Evaluation of pigeon pea leaves (Cajanus cajan) replacing alfalfa meal on growth performance, carcass trait, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant capacity and biochemical parameters of rabbits

Unconventional plant sources as alternative feedstuffs in broiler rabbit nutrition: a scoping review

Rabbit meat production offers a sustainable solution to meet the rising demand for protein, particularly in regions abundant in plant biomass. This review explores the potential of forages (legumes and non-legumes), medicinal, herbal, and aquatic plants as alternative rabbit feed sources. These alternatives boost protein, fiber, and bioactive compound content, enhancing productive performance, gut health, immunity, and meat characteristics. Challenges such as nutritional variations due to geographic location, seasonal changes, and processing methods, alongside nutrient-hostile factors and high fiber content, must be addressed. Nonetheless, these plants can be integrated into rabbit diets at levels of up to 10% without compromising animal health, performance, or digestibility. The study emphasizes the feasibility of incorporating alternative forages into rabbit feed, improving resource efficiency and sustainability in rabbit meat production. Notably, research indicates comparable growth performance between rabbits fed unconventional plants and those on conventional diets. Aquatic plants and aromatic herbs emerge as promising alternatives, enhancing growth, nutrient utilization, and carcass characteristics in rabbits. Despite challenges, careful dietary formulation can mitigate risks associated with certain unconventional feedstuffs. This review provides insights into formulating balanced, sustainable rabbit diets, highlighting the need for further research to optimize inclusion levels and mitigate anti-nutritive substances. Exploring unconventional plants as viable alternatives holds promise for enhancing both animal welfare and economic efficiency in the rabbit farming industry.

Toxicity of standing milkvetch infected with Alternaria gansuense in white mice

Introduction

Standing milkvetch (Astragalus adsurgens) is widely distributed in the wild in Eurasia and North America and has been bred for cultivated forage in China. Yellow stunt and root rot disease caused by Alternaria gansuense is the primary disease of standing milkvetch. A. gansuense promotes the production of swainsonine in the plant. This study aimed to determine the safety of standing milkvetch that is infected with A. gansuense as forage for animals.

Methods

Two-week-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) male white mice were fed a commercial mouse feed (CMF), healthy plant feed (HPF) and diseased plant feed (DPF) for 3 or 6 weeks. We observed histological changes in the liver and kidney tissues of the mice and measured their daily feed intake, daily water intake, body weight, feed utilization, organ coefficients, and activities of serum enzymes.

Results

The results showed that the daily feed intake of the mice that were fed DPF and HPF was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those fed CMF at 3 and 6 weeks. The highest increase was observed in the daily water intake of the mice fed HPF (p < 0.05) followed by DPF and CMF. However, the mice fed DPF gained the least weight (p < 0.05). There was a significantly higher percentage of liver weight to body weight of the mice fed DPF (p < 0.05) than those fed HPF for 3 weeks and those fed CMF for 3 and 6 weeks. There were significantly higher levels of concentrations of alanine aminotransferase in the mice fed DPF and HPF than those fed CMF for 3 weeks (p < 0.05) and 6 weeks (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the mice fed HPF than those fed DPF. There were significantly higher of lactate dehydrogenase concentration (p < 0.001), while the blood urea nitrogen was lower in the mice fed DPF than those fed HPF and CMF at 3 weeks. There was a significantly higher percentage of numbers of lymphocytes in the blood of the mice fed DPF (p < 0.05) than those fed HPF, but the percentages of monocytes and eosinophils were significantly lower. Comparatively, there were more apparent pathological changes in the liver and kidney tissues of the mice fed with DPF than in those fed with HPF.

Discussion

These findings indicate that standing milkvetch was toxic to white mice, and infection with A. gansuense increased its toxicity. Therefore, we conclude that standing milkvetch plants infected by A. gansuense must never be used as animal feed under any circumstances. Additionally, the amount of healthy standing milkvetch fed to animals should be appropriate, avoiding long-term or excessive feeding.

Typology of rabbit rearing systems in tropical areas: A case of Benin (West Africa)

The breeding of rabbits in tropical areas is confronted with enormous difficulties related to feeding and health, which limit the expansion and viability of these farms. The objective of this study is to carry out a typology of rabbit farms in tropical conditions to characterize the structure and function of this rearing in order to better understand their production results. A sample of 600 rabbit farms located throughout Benin was selected. The typology was carried out using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) followed by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) according to the Ward's aggregation algorithm and Euclidean distance, which identified five typological groups. Group 1 covered 45.7% of the farms and included small-scale production (fewer than 20 does) by professional breeders using traditional parasite control methods. Group 2 covered 3.3% of the rearing and includes a larger number of semi-extensive farms using self-produced feed. Group 3 (14.7%) was characterized by farms with fewer than 20 does that were semi-extensive and used more phytotherapy. In Group 4 (9.7% of the farms), the extensive mode was the most used, with veterinary medicine being the most used. Group 5 concentrated 26.7% of the farms and was marked by semi-extensive breeding. These farms did not record any cases of parasitosis. The typology carried out allowed a better understanding of the operating modes of these farms, their problems and the main limiting factors.

