In this study, a total of 200 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were assigned to four dietary treatments (5 pens/treatment and 10 birds/pen) for two feeding phases: starter (0–11 days of age) and grower-finisher (11–33 days of age). A basal diet containing soy oil (SO) as added fat was used as control group (C), tested against three experimental diets where the SO was partially substituted by BSF larvae fat (BSF) or one of two types of modified BSF larvae fat (MBSF1 and MBSF2, respectively). The two modified BSF larvae fats had a high and low ratio of monobutyrin to monoglycerides of medium chain fatty acid, respectively. Diet did not influence the growth or slaughter performance, pH, color, or the chemical composition of breast and thigh muscles, gut morphometric indices, or histopathological alterations in all the organs. As far as fecal microbiota are concerned, MBSF1 and MBSF2 diets reduced the presence of Clostridium and Corynebacterium, which can frequently cause infection in poultry. In conclusion, modified BSF larva fat may positively modulate the fecal microbiota of broiler chickens without influencing the growth performance and intestinal morphology or showing any adverse histopathological alternations.
Twelve biochemical parameters were measured in serum blood samples from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) maintained under controlled conditions. Forty-five samples were taken every 3 months (T1–T4) over the course of one year to define baseline values. The effect of fish total weight (TW) was also evaluated. Principal component analysis showed a clear separation between T4 and T1, and T2 and T3, indicating an increase in certain biochemical parameters with weight. Linear regression analysis showed how TW significantly explained 11–67% of the variability observed for nine parameters out of 12. Pearson’s correlation matrix showed a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between TW and albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine-aminotransferase, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, magnesium, phosphorus and total protein. Furthermore, significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the majority of the biochemical parameters were found, indicating that growth can influence several parameters at the same time. The present study provides several useful baseline values for assessing the health of O. mykiss, indicating that fish weight is an important factor for interpreting the blood biochemical profile.
The antimicrobial and immunostimulant proprieties of aromatic plant extracts have been widely described, but their effects on serum blood biochemistry in fish have not. For this study, we assessed the changes in serum blood biochemical parameters in rainbow trout fed with a fish diet supplemented with a basil supercritical extract (F1-BEO). Our hypothesis was that treatment and time would be associated with changes in 10 serum blood biochemical parameters. F1-BEO was added to a commercial feed (0.5, 1, 2, 3% w/w). The fish were fed for 30 days, and the blood samples were collected at 2 time points (15 and 30 days). A two-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of treatment, time, and interaction treatment × time on creatinine, urea, total protein, albumin, magnesium, and phosphorus (p < 0.05), a significant effect of both time and interaction treatment × time on cholesterol (CHOL), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels, and a significant effect of time on triglycerides (p < 0.05). While changes in several of the parameters were observed, the levels remained within the normal range for rainbow trout. Notably, after 30 days there was a significant decrease in CHOL in fish treated with 0.5% and 1% w/w F1-BEO (p < 0.05). The statistically non-significant increase in GOT and GPT in the fish fed with F1-BEO up to 3% w/w indicated a positive effect of basil on liver health. Our findings suggest a potential use for basil extracts (for example., F1-BEO) in fish feed to reduce antibiotic use and improve fish welfare.
Transportation is a recurring event in a farm animal’s life, and it is considered one of the main stressors with possible negative repercussions for both the health and welfare of farm animals. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of transportation on some blood variables of 45 young bulls moved from their original farms to a livestock collection centre. Transportation took no more than 8 h and was carried out between January and March 2021. Blood samples were taken before transportation (T0), upon arrival at the collection centre (T1), and 7 days after arrival (T2). Samples were processed for blood cell count, clinical chemistry analyses, serum protein electrophoresis, and the evaluation of innate immunity parameters. The results showed a typical stress leukogram with neutrophilia and changes in the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio. No significant alterations were observed in either serum proteins or pro-inflammatory cytokines. Significant, albeit transient, alterations were observed in some clinical chemistry parameters after transportation, which could be accounted for by stressful conditions such as the transportation itself and handling and mixing with other animals. Our results indicated that the adopted transportation conditions only slightly affected the blood variables under study with no significant impact on animal welfare.
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