Nutritional Value of for Weaner Piglets.

This study evaluates the nutritional value of spray-dried biomass to infer its applicability for weaner piglet feeding. Twenty-four piglets were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments ( = 6) with increasing inclusion (0, 5, 10, and 15%) levels. After a 4-day adaptation period, the digestibility experiment lasted two weeks, with daily excreta collection.

Vitamins, Minerals and Phytonutrients as Modulators of Canine Immune Function: A Literature Review.

Trends in the pet food industry are driven by the humanization of pets, favoring the inclusion of functional ingredients or supplements that promote animal health. Several commercial diets claim to include supplements with benefits for dogs' immune function, but in vivo evidence that supports their efficacy remains limited. This literature review aimed to better understand the current knowledge on the effects of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients on dogs' immune function.

Assessing functional properties of diet protein hydrolysate and oil from fish waste on canine immune parameters, cardiac biomarkers, and fecal microbiota.

Locally produced fish hydrolysate and oil from the agrifood sector comprises a sustainable solution both to the problem of fish waste disposal and to the petfood sector with potential benefits for the animal's health. This study evaluated the effects of the dietary replacement of mainly imported shrimp hydrolysate (5%) and salmon oil (3%; control diet) with locally produced fish hydrolysate (5%) and oil (3.2%) obtained from fish waste (experimental diet) on systemic inflammation markers, adipokines levels, cardiac function and fecal microbiota of adult dogs.

Unveiling the effects of shrimp hydrolysate as a dietary ingredient in healthy adult Beagle dogs.

To be more sustainable, the pet food industry could increase the inclusion of animal byproducts from the human food chain and fish hydrolysates have been reported to benefit dogs' health. However, there is limited research on the impact of alternative marine hydrolysates in dog food. The current study evaluated the effects of including shrimp hydrolysate as a replacement for wheat gluten (experimental diet) in an extruded complete diet (control diet) on diet palatability, intake, digestibility, fecal characteristics and metabolites, oral volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), and coat quality in dogs.

Implications of seasonal and daily variation on methane and ammonia emissions from naturally ventilated dairy cattle barns in a Mediterranean climate: A two-year study.

Seasonal and daily variations of gaseous emissions from naturally ventilated dairy cattle barns are important figures for the establishment of effective and specific mitigation plans. The present study aimed to measure methane (CH) and ammonia (NH) emissions in three naturally ventilated dairy cattle barns covering the four seasons for two consecutive years. In each barn, air samples from five indoor locations were drawn by a multipoint sampler to a photoacoustic infrared multigas monitor, along with temperature and relative humidity.

Protein hydrolysate and oil from fish waste reveal potential as dog food ingredients.

The increased fish consumption by the growing human population in the world translates into an increase in fish waste. The reintroduction of these fish by-products into food and feed chains presents economic benefits and contributes to counteracting their negative environmental impact. Under this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the dietary inclusion of fish hydrolysate and oil obtained from fish waste (experimental diet) in substitution of shrimp hydrolysate and salmon oil (control diet) mainly imported from third countries on palatability, apparent total tract digestibility, fecal characteristics and metabolites, blood fatty acid profile, flatulence, and coat quality of adult dogs.

Agronomic, Nutritional Traits, and Alkaloids of , and Genotypes: Effect of Sowing Dates and Locations.

Lupins ( spp.) are legumes with high relevance for the sustainability of agricultural systems as they improve the soil quality, namely, through the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, and have good adaptability to different climates and soil conditions. Besides, they possess high nutritive value, especially due to the high protein content of the seeds.

Environmental conditions affect the nutritive value and alkaloid profiles of forage: Opportunities and threats for sustainable ruminant systems.

The identification of crops that simultaneously contribute to the global protein supply and mitigate the effects of climate change is an urgent matter. Lupins are well adapted to nutrient-poor or contaminated soils, tolerate various abiotic stresses, and present relevant traits for acting as ecosystem engineers. Lupins are best studied for their seeds, but their full foraging potential needs further evaluation.

Ruminal inocula with distinct fermentation profiles differentially affect the fermentation pattern of a commercial algal blend.

