Growth performance, liver and kidney functions, blood hormonal profile, and economic efficiency of broilers fed different levels of threonine supplementation during feed restriction

Effects of 3-indoleacrylic acid on alleviating lipopolysaccharide-induced liver inflammatory damage in laying hens

This study investigates the effects of 3-indoleacrylic acid (IAA), a bacterial metabolite of tryptophan, on LPS-induced liver injury in laying hens. The aim is to explore the potential hepatoprotective mechanisms of IAA, particularly through the modulation of inflammatory and antioxidant pathways. A total of 48, 24-week-old No. 6 Jingfen laying hens were randomly divided into four groups of 12 hens each: the CON group (basal diet), IAA group (basal diet + 150 mg/kg IAA), LPS group (basal diet), and IAA+LPS group (basal diet + 150 mg/kg IAA). The feeding period lasted 8 weeks, and at the end of the 8th week, the laying hens in the LPS and IAA+LPS groups were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 mg/kg LPS. The four groups were uniformly slaughtered and sampled 12 h after LPS injection. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) was significantly alleviated (P < 0.05), and antioxidant enzymes (T-SOD, CAT, GSH-PX) were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in the serum and liver of the IAA+LPS group. Histological analysis revealed reduced hepatocyte necrosis and inflammation in the IAA-treated groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, the activation of MAPK and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways was modulated through transcript analyses, thereby reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. In summary, IAA effectively mitigates liver inflammation and oxidative stress through the regulation of MAPK and TLR signaling pathways, providing a promising strategy for improving liver health in hens. This study represents the first report on the application of IAA in poultry, demonstrating its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for alleviating liver injury.

Plasma Hormone and Metabolomics Identifies Metabolic Pathways Associated with Growth Rate of Dezhou Donkeys

BACKGROUND

The growth traits of donkeys from the same farm under the same feeding conditions often vary.

METHODS

In this study, Plasma hormone level and LC-MS-based metabolomics was used to identify the metabolic pathways and the key metabolites associated with the growth rate of Dezhou donkeys.

RESULTS

The level of IGF-1 in the SG was significantly higher than that in the FG. The differentially abundant metabolites were related mainly to lipid metabolism, in which arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis played key roles. The main differentially abundant metabolites 2,3-dinor-8-iso-PGF2α, 11-DH-TXB2, 8(R)-HPETE, PGJ2, c9, t11-CLA, 12,13-DHOME, 9,10-DHOME, 9(10)-EpOME, 13-HPODE, DHEAS, testosterone, and corticosterone played important roles in metabolic homeostasis and affected the adaptation of donkeys to cold environments.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study revealed that the growth rate of donkeys is mainly influenced by their adaptation to the environment, providing a more in-depth study on the relationship between plasma metabolomics and growth rate in donkeys.

Effects of high dietary threonine supplementation on growth performance, health biomarkers, and intestinal histology in cyclic heat-stressed broilers

Background and Aim

Heat stress (HS) negatively impacts poultry production by reducing growth performance and compromising physiological health. Nutritional strategies, particularly amino acid supplementation, are explored to mitigate these adverse effects. This study evaluates the impact of high dietary threonine supplementation on growth performance, health biomarkers, oxidative status, meat quality, and intestinal histology in cyclic HS broilers.

Materials and Methods

A total of 288 1-day-old Hubbard broilers were randomly allocated to six treatment groups: Thermoneutral, HS control, and HS supplemented with 125% (HS-125), 150% (HS-150), 175% (HS-175), and 200% (HS-200) of NRC-recommended threonine. Birds in the HS groups were exposed to cyclic HS (35°C, 75% relative humidity) from day 22 to day 42. Growth performance was recorded weekly, while physiological parameters, oxidative stress markers, and jejunal histology were analyzed post-exsanguination.

Results

HS significantly reduced body weight gain and feed intake, while threonine supplementation did not improve these parameters. However, liver weight, serum albumin, and cholesterol levels improved at higher threonine doses (175%-200%). Threonine also reduced serum corticosterone and malondialdehyde levels, suggesting enhanced stress resilience. Superoxide dismutase activity, an indicator of oxidative defense, improved in threonine-supplemented groups. In jejunal histology, acidic goblet cells increased, and intraepithelial lymphocyte infiltration decreased in birds supplemented with 175%-200% threonine, indicating enhanced gut integrity. Meat quality attributes, including crude protein and oxidative stability, showed minor but inconsistent variations across treatments.

