Effects of Ferulic Acid on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Oxidative Stress and Gut Microbiota Imbalance in Linwu Ducks.

Oxidative stress is a major factor that limits the development of the poultry industry. Ferulic acid (FA) has an antioxidant effect in birds, but the mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, we stimulated oxidative stress in 28-day-old female Linwu ducks by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and fed them a diet supplemented with FA for 28 days.

The effect of epigallocatechin gallate on laying performance, egg quality, immune status, antioxidant capacity, and hepatic metabolome of laying ducks reared in high temperature condition.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a main component in green tea extract, which possesses multiple bioactivities. The present research studied the effects of EGCG on the laying performance, egg quality, immune status, antioxidant capacity, and hepatic metabolome of laying ducks reared under high temperature. A total of 180 42-w-old healthy laying ducks were allocated into control or EGCG-treated groups.

Effects of rosemary extract supplementation in feed on growth performance, meat quality, serum biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, and immune function of meat ducks.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of diets supplemented with different levels of rosemary extract (RE) on the growth performance, meat quality, serum biochemistry, antioxidative capacity, and immunological capacity of Cherry Valley meat ducks. A total of 525 healthy Cherry Valley female meat ducks at 1 d of age were selected for this study. Ducks were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 7 replicates per treatment, and each replicate had 15 ducks.

Dietary rosemary extract modulated gut microbiota and influenced the growth, meat quality, serum biochemistry, antioxidant, and immune capacities of broilers.

After the legislative ban on the utilization of antibiotics in animal feed, phytochemical substances gained increasing attention as alternatives to antibiotics because of their bioactivities and safety for animals. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of dietary rosemary extract (RE) on growth performance, meat quality, serum biochemistry, antioxidant and immune capacities, and gut microbiota composition of broilers. By exploring connections among RE, physiological characteristics of broilers, and key microbiota, we sought to provide evidence for the utilization of RE in poultry feed.

Dietary ε-Polylysine Affects on Gut Microbiota and Plasma Metabolites Profiling in Mice.

Given the antibacterial effects of ε-polylysine acting on cell membranes, and that glycerol phospholipids are important components of the cell membrane, we hypothesized that ε-polylysine may regulate glycerophospholipid metabolism by modifying the gut microbiota. To test this hypothesis, we treated post-weaning C57 mice with different levels of ε-polylysine (0, 300, 600, and 1,200 ppm) in their basic diet. The growth performance and morphology of intestine were then determined.

Multi-omics reveals host metabolism associated with the gut microbiota composition in mice with dietary ε-polylysine.

This study aimed to assess the influence of dietary supplementation of ε-polylysine on the gut microbiota and host nutrient metabolism, which is not systematically discussed by multi-omics analysis. A total of 40 mice were randomly divided into two groups exposed to either a basal diet (AIN-76A) or a basal diet with 150 ppm ε-polylysine. Fecal samples were collected for gut bacteria identification.

Magnolol additive improves growth performance of Linwu ducklings by modulating antioxidative status.

Magnolol is a bioactive polyphenolic compound commonly found in Magnolia officinalis. The aim of this study is to clarify the contribution of the magnolol additive on the growth performance of Linwu ducklings aging from 7 to 28 d, comparing to the effects of antibiotic additive (colistin sulphate). A total of 325, 7-d-old ducklings were assigned to 5 groups.

Effects of Dietary and Non-starch Polysaccharase on the Intestinal Microbiota and the Associated Changes on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, and Serum Antioxidant Profiles in Ducks.

Given the desirable results of using probiotics and enzyme preparations as feed supplements in poultry health, here, the effects of and Non-starch Polysaccharase (NSPase) on the growth performance, serum antioxidant profiles, and gut microbial communities of early stage ducks is investigated. A total of 400 ducks (of similar body weight and 1 day age) was selected and randomly divided into four groups. The feeding period was 28 days.