The rumen batch technique is widely used for screening novel feed sources; however, it remains unclear to what extent the fermentability of non-conventional feed sources is affected by non-adapted ruminal inocula. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the effects of distinct ruminal inocula on the fermentation parameters of a sustainable non-conventional feed, a commercially available algal blend composed of microalgae ( and ) and seaweeds ( sp. and ).

Squid meal and shrimp hydrolysate as novel protein sources for dog food.

The world's growing pet population is raising sustainability and environmental concerns for the petfood industry. Protein-rich marine by-products might contribute to mitigating negative environmental effects, decreasing waste, and improving economic efficiency. The present study evaluated two marine by-products, squid meal and shrimp hydrolysate, as novel protein sources for dog feeding.

Insights from the yield, protein production, and detailed alkaloid composition of white (), narrow-leafed (), and yellow () lupin cultivars in the Mediterranean region.

Introduction: Lupins and other legumes have been considered as alternative plant-based protein sources to soybeans for both humans and livestock. Furthermore, they can contribute to more sustainable agricultural systems. The productivity and chemical composition of legumes is highly variable between species, cultivars, and with the edaphoclimatic conditions.

Effects of microalgae as dietary supplement on palatability, digestibility, fecal metabolites, and microbiota in healthy dogs.

The current trend of dog owners increasingly favoring the functional value of food to assure preventive health and wellbeing of their pets has been raising the interest in microalgae as natural additives with bioactive properties. However, scientific studies addressing the effects of microalgae supplementation in diets for dogs are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with three microalgae species (, , and ) on diet palatability, total tract digestibility, metabolizable energy content, fecal metabolites and microbiota of dogs.

Production of rumen- and gastrointestinal-resistant nanoparticles to deliver lysine to dairy cows.

Supplementing diets with rumen-protected lysine is a common strategy to meet the nutritional needs of high-producing dairy cows. This work addressed two separate but crucial issues: the lysine protection degree across the entire digestive tract as well as the production scalability of the proposed delivery systems. This was achieved by evaluating, in vitro or ex vivo, previously developed rumen-resistant lipid nanoparticles regarding their stability in the digestive tract and in the bloodstream of the dairy cow as well as how their production could be scaled-up.

Upcycling post-harvest biomass residues from native European species: from straws and pod shells production to nutritive value and alkaloids content for ruminant animals.

The production of seeds for food and feed is increasing worldwide, which results in large amounts of post-harvest biomass residues, considered of low value and left in the field to be burned or incorporated in the soil. To valorize these agricultural wastes, this work aimed to assess their potential as an alternative feed for ruminants. Thus, the production yield, nutritive value, and alkaloid content of straws and pod shells from three native European species, 'Estoril' (white), 'Tango' (narrow-leafed), and 'Cardiga' (yellow), cultivated in two locations, were evaluated.

A commercial blend of macroalgae and microalgae promotes digestibility, growth performance, and muscle nutritional value of European seabass ( L.) juveniles.

Algae can leverage aquaculture sustainability and improve the nutritional and functional value of fish for human consumption, but may pose challenges to carnivorous fish. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of a commercial blend of macroalgae ( sp. and ) and microalgae ( and ) in a plant-based diet up to 6% (dry matter basis) on digestibility, gut integrity, nutrient utilization, growth performance, and muscle nutritional value of European seabass juveniles.

Gastric epithelial response to milk fat using the semi-dynamic INFOGEST digestion model coupled with NCI-N87 cells.

The stomach is a relevant spot of lipolysis for milk fat, but research on the effect of digested milk fat in the gastric epithelium is scarce and difficult to evaluate. In the present study, we implemented the semi-dynamic in vitro digestion model of INFOGEST, combined with gastric NCI-N87 cells, to study the effect of fat-free, whole conventional, and whole pasture-based milk on gastric epithelium. Cellular messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of membrane fatty acids receptors (GPR41, GPR84), antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPX), and inflammatory molecules (NF-κB p65, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) was assessed.

Nutritional Composition and Untargeted Metabolomics Reveal the Potential of , and as Valuable Nutrient Sources for Dogs.

