Effects of sources and routes of administration of vitamins A, D and copper on postnatal status of these micronutrients in piglets.

Twenty-six nulliparous sows were fed conventional gestation and lactation diets supplemented ( = 13) or not ( = 13) with extra daily supplements of 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol (25-OH-D3; 4 ĸIU), β-carotene (24 ĸIU), and copper ()-proteinate (45 mg) from day 90 of gestation to 21 d of lactation (). In each litter, 10 piglets were divided into 5 pairs received, at 2 () and 8 d () of age, one of the five combinations of micronutrient sources and routes of administration ( = 260 piglets total). These neonatal treatments (= 26 pairs or 52 piglets each) consisted of oral vitamin D3, retinol acetate and CuSO (); oral 25-OH-D3, β-carotene, and Cu proteinate (); exposure to ultraviolet light (), oral retinol palmitate and Cu gluconate (); intramuscular vitamin D3 and retinyl propionate and oral Cu acetate (); oral saline ().

Over 100 years of vitamin E: An overview from synthesis and formulation to application in animal nutrition.

The groundbreaking discovery of vitamin E by Evans and Bishop in 1922 was an important milestone in vitamin research, inspiring further investigation into its crucial role in both human and animal nutrition. Supplementing vitamin E has been proved to enhance multiple key physiological systems such as the reproductive, circulatory, nervous and muscular systems. As the main antioxidant in the blood and on a cellular level, vitamin E maintains the integrity of both cellular and vascular membranes and thus modulates the immune system.

Influence of vitamin D metabolites on vitamin D status, immunity and gut health of piglets.

Immediately post-weaning, piglets are prone to gastrointestinal infectious diseases. The active metabolite of vitamin D 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D has direct impact on immune cell function and responses. Thus, a low vitamin D status may compromise the immune responses during infectious diseases.

Effect of combined maternal and post-hatch dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation on broiler chicken Pectoralis major muscle growth characteristics and satellite cell mitotic activity.

Skeletal muscle growth is largely dependent on the proliferation and differentiation of muscle-specific stem cells known as satellite cells (SC). Previous work has shown that dietary inclusion of the vitamin D3 metabolite, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD3), also called calcidiol, can promote skeletal muscle growth in post-hatch broiler chickens. Improving vitamin D status of broiler breeder hens by feeding 25OHD3 in addition to vitamin D3 has also been shown to positively impact progeny.

A multi-omics approach to elucidate the mechanisms of action of a dietary muramidase administered to broiler chickens.

A novel dietary muramidase has been shown to have positive effects on broiler chickens. However, very little is known about its mechanisms of action. The present multi-omics investigation sought to address this knowledge gap.

Research Note: Changes in eggshell quality and microstructure related to hen age during a production cycle.

We have studied in detail the changes that occur in eggshell structure and composition during a production cycle in order to better understand the deterioration of eggshell quality with hen age (at 33, 45, and 67 wk). To study changes in eggshell ultrastructure and microstructure characteristics (mammillary density, palisade layer thickness, size, and orientation of calcite crystals) and the cuticle composition, we used complementary analytical techniques such optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and infrared spectrometry. The marked decrease in eggshell breaking strength from 5.

Role of long-term supplementation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D on egg production and egg quality of laying hen.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) on pullet and egg-laying hen growth performance, egg production, and egg quality. Three hundred and ninety 1-day-old Hy-Line W36 pullets were randomly allocated to 3 treatments with 10 replicated cages and 13 birds per cage. Dietary treatments were vitamin D at 2,760 IU/kg (D); vitamin D at 5,520 IU/kg (DD), and vitamin D at 2,760 IU/kg plus 25OHD at 2,760 IU (69 μg)/kg (25D).

Role of long-term supplementation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D on laying hen bone 3-dimensional structural development.

Egg-laying hens have a unique bone development pattern due to the medullary bone formation and high bone turnover rate. The role of long-term supplementation of an intermediate form of vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), on skeletal development of pullets and laying hens is not well established. Exploring its effects on layer bone development will help develop a strategy for preventing laying hen osteoporosis.

Effects of Vitamin B2 Supplementation in Broilers Microbiota and Metabolome.

The study of the microbiome in broiler chickens holds great promise for the development of strategies for health maintenance and performance improvement. Nutritional strategies aimed at modulating the microbiota-host relationship can improve chickens' immunological status and metabolic fitness. Here, we present the results of a pilot trial aimed at analyzing the effects of a nutritional strategy involving vitamin B2 supplementation on the ileum, caeca and litter microbiota of Ross 308 broilers, as well as on the metabolic profile of the caecal content.