In this study, we investigated 18 healthy and fertile Duroc boars, dividing them into two groups based on their reproductive age: 9 boars aged 18 months and 9 boars aged 36 months. Prior to semen sampling, all boars were raised together under identical management conditions for a period of three months. Our findings revealed that older boars exhibited lower sperm motility and a higher proportion of abnormal sperm morphology compared to younger boars. Furthermore, older boars demonstrated lower antioxidant capacity in their semen, as indicated by elevated levels of malondialdehyde and decreased levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Microbiota analysis utilizing the 16S rRNA technique showed that the semen microbiota of older boars had reduced alpha-diversity and beta-diversity in comparison to younger boars. We identified the Streptococcus genus and Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp macedonicus species served as biomarkers for semen from younger breeding boars, while the Bacteroides pyogenes species as a biomarker for semen from older breeding boars. Additionally, the semen from older boars exhibited a higher abundance of Aerococcus, Gallicola, Ulvibacter, and Proteiniphilum compared to younger boars. Spearman correlation analysis showed that these four bacteria were negatively correlated with semen quality. The abundance of Gallicola and Proteiniphilum were negatively correlated with semen antioxidant capacity. Additionally, the reduction of semen antioxidant capacity was correlated to the decrease of semen quality. Based on these findings, we concluded that the semen of older boars contains a higher abundance of harmful bacteria, which contributes to the observed reduction in semen antioxidant capacity and overall semen quality in this group.
Piglets with the same genetic background were used to investigate the effects of different lengths of suckling period on growth performance, hematology parameters, and fecal microbiota. All piglets were born by a sow (Landrace×Yorkshire). On day 14 postpartum, a total of 16 piglets [Duroc×(Landrace×Yorkshire)] with a similar initial body weight (2.48 ± 0.25 kg) were randomly assigned into two groups with four replicates per group, two pigs per replicate pen (one barrow and one gilt). On day 14 of age, experiment started, piglets from the first group were weaned (14W), whereas the others continued to receive milk until day 28 of age (28W). The experiment completed on day 70 of age, last 56 days. Growth performance parameters including body weight, average daily gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, and growth rate and hematology parameters including immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), albumin, globulin, and total protein were measured in this study. Additionally, a technique of 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze fecal microbiota for revealing how the changes in the lengths of suckling period on intestinal microbiota. We found that ultra-early weaning impaired growth performance of piglets, whose worse body weight, average daily gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, and growth rate were observed in 14W group at all measured timepoints in comparison with those in 28W group (P < 0.05). Moreover, higher contents of serum IgA (P = 0.028), IgG (P = 0.041), and IgM (P = 0.047), as well as lower contents of serum albumin (P = 0.002), albumin-to-globulin ratio (P = 0.003), and total protein (P = 0.004), were observed in 14W group in comparison with those in 28W group on day 28 of age, but not on day 70 of age. High-throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA indicated that the intestinal microbiota richness in 14W group was lower than that in 28W group (P < 0.05); moreover, in comparison with 28W group at all sampling timepoints, fecal microbiota in 14W group showed more beneficial bacteria and fewer pathogenic bacteria (P < 0.05). Therefore, we considered that ultra-early weaning had positive effects on immune status and fecal microbiota composition in piglets, but negative effects on growth performance and fecal microbiota abundance.
On the background of antibiotic‐free livestock husbandry, animal nutritionists are trying to find alternatives to antibiotics. Many herbs have been developed for animal diets to replace antibiotics. Humulus Scandens (HS) is also known as Humulus japonicus and Japanese hop in English, lü Cao (葎草) in Mandarin Chinese and kanamugura (カナムグラ) in Japanese. It is a traditional Chinese medicine with good environmental adaptability. It can grow rapidly and cover any area. Its high yield, strong vitality and medical value allow its potential to be used as an exogenous additive for animal diets to replace antibiotics. However, the knowledge about this herb is limited at present. This manuscript reviewed the processing method of HS and its application in livestock husbandry in order to provide references for its application.
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