Tongluo Shenggu capsule promotes angiogenesis to ameliorate glucocorticoid-induced femoral head necrosis via upregulating VEGF signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Tongluo Shenggu Capsule (TLSGC) is a product of Traditional Chinese patent medicine that has been effective in glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GIONFH) clinically for many years. It is made from water extracts of a well-used herbal and dietary supplement-pigeon pea leaves. Nevertheless, the material basis and pharmacological mechanisms of TLSGC ameliorating GIONFH needed to be better defined.

PURPOSE

To investigate the material basis and pharmacological mechanisms of TLSGC to ameliorate GIONFH.

METHODS

The chemical compositions in TLSGC were characterized using the LC-MS system. Based on integrating the relevant targets of TLSGC in MedChem Studio software and GIONFH-related genes in our previous work, a "drug targets-disease genes" interaction network was constructed. The candidate targets of TLSGC ameliorating GIONFH were filtrated by topological characteristic parameters and further experimental validated based on methylprednisolone-induced rat model and dexamethasone-inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

RESULTS

A total of 33 chemical compositions were characterized in TLSGC. Based on these compositions and GIONFH-related genes, 122 hub genes were selected according to topological parameters calculation. Biological functions were mainly enriched in four over-expressed modules of vascular damage, inflammation and apoptosis, bone metabolism and energy metabolism. The hub genes had the maximum enrichment degree in the VEGF-VEGFR2-PKC-Raf1-MEK-ERK signaling axis of the VEGF pathway. Experimentally, the therapeutic effects of TLSGC against GIONFH in rats were proved by micro-CT and pathological examination. Then, the protective effects of TLSGC on vascular damage were determined using angiography, CD31 immunohistochemistry, vascular function indicators in vivo, aortic ring test ex vivo, and the HUVECs activities in vitro including migration, invasion and tube formation. Mechanically, TLSGC effectively suppressed the downregulation of VEGF and VEGFR2 and their downstream targets, including Raf-1, PKC, p-MEK, and p-ERK proteins both in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION

TLSGC could promote angiogenesis by upregulating the VEGF-VEGFR2-PKC-Raf-1-MEK-ERK signaling axis, thereby exerting an apparent curative effect on GIONFH.

Effect of replacing Tifton Hay with Guandu Hay on intake, digestibility and ingestive behavior of dairy goats

The purpose was to evaluate the effect of replacement of Tifton 85 hay with Guandu hay on the intake, digestibility and ingestive behavior of dairy goats. Five Saanen goats with average milk production of 2.26 ± 0.10 kg d-1, around 123 ± 4 days of lactation were assigned to a 5 x 5 Latin square design. The treatments consisted of five levels of replacement with Guandu: 0, 8.4, 16.8, 25.2, or 36.4 %. We sampled the food offered, leftovers and feces to calculate intake and digestibility, and the ingestive behavior was monitored for 24 hours. Regression analysis was applied with 5% significance. The nutrient intake and the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and protein decreased linearly with increasing levels of Guandu hay in the diet (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the neutral detergent fiber digestibility increased linearly, without change the water intake and ingestive behavior with replacement levels of Tifton hay with Guandu hay in the diet (p < 0.05). The replacement of up to 36.4% Tifton hay with Guandu hay in the dairy goat diet reduces the intake and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and protein, and increasesfiber digestibility, without changing the ingestive behavior and water intake.

Productivity, Nutrient Digestibility, Nitrogen Retention, and Meat Quality in Rabbits Fed Diets Supplemented with Sida hermaphrodita

Simple Summary

Alfalfa is an important forage crop in rabbit nutrition. Despite the numerous advantages of alfalfa, efforts have been made to find its potential substitutes. Virginia fanpetals (Sida hermaphrodita), is yet another potential substitute for alfalfa in animal diets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of dehydrated Virginia fanpetals meal as a substitute for dehydrated alfalfa meal in rabbit diets. The results of this study indicated that Virginia fanpetals meal can be included in rabbit diets at up to 20% as a substitute for alfalfa without compromising the production performance of animals, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention, carcass quality, or meat quality parameters.

Abstract

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important forage crop in rabbit nutrition. Despite the numerous advantages of alfalfa, efforts have been made to find its potential substitutes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Sida hermaphrodita meal as a substitute for alfalfa meal in rabbit diets. The experiment was performed on 90 New Zealand White rabbits divided into three groups. DA group was fed a diet containing 20% dehydrated alfalfa. In the DA/DS group, rabbits received a diet containing 10% dehydrated alfalfa and 10% dehydrated Sida. The diet administered to the DS group contained 20% dehydrated Sida. The results of this study indicate that the dietary supplementation with Sida contributed to an increase in the final body weight of rabbits and improved the feed-conversion ratio. Experimental diets had no influence on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention, and selected carcass characteristics of rabbits, except for the proportion of the hind part. The content of dry matter, total protein, and monounsaturated fatty acids in the hind leg muscles of rabbits was higher in the DA group than in the experimental groups. The concentrations of saturated fatty acids were higher in the tissues of animals fed diets supplemented with Sida.