The growing pet population is questioning the sustainability of the pet food system. Although microalgae may constitute a more sustainable food resource, the assessment of their potential for canine diets is almost non-existent. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of three microalgae species (, and ) grown locally in industrial photobioreactors as alternative food resources for dogs.

Ammonia and greenhouse emissions from cow's excreta are affected by feeding system, stage of lactation and sampling time.

Decomposition of dairy cows' excreta on housing floor leads to ammonia and greenhouse gases production, yet factors affecting total emissions have not been fully disclosed. This work aimed to assess the impact of lactation stage, feeding system and sampling time on gaseous emission potential of cow's faeces and urine in laboratory chambers systems. Individual faeces and urine were collected from two groups of four cows, at peak and post peak lactation, from three commercial farms with distinct feeding systems: total mixed ration (TMR), total mixed ration plus concentrate at robot (TMR + robot), and total mixed ration plus concentrate in automatic feeders (TMR + AF).

A Novel Approach for Monitoring the Volatile Metabolome in Biological Samples from Ruminants through Miniaturized Liquid-Liquid Extraction and Multiclass Gas Chromatography Analysis.

A straightforward and versatile methodology for the extraction of volatile metabolites in biological samples from ruminants for gas chromatography analysis is proposed. The methodology was applied in the determination of multiclass metabolites (short-chain fatty acids, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, esters, phenols, and sulfides) in different analytical matrices (rumen fluid, urine, and feces) collected from Holstein cows. The 24 multiclass volatile metabolites reported in the different biological samples and their respective concentrations were critically discussed in the context of digestive physiology.

Explore Gastric Lipolysis and Lipid Oxidation of Conventional versus Pasture-Based Milk by a Semi-dynamic Digestion Model.

Research on gastric lipolysis of commercial cow's milk with different fatty acid (FA) compositions is scarce. Gastric lipase exhibits specificity for the -3 chain position of triacylglycerols, whose structure is influenced by milk FA composition. Therefore, during gastric digestion of conventional (C) vs pasture-based (P) milk, differences may occur on lipolysis, which has impact on free FA available, influencing their absorption/metabolism rate and physiological hormonal responses.

Effects of Zinc Source and Enzyme Addition on the Fecal Microbiota of Dogs.

Supplemental zinc from organic sources has been suggested to be more bioavailable than inorganic ones for dog foods. However, the bioavailability of zinc might be affected by dietary constituents such as phytates. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of two zinc sources (zinc sulfate and zinc proteinate) and the addition of a multi-enzymatic complex from the solid-state fermentation of on end-products of fecal fermentation and fecal microbiota of adult Beagles fed a high-phytate diet.

Energy: Protein Ratio in Ruminants: Insights from the Intragastric Infusion Technique.

Studies on energy:protein ratio in ruminants are constrained by rumen fermentation since it governs nutrient metabolism and the ratio of energy:protein yielding nutrients available for absorption. By circumventing rumen fermentation, the total intragastric infusion technique (IIT) allowed objective quantification of maintenance energy and protein requirements, volatile fatty acid utilisation efficiency, efficiency of energy utilisation for maintenance (K) and growth (K) and the origin of N retention responses to independent variation of energy and protein intake. This review outlines the key IIT findings and whether they are reflected in current feeding systems with implications for different production systems worldwide.

Validation of a Simple HPLC-Based Method for Lysine Quantification for Ruminant Nutrition.

Robust and selective quantification methods are required to better analyze feed supplementation effectiveness with specific amino acids. In this work, a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection is proposed and validated for lysine quantification, one of the most limiting amino acids in ruminant nutrition and essential towards milk production. To assess and widen method applicability, different matrices were considered: namely LiCO buffer (the chosen standard reaction buffer), phosphate buffer solution (to mimic media in cellular studies), and rumen inoculum.

Dectin-1-Mediated Production of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Induced by Yeast β-Glucans in Bovine Monocytes.

Yeast-derived products containing β-glucans have long been used as feed supplements in domesticated animals in an attempt to increase immunity. β-glucans are mainly recognized by the cell surface receptor CLEC7A, also designated Dectin-1. Although the immune mechanisms elicited through Dectin-1 activation have been studied in detail in mice and humans, they are poorly understood in other species.