Effects of Organic Chromium Yeast on Performance, Meat Quality, and Serum Parameters of Grow-Finish Pigs

Effects of inactivated Lactobacillus rhamnosus on growth performance, serum indicators, and colonic microbiota and metabolism of weaned piglets

BACKGROUND

To assess the effects of inactivated Lactobacillus rhamnosus (ILR) on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, colonic microbiota, and metabolomics in weaned piglets, 120 piglets were randomly divided into five groups. Samples in the control group were fed a basal diet, while the experimental ILR1, ILR2, ILR3, and ILR4 groups were fed basal diets supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4% ILR, respectively. The prefeeding period lasted for 5 days and was followed by a formal period of 28 days.

RESULTS

Compared to the control, the average daily gain increased by 4.38%, 7.98%, 19.32%, and 18.80% for ILR1, ILR2, ILR3, and ILR4, respectively, and the ratio of feed to gain decreased by 0.63%, 3.80%, 12.66%, and 10.76%, respectively. Serum IgA, IgG, IgM, total antioxidant capacity, and glutathione peroxidase levels increased significantly in weaned piglets in the treatment groups. Addition of 0.3% ILR significantly increased the Shannon and Simpson indices of the colonic microbiota in weaned piglets and altered the microbiota composition. Changes in metabolic profiles were observed and were primarily related to the urea cycle, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism.

CONCLUSION

ILR improved growth performance and serum immunological and biochemical indices and optimized the colonic microbiota structure and metabolism of weaned piglets.

Strategic administration of antioxidant multiminerals and vitamins to transitional buffaloes augments antioxidant and udder defense mechanisms in early lactation

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of repeated administrations of antioxidant multiminerals and vitamins in transition buffaloes on udder defense mechanism, antioxidant activity and occurrence of intramammary infection (IMI) in early lactation period. Forty clinically healthy pregnant buffaloes were enrolled 45 days before expected date of calving and randomly allocated into five different supplementation groups (n = 8): only basal ration (control), vitamin E and selenium (VES), multiminerals (MM), ascorbic acid (AA) and chromium (Cr) picolinate in basal diet. The udder defense mechanism was monitored by measuring phagocytic activity (PA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO) productions in milk leukocytes, antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma and occurrence of IMI was assessed by milk cytology, bacterial count in milk and visible clinical signs of udder until day 28 post-calving. The results showed that the VES and MM supplementations exhibited significantly higher PA, MPO and NO productions of milk leukocytes till first week of lactation whereas, elevated mean TAC in plasma was maintained from day -7 to 1 of calving in MM supplementation group as compared to control group. Statistically, no significant difference in occurrences of subclinical or clinical IMI was noted across the groups until four weeks of lactation. Taken together, it is concluded that repeated administrations of VES and MM to transition buffaloes could be an effective strategy to maintain good udder health by augmenting milk leukocyte functions and antioxidant status and preventing incidence of IMI in early lactation.

Influence of Dietary Supplementation of Inorganic and Organic Chromium on Body Conformation, Carcass Traits, and Nutrient Composition in Muscle and Internal Organs of Black Bengal Goats

The effect of dietary inorganic and organic chromium (Cr) on body morphometry, carcass traits, and nutrient composition, including different minerals and fatty acids in meat and internal organs of Black Bengal goats, was studied. Thirty weaned Black Bengal kids of 3-5 months (5.40 ± 0.34 kg body weight) were assigned randomly into five groups and fed additional Cr for 150 days. The experimental diets comprised a basal diet supplemented with Cr at the rate of 0 (control; without Cr supplementation), 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg of inorganic Cr (Cr(III)-chloride), and 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg of organic Cr (Cr-yeast). The body morphometry such as body length, heart girth, paunch girth, loin width, leg circumference, and the carcass traits, namely, slaughter body weight, dressing percentage, hind quarter and forequarter weight, and rib eye area of goats, were not significantly (P < 0.05) changed due to inorganic and organic Cr supplementation. However, organic Cr supplementation (1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg) resulted in a reduction of breast and back fat thickness (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. The weights of internal organs including liver, lungs, spleen, kidney, testes, and heart and their weights as a percentage of slaughter weight were similar (P > 0.05) among different experimental groups. Dry matter, ether extract, and total ash concentrations of muscle and internal organs of Cr-supplemented groups were not affected (P > 0.05) by Cr supplementation. However, crude protein contents in the liver, muscle, kidney, and lungs were greater (P < 0.05) in the organic Cr groups than in the control and inorganic Cr groups. In meat (longissimus dorsi muscle), total saturated fatty acid concentration was lower (P < 0.05; 59.4% versus 55.7%) and the unsaturated fatty acid concentration was greater (P < 0.05; 40.6% versus 44.3%) including palmitoleic acid, heptadecenoic acid, elaidic acid, and arachidonic acid in the organic or inorganic Cr-supplemented groups than in the basal diet group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of organic Cr in Black Bengal goats has no influence on the carcass traits, but may improve the meat quality with greater protein content, lean, and healthier fatty acids for human consumption.

