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AbstractThis experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of palygorskite and probiotics complex (Pal–Pro) supplementation on laying performance, the microflora structure and biodiversity of Xuefeng black-bone chicken. A total of 432 Xuefeng black-bone chickens were randomly assigned into 4 groups with 6 replicates of 18 hens. The control group (group A) was fed the basal diet, and the experimental groups (groups B, C and D) were fed basal diet supplemented with 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg Pal–Pro for 8 weeks. The results were as follows: (1) The Pal–Pro supplementation linearly increased (p < .05) laying rate, and linearly decreased the feed conversion ratio (p < .05). (2) At the phylum level, compared with the group A, the abundance of Bacteroideteswas increased (p < .05) and the abundance of Proteobacteriawas decreased (p < .05) in group D, and the abundance of Fusobacteriawas increased in group C (p < .05). (3) At the genus level, the abundance of Bacteroides, Lachnospiraceae_unclassifiedand Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014of group D were higher (p < .05) than those in group A, the abundance of CHKCI001of group B was higher than that in group A, and compared with group A, the abundance of Fusobacteriumwas increased (p < .05) and the abundance of Pseudomonaswas decreased in groups C and D (p < .05). (4）The Spearman correlation analysis showed that Aeriscardoviawas negatively correlated with laying rate (p < .01), and Enterococcusand Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014were positively correlated with egg weight (p < .05). In conclusion, dietary Pal–Pro may improve laying performance by adjusting the flora structure. The recommended dosage is 750 mg/kg.HIGHLIGHTSDietary supplementation of Pal–Pro improved the laying performance of Xuefeng black-bone chicken.Dietary supplementation of Pal–Pro could alter the faecal microbial community of Xuefeng black-bone chicken.Aeriscardoviawas negatively correlated with laying rate, Enterococcusand Ruminococcaceae_UCG∼014were positively correlated with egg weight.

The present study investigated the effect of eugenol (EUG) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and explored the underlying mechanisms. C57BL/6 mice were intragastrically administered normal saline or EUG (20 mg/kg body weight) for 17 days, and colitis was induced by using 3% DSS from day 7. The results showed that EUG increased the body weight and reduced the disease activity index score and colon pathological scores in DSS-treated mice (P< 0.05). Further, EUG preserved the proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6, -12, -21, and -23), lowered (P< 0.05) colonic malondialdehyde (MDA), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) expression and p65 phosphorylation, and activated (P< 0.05) colonic kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 expressions but did not affect the intestinal microbiota in DSS-treated mice. Furthermore, EUG ameliorated colitis in antibiotic-treated mice, while fecal microbiota transplantation from EUG preadministered mice failed to ameliorate colitis. In conclusion, EUG could alleviate colitis by attenuating colonic inflammation and oxidative stress independent of intestinal microbiota.

AbstractThis experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different supplementation levels of palygorskite and probiotics complex (Pal-Pro) on laying performance, hatching performance, egg quality, plasma antioxidative status, and immune response of broiler breeders. A total of 432 Xuefeng black-bone chickens (42-week-old) were randomly assigned into four treatments with six replicates of 18 hens. The broiler breeders were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0, 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg Pal-Pro for 8 weeks. The Pal-Pro supplementation linearly or quadratically increased (p < .05) laying rate, fertilisation rate, hatchability of fertile eggs, heath hatched chicks rate, eggshell thickness, yolk index, total antioxidant capacity, activities of total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and contents of immunoglobulins, interleukin-2, and tumour necrosis factor-α in plasma. With Pal-Pro supplementation increased, feed convention ratio during 5–8 and 1–8 week, embryo mortality, malondialdehyde linearly decreased (p < .05). This finding suggested that dietary supplementation with 750 mg/kg Pal-Pro administration could improve the antioxidative status and immunoglobulins contents in plasma of broiler breeders, which may contribute to an increase in broiler’s laying rate, hatching performance, egg quality, such as eggshell thickness and yolk index.HIGHLIGHTSDietary supplementation of Pal-Pro decreased the feed conversion ratio and embryo mortality of broiler breeders.Dietary supplementation of Pal-Pro improved the laying rate, fertility, hatchability of fertile eggs, and yolk index of broiler breeders.Dietary supplementation of Pal-Pro enhanced the antioxidant capacity and the level of immunoglobulins in the plasma.

AbstractThe study was conducted to evaluate the effects of increasing inclusion levels of the mixture of Bacillus subtilisand essential oils (BSEO) on production, hatching performance, egg quality, serum antioxidant capacity, immune response, and hormone levels of laying hens. A total of 768 24-wk-old layers were randomly allotted into 4 treatments with 6 replicates of 32 birds each replicate. The experiment lasted for 84 d, and the birds were fed a basal diet (CON) or diets with BSEO at 300 (BSEO-1), 600 (BSEO-2), and 900 mg/kg (BSEO-3) in the other 3 groups, respectively. As the BSEO level increased, egg production (linear, p < .05), yolk index (linear, p < .01), glutathione peroxidase activity (linear, p < .01), total antioxidant capacity (linear, p < .01), oestradiol level (linear, p < .01), the value luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone (linear, p < .05) increased in a linear manner. Hatchability (linear and quadratic, p < .01), hatchability of fertile of eggs (linear and quadratic, p < .05), avian influenza virus antibody level (linear, p < .01; quadratic, p < .05), parathyroid hormone level (linear and quadratic, p < .01) in the serum increased linearly and quadratically. Taken together, dietary with BSEO in laying hens could significantly improve egg production, hatchability, and hatchability of fertile eggs, which were associated with an enhancement of antioxidant capacity and the level of AIV-Ab in the serum. This study provided evidence of using BSEO as a potential feed additive for laying hens.HighlightsDietary supplementation of BSEO decreased the feed conversion ratio and eggshell thickness of laying hens.Dietary supplementation of BSEO improved the egg weight, fertility, hatchability, hatchability of fertile eggs, and yolk index of laying hens.Dietary supplementation of BSEO enhanced the antioxidant capacity and the level of AIV-Ab in the serum.