Conclusion

Although high dietary threonine supplementation (175%-200%) improved stress resilience by enhancing oxidative status, intestinal health, and selected physiological biomarkers in HS broilers, however, it failed to enhance growth performance. These findings suggest that while threonine supports physiological adaptations under HS, its use as a growth promoter under HS conditions may not be economically viable. Further studies are warranted to optimize amino acid balance in HS broilers for improved productivity.

Insights of early feeding regime supplemented with glutamine and various levels of omega-3 in broiler chickens: growth performance, muscle building, antioxidant capacity, intestinal barriers health and defense against mixed Eimeria spp infection

Early nutritional management approach greatly impacts broilers' performance and resistance against coccidiosis. The current study explored the impact of post-hatch feeding with a combination of glutamine (Glut) and different levels of omega-3 on broiler chickens' growth performance, muscle building, intestinal barrier, antioxidant ability and protection against avian coccidiosis. A total of six hundred Cobb 500 was divided into six groups: first group (fed basal diet and unchallenged (control) and challenged (negative control, NC) groups were fed a basal diet without additives, and the other groups were infected with Eimeria spp and supplemented with 1.5% Glut alone or with three different levels of omega-3 (0.25, 0.5 and 1%) during the starter period. Notable improvement in body weight gain was observed in the group which fed basal diet supplemented with glut and 1% omega 3 even after coccidia infection (increased by 25% compared challenged group) while feed conversion ratio was restored to control. Myogeneis was enhanced in the group supplemented with Glut and omega-3 (upregulation of myogenin, MyoD, mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase and insulin like growth factor-1 and downregulating of myostatin genes). Groups supplemented with Glut and higher levels of omega-3 highly expressed occluding, mucin-2, junctional Adhesion Molecule 2, b-defensin-1 and cathelicidins-2 genes. Group fed 1% Glut + omega-3 showed an increased total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase and super oxide dismutase enzymes activities with reduced levels of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and H2O2. Post-infection, dietary Glut and 1% omega-3 increased intestinal interleukin-10 (IL) and secretory immunoglobulin-A and serum lysozyme, while decreased the elevated inflammatory mediators comprising interleukin IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase. Fecal oocyst excretion and lesions score severity were lowered in the group fed 1% Glut and omega 3. Based on these findings, dietary Glut and omega-3 supplementation augmented restored overall broilers' performance after coccidial challenge.

Effects of Micellar Quercetin Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Fecal Microbiota, Meat Quality, and Physiological Status in Broiler Chickens

This study investigated the impacts of micellar quercetin (MQ) supplementation on growth performance, meat stability, excreta gas emissions, and physiological status. During a 35-day trial, 640 Ross 308 broilers were utilized. These birds were one day old, with an average initial body weight of 43.34 ± 1.43 g. They were randomly distributed across four experimental diets, each consisting of 10 replicate pens with 16 chicks per pen. The diets included the following: control (CON) with 0% micellar quercetin (MQ), TRT1 with 0.025% MQ, TRT2 with 0.050% MQ, and TRT3 with 0.100% MQ. The results indicate that broilers fed diets with increasing levels of MQ exhibited significantly higher body weight gains (BWGs) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). There was a clear linear increase in the breast muscle percentage with higher levels of quercetin supplementation (p < 0.05), while the breast color remained consistent across all groups (p > 0.05). Both cooking loss and drip loss exhibited a linear decrease as MQ levels in the diet increased (p < 0.05). The level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) tended to decrease with higher MQ levels. Thyroxine (T4) and lymphocyte levels also showed a linear increase with increasing MQ dosage in the diet (p < 0.05). However, no significant effects were observed on nutrient digestibility, gas emissions, or fecal microbial components (Lactobacillus, E. coli, and Salmonella) with higher levels of MQ supplementation (p > 0.05). In conclusion, augmenting quercetin levels in the diet positively influenced the BWG, breast muscle development, and meat quality parameters such as cooking loss and drip loss, with beneficial effects on blood profiles.

