Manganese-methionine chelate improves antioxidant activity, immune system and egg manganese enrichment in the aged laying hens.

Background: It has been reported that supplementation of manganese (Mn) could alleviate the negative effects of age on egg quality in laying hens. However, limited information is available on compensatory ways in order to reduce the adverse effects of hen age on health and Mn deposition in the body.

Objectives: The objectives were to investigate the effect of organic and inorganic sources of Mn on antioxidant activity, immune system, liver enzymes, shell quality and Mn deposition in the tissues of older laying hens.

Zinc supplementation improves antioxidant status, and organic zinc is more efficient than inorganic zinc in improving the bone strength of aged laying hens.

Background: There have been some reports indicating that supplementation of zinc could alleviate the negative effects of age on egg quality in laying hens. However, information regarding these positive effects on health and zinc deposition in the body is limited.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of organic and inorganic sources of zinc on the antioxidant activity, bone strength, and zinc deposition in the tissues of older laying hens.

Diets containing processed barley grain as a potential rumen bypass starch source enhance productive responses of lactating Holstein dairy cows.

Effect of diets containing untreated or processed barley grain [treated with sugar beet pulp extract (SBPE) or double sulphate of aluminium and potassium (ALUM)] and different levels of rumen undegradable crude protein (RUP) on production, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites of lactating Holstein cows were investigated. Untreated soybean meal (SBM) or xylose protected 'Yasminomax soy (YAS)' was included to represent a low (LR, 4.2% DM) and high (HR, 5.

Influence of barley grain treated with alkaline compounds or organic extracts on site and extent of digestion of starch.

Objective: Two e experiments were conducted to verify the effect of barley grain () treated with alkaline compounds (AC) including alum, ammonium, and sodium hydroxide or cation-exchanged organic extracts (OE) prepared from alfalfa hay, sugar beet pulp and , on extent and digestion of starch.

Methods: In the first study, the first order disappearance kinetic parameters of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and starch were estimated using a non-linear model (D = D · e + I, where: D = potentially digestible residues at any time, D = potentially digestible fraction at any time, k = fractional rate constant of digestion (/h), I = indigestible fraction at any time). In the second experiment, the ruminal and post-ruminal disappearance of DM, CP, and starch were determined using mobile nylon bag.

Relationship of concentrations of cortisol in hair with health, biomarkers in blood, and reproductive status in dairy cows.

Hair cortisol has been used to measure chronic stress in dairy cows as it offers the advantage of being noninvasive, fast, and able to indicate levels of cortisol over long periods. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between hair cortisol with clinical disorders, reproductive status, and the development of subclinical endometritis in dairy cows. Furthermore, we aimed to determine the association between hair cortisol concentrations and blood markers associated with metabolic status and acute inflammation.

Short communication: Factors affecting hair cortisol concentrations in lactating dairy cows.

Cortisol has long been used as a marker of the stress response in animals. Cortisol can be analyzed from different media, most notably from the blood, saliva, and feces; however, the collection of cortisol from some of these media requires invasive procedures or excessive handling of the animals. Furthermore, it is not possible to capture long-term increases in circulating concentrations of cortisol from the blood, saliva, or feces.