The impact of full-fat larvae meal on the health and immune system function of broiler chickens.

Introduction: Alternative protein sources have recently been attracting growing interest as potential components of livestock nutrition. This study evaluated the effect on broiler health of replacing the soybean protein component of poultry feed with processed insect protein from farmed (HI) larvae.

Material And Methods: A total of 384 male broiler chicks were divided into four diet groups (eight pens/treatment and 12 birds/pen) and reared to the 42 day of life (dol).

The Effect of Replacing Genetically Modified Soybean Meal with 00-Rapeseed Meal, Faba Bean and Yellow Lupine in Grower-Finisher Diets on Nutrient Digestibility, Nitrogen Retention, Selected Blood Biochemical Parameters and Fattening Performance of Pigs.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of partial and total replacement of protein from genetically modified soybean meal (GM-SBM) with protein from 00-rapeseed meal (00-RSM), alone or in combination with protein from low-tannin faba bean ( L.) seeds (FB) or low-alkaloid yellow lupine ( L.) seeds (YL) in grower-finisher diets on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention and utilization, selected blood biochemical parameters, fattening performance of pigs and carcass quality traits.

Periconceptional undernutrition affects in utero methyltransferase expression and steroid hormone concentrations in uterine flushings and blood plasma during the peri-implantation period in domestic pigs.

Female undernutrition during early pregnancy may affect the physiological pattern of genomic DNA methylation. We hypothesised that in utero DNA methylation may be impaired in females fed a restrictive diet in early pregnancy. In this study we evaluated whether poor maternal nutritional status, induced by applying a restricted diet during the peri-conceptional period, may influence: (1) the potential for in utero DNA methylation, expressed as changes in the mRNA expression and protein abundance of methyltransferases: DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and DNMT3a in the endometrium and the myometrium, (2) the intrauterine microenvironment, measured as oestradiol 17β (E) and progesterone (P) concentrations in uterine flushings and (3) plasma concentration of E and P during the peri-implantation period.

Meat quality, some hematological and biochemical parameters in the blood of finishing pigs assigned to different carcass conformation classes in the SEUROP system.

The results of laboratory analyses, including the proximate composition, physicochemical and sensory properties of meat from the studied pigs, point to its high processing suitability and eating quality. Hematological indicators in the blood of the analyzed animal groups were within the reference ranges, excluding MCHC levels which were somewhat elevated. Significant differences were observed in Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC and WBC values, subject to the meat content of the carcass.