The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of ingested selenium (Se) yeast in laying hens and its effects on performance, eggshell quality, and tissue Se distribution. Forty-eight ISA brown laying hens were divided into 3 treatment groups: Group C, fed a basal diet containing 0.11 mg Se/kg of feed; Group SS, fed a basal diet plus 0.4 mg/kg of feed of Se from sodium selenite; and Group SY, fed a basal diet plus 0.4 mg/kg of feed of Se from selenium yeast. Feed intake, egg mass ratio, and production performance were not affected by Se supplementation, regardless of the Se source. Egg weight (+3.61% and +2.95%), eggshell weight (+4.26% and +5.38%), and eggshell surface (+2.43% and +1.96%) were higher (P<0.05) in SS and SY than C, whereas breaking strength was increased in SY (P<0.01). Breast muscle, liver and skin Se levels were higher in SY than in C, while kidney Se content was higher in SS hens. Eggs from SY had higher Se levels than SS. Blood metabolites were not affected in SS or SY groups than C. A higher Se level was detected in eggs and breast muscle of SY hens (P<0.05). Seleniumenriched eggs and edible tissues from organic Se sources in poultry diet could improve antioxidant status in humans and reduce possible Se deficiency-related diseases.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the administration of a species-specific probiotic (Lactobacillus animalis sb310, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei sb137 and Bacillus coagulans sb117 in a 30:35:35 ratio, respectively; 1.8 × 10 10 cfu/g of powder) on gut microbial balance, immune response and growth performance of Holstein female calves during the first month of life. twenty-two calves were divided into two experimental groups from 2 to 28 days of life: control (c), fed with milk replacer and concentrate as a basal diet, and treatment (t), fed c diet plus 1 g/calf/day of probiotic powder for the first month of age. Faecal and blood samples were individually collected and analysed weekly. individual faecal score was recorded daily and general health score was calculated at the end of the trial. cell-mediated immune response was evaluated by skin test at 7 and 28 days of life. milk replacer and concentrate intake were recorded daily, while body weight and biometrical parameters were recorded at 2, 8, 14, 21 and 28 days of life, thus average daily gain and feed conversion rate were calculated. During the first week of treatment, lower blood eosinophil percentage (0.05% vs. 0.22%; P≤0.01) was found in T group, while basophils were higher in T than C group at the end of the trial (0.21% vs. 0.16%; P≤0.05). Higher faecal lactic acid bacteria (lab)/E. coli ratio on day 28 of life (3.73 log CFU/g vs. 2.02 log CFU/g; P≤0.05) and lower incidence of diarrhoea were found in the treated group (63.30% vs. 70.71%; p=0.05). Body weight (48.92 kg vs. 46.92 kg; P≤0.05), total concentrate intake (14.77 kg vs. 12.56 kg on dry matter basis; P≤0.05), and heart girth (81.16 cm vs. 78.49 cm; P≤0.05) were significantly higher in T group. The administration of the probiotic during the first month of life improved gut microbiota and increased the growth performance and some biometric parameters of calves.

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Intramammary infection affects the quality and quantity of dairy goat milk. Health status (HS) and milk quality can be monitored by electrical conductivity (EC). The aim of the study was to determine the detection potential of EC when measured on-line on a daily basis and compared with readings from previous milkings. Milk yields (MYs) were investigated with the same approach. To evaluate these relative traits, a multivariate model based on fuzzy logic technology -which provided interesting results in cows -was used. Two foremilk samples from 8 healthy Saanen goats were measured daily over the course of six months. Bacteriological tests and somatic cells counts were used to define the HS. On-line EC measurements for each gland and MYs were also considered. Predicted deviations of EC and MY were calculated using a moving-average model and entered in the fuzzy logic model. The reported accuracy has a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 69%. Conclusions show that fuzzy logic is an interesting approach for dairy goats, since it offered better accuracy than other methods previously published. Nevertheless, specificity was lower than in dairy cows, probably due to the lack of a significant decrease of MY in diseased glands. Still, results show that the detection of the HS characteristics with EC is improved, when measured on-line, daily and compared with the readings from previous milkings.

The present study evaluated the effects of a novel plant extract (PE) product (Grazix TM ) on the performance and gut health of weaned piglets challenged with Escherichia coli. The PE was a standardised mixture of green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) and pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum) obtained by using the LiveXtract TM process. A total of 144 piglets were weaned at 24 days and allocated to 8 for a 35-day experiment with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design comparing different treatments (water without product (CT) or 8 μl/kg per day PE in drinking water (PE)), feeding regimens (ad libitum (AD) or restricted (RE)) and oral E. coli challenges on day 9 (sham (− ) or infected ( + )). There were six pens per group with three piglets per pen. On day 35, 24 of the RE feeding piglets were slaughtered. It was found that PE supplementation increased the average daily gain (ADG) from day 28 to day 35 ( P = 0.03) and increased the gain to feed ratio (G : F) from day 7 to day 14 ( P = 0.02). RE feeding led to lower feed intake in piglets during the 1 st week ( P < 0.01), 2 nd week ( P = 0.06), 3 rd week ( P = 0.05), and throughout the course of the overall study period ( P = 0.05). E. coli challenge decreased the ADG and G : F ratio from day 7 to day 14 ( P = 0.08 and < 0.01, respectively) and increased the faecal score (higher values indicate more severe diarrhoea) on days 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.01). PE supplementation decreased the faecal score in the challenged piglets during the 1 st week post-challenge ( P < 0.01). E. coli challenge increased the faecal E. coli level on day 14 ( P = 0.03) and increased the Enterobacteriaceae level on day 35 ( P < 0.01). Reduced faecal E. coli was observed on days 14 and 35 ( P = 0.05 and 0.02, respectively), and reduced Enterobacteriaceae ( P < 0.01) was found on day 35 in the PE animals. RE feeding increased the faecal Lactobacillus, Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli levels on day 35 ( P = 0.02, < 0.01 and < 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that PE supplementation may improve the gut health status of post-weaning piglets and counteract some of the negative effects that occur when piglets are challenged with E. coli.Keywords: Escherichia coli, gut health, performance, piglet, plant extract ImplicationsThis study investigated the effects of a novel plant extract product that was added to the drinking water for weaned piglets. Different feeding regimens were tested, and the effects of the extract on growth performance, gut health and protection against Escherichia coli challenge were observed. The results showed that the plant extract may represent a useful additive for improving gut health and microbial ecology and reducing the severity of an E. coli challenge. The results may have a significant impact on nutritional management in conventional farms. Use of the plant extract could enable piglets to better withstand the infections that are often associated with weaning.