The effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis (BS) on the meat quality of broilers were evaluated, with an emphasis on the regulation of muscle fiber types and antioxidant capabilities. One hundred and forty-four Arbor Acres male broilers were divided into 3 treatment groups (0, 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg dietary BS) and raised for 35 d. The results suggested that BS improved meat quality by improving the muscular pH, meat color, water holding capacity and shear force.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Transcriptomic studies often require collection of fresh tissues post euthanasia. The chosen euthanasia method might have the potential to induce variations in gene expressions that are unlinked with the experimental design. The present study compared the suitability of 'nitrogen gas in foam' (ANOXIA) in comparison to a non-barbiturate anaesthetic, T-61® (T61), for euthanizing piglets used in transcriptome research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough antibiotic resistance emerges naturally, this process has been accelerated by the worldwide overuse and misuse of antibiotics. It is essential to find effective alternatives in the broiler industry to improve poultry health while maintaining production efficiency and product safety. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a potential alternative: wood-derived xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince the caecal microbiota of young broilers are not yet able to ferment the dietary fibre (DF) fraction of the feed to a large extent, increasing the accessibility of DF substrates along the gastrointestinal tract is crucial to benefit from the health stimulating metabolic end-products (e.g. butyric acid) generated upon microbial DF fermentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Bariatric surgery, currently the most effective treatment for morbidly obese patients, may induce macronutrient malabsorption depending on the type of procedure. Macronutrient malabsorption affects the supply of substrates to the colon, subsequent microbial fermentation and possibly colonic health.
Methods: Using isotope technology, we quantified the extent of macronutrient and bile acid malabsorption and its impact on colonic protein fermentation in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and in controls.