The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of yeast culture (YC) on the growth performance, caecal microbial community and metabolic profile of broilers. A total of 350 1-day-old healthy Arbor Acres broilers were randomly assigned to seven treatment groups. The first group received a basal diet without YC supplementation, whereas the remaining groups received a basal diet supplemented with either YC fermented for 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 hr, or a commercial YC product (SZ2). MiSeq 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the bacterial community structure, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify the metabolites in the caeca of broilers. The broilers that received a diet supplemented with YC had a higher average daily gain and average daily feed intake than those received YC-free or SZ2-enriched diets. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of YCs fermented for 24 hr resulted in the best feed efficiency, whereas the FCR of YC fermented for 60 hr resulted in poor feed efficiency (p < .05). In the caeca of broilers, the bacterial communities were well separated, as determined by principal component analysis, and the proportions of the eight genera were significantly different among the seven groups (p < .05). The genus Akkermansia was the most abundant when the diet supplemented with YC fermented for 24 hr (p < .05). Furthermore, the Firmicutes/ Bacteroidetes ratio was positively correlated with the FCR in the caecum (r = .47, p < .005). Five differentially expressed metabolites (i.e., L-alanine, benzeneacetic acid, D-mannose, D-arabitol and cholesterol) were identified in the caeca of broilers that received diets supplemented with YCs fermented for 24 or 60 hr. In summary, the different fermentation times of the YCs can markedly improve the growth performance and FCR of broilers by altering the caecal microbial community, and the growth performance which is related to the changes in key metabolic pathways. K E Y W O R D Sbroilers, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, growth performance, metabolite, microbiome | 213 SUN et al.
Background:In highly intensive dairy farms, cows often suffer from metabolic disorders that cause severe oxidative stress.Objectives: This study aimed to observe correlations and associations of oxidative stress-related indicators with milk compositions and metabolites.Methods: Twenty-two multiparous Holstein dairy cows in early lactation were randomly selected from a commercial dairy farm. The morning milk was collected for composition and metabolites analysis. Blood was sampled via the tail vein to analyze oxidative stress-related indicators (reactive oxygen species, ROS; catalase, CAT; superoxide dismutase, SOD; glutathione peroxidase, GPX; malondialdehyde, MDA) and metabolites.Results: Results showed that ROS were positively correlated with CAT, GPX, SOD, and MDA. However, the levels of CAT, GPX, and SOD were negatively related to milk fat (P < 0.05). Nineteen serum and 7 milk metabolites were selected from detectable metabolites according to their correlations with ROS, CAT, GPX, and SOD (P < 0.05). Metabolic pathway analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database revealed that these metabolites are primarily involved in the metabolic pathways of carbohydrates and amino acids. Conclusions:This study gave us a better understanding on oxidative stress that ROS not only increased oxidative damage (MDA) in dairy cows, but also altered some metabolites involved in amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism.
Infection with parasitic nematodes is a serious threat to health and production of small ruminant worldwide. It causes reduction in feed intake, weight gain and eventually death of the host. The primary control method of the nematode infection relied on frequent use of anthelmintic drugs. Unfortunately, this control strategy is no longer effective due to widespread anthelmintic resistance, which necessitates search for novel approaches to control nematodes. Condensed tannin (CT) containing forages have been used as anthelmintic to control parasitic nematodes for years. This paper reviews available information about effects of CT on productivity and health of small ruminants infected with parasitic nematodes. Many of temperate and tropical forages are nutraceutical plants (possess both nutritional and health benefits). Consumption of CT containing forages reduced negative impacts of gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep and goat by regulating establishment of worm as shown in reduced worm burdens, fecal egg count (FEC) and worm fecundity. Parasitized sheep and goats fed forages containing CT had high feed intake and body weight gain, probably due to increase in protein and amino acids supply. Condensed tannins containing feeds result in lighter meat color and tend to improve antioxidant activity. Therefore, the use of CT containing forages to control parasitic nematodes and improve production of small ruminants is one the alternatives to anthelmintic drugs.
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