Chromium Methionine and Ractopamine Supplementation in Summer Diets for Grower-Finisher Pigs Reared under Heat Stress

This study aimed to determine the effects of the dietary supplementation of chromium methionine (CrMet) and ractopamine (RAC) on pigs in the growing-finishing stage under heat stress. The parameters evaluated included productive behavior, blood components, carcass characteristics, organ weight, and meat quality. This study was conducted during the summer season in Sonora, Mexico. The treatments included: (1) control diet (CON), a base diet (BD) formulated to satisfy the nutritional requirements of pigs; (2) RAC, BD plus 10 ppm RAC supplemented during the last 34 days of the study; (3) CrMet-S, BD supplemented with 0.8 ppm of Cr from CrMet during the last 34 days; and (4) CrMet-L, BD supplemented with 0.8 ppm of Cr from CrMet for an 81 d period. RAC supplementation improved the productive behavior and main carcass characteristics of the pigs compared with CON. However, RAC and CrMet supplementation during the last 34 days showed similar results in terms of weight gain, carcass quality, blood components, organ weight, and meat quality. The addition of CrMet-S had a moderate (although not significant) increase in productive performance and carcass weight. These findings are encouraging, as they suggest that CrMet may be a potential alternative for growth promotion. However, more research is needed.

Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Organic Chromium Supplementation on the Growth Performance and Carcass Quality of Weaned and Growing-Finishing Pigs

Many factors influence the effects of exogenous organic chromium (EO-Cr) on the growth performance and carcass qualities of weaned and growing-finishing pigs, such as pig growth stages, types of EO-Cr, period of supplementation, and farm management. However, it is challenging to comprehensively consider all factors in one study. To solve this problem, we searched all relative literature published from 1 January 2000 to 1 January 2023, to systematically analyze and review the effects of EO-Cr on pig growth performance and carcass qualities via meta-analysis. Thirty-five papers were filtered and analyzed, which involved 4366 pigs. The results showed that, for weaned piglets, EO-Cr diets significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.001) and average daily feed intake (ADFI, p = 0.022) but reduced the feed-gain ratio (p = 0.004). In addition, for growing-finishing pigs, EO-Cr supplementation significantly increased the ADG (p < 0.001), carcass lean ratio (p = 0.020), and loin muscle area (p < 0.001), but had no significant effect on the ADFI (p = 0.071), feed-gain ratio (p = 0.692), dressing percent (p = 0.989), or back fat thickness (p = 0.142). Moreover, the effect of EO-Cr was greater in weaned piglets than in growing-finishing pigs. In terms of the dose effect of the supplement, chromium nicotinate is the most suitable EO-Cr type for weaned piglets with an optimal dosage range of 0.125-0.150 mg/kg. On the other hand, chromium picolinate is the most suitable EO-Cr type for growing-finishing pigs with an optimal dosage range of 0.250-0.300 mg/kg. In conclusion, EO-Cr supplementation is beneficial for enhancing the growth performance and carcass qualities of both weaned and growing-finishing pigs.

Dietary supplementation with a mixture of herbal extracts during late gestation and lactation improves performance of sows and nursing piglets through regulation of maternal metabolism and transmission of antibodies

The dietary inclusion of phytogenic feed additives to improve the performance and health of sows is considered to be safe, effective and environmentally friendly, thus gaining growing popularity among new strategies. This study was designed with three trials aimed to determine the effective supplemental levels of Scutellaria baicalensis and Lonicera japonica mixed extracts (SLE) in sow diets based on production performance and explore its related mechanisms of action based on serum metabolites, antioxidant capacity, and immune profile of sows and nursing piglets. Trials 1 and 2 were conducted to determine the effective dose and ratio of SLE by supplementation of various proportions and doses of SLE to sows diets from the late pregnancy to weaning, with litter performance at farrowing and weaning and disease conditions being evaluated. Trial 3 was conducted to further explore the mechanisms of action of SLE as evaluated by serum immunity and antioxidants indices in late gestation and lactation sows. The results of trials 1 and 2 showed that dietary supplementation of 1.0 g/kg SLE (50% S. baicalensis extract, 30% L. japonica extract, and 20% wheat bran fiber as carrier) enhanced the number of piglets born alive, litter birth weight, litter weight gain, and average daily feed intake of sows during lactation, while decreased diarrhea of suckling piglets. In Trial 3, compared with the control group, dietary SLE supplementation increased (P < 0.05) sow serum glucose (GLU), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), prolactin (PRL) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations, and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities at the farrowing, and increased (P < 0.05) sow serum prolactin, leptin, and insulin concentrations at d 14 of lactation. Fat concentrations in sow colostrum and in milk on day 14 of lactation, both IgA and IgG concentrations in colostrum, and both IL-10 and IgA concentrations in piglet serum at d 14 of lactation were all increased (P < 0.05) following dietary SLE supplementation. Altogether, dietary supplementation with the appropriate levels of SLE promoted health and growth of suckling piglets, which was associated with the improvement of maternal metabolism and transmission of antibodies.