Effects of a mixture of mono-glycerides of butyric-, capric-, and caprylic acid with chlortetracycline on the growth performance, intestine morphology, and cecal microflora of broiler birds.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a mixture of mono-glycerides of butyric-, capric-, and caprylic acid (MMG) on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, and cecal microflora of broilers. A total of 960 male Arbor Acre broilers were offered basal diets with or without Chlortetracycline additive (CA) at 500 g/t, and MMG at 3,000, 1,000, or 650 g/t, with 8 replicates of 20 birds per treatment. The results confirmed 500 g/t CA with/without 1,000 g/t MMG increased the average daily weight gain (ADG) of birds compared to the control group 1 during the 42-d experimental period (P < 0.

Optimization of exogenous carbohydrases supplemented in broiler diets using in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion and response surface methodology.

The present study aimed to explore the optimal zymogram of combination of 6 carbohydrases (glucoamylase, pullulanase, maltase, thermostable α-amylase, medium temperature α-amylase, and cold-active α-amylase) supplemented in corn-soybean based diet of broilers aged 1 to 3 wk for the maximum starch digestibility, by using in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion and response surface method. The third generation of simulated monogastric animal digestion system was used for in vitro digestion experiment. By using single factor completely random design, the optimal supplement levels of single carbohydras were determined by the reducing sugar release amount and improved dry matter digestibility, which were the parameters representing the starch digestibility of the diet.

Effects of Dietary Ferulic Acid on the Intestinal Microbiota and the Associated Changes on the Growth Performance, Serum Cytokine Profile, and Intestinal Morphology in Ducks.

The present study investigated the effects of ferulic acid (FA) on the growth performance, serum cytokine profile, intestinal morphology, and intestinal microbiota in ducks at the growing stage. 300 female ducks at 28 days of age with similar body weights were randomly divided into five groups. Each group contained six replicates of 10 birds.

Evaluation of serum antioxidative status, immune status and intestinal condition of Linwu duck challenged by lipopolysaccharide with various dosages and replications.

The present study investigated the dosage and replication effects of lipopolysaccharide challenges on the serum oxidative and immune status, and the intestinal morphology and permeability of Linwu ducks at the growing stage. A total of 500 54-day-old Linwu ducks were randomly assigned into 10 treatments, which included a factorial arrangement of 2 levels of LPS challenge replications (1 and 2 times) × 5 levels of lipopolysaccharide challenging dosages (0, 0.1, 0.

Dietary Supplementation of ε-Polylysine Beneficially Affects Ileal Microbiota Structure and Function in Ningxiang Pigs.

Intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the health of animals. However, little is known about the gut microbiota in Ningxiang pigs. Thus, we investigated how dietary supplementation with different ε-polylysine concentrations (0, 20, 40, 80, and 160 ppm) affected the ileal microbiota in Ningxiang pigs using a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square method.

H NMR-based metabolomics study of breast meat from Pekin and Linwu duck of different ages and relation to meat quality.

This study investigated the effects of breed and age on meat quality, and metabolite profiles of duck breast meat, and the relationship between changes in metabolite profiles and the meat quality. The meat quality and H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics of breast meat from Pekin and Linwu ducks at 2 different ages (42 and 72d) was analyzed. The results showed that age exerted a greater effect on the observed meat quality traits of breast meat than breed, and its interaction (breed × age) effect on pH values and yellowness (b*) of duck breast meat was significant.

Magnolol additive improves carcass and meat quality of Linwu ducks by modulating antioxidative status.

Magnolol rich in Magnolia officinalis is a bioactive polyphenolic compound. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of magnolol additive (MA) on carcass and meat quality, biochemical characteristics and antioxidative capacity of Linwu ducks, by comparing it to that of antibiotic additive (colistin sulphate, CS). A total of 275 49-d-old ducks were randomly assigned to 5 groups with 5 cages of 11 ducks each and fed by the diets supplemented with 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg of MA/kg and 30 mg of CS/kg for 3 weeks, respectively.

