Relationship between Milk Yield and Reproductive Parameters on Three Hungarian Dairy Farms.

It is postulated that there is negative correlation between milk yield and reproductive performance. However, some studies definitely doubt this causality. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between milk production and fertility on three dairy farms.

Detrimental consequences of tebuconazole on redox homeostasis and fatty acid profile of honeybee brain.

Excessive use of azole fungicides in agriculture poses a potential threat to honeybees and other pollinator insects; however, the detailed effects of these molecules remain largely unclear. Hence, in the present study it was aimed to investigate the acute sublethal effects of tebuconazole on the redox homeostasis and fatty acid composition in the brain of honeybees. Our findings demonstrate that tebuconazole decreased total antioxidant capacity, the ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione and disturbed the function of key antioxidant defense enzymes along with the induction of lipid peroxidation indicated by increased malondialdehyde levels, while it also altered the fatty acid profile of the brain.

Prepartum Magnesium Butyrate Supplementation of Dairy Cows Improves Colostrum Yield, Calving Ease, Fertility, Early Lactation Performance and Neonatal Vitality.

Butyrate promotes rumen epithelium growth and function; however, the effect of prepartum butyrate supplementation on dairy cow productivity, health and their offspring has not been extensively studied. Furthermore, no studies have investigated the effect of magnesium butyrate (MgB), which is also a source of magnesium. A trial was performed to test the hypothesis that prepartum MgB supplementation (105 g/cow/day) would increase colostrum quality and improve calving, newborn calf vitality and cow health.

Effect of Prepartum Magnesium Butyrate Supplementation on Rumination Time, Milk Yield and Composition, and Blood Parameters in Dairy Cows.

Background: Magnesium butyrate (MgB) supplementation of dairy cows during the three-week close-up period was tested for its effects on blood energy analytes, rumination time, inflammation, and lactation performance.

Methods: Daily milk yield was recorded and weekly milk samples collected for the first 70 days of lactation from MgB supplemented (MgB, n = 34), and unsupplemented (Control, n = 31) multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows. During a period from week 3 to week 10 postpartum, blood samples were taken and analyzed for various parameters, and ruminant activity was measured.

Near-infrared spectroscopy for rapid evaluation of winter cereals and Italian ryegrass forage mixtures.

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was employed to determine the differences between forage mixtures of winter cereals and Italian ryegrass and to evaluate fermentation characteristics of mixed silages. Forages were harvested on five phases (Cuts 1-5), with 1 week interval (n = 100). The yield of the last harvest (Cut 5) was ensiled and analyzed on four different days (D0, D7, D14, and D90) (n = 80).

Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on oxidative stress parameters and sex hormone levels of modern genotype sows.

Background: Sows are exposed to severe stress and hormonal challenges during their whole productive life. As polyunsaturated fatty acids play an important role in immune and reproductive functions, with a better understanding of their role in breeding sows' nutrition, improved performance and more sustainable pig production can be achieved.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the effects of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the antioxidant status and hormone levels of sows.

Detection of Acquired Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Domestic Pig () and Common Carp () Intestinal Samples by Metagenomics Analyses in Hungary.

The aim of this study was metagenomics analyses of acquired antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in the intestinal microbiome of two important food-animal species in Hungary from a One Health perspective. Intestinal content samples were collected from 12 domestic pigs () and from a common carp (). Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of DNA purified from the intestinal samples was performed on the Illumina platform.

Dietary Protected Butyrate Supplementation of Broilers Modulates Intestinal Tight Junction Proteins and Stimulates Endogenous Production of Short Chain Fatty Acids in the Caecum.

Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) butyrate has various beneficial effects on the gut microbiota as well as on the overall health status and metabolism of the host organism. The modulatory role of butyrate on gut barrier integrity reflected by tight junction protein expression has been already described in mammalian species. However, there is limited information available regarding chickens.

Altered Intestinal Production of Volatile Fatty Acids in Dogs Triggered by Lactulose and Psyllium Treatment.

The intestinal microbiome of dogs can be influenced by a number of factors such as non-starch polysaccharides as well as some non-digestible oligo- and disaccharides. These molecules are only decomposed by intestinal anaerobic microbial fermentation, resulting in the formation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which play a central role in maintaining the balance of the intestinal flora and affecting the health status of the host organism. In the present study, the effects of lactulose and psyllium husk (Plantago ovata) were investigated regarding their influence on concentrations of various VFAs produced by the canine intestinal microbiome.

