively correlated with carbohydrate digestibility and butyric and valeric acid production (p < 0.05). Overall, the appropriate HAL dosage was 240 ppm (T4), and this antimicrobial can potentially be characterized as an in-feed colistin replacer that improves feed efficiency and fat digestion, enhancing VFA production, alleviating post-weaning diarrhea, and protecting ABO-resistant piglets. Full article

The experiment was conducted to determine the interaction effects of parity and DFM supplementation from early gestation (G 21) to lactation (L 21) on reproductive performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), colostrum IgA and IgG, and mature milk composition. Three hundred pregnant sows were blocked by parity (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6–9) and randomly assigned to two experimental diets in a randomized complete block design, with a control (CON, n = 150) group and direct-fed microbial (DFM, n = 150) group. The DFM contained 5 × 10⁷ cfu/g of Bacillus subtilis and 2 × 10⁶ cfu/g of Lactobacillus spp. Reproductive traits recorded included total born (TB), born alive (BA), litter weight (LW), piglets born dead (PBD) weaning weight (WW), number of weaning pig (NWP), and PWM. Two separate 14 d ATTD trials were conducted on G86 to G100 and L7 to L21. Colostrum samples were collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h post-partum and mature milks were collected at L7 and L14 for Ig and composition analysis, respectively. Total Ig concentrations were measured by an ELISA. The interaction between diet and parity was found on LW, colostrum IgG, milk lactose, and protein (p < 0.05). Regardless of parity, sows fed DFM had greater reproductive performance with higher BA, LS, LW, and lower in PWM (p < 0.05). DFM also improved the ATTD of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and ether extracts (EE) (p < 0.05) at G100 and gross energy (GE), CP, and EE (p < 0.05) at L21. Entire IgG and 3 h post-partum IgA in colostrum were higher in DFM than in the CON diet (p < 0.05). Parity effects were seen on NWP, LW, CP, and EE, colostrum Ig at 12 and 24 post-partum, milk protein, and lactose at L7 (p < 0.05). Moreover, the parity showed linear effect on TB, BA, LW, litter size (LS), WW, total PWM, the ATTD of OM and EE, colostrum IgG at 12 h and IgA at 12 and 24 h post-partum, milk fat at L7 and L21, and milk lactose at L14 (p < 0.05). Stepwise prediction for average colostrum IgG (mg/mL) by using nutrient digestibility = −112.97 + 0.706GE(%) + 0.518CP(%) + 0.267EE(%) (n = 267, R² = 0.38, RSD = 6.7, p < 0.001). In summary, supplementing dietary DFM during early gestation through weaning had positive effects on production, the lifetime of sows, and better nutrient utilization, resulting in better milk quality and better piglet growth. Full article

This study evaluated the consumption of dried whole black soldier fly larvae (DBSFL) to meet the nutritional requirements of gestating and lactating cats and their kittens post-weaning. Queens (n = 8/treatment) were randomly assigned to a control diet or diets containing 20% DBSFL through gestation and lactation. Weaned kittens (n = 8/treatment) were maintained on their dams’ diet for 10-weeks. There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the litter size, dietary intake, body weight, or fecal quality of the queens during the trial. The kittens receiving the DBSFL diet consumed more on an absolute or caloric basis than those fed the control diet at week 5 (p = 0.1) and week 10 (p = 0.03) and had higher body weights at weeks 6 through 10 (p < 0.05). The blood and urinalysis parameters were generally within normal ranges, with some variations observed between treatments that were not considered biologically significant. The dry matter, crude protein, and amino acid digestibility levels were higher in kittens fed the DBSFL diet (p = 0.05). These data are the first to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of DBSFL for the gestation and lactation of queens and for the growth of kittens, as well as its suitability in diets for cats of all life stages. Full article

Many countries have banned the use of antibiotics in livestock feed due to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to identify suitable alternatives to antibiotics in order to maintain intestinal health and improve piglet performance after weaning. The objective of this study was to evaluate how the intake of two functional foods—potato protein concentrate (PP) and Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb), either isolated or combined—would affect productive performance and some digestive morphophysiological responses after two weeks post-weaning. We evaluated five diets: SB, with Sb; PPC, with PP; PPC-SB, with a combination of PP and Sb; C−, without antibiotics, Sb, or PP; and C+, with antibiotics. Neither the absence of antibiotics in the diet nor the inclusion of PP and Sb affected performance or digestive organ development during the post-weaning phase. Piglets fed the C+ diet and the PP-Sb combination had higher concentrations of occludin proteins and longer villi in the jejunum compared to those fed C−, PPC, and SB. The use of Sb alone or in combination with PP increased fecal Lactobacillus, while antibiotics reduced coliform bacteria. The PP-Sb combination prevented the atrophy of the jejunal villi and promoted adhesion between enterocytes in the jejunum. Including these functional foods in piglet diets contributed to maintaining intestinal health during the critical post-weaning phase. However, further research is needed to validate and enhance the conclusions of this study. Full article

Early weaning in intensive pig production induces stress, compromising gastrointestinal health. Poor fat digestion results from the piglets’ underdeveloped digestive system. Dietary emulsifiers can enhance fat utilization, and glyceryl polyethylene glycol ricinoleate (GPGR) has been shown to improve pig performance. This study evaluated GPGR’s effects on intestinal health in weaned piglets in a commercial production farm. A total of 380 just weaned (21 days old) piglets were divided in two groups of 190 animals each (in four replicates) that received either a basal diet (control) or a basal diet + 350 g/ton GPGR pharmaceutical formulation as top dress. Blood samples were collected at pre-established days, and intestinal sampling occurred 15 days post-weaning. Plasma cortisol, citrulline, intestinal morphology, mucus quality, enzymatic activity, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and cecal microbiota were analyzed. GPGR did not alter plasma cortisol but increased citrullinemia (P: 0.024), suggesting greater enterocyte functional mass. GPGR piglets showed improved intestinal morphology (greater villus height, villus height:crypt depth ratio, and intestinal absorption area, p < 0.05) and higher enzymatic maltase activity (p ≤ 0.014). VFAs, bacterial adherence to mucus, and goblet cell counts were unaffected. Dietary GPGR increased Firmicutes and Actinobacteria (P: 0.014 and P: 0.045, respectively) while reducing Proteobacteria (p < 0.001). In conclusion, dietary GPGR promotes intestinal health in weaned piglets by improving epithelial structure, digestive function, and microbiota balance, representing a promising strategy to support piglets in overcoming the early nursery phase. Full article