Effects of dietary grape seed polyphenols supplementation during late gestation and lactation on antioxidant status in serum and immunoglobulin content in colostrum of multiparous sows1.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary grape seed polyphenols (GSP) supplementation during the late gestation and lactation period on reproductive performance, antioxidative status in serum, nutrient composition, and Ig content in colostrum of multiparous sows. On day 80 of gestation, a total of 64 sows with similar body condition were allocated to a completely randomized block design with 4 dietary treatments (n = 16 sows per treatment): 1) basal diet (CON, control group); 2) basal diet supplemented with 200 IU/kg vitamin E (200VE, positive control group); 3) basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg GSP (200GSP); and 4) basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg GSP (300GSP). The trial lasted 56 d until the piglets were weaned on day 21 of lactation.

Effects of the Forage Type and Chop Length of Ramie Silage on the Composition of Ruminal Microbiota in Black Goats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the forage type and chop length of ramie ( (L.) Gaud.) silage on rumen fermentation and ruminal microbiota in black goats.

Identification of Dof transcription factors in ramie ( L. Gaud) and their expression in response to different nitrogen treatments.

19 DNA binding with one finger () transcription factor genes were identified from genome and transcriptome data of ramie ( L. Gaud). Chemical character, subnuclear localization, motif analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and tissue-specific analysis were performed.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Dongan black chicken and its phylogenetic analyses.

Dongan black chicken (, DBC) is one of the famous native breed of Hunan province in China. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence plays an important role in the accurate determination of phylogenetic relationships among metazoans. It is the first time that the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the DBC was reported.

Substitution of fresh forage ramie for alfalfa hay in diets affects production performance, milk composition, and serum parameters of dairy cows.

We hypothesized that ramie, Boehmeria nivea (a nettle native to Asia), can be used as a high-quality forage to replace alfalfa hay in diets of dairy cows. Accordingly, we aimed to examine the effects of substituting fresh forage ramie for alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay on production performance, milk composition, and serum parameters of dairy cows. Thirty-two Holstein cows (body weight (BW) = 590 ± 50.

Transcriptome-referenced association study of clove shape traits in garlic.

Genome-wide association studies are a powerful approach for identifying genes related to complex traits in organisms, but are limited by the requirement for a reference genome sequence of the species under study. To circumvent this problem, we propose a transcriptome-referenced association study (TRAS) that utilizes a transcriptome generated by single-molecule long-read sequencing as a reference sequence to score population variation at both transcript sequence and expression levels. Candidate transcripts are identified when both scores are associated with a trait and their potential interactions are ascertained by expression quantitative trait loci analysis.

Magnolol additive as a replacer of antibiotic enhances the growth performance of ducks.

Magnolol rich in is a bioactive polyphenolic compound. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of magnolol additive (MA) on growth performance, expression levels of antioxidant-related genes, and intestinal mucosal morphology of ducks aged from 49 to 70 days, comparing with that of an antibiotic additive (colistin sulfate [CS]). A total of 275, 49-day-old ducks were assigned to 5 groups with 5 cages of 11 ducks each and fed diets supplemented with 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg of MA/kg and 300 mg of CS/kg for 3 weeks, respectively.

Potential use of high-throughput sequencing of soil microbial communities for estimating the adverse effects of continuous cropping on ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud).

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud) fiber, one of the most important natural fibers, is extracted from stem bark. Continuous cropping is the main obstacle to ramie stem growth and a major cause of reduced yields.

Effects of dietary ramie powder at various levels on carcass traits and meat quality in finishing pigs.

This study investigated the effects of ramie (0, 3, 6, 9, or 12%) included in finishing diets on carcass traits and meat quality of Xiangcun black pigs. Results showed that ramie decreased (linear, P < .05) backfat depth while it increased (linear, P < .

Effects of enzyme supplementation on the nutrient, amino acid, and energy utilization efficiency of citrus pulp and hawthorn pulp in Linwu ducks.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of enzyme supplementation on the nutrient, amino acid, and energy utilization efficiency of citrus pulp and hawthorn pulp as unusual feedstuffs in Linwu ducks. Forty ducks were assigned to each treatment group and fed diets with or without complex enzyme supplementation. All birds received the same quantity of raw material (60 g) via the force-feeding procedure.