Modulation of Hepatic Insulin and Glucagon Signaling by Nutritional Factors in Broiler Chicken.

Influencing the endocrine metabolic regulation of chickens by nutritional factors might provide novel possibilities for improving animal health and productivity. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of dietary cereal type (wheat-based (WB) vs. maize-based (MB) diets), crude protein level (normal (NP) vs.

Non-invasive smooth muscle electromyography (SMEMG) as a novel monitoring technology of the gastrointestinal tract of awake, free-moving pigs-A pilot study.

There are several mathematical models and measurements to determine the efficiency of the digestibility of different feedstuffs. However, there is lack of information regarding the direct methods or measurement techniques used to analyse the physical response of the different parts of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of growing pigs to different diets. Smooth muscle electromyography (SMEMG) is a non-invasive method for the measurement of gastrointestinal myoelectrical activity.

Impact of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) on the mycotoxin caused redox-homeostasis imbalance of ducks liver.

The Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) frequently contaminate grain crops, especially maize, the basis of poultry's feed. Mycotoxins enter the food chain and induce pathological changes in edible tissues. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has been used for the treatment of liver disease in humans because of its antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects, but its utility in veterinary use is poorly examined.

[Fat rich diet-induced steatosis and changes in the gut–liver axis].

Introduction: Fatty liver can develop as a result of diseases, surgical procedures, medicaments, malnutrition or excessive alcohol consumption, however, fat and poor fiber feeding can be attributed as the primary cause. Non-alcoholic fatty liver can be found in 20-30% of the population. Generally, alimentary-induced fatty liver in early state is described as uncomplicated liver injury.

Effects of dietary butyrate supplementation and crude protein level on carcass traits and meat composition of broiler chickens.

The short-chain fatty acid butyrate, either in unprotected or protected form, is widely applied as a growth-promoting feed additive in poultry nutrition; however, its possible effects on the carcass composition of broilers have not been fully elucidated. Further, lowering dietary crude protein (CP) levels is an important issue in poultry farming, contributing to ecologically beneficial lower nitrogen excretion. The main aims of this study were to test how unprotected and protected forms of butyrate and decreased dietary CP content with essential amino acid (lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan) supplementation ("LP-EAA" diet) affect carcass parameters and the chemical composition of muscles in broilers.

Body composition and venison quality of farmed red deer () hinds reared on grass, or mixed pasture paddocks.

Red deer () hinds ( ) of identical initial body weight (BW, ca. 68 kg) were reared on a monocotyledonous grass (G group), on a grass- (GP group) or on pure papilionaceous pasture each of 2 ha (P group) for 219 d. At the end of the experiment carcass tissue composition was assessed by means of computer tomography, slaughter value and meat quality were characterized and tissue -  (LTL), thigh and liver - samples were taken for fatty acid composition analysis.

Porcine Hepatic Response to Fumonisin B in a Short Exposure Period: Fatty Acid Profile and Clinical Investigations.

Scarce studies have investigated the impact of fumonisin B (FB) on the hepatic tissue fatty acid (FA) profile, and no study is available on piglets. A 10-day in vivo experiment was performed on seven piglets/group: control and FB-fed animals (diet was contaminated with fungal culture: 20 mg FB/kg diet). Independent sample -test was carried out at < 0.

Fumonisin B induced compositional modifications of the renal and hepatic membrane lipids in rats - Dose and exposure time dependence.

Male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally dosed with fumonisin B1 (FB; 0, 20, 50 and 100 mg kg dietary dose equivalent) for 5 & 10 days to assess dose- and time-dependent effects on renal and hepatic phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) fatty acid (FA) profiles. Renal PC showed increasing FA saturation (SAT) after 5 days; after 10 days polyunsaturation (PUFA) decreased markedly (Σ n3 (total n3), Σ n6, PUFA, unsaturation index (UI) and average FA chain length (ACL)), mostly with linear dose response. In the PI FAs similar changes were observed, decreasing monounsaturated FA, PUFA, UI and ACL (5 & 10 days), while the PE fraction was responsive in Σ n6 (↓) and SAT (↑), but only after 5 days (without dose response for both PI & PE).