Dietary Supplemental Chromium Yeast Improved the Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity and Liver Health in Broilers under High Stocking Density

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of yeast chromium on growth performance, organ index, antioxidant capacity, immune performance and liver health of broilers under high stocking density. A total of 684 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were selected and fed a common diet from 1 to 22 days of age. At the end of 22 days, broilers with similar weight were randomly divided into six treatments, with six replications in each treatment. The broilers in control groups were fed with a control diet and raised at low stocking density of broilers (14 broilers/m2, LSD) and high stocking density (20 broilers/m2, HSD). The broilers in treatment groups were fed with diets supplemented with 200, 400, 800 and 1600 µg Cr/kg chromium yeast (Cr-yeast) under HSD, respectively. The experimental period was 23~42 days. Compared with the LSD group, the HSD group significantly decreased the liver index (ratio of liver weight to live weight of broilers) of broilers (p < 0.05), the HSD group significantly increased the content of corticosterone (CORT) and the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and decreased the prealbumin (PA) level in the serum (p < 0.05). HSD decreased the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) contents in the serum, liver and breast, serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, breast total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities and liver catalase (CAT) activities of broilers (p < 0.05). The HSD group significantly increased the total histopathological score (p < 0.05). Compared with the HSD group, adding 200, 400, and 1600 Cr-yeast significantly increased the liver index of broilers (p < 0.05), all HSD + Cr-yeast groups decreased the ALT activities (p < 0.05), and the HSD + 800 group significantly decreased the CORT contents and the ALP activities of the serum (p < 0.05); the HSD + 400, 800 and 1600 groups increased the PA contents of the serum (p < 0.05); HSD + 800 group significantly reduced the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) contents of the serum (p < 0.05); moreover, the HSD + 400 group increased the GSH-Px activities of the serum (p < 0.05), the T-AOC and the T-SOD activities of the breast (p < 0.05) and the T-AOC and CAT activities of the liver (p < 0.05). Adding 800 Cr-yeast significantly decreased the total histopathological score (degree of hepatocyte edema and inflammatory cell infiltration) under HSD (p < 0.05). In summary, Cr-yeast can improve the antioxidant capacity and immune traits, and liver health of broilers under HSD. Based on the results of the linear regression analysis, the optimal supplementation of Cr-yeast in antioxidant capacity, immunity ability and liver health were at the range of 425.00−665.00, 319.30−961.00, and 800.00−1531.60 µg Cr/kg, respectively.

Effects of Dietary Lysine Levels on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Serum Metabolites, and Meat Quality of Baqing Pigs

This study was carried out to determine the Lys requirements of Baqing pigs and the effects of different dietary lysine levels on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, serum metabolites, and carcass and meat traits. A total of 120 castrated Baqing pigs were selected by body weight and randomly assigned to five dietary treatments with six replicate pens (4 pigs per pen, castrated) per treatment in a randomized complete block design. Five diets in mash form were formulated to contain SID Lys at 0.56%, 0.68%, 0.80%, 0.92%, and 1.04% of diet in phase 1 (20−40 kg), at 0.45%, 0.54%, 0.63%, 0.72%, and 0.81% of diet in phase 2 (40−60 kg), and at 0.39%, 0.47%, 0.55%, 0.63%, and 0.71% of diet in phase 3 (60−90 kg), respectively. The results showed that the bodyweight of pigs was not affected by dietary SID Lys content during each period. However, the addition of dietary SID Lys linearly reduced F/G in the first period and quadratically increased ADG during the second period (p < 0.05). The digestible energy (DE) was increased linearly and quadratically in the first phases with the dietary increased SID Lys levels, while DE was reduced in the third and second phases (p < 0.05). Increasing SID Lys contents linearly increased the serum TG concentration and quadratically decreased the serum GLU concentration, while linearly reducing the serum HDLC concentration of first period pigs (p < 0.05). Serum concentrations of TP, TG, TC, and LDLC were increased linearly with the increasing dietary SID Lys levels in the second period (p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of Lys increased quadratically, and histidine increased linearly with the increased dietary SID Lys levels (p < 0.05). Compared with the treatment three group, dietary SID Lys addition content at treatment four increased the shear force of the longissimus dorsi muscle (p < 0.05), but it did not affect the other carcass and meat traits. The optimal SID Lys requirement of 20−40 kg, 40−60 kg, and 60−90 kg of Baqing pigs fed corn−soybean meal-based diets is estimated to be 0.92%, 0.66%, and 0.55% of the diets by the quadratic curve models, respectively.