Severe body condition loss lowers hepatic output of IGF1 with adverse effects on the dominant follicle in dairy cows.

The severe loss of body condition score (BCS) during the early lactation period has been associated with infertility in cows. However, the mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of BCS loss on liver health, and ovarian functions in cows during early lactation.

Effects of feeding extruded flaxseed on layer performance, total tract nutrient digestibility, and fatty acid concentrations of egg yolk, plasma and liver.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of graded levels of extruded flaxseed (EF) on laying hen performance, apparent total tract nutrient retention (ATTNR) and fatty acid concentrations of egg yolk, blood plasma and liver. Seventy-two White Leghorn layers (58 weeks old; three per cage) were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments: 0 (control), 3, 6 and 9% of EF-supplemented diets for 8 weeks. Results showed that feed intake, egg production, feed conversion ratio and egg weight were not affected by treatments.

Temporal analysis of the effect of extruded flaxseed on the swine gut microbiota.

Flaxseed is a rich source of α-linolenic acid, an essential ω-3 fatty acid reported to have beneficial health effects in humans. Feeding swine a diet supplemented with flaxseed has been found to enrich pork products with ω-3 fatty acids. However, the effect of flaxseed supplementation on the swine gut microbiota has not been assessed to date.

Effects of mannan oligosaccharide and virginiamycin on the cecal microbial community and intestinal morphology of chickens raised under suboptimal conditions.

There is an increasing movement against use of antibiotic growth promoters in animal feed. Prebiotic supplementation is a potential alternative to enhance the host's natural defense through modulation of gut microbiota. In the present study, the effect of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and virginiamycin (VIRG) on cecal microbial ecology and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens raised under suboptimal conditions was evaluated.

Cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae differentially modulated innate immunity and glucose metabolism during late systemic inflammation.

Background: Salmonella causes acute systemic inflammation by using its virulence factors to invade the intestinal epithelium. But, prolonged inflammation may provoke severe body catabolism and immunological diseases. Salmonella has become more life-threatening due to emergence of multiple-antibiotic resistant strains.

Effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplementation on cow's milk allergy in a mouse model.

Background: Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most prevalent human food-borne allergies, particularly in infants and young children from developed countries. Our study aims to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) administration on CMA development using whole cow's milk proteins (CMP) sensitized Balb/C mice by two different sensitization methods.

Methods: LGG supplemented mice were either sensitized orally with CMP and cholera toxin B-subunit (CTB) as adjuvant, or intraperitoneally (IP) with CMP but without the adjuvant.

Distinct commensal bacteria associated with ingesta and mucosal epithelium in the gastrointestinal tracts of calves and chickens.

The primary aim of this study was to determine whether distinct gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbial communities are established within ingesta and on mucosal surfaces of dairy calves and chickens to evaluate whether the principle of microbial segregation is of broad biological significance. Multivariate analysis of the predominant bacterial PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles and estimated bacterial populations were compared in rumen, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon ingesta and matching mucosal tissues. Samples collected from 3-week old (n = 8) and 6-month old (n = 8) calves revealed that the predominant mucosa-associated bacteria were distinct from those inhabiting ingesta, and bacterial diversity varied significantly among the GIT regions.