Effect of dietary cereal type, crude protein and butyrate supplementation on metabolic parameters of broilers.

This study investigates the metabolic effects of maize- or wheat-based diets with normal (NP) and lowered (LP) dietary crude protein level [the latter supplemented with limiting amino acids and sodium (n-)butyrate at 1.5 g/kg diet] at different phases of broiler fattening. Blood samples of Ross 308 broilers were tested at the age of 1, 3 and 6 weeks.

Individual and Combined Effects of Fumonisin B₁, Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone on the Hepatic and Renal Membrane Lipid Integrity of Rats.

(1) Background and (2) Methods: A 14-day in vivo, multitoxic (pure mycotoxins) rat experiment was conducted with zearalenone (ZEA; 15 μg/animal/day), deoxynivalenol (DON; 30 μg/animal/day) and fumonisin B₁ (FB₁; 150 μg/animal/day), as individual mycotoxins, binary (FD, FZ and DZ) and ternary combinations (FDZ), via gavage in 1 mL water boluses. (3) Results: Body weight was unaffected, while liver (ZEA↑ vs. DON) and kidney weight (ZEA↑ vs.

Nutritional modulation of intestinal drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 by butyrate of different origin in chicken.

Intestinal cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes play key role in the first pass metabolism of orally ingested xenobiotics, providing a primary metabolic barrier, being of special importance in maintaining animal health and production. This study was aimed to investigate how intestinal drug-metabolizing CYPs can be modulated by nutritional factors in broiler chicken. We investigated the effects of the natural growth promoter (n-)butyrate of different origin (feed supplementation of protected or non-protected forms and/or inducing caecal microbial production by supporting higher level of dietary non-starch polysaccharides [NSP]) on the activity of duodenal CYPs.

Isolated hypercholesterolemia leads to steatosis in the liver without affecting the pancreas.

Background: Lipid accumulation in the liver and pancreas is primarily caused by combined hyperlipidemia. However, the effect of isolated hypercholesterolemia without hypertriglyceridemia is not fully described. Therefore, our aim was to investigate whether hypercholesterolemia alone leads to alterations both in hepatic and pancreatic lipid panel and histology in rats.

Acute hepatic effects of low-dose fumonisin B(1) in rats.

Adult male Wistar rats were enrolled in a study to test the acute hepatic effects of 50 mg/kg fumonisin B in feed for 5 days. Fumonisin B depressed growth and feed intake, and absolute and relative liver weight showed a significant increase. The proportions of C17:0, C18:3 n3, C22:5 n3 and C22:6 n3 fatty acids decreased in the hepatic phospholipid fraction.

Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Sour Cherries Characterized by Different In Vitro Antioxidant Power and Polyphenolic Composition.

The aims of the present study were to clarify in vivo effects of three sour cherry cultivars characterized by different polyphenolic composition in hyperlipidemic animals in a short term experiment. The three different sour cherry cultivars were chosen based on their total in vitro antioxidant capacity, total polyphenolic, monomeric anthocyanin and flavonoid content. Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into eight groups: rats kept on normal diet (control) and normal diet supplied with sour cherry powder of one of the three cultivars; others were kept on fat-rich diet and fat-rich diet supplied with sour cherry powder prepared from one of the three cultivars.

Individual and combined haematotoxic effects of fumonisin B(1) and T-2 mycotoxins in rabbits.

Weaned rabbits were fed diets contaminated with 2 mg/kg diet T-2 toxin alone, or 10 mg/kg diet fumonisin B1 (FB1) alone, and both toxins in combination (2+10 mg/kg, resp.), as compared to a toxin free control. Samplings were performed after 2 and 4 weeks.

Body mass related variations in the polar lipid fatty acyl chain composition of the mammalian lung and alveolar surfactant.

In nine mammalian species (mouse - cattle: 21.5 g-503 kg) lung total phospholipids (PL), alveolar surfactant phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) fatty acyl (FA) chain composition was tested relating to body mass (BM) and resting respiratory rate (RRR) associated adaptations. In PL, PC and SM oleic acid (C18:1 n9) provided negative correlations with RRR.