Empowering veterinary clinical diagnosis in industrial poultry production by ambient mass spectrometry and chemiometrics: a new approach for precise poultry farming

Untargeted metabolomic profiling, by ambient mass spectrometry and chemometric tools, has made a dramatic impact on human disease detection. In a similar vein, this study attempted the translation of this clinical human disease experience to farmed poultry for precise veterinary diagnosis. As a proof of principle, in this diagnostic/prognostic study, direct analysis in real-time high resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS) was used in an untargeted manner to analyze fresh tissues (abdominal fat, leg skin, liver, and leg muscle) of pigmented and non-pigmented broilers to investigate the causes of lack of pigmentation in an industrial poultry farm. Afterwards, statistical analysis was applied to the DART-HRMS data to retrieve the molecular features that codified for 2 broiler groups, that is, properly pigmented and non-pigmented broilers. Higher abundance of oxidized lipids, high abundance of oxidized bile derivatives, and lower levels of tocopherol isomers (Vitamin E) and retinol (Vitamin A) were captured in nonpigmented than in pigmented broilers. In addition, conventional rapid analyses were used: 1) color parameters of the tissues of pigmented and non-pigmented broilers were measured to rationalize the color differences in abdominal fat, leg skin and leg muscle, and 2) macronutrients were determined in broiler leg muscle, to capture a detailed picture of the pathology and exclude other possible causes. In this study, the DART-HRMS system performed well in retrieving valuable chemical information from broilers that explained the differences between the 2 groups of broilers in absorption of xanthophylls and the subsequent lack of proper broiler pigmentation in affected broilers. The results suggest this technology could be useful in providing near real-time feedback to aid in veterinary decision-making in poultry farming.

Complexed amino acid minerals vs. bis-glycinate chelated minerals: Impact on the performance of old laying hens

The present study was to evaluate the effect of trace minerals (Zn, Mn, and Cu) from complexed amino acid minerals (ZMCAA) and bis-glycinate chelated minerals (ZMCGly) in laying hen diets on performance, internal and external egg quality, yolk mineral deposition, intestinal morphometry, and bone characteristics. From 78 to 98 weeks of age, 400 White LSL-Lite strain laying hens were distributed in a randomized design with 4 treatments with 10 replicates per treatment. Treatments were distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement using either Zn, Mn, and Cu of ZMCAA or ZMCGly source at 2 levels: low (20, 20, and 3.5 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, and Cu, respectively) or high (40, 40, and 7 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, and Cu, respectively). The analysis of variance was performed, and in cases where differences were observed, the means were compared using Tukey's test (P < 0.05). The source and level of trace mineral supplementation had a significant impact on the performance of laying hens. Hens fed ZMCAA had higher egg production (P = 0.01), egg weight (P = 0.02), egg mass (P = 0.01), and lower feed conversion ratio (P = 0.05) compared to those fed ZMCGly. The ZMCAA supplementation showed higher albumen height (P = 0.01), albumen weight (P = 0.01), and eggshell thickness (P < 0.01). The deposition of Zn (P < 0.01), Mn (P < 0.01), and Cu (P < 0.01) in the egg yolk was greater for hens received ZMCAA. Tibia weight (P = 0.04) and bone densitometry (P < 0.01) in the tibia were higher with ZMCAA supplementation. In the small intestine, ZMCAA resulted in longer villi (P = 0.02) and shorter crypt depth (P = 0.01) in the duodenum. Jejunum and ileum measurements were influenced by the level and source of trace minerals (P < 0.05). Laying hens fed ZMCAA exhibited superior performance, egg quality, deposition of trace minerals in the egg yolk, and bone density compared to hens fed ZMCGly. In this study, older laying hens supplemented with ZMCAA at lower levels demonstrated adequate levels of supplementation.

Effects of housing systems and feed additive on growth, carcass traits, liver function, oxidative status, thyroid function, and immune parameters of broilers

The effects of rearing Cobb500 broiler chickens under 3 different housing systems (floor litter, floor plastic, and batteries) without or with feed additive (Butinov) on broiler performance, blood parameters and carcass traits were evaluated. Three hundred 1-day-old chicks were distributed in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (6 treatments each of 5 replicates). The results showed that reared broilers on litter or plastic floors had high values (P ≤ 0.01) of bird's weight (BW), weight gain (WG), and feed intake (FI) throughout the entire study period (1-42 d of age) compared with rearing on batteries. Rearing broilers in the different housing systems and with or without feed additives did not affect (P ≥ 0.05) total feed conversion (FCR). Different rearing systems or feed additives did not influence broiler chicks' carcass traits and some serum blood parameters. The plastic floor system significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) blood serum corticosterone compared with litter and batteries. Feed additive (Butinov) decreased the level of T4 (P ≤ 0.05) in blood serum. Plastic floors or batteries significantly increased (P ≤ 0.01) the level of antibody titer against avian influenza virus (HIAV) compared to chicken reared on a litter floor. The results suggested that using housing systems of litter or plastic floors could improve broiler growth performance without adversely affecting carcass traits and blood characteristics compared with rearing in batteries. Also, broiler diets' feed additive (Butinov) and their interaction with rearing systems did not improve broiler growth performance.