The paperaim of the was to study the effect of low temperature stress on Avena nuda L. seedlings. Cold stress leads to many changes of physiological indices, such as membrane permeability, free proline content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and chlorophyll content. Cold stress also leads to changes of some protected enzymes such as peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). We have measured and compared these indices of seedling leaves under low temperature and normal temperature. The proline and MDA contents were increased compared with control; the chlorophyll content gradually decreased with the prolongation of low temperature stress. The activities of SOD, POD, and CAT were increased under low temperature. The study was designated to explore the physiological mechanism of cold tolerance in naked oats for the first time and also provided theoretical basis for cultivation and antibiotic breeding in Avena nuda L.

Simple SummaryThe abuse of antibiotics in animals feed may cause antibiotic-resistant microbes and antibiotic residue in animal products. Probiotics (PB) have been used in the feed industry for several decades due to their beneficial effects on immunity and the growth of livestock and poultry. However, the efficiency of PB on animals varies due to the types and dose of PB. Therefore, investigating the effects of PB (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as an antibiotic substitute on growth performance and intestinal health status in broilers is valuable and meaningful.AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the combination of probiotics replacing antibiotics on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, intestinal morphology, and expression of tight junction proteins in intestinal mucosa of broilers. A total of 168 Arbor Acres broilers (45.04 ± 0.92 g) were randomly divided into three treatments, with seven replicates per treatment, and eight broilers per replicate. The experiment included phases 1 (d 0 to 21) and 2 (d 21 to 42). The dietary treatments contained a corn soybean meal-based diet (control group; CON); an antibiotic group (basal diet + 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline; CTC), and a probiotics group (basal diet + probiotics (500 mg/kg in phase 1 and 300 mg/kg in phase 2; Bacillus subtilis 5 × 109 CFU/g, Bacillus licheniformis 2.5 × 1010 CFU/g and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 1 × 109 CFU/g; PB). The results showed broilers fed PB had improved (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) in phase 1 and increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) in phase 2, as well as improved (p < 0.05) ADG and FCR overall (d 0 to 42). The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter, organic matter, gross energy, and crude protein was increased (p < 0.05) in broilers fed PB, while the ATTD of dry matter and organic matter was enhanced in broilers fed CTC compared with CON. Broilers fed PB showed increased (p < 0.05) serum total antioxidant capacity concentrations and tended to have higher (p = 0.06) level of serum immunoglobulin M in phase 1 compared with CON. These broilers also had increased (p < 0.05) level of serum immunoglobulin A in phase 2 in comparison with CON and CTC. Moreover, broilers fed CTC and PB showed increased (p = 0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio in duodenum, as well as higher (p < 0.05) mRNA expression of zonula occludens-1 in jejunum compared with CON. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with PB as chlortetracycline substitute could improve the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum antioxidant capacity, jejunal mucosal barrier function, and intestinal morphology of broilers.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with 2 sources of fiber, sugar beet pulp (SBP), and wheat bran (WB), on sow performance, milk quality, and intestinal health in piglets. Forty-five multiparous sows at day 85 of gestation were allocated to the following 3 treatments: 1) a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CON); 2) the CON diet supplemented with 20% SBP in gestation and 10% SBP in lactation (SBP); and 3) the CON diet supplemented with 30% WB in gestation and 15% WB in lactation (WB). The SBP diets increased (P &lt; 0.05) sow ADFI during lactation, litter and piglet weaning weight, piglet ADG, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in the colostrum and IgA levels in the milk, while the WB diets only increased (P &lt; 0.05) IL-10 levels in the milk when compared with the CON diets. Piglets from SBP-fed sows had greater (P &lt; 0.05) serum growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels than those from WB-fed or CON-fed sows, whereas piglets from WB-fed sows had greater (P &lt; 0.05) serum GH levels than those from CON-fed sows. Serum diamine oxidase activity, endotoxin, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were reduced (P &lt; 0.05) in piglets from SBP-fed or WB-fed sows. Piglets from SBP-fed sows also had greater (P &lt; 0.05) serum IL-10 levels than those from CON-fed sows. The ileal mRNA expression of TNF-α was reduced (P &lt; 0.05) in piglets from SBP-fed or WB-fed sows. Piglets from SBP-fed sows had lower (P &lt; 0.05) IL-6 expression, and greater (P &lt; 0.05) IL-10 expression