Effects of dietary inclusion of alfalfa meal on laying performance, egg quality, intestinal morphology, caecal microbiota and metabolites in Zhuanghe Dagu chickens

Cui, Yan; Diao, Zipeng; Fan, Wentao; Wei, Jiali; Zhou, Jia‐Xi; Zhu, Hongyan; Li, Desheng; Guo, Longwei; Tian, Yuan; Song, Hui; Su, Yuhong

doi:10.1080/1828051x.2022.2067009

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…A previous study found that adding 50% alfalfa meal to Tibetan pigs' diet increased the abundance of fiber-degrading bacteria (UCG-005, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, and Prevotellaceae_UCG003) in their hindgut, while reducing the abundance of certain pathogenic bacteria (Streptococcus) [14]. Similarly, in a study involving Beijing-you chickens, the addition of 10% alfalfa meal tended to stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus and Bacteroides) and inhibit potential pathogens (Clostridium) [15]. These findings underscore the capacity of DF to regulate the intestinal microbiota of organisms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Effects of Dietary Alfalfa Meal Supplementation on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Apparent Digestibility, Serum Parameters, and Intestinal Microbiota of Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Chen,

Li,

Chen

et al. 2024

Animals

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The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a typical omnivore possessing wide dietary adaptability and tolerance to rough feeding, which may be attributed to its intestinal microbiota. The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary alfalfa meal levels on the growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, serum parameters, and intestinal microbiota of raccoon dogs. Sixty raccoon dogs were randomly divided into four dietary treatments containing 0% (AM0), 5% (AM5), 10% (AM10), and 15% (AM15) alfalfa meal for a 60-day experiment. The results showed that compared to raccoon dogs fed the AM0 diet, those fed the AM5 and AM10 diets had no significant difference in growth performance, while those fed the AM15 diet experienced a significant decrease. Raccoon dogs fed the AM5 diet had no significant effect on the nutrient apparent digestibility. Dietary supplementation with alfalfa meal significantly decreased serum urea levels and increased the antioxidant capacity of raccoon dogs. The intestinal microbiome analysis showed that the richness and diversity of colonic microbiota significantly increased in the AM15 group. With the increase in dietary alfalfa meal levels, the relative abundance of fiber-degrading bacteria in the colon of raccoon dogs, such as Treponema, Phascolarctobacterium, and Christensenellaceae R-7 group, increased. However, the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria, including Anaerobiospirillum, decreased. In conclusion, the inclusion of 5% alfalfa meal in the raccoon dogs’ diet had no effect on growth performance, but it exhibited the potential to improve serum antioxidant capacity and intestinal microbiota. This indicates that raccoon dogs have a certain tolerance to the addition of alfalfa meal in their diet.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Until now, numerous studies have examined the impact of alfalfa meal on the growth and intestinal microbiota of livestock and poultry [14,15]. However, no reports have investigated its effects on raccoon dogs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Dietary Alfalfa Meal Supplementation on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Apparent Digestibility, Serum Parameters, and Intestinal Microbiota of Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Chen,

Li,

Chen

et al. 2024

Animals

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“…Chinese indigenous chickens (Guangxi-Tiejiaoma broilers) aged 3 weeks to 12 weeks fed diets supplemented with 25 g/kg to 75 g/kg lucerne meal exhibited improved growth performance (in terms of feed intake and body weight) (He et al, 2021). Similarly, Cui et al (2022) observed that lucerne meal inclusion in the diet of 35-week-old Zhuanghe Dagu chickens at a level of 60 g/kg was beneficial to their production performance. Therefore, the age or stage of growth of these chickens is a critical factor that influences the effects of lucerne on their growth production performance.…”

Section: Saponin µG/g Dmmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Dual-purpose chickens are typically indigenous or local/native, and the same can be true of hybrid chickens that are bred selectively because of their possessing good meat and egg production traits. The native chicken breed Zhuanghe Dagu, also called the grass chicken, has the characteristic of herbivorous traits such as strong tolerance to dietary ingredients high in CF (Cui et al, 2022). There is a paucity of research information on the effects of lucerne on the production performance of dual-purpose chickens.…”

Section: Saponin µG/g Dmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lucerne meal in the diet of indigenous chickens: a review

Ginindza

2023

Front. Anim. Sci.

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Indigenous chicken production consists of an array of activities important to smallholder poultry farmers in Africa. One of the many factors influencing their production and threating the local food security is in the area of nutrition, particularly, that related to protein supplementation. The available feed resources to farmers are not enough to sustain the productivity of the chickens. Hence, the chickens’ diets often require nutritional supplementation. There is therefore an urgent need for the validation of locally grown feed ingredients to improve the sustainability of poultry production in sub-Saharan Africa. A dietary ingredient that may be used in the diets of chickens is lucerne (Medicago sativa), which is also known as alfalfa. In South Africa, lucerne is the most cultivated forage legume and approximately 1.3 million metric tonnes of lucerne are produced per year. Lucerne has high nutritional value, as it is a source of protein, amino acids, vitamins, and fatty acids. The potential of lucerne as a feed resource for indigenous chickens should, therefore, be investigated so that strategies to improve the nutrition of such chickens can be developed. The purpose of this review was to highlight lucerne as a potential dietary ingredient for indigenous chickens and discuss its effects on the productivity of broilers, egg-layers, and dual-purpose chickens.

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“…In recent years, a growing number of scientific studies have shown positive effects of dietary fiber on chicken health and productivity ( 18 – 20 ). Feeding experiments were mainly carried out with insoluble fiber sources that arise as by-products during industrial production, such as oat hulls, sunflower hulls, soybean hulls, wheat bran, and wood shavings ( 21 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Flammulina velutipes Stipe Wastes on the Cecal Microbiota of Laying Hens

et al. 2023

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Effects of dietary inclusion of alfalfa meal on laying performance, egg quality, intestinal morphology, caecal microbiota and metabolites in Zhuanghe Dagu chickens

Cited by 3 publications

References 75 publications

Effects of Dietary Alfalfa Meal Supplementation on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Apparent Digestibility, Serum Parameters, and Intestinal Microbiota of Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Effects of Dietary Alfalfa Meal Supplementation on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Apparent Digestibility, Serum Parameters, and Intestinal Microbiota of Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Lucerne meal in the diet of indigenous chickens: a review

Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Flammulina velutipes Stipe Wastes on the Cecal Microbiota of Laying Hens

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