and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels in the ileum than those from WB- or CON-fed sows. Piglets from WB-fed sows had greater (P &lt; 0.05) IL-10 expression and SIgA levels compared with those from CON-fed sows. The ileal mRNA expression of occludin in the ileum was greater (P &lt; 0.05) in piglets from SBP-fed sows than those from CON-fed sows. The ileal mRNA expression of ZO-1 was greater (P &lt; 0.05) in piglets from WB-fed sows than those from CON-fed sows, but lower (P &lt; 0.05) than those from SBP-fed sows. Piglets from SBP-fed sows had greater (P &lt; 0.05) abundance of Christensenellaceae and butyrate levels in the colon, while piglets from WB-fed sows had greater (P &lt; 0.05) abundance of Lactobacillaceae. Collectively, maternal SBP supplementation was more effective than WB in improving milk quality, enhancing growth performance and intestinal barrier function, and ameliorating intestinal inflammation in piglets.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of wheat bran ( WB ) and antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal immunity, barrier function, and microbial composition in broiler chickens. A total of 168 one-day-old male Arbor Acre chicks were allocated to 3 treatments consisting of 7 replicates with 8 birds per replicate. The 3 treatments were: an antibiotic-free control diet (control, CON), CON + 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline as an antibiotic growth promoter ( AGP ), and CON + 3% WB. Birds fed AGP and WB had greater ( P < 0.05) ADG during days 1 to 21 and lower ( P < 0.05) feed-to-gain ratio during each phase than those fed CON. The WB supplementation reduced ( P < 0.05) serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α and diamine oxidase activity compared with CON on both day 21 and 42. The AGP and WB supplementation decreased ( P < 0.05) interleukin-1β concentration in jejunal mucosa on day 21 and increased ( P < 0.05) secretory immunoglobulin A concentration in jejunal mucosa on day 21 and 42. The relative expression of occludin in jejunal mucosa was upregulated ( P < 0.05) in WB than in CON on day 21. Moreover, both AGP and WB supplementation upregulated ( P < 0.05) the relative expression of zonula occludens-1 in jejunal mucosa on day 21 and 42. The WB supplementation enhanced the α-diversity of cecal microbiota, as evidenced by the increased Shannon index ( P < 0.05). At the phylum level, the phylum Firmicutes was enriched ( P < 0.05) in WB. At the genus level, the WB supplementation enriched ( P < 0.05) Lachnoclostridium and Butyricicoccus . The WB supplementation increased ( P < 0.05) cecal total short chain fatty acids concentrations on day 21 and 42, and butyric acid concentrations on day 42 compared with CON. Collectively, supplementation of 3% WB could promote growth by improving intestinal immunity, barrier function, and microbial composition in broilers. Thus, WB may have a role in replacing antibiotics for improved growth performance and intestinal health in broilers.

Simple SummaryThe continued overuse of antibiotics in the poultry industry with the purpose of increasing production performance and health status has led to human health hazards. This research explores the use of medicinal mushrooms to get rid of antibiotics in poultry feed without affecting optimum performance. Most medicinal mushrooms contain biologically active substances such as polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and other macromolecules, which can serve as good dietary supplements and immuno-modulating agent in chickens. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of Flammulina velutipes mushroom stem waste (MW) on Growth performance, antibody response, immune status, and serum cholesterol in broiler chickens.AbstractThis study was carried out to investigate the effects of mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) stem waste (MW) on growth performance, antibody response, immune status, and serum cholesterol in broiler chickens. A total of 252 1 day old Arbor Acres (AA) male broiler chicks were randomly assigned into four treatments with seven replications of nine chicks each. The duration of experimental period was total 42 days. Dietary treatments includes a standard basal diet as negative control (NC) group; control diet with antibiotics (Chlortetracycline) considered as positive control (PC) group; 1% mushroom stem waste (MW) fed group; and 2% MW fed group. No significant differences (p > 0.05) was observed on average daily feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio among experimental groups. Antibody titers against Newcastle disease (ND) and infectious bursal disease (IBD) were higher (p < 0.05) in 2% MW fed group than NC and PC fed groups. Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) was higher (p < 0.05) in both levels of MW fed groups than in the NC and PC. Serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), were higher (p < 0.05) in 2% MW fed groups than in the NC and PC fed groups. Total cholesterol concentration was lower (p < 0.05) in both levels MW fed groups than in the NC. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) was lower (p < 0.05) in both levels of MW fed groups than that of NC and PC fed groups. MW at 2% level can be used as potential phytogenic feed supplement in broilers.